Yankee Stadium Legacy: # 67 Don Baylor

Don Baylor was the American League Most Valuable Player with the California Angels in 1979 before coming to the New York Yankees in 1983. Baylor was in pinstripes for three seasons from 1983-1985 and won his first of three American League Silver Slugger Awards at the designated hitter position in 1983. Baylor hit 21 home runs and drove in 85 RBI's that season. Baylor received the Roberto Clemente Award for outstanding play and stellar community involvement in 1985, his final year in pinstripes.

67 days until Yankees Opening Day.

Red Sox Johnny Gomes Talking Smack To Yankees

Johnny Gomes and his band of bearded misfits won the World Series last year, yeah we get it. Gomes has been talking smack about the Yankees after going on an offseason spending spree that included bringing in Masahiro Tanaka, Brian McCann, Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran, Matt Thornton, etc. Gomes was quoted as saying that the Red Sox "still have the belt" after winning their third World Series in 10 seasons. How cute are you Mr. Gomes?

Here are some quotes from Gomes courtesy of ESPN Boston:

“People can go out and sign whoever they want right now,’’ Johnny Gomes said, according to an ESPN Boston report. “Boxing rules, we still have the belt."

"Kind of flattering a little bit, you know, that [a division] rival has to reload as much as they did," he was quoted saying. "We lost some core players; at the same time, this organization is extremely deep. The majority of our core group of guys is back. We’re champs. We have to uphold that title. I don’t think the mindset is going to change.’’

This is cute coming from a guy who just lost his job to a guy who hasn't really played in the majors since 2011. Johnny Gomes please just go sit over there and we will call you when we need you, thanks.

This Day In New York Yankees History 1/24

Nada. Again. How boring.. Sign somebody today!

Yankees May Make Run At Stephen Drew

with tax less of a consideration, yankees now weighing a run at stephen drew. http://t.co/N4GbSThebi
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) January 23, 2014

According to Jon Heyman and his Twitter account the Yankees may be ready to make a run at Stephen Drew now that the $189 million luxury tax threshold is out the window. I have been calling for Stephen Drew as our third basemen this season and shortstop next season so I am excited to hear this news. Drew has expressed a willingness to play other positions other than shortstop, where he has spent his entire career, so this may be a match made in heaven for the Yankees.

The Yankees would have to surrender a draft pick if they were to sign Drew and the Boston Red Sox would gain a draft pick but at this point it's only the 53rd overall we would be surrendering. Drew would probably be more valuable to us now and long term than the 53rd overall pick so the deal is one that I am watching closely. Stay tuned.

Joe Torre Heading To Cooperstown As A Yankee

Joe Torre is heading into the Hall of Fame as a member of the New York Yankees per an announcement from Cooperstown. Bobby Cox is also heading to the Hall obviously as an Atlanta Brave with Tom Glavine, Frank Thomas is going in as a White Sox, and Tony LaRussa and Greg Maddux are going in without a specific cap for some reason. Here is the statement from Joe Torre:

“I was lucky that my career took me only to great baseball towns. Every place where I played or managed is special to me because of the memories and the friendships that each afforded me. When I became the manager of the New York Yankees, it was an opportunity to realize my lifelong dream of winning the World Series. We were fortunate enough to succeed in our first season in 1996, and in the years that followed, we wrote some great new chapters in Yankee history. I am honored that I will wear the Yankee logo on my cap in Cooperstown to represent what our teams achieved together.”

David Robertson Officially Named The Closer, I Think

Hal Steinbrenner is talking again and this time it is about David Robertson and now the formerly vacant (maybe) closer position for the Yankees in 2014. I say maybe because Hal is not filling out the lineup card and really does not have much of a say here at the end of the day but what do I know. Long story short, when Joe Girardi says it then I will put it in pen, until then it's in pencil. Here is the quote from Mr. Steinbrenner regarding Robertson and the closer position via the New York Post:

“Robertson is going to be our closer,” Steinbrenner said. “And I believe he will do a good job.”

Matt Garza Comes Off The Yankees Board

Boy they weren't kidding when they said the pitching market would move fast after the New York Yankees signed Masahiro Tanaka. Grant Balfour came off the board today as well as Matt Garza as he signed with the Milwaukee Brewers. Garza got a four year deal worth $52 million to anchor what could be a pretty good staff, the lack of hitting behind them should be concerning though.

Either way Garza is a Brewer for the next four seasons at least. Garza is 30 years old and did not come with draft pick compensation so the Brewers will not have to surrender a pick for the Texas Rangers.

Ervin Santana Is Actually Affordable

As of a week ago, Ervin Santana still was seeking a four-year deal in the $60M range. Chances of him getting anything close growing slimmer.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 23, 2014

The entire starting pitching market should now really start to take form, and fast, with the signing of Masahiro Tanaka and Ervin Santana has started it off by throwing out his asking price. Santana is actually pretty affordable when you consider Tanaka got an AAV of $22.15 and other free agents, Ubaldo Jimenez for example, will probably get a higher AAV than Santana. Santana has asked for a four year deal and $60 million for an AAV of $15 million for those without the use of a calculator at the moment.

Jeff Passan from Yahoo Sports said that Santana asked for a much larger deal earlier in the offseason but the closer we inch to the calendar saying February the more I think free agent deals will start to come down. Santana comes with draft pick compensation so that is something the team that will sign him will have to consider as well as his awful 2012 season before breaking out in his contract year. Santana is 31 years old though so there is plenty of his prime left to be bought, I wonder if it will be from the Yankees. 

Grant Balfour Comes Off The Yankees Board

If Grant Balfour was ever on the board for the New York Yankees he came off today after signing with the rival Tampa Bay Rays. Balfour got a lot more money, $12 million, and years, two year deal, then I thought he would after all the injury concerns. Balfour returns to the team where he had his best season of his career, 1.54 ERA in 2008, and his worst season of his career, 4.81 ERA in 2009. Hopefully Balfour see's a lot more of the latter then the former while in Tampa.

Masahiro Tanaka Bringing Impressive Resume To Yankees

Masahiro Tanaka has had a really good career to date, if you can say that for a 25 year old, and brings a very impressive resume to the Yankees and to the states. Let's take a look at his career stats while he was pitching in Japan.

Tanaka had a very impressive 2013 season including a 24-0 record with a 1.27 ERA throwing 212.0 IP with 30 earned runs allowed in 28 games, 27 of them as a starter. Tanaka allowed 168 hits and allowed 32 walks while striking out 183 batters. Tanaka threw eight complete games and two shut outs and a save in 2013. Tanaka led the Nippon Professional Baseball league in wins and ERA and led his team to the Japan Series title, the first title in Rakuten franchise history.

Tanaka for his career in Japan, all with the Rakuten Golden Eagles, posted a 99-35 record with a 2.30 ERA pitching 1,315.0 IP. Tanaka gave up a total of 336 earned runs, 1,182 hits, gave up 275 walks, and struck out 1,238 batters in 175 games, 172 as a starter. Tanaka has some mileage on his arm as he has thrown 53 complete games in his seven professional seasons, 18 of them shutouts, and allowed 0.899 H/9 in his career.