Yankees Interested in Rowand?

The Newark Star-Ledger reports the Yankees would have interest in Aaron Rowand if they trade Melky Cabrera this offseason.

The Yankees are apparently willing to consider moving Cabrera, who hit .291 with 58 RBI after taking over as the Yankees’ regular center fielder, because they told the agent for free-agent center fielder Aaron Rowand they would have interest in Rowand if they trade Cabrera.

That conversation was confirmed by a person with knowledge of the conversation who asked not to be named because the Yankees like to keep their free-agent pursuits under the radar. The agent, Craig Landis, said only that the interest in Rowand — a strong defender who this year with Philadelphia hit .309 with 27 homers and 89 RBI — “is strong and has picked up” since center fielder Torii Hunter came off the market, signing with the Angels. Landis said “nothing is imminent” as far as Rowand’s signing.

This would not make a ton of sense. The 30 year old just had a monster walk year and will demand far a bigger contract than his normally pedestrian offense will deserve. He is terrific defensively, but this team has a much cheaper in house option in Brett Gardner, who would be just as good with the glove in center. His offensive production might be lower than that of Rowand’s, but his salary would be less prohibitive. The last thing this club needs is a prohibitive longterm deal for a mediocrity like Rowand to block Jose Tabata and Austin Jackson. Gardner would be an adequate placeholder.

If the Yankees are going to go the free agent route, Andruw Jones is more attractive. His defensive skills have slipped a bit in recent years, but he is still above average at a premium position. Like Rowand, he is 30 years old, meaning he still has plenty of productive days in front of him patrolling the outfield. He will come at a relative discount after a lousy walk year, which appears to be out of context with the rest of his career. His track record is that of a high quality righty hitter, capable of bringing more balance to the lineup, and a prime candidate to bounce back from his 2007 struggles. Bringing Jones into the mix would help alleviate the offensive loss if the Yankees decided to trade Robinson Cano for Johan Santana (although this article suggests that is unlikely). The best part is that after his lousy season, Jones is a Type B free agent, meaning the Yanks would not have to give up a Draft pick to Atlanta for compensation. Rowand is a Type A free agent. New York would give up its first pick in 2008 to sign him.

The choice is clear. If this team wants a free agent in center, Andruw Jones should be the guy.

Yanks Close to Inking Loretta?

The Denver Post reports that the Yankees might be nearing a deal with Mark Loretta. Buster Olney also reported this on Mike and Mike in the Morning on ESPN Radio.

O’Dowd is trolling for a veteran second baseman to create competition for as many as six internal candidates. The Rockies contacted the agent for Loretta, who tore up the National League West while with the San Diego Padres. However, the Rockies don’t like their chances, believing he will end up with the Yankees. While that deal is close, Loretta has made it known how much he likes the Rockies and would prefer to see how their second base situation plays out before signing with the Yankees.

Loretta is a solid player.  He does not have much power but does have good on base skills. He certainly would be an above average bench player. It is not really clear, though, where he would fit on this team as currently constructed. The Yanks seem set with their lineup and bench.

If New York signs the veteran infielder, it would be an indication that a Johan Santana deal is nearing. The Twins might get Wilson Betemit as filler, creating the need for a new utility infielder.  It also might mean that the Yankees are going to use Robinson Cano as the centerpiece of a Santana trade. That would be vastly preferable to a trade with Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain going to Minnesota. Either starter could equal Santana’s performance in the not too distant future. It would likely be a lateral deal. Cano would be difficult to give up, but the Yanks have plenty of hitting. The Red Sox recently traded an emerging middle infielder, Hanley Ramirez, for an ace, Josh Beckett. That deal helped them win the World Series that year. Aces are tougher to find than hitters.

Loretta fields his position well. He would be the righty half of a formidable platoon with Betemit if Cano heads to the Midwest.

Yankees Resign Henry

Lost in the shuffle over the Thanksgiving holiday was news that the Yankees resigned minor leaguer C.J. Henry. Henry was the team’s first round pick in the 2005 Draft. He struggled during his brief time in New York’s minor league system before heading to Philadelphia as part of the Bobby Abreu heist of 2006. He only hit .148 in A ball this season for the Phillies but had a .300 batting average after getting contact lenses late in the year. This suggests that his issues at the plate might have been related to seeing the ball.

Henry is a terrific athlete, recruited out of high school to play basketball. During his first stint with the Yankees, he played shortstop but will move to the outfield this time around. Given his natural ability, the transition should not present much of a problem. This is a guy with a ton of upside. He was talented enough for the Yankees to take him in the first round just two years ago. If his problems were eyesight, he might crack the Majors still. C.J. is a great guy to take a flier on.

Yankees, Twins Discuss Santana

The Associated Press reports that the Yankees and Twins have had preliminary discussions to bring Johan Santana to the Bronx.

Yankees senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner said Monday that discussions are ongoing but it was too early to tell whether they would lead to a deal. He did not detail how far talks had progressed.

“I don’t want to get into that at this point, as far as what they want, what we’re willing to give and all that,” he said. “It’s preliminary right now.”

Can this guy ever keep his big mouth shut? What purpose does talking to the media serve aside from alarming other teams into driving up the price? If Hanky loves to hear the sound of his own voice so much, he should buy a tape recorder and play himself on a continuous loop.

The New York Mets, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers also are thought to be interested in Santana, who is far better than any of the starting pitchers available on the free-agent market.

The presence of Boston in this bidding should change New York’s philosophy. Before it seemed that Santana would surely hit the open market, which would mean all the Yanks would have to do is wait a year to grab him for money and a Draft pick. The Red Sox are the one team with both the prospects to acquire Johan and the willingness to blow him away with an extension offer. The Dodgers probably would not offer a monster extension. The Mets could but do not have the young talent for which Minnesota is looking. If Boston lands Santana, the Yankees will never see him in pinstripes. They will do whatever it takes to prevent him hitting free agency. New York would be up against a Beckett-Santana duo in its prime for the next five years. A trade now might be the only way to get Johan Santana.

The Yankees should still draw a line in the sand somewhere. Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes should be off limits. Trading an ace for a younger ace is not a great move. This team should also do what it takes to keep Ian Kennedy and Robinson Cano off the market. Kennedy has ace potential but is not as sure of a bet to reach the ceiling as the other two youngsters. Cano is the top second baseman in the American League, but the Yankees can hit. It is easier to find a quality second baseman than it is to find an ace. Anybody else in the farm system should be available.

The Dodgers have more young talent than anybody. If they really want Johan, they will get him. That might be the best thing for the Yankees as long as the parties cannot agree on an extension. It would keep Santana away from Boston and allow New York to grab him in a year without giving up any of the prized youngsters within the organization.

Happy Thanksgiving

I would like to take this time to wish all of my readers a Happy Thanksgiving. I hope everybody has a great holiday. This is a good time to think of the less fortunate.

I will leave a link up for anybody who would like to donate to a good cause. Meals on Wheels brings food daily to people unable to leave their homes for food or prepare their own meals. The majority of these people are homebound and elderly. It is a sad fact that many people in our nation are without the essentials that you and I take for granted. Every human being deserves a lifestyle of dignity regardless of age or income.

I post this not to get preachy. I am not challenging anybody to do anything or here to criticize those who do not donate. This is just up in case anybody would like to help the less fortunate and is looking for an outlet to do so. Have a happy and blessed holiday.

Click here to donate. 

Duncan Released from the Hospital

The New York Post reports that Shelley Duncan was recently released from the hospital.

Shelley Duncan is out of an Arizona hospital, but the extent of a circulatory problem believed to be a blood clot in an arm isn’t known because the Yankees aren’t talking about it.

Duncan was admitted to the hospital last week, and according to agent Barry Meister and GM Brian Cashman, he is no longer there.

“I spoke to Shelley [yesterday] and he isn’t in the hospital,” Meister told The Post yesterday. “Anything else you have to get from the Yankees.”

It does not speak well for our society that the media thinks it has the right to know about a man’s sensitive medical information. There is never a good time to go through something scary like this, but it must be an awful thing during the holidays. The thoughts and prayers of TheYankeesBlog.com go out to Shelley and his family at this time. Hopefully he gets better in time for Spring Training and is continue to have a productive career and life doing what he loves.

Yankees Add to Forty Man Roster

The Yankees have added four players to their forty man roster. They are starters Jeff Marquez and Steve White, reliever Scott Patterson, and catcher Francisco Cervelli. Placing them of the forty man roster prevents them from being selected in the Rule V Draft next month. Teams may select players not on forty man rosters of other clubs. The catch is that these players must remain on the twenty-five man active roster of the new team or be returned to the original team. The Yankees acquired Josh Phelps in the 2006 Rule V Draft from Baltimore.

Marquez and White are candidates to make spot starts in 2008. They figure to be among the first potential callups if a starter gets injured. Neither is irreplaceable but they could give the team quality innings in 2008 and eventually turn into decent starters. They will find it tough to crack the rotation considering all of the talented young arms on the roster, but they have present value and could serve as trade filler at some point. Patterson had a 1.05 ERA in 2007 while splitting time between AA and AAA. He could be a bullpen option for the Yankees in 2008. This team is going to go to Spring Training with a lot of talented yet unproven relief arms hoping that a few can step up. Patterson should be in the mix.

Cervelli is a puzzling addition. For starters, he is not eligible for the Draft according to the rules because he signed in 2003 and was under eighteen years old at the time. The twenty-one year old has never played above A ball. He is terrific defensively, which is the most attractive candidate for a backup catcher. It is tough to believe that a team would devote a roster spot to a player so unseasoned and in need of regular at bats on the minor league level even if it was a possibility. It is unclear why the Yankees would waste a valuable roster spot on Cervelli.

Yankees Ask White Sox Regarding Jenks?

The Staten Island Advance reports that the Yankees have called the White Sox to ask about the availability of Bobby Jenks.

According to a Yankees official, who asked not to be identified because he is not directly involved in the decision, the Yankees have inquired about Chicago White Sox closer Bobby Jenks to set up Rivera.

Jenks had a strong season (2.77 ERA, 40 saves in 46 chances and a record-tying streak of 41 consecutive batters retired), but a deal is considered a long shot. The Yankees’ best hope is that the White Sox fail to sign free-agent centerfielder Torii Hunter and thus ask the Yankees for Melky Cabrera or Johnny Damon in a trade.

Getting Jenks would be a coup in building a deeper bullpen. He would be a lethal setup man in front of Rivera. The 26 year old flamethrower would become Mo’s heir apparent. He has the stuff to be a dominant 8th inning guy and gained positive big game experience in 2005 with a terrific postseason showing against Boston and Houston. This displayed his mental toughness and provides a good barometer for how he would hold up in New York.

There has been talk all offseason long that the White Sox have interest in Johnny Damon.  If the Yankees can deal Damon before he hits steep decline and improve the bullpen this much, it behooves them to make the move. Johnny’s all out style of play has started to take its toll on his body. He has shown an ability to play through injuries, but as his body continues to age, it is a matter of time before he breaks down.

Dealing Melky is a less appealing option. The 23 year old is cheap and brings an intangible energy to this team with his enthusiasm and propensity to make big plays. Very few outfielders have hit Major League pitching with such propensity at such a young age. With a couple of years under his belt and the confidence of knowing he has regular spot waiting for him in Spring Training, Melky is primed to have a break out season.

Difficult though it would be to deal him, the Yanks should pull the trigger if Ken Williams demands Cabrera in a trade. Dealing Melky a year ago for Mike Gonzalez would have been a bad move. Gonzalez had red injury flags and no history of pitching in big games. Jenks is a safer bet. The Yanks also have outfielders on the farm much closer to the Majors than they were a year ago.

The temptation would be to put Johnny Damon in center and Hideki Matsui in left. If this is the plan, it would not be the best one. It would give New York an abysmal outfield defense. A better option to replace Melky would be Brett Gardner. Gardner has a ton of speed and just as much range as Melky in center. He posted a .281 batting average and a .369 on base percentage in 384 at bats between AA and AAA in 2007. He just hit .343 in the Arizona Fall League. Gardner’s upside is rather limited, but as a stopgap he probably could come close to matching Melky’s 2007 production at the plate. It would also maintain the outfield’s above average defense by leaving Damon, where his arm is not an issue and his range is a plus, in left and Matsui at DH. The Yankees then could pray that either Austin Jackson or Jose Tabata quickly progresses and emerges as the centerfielder of the future. The Yanks would take some hits leaving Jason Giambi on the bench for Gardner from the average WFAN caller, but this would be a viable contingency plan if the team had to part with Melky to get Jenks.

If the price is a centerfielder, the Yanks should bite. They can replace either Damon or Cabrera. Finding relief help like Jenks is much tougher to get.

Mo to Resign

Mariano Rivera will resign with the Yankees, accepting the team’s 3 year, $45 million offer. For a 38 year old closer, that is too much money. The Yankees really had no choice. Their bullpen was thin enough without losing the greatest reliever who ever lived.

This team wants to put Joba Chamberlain into the rotation next season. The only way to do that is make the bullpen deep enough to withstand the hit that Joba’s defection into a starting role would bring. Mo is still one of the best if not the best. He was not going to find a better offer on the market to leave the only team he has ever known. It might have taken him some time, but he finally realized that he should end his storied career with the Yankees. New York overpaid as a punishment for not getting this deal done in Spring Training.

Alex Rodriguez: 2007 AL MVP

Alex Rodriguez has been named 2007 American League MVP in an overwhelming vote. He received 26 of 28 first place votes. It is his third MVP and second with the Yankees. His tenure with the Yanks has been disappointing on many levels. The fact that he has been the league’s most valuable player in half of his four seasons in the Bronx and still seem unfulfilled shows how great he really is.

Magglio Ordonez was the only other player to collect first place votes. They both came from writers from the Detroit area. This obvious bias shows just how flawed voting for awards can be. Alex had 26 more homeruns than Ordonez, 27 more RBI’s, 20 more stolen bases, 26 more runs, slugged 50 points higher, played Gold Glove caliber defense at a more important defensive position, and actually helped lead his team to the postseason. Magglio may have had a higher batting average and on base percentage, but A-Rod was in rare air there too, posting outstanding .314 and .422 clips respectively. The only logic behind those votes was clearly that one guy played for the team they love. There was no objectivity. Both men deserve to lose their voting privileges for not basing their votes on merit. The fact that nobody outside the Detroit area says everything about the sincerity of their selections.

In any event, Alex richly deserves this award. He was by far the game’s best player in 2007.