Pitchers and catchers report to spring training in less than a month, and while it's clear that Yankees camp will be dominated by veterans, youngsters will also have to play a role if the team is to win its 28th championship in 2013.The Bombers' aging stars will be another year older and they'll have to replace the production of Nick Swisher, Rafael Soriano and Alex Rodriguez (for most of the season). Who will fill the void? Here are three candidates. Brett GardnerGardner is poised to have a healthy and productive 2013 after ...
You can never have enough pitching. And the New York Yankees have proven over time that they will sign anyone from anywhere if they think they can help their organization. The Washington Wild Things’ Chris Smith of the Independent Frontier League has had his contract purchased by the New York Yankees. The Observer-Reporter wrote that Smith will report to Yankees spring training in Florida in March. Smith had a monster year for the Wild Things. He led the team in innings pitched with 129, ...
In the face of their newfound sense of austerity, the Yankees have been uncharacteristically quiet this off-season, doing virtually nothing to improve themselves or to replace departed stalwarts like Nick Swisher, Russell Martin and Rafael Soriano.The club can’t count on its top prospects for help in 2013. The team’s most highly-rated youngsters, Mason Williams, Tyler Austin, Slade Heathcott and Gary Sanchez are all at least a year away from the majors, and as Yankee fans have seen before, that’s plenty of time for a lot to go wrong. So what’s an ...
We all know that for the longest time, Joba Chamberlain and Kevin Youkilis haven't liked each other.It all goes back to Joba's rookie year when he threw over the head of Youkilis, a long-time member of the rival Boston Red Sox, during multiple games back in 2007.The following year, Joba again threw behind Youkilis, which caused him to take a few steps out to the mound in disgust.Now, the two are teammates on the Yankees.Back in December, after Youkilis signed a one-year, $12 million offer from the Yankees to play ...
Alex Rodriguez underwent surgery on his left hip earlier in January, and the recovery time generally takes about six months for the type of procedure he received.This puts him on track for a July return, but that is currently tentative and depends on how his rehab goes up until that point.While much attention has been given to Rodriguez's injury, not much attention has been given to the fact that he is currently sitting on 2,901 career hits—just 99 short of the magic 3,000.This isn't really that unfathomable, though.Remember the hype surrounding ...
Kevin Youkilis and Joba Chamberlain have never gotten along. Since 2007 the two have repeatedly clashed as opponents in baseball's fiercest rivalry.Now they are teammates, and with news that Chamberlain's offering of an olive branch has gone ignored, it would appear they remain at odds.Will their spat disrupt the Yankees clubhouse or will it add some life to an atmosphere sometimes criticized for being too professional?Neither player is without "baggage" coming into 2013.Youkilis's departure from the Red Sox last season wasn't without its share of controversy. Former manager Bobby Valentine ...
Friends, it's time to step back from the ledge of that overpass on the Major Deegan and take a breath.Despite Hal Steinbrenner's edict that the New York Yankees get under the $189 million luxury tax threshold for the 2014 season, the Yankees will spend money—and field a competitive team—for years to come.Luxury tax be damned.Bob Watson, who preceded Brian Cashman as general manager of the Yankees, agrees with that premise, as he recently told Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News:
You’ve got to remember, George (Steinbrenner) had fiscal restraints ...
Contrary to what many detractors of the New York Yankees might believe, this organization has plenty of young stars in their minor league system that will likely have a serious impact on the big league club for years to come. As the Yankees begin to usher-in a new era in the history of the team and also begin to scale back some of their spending habits, young players will be more and more crucial to keeping the payroll low, while not losing any competitive edge in doing so. Let's take ...
For almost 20 years, catcher has been a position of strength in the New York Yankees organization. From Joe Girardi to Jorge Posada to Russell Martin, the Bronx Bombers have had an above average offensive catcher spanning across three separate decades. However, with the retirement of Jorge Posada last offseason and the departure of Russell Martin, the Yankees are short at the position with no proven major league regulars on the roster. Their current crop of catching candidates includes career backup Chris Stewart, the offensively challenged Francisco Cervelli and highly touted but ...
The Philadelphia Phillies have signed right-handed hitting outfielder Delmon Young to a one-year deal worth $750,000, and Buster Olney opines that this could leave left-handed outfielder Domonic Brown out of the loop in Philly.
Phillies just announced officially that they signed Delmon Young. As a rival exec said earlier today, this is not good for Domonic Brown. — Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) January 22, 2013
While the New York Yankees are not currently in the market for a left-handed outfielder, they ARE in the market for some young talent.Brown was once the top ...