Russell Martin's impending free agency and the New York Yankees' need for an offensive upgrade could lead them in the direction of Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann this offseason.McCann has a $12 million option for the 2013 season, but the Braves may not be inclined to exercise it after his down season and recent shoulder surgery.Even if it is not exercised, the Braves could look to work out a more team-friendly deal in the offseason.ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports (Insider required) that the Braves could also just pick up the option ...
After a disappointing end to 2012, the New York Yankees will be looking to re-stock on talent and re-align their roster during the offseason. The Yankees will be altering their traditional top-down philosophy. This is a team that needs to get younger to stay competitive in the division and have a shot at a 28th World Series title. With age comes experience and production, but also fatigue and inconsistency. Age cut the Yankees' playoff run short. The team was completely gassed and unmotivated by the second game of the ALCS ...
The New York Yankees have questions at closer this offseason for the first time since Mariano Rivera's incredible tenure at the position began in 1997.Rivera is contemplating retirement after tearing his ACL last season, and Rafael Soriano is expected to opt out of the third year of his contract to explore free agency.Soriano had a stellar season filling in for the future first-ballot Hall of Famer. He saved 42 games and pitched to a 2.26 ERA.After having issues as the setup man in his first season with the Yankees, Soriano ...
Alex Rodriguez could have easily been one of the most talked about stories of the winter, but it is apparently a little bit too early to start talking yet and there may not be any reason to be talking at all. According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, no teams have called the New York Yankees to talk about their talented, yet vastly overpaid third baseman. Rodriguez is still owed a total of $114 million through 2017 according to Cot's Contracts, so it is going to be difficult to find ...
The New York Yankees were counting on having Mariano Rivera back as their closer next season. That belief was based on Rivera's own words after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while shagging fly balls during batting practice in Kansas City on May 3. "I'm coming back," Rivera said to reporters, including MLB.com's Bryan Hoch. "Write it down in big letters. I'm not going down like this. God willing and given the strength, I'm coming back."But apparently, MLB's all-time saves leader has been having some second thoughts during ...
Every time the New York Yankees are eliminated from the postseason, there are always cries from fans and the media for change, particularly of the radical kind. This year is no different, with several of them wishing for their scapegoats to be shown the door from the Big Apple. Many of the scapegoats include Curtis Granderson, whose options New York has picked up, Nick Swisher, Robinson Cano, Mark Teixeira, Russell Martin, but none of them compare to the biggest one of all. Alex Rodriguez, the hero of the 2009 postseason which ended ...
Right now, everyone wants to know what the New York Yankees are going to do next.Will they trade Alex Rodriguez? Will they let Nick Swisher go? Will Andy Pettitte retire? Will Mariano Rivera retire? Will they make any big free-agent signings to ensure that they never experience an embarrassment like the 2012 postseason again?These are all good questions. The Bombers have a lot of work to do this winter, and by the time it's over they'll probably look drastically different than from when we last saw them in Game 4 ...
It wasn't exactly the 'bang' that the Bronx Bombers were hoping to go out with, losing four straight to the Detroit Tigers.In fact, it sounded more like a 'crunch'. But whether that was the sound of Jeter's ankle or of an organization crumbling under expectations is for the fans to decide. Going out with a bad taste in their mouth, it will be a long offseason for the Yanks and the rumors will come thick and fast as it progresses.Here is what's buzzing already: Ichiro Contract Talks, Where's Gardner Going? There are ...
The New York Yankees have already made one of their biggest offseason decisions when they picked up the 2013 option for center fielder Curtis Granderson. Granderson struggled in the postseason, going 3-for-30 with 16 strikeouts and just one homer and one RBI. He was particularly unproductive against the Detroit Tigers in the American League Championship Series. He was 0-for-11 with seven strikeouts and was not in the starting lineup for Game 4 of the sweep. But he did lead the Yankees with 43 home runs, the second-most in the American ...
In 2012, the New York Yankees were without the services of Mariano Rivera for most of the year.Now, heading into 2013, they may be faced with the realization of finding his replacement.Andrew Marchand of ESPN reported that he talked to Yankees GM Brian Cashman and he does not know whether or not his closer will return to the mound for one more season.The soon-to-be 43-year-old tore his ACL while shagging fly balls back on May 4 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City and left a gaping hole in the back ...