Feinsand: Ellsbury and Yankees Agree to 7 Year-$153MM Deal

I tried to keep my head from spinning after I heard CBS Sports' Jon Heyman report that the Yankees and free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury were close to a seven year deal. Now comes word from the NY Daily News' Mark Feinsand that it's a done deal worth $153MM pending a physical on Wednesday. Perhaps it's a leaked rumor to get Robinson Cano into a panic mode since he and the Yankees are still well apart in negotiations or the Yankees are simply moving on.

Ellsbury is a very good player..when healthy. He missed all but 18 games in 2010, was limited to 74 games in 2012 and missed 28 games this past season. He was an AL MVP candidate in 2011 when he hit 32 home runs, drove in 105 runs, scored 119, stole 39 bases, put up a .928 OPS, and had a league high 364 total bases.

The 30-yr old has led the league in steals three times including this past season when he swiped 52 in 56 attempts. With Alfonso Soriano set to play left field, this could spell the end of Brett Gardner's days in pinstripes or a possible demotion to the fourth outfield position.

According to Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan, Ellsbury's deal includes an eighth year option with a buyout that could bring the total to $169MM. There will be a $21.86 hit on the luxury tax. Passan still feels the Yankees can still get Cano on board as well if he lowers his demands. The Yankees are reportedly still pursuing Shin-Soo Choo and are out of the Carlos Beltran sweepstakes.

Things just got a whole lot crazier.

Update 10 pm: Getting more torqued thinking about this deal. The Yankees supposedly won't budge off the $160MM, 7 years they've offered Cano, yet they are willing to give a very good, but not great player almost the equal amount.

I don't want to hear about Cano not busting it down to first base, he's a superior player to Ellsbury with the bat and with the glove. He's also played at least 159 games in the last six seasons.

Wells Set For Physical; Pass and Play

According to the NY Daily News' Mark Feinsand, Vernon Wells will be taking his physical in Tampa this morning and is expected (if he passes) to be in tonight's lineup against the Houston Astros.

Feinsand also explained a scenario that could benefit the Yankees when it comes to the luxury tax.

"Although Wells’ seven-year, $126 million contract has been looked at as an albatross for the Angels, the deal could actually be quite beneficial for the Yankees financially. Despite Wells’ bloated salary, his arrival may help the Yankees achieve their goal of staying below the luxury tax threshold next year.

The Angels are sending the Yankees roughly $29 million of the $42 million still owed to Wells, who will earn $21 million in each of the next two seasons. That means the Yankees will pay Wells $13 million over the next two years, but some fancy accounting could actually make it so the three-time All-Star doesn’t count against the team’s luxury tax payroll figure at all in 2014 — or even better, earn them a credit.

Wells’ seven-year, $126 million contract carries an average annual value of $18 million, which is the figure used by MLB for luxury tax purposes. That figure decreases based on the money being paid by another team, so if the Yankees were to split the $29 million evenly, it would leave them with a $3.5 million tax figure on Wells’ deal in each of the two seasons.

But according to a league source, the Yankees are expected to pay Wells between $10 million and $12 million in 2013, leaving the Angels to pick up the other $9 million-$11 million."

Still no word on the player being sent to the Halos.

Crew Chief Mike Winters to Play Vegas

The NYDN's Mark Feinsand got the quote below from crew chief Mike Winters. It's one of the funniest things I've ever heard...okay, not really, but REALLY?

Wanger Looking to Bounce Back Big

If it were up to Chien-Ming Wang, he would probably never run the bases again. The last time he did, June 15 of 2008, he suffered a season ended Lisfranc injury. At the time, he was well on his way to another winning season. But that's all behind him now.

"I felt very bad," Wang said of last season. "I wanted the rehab to go quicker and get back on the field."

Mark Feinsand of the Daily News reports that The Wanger hired a personal trainer in the off-season to get his foot and body in the best shape possible. Wang is feeling good, but the team is taking it easy on him in the early Spring Training drills.

"I'm not thinking about it," Wang said of the injury. "Everything is normal now."

Wang, who recorded back to back 19 win seasons in 2006 and 2007, is a key to the Yankees success. His manager, and a former opponent, now teammate, were quick to recognize that fact.

"His return is vital to our staff," (Joe) Girardi said. "We missed him a lot last year. We missed his innings, we missed his leadership on the mound, what he brought to the table."

What he brings to the table is a workhorse who won 19 games in both 2006 and '07, establishing himself as one of the most reliable pitchers in baseball. Wang was 8-2 with a 4.07 ERA in his abbreviated 2009.

"When you see Wang healthy, you automatically envision 18 or 19 wins," Burnett said. "He's established himself as that kind of horse. He probably likes the fact that me and CC are here, because he can just hang back in his locker every day and get his work done."

"When we missed him late in the season, I don't think anybody in our lineup had an issue with it," said catcher Kevin Cash, a non-roster invitee who spent last season with the Red Sox. "It was a benefit for us to know we weren't going to have to face him. It was the same as us losing (Josh) Beckett."

We're glad our boy is back!

photo courtesy of REUTERS/Steve Nesius (UNITED STATES)

Breaking News: Pettitte Could Miss Start

The shit just keeps hitting the fan. Daily News beat writer Mark Feinsand is reporting that Andy Pettitte could miss a start due to stiffness in either his left shoulder or elbow.

Asked about that possibility, Pettitte told the Daily News that he still planned to pitch on Sunday.

“That hasn’t even been discussed,” Pettitte said. “Do I feel as good as I’d like to, no. But it’s that time of year.”

Still, the source said that the Yankees are discussing the issue internally leaving the possibility that Pettitte could be skipped.

Breaking News: Pettitte Could Miss Start

The shit just keeps hitting the fan. Daily News beat writer Mark Feinsand is reporting that Andy Pettitte could miss a start due to stiffness in either his left shoulder or elbow.

Asked about that possibility, Pettitte told the Daily News that he still planned to pitch on Sunday.

“That hasn’t even been discussed,” Pettitte said. “Do I feel as good as I’d like to, no. But it’s that time of year.”

Still, the source said that the Yankees are discussing the issue internally leaving the possibility that Pettitte could be skipped.

Wang Has Calf Strain

Mark Feinsand of the NY Daily News reported that Chien-Ming Wang suffered a strained calf during sunday night's loss to the Mets. Wang received treatment, but some bruising occurred and he was sent for tests yesterday. He's not expected to miss a turn.

“I’ll be fine,” Wang said. “It’s better. Now it’s good. I don’t feel it.”

Wang Has Calf Strain

Mark Feinsand of the NY Daily News reported that Chien-Ming Wang suffered a strained calf during sunday night's loss to the Mets. Wang received treatment, but some bruising occurred and he was sent for tests yesterday. He's not expected to miss a turn.

“I’ll be fine,” Wang said. “It’s better. Now it’s good. I don’t feel it.”

Day 3

It's been 3 days since the Yankees elimination in the ALDS. A couple of quick thoughts. We are really surprised at how much of the media feels that Joe Torre should return. It seems to be the majority thought.

Our guess would be that is a result of the respect the media has for Torre and that has grown out of the respect Torre has shown the press (except for those who camped outside his home on Tuesday).

Here's some thoughts from the Daily News' Mark Feinsand.

Day 3

It's been 3 days since the Yankees elimination in the ALDS. A couple of quick thoughts. We are really surprised at how much of the media feels that Joe Torre should return. It seems to be the majority thought.

Our guess would be that is a result of the respect the media has for Torre and that has grown out of the respect Torre has shown the press (except for those who camped outside his home on Tuesday).

Here's some thoughts from the Daily News' Mark Feinsand.