Yankees "Aggressively" Trying to Deal Hughes and Joba

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal took to Twitter earlier Wednesday to report that an American League executive  told him the Yankees are "aggressively pushing" to get Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes dealt.

He added that Chamberlain could go to an NL team soon and later added that the Philadelphia Phillies were not that team. Rosenthal also added that the Yankees are not close to making a deal for either player, both of whom are free agents after this season.

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal10h

AL exec: “Yanks aggressively pushing Joba, Hughes. Joba could happen soon to NL team.” Source says #Yankees talking on both, nothing close.

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The Yankees Not So Hot Corner

The punch-less Yankees dropped another game in the AL East standings Tuesday night. A game that could have been won had the Yankees' lineup been able to produce more than a single run in a 3-1 loss to the KC Royals.

Royals' starter James Shields, aka "Big Game James" has not had much success against the Yankees and struggled in the early going. The Yankees had two on and none out, and the bases loaded and one out and only scored one run. Shields and the pen then shut down the Yankees the rest of the way. Monday night's 5-1 loss in the first game of the four game set came after the Yankees had the bases loaded with no one out in the 9th and then struck out three straight times. With all the pitchers they let off the hook the Yankees should never take up fishing.

In Tuesday's piece, "Shortstop, Catchers and Pitchers, Oh My, I wrote about the need for the Yankees to upgrade at catcher. Today I am going to focus on the infield, particularly the corner position that has been anything other than hot for the Yankees this season.

Third base has been a key position for the Yankees over the years. Gil McDougald won the AL Rookie of the Year Award after he manned the position in 1951. Graig Nettles won two World Series rings (1977-1978) against the Los Angeles Dodgers, who will attest to Nettles' remarkable thievery with his glove. Alex Rodriguez won two AL MVP Awards after his shift to New York and a new position. The Yankees would not have won the 2009 World Series if not for the player who should really be known as "Lightning-Rod".

A-Rod's second hip surgery knocked him out of play for the first half of the 2013 season and a PED suspension could wipe out the second half. Kevin Youkilis was signed to take his place, but played just 28 games before he was lost to season ending back surgery. The Yankees replacements have contributed decent defense, but the offense has been anemic.

David Adams, Alberto Gonzalez, Jayson Nix, Chris Nelson, and Luis Cruiz have combined to go 53-247 (.215) with 2 HR (both by Adams) and 18 RBI when they played third base. Only Nix (.620) has an OPS above .600 at third and that number is nothing to write home (or text) about. The combination of poor hitting veterans and rookies is not enough with the uncertainty surrounding A-Rod's future. The Yankees need to get themselves a third baseman.

Just as is the case with catchers, the Yankees don't have anyone at the minor league level to play in the Majors right now. Ronnier Mustelier made a very good showing in Spring Training, but has missed large chunks of time with knee and groin injuries.

So who might be available? And would the Yankees want them?

Michael Young: He's the first option for teams looking for a utility guy or someone to specifically play either corner spot or second base. (His days at shortstop are long behind him.) Young has bounced all around the infield in his career until the Texas Rangers, who he spent 13 seasons with, finally forced him out. The 36-year old looked like he might be finished after he produced a sub-.600 OPS in May, but he's been above .800 the rest of the season. He could also give Lyle Overbay a rest across the infield now and then.

With one of the two wild card positions still in their sites, the Phillies are reportedly hesitant to move the pending free agent at this time. That could change as the trade deadline nears.

Aramis Ramirez: The 35-year old has hit less than 20 home runs just once since 2003 and averaged 26 home runs and 93 RBI over the last three seasons. So much for the good news; Ramirez was placed on the disabled list on Tuesday for the third time this season with a bad left knee. He is also guaranteed $16MM next year and has a $14MM mutual option/$4MM buyout for 2015. Fuh-geddabout it.

Ty Wigginton: Like Young, Wigginton is more of a utility player at this point of his career rather than a player who is settled in at one position. He's also unemployed after being released by the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals owe him the remainder of the $2.5MM he's making this season plus another $2.5MM he is due in 2014. The Yankees could sign him for a minimal amount this season (The amount would be subtracted from the Cardinals' debt), but should they?  Wigginton had a sub-.500 OPS and 34 of his 57 at-bats came as a pinch-hitter. If they're interested the Yankees would be better off signing him to a minor league deal with a deadline date where he can asked to be released if he is not called up. That way he can get some regular at-bats before facing Major League pitching. With all that said, I would pass on him.

Mark Reynolds: Mash or miss, that's been Reynolds unwritten motto since his debut in 2007. He's currently on a one year deal with the Cleveland Indians for $6MM and has split time between first and third. He might be available even though the Tribe is in the thick of the AL Central race, because he hasn't produced on a consistent basis. Reynolds has homered in 4.3% of his at-bats, the second lowest percentage since his rookie season. His .700 OPS is the lowest of his career as is his .392 slugging pct. Oh, and he's a butcher defensively at third base.

Wait, the idea was to find a player that would fit. There's the problem. There isn't a whole lot to choose from.

Chase Headley: He became a household name last year and since that time Yankees fans have been calling into radio shows to say the Yankees should go after him. Those fans haven't bothered to notice what Headley is doing this season nor have they taken a look at what he did before last season. Headley's 2012 campaign produced career highs in almost every offensive category.

He had never hit more than 12 home runs or driven in more than 58 runs in a season until he put up 31 and an NL leading 115 last year. 2012 was the first season Headley had an OPS over .800 as well. Headley has come crashing back to earth in 2013. He has just 7 HR and 29 RBI in 77 games and is sporting a career worst .681 OPS. More importantly why would the Padres deal him now? 1) He has no trade value at the moment. 2) The Padres had been trying to give Headley an extension until he asked them to stop negotiations in May, because he felt it was a distraction. So it appears they would like to keep him.

Chris Johnson: The Atlanta Braves 28-year old has provided the NL East leaders with some big at-bats this season. Johnson is with his third team in three seasons, but has a slash line of .332/.375/.480 in 269 plate appearances this year. As an added bonus, he's not eligible for free agency until 2017. Since he has been a key contributor it is possible Atlanta has no plans to move him, but perhaps the Braves would like to add some depth to their bullpen with a guy named Joba Chamberlain. Throw in a mid-level prospect too or perhaps they would like to take a chance on one time prospect Fernando Martinez.

Abbott and Costello were right. "I don't know....Third base!"

Tomorrow I take a look at the rotation and bullpen.

Shortstops and Catchers and Pitchers, Oh My

We're a week away from the Major League Baseball All-Star game, which means the Yankees need to get moving. If you have watched the majority of games this season you know that run support is not easy to come by for a team nicknamed the "Bronx Bombers". There's not a whole lot of punch in the lineup due to injuries, players that are much closer to the end of their careers than the beginning, and a lot of kids who are still wet behind the ears.

A huge boost may be on its way from Scranton this weekend, though it will be more likely as soon as the players regroup from their All-Star hiatus. Either way, Derek Jeter is getting closer to a return to the number one or two spot in the Yankees' batting order.

No one knows how he will hit, field, or run. You can only look at how he's currently moving and reacting on the baseball field, and how he feels the next day...which he will never honestly tell you. I can tell you that Jeter's return to the lineup will give a big morale boost to his teammates.

Jeter has the same pull as a prior Yankees captain, Don Mattingly. Players played harder for Mattingly and felt they were letting him down if they didn't contribute to the team's success. Mattingly only made one playoff appearance in his career, but still commanded respect throughout the clubhouse. Jeter commands that same respect and he has five World Series rings to back it up.

Jeter will primarily play shortstop and will DH on those days he needs a partial rest. Eduardo Nunez, if he can stay healthy, will back him up when needed.

Brian Cashman has to do some other things to strengthen this team, even if he doesn't want to spend much to do it. Austin Romine has always possessed the ability to play defense and control a pitching staff at the Major League level. However, his hitting is another matter.  Romine has had some decent minor league seasons, but his slash line in 68 at-bats with the big club is .132/.145/.176.  It's time for Romine to return to the minors and for Cashman to get another catcher to share time with Chris Stewart.

With Francisco Cervelli sidelined indefinitely with a "stress reaction" to an old elbow injury and the lineup's failure to produce runs, getting another Major League level catcher with some life in his bat is an imperative. Cashman will have to look outside the Yankees organization for an upgrade. (Scranton presently has three catchers- 23-year old John Murphy, who has only 20 games experience at the Triple-A level, veteran Bobby Wilson and his .199 batting average, and unknown Jeff Farnham, who has a meager .585 OPS in 14 games after a .504 OPS in 10 games at Trenton.)

So who might be available? (Please stop calling in to radio shows and saying John Buck.)

Ramon Hernandez: The 37-year old's better days are behind him and was released earlier this year by the LA Dodgers. He was signed to a minor league contract by the Toronto Blue Jays at the end of June and has just two hits in 19 at-bats at Triple-A. However, he had a .728 OPS with the Dodgers before he was shown the door.

Miguel Olivo: Made news in mid-June when he blasted his employers, the Florida Marlins, for not sending him elsewhere. The team placed him on the restricted list after he complained about his lack of playing time for the nth time. He's a week away from his 35th birthday, but Olivo averaged 17 home runs over the last four seasons.

Dioner Navarro: Yes, the one and same catcher who appeared in five games for the Yankees as a 20-year old. The now 29-year old Navarro has had a bit of a resurgence with the Chicago Cubs after a number of poor years. Signed as a free agent by the Yankees in 2000, Navarro has an .886 OPS in 44 games with the Cubbies.

Carlos Ruiz: "Chooch" is a free agent after the season and is coming off a season in which he had career highs in HR (16) and RBI (68). Was any of it due to using banned amphetamines? Good question, since Ruiz sat out 25 games earlier this year after getting busted for use of the aforementioned substance. The 35-year old also missed time this season with an injured foot and has struggled all season with his bat. His availability will be based on whether or not the Phils can't grab a wild card spot.

Max Ramirez: The 28-year old was once thought to be a middle-plus prospect, but has only gotten cups of coffee in the Major Leagues with Texas in 2008 and 2010. He's been with five organizations since then and his current address is with the KC Royals' Triple-A squad in Omaha. Ramirez has good power (he averaged 15 home run the past two seasons) and has a career .769 OPS in over 400 Triple-A games.

Tomorrow - A look at getting some infield and pitching help.

Yankees in a Royal Mess

Jeremy Guthrie making the Yankees look foolish

These are the days of the roller coaster Yankees. Win some, lose some, lather, rinse, repeat. The Yankees reeled off five straight victories after a six game slide. They were about to make it six wins a row on Sunday, until Mariano Rivera made for some very bad juju.

I'm not overly superstitious except when it comes to sports. If I played well in an ice hockey game, I'd have the same pre-game meal the next time out. Never stepped on the foul lines taking the field for a baseball or softball game. I've been known to have a lucky seat or two while watching a game at home.

That's why I shook my head when Mariano came on to close out Sunday's game against the Baltimore Orioles with his socks up high in tribute to David Robertson and his quest to be voted into the All-Star game. On top of that, Mo broke in a new pair of spikes. Bad juju all around...moments later the Yankees had lost 2-1 on an Adam Jones home run. A six game winning streak instead was a one game losing streak, which was about to become a two game losing streak.

Monday night Phil Hughes took the mound against Jeremy Guthrie in the start of a four game series with the KC Royals. Hughes gave up a quick home run to Billy Butler (What would a Hughes start be without a home run.) and RBI double to Danny Lough, both in the 2nd inning. Hughes settled down, but the rain clouds didn't and a 59 minute delay ensued.

Hughes didn't return, but Guthrie did and the Yankees couldn't do anything against him. Hell, he didn't even hit anyone, which he tends to do against the Yanks. Adam Warren pitched effectively in 3.2 innings of relief, but the Royals extended the lead to 3-0 before Lyle Overbay hit a pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the 7th. The game got out of hand again in the 9th when Preston Claiborne gave up two more for a 5-1 deficit. The bloom has come off the rose for Claiborne, who has been scored upon in four of his last nine outings.

The Yankees brought the tying run to the plate with no one out in the 9th after they loaded the bases on a walk to Overbay and consecutive singles by Luis Cruz and Chris Stewart. But closer Greg Holland, who gave up the hit to Stewart, struck out Eduardo Nunez, Brett Gardner, and Zoilo Almonte to end the game.

Looks like that the roller coaster is in a descent again.

Notes

Michael Kay brought up a good point during the game- why rest guys like Nunez already? He's only 26 years old, had played two games and was 3-6 with three RBI and a run scored. For a team having trouble scoring why sit someone swinging a hot bat?

Travis Ishikawa was picked up on waivers from Baltimore on Sunday and was inserted in the starting lineup at first base to give Overbay a partial night off. Ishikawa struck out his first two times and was booed. Welcome to the Bronx. He also avoided a ball hit between him and Robinson Cano that he should have attempted to field.

David Adams was sent down to Scranton to make room on the 25-man roster for Ishikawa. Mark Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis were both moved to the 60-day DL over the last few days to make room on the 40-man roster.

Pettitte Far From Perfect, but Yankees Rally Past O's Again

Andy Pettitte is not the pitcher we're using to seeing out there on the mound. More baseballs are in the air than on the ground, Pettitte's trademark for getting outs. On Saturday afternoon he hung tough and the Yankees offense bailed him out in a 5-4 Yankees win over the Baltimore Orioles.

Things didn't look good early for Pettitte, as has been the custom of late. Chris Davis, who used to not be able to hit a left-hander if  he were swinging an oak tree, deposited a first inning pitch over the center field wall for his 33rd home run and 2-0 O's lead. Alexi Casilla added an RBI double an inning later and the Yankees were in a quick 3-0 hole.

The Yankees bats, which had shown life in Minnesota, cut the lead to 3-2 in the home half of the 2nd inning against O's starter Chris Tillman. Recently acquired Luis Cruiz slapped a bases loaded single to get the Yankees on the board and fresh-off-the-DL Eduardo Nunez lifted a sac fly to left for the second run of the inning. The Yankees might have gotten more had Lyle Overbay not run them out of a bigger inning.

Overbay tagged up at second base on Nunez's fly and was easily thrown out trying to advance to third. Never mind the old cliche "You don't make the first or last out at third base.", you don't try to advance to third on a ball hit in front of you, especially when you have no speed.

Pettitte was tagged for another run in the 4th on a Taylor Teagarden RBI single, but finally retired the side in order for the first time in the 5th.  The Yankees took the opportunity to tie up the game in the bottom of the inning. Nunez and Chris Stewart stroked back to back singles and Brett Gardner followed with a sac bunt.

Ichiro Suzuki lashed a ball back up the middle that Casilla made a gorgeous stop on ranging to his right, but had no play on the speedy Ichiro as Nunez scored. Robinson Cano then sliced a pitch to left-center for a game tying single.

Pettitte stranded a runner in the 6th and left with two in the 7th after he struck out Nick Markakis looking with Casilla on second base. Shawn Kelley came on and stranded Casilla with a strikeout of Manny Machado. The Yankees meanwhile had taken the lead in the bottom of the 6th when Overbay singled, moved to second on Cruz's sac bunt, and scored on Nunez's single to center. Adam Jones made a strong throw home, but Overbay knocked over Teagarden as the the catcher couldn't corral the baseball.

David Robertson and Mariano Rivera finished things off for Pettitte's 251st career win, a total that tied him with Bob Gibson on the all time list. It was the lefty's first win since June 8 and his first start since he passed Whitey Ford as the Yankees all time strikeout leader.

Pineda Set For Full Time Stint at Scranton

Photo courtesy of the thetimes-tribune.com

Derek Jeter wasn't the only player of importance rehabbing at Scranton Saturday night. Starting pitcher Michael Pineda, who has yet to pitch a game for the Yankees since his acquisition in the winter of 2011-2012, completed his last rehab start.

The Yankees are in no hurry to add him to their roster, however, so Pineda will be activated Sunday or Monday and optioned to Scranton. Pineda's 30 day rehab assignment expires on Monday.

Pineda's final start came against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. He struck out seven over five innings of work, allowed  a pair of earned runs, four hits, and two walks.

RaidRiders beat writer Donnie Collins reported that Pineda, who was extremely pumped up to be playing with Jeter, was consistent through his five innings of work. The 6'7" right-hander's fastball remained steady from 92-94 mph. Overall, Pineda was pleased with his start.

"I was feeling pretty good today," Pineda said. "My slider was good, but my change-up was good, too. I had a little trouble in the first inning. But I made an adjustment and went back to pitching."

For Pineda, this game was a microcosm of what he knows he needs to do to be a successful pitcher. Excited and working too fast, he struggled to keep his left shoulder closed in that first inning, which threw him off mechanically. 

In the second inning, he made sure to keep the shoulder tight, which helped him get better tilt on the breaking ball and keep his change-up down in the zone. 

"The thing is, when I close my left shoulder, all my pitches are good," Pineda said. "Open my left shoulder, something happens. When my left shoulder is closed, every pitch is down and every pitch is good.

Jeter Helps Down IronPigs

Not a headline you read every day. Derek Jeter was 0-2 with a walk and played five innings of shortstop for the Scranton RailRiders in his first rehab game after his second ankle fracture.

Jeter fielded one grounder cleanly, and according to the LehighValleylive.com (home of said IronPigs) showed good range to his left. Jeter seemed to be running fine when he lined out and grounded out.

Nunez In, Phelps Out

The Yankees finally got someone back from the DL- Eduardo Nunez was activated for Saturday's game with the Baltimore Orioles after a 60 day stay on the disabled list due to oblique strain.

No corresponding move was made, but a check of the active roster has made is appear that David Phelps is the odd man out. UPDATE - Phelps was placed on the 15-day DL with a convenient forearm strain.

Nunez had a chance to establish himself as an every day player while Derek Jeter rehabbed his bum ankle, but Nunez proved to be fragile. He has played in just 27 games this season and has been out since he left a May 5 game with Oakland early. He had a sub par .565 OPS at the time.

Injuries and ineffectiveness in the rotation gave Phelps a shot to get the ball every fifth day. He was 5-4, 4.93 as a starter and won his last start on Sunday. Ivan Nova's recent success, especially his Friday night complete game win over the Orioles, has pushed him back of Phelps on the food chain.

This Is Your Captain, I am Ready For Lift Off

Scranton, PA, the home of the Triple-A Scranton RailRiders is going to have a little extra excitment this July 4th weekend. Nope, not more fireworks, just the captain of the New York Yankees checking into town.

Derek Sanderson Jeter has gotten the go ahead from the Yankees team docs to start a rehab assignment. El Capitan is expected to play at least five innings in the field during Saturday night's game.

During prep for this season, Jeter fractured a different area of his ankle then where the break occurred that knocked him out of last season's playoffs.. I admit it seems kind of odd that someone that just started to run the bases the other day would start a rehab assignment already (or already in my estimation.), but this is very good news.

Here's to the Yankees' captain staying healthy for the rest of the season and replacing whatever .190 hitter is at shortstop in the meantime.

Cervelli Shut Down Indefinitely

Brian Cashman informed the media via a teleconference earlier today that catcher Francisco Cervelli had a "stress reaction" to his right elbow and has been shut down for at least two weeks.

Cervelli was placed on the DL after he suffered a broken hand courtesy of a Rajai Davis foul ball on April 26.  He had been making good progress and was expected to be one of the first Yankees to return from the DL.

Cashman said the source of the problem was an old stress fracture Cervelli had suffered.

The Yankees continue to get catch a break...literally.

The Amazing Independence Days of Yankee Stadium

Yankee Stadium 1.0 saw seen plenty of incredible moments in its history. Perfect World Series games, overtime NFL championship games, heavyweight title fights,  rockers and clergy, and memorials to fallen heroes.

July 4 in particular has had it's share of special, touching, and reflective moments. None more so than in 1939 when the Yankees said goodbye to their captain, Lou Gehrig. The "Iron Man" had been forced into retirement after a diagnosis of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, later known simply as "Lou Gehrig Disease". He was honored by the team and dignitaries on the 4th and delivered one of the most memorable, emotional speeches of all time.

"Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth. I have been in ballparks for seventeen years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans. 

"Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn't consider it the highlight of his career just to associate with them for even one day? Sure, I'm lucky. Who wouldn't consider it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert? Also, the builder of baseball's greatest empire, Ed Barrow? To have spent six years with that wonderful little fellow, Miller Huggins? Then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of psychology, the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy? Sure, I'm lucky. 

"When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift - that's something. When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in white coats remember you with trophies - that's something. When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter - that's somethin . When you have a father and a mother who work all their lives so you can have an education and build your body - it's a blessing. When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed - that's the finest I know.

A remarkable speech  from a remarkable, courageous man. Gehrig's words have been referenced many times over the years from a number of sources (e.g. Mickey Mantle on his retirement day) and were immortalized in the film "Pride of the Yankees with Gary Cooper.

It was also the first unofficial/official Old Timers Day in Yankees history.

On July 4, 1983, George Steinbrenner celebrated his 53rd birthday and watched as the Yankees and Boston Red Sox squared off in an Independence Day matinee at the Stadium. Who could have predicted what came next?

Dave Righetti, the Yankees 26-year old starting pitcher, put nine goose eggs up on the board in a 4-0 Yankees win. The really special part though was the goose egg under the hits column on the Yankee Stadium scoreboard.

No Yankees pitcher had thrown a no-hitter since Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series. Righetti might have taken the mound that day with a chip on his shoulder. Despite a 9-3, 3.53 record, Righetti was passed over for the AL All-Star team. If he was upset, Righetti took it out on the Red Sox.

Wade Boggs was still hitting .356 after the game, but "Rags" struck him out three times, including once in the 9th inning. Boggs flailed at the game's final pitch, but it landed in catcher Butch Wynegar's mitt for the 27th and final out of the day.  Graig Nettles, who rested while Bert Campaneris played 3rd base that day, and Righetti  celebrated the no-hitter and the All-Star break with a trip to Atlantic City.

Other Notable Yankees 4th of July Games

July 4,  1925 - future Hall of Fame members Herb Pennock of the Yankees and Lefty Grove of the Philadelphia Athletics dueled for 15 scoreless innings until the Yankees won 1-0. Pennock out pitched his fellow left-hander by throwing a perfect game through six innings and topped it by being perfect for the final 21 batters.

One year after Righetti's no-no, Phil Niekro struck out Texas' Larry Parrish for the 3,000th strikeout of his career.

Kuroda Feeling Kuruddy

Just eat a lemon?

The Yankees are looking to beat the Minnesota Twins for the second straight night, but the joy is always mixed with aggravation, or more precisely, injury.

Hiroki Kuroda is apparently the latest victim of the body break down squad. According to the NY Times' David Waldstein, the Yankees most consistent starter was sent back to New York for a "possible leg issue".

Ivan Nova will fill in for Kuroda on Friday against the Baltimore Orioles.

Time For the Yankees to Sell, Starting With Granderson

Cano to Go, Don'tcha Know

The Yankees are close to the top of the AL East and the two available wild card spots. They're also close to last place in the AL East and an ignominious finish to the 2013 season. With a plot like that, how should the Yankees write the rest of the book on this season? By being sellers...and potentially smart buyers.

Injuries to Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, Curtis Granderson, Eduardo Nunez, Kevin Youkilis, and Francisco Cervelli have turned the team upside down. For a while everything was okay- newbies Lyle Overbay, Vernon Wells, and Travis Hafner played like they were re-born in April. Since then they have mostly reverted to their over-the-hill status.

The Yankees pitching kept them afloat for a while too, but CC Sabathia has lost velocity and control, Andy  Pettitte has been ineffective after a good start to the season, Phil Hughes is doing his usual Jekyll and Hughes routine, and Ivan Nova and David Phelps have had their ups and downs. Only Hiroki Kuroda has been consistently good, but the lineup goes to sleep when he pitches.

The Yankees have relied on a number of players night in and night out that are not Major League hitters. It's remarkable that they have stayed above .500 for this long. With Teixeira and Youkilis gone for the season, Granderson still unable to swing a bat, and A-Rod possibly facing suspension just as his rehab assignment has started, are things going to get that much better?

It's time for the Yankees, for the first time in recent or long term memory, to be primary sellers at the trade deadline. Unfortunately, they will likely not do that, but the fan base would probably prefer the Yankees did some dealing to re-work the present team.

It should all start with Curtis Granderson.

I love Granderson, he's an even better person off the field than he is on. He had a remarkable 2011 season, before a strictly hit (43 HR) or miss (195 K) 2012 season. This season has been a complete wipe out. Hit by a pitch in the first Spring Training game, he missed the first 38 games of the year. He was only back for eight games when another baseball broke his finger. He's missed another 35 and counting.

Grandy will be 33 when next season starts and he'll be a free agent after this season. I don't see any scenario in which the Yankees give him a new deal.

The Yankees would be nuts to bring Phil Hughes, another pending free agent, back next year. Hughes' laundry list of injuries and his inconsistency over the years should push the Yankees to get a ready-for-the-Major Leagues player or players back instead of waiting for draft pick(s) when Hughes goes elsewhere. Let Michael Pineda or Vidal Nuno take the spot that opens up.

Joba? I don't even need to go in detail as to why he should be dealt. The Yankees won't get much for him, but I know I can't watch more of him coming in and extending the other team's lead.

So now we get to the most difficult one of all...Robinson Cano. I want him back next year and years to come. But not 10 years or whatever outrageous number of years that he's reported to want in a new deal. Cano will be 31 to start next year. You've already seen, for whatever the reason, the degrading of players like A-Rod, Teixeira, Albert Pujols, and Adrian Gonzalez after they signed ridiculously long deals.

Michael Kay spoke on his radio show on Tuesday about how ridiculous it is for Yankees fans to want to blow the team up. There aren't too many people, myself included, who want to blow things up. It's to deal the right players and to do it, not for the sake of just trading them, but to get good return. Otherwise you don't make those deals.

I totally agree that anything can happen once you make the playoffs. I am not from the spoiled generation of fans who think like George Steinbrenner of the pre-millenium that any no-championship season is a waste. but sometimes you need to make moves to avoid multiple seasons without playoffs.

That could definitely be the case with Hal Steinbrenner demanding a $189MM total salary by next season.

A-Rod To Start Rehab Assignment: Are We Sure?

It's not that I'm doubting the possibility of Alex Rodriguez starting a rehab assignment at Single-A Tampa on Tuesday, but yeah, I'm doubt the possibility, etc.

This time it counts to quote an annoying baseball official. Rodriguez will make the next step to either rejoining the Yankees or getting suspended by Major League Baseball.

We all thought the process was going to start last week when A-Rod tweeted he was going to begin and then got smacked down with a major F-bomb by GM Brian Cashman.

Everything was straightened out after a conference call between the two and other Yankees officials. We've also had to put up with the rumor that A-Rod will pronounce himself unfit to play,  and retire with some rotating group of blondes on his arm and the remainder of the $275MM the Steinbrenners erroneously gave him. Beats being suspended and having your employer try to negate your contract.

Let the games begin...the real ones.