BLEEDING YANKEE BLUE PLAYER TRACKER #3

There are a lot of deals that will be made over the next few weeks, and BYB will be keeping tabs on the trades and free agent signings to report back to you. In case you missed it, read BYB PLAYER TRACKER #1 and BYB PLAYER TRACKER #2.

Jacoby Ellsbury: Once upon a time, Ellsbury looked like he was going to be the face of the Red Sox. After an MVP type season in 2011, he did not have the same success in 2012. Ellsbury will be a free agent after 2013, and the Red Sox may not be able to sign him to a long-term deal. Is it time to trade him? He could be a match for several teams. Read that HERE. I expect him to start the year in a Red Sox uniform and then be traded by the deadline.

Hiroki Kuroda: Friday afternoon Kuroda officially declined the Yankees 13.3million qualifying offer and is now a free agent. The Yankees are interested in re-signing him, but now the Dodgers and the Red Sox are also going to target him read that HERE. Despite the competition, I believe Kuroda and the Yankees will reunite and get another deal done.

David Wright: The Mets have exercised Wright’s 2013 player option worth $16million dollars. At the trade deadline this year there were rumors that the Mets might try to trade him, but they never amounted to anything. The Mets are already talking about a contract extension read that HERE. An agreement doesn’t sound close yet, but something tells me that Wright could retire in a Mets uniform.

Joakim Soria:  Soria has looked up to Mariano Rivera for many years. He could be a valuable closer to many teams out there, but not the Yankees assuming Mo returns. Would playing with his childhood idol make the new role role worth it? His agent, Oscar Suarez said it would read that HERE. Soria would give the Yankees another closer when Mo finally retires, but I am not so sure that he is leaving the Royals this year.

Michael Bourn: Bourn also rejected the Braves qualifying offer making him a free agent. There are quite a few teams that would benefit from having a good lead-off hitter, so he could be in high demand. The Reds, Nationals, and Phillies are all rumored to be interested, read that HERE. There is still a possibility that he returns to the Braves, but I think he is a good fit for the Nationals.

Jeremy Hellickson: The Rays are stockpiled with pitching, and with other needs to address it makes sense for someone to go. So far, Hellickson has drawn the most interest from teams read that HERE. If the Rays decide to trade him away, the Brewers or the Twins could be a fit.

--Jeana Bellezza, BYB Writer and Editor

Twitter: @NyPrincessJ


Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.