BYB HOT STOVE: VOLUME IV

Can the Yankees flip from worst to first and contend for a championship in just a few short months? That's the question facing the legendary club and the chatter around the free agency free for all among today's sports media.  With the Winter Meetings scheduled to begin on Sunday, December 7th,  teams are poised to go face to face with each other and player agents. The result?  Well, it's anyones story to write.  I, for one, hope the Yankees have a few ideas up their sleeve for an award winning novel in 2015.

Things are heating up in Yankeeland as the front office looks to acquire left hand reliever, Andrew Miller from the Baltimore Orioles.  According to Mark Rodgers, Miller's agent, as reported by ESPN "I think Andrew's evolution in the bullpen and his numbers this year fortify the belief in baseball that he's a closer-in-waiting -- and maybe the time for waiting is over." And with David Robertson holding out for what is being reported as "Papelbon money" or a 4 year $50 million deal, Miller could make his way up 95 North to the Bronx.  Since coming to the Orioles from the Red Sox at the end of the trade deadline, Miller was 2-0 with 1.35 ERA and one save last season.  Sounds like a deal to me!

Jon Harper of the New York Daily News still thinks the Yankees will make a run at Max Scherzer even if they pick up Miller or keep Robertson.  Actually, an interesting twist of events is that Harper thinks the hype around Miller is deliberate in order to get DRob to sign with the Yankees.  Could be, could be.

According David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Atlanta Braves have not made top free agent pitcher Jon Lester an offer.  And they don't plan on it either.  The team didn't feel that their offer would be competitive enough for Lester and have decided to bow out.  The top teams in pursuit of Lester are the Cubs and Red Sox.  But don't count the San Francisco Giants out yet.  They met with Lester on Monday and with some room in their pockets with Pablo Sandoval on his way to the East Coast, they are in the hunt.  We will know within the next few days.  The Yankees will most likely sit this one out.

Lastly, despite signing Nelson Cruz to a big four year deal, the Seattle Mariners are still in need of a right fielder and there are two possibilities staring them right in the face.  According to Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune, the two likely candidates are Torii Hunter and Alex Rios.  With Torii Hunter signing with the Twins late last night, Rios could be a contender but also on the radar for the Mariners and actually the Orioles is Matt Kemp.

That's all for us on Hot Stove for this week.  Keep up to date with trades, rumors and chatter right here on BYB.

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Senior Staff Writer
Twitter: @suzieprof








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