BYB HOT STOVE: VOLUME V

Well, we have some movement folks!  No more Fall flat-lining from Yankeeland! There is life in Brian Cashman's purse and with the Winter Meetings in full swing, and, for a moment, there were some inklings that Cashman would make four year deals with Chase Headley and David Robertson.  Then word got out that DRob made a mad dash to the Chicago White Sox for 4 years, $46 million. I guess he got impatient!

The one thing the Yankees have and no one can ever take away is tradition.  There is something to be said about legacy and history and there is honor in wearing pinstripes.  Otherwise why would Andrew Miller leave four million dollars in Houston in exchange to play in the Bronx?  "The Yankees have a perennial expectation of capturing the World Series title. Miller said he got to watch as his 2013 Red Sox won a ring and finally participated in his first playoffs in 2014 with the Orioles. He said pitching in the postseason was “the most fun I’ve ever had” and that he believes the Yankees give him the best chance to return," reported NJ.com this week.

Perhaps we will see the same with Headley. He now has a taste of the New York state of mind.  According to the New York Post article entitled, The 10 people to keep an eye on at the Winter Meetings, "Cashman — armed with the Yankees’ budget and brand — will engage in discussions with his own free agents Chase Headley, Brandon McCarthy and David Robertson, while looking for other pitching and bench upgrades."  Love Headley. McCarthy, I could take or leave.  Robertson was one of us... but now he's gone. 

I am still swallowing the Nick Markakis trade to Atlanta last week.  My student worker @KennyMac1985 is still trying to coming to grips with the loss of his team's franchise player.  "Markakis, the Orioles’ first-round MLB draft pick in 2003, was a rare homegrown product, playing his entire nine-year major league career in Baltimore and quickly becoming a fan favorite after cracking the Opening Day starting lineup as a 22-year-old rookie in 2006," stated an article in the Baltimore Sun last week.  I bring this up because the Orioles have put themselves in an awkward position.  Dan Duquette, Orioles VP, is rumored to be up for the Toronto Blue Jays' President and CEO opening. The Orioles have a lot going on, and with the heat off the Yankees a bit, according to MLB.com questions looming the O's include, "Should Duquette add to the outfield through trades or free agency? Will parting with a starter be a necessary move to plugging other holes? And how will the O's invest the money they saved on not retaining Cruz and Markakis?"

According to CBS Sports.com, Justin Masterson talks are heating up with the Boston Red Sox, Miami Marlins and Chicago's two teams in hot pursuit.  "Masterson broke into the big leagues with the Red Sox and he is very familiar with Cubs bosses Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer from their days in Boston. The Cubs just agreed to a deal with Jason Hammel for $20 million over two years and are pursuing Jon Lester."

Finally, there is some chatter that the Angels could be shopping CJ Wilson.  Angels beat report Alden Gonzalez says that with the starting pitcher market being so thick, the Angels would have to eat some of the 34-year-old pitcher's contract.  Other action on the West Coast include talks centering around sending Jeff Samardzija to the Chicago White Sox. It's a done deal. He packed up and is meeting DRob at a diner somewhere in Chi-town.  As the Chicago Tribune reported before the move: "Samardzija is expected to test the free agent waters after 2015, and with the price of starting pitching continuing to rise to astronomical levels, there’s little reason to believe he would change his mind and sign an extension now."

Well, Shark is also Chicago bound, according to several reports:

Reports: The @whitesox add pitching, trading for Jeff Samardzija and signing @DRob30. http://t.co/sNfdb3f5Xc pic.twitter.com/iPIKWRoMMC
— Baseball Tonight (@BBTN) December 9, 2014

That's it for BYB Hot Stove.  Winter Meetings will continue to heat up.  Stay tuned for updates right here at BleedingYankeeBlue.com.

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



 


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