It's finalized. Don Mattingly is a Blue Jay and will be their bench coach. The Blue Jays announced it on Twitter:
OFFICIAL: We're excited to announce that we've hired Don Mattingly as our Bench Coach.
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) November 30, 2022
Welcome to the #BlueJays, Donnie Baseball! ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/juJjmJKkWN
And there you have it. Damn that moved quickly.
"The Dodgers are one of the few teams who have shown a willingness to hand out the kind of contracts required to shop at the top of the market on a consistent basis. They absolutely have the financial flexibility to do so this offseason, too, after allowing Trea Turner to enter free agency without an extension and declining Justin Turner's option," reported CBS Sports. Certainly not necessarily new to the conversation, the Los Angeles Dodgers are always looking to add more to their arsenal. Last season they picked up superstar Freddie Freeman. The year before they picked up ace pitcher Max Scherzer and before that they exploded with a contract for then free agent Mookie Betts. The Dodgers are not afraid of digging into their deep pockets to pick up the right players for their evolving team. And this year will be no different.
"It's not easy to clock what the Dodgers starting nine might look like because of their versatility, and because they have some other pressing questions to address this offseason -- like, who plays shortstop, and what about third base? Predictably, the Dodgers have been linked to the top free-agent shortstops, including Carlos Correa, and have even been rumored to have interest in Willy Adames of the Milwaukee Brewers," reported CBS Sports. So maybe the Judge addition is not as essential as these key infield positions. That leaves their in state rival the San Francisco Giants who have been linked to Judge since before he officially announced his free agency.
Source: LM Otero
Recall the Aaron Judge was wooed by the San Francisco Giants and visited with the team and the higher management over several days last week. According to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, “I believe that once Aaron Judge knows where at least the initial Giants offer comes in, and I do believe one is forthcoming, that there will be a fairly robust conversation to where we could see Aaron Judge signing with a team within the next two weeks, by the end of the Winter Meetings." The Winter Meetings kick off on Sunday and end Wednesday, December 7th. With an offer coming perhaps as early this week, the Yankees and maybe even the Dodgers will have opportunities to outbid and woe the slugger accordingly.
I am glad Judge is being lauded, celebrated, wooed after. He deserves it. But after all the fanfare subsides, I hope he can quietly reflect on the player he is and the one he wants to become. It's not every winter we get to witness this kind of lovefest over a player. But this year, is Judge's year and let's hope he chooses well.
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We just wrote about Mattingly the other day. The report was that maybe he and Derek Jeter could be part of the Yankees future, but in the booth. Now comes word that it's probably not a thing. Read IF TRUE, HUGE NEWS ABOUT JETER & MATTINGLY COULD BE COMING TO US YANKEE FANS! if you don't know what I'm talking about.
Larry Brown Sports writes:
"Mattingly and the Toronto Blue Jays are deep in discussions on a job. He adds that an announcement could come this weekend.
When Tommy Kahnle was on the Yankees, I was a big fan. When he was in New York, Tommy's numbers were respectable. 4 years, 4.01 ERA, 157 strikeouts and under 50 walks. He did the job and he did it well. You gotta wonder if a few years later he still has it. I say yeah, and guess what, he's available.
Empire Sports NY writes:
"Kahnle came to the Yankees in a trade with the White Sox in 2017 and quickly became a bullpen staple. His high-90s fastball paired with a deadly changeup. He posted 12.6 strikeouts per nine innings (K/9) as a Yankee before Tommy John surgery knocked him out of the shortened 2020 season. Even better, Kahnle was well-loved in the clubhouse thanks to his endless optimistic energy.Tommy Kahnle has 10 plus teams expressing interest after strong September return with Dodgers (0.63 WHIP, 2.84 ERA). Ex Yankee also benefits from demand outstripping supply in relief market.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 27, 2022
If you love Don Mattingly and Derek Jeter as much as I do, you are going to love this scoop from Andrew Marchand of the New York Post. Put it this way, when the Yankees lost in the post season, I was calling for Aaron Boone's head, and many wanted Cashman gone too. Of course, the timing was right because it was announced around the same time that Mattingly wouldn't be back in Miami and Jeter, of course, had already left that franchise. So... it appeared that things could really happen when it came to replacing those dudes. But we all knew in the back of our minds that it wouldn't happen, and it didn't. But this news is great and if true, would really be spectacular to spicing up the Yankee franchise after another season of losing.
Marchand writes:
"As YES begins constructing its broadcast lineup for next year, it has discussed the possibility of making an attempt for two of the greatest and most popular Yankees in the team’s history – Derek Jeter and Don Mattingly.
I really hope there isn't any context. Honestly, Benintendi is an asset to this team and would be to any other team and those other teams know it. Winter Meetings will kick off on Sunday, and soon we could see some bigger names sign some deals. Seattle is hoping they might be a team that could snag Benintendi and have already reached out to him, read more HERE.
Some people may not be as anxious to hold on to Benintendi as I am, and I won't try to change anyone's mind. We all know the Yankees can afford Judge and Benintendi so he doesn't have to be a backup option. He adds so much to a lineup, and I hope he will continue to add to ours.
There are so many reasons to bring Benintendi back...and hopefully he wants to come back. Hopefully, Heyman's got this rumor all wrong.
“A lot of stuff doesn’t kick in until the winter meetings in December,” Aaron Judge said earlier this month after winning the AL MVP Award," reported the New York Post. Now, all eyes are focused on the meetings which will be San Diego beginning December 4th.
According to the New York Post, "Judge’s free agency did receive some juice this past week, when he took a two-day visit with his hometown Giants, though it remains to be seen whether he will take meetings with other teams before he makes his decision. The Dodgers are expected to be another suitor for Judge while Yankees general manager Brian Cashman recently said the team has an offer on the table for the star outfielder." The pacific coast time zone will provide news on signings to New Yorkers at different, perhaps weird times. But reporters will be hot to post as soon as Judge and even Jacob deGrom camps make their move.
"The two-time Cy Young award winner is looking to become MLB’s highest-paid pitcher. Max Scherzer and the Mets reset the standard last year with a record $43.3 million average annual value (three years, $130 million). The Mets believe deGrom wants to stay in Queens as long as there isn’t a significant discrepancy in offers elsewhere, The Post’s Mike Puma reported last week."
Besides the Mets and the Yankees, this trip to San Diego is going to quite expensive for clubs seeking to furnish their clubhouse with key signature players. There is a long list of players on the market, that with a new team, could make them more likely to go far in the playoffs next fall.
As much as I want to just hold my tongue and not jinx our chances of getting Judge, the Yankees need more than AL MVP in their clubhouse to go deeper in the playoffs. Consistent pitching, hitting and staying healthy are keys to winning. Yet signing Judge may also be the catalyst for the Yankees to build around him, with resources that can put the Bombers over the edge and into the World Series. It will be an interesting two weeks, fans. Let's hope it bows well for the Yankees.
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Aaron Judge is the big fish, but he's not the only one out there. Remember, the Yankees didn't get very far in the post season for a few reasons. Judge wasn't the only reason. Their offense stunk and pitching was a little shaky. I had said it all year; I said the Yankees looked great for most of the season, but it's in those short series that you truly find what kind of team you have. The Yanks didn't have it, and so, we really need to think about what to do to improve.
There are some names attached to the Yankees this offseason. I wanted to share four of them with you. Do with it what you want. The rumor season is always a weird one built up with clicks and ideas. So, in the end, who knows what will really happen. But I wanted to share the names anyway... because it's fun.
The Yankees liked this guy back in August. But nothing ever happened. Now, his name is back in the fold and this time he's connected to Gleyber Torres to make it a reality. Jon Heyman tweets this:
Biggest name hear available in trade so far is Marlins pitcher Pablo Lopez. Fish need hitters! Came close to dealing him to Yankees at deadline in a Gleyber Torres deal.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 8, 2022
Yanks go Yard says this:
"The Marlins need hitters and they have a plethora of starting pitchers, with Lopez slowly becoming expendable because he’s a free agent after 2024 who likely won’t be re-signed due to the other emerging arms in the organization. He’s expected to make $6.3 million in arbitration in 2023, which would be a cost-effective price for a pitcher of his caliber as well as the Yankees’ needs (a No. 4 and 5 behind Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes and Luis Severino)."
I feel like the San Francisco Giants are trying way too hard and it's going to backfire. Am I wrong? Maybe, but I doubt it.
So far, they had a "productive meeting" with Aaron Judge, Joc Pederson goes on Twitter and looks like a fan boy photoshopping a Giants uniform on the guy, Steph Curry is kissing the guy's ass and now Chris Mullin comes out of the woodwork and tries to convince Aaron Judge that he needs to play in San Francisco. What's next, Gavin Newsom and Willie Mays take a Trolley Bus tour with the guy, eat crab with him at the pier and swim to Alcatraz together? It's beginning to get annoying.
Back in the day Chris Mullion was one of my favorite college basketball players. The competition between Mullin and Patrick Ewing at Georgetown was awesome. Mullin went on to play for the Golden State Warriors and I would catch some games when he'd play the Knicks. Never a huge basketball fan, but I did like the way Mullin played.
Now I read this guy is all over Aaron Judge and it makes me change my view of this guy. I guess when you go West Coast, you drop the East Coast all together. Mullin wants no part of New York anymore and is trying to entice Judge to come to San Francisco. Come on, man!
Giants Baseball Insider on Fan Nation writes:
"Listen it's time to come to the Bay Area Aaron Judge. All rise! Let's go," Mullin said. "Oracle Park is a beautiful place to play. You're going to win championships here. Just look at what Steph Curry's doing here. The Bay Area is a forgiving place. You put up a career year. You hit 62 home runs, and they're giving you the Bronx cheer in the playoffs. Time to go man. Come back home."
Jon Heyman drives me crazy. There, I said it.
But that being said, I can actually appreciate this piece of his analysis when it comes to ballparks, home runs, team needs and where Aaron Judge will play next. Now, dare I say it means nothing when money comes into play, but it is still very interesting, and I appreciate it! Kudos to Heyman here.
"While the Giants and Dodgers seem like the biggest threats to sign away superstar Aaron Judge, both carry potential complications in pursuits against the Yankees, who hold edges for Judge in legacy, ballpark and familiarity.
There is no doubt that Aaron Judge was a team leader on the Yankees. There is no doubt that the friendships he has with his teammates runs deep. He's just that guy, and that is a terrific thing to have in a player and teammate. Of course, the fans love him, but it's all really important that guys can respect each other and play with one another and that starts in the clubhouse.
I found this quote to be terrific, and there are so many more as well. ClutchPoints writes:
"He’ll bail you out of jail at 4 in the morning if you call him,” said first baseman Anthony Rizzo in a Wednesday report from NJ.com, who resigned with the Yankees on a two-year, $40 million contract in mid November."
The Yankees are always tied to big name free agents, so why would it change now? Add in that the Yankees wanted him last season and missed out on him so why wouldn't they be interested again? Oh, especially after he was just named the 2022 AL Cy Young winner after winning 18 games and posting a career low 1.75 ERA. EVERY TEAM is going to be knocking on Verlander's door.
The Bleeding Yankee Blue store is making everything we can just in time for Christmas, and we want you to shop with confidence these days (BYB GEAR) as we are feverishly partnering with Tee Public in this venture to sell high quality clothes and merchandise of not only Bleeding Yankee Blue's products, but a whole slew of talented artists selling incredible stuff!
First off, right now everything is 40% off. When you go to our store HERE, most likely a box will pop up similarly to this which asks for your email.
I know, people don't like putting in their email address, but this gets you 40% off for Black Friday off the bat. Then, go shopping!
Our selection is wild and slowly becoming bigger and bigger. We started our Christmas campaign, and you will see boxes similarly to this one here showing some of our designs. When you click the box, there will be a TON of styles and we are adding like crazy!
Introducing the Aaron Judge Collection.
Click to check it out.
The Bleeding Yankee Blue collection.
Click to check it out!
Do you like Mugs? Check these out!
We even have a Tribute to the Negro Leagues! Click to view:
For our full selection, all you need to do is click on the BYB Gear store in the Tab section of Bleeding Yankee Blue. Once in there, You will find anything you want!
If you want to make a special request in the hopes to get it before Christmas, DEADLINES FOR REQUESTS MUST BE MADE BY DECEMBER 6TH!
Look, We truly hope you shop and help support the BYB brand. We've been here since 2010 and we are hoping to expand a bit. This would be helpful to our brand, and you will get a nice few gifts for friends and family members just in time for Christmas! This is a terrific Black Friday sale... 40% off and more sales to come!
Shop with confidence! The Quality is fantastic and if you are not satisfied you can return to Tee Public for a replacement or money back guarantee!
Happy Shopping! Happy Black Friday! Happy Thanksgiving!
