BYB HOT STOVE VOLUME: LUCKY XIII

Here we are in week 13 of BYB's Hot Stove column and the truth is, there are a number of free agents who remain unsigned.  There's only 61 days until the 2015 season begins and 24 days Spring Training.  Despite the cold temperatures in the Northeast, the stove is hot with prospects for those who want some last minute additions to ramp up their teams before pitchers and catchers report in a couple of weeks.

According to Paul Hagen of MLB.com, "The biggest name, of course, is Big Game. That would be right-hander James Shields, who was considered one of the top three starters on the market going into the offseason. The other two, Jon Lester and Max Scherzer, cashed in with huge deals with the Cubs and Nationals, respectively."  Could the Yankees be in contention for Shields?  Not if he wants a big contract for big bucks.  We will not dish out that kind of time or money.  Not sure he will be in Yankee pinstripes, but according to Hagen, the Padres, Marlins, Blue Jays and White Sox have expressed interest.  According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Cardinals seem to have the pulse on Shields.  I would say he will find a home within the week.

Three other starting pitchers to keep an eye on are Kyle Kendrick, Chris Young and Roberto Hernandez.  None are particularly impressive, but 29-year-old Young was named AL Comeback Player of the Year, if that accolade means something and it might for the right price and right team.

There are some familiar relief pitchers still available as well.  Joba Chamberlain is on the outskirts looking in, as is Francisco Rodriguez and Rafael Soriano.  We will pass on all of these guys, all have who have played in New York.  Another New York alum out there is hard throwing Phil Coke.

Outfielder Ryan Ludwick is a free agent up for grabs.  According to Hagen, "Ludwick has dealt with shoulder problems since he posted an .877 OPS for the Reds in 2012, but he still showed some power last season with nine homers in 357 at-bats."  For the right price, maybe.  According to Jon Heyman in a late evening tweet, Cleveland is looking for a late "cost-effective right bat."  Ludwick could be the guy for the Indians.  Also note that Andruw Jones is looking to make a comeback too and could be somebody the Indians considers.

That's Hot Stove Volume Lucky 13!  Here's to hoping we sign somebody next week!  Maybe we will have a shot at the young Cuban athlete Yoan Moncada, who is free to negotiate!  Keep an eye out for that breaking news!

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



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ANDRUW JONES HAS STILL GOT IT!

In case you didn't know, Andruw Jones didn't retire from baseball or anything.  Jones was playing ball in Japan where he played first base and a tiny bit of outfield.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe wrote this about Jones:

"After two seasons with Rakuten in Japan, where he hit 26 home runs with 94 RBIs (.845 OPS) and 24 homers with 71 RBIs (.820 OPS), with OBPs of .391 and .394, Jones will be returning to major league baseball. Agent Scott Boras claims there are at least two teams interested in Jones as a DH and/or righthanded platoon player. 

A 10-time Gold Glove outfielder, Jones would return with 434 homers and 1,289 RBIs." 

You gotta wonder who those teams are.  Obviously it's a team with the need for some bat power.  The Yankees would never look Jones' way at this point.  Not that they don't appreciate Jones, they just really don't need the guy. We have Carlos Beltran and Alex Rodriguez... they're all pretty similar at this point, aren't they?

Whatever the case, we just wanted to give you an update on Andruw Jones. A good Yankee, a great player for alot of years and we wish the guy well.

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HOW I FEEL ABOUT THE DODGERS TRADE FOR ROLLINS

I'm a Dodgers fan... Now that that's established...

The Dodgers have a habit of signing players past their prime to overly-generous contracts before they are put out to baseball pasture (see: Manny Ramirez, Jason Schmidt, Nomar Garciaparra, Andruw Jones, et. al.)

So when the Dodgers made their first notable move at this week’s Winter Meetings, I wasn’t surprised that they were in contention to sign another veteran to their roster in Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins. What does surprise me though is that trade actually makes sense for the Dodger’s current lineup.

In his 15 years in the City of Brotherly Love, Rollins has established himself as one of the game’s top shortstops. Rollins, who is 36, is a two-time All-Star and 2007 NL MVP and is well regarded in the Phillies clubhouse and community. And after losing Hanley Ramirez to the BoSox, the boys in blue are in dire need of a quality middle infielder that can be an immediate impact player in the lineup.

While the Dodgers have young talent in Corey Seager, the infielder is still a year or two away from being an everyday player in the Bigs. Rollins has one year left on his contract and is expecting to be paid $11 million in the 2015 season and can act as a bridge until Seager’s major league debut. Compared to some of the horrible deals the Dodgers have made in the past few seasons, Rollins seems like a deal. The team gets a reliable hitter and a seasoned veteran in a locker room that’s been described as dysfunctional at best.

It’s not yet clear who the Dodgers will be trading in return for Rollins, but the deal seems to indicate that new GM Andrew Friedman may be a little more savvy that his predecessor Ned Colletti when it comes to using the purse. While the Dodgers have been rumored to be suitors in several blockbuster trades including Jon Lester, Cole Hamels, and Andrew Miller, Friedman has refrained from any major deals until today’s acquisition of Rollins.

--Alexis Garcia, BYB's "Eye on MLB" Columnist
Twitter:  @heylexyg






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A BYB WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC RECAP

The World Baseball Classic is over and I have to say that it was incredible! For those who don’t follow, 16 teams from 16 different countries compete for the opportunity to be the best in the world. It is basically the closest thing to the Olympics that we get in baseball.

Pool 1 consisted of Chinese Taipei, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Cuba and 2009’s champions, Japan. Japan came right out of the box and showed why they were the defending champs by becoming the first team to secure their spot in the finals. Their pitching staff gave them a definite edge during these games. Kingdom of the Netherlands showed us some strong hitters.

Curt Smith, Andrelton Simmons, and former Yankee, Andruw Jones, all hit well over .300, helping them secure the second spot in the finals.

Pool 2 was made up of Italy, United States, Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic. This pool was possibly the most interesting to watch. On paper, USA was the better team, but Puerto Rico proved why, in baseball, you cannot rely solely on stats. Don’t get me wrong; team USA did well. David Wright broke out, hitting .438 and earning him the name “Captain America.” But it wasn’t enough when they faced the underdog team from Puerto Rico.  

In the finals, Puerto Rico faced Japan, and once again proved that you can’t predict baseball. They faced pitcher Kente Maeda who posted a .60 ERA during the WBC. You read that correctly, .60! The game seemed like an easy win, in favor of Japan. But outstanding plays, like Irving Falu’s Roberto Alomar-esque catch at second base, gave Puerto Rico the edge and the win. For the first time, Japan would not be world champions.  

Dominican Republic faced Kingdom of the Netherlands. There really isn’t much to say about the Dominican team that isn’t about their complete dominance. Moises Sierra’s very Derek Jeter like play to grab the ball in the stands, made me giddy! They were playing to win.  

The Championship round was amazing! The underdog team from Puerto Rico faced the undefeated team from Dominican Republic. Both teams knew that early runs scored could mean a win or loss. In the end, it was Dominican Republic that won. With players like, Yankees own, Robinson Cano hitting over. 500 the entire series, was there really any doubt?  

As a Hispanic American with roots in both Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic, I cannot tell you how happy it made me to see these two teams face off at the championships. Both teams played the entire series with a lot of heart and determination, and should be very proud of what they have accomplished. The Hispanic community is thrilled to have had these two teams represent us. 

Big congratulations to Robinson Cano for winning the WBC MVP and to Tony Pena doing an amazing job with managing these players and being the first team ever to go undefeated at the World Baseball Classic. 

--Erica Morales, BYB Writer
Twitter: @e_morales1804

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JOE GIRARDI: "THIS TEAM COULD WIN 95 GAMES."

Important points were revealed by Joe Girardi yesterday, but none more important than his assessment that his team has talent and could win a World Series.  It's true.  When you step back from the chaotic offseason and look at our club, the Yankees have what it takes to go all the way.  Will it be easy? No, we're not the 1998 Yankees... but we can do it.

Read Jack Curry's piece on YESNetwork.com, HERE, there were some nice nuggets. Nuggets you as a Yankee fan should be relieved about:

"... Girardi, the eternal optimist, preached optimism. The manager emphasized how the Yankees have the same starting rotation, essentially the same bullpen (with Rivera replacing Soriano) and the same infield back. Since the departures of Martin, Swisher, Ibanez, Chavez and Andruw Jones mean that almost 100 homers have left the building, Girardi acknowledged that the Yankees must be a different offensive team. The Yankees led the Major Leagues with 245 homers in 2012.

'I believe we're going to score runs,' Girardi said. 'It's just going to be in a different fashion.'"

Now look, I'm a fan of the long ball like everyone else, but the reality is, I've been preaching the simplicity of Baseball, something I said since last year when we were aiming at fences... the fundamentals of baseball.  Getting a runner on and getting a runner over...the basics.  Read YANKEE BASEBALL: THE BASICS OF HITTING. We weren't built for that last year, but we are this year.

Jack had that covered as well: "Girardi meant the Yankees would rely more on Brett Gardner, who missed most of last season, and Suzuki to help create some offense with their speed. It won't be easy. Some fans groused that the Yankees hit too many homers. Cashman has already said that those fans will get their wish and will see a time with less power. By the way, hitting homers was never a problem for the Yankees. Every team wants to blast homers. It was the lack of situational hitting that buried the Yankees."

So what do we have? A different Yankee club and so, we'll  need to just sit back and enjoy it.  More on enjoying it in a future post.  My buddy Rich said something so simply about sitting back and enjoying this 2013 club and it's for a very good reason... we'll tell you what he said in a post tonight or tomorrow.  Look for it.

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DEREK LOWE, ANDRUW JONES & OSCAR MADISON

Derek Lowe: The reality of Derek Lowe is he wants to be a starter. The problem is, in my mind at least, is he is better off being a reliever with the option to start, much like Freddy Garcia did for us. Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe HERE says that Lowe has heard  from 5 teams and told Cafardo, "I want to be a starter and feel I have a lot left in being a regular starter in a rotation and making my 30-plus starts." Now to be honest, I was not excited about Lowe when the Yanks picked him up last season.  Read IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT for guidance. After I wrote that piece, it was reported that David Phelps would replace CC Sabathia in that rotation spot, and the rest with Lowe and the Yankees was history last year. He ended up holding is own, he knew his role and I liked him in that spot.  Whatever happens, I wish Lowe good luck.

Andruw Jones: Jones made a big mistake.  I'm not getting into his private situation with his wife, but let's just report it straight. Above is Andruw's mug shot. He was arrested on Christmas morning at 4:00 am.  According to the police report and told by the Altanta Journal Constitution HERE, "...Nicole Jones told officers she and Andruw had hosted a Christmas party Tuesday night and that Jones had consumed several alcoholic beverages.

After the party, she told Jones that they needed to prepare the house for Christmas morning and asked him to help her assemble a computer table, the police report stated.

According to the report, Nicole Jones said Andruw became belligerent as they worked on the desk and grabbed her by the left arm. She pulled away and attempted to go upstairs, according to the report, but Jones grabbed her by the ankle, pulled her down and put his hands around her neck and said, “I want to kill you, I want to [expletive] kill you...” Andruw Jones is out on bond.

Oscar Madison: Jack Klugman played Oscar Madison in the "Odd Couple." It was a show that evolved from the film of the same name in which Walter Matthau played Oscar. Matthau also played Oscar in a Broadway play.  But I liked Jack as Madison best. I loved his passion for the Knicks, the Mets and the character itself was terrific.  If you didn't know, Madison was a sports writer and here's a nugget from YouTube in one of my favorite clips when Oscar and Felix Ungar we on the show Password.


Jack Klugman passed away on Monday, December 24th, read about it HERE.  He was 90. Rest in peace Jack.

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WHO'S THE RIGHT FIELDER THE YANKEES WANT?

If you read Mark Feinsand's Tweet, it's clear the Yankees want to do something, but what? Feinsand's tweet reveals that Yankee brass want a righty outfielder.  Not a lefty who's 40 apparently.

But what are the options? Not too many, unless you want to trade players away and pick up big salaries.  Look at Vernon Wells for instance.  The Angels have suggested they would trade him, but the Yankees talk out of both sides of their mouth.

If they want to take this stance that the Yankees are being "smart" and picking up "cheap" options, and then they "check in" on Vernon Wells, it's kind of a contradiction isn't it?

How about Logan Morrison? He was a guy that was connected to the Yankees for a total of 3 minutes very early in the off season.  One problem, he's a lefty. He's also 25, so in the grand scheme of things, does right handed power truly matter if you're exchanging it for youth? Plus, let's be honest, if the Yankees really wanted a right handed outfielder, why did they let Andruw Jones walk? Sure, he wasn't the greatest option, but he was what they wanted, a "cheap" right handed bat with power.  Again, they talk out of both sides of their mouth.  WHAT IS IT THEY REALLY WANT?

We here at BYB suggested replacing Raul Ibanez with a guy like Jason Kubel. Read that HERE.  We'd have to trade for him, and to be honest, it's a smart trade scenario and I accept it. It makes sense. There is now chatter that Kubel would be a better fit for the Rangers, read HERE. I will bet you he slips through the cracks for the Yankees, just because they'll claim he bats lefty and that's what the Yankees DON'T want.  But seriously, I don't think the Yankees really know what they want, do you?

I always go back to my fall back, the most impossible guy we could ever snag, but a guy I truly want in pinstripes and someone that Yankee fans would fall in love with, Giancarlo Stanton.  Will he be a Yankee? Probably not, but in the back of my mind, I am always thinking the way I think the Yankee brass would think.  What I mean is, they are ass backwards.  They say they want to save a few bucks and Cashman is constantly saying they need to see "what kind of money they have left-over", yet, they don't sign guys "within the budget". Then, POW, a surprise happens and they have figured out a perfect trade scenario. But they are all over the map, I mean, is that because they are trying to work out a trade or sign a younger free agent or what?

It's all highly annoying and why should I care at this point, right?  Like I stated clearly in YANKEE FANS REVOLT: "ENOUGH'S ENOUGH!", I've had it trying to figure out the next move.  They don't exactly care about the fan here and I guess I'm done trying to place players in pinstripes.  Christmas has come and gone, and as predicted, we haven't gotten anything for Christmas.

Enjoy today Ladies & Gentlemen, it's a beautiful Christmas morning on the East coast today. I hope it is wherever you are.

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WHO? JIM THOME OR RAUL IBANEZ?

Now I know what you're thinking and look, I hear you... Raul Ibanez is our 2012 playoff hero. You're wondering why in the world would I even consider bringing up a guy like Jim Thome in the same sentence, right? Well, I am, and for good reason. The Yankees have made no move to sign Raul quickly and Thome in Yankee stadium could be the biggest display of power that would give Yankee fans that extra excitement we haven't seen in years.

Yes, the Yanks expect to nail down Ibanez "soon", read HERE. But how long is this going to take?   I can tell you this, Ibanez wants to come back to New York. When we did our interview titled BYB EXCLUSIVE. IBANEZ TO SANDY VICTIMS: "I AM HERE TO HELP", he simply told BYB, "I can't wait to come back to the Yankees!". Simple enough, his hearts already in the Bronx. Then there was a lot of hurry up and wait. The Yanks moved around, looking for other players and Ibanez was patient. Almost too patient for my taste. I may have been alittle tougher with Yankee Brass. I guess Raul knows his services in baseball won't be needed as much at age 40 and he is happy to be patient and not cause waves. I guess I get that.

I'm going to be honest, not cruel; Raul Ibanez was everything we hoped he would be in 2012, but there is a tiny part of me that wants to see a shake-up. Yes, I have no problem re-signing Raul, but what if the Yankees decided to sign Jim Thome?  How would you feel?

Like Craig Robinson said in "Knocked up" to Leslie Mann, Thome is "old as fuck" (the 2:05 mark), but still has a ton of potential with that powerful bat.


If you couple that with the right field porch in Yankee stadium and a player who will come cheaper because of where he is in his career, and it almost seems like a no-brainer to me. One problem, if we sign Raul Ibanez, would we even need Jim Thome? And vice-versa by the way... The answer is, I doubt it.

Look, the good thing about the Raul Ibanez-Andruw Jones platoon was one hit from the left side and one hit from the right side. Both Thome and Ibanez hit lefty, so ultimately, while it "could" happen that the Yanks signed both, it's unlikely because that righty-lefty hitting platoon don't exist with them.

That being said, I've been around the Yankees long enough to know that if we see potential with a certain player, we do what they have to do to get them.

Back in 2011, I wrote a piece titled WHY THOME SHOULD BE A YANKEE.  In it, I thought Thome would be an interesting fit, writing: "...in my heart of hearts, I believe Jim Thome, a veteran home run hitter, should end his career in pinstripes. Why not? Yankee Stadium, which, for a brief time had a right field stands titled "Damon's Deck", should be called "Thome Town". The town where balls are deposited regularly by Jim Thome. Can you imagine how many home runs Thome can give us at Yankee Stadium? 30, 35? Yes, Thome is older, but he still knows his role and when you concentrate on something long enough, you get into a rhythm and just keep rolling. You don't believe me? Ask Josh Hamilton when he put on a clinic at the old Yankee Stadium during the Home Run Derby in 2008..."

I still think Thome would be fun in the Bronx, but I'll telll you, I just ain't sure the Yanks would ever go for it. I'm not sure Yankee fans will go for it, especially after Raul has done so much last season.

Raul Ibanez is a safe bet. He wants back and Cashman has been clear that the Yankees had priorities before Ibanez, but he's on the list. If he was around when they came around, it seems like they'd get a deal done. And that's where we're at. So now we wait.

But I'm asking and we'll put a poll up this morning supporting this question: If you had to choose, Jim Thome or Raul Ibanez for that role of Designated Hitter for the Yankees, who would you choose? Vote. And when the poll closes, we'll write about it, regardless of if the Yanks sign Raul by then. I'm curious how many people want a shake-up, or a "thank you" to Ibanez for doing so well in the playoffs.

In the meantime... I have some shopping to do for Christmas. Don't judge me, I have a lot going on.

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IT WAS FUN CASEY MCGEHEE...

 Well, what do you know... Andruw Jones was the first dude the Yankees had last season, that suddenly decided to go play in Japan with the Rakuten Golden Eagles when he became a free agent.  Now, Casey McGehee, another former Yankee has also signed a deal. The source on this is NPB Tracker and Patrick Newman, HERE, writing " Multiple reports out of the Japanese media machine say that the Rakuten Golden Eagles have agreed to a contract with third baseman Casey McGehee..."

The deal will be for 1 year, and 1.3 million...and it's pending a physical... of course.

Casey came to the Yankees and filled in when needed.  He was a good soldier, but it was clear the guy wouldn't have much of a career in New York and he knew it. At one point he was sent down to Single A Charleston, read HERE.  Look, the guy's 30 years old and has alot of baseball to still play.  I guess if certain teams call, even in Japan, if it becomes enticing enough, you go for it.

Good luck to Casey McGehee, and Andruw Jones for that matter.  I'll try to give you guys updates once in a while on their play overseas with the Eagles.

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ANDRUW JONES TO PLAY IN JAPAN & IN OTHER NEWS...

...I like Japanese cuisine.  Yes, it's true, the report right now is Andruw Jones has signed a deal to play baseball in Japan with the Rakuten Golden Eagles.  It's a one year deal worth about $3.6 million.  That comes from Hardball Talk HERE, who got the report from Nikkonsports.com HERE. I don't read japanese, I'm taking Craig Calcaterra's word for it. 

So what does this mean? More movement in Yankeeland going away from the club, and nothing coming into the club. Wow, what a crappy week for New York Yankee baseball. Remember when the Winter Meetings used to be fun?  I mean, where the hell is Raul Ibanez? Where is Ichiro Suzuki? Kevin Youkilis?  Who knows...

I'm hungry... I'm going out to get hibachi... congrats to Andruw Jones.

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BYB TRADE RUMORS & FREE AGENTS: PART 1

It’s that time of year again ladies & gentlemen! As soon as Miguel Cabrera froze on an 89 mph fastball right down the middle from Giants’ closer Sergio Romo, the off-season had officially begun around Major League Baseball. Gotta love it!

With so many questions the Yankees have, you can argue that this is the biggest off-season since the off-season leading up to 2009. So, without wasting any more time, here’s BYB’s first installment of free agent and trade rumors leading up to the 2013 campaign. I'll have quite a few of these, so as you read them, share them, let's get the conversation going.

Shin Soo Choo: With Nick Swisher all but gone, one of the questions the Yankees have is who will play right field. In the free agent market, there are guys like Josh Hamilton, BJ Upton, Michael Bourn, Shane Victorino, Cody Ross, Torii Hunter, and many more. Those players are nice, but for my money Shin Soo Choo makes the most sense, though unlike the names mentioned, Choo would have to be traded for, but it’s worth it.

Choo currently has one year left before he hits free agency after next year, so theoretically it won’t take a king’s ransom to acquire him. He’s a Scott Boras client, so things could get tricky in trying to extend his contract if New York acquires him, but anything is possible. Either way, Choo would be a perfect Nick Swisher replacement. He’s a very underrated, five-tool type of player. The 30-year-old batted .283/.373/.441 with 16 homers and 21 stolen bases in 686 plate appearances. He also has a cannon arm and plays a solid right field. You may be wondering “What about Ichiro?” but don’t. I have a plan where the Yankees can have both Ichiro and Choo in their 2013 outfield. I’ll elaborate in another post for another day about Choo. Look for it.  Oh and by the way, read BYB's piece about Casey's thoughts on right field too in SWISHER VS. ICHRIO: THE RIGHT FIELD DEBATE.

Anibal Sanchez: I know starting pitching wasn’t a problem in the postseason, It was actually a huge strength, but you’d be foolish to not try to upgrade, and Anibal Sanchez would do just that. Sanchez is coming off a season in which he pitched to a 3.86 ERA in 31 starts for the Miami Marlins and the Detroit Tigers. He’s been a rock over the last three seasons, pitching to an even 3.70 ERA in that span while logging at least 195 innings each season. Like Choo, I’ll have a separate post just for Sanchez. Stay tuned.

Scott Hairston: Another hole the Yankees will need to fill is a power righty bat off the bench. After a strong 2011, Andruw Jones crapped out in 2012 and because of it he’s been shown the door (at least so we think). Scott Hairston would be a great addition to fill Jones’ void. Hairston mashed left-handed pitching last season batting .286/.317/.550 with 11 homers in 199 PA’s. However, after a strong 2012 with the Mets, batting .263/.299/.504 in 134 games, Hairston may be looking for a full-time role, but we’ll see about that. Hairston isn’t the only candidate to replace Andruw Jones as the power righty off the bench, so I’ll have a separate post highlighting some other candidates.



--Jesse Schindler, BYB Lead Staff Writer
Follow me on Twitter @SchindlerJesse


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THE WORLD OF FREE AGENCY

It almost sounds like a player is “turning tricks” when they enter the world of free agency.  They go out there, hot prospects for any team, peddling for a good deal- seemingly a better one than they have back home.  

According to the Wall Street Journal article “Baseball Free Agency Dies of Neglect”, players have many opportunities throughout their career to demand more and more money as their value increases.  “As young players come to the majors, they earn raises either through negotiation or arbitration. Then, after six years of service, they become eligible for one of the most potentially lucrative opportunities in sports: free agency.” 

The antithesis of free agency was the Reserve Clause- deemed as “indentured servitude” by Bruce Lowitt of the St. Petersburg Times in an article (HERE) back in October of 1999.  The Reserve Clause was “a paragraph in each player's contract that allowed a baseball team to keep him indefinitely until he was sold, traded or released. It was part of baseball's antitrust exemption and allowed the team to renew his contract the following year even if the player refused to sign,” stated the article entitled “Free-agency era opens in baseball.”  This clause was challenged in 1969 and free agency came about a few years later- quickly becoming a fantastic money opportunity for players in major league baseball, an organization with no salary cap. 

 

Ironically, Jim “Catfish”Hunter was signed to the Yankees back in the 70’s because of a breach in contract that led to free agency.  

But what happens when teams, even those in big markets with high revenue sharing, cannot afford their players- those entering the free agency market?  I mean, if teams like the Yankees can’t afford to deal out the dough to entice their players to stay, what about teams like the Diamondbacks and the Marlins and the Brewers?  They certainly don’t have that extra cash lying around.  

 

And this year, there are well over 200 free agents with some expected to sign with their teams, extending their contracts and yet others, left to shop.  The Yankees have several top names of their own… Curtis Granderson, Russell Martin, Nick Swisher, Raul Ibanez, Andruw Jones, Mariano Rivera, Hiroki Kuroda, Rafael Soriano, and of course Ichiro Suzuki.  But who to keep and who to let go?  Well, if you go by post-season alone, you keep Ibanez, Ichiro and Kuroda and let the others go.  But in reality, the Yankees will most likely also hold on to Cano and Rivera- their home-grown players from the farm system.  They may keep Soriano, but there are other relief pitchers out there- 70 to be exact including Detroit’s Jose Valverde and Cincinnati’s Ryan Madson.  

 There are some catchers up for grabs too, catchers that hit with success and a heck of a lot more muscle than Russell Martin- guys like Ronny Paulino of Baltimore and hotter prospect Mike Napoli of Texas.  

 Hey folks, Orioles third-baseman Mark Reynolds is available too... just saying.  When it comes down to it, the off season is about building up the team, using the money wisely and shopping with the same keen eye as Black Friday strategists who not only need a bargain but know exactly what brand to look for and where.  And as the Yankees look to shy away from a luxury tax because of its high payroll year after year, they will continue to be money wise and I hope not dollar foolish as they work the world of free agency on the road to 28.

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Opinion Columnist
Twitter: @suzieprof




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