EVAN LONGORIA IS NO LONGER A RAY

Photo: Getty Images

It's about time.  I mean this is a guy that has played for this team for a while now, and they just can't seem to do much these days, and so, Evan Longoria, who has really been the muscle behind that team has just been traded to the Giants.

Sports Illustrated writes:

"Through these topsy-turvy times, we’ve always been able to count on a few things. Death is inescapable; puppies are adorable; and Evan Longoria will rake in Tampa Bay despite never posting an OPS above .900. Well, death and dogs continue, but Longoria’s time in Florida has surprisingly come to an end.

Photo: Getty Images

On Wednesday, the Rays dealt the veteran third baseman to the Giants for a four-player package headlined by centerfielder Denard Span and infield prospect Christian Arroyo. "

Bottom line, Jon Taylor of SI writes a great piece here which is why I chose his info for our BYB post. This is good for the Yankees who don't have to deal with Longoria, the Yankee killer any longer. He'll be out in San Fran, in the NL now.

Just wanted to keep you all in the loop. It's an interesting development. 

Gotta love baseball's offseason.

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CESPEDES STAYING PUT WITH THE METS!

After all the waiting, Yoenis Cespedes is staying in New York with the Mets.

The slugging outfielder agreed to the deal late Friday ESPN reports. His haul will be $75 million over three years and includes an opt out clause after the first year.

Cespedes had one of his best seasons last year after arriving to the Mets—he finished the 2015 campaign with 35 home runs and 105 RBIs. So why did it take so long for him to be plucked from free agency?

As BYB has noted previously, this year’s market had nearly two dozen outfielders up for grabs including marquee players like Justin Upton (who also just signed a deal recently), Alex Gordon, Denard Span, and Jason Hayward. In fact, Yahoo! Sports notes there is enough quality free agents left on the market in January to field an entire team.

So what gives?

One observation is that many teams that have traditionally spent big money are holding back this year. Angels owner Arte Moreno, perhaps still smarting from the Josh Hamilton bust, said early in the fall that he would not be fronting tons of money to fill his void in the outfield. The Yanks also seems to be holding on to their pocketbook as they wait for other contracts to expire says FOX Sports analyst Ken Rosenthal.

Pair this unwillingness to spend with a glut of available talent (the Braves and Reds basically put everyone out for grabs) and lack of trade options and you basically have a buyers market for players.

But don’t feel too bad that Cespedes had to wait so long. His new salary puts him on par with Giancarlo Stanton as one of the highest ever paid to an outfielder. That’s a lot of coffee table books.


   
--Alexis Garcia, BYB's "Eye on MLB" Columnist &
Los Angeles Dodger fan
Twitter:  @heylexyg




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THAT TRADE BETWEEN THE NATS & JAYS? IT'S OFFICIAL!

The Washington Nationals are in the midst of a makeover after their disappointing season last year— one punctuated with Jonathan Papelbon choking Bryce Harper in the dugout late in the season.

In their latest move, the Nats have unloaded the guy that Papelbon replaced—closer Drew Storen is heading north of the border to Toronto in return for outfielder Ben Revere.

Revere adds another lefty bat in the lineup (in addition to 2B Daniel Murphy who the Nats added this week) and plugs a hole in the outfield left by Denard Span. Span was signed by San Francisco as a free agent on Thursday.

(In Photo: Daniel Murphy)
Storen performed well with 29 saves and a 1.73 ERA until the Nats got Papelbon. Storen was asked to take over eighth inning reliever role and didn’t get another save for the rest of the season—which ended in September after slamming his dumb in his locker. I don’t see his role changing since the Jays have Roberto Osuna as their main closer, but a fresh start and new locker room for Storen may help him get back to his performance level.

This trade should also give some indication to the looming question for Nats fans on whether the team would keep Papelbon as their closer.

GM Mike Rizzo repeatedly told reporters that he would keep both Papelbon and Storen in the bullpen unless a real baseball offer was made. With this trade of Storen, it’s likely that Papelbon will remain in D.C. unless Rizzo can get another quality arm for unloaded Papelbon.


   
--Alexis Garcia, BYB's "Eye on MLB" Columnist &
Los Angeles Dodger fan
Twitter:  @heylexyg



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JUST(IN) UGLY!

If you need to blame the go-ahead run on anyone, you have to blame Justin Wilson tonight. That's it. When there are men on base, and a reliever comes in, the job is to get the batter out. The job, is to make sure no one scores. It's alittle annoying at this point.

I'd love to give you an open, fair analysis on what happened with the game and why the Yankees lost.  Sure, lack of run scoring helped with this loss, but it was Justin when you look at it from a fan perspective.  We just could not recover after that. Bottom line.

The Yankees scored 2 in the first. Good for us.

The Nationals slowly chipped away like they do best, and by the 7th, it was tied 2-2.  Adam Warren left the game at that point, going 6.1 innings, giving up 4 hits and only 2 runs. He was replaced by Justin Wilson.

There were men on base and when Denard Span knocked in a run off Wilson, it was suddenly 3-2.  The run was Warren's, but the run still stings and if you want to blame anyone... blame Justin Wilson.  By the way, Warren gets the loss if you're keeping score.

Whatever, forget it.. it's over now, but here's what I do know; The Yankees are in first place, but tied right now.  We need to turn this around quickly. May or September, at this point it doesn't matter... wins are what we need.

Final: Nationals 3 - Yankees 2

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CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR

The Yankees came in to the game with a 1-1/2 game lead in the East, and with an opportunity to extend it by another game as the Orioles fell to the Blue Jays. This time of year, every game counts and the Yankees should be beating up on teams fighting to stay out of last place like the Twins. It did not exactly work out that way.

Phil Hughes showed some great skill tonight in holding down the Twins through the first six innings. Hughes can be feast-or-famine when it comes to his starts, but it's always amazing to me how good he is when he is in "feast" mode. Hughes pitched six and two-thirds innings of two-run ball, striking out four, and holding the Twins to only one extra-base hit.

Nick Swisher started the Yankees offense with a line-drive two-run home run in the top of the fourth. Swisher has been Mr. Clutch of late, with six of his last 12 home runs having put the Yankees in the lead. Clutch is king in the postseason - we are looking forward to more of the same from Swish.

Esmerling Vasquez started the game for the Twins. Honestly, when I saw him listed as the starting pitcher, I was thinking that this game is a slam-dunk. Surprisingly, he was able to hold the Yankees to two runs - both on the aforementioned home run. Where were the Yankees bats tonight? Vasquez seemed to have a good change up tonight, but it makes you wonder how a pitcher coming in with an ERA close to 6 can hold the Yankees to two runs? The Yankees bats have to be able to pound pitchers like this, and take advantage of similar weaknesses in playoff teams.

Russell Martin continued his hot hitting as he hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh for an extra insurance run, putting the Yankees up 3-1. Martin, whose batting average has spent most of the season on the interstate, has been surprisingly productive in clutch situations lately.

Hughes pitched into the 7th inning, but loaded the bases on a set of cheap hits. Ryan Doumit singled, Chris Parmelee walked, and Jamey Carroll reached on an infield single. After striking out Pedro Florimon, Joe Girardi went to the bullpen and Boone Logan was called upon to get the third out. After a wild pitch allowed the first run to score, Logan gave up a double to Denard Span to score two, Ben Revere walked, and Joe Mauer got an RBI single. Logan finally retired Justin Morneau to end the inning. With Logan brought in to face four left-handed hitters, three of them reached and all four runs scored with him on the mound. He is my nominee for Goat of the Game.

Derek Lowe came in to keep the Twins from scoring any more runs. He induced three quiet ground outs to give the Yankees the best chance at a rally. After a rough end of August, Lowe has been looking pretty good, and could be a key part of the Yankees postseason plan.

An honorable mention has to go out to Andruw Jones, who got a pinch-hit home run in the ninth, bringing the tying run to the plate. Jones' hitting has been dreadful lately. It is good to see signs of life from his bat.

The Yankees came in to this game having won 11 of their last 14 games. No team wins all of their games, but it would have been nice to extend their lead. Still, there were many positives to take from this game. Hughes, who is likely the #4 starter on the playoff roster, looked very strong. If Logan had done his job, we would have been celebrating his 17th win. Swisher is still hitting go-ahead home runs, and Russell Martin is suddenly a threat at the plate. Most importantly, they are showing some fight in the ninth inning even when they are down. They still have questions with their bullpen and their hitting, but let's hope this was a road bump - and on to tomorrow!

Final Score: Twins 5, Yankees 4

--Ike Dimitriadis, BYB Writer
Twitter: @KingAgamemnon

My blog is: Shots from Murderer's Row

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TRADE RUMORS AROUND THE YANKEES & MLB

Denard Span: The Yankees, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.com HERE, and us, who suggested this was a nice fit days ago HERE, says the Yankees are "all in" on guys like Span, Shane Victorino and Justin Upton.  The problem is the Twins, according to Heyman, want "a ton" for Span.

Brett Myers: The White Sox have acquired Myers and cash and that comes from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Read his Tweet HERE. You can also read the Sports Illustrated piece on it HERE. Houston will get 2 players now and a player to be named.  We had a piece out a few weeks ago titled WHAT I MIGHT DO AS THE YANKEES GM. We suggested maybe the Yankees could try to acquire Myers and Wandy Rodriguez in one shot.  Now with Joba Chamberlain on his way back, Myers didn't look like an option any more.  Hey, we were close, I mean Meyers was clearly on the move, but the timing was wrong for the Yankees, no biggie, I'm pretty confident we can do it without Brett Myers.

Matt Garza: It's being reported by Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe that the Boston Red Sox may be in the mix for Matt Garza, but the Sox front office isn't sure he's better than what they already have. Read HERE.  Seriously? That's a joke, right? The Red Sox aren't exactly outstanding this season. The Dodgers have also checked in on Garza, according to Bruce Levine at ESPN Chicago, read HERE.  Anyway, if the Yankees were to snag any pitcher, I would feel good trying to get Garza down the stretch.  I believe he's solid in the American League east and he really wants to be part of a contender.

JC Romero: The Indians have signed Romero to a minor league deal.  This is coming from Paul Hoynes of the Plain Dealer.  Read that Tweet HERE. Romero's trying to latch onto a team for a while now.  Remember, the Yankees even picked up up briefly last season, read HERE.

Cliff Lee: There is a piece in Yankees Fans Unite HERE that makes an argument for Cliff Lee.  My opinion on Lee is, he thought he had it all figured out, he didn't want to come to the Yankees in the first place, he made excuses that the Phillies were younger, not even true and he does not want to come to the Bronx. In turn, I say screw him, we don't need him, fate brought him to a loser, he should stay there.

The strangest part of the Lee, Yankee stuff is when doing a simple search on Google, the image above shows up.  Someone had wishful thinking back when he was a free agent I guess.  It's just funny.

Billy Butler: It appears that the Pittsburgh Pirates are going to be buyers at the trade deadline and have inquired about the Royals Golden Boy Billy Butler.  There's no way the Royals part with Butler, he's their future, but it just goes to show how important the Pirates will be down the stretch.

Melky Cabrera: Look, the Yankees haven't really hinted that they want to guy back, but he's red hot and he would be a smart choice.  I gather the Yanks never really liked Melky but given the circumstances of Brett Gardner out and Nick Swisher hurt, it may actually be a good idea. We shall see...

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ICHIRO TO THE YANKS IS MY PIPE DREAM

I wouldn’t have expected Jay Buhner to speak out of turn about the Seattle Mariners recently, but his passion for the Mariners and his want to turn the franchise around is evident.  Buhner apparently is willing to let Ichiro Suzuki walk and would “vomit” if the Mariners were to sign him to say a 3 year, $35 million deal after this season.  He was on the “Brock and Salk show” talking about that, (Read HERE.)  His main reason?  The Mariners need to stop “spending all the money on one guy.”   He then quickly said “no offense, no offense” which to me is hilarious.  He just threw the Mariners franchise player under the bus and then tried to act like it didn’t happen.

I get what Jay Buhner’s saying and to be honest, Ichiro may be the Mariners franchise player but lord knows if the Mariners want to turn the team around like Buhner suggests, they should think about unloading Ichiro and I have a home for him, especially if the Mariners want to just pick up the rest of that 2012 salary…the Bronx.   You're laughing right? Well laugh away, it's funny to me too because we're in a new Yankee world where cheap is the new rich. That being said, it's my blog, not yours, just continue to smirk...and read.

I told you guys that a few months ago in ICHIRO IN PINSTRIPES? ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. that I would love the idea of Ichiro in pinstripes, and sure, because he’s owed $17 million this season, it probably isn’t realistic unless the Mariner’s were to pick up $16 million of that, and they won’t, but if they did…I’d welcome Ichiro down the stretch in New York...  I really would.  

True, right now we’re all loving Raul Ibanez and Andruw Jones, they’re hot right now,  but if you’re going for a 30 + guy anyway, why not go for a 30+ athletic guy…again, IF the Mariners were to pick up the majority of that steep Ichioro 2012 salary, I'm in.

(In Picture: Denard Span)

Ichiro may be old, but he’s also experienced and is probably hungry for a post season, something he’s never been able to do in Seattle. Get him if the price is right and if not, there are other guys who I’d recommend:

Denard Span: I mentioned him in SPEED WILL BE A FACTOR WITH GARDNER OUT and I like him a lot.  Span’s fast and a pretty decent outfielder.  Not only that, the Minnesota Twins are stinking up the joint.  So if the Yankees and Twins can talk money (A lot less than Ichiro’s 2012 contract), it is probably more logical than my pipe dream of Ichiro Suzuki or even a Shane Victorino. 

 Will Venable: Wow, I was impressed with this idea.  It comes from Ken Davidoff of the New Yorlk Post who suggested him in his piece HERE. Davidoff writes: “The Princeton product isn't eligible for free agency until after the 2015 season, and he isn't the type of player whose salary is going to escalate dramatically; he could be a long-term fit in the Yankees' payroll-reduction plan, if they like him. His career splits show that he could benefit considerably from leaving Petco Park."

DeWayne Wise: Yes, I know, we already have him and he’s quite athletic, but he’s not a hitter and the Yankees really need a speedster, a fielder AND a hitter. Sure, if we don’t look at old players for rentals, or someone like Denard Span, should the Yanks keep doing what they’re doing? Raul Ibanez, Andruw Jones and DeWayne Wise?

Look, bottom line, there are options, and it may require Cashman to do alittle digging, but it really depends on what other teams want to eat salary-wise when trading these guys to the Yanks. Remember, the Yankees want to keep that payroll down and they’re sticking to it. Again, my Ichiro idea may sound absolutely ridiculous, but so was the  Ivan Rodriguez idea a few years ago.  My point is, if Cashman can be creative and smart about this outfielder situation, anything is possible, be it Span, Ichiro…or we just stick with the 3 headed monster in Jones, Ibanez and Wise…believe it or not, that be may the WISE choice…get it? GET IT?

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SPEED WILL BE A FACTOR WITH GARDNER OUT

(In Photo: Shane Victorino)

The Yankees have been winning more than they're losing and I’m not complaining, but news out of Yankeeland concerning Brett Gardner and his newly reported elbow surgery, read HERE is definitely cause for concern.  Yes, the long ball is a big part of the Yankees winning as of late and look, who am I to tell them NOT to hit a home run.  It’s big, it’s dramatic and if they are getting runs on base, cranking out 3 run home runs, Grand Slams like Raul Ibanez the other night, I have no problem with that.  But, if the Yankees go up to the plate looking to crank out 3 solo shots and the score is a 4-3 loss with absolutely no situational hitting…I have a problem with that.   

That’s why Brett Gardner is so important and not having him in the lineup for that extra option could hurt us…sure not now, but eventually.  The Playoffs are a whole different animal and with a season being only 5 games or 7 games, every tool, including speed is needed.  I believe that.

 (In Photo: DeWayne Wise)

Brian Cashman doesn’t want to do much, he’s stated that publicly, but we need a speedster out there to get on base and run their ass off. Yes, DeWayne Wise is a fast guy, but he isn’t a great hitter.  As we’ve seen, Raul Ibanez and Andruw Jones have very good days, but they also have bad days, plus, they can’t run a lick. Luckily for us, with Gardy out, this could force Cashman's hand to get that replacement we need. 

Yes, an argument can be made that the way the Yankees are producing, there is no need to rush Gardner, just let him have his surgery and we'll see the guy in 2013. It makes sense...but think about this,  What do most teams do in late innings of games they have a shot at winning in a playoff series? They put in the pinch runner.  Fast guys with a shot at scoring from first base.  Wouldn’t it be nice to know that if Gardy isn’t coming back, there are other “Gardys” on the bench ready to run?

The Yanks are playing it close to the vest right now and they won’t tell you they’re doing stuff behind the scenes to get ready, but they are.  That's why you're hearing whiffs about Shane Victorino and Denard Span.  Believe me, the Yankees are piecing things together for the trade deadline…maybe 1 starter, but definitely 1 outfielder with speed.  I’m convinced of that. The Yankees know they need a backup plan…and believe me, they're exploring it now. 

Stay tuned… We'll have a piece on Victorino and possibly Span this weekend.

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