WHAT THE YANKS ARE WILLING TO DO TO GET RID OF ELLSBURY

The Yankees are still determined to try and get rid of Jacoby Ellsbury, but are they desperate enough to do what it takes?

Kathy Willens/AP

According to Jon Heyman HERE the Yankees are willing to eat at least half of contract. Keyword here appears to be "at least" and even if that is just a starting point for negotiations it's not enough. The Yankees are having a hard time finding anyone that is interested and the clock is ticking....

The slow moving market is making a tough challenge even harder. There are still a lot of free agents out there, namely some big name outfielders like J.D. Martinez and Lorenzo Cain who are younger and don't have the declining track record that Ellsbury does. It's not hard to see why the Yankees can't find that obvious trade partner.

Ellsbury has $68.5 millon left on his contract that ends in 2020, even if a team does bite and take him for half that is still $11.5 million a year he is owed. If I am any other major league team I can see the current talent in the free agent market, recognize it is better than Ellsbury, not much more expensive and I get more for my money. Jay Bruce just signed for three years and $39 million. I'd rather sign and pay him, the younger and better player.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

The Yankees are fighting an uphill battle in a slow moving market. There are other "Ellsbury like" players out there like Heyman said. Other free agent outfielders Carlos Gomez, Jon Jay and Jarrod Dyson offer teams the same speed element and they are still waiting for a job. Pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training in 4 weeks and until the market starts to move, Ellsbury will sit stale on the roster.

If I am the Yankees and a team does come around willing to make a deal I may sure to have the right game plan. The Yankees should go in and say they will pay half, but be ready to pay more. It would be nice if half got the trade done but it isn't likely. If the Yankees want to move Ellsbury the price tag will likely be more than they want to pay. At this point, the Yankees need to decide if they pay a little more and get him off the bench....or do they pay for him to be a seat warmer?

I know it's not my money so it's easy to say I'd pay more to get rid of him but I hate the idea of paying him a bunch of money to sit in the dugout. It's a bad contract that the Yankees and fans need to move on from. His roster spot is too valuable to just waste away.

--Jeana Bellezza
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj 

WHY CAN'T THE YANKEES BE MORE LIKE THE ROYALS?

As I sit here almost a month into fall and long for the Yankees to be in the 2014 Postseason, I am lifted by the energy and determination of the Kansas City Royals.  I ask myself this poignant question, "Why can't the Yankees be more like the Royals?"

Let's start with their energy.  "There’s just an amazing energy in the city. Everybody loves an underdog," stated Matt Baldwin, the designer of Baldwin Denim and Collection, sold at Barney's New York and loved by celebrities like Jay Z.  His original KC powder blue hat is the hottest selling item since the team blew passed the Oakland A's and Los Angeles Angels and now are up two games in their first ALCS appearance since 1985.  But what about the energy on the field.

According to ESPN, "The fun thing about Kansas City's outfield defense is that its greatness isn't hidden in defensive metrics that are difficult to understand or process. We can see it -- game after game, play after play."  Guys like Alex Gordon, Norichika Aoki, Lorenzo Cain, Jarrod Dyson, and Josh Willingham have been getting it done.  And what about pitching?  They have that covered too with James Shields, Yordano Ventura and closer Greg Holland lighting it up.  I am also impressed with the hustle and drive of infielders Omar Infante, Alcides Escobar, Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas.  And not to be out done, but Billy Butler is showing he still has it too.  He even stole a base to get the team this far.

I think the most important part of the team is the chemistry of these guys together.  They exude grit and determination.  They play hard and they play to win.  Perhaps they are modeling some of George Brett's gritty play that got him into the Hall of Fame with over 90% of the vote.  Brett, the team's vice president of baseball operations, exudes polish and prestige and gave the All Star Game an extra lift when the Royals hosted the iconic game a couple of years ago.

Whatever it is, the Royals are making more than headlines, they are making fans across the country with their prime time, late inning wins against formidable teams like the A's, Angels and now the Orioles.  And they are doing it with hustle, determination and the will to just win.  Charging outfielders making spectacular plays, hard throwing pitching and an equal combination of small and long ball hitting from everyone on the team make up a team who has a real chance at the top prize of baseball come late October. "Once I got over here, though, these guys embraced me with open arms. The chemistry has been great from my teammates and I'm having a blast right now. To be on this run is a lot of fun," stated Cain in an interview USA Today.

As the Royals get ready to host the Orioles in their house, I sit here shaking my head and say "why can't it be us?"  I am hopeful for the Royals, not just because I want the Orioles to lose, (Sorry @SupermanRob2914) but because I believe in their style of play- the "All-In" nature of the team that I long for in our 2015 Yankees. I hope they are watching because this is what they need to do in order to contend next year.

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






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WHY LAST NIGHT'S YANKEES' LOSS WAS DEVASTATING

How many more nights are we going to watch the Yankees strand runners on the bases? I can’t watch it anymore. Sure, last night we made contact but we couldn’t bring in the runs and Jarrod Dyson is running around the outfield with rockets on his feet robbing us blind. With 13 hits I can’t believe we only scored 3 runs against KC who up until last night had and 0-10 record at home! What is wrong with this picture?

David Phelps made his first start and his outing looked like this: 4 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 5 K's. It wasn’t a “bad” start but his pitch count got away from him in a hurry. Mike Moustakas hit a home run off of him in the second inning and he also gave up a single to Eric Hosmer in the 3rd driving in Jarrod Dyson which accounts for the runs he gave up. Phelps looked like he was struggling to find that “put away” pitch tonight, but he battled through it and will just need to be sharper next time….he can’t be blamed for the loss.

The real issue is the lack of timely hitting. Derek Jeter once again had an impressive night going 4/5 and has a .404 BA, Jeter just keeps on hitting. He also hit his 500th career double.

Andrew Jones had a good night at the plate going 3 for 4 but none of those hits brought home any runs. He had lead off hits in the 4th and 8th innings that were wasted by Eduardo Nunez.

Tex had a double tonight and a sac-fly for 2 RBIs and, but other than that….the Yankees couldn’t get that timely hit and left 10 men on base.

The game is not the only disappointment for the night. Yesterday, Mo slipped in the outfield during batting practice and could be out for the season with a torn ACL, Dan Barbarisi tweeted about it HERE. This injury to Mariano Rivera is serious, the Yankees already have enough challenges with players being on the DL, but this adds one more. The loss of Mo is a huge blow to team morale and further complicates the pitching situation. In his long career, Mo has not been placed on the disabled list….until now. While we are in good hands with David Robertson, the loss of Mo is a devastating blow. I hope and pray that we have not seen the last of Mo and that we will hear “Enter Sandman” again. When we know more, we will update you.

 Final Score: Royals 4 - Yankees 3.

--Jeana Bellezza --BYB Writer and Editor

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