REMEMBER JOAKIM SORIA? THERE'S AN OPTION APPARENTLY

Weird report... not sure how to process it.

I just read that reliever Joakim Soria is a possible pick up for the Yanks.  Don't we need starting pitching? I'm confused.

Not sure what to make of this report, but it's fun anyway, and so I'll report it here.

Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com reported this:

Source: The Dbacks, Angels, Yankees, Braves and Reds are among the teams that have shown interest in veteran reliever Joakim Soria. More talks are expected at next week’s Winter Meetings. Soria has been working out near his home in Scottsdale. Check @MLB for updates.

— Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) December 3, 2018

Now do what you want with it. I like to throw shit out at the wall and see if it sticks... clearly.

Carry on.

P.S. I doubt the Yanks would do this.

TURNING YOUR BACK ON SCOTT BORAS

I once wrote that I was pretty positive that the Yankees were tired of Scott Boras and his antics and were willing to not sign his clients. I thought that was coming into play when the Yankees were trying to decide between Joakim Soria and Rafael Soriano a few years ago. At the time, Cashman didn't want Soriano and I made an educated guess that if he knew he could rid himself of Boras players, he would. It was then that the Yankees forced in and signed Soriano. The Yankees then had to deal with Boras for 2 years.

Edwin Jackson was never a superstar pitcher but when he was with Boras, he was manipulated and tricked into thinking he could be a 6 year, $52 million dollar man somewhere. He wasn't, and had to settle for 1 year with the Nationals. Jackson did the right thing and dumped Scott Boras. This year he got a 4 year deal with the Cubs, still alittle ridiculous, but good for him, he's no longer with Boras.

Now this off-season, players that should probably have jobs right now, don't and I suspect Scott Boras has a lot to do with it. I mean sure, Rafael Soriano finally was able to land a job, but it was only for 2 years, worth $28 million, read HERE.

Now, the underlying question is, what happens when Robinson Cano ends his last year in New York in 2013? Then what?  Well, I suspect Scott Boras will try and make Cano the richest player ever and I fear that it will be the end of  Cano in pinstripes. If that happens, it will be a damn shame. Greed kills players. Its a business, I know that, but it's also a game and when a player commands that much money, it's no longer innocent, it's artificial. Sure, if a player can command a gigantic salary, they should go for it, but for me personally, my point of view toward those players change dramatically. I view them differently. I don't see them as saviors of the club, I see them as distractions.

Look, for a guy like Alex Rodriguez, I throw him into that category and yes, you've seen me write about how much I want Alex to succeed. It doesn't erase the fact that he became a distraction in the Yankee clubhouse.

But back to Boras for a second. It's clear to me, and I'm just an outsider here, that the world of Scott Boras is ending. It makes me happy. Sure, Boras has hundreds of clients, but in my perfect world, I'd like to see teams start to turn the other way and not be so interested in a Boras client... Again, Rafael Soriano had trouble looking for work. Is it because he's a Boras client? Maybe? Will Jose Valverde have a harder time getting a job because Boras is his agent? Maybe, (read HERE.) Would Edwin Jackson have gotten a better deal last year than a 1 year deal with Washington if Boras wasn't there overshooting? Maybe. Will the Yankees turn their back on Cano at the end of 2013? Maybe... Especially if Boras is demanding outrageous numbers... and you know what? At that point, I don't blame them, I really don't.




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THE YANKS AIN'T GETTING NOTHING FOR CHRISTMAS

Shhh.  Don't tell anyone... The Yankees have a secret gift coming, right?  I mean, there are moves happening all around us. The Red Sox have already snatched up Jonny Gomes and Mike Napoli, HERE. There were conflicting reports about whether or not the Detroit Tigers offered a 2 year offer to Scott Hairston, the same Scott Hairston the Yankees were claiming to be in the mix for, read HERE.

Joakim Soria seems to have sealed his 2 year deal, with a 3rd year option with the Texas Rangers...read HERE.  Even Eli Whiteside was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays, read HERE. Good, now someone else can write about Eli Whiteside. I had my fill HERE.

There has to be some type of surprise gift that the Yankees are about to get.. I know it. Right Santa Claus? Come On!  Brian Cashman can't actually seem this quiet and sluggish unless he's got something up his sleeve.  I mean, let's face it, even Santa's confused... Cashman's list is in pencil with plenty of cross outs and eraser smudges. Time seems to be running out just because it looks like after Day 1 of the Winter Meetings in Nashville, moves are happening quickly and teams are engaged..except for the Yankees. Instead, Cashman is trying to figure out if he can sign an infielder with next to no money, a few tokens from Chuck E. Cheese and some Box Tops.

The Yankees are really sticking to that Luxury Tax stuff huh?  It's killing me. I'm a child of the Steinbrenner Era, I like movement...yet... Nothing.

The Yankees needs seem complicated, but they aren't. I mean, from the outside looking in, there are easy fixes under that small budget we have been allotted. First off, there hasn't been a single word from the Yanks on Raul Ibanez and Ichiro Suzuki lately. Why? You want to lock up right field and get a DH at a cheap price? You can do it for about $7 million between the 2 of them. How about a steady infielder or bench player...part-time 3rd baseman? Jeff Keppinger is available, all the Yankees need to do is call. Eric Chavez is playing in 2013, that's been established. I'm not sure why next year would be any different than this year with Chavez... he's 34...sign him.

Now look, the catching situation is no easy task, but the reality is, we have Francisco Cervelli and Austin Romine but Lord knows Brian Cashman wants to upgrade the backstop. And yes, right field is definitely a concern for him, I get feel it. I know he wants a right fielder with power, not Ichiro, because if he truly wanted Ichiro, he would have signed him already. So what will happen? Watch... Ichiro will slip from our grasp and Cashman will be behind the 8 ball again. Let's hope that's not the case. I like Ichiro in pinstripes.

Look, I am praying for a gift this December. Something the Yankees can be proud of, but based on the way things are going, I need to tell you, it don't look good...

And it's a damn shame too because we've been good all year, haven't we?

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BLEEDING YANKEE BLUE PLAYER TRACKER #6

Andy Pettitte:  Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.com says that the Yankees believe that Andy Pettitte will return. Read HERE. Pettitte is going through his usual "family or Yankees" off season dance right now, we've seen it before with him, but hopefully he'll be back... we need him.  My personal opinion is the broken ankle set Andy back and he probably feels like he has unfinished business in the Bronx. I hope I'm right.

Shaun Marcum: The Toronto Blue Jays may want Marcum back after he's had a few successful years on the Brewers. Marcum could definitely help the Jays in the AL East. Read about it on Hardball Talk HERE.

Adam LaRoche: Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo believes that resigning LaRoche this winter has to happen.  LaRoche declined the Nationals qualifying offer last week.  You can read Jim Bowden of ESPN Radio's Tweet HERE.Truth be told, the Red Sox may also be looking at LaRoche for first base as well, read HERE.

Edwin Jackson: Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com believes Jackson may be a good idea for the Balitmore Orioles to give alittle stability to their rotation. Read HERE. Sure, at the end of the day, it's up to the Orioles, not Ghiroli, but you just never know, it's a great idea.

Joakim Soria: The Reds will make a pitch for Soria so they can stabilize their bullpen a bit. The reason is because they are considering making Aroldis Chapman a starter.  Read about it from Ken Rosenthal's Tweet HERE.

Mike Napoli: The Red Sox may reach out to Napoli as a first base option.  The only problem is Napoli prefers to play catcher.  The Sox just signed David Ross, and they already have Jarrod Saltalamacchia so, we'll have to see if anything comes from this.  It's interesting though. Read about it HERE.

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SORIA TO THE YANKEES JUST DOESN'T SIT RIGHT

A few days have passed since the story about Joakim Soria’s interest in the Yankees broke, read HERE. I have had the chance to mull it over and I really think that something doesn’t feel right. 

Soria, 28, averages about 30 + saves in each of the past four years. He has a career ERA of 2.40. To say that he is talented is an understatement. The story said that Soria would only play set-up man to Mariano Rivera. Everywhere else he would be the closer. It sounds great, doesn’t it? The idea of DRob, Joba Chamberlain, Soria and Mo sounds like instant lights out to anyone we face. And maybe that is where the problem lies for me.

Look, I’m not saying I don’t want the Yankees to try to snatch Soria up. They would be crazy not to at least try. I’m just saying, we’ve been to this rodeo before. Think Cliff Lee in 2010.

Remember that lucrative $140 million offer Cashman made Lee. The one that held the Yankees up until the last minute and made it so that Cashman couldn’t make very many moves in the meantime. Turned out great for Lee when he ultimately resigned with the Phillies. Not so much for us.

Soria’s agent, Oscar Suarez, has insistent that it’s not about money for Soria. He just wants to win. That’s all fine and dandy, but let’s be honest, there isn’t a single professional sports athlete whose bottom line ISN'T winning. So really, he isn’t telling us something we don’t already know. To make it more interesting, in what they are saying was a strategic move, the Yankees were on Soria’s “No trade” list just two years ago. Suddenly, now he isn't.

It’s kind of become a trend in the MLB to suddenly take the Yankees "off" of their no trade list just in time to talk new contracts. It works out great for the players and our mighty Yankees get screwed. This, in turn ticks off the fans! Sure, it would be great to see Cashman put in an offer for Soria, but I just hope that we don’t get so caught up in this, waiting around and not making moves on any other trades or possible free agent signings, because while everything Soria's agent says seems really appealing and "easy", if it was truly that easy, a deal would be done already, don't you think?

Bottom line, I'm protective of my Yankees... I just don't want to end up getting the crap end of the stick.

--Erica Morales, BYB Writer
Twitter: @e_morales1804



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BLEEDING YANKEE BLUE PLAYER TRACKER #3

There are a lot of deals that will be made over the next few weeks, and BYB will be keeping tabs on the trades and free agent signings to report back to you. In case you missed it, read BYB PLAYER TRACKER #1 and BYB PLAYER TRACKER #2.

Jacoby Ellsbury: Once upon a time, Ellsbury looked like he was going to be the face of the Red Sox. After an MVP type season in 2011, he did not have the same success in 2012. Ellsbury will be a free agent after 2013, and the Red Sox may not be able to sign him to a long-term deal. Is it time to trade him? He could be a match for several teams. Read that HERE. I expect him to start the year in a Red Sox uniform and then be traded by the deadline.

Hiroki Kuroda: Friday afternoon Kuroda officially declined the Yankees 13.3million qualifying offer and is now a free agent. The Yankees are interested in re-signing him, but now the Dodgers and the Red Sox are also going to target him read that HERE. Despite the competition, I believe Kuroda and the Yankees will reunite and get another deal done.

David Wright: The Mets have exercised Wright’s 2013 player option worth $16million dollars. At the trade deadline this year there were rumors that the Mets might try to trade him, but they never amounted to anything. The Mets are already talking about a contract extension read that HERE. An agreement doesn’t sound close yet, but something tells me that Wright could retire in a Mets uniform.

Joakim Soria:  Soria has looked up to Mariano Rivera for many years. He could be a valuable closer to many teams out there, but not the Yankees assuming Mo returns. Would playing with his childhood idol make the new role role worth it? His agent, Oscar Suarez said it would read that HERE. Soria would give the Yankees another closer when Mo finally retires, but I am not so sure that he is leaving the Royals this year.

Michael Bourn: Bourn also rejected the Braves qualifying offer making him a free agent. There are quite a few teams that would benefit from having a good lead-off hitter, so he could be in high demand. The Reds, Nationals, and Phillies are all rumored to be interested, read that HERE. There is still a possibility that he returns to the Braves, but I think he is a good fit for the Nationals.

Jeremy Hellickson: The Rays are stockpiled with pitching, and with other needs to address it makes sense for someone to go. So far, Hellickson has drawn the most interest from teams read that HERE. If the Rays decide to trade him away, the Brewers or the Twins could be a fit.

--Jeana Bellezza, BYB Writer and Editor

Twitter: @NyPrincessJ


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SIGN HIROKI KURODA NOW!

The Yankees have gone through the process of offering qualifying offers to certain players, and now as baseball goes, the team that loses players that turn down those offers get a draft pick...or so the process goes.  But I need to tell you, the Yankees should have blew Hiroki's socks off, because while it's obvious there are many choices for the Yankees in right field (allowing Nick Swisher to walk) and we are able to have another option to set up Mariano Rivera (Joba Chamberlain, DRob or even a Joakim Soria), letting Kuroda walk would be foolish. Why? Because Kuroda was our rock in 2012 and bottom line... we need him.

Not only are the Yankees competing to build a good team, they are competing directly with the Boston Red Sox who are out to prove that 2012 was just a minor bump in the road.  The Red Sox want  to be winners again, and if it means poaching the Yankees guys to do it, well, so be it.   Enter guys like Nick Swisher and Hiroki Kuroda, all on the Sox radar.  Look at what they appeared to do overnight, signing backup catcher David Ross to a 2 year deal, pending physical (Read HERE).  Don't forget the Yankees were just looking at Ross, not that we need him, but the point is, if the Sox can rain on our parade, they will... enter Hiroki Kuroda.

It's a no brainer to me.  Hiroki Kuroda was the Yankees savior, literally filling in for Yankees ace CC Sabathia while he battled his injuries as well as Andy Pettitte being out with a fractured ankle after his freak accident.  Not only would it be a big fat “thank you” for Kuroda, it’s stability for yet another season for New York…plus it’s another starting pitcher locked in as we rebuild the rotation again this off season.

As the New York Times (HERE) states today: "At worst, the Yankees will lose all three players but gain draft picks. At best, the Yankees would have had three standout players on one-year contracts, which would have allowed them to slowly get under the $189 million luxury-tax threshold in 2014. The Yankees’ payroll is still expected to be more than $200 million this season.

With all three declining the team’s offer, the Yankees will now begin to determine which of the three players, if any, will come back. The most likely candidate is Kuroda, who has said he is seeking only a one-year deal but is probably looking for more money than $13.3 million. Kuroda is also having conversations with the now free-spending Los Angeles Dodgers, who could offer more than the Yankees might be willing to pay. "

Pitching has always been the Yankees problem over the years. This year the pitching was pretty darn good, and great in the playoffs, and Kuroda was apart of that.  Kuroda needs to be signed... and fast.  Now sure, there are guys out there like Dan Haren, whom I like a lot and cranky back (HERE) and all, he would be great in the Bronx, I know it, but why not just continue on the path that Brian Cashman is going, go alittle cheaper and go snatch up the guys that have really contributed, Hiroki Kuroda.  Again, Kuroda deserves a "Thank you" contract.  Rafael Soriano? He'd be a fool to come back to New York and I think a 3 to 4 year deal as a closer somewhere else would benefit him wonderfully.  He deserves it, it's business.

Nick Swisher? It's my estimation his time is up in New York.  Many believe he should stick around, take a pay cut and continue to roam right field in the Bronx. I say there are cheaper, better alternatives, plus this is the first free agent year ever for Nick Swisher, he needs to test the waters. 

But hey,  let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The Yankees need to snatch up Hiroki Kuroda because he's earned a spot. Plus, we need to keep him away from Beantown and Los Angeles. That's my bottom line, what's yours?

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THE JOAKIM SORIA RUMORS HAVE STARTED

Remember back in the winter of 2010 when all of Yankeeland was trying to decide who we liked better, Joakim Soria or Rafael Soriano? There were plenty of rumors going around, but one thing I distinctly remember was that Joakim Soria didn't seem too excited about wanting to be a New York Yankee, meaning, there was a no-trade clause list... and the Yankees were on it.  I went back in our archive and I found our post. Read WHY NOT SORIANO INSTEAD OF SORIA. I had written that because in a nutshell, Soria had a no-trade clause in his contract and the Yankees were a team he didn't want to be traded to, or so we thought. At the time, he claimed his agent, Oscar Suarez, did that as a "strategy." Soria said, ""There is a no-trade clause to the Yankees in my contract, but did not put it in myself. My agent put it as a strategy, but if the Royals decide to move me to New York I would be happy to play with the Yankees or another team.” 

Then, fast forward, the Yankees sign Rafael Soriano, Joakim Soria has Tommy John surgery and then suddenly yesterday, Andrew Marchand leaks out a story that says that suddenly Joakim Soria and his agent think the Yankees are the best team in the world because Mariano Rivera is Soria's "Idol."  I'm sorry, but if Mo was his idol, how come that never came out until now? Weird right? Soria's agent said "If the Yankees call, we will be all ears... If there is a fit, Joakim would be elated to work with Mo. He would close everywhere except there."  Read HERE.

Look, there is no question we could use a reliable set up guy and now that Rafael Soriano appears to be leaving the Bronx to close elsewhere, at least that's my theory, so Soria would make sense. He's a closer willing to set up Mariano, he's 28 years old and over the past 4 years he's averaged 36 saves. If he's willing to set up and then take the role after Mariano hangs it up, then I'm listening. But is this story really true or is this a nugget that Marchand heard from Oscar Suarez on his phone interview and there's more to it that wasn't printed? I don't know the answer... but I know this, If Soria is healthy come Spring 2013 and the Yankees can get him before the other 8 teams interested do, it could be a happy marriage in the Bronx...but we'll have to wait and see.  I'll tell you what though... I like this rumor a lot. Can you imagine that bridge to Mo? Joba, DRob, Soria and the Sandman...I mean seriously...lights out.

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WHY NOT SORIANO INSTEAD OF SORIA

The Joakim Soria quote about him waving his no-trade clause to come pitch in the Bronx is gaining a lot of steam. It was first reported in a mexican paper and suddenly, because there is no news coming out of Yankeeland, the quote is now everywhere, including here...

Soria said "There is a no-trade clause to the Yankees in my contract, but did not put it in myself. My agent put it as a strategy, but if the Royals decide to move me to New York I would be happy to play with the Yankees or another team.”

(If you haven't seen it, at least that brings you up to speed.)

Look, I like Soria, I really do. I'd love to see him on the New York Yankees, but this is another trade situation, and whenever there is trade talk, there is Montero talk. If you remember, back in July READ IT HERE, there was a lot of talk about the Yankees longing for Joakim Soria. There were reports about how Soria would not wave his no-trade clause for a swap to the Yanks. There was also a lot of talk about Jesus Montero being dangled to several teams. Montero was dangled in front of the Mariners for Cliff Lee. Montero was dangled in front of the Royals for Soria, and on and on. Bottom line... Nothing happened.

Am I relieved? Kind of... here's why: Montero is a very talented player who, with some major league experience, can be truly great. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE loves the guy. He's popular among Yankee Execs and minor league players alike. That much chatter means something! Don't get it twisted. So what's my point you ask? It's this... Why trade Montero for Soria when you could easily throw a few extra million (that we didn't use on Lee) at a free agent like Rafael Soriano who is lights out and would lift the Yankees bullpen to new heights? You see what I mean? This way, you have stability with a setup man like Soriano, who, by the way, will close when we need to give Mariano a rest. Plus, when Rivera retires in 2 years, the torch can be passed and Soriano can and will officially be a "closer" again. You really can't lose. You just keep the line moving. This way, you have a great bullpen in 2011 and beyond and you can keep and groom Montero in the majors in 2011 under the direction of Russell Martin and coach and former catcher Tony Pena. I like this for so many more reasons than to unload Jesus for Soria.Now, would I like to still get Soria as well? You're damn right I would. I have that old school Steinbrenner mentailty of getting the best players to better my team. Cashman would need to be creative and figure out a way to give away farm players that we could part with, but I think he could come up with a good, inexpensive package to lure Soria to the Bronx and still make the Royals happy.

Bottom line, Yankees pitching is in a world of hurt. People who are ok with this right now are misguided. You need to operate under the assumption that Pettitte isn't coming back, and if he DOES, and you've already signed a veteran... Well, that's a good problem to have, trust me. I would not want to see Mitre and Nova as my 4 and 5 going into opening day.

The good news is it's only December. A lot can happen in January and February, hopefully for the better in improving our pitching. After all, pitching wins championships, or have we forgotten that?

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