YOU KNEW SWISHER WAS GONNA BE TRADED...

BYB told you about it in July. Remember SWISHER WAS IN THE TRADE BAIT MIX?

Back in July, we wrote this: "According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, for a short time there was a possible swap to send Swisher to Atlanta..."

Then Nick Swisher went on the DL for the Indians with a knee issue.  At the time it was gonna be Chris Johnson for Swish.  Then... nothing.

Today, it became reality.  I guess the knee feels good.  According to several sources, but we'll use ESPN here:

"The Atlanta Braves reacquired outfielder Michael Bourn in a trade Friday with Cleveland, also landing outfielder Nick Swisher while dealing third baseman Chris Johnson to the Indians. Cleveland sent cash to the Braves as well, helping to cover the hefty contracts of the players coming to Atlanta."

And just like that, the Braves are going to attempt to beat out the Mets in that division.

Good luck Nick.

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OUR PAL, CHRIS DICKERSON IS ON THE MOVE

There is a certain thinking that comes with moving from team to team.  The 1 type of thinking suggests you're just a regular player and if you're needed, and a team is willing to move you, you get shipped out.  The other type of thinking is, you're wanted, because that team knows what you're capable of... I like that type of thinking better, and it applies to Chris Dickerson.

Our pal, Chris Dickerson is on the move again.  The Indians inquired about him, the Pirates shipped him the Cleveland.  That story comes from Jordan Bastian of MLB.

Indians acquired OF Chris Dickerson from PIT for PTBN or cash. C George Kottaras DFA'd to clear a roster spot.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) July 7, 2014

The reason was because Michael Bourn being out with a hamstring.

UPDATED: Bourn likely to miss 3-4 weeks with hamstring strain http://t.co/5XBYi5DBAB via @indians
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) July 7, 2014

Logically, they need someone capable of filling the role while Bourn is out. 

 

(In Photo: Michael Bourn)

Dickerson is underrated... so my thinking is, he goes to Cleveland, he impresses and hopefully continues to have a job once Bourn gets healthy.

In this scenario... do you want to be Dickerson or Kottaras right now?

We love Dickerson here. We loved him in the Bronx, we loved him in Baltimore and even in Pittsburgh. Now we love him with the Indians... check out our BYB interview with him. EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: CHRIS DICKERSON.

Good luck Chris.

You've made BYB the fastest growing Yankees fan site in history. Now shop at the Bleeding Yankee Blue store!  Follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and LIKE Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook!

BEN FRANCISCO SIGNS WITH THE YANKEES

Quick update on the outfield competition in Yankeeland.  It's being announced that the Yankees have signed Ben Francisco to a minor league deal.  As the Star Ledger says (HERE), "Brian Cashman said. '... we’re going to take a look at him.'   The Yankees considered Francisco as a non-roster invitee before the season began. He opted for Cleveland -- which signed players like Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn, winnowing Francisco's playing time... He’ll vie for playing time here against players like Juan Rivera, Matt Diaz, Zoilo Almonte and Ronnier Mustelier."

I like it. Throw them all into a pot and see who comes out on top.  Go for it.

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CLEVELAND BOURN!

I didn't see this one coming even though the Indians were mildly connected to Bourn.  It's being reported that the Indians have just signed Michael Bourn to a 4 year deal worth $48 million.  That story is right HERE in a Jon Heyman Tweet. 

As DJ Short from Hardball Talk (HERE) writes:

"Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Mets also made a four-year, $48 million offer to Bourn. However, they were informed that it would take an arbitrator two to three weeks to decide whether they would be able to keep their first-round pick. And with spring training approaching, Bourn just wasn’t willing to wait that long, so he took the Indians’ deal."

Now, I was sure that the New York Mets were on the verge of a deal some how, some way, but now Sandy Alderson looks like the last clown at the circus.  Too bad.

So, in addition to this very detailed illustration of Terry Francona and Nick Swisher, it appears they will also draw in Michael Bourn and good for Cleveland...just in time for the start of the season. 

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"I'M MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GONNA TAKE IT ANYMORE"

Here's another installment from my good friend Dave Goode, a die-hard Yankee fan... and my friend.

As your blog says, The Yankees are looking to 2014. I am going to be like a bear and go to sleep.  You can wake me just in time for Spring training 2014.  It is my opinion that this Yankee team sadly reminds me of being a young Yankee fan.

(In Photo: Jake Gibbs)
I remember being around 11 years old and seeing that 1967 Yankee roster... an aging Mickey Mantle in one of his last years. Jake Gibbs as catcher, Charley Smith at 3B. There was Tom Tresh, Joe Pepitone, Ruben Amaro, Steve Whitaker and many other so-so players past there prime.

Last season they BATTLED to barely make the playoffs with so-so pitching and no clutch hitting. Now I see this off season and there is nothing. It has been the "Off Season of Stugots."

Yeah, we signed Kevin Youkilis because we had no choice. Alex Rodriguez is down through mid-summer at best and he "could" be out all season, read HERE.   Youk could surprise us, true, but his better days are behind him.  We couldn’t even get a so-so Scott Hairston to sign with us, never mind a Justin Upton who ended up going to the Braves. Plus, instead of going after Michael Morse, we signed Dan Johnson, a .237 lifetime hitter. To me, it's pathetic. BYB blogs have talked all the players the Yanks have missed the boat on and I'll tell you, I wish I could talk to both of the Steinbrenner boys and tell them that's it's been a disappointment.

We are in the toughest division in baseball and after the Toronto Blue Jays made that trade with the Miami Marlins, things just got tougher. Plus, who's left to sign? Michael Bourn?  I don’t see that happening.  I've been in sales for over 30 years. We usually have mock sales sessions. But look, until you actually interact with customers, it is all nonsense.  That is why the time is NOW to get the kids on the farm up to the bigs! Another year down on the farm won't matter that much. not when we sign  guys like Dan Johnson. Instead of waiting, give the kids a shot.  My gut tells me they can't do any worse and it will mature them and give them the big league experience they need. Who knows, we may actually get luck too! Forget about Giancarlo Stanton. The Yankees just won't spend the money.

I think the only way the boys wake up is if us fans revolt. I back BYB's idea, hit them in the pocket book. Read YANKEE FAN'S REVOLT: "ENOUGH'S ENOUGH". Let the attendance dwindle, let food and souvenir sales fall flat and all revenue sources dry up and if in 2014 they put a team that can win #28 on the field, we will be back, but not before!  Hey, when they spend money, fans will spend money.  As was said in the movie Network. " I'm mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore!"

Finally, on paper, I don’t see a team that can go out win the division, a pennant and a #28 championship, so wake me in 2014.  Hopefully I'm wrong.  If I'm not, hopefully next winter these guys will wake up and go after some quality players.  Hey, it never hurts to start looking early... right?

 --Dave Goode, Die-hard Yankee fan
Interviewed for his 30 plus years experience as a vendor at Yankee Stadium
THE VENDOR FROM THE HOUSE THAT RUTH BUILT



 

MICHAEL BOURN A YANKEE? NICK CAFARDO THINKS SO...

Who's Nick Cafardo? One of the best Boston sports guys out there.  I tend to lean toward Pete Abraham who used to cover the Yankees beat back in the day and now covers the Sox, but Nick is the man and he floated a very interesting idea that he is hearing from "some"...

"...It will be interesting to see where Bourn’s market goes. Some believe the Yankees are quietly interested and will pounce if the price comes down, which would give them the leadoff hitter they have wanted for some time..."

Cafardo's full piece from the Globe is HERE. Michael Bourn is a terrific athlete, he's 29, he's got mad speed. The idea that he can demand millions in the free agent market is not far fetched, but I just don't see how the Yankees could compete with that in their "hurry up and wait" state right now.  You have to figure if the Yankees couldn't afford someone like Josh Hamilton, how in the world can they afford anyone else demanding a big contract.  Then again, Brian Cashman is a genius when it comes to the shell game and we could wake up on Christmas morning and Bourn's in pinstripes. Stranger things have happened. One issue with Bourn and this is my own theory... Scott Boras is his agent.  I doubt the Yankees are touching that.

Besides, if it were to happen, I hope he doesn't turn into another Tony Womack... remember him?

Thank you Nick for this nugget. No offense to Tony Womack...

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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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