THE YANKEES JUST SNAGGED MIKE MONTGOMERY

 Nice pick up for the Yankees. Let's see what big lefty Mike Montgomery has!

SB Nation writes: " the Yankees have signed lefty reliever Mike Montgomery to a minor league contract... Montgomery reached the apex of his professional career back in 2016 with the Cubs, when he was the man on the mound for the final out of their first World Series title in 108 years. He’s bounced back and forth between the starting rotation and bullpen throughout his six-year career.

The past couple years haven’t been as kind. Montgomery got off to an awful start to 2019... Montgomery’s 2020 was ruined by a lat strain in his first outing."

Look, it doesn't sound too promising, but don't underestimate pithing. Acquiring arms is always a good thing for teams.  The Yankees are no different. Let's just say that this is a look see and if they like what Montgomery can do, they may being the dude up. It's a guessing game right now, but all good.  

Welcome to the Bronx Mike. We hope to see you deliver!

KANSAS CITY ROYALS TRADE FOR SHIELDS IS "BIG"

The Royals have wanted and needed pitching for a while now and finally, they got some.  The Tampa Bay Rays have traded James Shields and Wade Davis to the Royals for top prospect outfielder Wil Myers, Mike Montgomery, Jake Odorizzi and Patrick Leonard.  Read about it more HERE. No one in Kansas City wanted to see Myers go, but you need to give something to get something sometimes.

Hey look, it's baseball and this move is good for baseball, it helps make the Royals competitive.  The Rays will be fine but with everything going on right now in the American League East, you have to wonder if the Rays pitching can handle the powerful Blue Jays and Orioles... maybe even the Red Sox in 2013.

Congrats to the Kansas City Royals... I always liked Shields, he's a competitor.

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WHY THE YANKEES LOST TO METS...WEIRD, RIGHT?

The Yankees played the Mets in Port St. Lucie today and it was a beautiful day...unless you were Ivan Nova who got hit hard. Nova gave up 5 runs on 8 hits and 2 walks in just 2 2/3 innings. That's plain lousy but don't give up on Nova yet. Sometimes pitchers have bad ruts and to be honest, it's nothing to worry about, yet, it's April and it's not even Opening day.

You think Nova feels bad about today? Here's what he told reporters after the game... "This is the worst day of my life... I wasn't pitching right. I felt good today, but I couldn't throw my fastballs for strikes and I couldn't locate my pitches, and I don't feel good about it." That's the guy I want on my team!

So yeah, the Yankees lost 7-6 on a Mets walk-off. It happens and it's allowed to happen now...no one cares, unless your a Met's fan that hangs on any glimmer of hope.
Other highlights have to be Nick Swisher who cranked out a homer off Mike Pelfrey in the 4th inning.

David Phelps and DJ Mitchell relieved Nova and pitched 4 innings of 1 run ball. Mike Montgomery was pitching when Ike Davis cranked one out for the walk off win for the Mets. Game over 7-6. Read HERE. Oh well, but let's not get crazy.

Tomorrow is the last Spring training game before Opening Day. It's been announced that Andy Pettitte will pitch one inning tomorrow. That will be great to see.

It was also announced that Jorge Vazquez was released by the Yankees. We had written the other day in BYB YANKEE NUGGETS FOR SUNDAY that Vazquez either wanted to be called up by the Yankees or play somewhere else. Guess what, he won't be playing for the Yankees. The best of luck to Jorge Vazquez.

ORDER A BYB SHIRT NOW, DROB WEARS ONE! Also, Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.