YANKS MADE NOLASCO LOOK LIKE CY YOUNG

It's amazing how the Yankees can have such a talented lineup and then face a guy like Ricky Nolasco, a mediocre pitcher, and suddenly, they can't score off him.  I mean sure, they had 7 hits, but none really transpired. 

The Yankees only scored 1 run off of Nolasco and the Twins pen.  I was surprised by that.  As John Sterling would say... "That's baseball Suzyn"... and it is...you never can predict it.

The Yankees sole run was scored when, in the 3rd, Jacoby Ellsbury doubled knocking in Brett Gardner. That's it ladies and gentlemen.  The Yankees left 9 runners on base.  Those runners are called "Ducks on the Pond" and it's been a problem for the Yanks for a while.  We need to figure out a way with our lineup to keep the line moving and get those runners home.  

Vidal Nuno, another rotation fill-in, went 6.2 innings giving up 7 hits and 4 runs. He also gave up 3 home runs which... is kind of not acceptable. Look, at the time he gave up 4 runs...that's not terrible, but the Yankees didn't help him out either. Plus, as a pitcher, giving up homers will definitely get in your head. But look, once again, the Yankees hitting and pitching are NOT on the same page... for a Yankee fan, it's slightly frustrating... isn't it?

Final: Twins 6 - Yankees 1

We need to win the next 2, no question about it.

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I JUST FELL OFF MY CHAIR IN HYSTERICS

No, I'm not in hysterics because Jon Heyman just wrote something on CBSSports.com.  I'm hysterical because Ervin Santana, one of the only top free agents still out there, suggested that he still wants a 4 year deal worth $50 million.

Heyman writes: "Top remaining free agent starter Ervin Santana's asking price hasn't dropped with spring training starting; it remains about four years and $50-million, according to executives with interested teams.

The market has shown that the going rate for better starting pitchers is $50 million for four years, with Matt Garza and Ubaldo Jimenez signing for exactly that figure and Ricky Nolasco getting $49 million for four years."

Now, is it out of the question that Santana will get a deal like this? No, not at all. But I just can't imagine that this far into Spring Training that Santana would be asking for that.  It seems ridiculous to me.  Why not sign with a team for a 1 year deal, show them and the rest of Major League Baseball what you still have and then sign a big deal next year? I mean, Santana is still young, relatively... that's not an outrageous suggestion.

Anyway, I'm not gonna get on Santana too badly here.  I actually like the guy and I like his stuff.  Plus, he follows Bleeding Yankee Blue on Twitter, so, what's not the like?  All I'm saying is, baby steps. Especially this late in the Spring.

That... or take the season off and come write for BYB Ervin... we'll take you.

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PHIL-A-BUSTER

He was a Hughes bust. He never Phil-ed Yankee Stadium with his fans. He couldn’t Phillip the holes in the Yankee rotation. Nobody thought I could come up with more Phil Hughes jokes than I did in Pitching Fits, but Take a Look at Me Now!

Oh wait, that last one’s a dig at Phil Collins.

Well, anyway, surprising nobody, Hughes will not be returning to the Bronx in 2014. The Minnesota Twins are expected to announce in the next few days that Phil has signed with that organization. Reportedly, to the tune of a 3-year $24 million dollar deal.

This comes on the heels of reports that Minnesota has also come to terms with Ricky Nolasco, of a 4-year contract for $49 million. This can be considered good news. Regular readers of BYB know that we didn’t like the look of Nolasco, and recommended a pass on him in Arms Race Nearly Run.

The result of this is a free agent pool of starting pitchers that is even smaller than last week. With the holes in New York’s rotation still so glaring, the pressure is on the Front Office to take action.

Don’t get us Ervin Santana or Ubaldo Jimenez, guys. We would like Matt Garza and Roy Halladay. Pretty please and thank you.

And the way things are going lately, the smart money should get placed on BYB’s picks.

 
Chad R. MacDonald
BYB Features Writer
Facebook: New York Yankees the Home of Champions
My Blog: ChadRants



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ARMS RACE NEARLY RUN

New York is unarmed. The Yankees have huge holes in their rotation right now, and these need to be filled. But with who?

This year’s crop of Free Agent pitchers was already thin. Most of the best options are already off the table. If the Yankees will win this arms race, they will need to act fast. First, let’s examine potential mistake signings.

Ricky Nolasco, 13-11 with a 3.70 ERA, should not be a priority. His lifetime ERA is an unimpressive 4.37 over eight seasons starting on the mound. He also believes he is worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $16 million. Uh, no. Take a pass.

Jason Vargas has more encouraging stats. He’s a durable southpaw with a 3.97 ERA, and a lifetime record of 42-44. In other words, he’s just what the Yankees need behind CC Sabathia and Ivan Nova. Perfect. If he weren’t asking so much. MLB.com reports he is looking for $30 million over three years. Pasadena.

Ubaldo Jimenez? No. Don’t let the strong second half of last season fool you. Jimenez has a delivery that wreaks havoc on his arm. He is made of glass. Danger, Will Robinson! Redrum! Redrum! Beware the Ides of March! We are saying we have no faith in Ubaldo. This is not a pass, this would be a fail.

This brings us to Ervin Santana. He is easily the most desirable starter still available. But while he had decent numbers last season, he still provokes red flags. He has had three 15 win seasons, but not in the last couple years. He’s only posted ERAs below 4.00 in consecutive seasons just one time. But season ERAs over 5.00? Uh, he has three of those.

Santana is expecting a contract of $112 million over 5 years. This would be why he is still available. While Ervin remains a potential fit for New York’s rotation, there is no way he is worth that much. But he’s the guy the Bronx might have to go with, simply due to the dearth of other options. Get him to be reasonable, then sign him.

But for his price tag, Santana would need to win 20 games in his first two seasons in Pinstripes. Do you think he can do that? Didn’t think so. The Front Office would get burned down for that fiasco.

Matt Garza appears to be the only realistic option for the Yankees. He is not a personal choice of this writer, but he is the biggest piece of gold left in the pan. He didn’t do so well with Texas. There, Garza posted a an ERA of 4.38 with a losing record of 4-5 over 13 starts.

But Garza made 60 starts in three years with the Chicago Cubs, posting a 3.45 ERA. And here’s something interesting, he does well in the AL East. Against the Red Sox, whom he has faced 18 times, Garza boasts a 7-4 record with a 3.83 ERA. Did that get your attention? It should.

His price tag should be significantly lower than previously mentioned Starters. Garza is only 30 years old, too. Considering what is or, more accurately, what isn’t available means he is the best option. Other teams are circling. New York should act fast.

Don’t forget Roy Halladay. The case was made for him in Pitching Fits. Doc is worth a long serious look. His veteran presence would stabilize New York’s pitching staff like nobody else.

Regardless of who the Yankees pick up, the arms race is almost over. And it’s one New York cannot afford to lose.


 
Chad R. MacDonald
BYB Features Writer
Facebook: New York Yankees the Home of Champions
My Blog: ChadRants



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DODGERS SWOOP IN ON NOLASCO & STEWART

The Dodgers did what they do best these days... they swooped in and signed 2 guys that have been on the Yankees radar for weeks now.

The players have received mixed feelings from many Yankee fans, but the idea of stepping it up is attractive so, some of us liked the idea of signing an Ian Stewart and Ricky Nolasco.  Others didn't care and didn't think they'd contribute.  Who knows now... they're headed to Los Angeles.

According to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, Ian Stewart signed with the Dodgers.

Ian Stewart signs with dodgers
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) July 5, 2013

According to Hardball Talk HERE, "...the signing is a low-risk flier for the Dodgers, who could stand to have some positional security in the event they suffer any more injuries during the second half of the season."

The Dodgers also went after Ricky Nolasco and traded for him.  According to USA Today, HERE: "...Dodgers obtained right-hander Ricky Nolasco from the Miami Marlins for three minor-league pitchers – Steve Ames, Josh Wall and Angel Sanchez – adding a solid veteran to the rotation. L.A. also picked up an international signing bonus worth $197,000 in the deal."

Giancarlo Stanton Tweeted this about his boy Nolasco:

✌out @rnolasco47 .. Off to the Doyers! Viva Mexico🇮🇹 will be in full force now. Go get em homie http://t.co/BYcFs68fZH
— Giancarlo Stanton (@Giancarlo818) July 7, 2013

Did the Yankees need these guys? Probably not, but fans that wanted them will always wonder.  I believe we have the talent and the tools to do with without those guys... so good luck to them...

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BIG TRADE RUMORS IN YANKEELAND

Michael Young: George King III of the New York Post (HERE) has the best nugget so far this year.  With Kevin Youkilis out, and Alex Rodriguez still out, he's suggesting maybe the Yankees would be interested in Young.  King says: "One feature that makes him a good fit in The Bronx is that he isn’t signed beyond this season, when he earns $16 million. The Rangers are paying $10 million of that. Essentially, the Phillies owe Young $3 million for the rest of the season.

Another is that Young wouldn’t get in the way of players such as Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Curtis Granderson coming back from the disabled list. That would be the case with White Sox outfielder Alex Rios, who is a turnoff because, though he hits right-handed, he is owed $12.5 million next year and a $1 million buyout on a $13.5 million club option for 2015."

Jesse Crain:  Crain is a White Sox reliever.  According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe (HERE): "Don’t rule out the Red Sox on this one.... But there will be others vying for Crain, including the Orioles and Yankees."  I would prefer to go after hitting and starting pitching, but you never know what is on the Yankees' minds.

Ricky Nolasco:  According to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com (HERE) Nolasco may be an interesting fit for the Yankees, although the Orioles are also looking at him.  Frisaro says: "In the AL East, the Orioles have been keeping tabs and filling out scouting reports on Nolasco. The Yankees are managed by Joe Girardi, who managed Nolasco during his 2006 rookie season." Not sure what Joe managing Nolasco in 2006 has to do with anything, I mean Girardi has managed Andy Pettitte and CC Sabathia too and they aren't exactly lighting it up lately.  Anyway, we'll keep an eye on the Nolasco rumors.

Chris Carter: According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, the Yankees may be interested in the first baseman. "Carter is an interesting righthanded bat the Astros would move for the right package of young players. The Yankees are a possibility since they need a righthanded hitter who can play first base and the outfield." Cafardo also says Carter strikes out alot, and he does.  109 times so far in 2013.

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MAKE OR BREAK TIME FOR PINEDA

Ever since that Spring Training injury to Michael Pineda last year, all of Yankees Universe has been waiting for his return. With the expectations of him being the dominant right-hander that we saw in 2011, there is a lot of buzz around him right now. On Saturday, he finally got his rehab assignment in Class A Tampa, beginning a roadmap back to the majors and the Yankees starting rotation. He threw 68 pitches in 4.1 innings and allowing just two hits and 0 runs. He struck out 4 and walked 1. Conservative estimates are that he will be up sometime in early July.

The Yankees are looking to Pineda to be a top-shelf starter for them, and he could not come at a better time. With the rotation looking like CC Sabathia / Hiroki Kuroda / Andy Pettitte / Phil Hughes / David Phelps, and all the question marks that surround most of those guys right now, a reliable and dominant starter like Pineda could be critical. In 2011 he was a high-velocity strikeout pitcher, having more strikeouts than innings pitched (9.11 K/9) and an average fastball velocity of 94.7mph. Despite a win-loss record of 9-10, his ERA was 3.74 and opposing batters hit.211 off him. The fact that he was getting an average of 3.5 runs of support from the lackluster Mariners probably had a lot to do with it. In seven of his ten losses, the Mariners scored two runs or less. We expect much better results with Yankee hitting behind him.

The big risk with Pineda, of course, is his lack of durability and his propensity to land on the disabled list. He will have missed a year and a half on his current shoulder injury, and he missed most of 2009 in the minors due to an elbow injury. The fact that he is a hard thrower and that he tends to have a high pitch count (his career average is almost 16 pitches per inning, putting his game horizon at about the middle of the sixth inning) makes it a risky proposition. The question is, when he returns, are we getting Nolan Ryan or Phil Hughes?

Are we going to get the starter who dominates the league, or a pitcher who always had great potential but never lived up to it? If he falters, the Yankees may be better off to cut bait and make a deal at the deadline for a decent #2 or #3 starter – maybe someone of the likes of Ricky Nolasco or Matt Garza. If they throw in some more talent, they may also want to make a run at Clayton Kershaw, who is arbitration-eligible following this season, and who everyone is expecting to ask for the sun, moon, and all the stars from the Dodgers.

Personally, I am hoping for the best for him and that we get a solid, reliable #3 starter out of him. Rounding out Sabathia and Kuroda, he may be the key to a successful playoff run. With the rest of the division running neck-and-neck for playoff spots, it may come down to that one starter that makes the difference. A team with solid front three starters, a Hall of Fame closer, and strong hitting returning from the disabled list should make for a very interesting October.

--Ike Dimitriadis, BYB Writer
Twitter: @KingAgamemnon
My blog is: Shots from Murderer's Row


 
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THE HURRY UP & WAIT OF MY NEW YORK YANKEES

I, like so many of us feel kind of lackluster, exhausted, in a food coma and disappointed with the Yankee off season all in one. Christmas was magical, but now it's over. The Winter Meetings were here and they ended. I'm tired, I'm sick and as we wait for the New year, we wonder if Matt Diaz was the guy the Yanks have been waiting for this entire off season. Many of us Yankee fans say "that's it?", while others like my Twitter buddy Nick says to "be patient" as Yankee fans. Even some dude named Shawn, who I'm convinced is Brian Cashman, accused me of "boycotting" my Yankees, something I would never do. Will I stop paying to go to games and instead watch them on TV? For a little bit, Yes, but one thing is very clear with me; the non-signing of Raul Ibanez was much, much bigger than a 40 year old guy and all about this new small market mentality the Yankees have entered into...a kind of ball I'm not too fond of. Whatever the case, here we are on December 30th with Matt Diaz.

Brian Cashman is in a tough spot. I think I'm the only one in America not blaming him.  He's the marionette in this mess. I think he truly has no power to sign anyone like it was stated in that Wall Street Journal piece a while back. Read BEFORE YOU BLAME BRIAN CASHMAN, READ THIS. It was a year where Cashman didn't walk into the winter meetings with a boat load of money. Why? Because Brian Cashman suddenly doesn't have say.  Brian Cashman suddenly needs permission and "clearance" to do things these days and it seemed to have really started a few years ago, when the Yankees overruled Cash and went out to grab Rafael Soriano.

Now, in the end, Soriano made a name for himself in Yankeeland, but the Bronx was a temporary stop for his next "official" closer gig...the one he's currently looking for.

Then I got to thinking about all the guys I want in New York to help our team win in 2013 and there are so many looking for big contracts and I know for a fact it's just smart to not shoot from the hip.  Shane Victorino? He went to the Red Sox for what? A 3 year, $38 million deal? Um, the Sox can have him. Cashman was right to not throw that kind of dough at him.

Sure, the world knew that Nick Swisher in right field would have been the right move for the Yankees, but not at 4 years and $56 million.  Plus, Swisher needed to test the free agent waters, he deserved it, you can't fault him...and you can't fault Cash for not offering that.  He was smart in that regard.

For me, it all goes back to Raul Ibanez.  Not the fact that he wasn't signed as much of the fact that he contributed in the clutch last season and that alone should have gotten him an offer. But the Yankees never made an offer and that surprised me.  Raul Ibanez is exactly what the Yankees have wanted, guys who can contribute but are "cheap".  Eric Chavez was another one, there's no denying that, but nothing happened with him either. Look, I get it, we turn the page, but my only point is, if the Yankees want to go in that direction and state that they are... then they don't... isn't that a big fat contradiction?

So if you can't find a free agent, you find a trade, Right? The Yankees have pulled them off before... some aren't always fan favorites, like when Jesus Montero went away, and some we love, like Ichiro Suzuki.  But at this point into the Yankees off season...well, that's what you end up with. We wrote about a simple solution to losing Ibanez, trading for Jason Kubel, read WANNA REPLACE RAUL IBANEZ? TRADE FOR JASON KUBEL  Smart idea and one the Yankees should consider.  How about this? Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe wrote something that I've been writing here for a while about and I was crucified for it for weeks.  

He wrote today that many teams have reached out to the Marlins about Giancarlo Stanton and Ricky Nolasco even though the Marlins have stated that Stanton was off limits. The Yankees are in on that, I know it.  My take has always been no one is "off-limits."  Not superstars, not youngsters...no one in this world of greed and baseball is.  It's all business and at the end of the day, if there is a fit... if there is a team willing to give up new players for a guy, a deal gets done... always.  Nick Cafardo wrote about the Yankees interested in Stanton back in November, read HERE. No one said a thing.  I write SNAGGING GIANCARLO STANTON WOULD PROVE CASHMAN GENIUS, and I'm the idiot. Then, couple all that with a great piece from a blog I check out from time to time, Fish Stripes from right around that time suggesting why Stanton "can't be traded" and you have to think, many in Miami are "uneasy" right now.  I get it, I totally get it, Yankeeland is too. But again... here we are, December 30th, still talking about Giancarlo Stanton.

Finally, I'll throw this out to all of you.  While the Yankees have a great team on paper, you have to know that that was how we looked last year too....great on paper, great bats, great arms.  Yes, we made it to the playoffs in 2012, but we didn't have enough to get over the hump.  Plus, that's when the Blue Jays and Red Sox stunk.  Well, the Blue Jays and Red Sox made big changes this off season to become competitors again.  The Yankees have not.  Anyone with logic knows, you don't just watch your competition improve while you sit silent.  No... things will change in Yankeeland, things have to...for the better of the Yankees, the happiness of the Yankees fans and the pleasure of our boys in pinstripes.

At the end of the day, come Opening day, we root for our guys no matter what, but sitting around wondering and waiting isn't the way I thought it was going to be this off season. That's my take.

Happy Sunday... enjoy it.

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BLEEDING YANKEE BLUE PLAYER TRACKER #9

Hiroki Kuroda: The Yankees are trying the lock him in, but the Angels are now involved and trying to nail down Kuroda as well.  Read about it HERE.  I am confident the Yanks can get Kuroda back next year.  To be honest, I'd be sad to see him go.

BJ Upton: The Atlanta Braves have met with Upton at Turner Field.  Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports that HERE.  The Braves consider him to be one of the most attractive outfielders available on the free agent market. I think they mean ability and not looks. Stay tuned...

Ricky Nolasco: Marlins President David Samson was asked if Nolasco would be with the Marlins this winter and he answered "Yes, Yes... I guess I would say if the phone rings and something crazy happens, but I would expect him to be here." Read HERE. In other words, if the price is right, Ricky Nolasco is going to be traded.  What a stupid answer.

Raul Ibanez: The Yankees and he are in "preliminary" talks about resigning him. That comes from Dan Martin of the New York Post, HERE. I've said it a thousand times...I want him back. I hope the Yanks can lock him in.

Josh Hamilton: Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.com says that the Red Sox are looking to do something big.  Hamilton is big.  He writes in this piece HERE that one competing GM said "Boston wants to do something big and it wouldn't shock me if they became players for Josh Hamilton." We'll keep an eye on this one.

Gerald Laird: The Atlanta Braves have signed Laird to a 2 year deal. He will be the backup catcher.  That comes from Ken Rosenthal HERE. God I love Twitter.

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SWINDLED IN MIAMI: A YANKEE FAN'S TAKE

Even though I am a third generation Yankee fan, I am a Miami native, and I supported, as a Miami-Dade taxpayer, building the stadium Loria desired.  Sadly, I grew up a 'Cane, and when they tore the Orange Bowl down, Little Havana remained empty, so it was logical to try to pump some money and support back into the community.

Jeffrey Loria promised to raise the payroll for the Miami Marlins, which he did last off season, and within less than a year, they’ve already started to dismantle. It started with sending Hanley Ramirez to the Los Angeles Dodgers in what seemed like an overnight deal, read HERE. 

Ramirez was arguably the Marlins best player. Now, they’ve taken more away sending Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and Josh Johnson to the Toronto Blue Jays.  They are NOT going to go out and spending a bunch of money anymore.  This is a fire sale and Ricky Nolasco and Giancarlo Stanton are next.

(In Photo: Jeffrey Loria)

For the good of the game, Major League Baseball should intervene, not so much in this trade, but in terms of the community and what Loria has done to the brand name of baseball in South Florida, overall. Loria is a real scoundrel to me and probably to many, even since his Expos days, but this one, dismantling the Miami Marlins takes the cake in terms of his depravity.

From our Yankees perspective, the AL East just got a lot tougher, if that was possible.

--Carlos Echevarria, Yankee fan & 
creator of America Trek



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SNAGGING GIANCARLO STANTON WOULD PROVE CASHMAN GENIUS

If the Miami Marlins are dealing, there are creative ways to get what we want, especially if your Brian Cashman.  When the that blockbuster deal went down between the Marlins and the Blue Jays Tuesday night, Ricky Nolasco was on my mind, but so was Giancarlo Stanton...that's right, I went there.

Yes, it's time to snatch up Ricky Nolasco, for 1, but there's a problem... money.  Look, I wrote late Tuesday night in BLUE JAYS GET MOTHERLOAD IN TRADE WITH MARLINS that there was a rumor suggesting that after that blockbuster trade, the Marlins were looking to also unload Ricky Nolasco. I said then and I'll say it now... The time is now. Get him.

Now, let me be honest, Nolasco is not a superstar. He's AJ Burnett. He's also owned about $11 million but after 2013, he's done. Hey, we once signed AJ Burnett, didn't we? The feeling then was he was mediorce, but the Yankees billed him as the 1,2 punch with CC Sabathia... almost everyone bought into it.  Not me, I knew he was mediocre, but he also couldn't handle the Bronx.  Now, I have a different take on Nolasco.

Nolasco's young and "mold-able", meaning, we can work with this kid and perhaps develop him.  Now you're reading this and you think I'm crazy.  I'm sitting here saying "Well, Michael Pineda worked out real nice for us, didn't he?"  Nolasco gets wins. He may not be the greatest pitcher to put on pinstripes, but I believe a change of scenery could be good for this kid, despite what Andrew Marchand says, read HERE. If we can figure out the money, maybe the Marlins pick up some, I roll the dice, you have nothing to lose, except maybe a prospect or 2.  Having alittle extra pitching cannot hurt and after we saw the way the farm self-destructed last season with guys like Jose Campos and Manny Banuelos, I'd jump on this. After all, who knows when we'll see those 2.

Here are the numbers for Nolasco last season: 12-13 / 4.48 ERA / 191 IP / 125 K

Last year was not a good year, which only means to me that may he's cheap, something the Yankees love right now.  Don't forget though, in 2008 (15-8), 2009 (13-9), 2010 (14-9). That wasn't a decade ago, that was just a few years ago.

Now, there is also talk about the Marlins looking to give up first baseman and outfielder Logan Morrison too. But I don't want Morrison, I want Giancarlo Stanton.  The Yanks could use a right fielder since Nick Swisher left and Giancarlo could be the greatest catch ever.  The trouble is, how do we make this happen and who do the Yankees give up? Plus, how does Cash convince Loria  that he might as well just go balls out and give the whole Marlins team away? 

With a Stanton and Nolasco package, the question is who do we give up. The answer is prospects and probably someone big... like Alex Rodriguez, like Curtis Granderson.  Look, I hate to even suggest it, but sometimes you have to go big to get big.  Stanton's big.  Sure, we'll have to take a ton of that ARod contract, but there are smarter people who get paid a helluva lot of money to figure that stuff out...I don't have to.


Look,  it's clear by what Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria said yesterday to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Loria has no patience and his plan to screw the Miami taxpayers with an empty multi-million dollar stadium and lackluster players came true, despite his suggestion that that was never the case. He simply told Heyman, "We finished in last place. Figure it out" when asked about why he made that big trade to the Blue Jays. Loria wants to go in another direction.  Loria is doing what the Marlins have always done and that whole charade last year with huge signings and being "the Yankees of the south" was all just bogus. It failed miserably and now the Marlins will start over. In other words, give the Marlins what they want, not wins, but a stable of prospects.  In return the Yankees can pick up a Ricky Nolasco, maybe a 1B/OF type in Logan Morrison or, like I said, Giancarlo Stanton, a guy the Marlins have called untouchable...but no one is untouchable...no one. 

My take is, if the Marlins are selling any way, the Yankees need to find a way to buy, especially if right fielder Stanton is available.  If Brian Cashman can convince the Marlins to give us Stanton, the Yankees just won the 2013 World Series. But look, I'm getting way ahead of myself

Bottom line, I start with Ricky Nolsaco, especially if he can also bring me Giancarlo Stanton. Everyone is for sale in Miami right now, and while the Yankees don't want to spend a ton of money, if the price is right, Cashman will and should pull the trigger any way possible.  Sure, prospects will be a big trading chip, but there will be plenty more involved. He can do it. He can bring back us 29 year old pitcher with potential, and a 23 year old superstar outfielder that would make us all forget about Jesus Montero.  And then, Yankeeland will rejoice again...I just know it.

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BLUE JAYS GET MOTHERLOAD IN TRADE WITH MARLINS

It appears the the Toronto Blue Jays and Miami Marlins have made a trade that is being reported to be EPIC.

The names involved are Josh Johnson, Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, Emilio Bonifacio and John Buck. According to Jon Morosi and Ken Rosenthal, the Marlins "will receive a package that includes shortstops Yunel Escobar and Adeiny Hechavarria, major-league right-hander Henderson Alvarez, minor-league left-hander Justin Nicolino, center fielder Jacob Marisnick, catcher Jeff Mathis and minor league right-hander Anthony DeSclafani." They also reported that "One source said starter Ricky Nolasco could be the next Marlins player dealt." If I'm the Yankees, I'm giving the Marlins a call on Nolasco.  Anyway, you can read all about it HERE.

Huge trade and I'm sure there will be plenty of reaction tomorrow, but we wanted to fill you in tonight.  The Blue Jays have some immediate help and I believe will be more effective in the American League eastern Division with guys like Reyes and Johnson.  It's got to be disappointing to the Marlins fans who had high hopes last season, only to now be slowly picked apart.  What a disaster down there.  

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