YANKS 'COULD' LOCK IN SOME NICE OAKLAND RELIEVERS...

The key word is "could" because this comes from the Rumor king himself, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe...

(May 15, 2017 - Source: Stephen Brashear/Getty Images North America)

"Relievers Ryan Madson and lefty Sean Doolittle are both having good years and are likely to change addresses soon. Doolittle is more of an injury risk. Both relievers could be targeted by the Nationals and Yankees."

And truly that is the extent of the nugget.  There is no new information. No indication that the Yankees are eyeing Madson and Doolittle... just that they "could" be.

(April 5, 2017 - Source: Jason O. Watson/Getty Images North America)

Not a bad duo though.  Doolittle currently has a 3.54 ERA in 22 games.  He has 3 saves. Madson's ERA is 2.17 in 38 games.  Both could be pretty helpful, especially with the recent inconsistency or Tyler Clippard and Dellin Betances.  It could as least bring some stability.

We will see... but again, it's a "could" not a "will".

Happy Friday.

BLEEDING YANKEE BLUE PLAYER TRACKER #5

Andre Ethier: Ethier is NOT on the trading block.  That's what a "source" told Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times, read HERE. OK, this is all fine and good, but the Los Angeles Dodgers are on a shopping spree...because they can, and if they think they can improve their team and trade Ethier, they're going to do it.  Trust me.  Stay tuned for that.

Shin-Soo Choo: The Red Sox are everywhere lately.  Right now they are linked to Shin-Soo Choo. Will they trade for him? I'm not so sure, in fact, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe says No...read HERE. Remember, the Yankees claim to not be in on Choo, read HERE, but this could be interesting between division rivals. 

RA Dickey: MLB.com says HERE that Dickey could be traded but the goal of the Mets is to try and reach an agreement with him.  RA Dickey would prefer to stay with the Mets.

Raul Ibanez: Will the Yankees sign Raul Ibanez for another year? It would be a smart move.  In my personal opinion, sign Ichiro Suzuki and sign Raul Ibanez. Use that platoon in right field. That's it. Cheap and smart.

Ryan Madson: Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says HERE that the Reds are looking to get Ryan Madson back. You have to know though that Madson is coming off Tommy John Surgery, so... we'll see how that goes. There is also talk about Madson coming back to the Phillies, read HERE.

Josh Hamilton: Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe believes that the Yankees, the Dodgers, the Mariners, or Orioles are teams to watch when it comes to Hamilton. Read HERE. I do not see the Yankees in this, I find his price tag and years ridiculous.

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THE WORLD OF FREE AGENCY

It almost sounds like a player is “turning tricks” when they enter the world of free agency.  They go out there, hot prospects for any team, peddling for a good deal- seemingly a better one than they have back home.  

According to the Wall Street Journal article “Baseball Free Agency Dies of Neglect”, players have many opportunities throughout their career to demand more and more money as their value increases.  “As young players come to the majors, they earn raises either through negotiation or arbitration. Then, after six years of service, they become eligible for one of the most potentially lucrative opportunities in sports: free agency.” 

The antithesis of free agency was the Reserve Clause- deemed as “indentured servitude” by Bruce Lowitt of the St. Petersburg Times in an article (HERE) back in October of 1999.  The Reserve Clause was “a paragraph in each player's contract that allowed a baseball team to keep him indefinitely until he was sold, traded or released. It was part of baseball's antitrust exemption and allowed the team to renew his contract the following year even if the player refused to sign,” stated the article entitled “Free-agency era opens in baseball.”  This clause was challenged in 1969 and free agency came about a few years later- quickly becoming a fantastic money opportunity for players in major league baseball, an organization with no salary cap. 

 

Ironically, Jim “Catfish”Hunter was signed to the Yankees back in the 70’s because of a breach in contract that led to free agency.  

But what happens when teams, even those in big markets with high revenue sharing, cannot afford their players- those entering the free agency market?  I mean, if teams like the Yankees can’t afford to deal out the dough to entice their players to stay, what about teams like the Diamondbacks and the Marlins and the Brewers?  They certainly don’t have that extra cash lying around.  

 

And this year, there are well over 200 free agents with some expected to sign with their teams, extending their contracts and yet others, left to shop.  The Yankees have several top names of their own… Curtis Granderson, Russell Martin, Nick Swisher, Raul Ibanez, Andruw Jones, Mariano Rivera, Hiroki Kuroda, Rafael Soriano, and of course Ichiro Suzuki.  But who to keep and who to let go?  Well, if you go by post-season alone, you keep Ibanez, Ichiro and Kuroda and let the others go.  But in reality, the Yankees will most likely also hold on to Cano and Rivera- their home-grown players from the farm system.  They may keep Soriano, but there are other relief pitchers out there- 70 to be exact including Detroit’s Jose Valverde and Cincinnati’s Ryan Madson.  

 There are some catchers up for grabs too, catchers that hit with success and a heck of a lot more muscle than Russell Martin- guys like Ronny Paulino of Baltimore and hotter prospect Mike Napoli of Texas.  

 Hey folks, Orioles third-baseman Mark Reynolds is available too... just saying.  When it comes down to it, the off season is about building up the team, using the money wisely and shopping with the same keen eye as Black Friday strategists who not only need a bargain but know exactly what brand to look for and where.  And as the Yankees look to shy away from a luxury tax because of its high payroll year after year, they will continue to be money wise and I hope not dollar foolish as they work the world of free agency on the road to 28.

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Opinion Columnist
Twitter: @suzieprof




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.