WHY PETTITTE NEEDS TO RETURN

Stange news coming from the Pettitte camp. It's being reported that Cashman who has talked to Pettitte a couple times, one at the end of the season, once about 10 days ago said he was leaning toward retirement. Cashman states that that was the first time he'd ever heard that come from Andy's mouth.

For any Yankee fan, that is very upsetting. It was also reported all day today from a million people that Andy's friend told him that Pettitte was retiring. I didn't want to write about it until I got something from Cashman, now I have. I don't like this. I'm going with my theory though, I'm sticking with what I said. If the Yanks offer to Lee and Lee comes to New York, Andy Pettitte comes back to the Yankees for 1 more time. Let's hope I'm right.

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SWISHALICIOUS!

Terrific piece on River Ave Blues about Nick Swisher called "Is it time for the Yankees to extend Swisher?" Check it out. It was written by Mike Axisa.


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WHY IT'S ABOUT TO GET NUTTY

The Winter Meetings have begun. Game on. One thing's for the sure, everyone who thought that the Washington Nationals were going to make a lot of offers but wouldn't be taken seriously, like myself, were all wrong. These guys mean business. They signed Jayson Werth to a 7 year deal for $126 million and literally blew the top off the free agent market...why you ask? Because before that, Carl Crawford was getting that deal. But now he could probably ask for 8 years and $180 million. No way the Yanks are offering that to Carl Crawford. And remember that "rumor" a few weeks ago about the Yankees offering a 7 year, $140 million offer to get Cliff Lee? Then, of course, the rumor was disputed by Yankee Execs. Remember that? Well, now it will have to be legit because the Nationals just knocked the market out of whack. Expect big numbers and years. "Werth got it, Why can't I?" Mentality. Get ready for it.

Look for a real slutfest between the Rangers and the Yankees. Right now the word on the street is if the Rangers offer Lee 6 years, he'll stay in Texas. The touble is, the Rangers "say" they're not willing to do it. The Yankees are, but, do the Yankees offer 7 years? Everyone says NO. I say Yes, on this 1 fact, the Yankees have wanted Lee for a long time and at $140 million or $150 million, whats another year on a pitcher that you know will get you to the World Series. Quality Pitching wins ballgames. I expect the Yanks to do it, especially after the Werth signing.

Look for a Russell Martin deal this week, my new obsession. A lot of talk about it and it makes sense. The question is, how much. I do however love a Martin / Montero platoon.

Look for unique signings that Cashman will do for bench help and part time play. Kind of like what he did with Swisher a few years ago. Remember, no one really cared about Swish when he was signed, and he wasn't supposed to play rightfield. Then we woke up finding that we had Teixeira at 1st base and suddenly Swish was an outfielder again, like he was in Oakland and Chicago. Then he worked hard and became our every day Rightfielder for 2 years, he's done great work for us.

Cashman knows talent and expect another player or players like that. There are some nuggets out there that can still give the Yanks some quality work. Podsednik, Okajima and the like. People are even talking about George Sherrill, a lefty who came off a horrible year for the Dodgers. Could someone like Sherrill help the Yanks? We'll have to see what Cash thinks.

One things for sure, signing Jeter was huge and now, we can concentrate on make the Yankees even better. Pitching, Catching and bench.

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WHY ALL IS WELL IN YANKEELAND

Derek Jeter is officially a New York Yankee again and for the moment, all is well in Yankeeland. Mo's coming back and now Jeter and heading into the Winter Meetings, 2 big names are off our plate and a few bigger ones are on the radar, namely, Cliff Lee, Carl Crawford, Russell Martin and Andy Pettitte.

If we know anything about New York, it's about getting the biggest fish now. The Red Sox for example are the same way. They've been talking about Adrian Gonzalez forever, and today, in principal at least, they have him. I bet they get Jayson Werth too, but that's another conversation for another day. The Yankees have been talking Cliff Lee since they lost him in the Mariners bait and switch back in July and you know Cashman will now do everything to get him. He'll do anything to get Cliff Lee for the Yankees sake, for the fans sake and for sure, to stick it to the Mariners. No one swindles Brian Cashman, NO ONE.

But, back to Jeet. Jeter got a 3 year contract, worth $51 million. He also got a 4th year option. To everyone who told me I was crazy, suck it. Didn't I tell you all that he'd get an extra option year? Read WHY JETER IS AN ICON from way back on November 3rd. I came damn close. Yeah, I was wrong about the years, but I was close about the cash and about how the option would break down, so sue me, that was my love for Jeter coming out I guess. I speculated 5 years, $56 million deal with a 6th year option of $9 million. It makes sense.

The Yankees played hard in these negotiations. Jeet did too. Both sides deserve alittle credit, but the hardest part was the fans watching this thing unfold like the 2 were bitter enemies. I'm the first to say that I never ever expected it to take this long, but now he's back, so we can all rejoice.

Cashman needs to do a few important things now, get Andy Pettitte to officially commit and sign Cliff Lee... whatever it takes. I told you I believed Pettitte was waiting to officially commit until he saw the Yanks get Lee. If they do, he's in, no doubt. That's how I feel about this. Now, if the Yankees lose out to another team to get Lee, at least Pettitte sees they gave it a shot, and I suspect he officially commits anyway. We will see next week, hopefully Cashman nails it all down.

I like the idea and welcome Russell Martin to share catching duties with Jesus Montero next year by the way. I never thought of it until this week obviously, but I love it. I am actually obssessed with the idea right now, so I kind of hope Cashman can get him at a reasonable price. I actually think it all hinges on whether or not they get Lee and / or Carl Crawford.

One things for sure, alots about to go down in Yankeeland, this is when it gets the most fun... the Winter Meetings. Go get'um Cash, go get'um.

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WHY AN UPGRADE IS IMMINENT

The Yankees are “very much engaged in discussions” with Carl Crawford, though it’s unclear if they’re looking at him in combination with Cliff Lee, or as an alternative to the lefty. this coming from ESPN's Buster Olney.

I'm telling you, in my piece titled WHY IT ALL GOES BACK TO SWISH, I told you that I've heard more than a few times that Swisher was on the trading block and it would mean 1 thing... the Yankees are talking to Crawford. I knew something didn't sit right. Look, you know where I stand on Swisher, and Crawford, let's face it, is awesome.
Look at these numbers:

• 47 Stolen bases in 2010, 409 Overall


• Career .296 Batting Average


• .851 OPS in 2010


• 2010 Gold Glove


• 1st in triples in 2010 with 13.
  

Neat numbers. I like it, but again, there's something about Swisher's energy that offers the clubhouse some looseness. Whatever the Yankees do with this info, I'm for it. I want a Championship like everyone else. More to follow...

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WHY LEE'S A GREAT CHOICE

It's may be a stupid title because he's the hottest free agent pitcher and the Yanks are knee deep in aquiring him but I give it that title for 1 reason, it appears, at least on the surface, that's it's not about greed, but instead about just wanted to play for a contender.

Lee's agent came out saying he didn't want a Sabathia type deal. “I’ve never said CC is the goal,” is what he actually said. Although, he's an agent, and their not about wanting less for their clients. I see what he's doing, No team will give Lee 7 years, so he's just going through the motions. Look, don't get it twisted, Lee will make big money, He's expected to command a salary of $20 million-plus per season and the dude's 32, but 7 years is not going to happen, everyone knows it, including Braunecker.

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal is reporting, that the Rangers paid Lee another visit at his home in Arkansas. That's the second visit in 2 months. WSJ says "Lee's agent hasn't disclosed whether the Rangers, the Yankees or any other team has made a formal offer to the pitcher."

Bronx Baseball Daily wrote that "Lee is expected to be deer hunting in Arkansas during the winter meetings. So if he shows up in Florida you can expect something to go down."

Come on Cash, do your thing.

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WHY MO'S A CLASS ACT

The Yankees and Mariano Rivera are about to finalize a 2 year deal worth between $15 to $17 million dollars a year. Say Hallelujah, Say Amen.

You have to love having this guy on the Yanks as the closer. He's come so far and has done so much. Sure, over the years, there have been a few games that have imploded on the guy, 2001 and Luis Gonzalez still stings... but this is baseball, the greatest game in the world and Mariano is the only one I'd want on the mound to close a game, don't you agree?

The big store isn't so much that he is about to come back to New York, but it's this tid-bit that came out last night: Apparently, the evil Red Sox offered Mo a 3 year deal... they tried to steal the all mighty Mo from us Yankee fans. So, What did Mo do? He came home. Got to love that kind of class. He's a stand up guy. Rivera said ultimately, he wanted to remain with the Yankees... less money and fewer years than what the Red Sox offered. Nice.

See, as I wrote in my post WHY BOSTON COULD SWAY JETER, you have to respect Boston's thinking, they know trying to take guys like Jeter and Mo away will be the big payback.

According to Pro Rumors, If the report proves to be accurate, Rivera will be paid through 2012 the same salary as he made in 2008-2010 – $15 million per season.

Mo was 3-3 with a 1.80 ERA and 33 saves in 2010 with the Yankees. Rivera just wrapped up the final year of a three-year, $45 million contract.

Thanks for coming back Mariano Rivera... now tell your buddy Jeet to do the same.

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WHY IT ALL GOES BACK TO SWISH

A lot of trade talk, free agent talk, Jeet talk and Lee talk. And just when you thought we were done talking about the Greinke talk, well... there's Greinke talk again. More specifically, there is alot of talk about trade packages for Greinke... and it's about to heat up.

Look, Rumors this winter have been wrong 80% of the time. First I heard the Yanks had made a $140 million offer to Lee... then, it was not true. Then Nolan Ryans tried to woo Pettitte... Maybe. Or maybe not.

It's the world of blogging and trying to get the story first on the cyber. I have news for you though and it's important I get it off my chest... NO ONE KNOWS ANYTHING. Jon Heyman from SI has had some really great tweets. He's had plenty of bad ones too. You can't fault the guy, he's great at what he does, he's just trying to get the story like everyone else. We all have sources and Bleeding Yankee Blue probably have the fewest, but the ones that I do have are currently knee deep in Greinke and Jeet talk and they're hearing all sorts of wacky things.

Jeter Front: Derek Jeter will probably make between $55 and 60 million for between 3 and 4 years. It will be wrapped up by the weekend, according to my guys. But only if everything continues to go as smooth as it has since this Tuesday after their meeting in Tampa where everything was "positive." Once that's done the Yankees and die-hard Jeter fans can breath a sigh of relief.

Greinke Front: 2 things I'm hearing about this Greinke thing.

1. Zack wants to be part of a winning team, yet he doesn't want to come to New York. So which is it? I don't have that nailed down yet. I'll get back to you.
   
2. This is more disturbing because I'm a Swisher fan. I'm hearing trade scenerios with Swisher's name attached to at least 1 of them. - - Greinke for Swisher and minor league pitching. - - Greinke for Gardner, minor league pitching and player to be named. - - And the 3rd one is Greinke for Jesus Montero. Wait... Wasn't Jesus Montero going to be taking over catching duties for the New York Yankees next year? WOW.
   

I don't like Swisher in any trade package, unless we're getting Swisher in return. Ha Ha. Seriously, My only thinking is if Swisher's name is on the block, the Yankees are looking hard at immediately replacing him with Carl Crawford, an obvious upgrade I understand, but Swish is the man and I'm not going to lie, many of us are attached.

And now for my shamess plug: Join WE WANT NICK SWISHER TO HOST SNL. The dude has a following, there's no denying his popularity. I'm amazed by it.

I know, it's all about winning, and unloading Swish for young great pitching is a good idea, but players like Swisher are a special type player. The energy he provides in the clubhouse is awesome. He hits for power and does what he can in the field. He's Swisher, leave him alone Cash.

If I get more info for my guys, I'll fill you in, but something's about to happen and let's hope it doesn't include Swisher.

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WHY IN THE WORLD?

Can someone please explain to me why the Yankees had an opportunity to dump a downright awful former starting pitcher in Sergio Mitre and didn't? Mitre, when he started out with the Cubs back in 2003, was supposed to be a promising prospect and future pitching great. Maybe even 20 game winner. Back then, Mitre and Girardi crossed paths. Mitre had been in the Cubs farm system since 2001 and Girardi caught him on occasion, they became friends I'm sure. Girardi eventually retired after a brief stint in St Louis in 2003 but in 2006, he surfaced as the Manager of the Florida Marlins. Surprisingly, Sergio Mitre wound up there as well and pitched 15 games for the Marlins that year. He also pitched for them in 2007, but by then, Girardi left he Marlins post. Then, Mitre blew out his arm and needed Tommy John surgery. He was out for all of 2008 and just when you thought his career was going no where, the Yankees picked him up cheap, no doubt, at Girardi's request. After all, he was the manager in 2008 for the Yankees. Mitre is suddenly held in high regard again, even after he demonstrated so many times before he can't do the job. He's wasn't and isn't the Mitre that Girardi remembers. He's not the Mitre that was advertised long ago. And he proved that for the Yankees over the past 2 years. Jesus Hal, it's over for this bum. Sergio Mitre has never shown that he can be a great pitcher and he was only re-signed to the Yankees based on an old Chicago connection. Wow, Chicago politics IS corrupt. Man, I wish I could have a guy like Girardi as my old friend so if I ever sucked at what I did, I could get paid $900,000 for another year to suck again.

Here's a breakdown of Mitre's horrendous career:

I love the way Mitre followed Girardi all these years and everyone has just glossed over this relationship. The Cubs, the Marlins and the Yankees. My goodness. What type of "magic in a bottle" is Girardi waiting for with this guy? This is why think, and I'm being sarcastic so don't attack me for being clever. Set the scene: Cubs Spring Training. It's 2002. Serigo is a young stud in the farm system trying to get a job with the Cubs. There's nightlife, bar hopping, strip joints. That night it's the veteran Joe, Girardi, a rookie Mitre, pitchers Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, Joe Borowski and second baseman, Delino DeShields. The night gets away from them and early next morning, Girardi wakes up and there's a dead hooker next to him. Mitre walks in the messy hotel room. Girardi opens his sleepy eyes, sees the body and realizes what's going on...

Sergio Mitre: "Holy shit bro, I have to call the cops, I'm about to have an amazing career! I can't be apart of this!"

Joe Girardi: "DUDE!. It's not what it looks like! I'll do anything for you, just don't tell anyone about this."

Sergio Mitre: "Money in the bank."

It just seems incredibly unusual that this relationship stems back to Cubs and threads it's way right through to 2011. After a while, you can't carry a loser. You kind of need to tell him "Look Serg, we've given you a lot of time to get yourself together and it's not working." Right? maybe he retires, maybe you release him, hell, maybe he becomes a minor league pitcher with a minor league career for the next 5 years. Plenty of pitchers have done it. I just don't get it this whole thing. $900,000? A waste of money they could have spent somewhere else. But hey, apparently it's who you know.

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WHY I'M CRANKY ON GREINKE

Zack Greinke is a great young pitcher. And yes Yankee fans, having that type of talent in the Yankees rotation would give stability. Hell, if we were to get Cliff Lee too, it would be incredible, but I just don't see it happening.

It appears that the Yankees and Royals are talking Greinke and if he lifted his no-trade clause to come to New York, I'd welcome it, but I don't want to wait a whole season for him to "get comfortable" pitching in a big market. Yankees fans can be brutal. We want wins and we want them now and we accept nothing less. Javy was pushed out of New York the first time and then, last year Cash brought him back. Yes, it's true, we cheered him on, we wanted him to succeed, but then his lousy AL pitching ways reared it's ugly head again... And guess what, we killed him, AGAIN. He ran off with his tail between his legs to the Florida Marlins, where he will probably become an amazing NL pitcher again. And remember Randy Johnson's brief visit? When he was on, he was great, when he was off, we murdered him. And Johnson at the time was still a pretty damn good pitcher.

The truth is, if Greinke, who has anxiety issues, thinks he can come in and try and find a rhythm from April to July, it's not going to happen. Does any Yankee fan want that? Look at AJ last year. We were all talking trade by the end of last year. Someone actually said to me of AJ, "Just eat the contract and move on, we'll find someone else." Seriously?

Look, I sound like I'm down on Greinke, I'm not, - am however concerned that we're being sold a good pitcher who hasn't been battle tested, plain and simple. Now, I guess the only way we know if he's "got it", is if he comes to New York and throw, so Zack, if you're interested, come on over. I just hope we don't give up Swisher to get him. That alone would be disasterous. Bottom line, my opinion... he's not coming.

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WHY NICE DOESN’T CUT IT

I have hired a freelance writer for Bleeding Yankee Blue that will offer another point of view from time to time.Make sure to check him out of occasion. - - the Mighty Casey

We can all agree. Derek Jeter is a nice guy. And he is team player. And he is good for morale. And he has a warm smile and is nice to kids and dogs. I get it. He's nice. In a world where most football players spend more time in court (or in jail) than on the field, and even good guy NASCAR drivers like Jeff Gordon are throwing punches at other racers, being nice is a rare quality in sports these days. But is it enough to justify a huge salary? And will Jeter's reputation even survive this operatic, over-blown negotiation?

Last season was not a landmark one for the captain: 10 home runs, 3 triples and a .270 BA. Not real shabby, but hardly living up to his billing, and his worst showing in 15 years. He still makes some amazing plays from time to time, but Cano has more than out-shined him in that category. Let's face it, Jeter is just not as young as he used to be.

Is he the force that keeps the Yankees together in hard times - that keeps spirits high and personalities from clashing? Who cares. Several post-season teams included rosters full of dysfunctional and volatile players.

I like Jeter. I have watched him grow as a player and a person. He seems like a genuine sincere man. He is good for the Yankees and good for the sport. But he is no longer great. The Yankees need to work on getting some pitchers that can actually, ah, pitch. And some batters who don't swing like they're going for the Empire State Building when the ball has bounced twice in front of the plate. Boosting morale and raising spirits is for mascots.




 --Cranston Pebbleworth, Freelance BYB Contributor

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WHY BOSTON COULD SWAY JETER

Let me start by saying that Jeter would be a fool not to accept the offer from the Yankees. And apparently they all met in Tampa for a big Pow Wow because they haven't talked in 3 weeks.

The San Francisco Giants have been in contact with Jeter about his services but they just picked up Miguel Tejada which makes me think Close told Sabean they were going to try and work things out with the Yanks. But as you know, Jeter wants more money and more years and who knows if they really decide to stay in New York. My gut's been saying yes, they'll work it out. BUT, then the devil on my other shoulder gave me a disturbing thought. It's the most disturbing idea I've ever thought of so far, and I'm ashamed of myself for even thinking this, but let's face it, it's both provocative and obvious. The Boston Red Sox can and should make an all out assault to sign Derek Sanderson Jeter. Why? I will tell you... For 1 fact and 1 fact only. THEY CAN. What does it matter that they throw $60 million at an aging shortstop? He's a former New York Yankee great. Plus, Jeet's better than what they have right now and have had in that position for a long time. Can you say Julio Lugo? I see the paper's in Boston now: Boston Herald: "JEET WALKIN' YAWKEY". Boston Globe: "WICKED JEETA BOLTS EVIL EMPIRE". Everyone in New York would shit. Suicides would increase in the Tri-state Area... and in Boston, evil Boston, tickets sales would skyrocket come April, all to see their aging shortstop that they didn't want, but needed. There is a part of me that knows that I'm right about this. The Red Sox front office can be brilliant with their signings. We've seen it with people like Schilling, Lowell, Ortiz and Manny. When it comes to business, they have a pretty good track record. They also understand symbolism, triumph and rivalry. And don't get it twisted, Boston hates us, just like we hate them. It would be a thumb in every Yankee fans eye if we woke up on December 22nd and saw the back of the New York Post with Derek Jeter sitting there in a photoshopped Bosox hat and his arm around Wally the Mascot. It would literally kill Yankee fans. And it would be smart. Seeing Jeter on Opening day in Fenway, would be televised on MLB Network as well as ESPN and would be a disgusting display. Red Sox fans wouldn't even want Jeter, but they would embrace the idea of Yankee fans in misery. The venom would become much more between both teams. And the fans? Forget it, more fights, screaming, spitting. They'd cut off the beer from vendors by the 3rd inning. And Red Sox Nation, while they'll have an aging shortstop, will smile ear to ear thinking about payback. Payback for the Babe, for Damon, for Boggs and for Clemens. It won't matter that Jeter is 37 at that point, they'll have the face of the New York Yankees in a Red Sox uniform. It's about the biggest payback you can get from a rival besides losing to them in a championship. So don't sit back and think its all roses between Jeter and the Yanks. While today Hank Steinbrenner is quoted as saying things are "positive", let's face it, it's coming from Hank Steinbrenner. Boston could pull it off, I'm sad to say and I don't like it one bit. An offer can come at any moment and it won't be the same as what New York's asking, it'll be bigger and bolder. Let's just hope the Yankees beat the Red Sox to the punch again... Kind of like the Boone Home Run. Let's get our Captain back.

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