HEY CASH, GREAT JOB NOT SIGNING SCHERZER!

By a show of hands, who else is relieved that the combination of Brian Cashman and Hal Steinbrenner did not dump over $200 million on Max Scherzer? I for one am ecstatic. I do believe though that the Nationals made a great play and put themselves in a great position to compete for a World Series ring.

Let me start by saying I love Max Scherzer... when he is NOT pitching against the Yankees. He has been a dominant force for the Detroit Tigers over the past few seasons. He’s averaged over 200 innings and 240 strikeouts since 2012. His move to the senior circuit should bolster his numbers and allow him greater success over a longer period of time. He is a perfect fit for the Nationals rotation that is already stacked.

When the Nats can throw out Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann in a three game set…. Forget about it! The following series, you may think the opposing team would catch a break. Think again my friends! Gio Gonzalez and Doug Fister round out the four and five slots before you face Max Scherzer as the rotation turns over. That sends Tanner Roark and his sub 3.00 ERA in 2014, likely out to the bullpen. Without Scherzer, the Nationals rotation posted a ML leading 3.04 ERA in 2014. That, my friends, is some serious pitching! The signing could also provide some quality trade bait for the Nats with their surplus of pitching, as several sources have already speculated. Yankees perhaps? Perhaps…

Now, many of you probably are wondering why I’m so ecstatic about the Yankees not signing him. Let me give you three reasons. CC Sabathia’s contract, Alex Rodriguez‘s contract and Mark Teixeira’s contract.

When the Yankees signed these guys and others to long term deals, they won a World Series in 2009. That’s all well and good. I was as happy as anybody.  But four years later, starting in 2013, the Yankees had a bunch of old, injured players on their way down hill and their last two seasons have ended in September. That’s even after spending more than a half a BILLION dollars prior to the 2014 season!

I struggle with these long term big money deals. I struggled with not signing Robinson Cano. I loved Robbie, but he wanted a TON of money over a VERY LONG period of time, at the age of 31, and in the back of my mind, I think about signing these other players. All were right around the age of 30. Guess how old Max is? 30. Do you believe he will be the player worth $30 million dollars a year (or $15 million a year over 14 years as half his contract was deferred) at 35, 36 and 37 years old, the last three years of his contract?

The more conservative direction the Yankees took this off-season is a good sign for some of us Yankee fans. It’s tough for some fans to take, after getting accustomed to the never ending check book the Steinbrenner’s open.

But think about this; Look at how they won the four championships. The Core Four plus Bernie Williams were all home grown talent. Then they added some pieces to fill the puzzle as needed. They need to get back to that trend. Build from within and add pieces when necessary.  That starts with allowing prospects to grow. We need to stop trading them away for aging veterans.

Over the next few years, the Bombers will have some contract turn-over and some young talent primed to jump in at the big league level as well as new young pieces they've compiled. I like that approach. It’s giving me some confidence for the future of this organization. Following the last two years, my confidence level was dwindling big time!

Anyway, best of luck to Max Scherzer and the Nationals as they should be a force to be reckoned with.

Good thing they’re in the NL!


 
Dan Lucia
BYB Writer
Twitter: @DManLucia


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JOHN STERLING'S HOME ENGULFED IN FLAMES

Send a prayer John Sterling's way.  Tonight word is that his home, in an apartment  in a luxury complex in Edgewater, NJ was engulfed in flames and being battled by firefighters.

I knew there was commotion in Edgewater today, but I wasn't exactly sure what was going on.  Then came word from Michael Kay on Twitter just a short time ago:

Those that have heard about the big fire at an apt complex in Edgewater, NJ, I just spoke to John Sterling, who lives there, and he is fine.
— Michael Kay (@RealMichaelKay) January 22, 2015

John has moved into a hotel for the night but is worried he might have lost everything in the fire. Please keep him in your thoughts.
— Michael Kay (@RealMichaelKay) January 22, 2015

When I read about it, my heart sang.  I hope there are no deaths in that fire and I hope everyone is safe.  According to the Daily Mail:

"Hampered by winds and frigid temperatures, firefighters battled a huge fire Wednesday night at a New Jersey apartment complex home to Yankees announcer John Sterling and many others. 

The enormous fire has sent flames sky high and left smoke visible from New York City across the Hudson River.

There were no initial reports of injuries in the blaze that broke out around 4:30 p.m. at The Avalon at Edgewater in the city of Edgewater, about 10 miles north of New York City."

Sterling told the New York Daily News:

"Maybe I’ll get lucky and there won’t be that much damage... I was wondering what I was going to do for clothes... But then I started thinking about all the stuff, all the memories, whether it be music, books, and a lot of other stuff. " 

Again... send prayers John's way.  What a terrible thing to happen.

In closing, I just want you all to read what Kay wrote last about John tonight...

John is really moved by the outpouring of love and the countless people that have reached out to him.
— Michael Kay (@RealMichaelKay) January 22, 2015

Yup, we're a family... a Yankee family and when things go south, when there's tragedy, whether we know the people personally or not, we circle the wagons and give support and love. 

In the end, that's what it's all about isn't it?

Thanks for the updates Michael Kay.

 

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I WAS WRONG ABOUT JOHAN SANTANA

There's nothing better than wanting to succeed.  There's nothing better than pushing and trying to get back to form and trying and wanting to contribute to a team and then doing it.

It's another to keep trying and falling... not because your heart's not in it, but because you're not physically able.  It's unfortunate, but that's what has happened to Johan Santana.

According to CBSSports.com, Johan Santana had a setback.

"According to the Venezuelan Winter League’s official website, the former two-time Cy Young Award winner’s latest comeback attempt has been derailed by left shoulder discomfort.

An MRI showed no structural damage, but Santana will likely be sidelined a while, hurting his chances to go to spring training with a team."

Look, you gotta give Johan credit for trying.  I appreciate it.  You gotta wonder if he'll try again once he gets passed this setback.  We shall see...

In the meantime... all my talk about trying to get this veteran cheap was wrong advice, at least for now.  I was wrong... and that's OK. Fans don't know everything... we're just fans.



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AROD... AND BONDS... HIS NEW TRAINER

Alex Rodriguez's workout regime just got a bit more interesting.

ARod has spent the better part of the last two or three months getting ready for his 2015 come back. After serving a season long suspension, he reached out to Brian Cashman in September to see if he could start reaching out to personnel to map out his winter routine (HERE). Since then he has been seen on several occasions putting in the work needed to get back in playing form. He seems to be dedicated to coming back strong. He's even gone as far as enlisting the help of baseball's all time home run king, Barry Bonds.

According to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle, Bonds has been training A-Rod at San Rafael's Future Prospects facility. Shea writes:

"It can't hurt to be a Bonds client. For A-Rod, it's obviously about the present and getting the best tutoring available, his and Bonds' association with the steroid era notwithstanding, and about acing a comeback, which could include an assist from the home run king."

ARod is signed on with the Yankees through 2017. He's still owed $64 million, and has some marketing bonuses for career home run benchmarks. Though likely he will play more DH than he does as starting third baseman, the ultimate goal seems to be to have a productive bat for the Yankees line-up. I can respect that.

I know some people will be up in arms over this. Ready to prosecute A-Rod for his choice in mentor. Obviously birds of a feather, right? Look, Bonds' record definitely has a asterisk next to it, and he will probably be barred from entering the Hall of Fame because of his connection with PEDs. But, you know the Giants? World Series Winning San Francisco Giants? Yea, he worked with them last Spring. And a number of other players that never get criticized for being mentored by Bonds. So just be cool, okay? ARod has a plan. He's taking the steps to be ready to play. You don't have to like ARod. That's fine. But so long as he wears the uniform, I sure as hell want him to produce some runs, and you should too.

Finally, let me say this; this is my opinion. I don't speak for Bleeding Yankee Blue. I made sure to give you this news item with some of my commentary. Plus I'm sure Casey will have something to say about real soon.  But here's the thing to remember; as long as ARod is in pinstripes, everyone has something to say about it.  That's why we're here to bring you all sides of Alex Rodriguez.

--Erica Morales BYB Senior Writer 

Twitter: @e_morales1804

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BYB HOT STOVE: VOLUME XI

Here we are again; another week in the pre-season hunt for pitching and, another starting pitcher is again out of our reach.  Max Scherzer is headed off to DC for many years in a deal that smells a lot like a Mets Bobby Bonilla contract.  "The deal is for $210 million with half deferred, according to multiple reports. Scherzer reportedly will receive $15 million annually for 14 years. The deal also includes a record $50 million signing bonus, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press."  Yikes... check out Bonilla's contract. According to the website Celebrity Worth, "Bobby Bonilla hasn't swung a baseball bat professionally in over a decade, yet every year on July 1st The Mets cut him a check for $1.2 million. That's more than any current Mets outfielder will make in 2013."  How?  Well, here is how it happened.

According to CBSSports, "The deal was signed by the Marlins in 1996, but Bonilla was traded to the Dodgers in the 1998 blockbuster that involved Gary Sheffield and Mike Piazza. Bonilla was later flipped to the Mets. He then only played 60 games in 1999, hitting .160/.277/.303, so the Mets saw fit to get rid of him before the 2000 season instead of paying him $5.9 million that year. And now they'll be paying him a bit more than four times that -- just stretched out over 25 years."  Bonilla gets paid $1.2 million dollars through 2035 for doing absolutely nothing.  We don't need contracts like that, making lofty deals to pitchers who will be well into their twilight years or gone from the sport entirely.  Scherzer will be 44 at this point before the Nationals are done paying him on this contract.

I bring this up, because although we all thought we wanted Scherzer, we did not want that inflated contract.  Good luck with that, Washington.

"A source had earlier told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark that the Nationals wouldn't have the financial flexibility to sign the right-handed Scherzer unless they have a trade in place to move starter Jordan Zimmermann and possibly shortstop Ian Desmond. As of Saturday, the source told Stark, the Nationals did not have trades in place for Zimmermann or Desmond," reported ESPN.com.  So, who might be interested in these guys?  I know, I would!  There is also talk that the Nationals could trade Stephen Strasburg or Doug Fister.  I'm open but again, we are not going to spend big dollars on these guys.

And Stark also reminds fans that the Yankees, although a team never to be ruled out of any deal including a deal with James Shields, have a clear focus and purposeful message.  "They've been all about getting younger and loading up on bullpen depth. And Shields would contribute to neither. Not to mention that his career ERA in the new Yankee Stadium is 6.35."  Nope, not interested.  

Interestingly enough, in this market of free agency and gluttony, as long as general managers keep feeding the beast, they will keep demanding the big money.  According to Stark, "I can't imagine he gets less than $80 million over four [years]," said one exec. "There's someone out there. You know that. I just have no idea who that is." Lots of teams have had interest in the Shields, but no one has stepped up officially.  Many say it could be any day.  

To end this week's Hot Stove, a word about Johan Santana.  According to Jon Heyman's Twitter feed, the Yankee, Padres, Blue Jays and about six other teams have shown interest in Santana.  Santana is currently 35-years-old and some say he could be a bull pen asset.  I don't know.  It is just too risky.  But, it could happen, so brace yourself.  

That's it for this week's Hot Stove.  Fingers crossed for some good news for us this upcoming week. Only 29 days 'til pitchers and catchers!


 

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THE OFFER'S IN FOR ICHIRO

Quick note.

The Miami Marlins have put an offer in for Ichiro Suzuki.  That story comes from Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

"The Marlins have offered a one-year contract in the $2 million range to Ichiro and the Marlins remain optimistic, but not certain, that a deal will be struck...If Ichiro signs elsewhere, the Marlins likely would trade for a fourth outfielder or sign Nate Schierholtz, 30, who hit .195 for the Cubs and Nationals last season but .251 with 21 homers and 68 RBI for the Cubs in 2013. But Ichiro remains the clear preference."

Hold onto your popcorn... let's see what Ichiro does next.

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Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/2015/01/marlins-still-sorting-out-issues-jose-haren-ichiro-bullpen-bench-batting-order-heat-dolphins-canes-c.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/2015/01/marlins-still-sorting-out-issues-jose-haren-ichiro-bullpen-bench-batting-order-heat-dolphins-canes-c.html#storylink=cpy

WHY THE 'A' MATTERS

Does a logo on a hat matter when someone goes into the Baseball Hall of Fame?

Yup. No doubt about it.

In the case of Randy Johnson, a.k.a. “The Big Unit”, it mattered more to me than many things that have happened to the Arizona Diamondbacks these past few seasons. I'm an Arizona native after all.

Look, I hope it isn't just me, but it would physically bother me if Johnson entered Cooperstown with any other logo on his hat than that ‘rattlesnake A’ we so proudly sport here in the Grand Canyon State.

I would have also accepted that rattlesnake in the shape of a "D" logo we rocked on those black hats in ’01.

But I wouldn’t have accepted a Montreal ‘M,’ which I barely figured out was a stylized ‘M’ 3 years ago, or even that Houston star.

And while the Yankees interlocking ‘NY’ looks good on most, it just didn’t fit the 6’10” Cy Young icon. 

Oh yeah... and I could NOT live with the Seattle Mariners ‘S’ adorning his brow.  They gave up on him before his prime.  His real PRIME!  I know he was there ten years, but he was only celebrated for a short time in the great northwest.

The man is a Diamondback! He was a large rattlesnake who breathed fire on the mound!  He made the organization, and all his moments, his glory, it all happened when he wore purple or black.

Randy Johnson was the hometown hero; he lived here in the off-season.  We needed him... and it’s only fair that the Arizona fan base gets him as their first Hall of Famer.

It bugs me that Yogi Berra has no Yankees logo on his hat, probably a product of what he felt when he was disrespected by the organization he became synonymous with. The DBacks almost did the same thing to Johnson, depriving him of finishing his career and reaching 300 wins in Arizona and forcing him to call San Francisco his home for a year.

But the past is the past, and I take pride knowing that a man who slightly looks like my uncle Roy, but never went to prison, is going to the Hall of Fame and he’s sporting my home team’s colors and logo!

Sorry Seattle, you’ve got Pearl Jam, you have Nirvana and you should get Griffey Jr. too. But “The Big Unit” is our hero and our champion!

Thank you Randy Johnson for putting Arizona on the sports map. Congratulations on the Hall of Fame.

Wolfgang Von Bunt
BYB Staff Writer
Twitter: @WVBunt

 

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GONZALEZ GERMEN'S ALREADY GONE

 The Yankees just Tweeted that they flipped Gonzalez Germen to the Texas Rangers for cash:

#Yankees acquire cash from #Rangers for RHP Gonzalez Germen.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) January 20, 2015

In other news... You're asking me... who's Gonzalez Germen again?

We wrote YANKEES JUST TRADED FOR GERMEN. OK THEN back in December.  Germen was traded to the Yankees by the Mets then.  Now, he's a Ranger apparently.

All good... just wanted to keep my BYB audience in the loop... because I love you.


 

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JOHAN SANTANA & A 'HALF DOZEN'

What?

Look... Bleeding Yankee Blue prides itself on being different.  So when Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com says that a half dozen teams are looking seriously at Johan Santana, I think of a half dozen eggs.  Visually, you are drawn to it, and then you click and hopefully read about it...

Unless you don't like eggs... or unless you don't think I'm funny.

OK... that's the end of that bit.
 

In all seriousness, the Yankees and 5 other teams are interested in Santana.  That comes from Jon Heyman:

yankees, jays, padres among half dozen teams considering johan santana, who's planning to start thursday for magallanes
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) January 20, 2015

Omelet anyone?

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NOW THE YANKEES HAVE "WORKED OUT" YOAN MONCADA

Yesterday we reported that the San Francisco Giants held a private workout featuring Cuban Yoan Moncada. Read THE YOAN MONCADA SWEEPSTAKES HEAT UP.

Today, we find out the Yankees have held a private workout with Moncada too.  According to Baseball America's Bed Badler:

"The Yankees, Baseball America has learned, are one team that has already held a private workout for Moncada.

From conversations with several industry sources, the Yankees are one of the frontrunners to sign Moncada, who has residency in Guatemala and is a free agent, though Major League Baseball won’t let him sign until he receives a specific unblocking license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). While the young Latin American talent in the organization is promising, the Yankees are light on young, impact position players. Moncada, a 19-year-old switch-hitter who would likely slot it at second or third base, would immediately change that, and slot in as the Yankees’ top prospect if he ended up signing with them."

We are following this story very closely. When he is allowed to negotiate, there is no question the Yankees will be ready to pounce. Let's hope so.


 

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REMEMBER FRANCISCO CERVELLI? HE'S GOT SOMETHING TO SAY

Nice piece in MLB.com about Francisco Cervelli I wanted to send your way.  Jim Lachimia has the story about Cisco. He's a kid who's most likely been awarded the starting catching role... "officially", and he's taking it seriously in Pittsburgh:

"When Francisco Cervelli made his rounds at PirateFest shortly before Christmas, he was well-dressed, well-spoken and well-received. The 28-year-old catcher -- who was acquired from the New York Yankees last November -- moved about the David L. Lawrence Convention Center with a smile on his face as he exchanged pleasantries with fans, members of the media and several of his new teammates.

'This is amazing, especially for me. I'm new,' Cervelli said as he surveyed the scene. 'I'm getting to know people and they're getting to know me a little bit.'...

Cervelli is embracing his opportunity with the Pirates and wants to prove himself worthy of the slot into which he's been penciled.

'You're going to a new team and you have to show everything you've got all over again,' Cervelli said. 'But I don't want anyone to give it to me for free. I just want to earn my job. That's it. Every Spring Training, I've had to go and fight for a job. This one is not going to be an exception.'...

Pirates pitchers and catchers will report to Bradenton, Fla., to begin Spring Training on Feb. 18, and Cervelli knows he has a lot of work ahead of him to become familiar with a new pitching staff.

'Spring Training is for working and I'm going to have enough time to learn from the guys,' he said. 'The psychology thing is the most important thing for a catcher. You have to know each guy -- their personality, what they do, what they've got that day. I put a lot of energy in that.... They've got to be my best friends. When I was with the Yankees, my pitchers were everything to me. Talking to them, trying to get to know each guy's personality. I also watch videos and do my homework, but I think the most important thing is the mental part -- just making them feel comfortable throwing to me.'"

Say what you will about Cervelli. Many call him not too talented.  Others hate him. Some appreciate him. Me? I think the guys full of heart. He knows he may not be the best, but the guy is literally busting ass out there whenever he's in the lineup. 

It's true passion.... hell... that should count for something.

Good luck Frankie. I always like you bro.

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