New York Yankees News and Notes

by Frank Campagnola on Jan 5, 2012 11:30 AM EST in New York Yankees News

It's painfully slow with the Yankees right now, but here's the best I can do for your usual morning news.

Could the Yankees be content with re-signing Eric Chavez rather than bringing in Hiroyuki Nakajima? That seems to be the case. The Yanks have until tomorrow to reach a deal with the 29-year-old Japanese shortstop.
According to Tyler Kepner of The New York Times, the Yankees are saving now to make a potential splash next winter. However, that does not explain why the Yankees would ignore one year deals this winter. Additionally, a big splash next winter would not help the Yankees stay under that magical $189MM mark.
The Yankees signed three players to minor league deals: Dewayne Wise, Cole Garner, and former top prospect Adam Miller.
Over at CBS Sports, Sean Hartnett believes that despite a new year, having the same Yankees team might not be a bad thing.
Finally, over at River Ave. Blues, Mike Axisa wonders if the Carlos Zambrano deal can tell us anything about A.J. Burnett.

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one year deals

Perhaps they’re not going after one year deals (like Roy Oswalt) because they don’t think those kind of players would significantly upgrade what they already have. They’ve already got 6 pitchers for 5 spots

by Arkansas Yankee on Jan 5, 2012 2:08 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions

true, they actually have more than 6 pitchers really

by jetanumba2 on Jan 5, 2012 2:15 PM EST up reply actions

It’s pretty clear that Oswalt and Kuroda are upgrades over Freddy Garcia, A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes.

Contributing writer for Pinstripe Alley.
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by Frank Campagnola on Jan 5, 2012 2:16 PM EST up reply actions

If FREDDY GARCIA is the reason we aren’t signing those guys, good lord…

Jesus Montero fangirl

by WhatwouldJeterdo on Jan 5, 2012 2:31 PM EST up reply actions

not clear at all

Oswalt is an injury case right now. Kuroda has basically been telling the Yankees for a year that he doesn’t want to play for them. That, and I’m not ready to give up on Hughes yet, (deserves one more year). If they can move AJ out to make room for Oswalt or Kuroda, I’d be all for it

by Arkansas Yankee on Jan 5, 2012 6:41 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

More likely than not they're not moving AJ though

So just because of that should they not go after Oswalt or Kuroda even if they are upgrades over much of the rotation?

This is why I absolutely loathe the Garcia signing. Signing him as early as possible and guaranteeing him a spot in the rotation makes it impossible for them to add a quality pitcher without moving Hughes to the bullpen, perhaps permanently. I bet if they hadn’t given him a contract, he’d still be on the market now.

I'll do whatever it takes to win games, whether it's sitting on a bench waving a towel, handing a cup of water to a teammate, or hitting the game-winning shot.- Kobe Bryant

A.J. Burnett's only fan!

by nyyrocks29 on Jan 5, 2012 7:35 PM EST up reply actions

Oswalt is an injury case right now.

Garcia & Hughes aren’t injury cases? They were DL’d last year. Also let’s not forget how injury-prone A.J. was before joining the Yankees, that could resurface.

Kuroda has said he’s now willing to play in NY so whateva.

"Don't you think it's strange that you'll make more money than President Hoover this year?"
"Why not? I had a better year than he did." - G.H. Ruth

366 Up, 366 Down

by Andrew GM on Jan 5, 2012 8:16 PM EST up reply actions

Garcia cut his hand in the kitchen!

by jetanumba2 on Jan 5, 2012 8:54 PM EST up reply actions

Which may or may not have actually even happened…

by MichaelGGBGrabow on Jan 6, 2012 1:21 PM EST up reply actions

First, Hughes is too young and has shown too much promise to replace him with a one year rental like Oswalt. Second, Garcia and Oswalt are virtually identical in production last year. So why add someone else when you’ve got Garcia, who is just as good? Wouldn’t make sense

by Arkansas Yankee on Jan 5, 2012 9:39 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

Oswalt is very clearly a better pitcher between the two of them.

by MichaelGGBGrabow on Jan 6, 2012 1:22 PM EST up reply actions

I wouldn't be surprised to see Matt Cain as a Yankee

especially since the Giants keep saying their big (only) priority is to sign him to a long-term deal. If he walks, they may regret choosing to upgrade with people like Melky.

The above comment is not affiliated with the San Francisco Giants, is not based on a secret source of team information, and may contain personal opinion.

"I'll never forget San Francisco and all those beautiful moments."- Andres Torres

by natteringnabob on Jan 5, 2012 2:21 PM EST reply actions

If the Giants' big priority is signing Matt Cain to a long term deal,

then how would it not be surprising to see Cain as a Yankee?

by bloppy_ploppy on Jan 5, 2012 10:02 PM EST up reply actions

Because they will probably be too cheap to actually get it done, and there’s talk they screwed the pooch last year by not offering an extension then, or more accurately by offering one and then withdrawing it when he had a sore arm in spring training.

The above comment is not affiliated with the San Francisco Giants, is not based on a secret source of team information, and may contain personal opinion.

"I'll never forget San Francisco and all those beautiful moments."- Andres Torres

by natteringnabob on Jan 5, 2012 11:39 PM EST up reply actions