Bruney, Cabrera make their demands known

Peter Abraham has the latest updates on the arbitration front:

Brian Bruney is seeking $1.55 million in arbitration, and the Yankees countered with a $1.1-million offer.

For some reason, Melky Cabrera thinks he's worth $1.7 million. The Yankees, unamused, responded with $1.2 million, still a large jump from the $461,000+ he made last season.

Abraham received word that Cabrera has signed, but does not know the figure yet. I will update this post when I get the news.

Update - 6:45 p.m.: From Abraham:

Melky Cabrera settled for $1.4 million from the Yankees.

He can earn an additional $100,000 in performance bonuses based on plate appearances: $25,000 each for 525, 550, 575 and 600.

What a country! How ridiculous.

Yankees avoid arbitration with Nady

According to the LA Times' Dylan Hernandez (via RAB), the Yankees avoided arbitration with Xavier Nady today.

Nady and the Yankees have agreed on a one-year, $6.55 million deal. The Yankees still haven't come to terms with Brian Bruney and Melky Cabrera.

Nady made $3.35 million last season.

Inauguration Day

We inaugurate our new president today. Here is video of (soon-to-be former) President George W. Bush taking part in one of the most poignant moments in Yankee Stadium history (via The Final Score).

WBC provisional rosters

The following Yankees have been named to their respective countries' provisional rosters:

Alfredo Aceves - Mexico
Melky Cabrera - Dominican Republic
Robinson Cano - Dominican Republic
Francisco Cervelli - Italy
Derek Jeter - United States of America
Kai Liu - China
Damaso Marte - Dominican Republic
Edwar Ramirez - Dominican Republic
Alex Rodriguez - Dominican Republic
Jahdiel Santamaria - Panama
Jorge Vazquez - Mexico
Jose Veras - Dominican Republic
Zhenwang Zhang - China

Ex-Yankees Bobby Abreu (Venezuela) and Ivan Rodriguez (Puerto Rico) were also named. Bernie Williams was given a spot on the Puerto Rican team, but he suffered a leg injury in Winter Ball at the end of December.

Here is the United States' provisional roster. I like the infield and catching spots, but the pitching and outfield definitely could have been better. If the U.S. medals, I'll be happy.

WBC rosters to be released tonight

The first round of World Baseball Classic rosters will be released tonight at 6 p.m. ET.

The provisional rosters will consist of 45 players for each of the 16 teams. The final rosters (up to 28 players) will be released on Feb. 24.

Derek Jeter (USA) and Alex Rodriguez (DR) have already committed. The Yankees most likely won't have many others, especially in the pitching department.

I like the idea of the WBC and I love supporting my country, but there really is no good place to have this tournament unless the season is stopped somewhere in the middle.

Yankees ask for Wainwright, Cardinals said no, no, no

The St. Louis Cardinals asked the Yankees about Robinson Cano's availability, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via MLBTR).

The asking price the New York Yankees set for second baseman Robinson Cano when the Cardinals called about a deal: Adam Wainwright. The conversation did not last long.

Shucks. My thoughts on Wainwright? Just watch the ninth inning of Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS (sorry, Vazzano).

Pinch hitting at The LoHud Yankees Blog

My post on Peter Abraham's blog was published this morning. Here it is:

Last season was tough for all Yankees fans to handle. Under a new manager and in the final year of the old Yankee Stadium, the Yankees missed the playoffs. This marked the eighth straight season in which the team failed to meet expectations. Once again, they proved that having the highest payroll doesn’t mean much in October.

But for me, this season was even stranger. Being a 20-year-old, my earliest baseball memory was the 1996 World Series. I was 8 at the time, and didn’t fully grasp what exactly happened. Not until I saw signs reading “World Champions” did I finally understand how big this moment was. After that, Yankees would continue to reach the playoffs year after year. One could say that winning was my birthright.

The words “winning” and “Yankees” were synonymous for an impressionable young fan like me. I began to think this success was normal. Another year would pass and another championship would be celebrated. After five years of following baseball, the Yankees had won four World Series titles and no one seemed to get in their way. Life as a baseball fan couldn’t be better.

But the loss in the 2001 World Series immediately brought me back down to reality. While I was upset, I realized the world didn’t end and life would, eventually, go on.

And life continued to go on for the next six years, though 2004 was the hardest. Even the oldest Yankees fans had to be shaken by what transpired during those four games in mid-October. Sometimes I deny it even happened.

I have almost grown numb to these playoff “failures” over the last few years. The older, poorly-constructed pitching staffs were no match in a short series. When the Yankees tried to go younger last season, injuries and ineffectiveness derailed another highly-paid campaign. It happens, but around the Bronx over the last 15 years, we’re just not used to it, especially fans of my generation.

Seeing the Yankees out of the playoffs for the first time as a fan was definitely a weird experience for me, but a lack of a championship is something I’ve been able to handle as I’ve matured as a person and as a baseball fan. I’ve begun to realize that winning is a privilege and not a birthright.

I wish the same could be said about some Red Sox fans I’ve encountered at school. You see, Quinnipiac University is located right between Boston and New York, the epicenter of the rivalry. After the Red Sox won the 2007 World Series, one of my (former) roommates exclaimed, “It’s been three long years!” It’s amazing what a stretch of winning can do to a fan base. Needless to say, watching the Rays quiet this “dynasty” up at school was rather fulfilling.

The 2008 season was humbling for Yankees fans. It made me realize just how difficult and special it is to win just one World Series, let alone four in five years. Those teams of the late 90s were special indeed – I just wish I was a little bit older to fully appreciate them. We should all be grateful to have witnessed their performances on the field.

---

I appreciate any feedback. Thanks to Peter for giving us bloggers this opportunity again this year.

Sabathia ready to tackle N.Y. pressure

Here are some quotes from CC Sabathia via Jeff Latzke before Sabathia received the Warren Spahn Award (baseball's top left-handed pitcher).

“If you ask anybody in my family or anybody that knows me, I don’t think there’s any outside pressure that could be put on me that I don’t put on myself,” Sabathia said Saturday night before being honored with the Warren Spahn Award. “I put an enormous amount of pressure on myself to go out there and perform and expect to win every game, expect to pitch well in every game.

“I think having the guys in New York—the A-Rods and the Jeters and these great players, and Tex—I think it will help me be a better player.”
...

“All I’m going to say is I’m excited to be on a big-market team and to be able to get where we need to win and know that the organization’s going to do that every year, year in and year out,” Sabathia said. “That feels good.”

I love this guy already. I can't wait to watch him pitch this spring.

Update - 11:55 p.m.: I can't believe I missed this earlier. Thanks to Rebecca for bringing this to my attention:

Before Saturday night’s ceremony, he said he’s looking forward to having Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera there to close out games for him, and he’s already talked to Chamberlain about it.

“To have that bullpen and have just the support of that team, that team is unbelievable,” Sabathia said. “To add me and A.J and put Tex in that lineup, I think it’s going to be an unbelievable team. Hopefully we have a special year.”

Joba won't be in the bullpen, Carsten Charles.

Guest blogger: Jeremy Schilling

The following post is written by Jeremy Schilling from the fantastic J Schil's Blog. Jeremy is one of my good friends from college and can be heard on WQAQ-FM, The Soundtrack of Quinnipiac (time: TBD) and covers the golf team for the WQAQ Sports blog (which I edit).

The New York Yankees got more money from the City of New York today for the new Yankee Stadium. Yes, the richest team in baseball that just spent half a BILLION dollars on THREE PLAYERS in the offseason is needing more public financing.

80,000 jobs have been lost so far in the United States in 2009. Fronting today (Friday, Jan. 16)'s dismal report was the announcement of the liquidation of Circuit City. American families are hurting big time -- some living paycheck to paycheck. And like that isn't worse enough, some are having to choose between vital medicine and food!

Yet the Yankees are begging for more of OUR money. That's right: OUR money. And at the same time they're raising ticket prices in the new stadium. And at the same time their spending OUR money eliciting the help of some fancy real estate company to help sell the remaining high-priced seats. I frankly hope they don't sell.

I'm a Yankee fan...just like many who will read this post. And I hope this team plays well this year. But the way the Yankee hierarchy has spent both their money and OUR money is unfair, unjust, and plain old painful in these economic times.

I'm not sure what would make the Yankees change their ways, but I sure know that giving them more $$ isn't going to be the solution.

Thanks, Jeremy.

What are you thoughts on this topic? Let Jeremy hear them in the comments section.

More the Swisher/Nady trade front

Tyler Kepner has the latest news regarding a possible Nick Swisher or Xavier Nady trade.

That leaves Swisher and Nady, and Cashman said there was no preference for trading one over the other; it would depend on what a team offers in return. For several reasons, though, it seems more prudent to hold on to Swisher and dangle Nady.

Swisher, a 28-year-old switch-hitter, is two years younger than Nady and is signed for three more seasons at roughly $21 million. Nady, 30, is a right-handed hitter who is eligible for free agency after the season. He is represented by Scott Boras, who rarely agrees to a long-term deal before a player explores the open market.

Nady had a better season than Swisher last year, batting .305 with 25 home runs and 97 runs batted in — all career highs. Swisher had the worst of his five seasons, hitting just .219 with 24 homers and 69 R.B.I. But Swisher’s on-base percentage, .332, was actually better than Nady’s .320 figure over two months with the Yankees.

In that way, Swisher profiles better as the kind of player the Yankees seek for their lineup. He saw an average of 4.53 pitches per plate appearance last season, leading the major leagues in that category. Nady averaged 3.65 pitches per plate appearance. Among Yankees, only Robinson Canó (3.35 pitches) was worse.

I've stated many times that I'd like to keep both, but Kepner makes a compelling argument to trade Nady. Again, it's all contingent on what the Yankees get in return.

Meanwhile, Kepner also has news from Brian Cashman regarding the progress of Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera - both coming off offseason surgeries. Cashman said that fact "concerns me" and that "Posada is just throwing at 90 feet on flat ground and Mo's not even throwing yet."

Posada won't be able to catch the spring training opener on Feb. 25 but remains on track to be ready for the season opener. Rivera, on the other hand, never throws in January, so this is par for the course.

Yankees receive more funding

According to this AP article (via ESPN), the Yankees and Mets will receive more funding for their stadiums.

The teams sought to issue more bonds as costs increased on the new ballparks, both scheduled to open with exhibition games on April 3. Opponents say the original deals were unfair to taxpayers.

The Yankees asked for another $259 million in tax-exempt bonds and $111 million in taxable bonds. That is on top of $940 million in tax-exempt bonds and $25 million in taxable bonds already granted for its $1.5 billion Bronx stadium.

The Mets wanted an additional $83 million, after the $615 million already approved for their $800 million Queens park.

That's a lot of money. I don't want to get political here, but I find it hard to give this much money to already expensive projects. I'm just glad I don't have to make these decisions.

Pinch hitting at The LoHud Yankees Blog

Peter Abraham has - for the second straight January - allowed members of the Yankees blogosphere to "pinch hit" on his blog. I jumped at the opportunity once again.

My post will appear on his site a little after midnight on Jan. 18, so be on the lookout and let me know what you think.

Here is what I wrote last year.

Four-week warning

That's right folks - 28 days until pitchers and catchers report.

I can't wait to watch CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Joba Chamberlain start throwing. Seeing those early pictures from spring training really warms me up when we're in the dead of winter.

Speaking of which, it hit -6 (not Celsius) in Hamden, Conn., last night. Just wonderful.

Regarding the picture to the right: I despise anyone who has ever bought or worn this shirt. I'm only posting it because of the No. 28 on the back of it.

Braves cooling on Nady

According to Ken Rosenthal, Xavier Nady remains safe for now.

A trade remains a possibility, but the Braves are unwilling to meet the Yankees' price for outfielder Xavier Nady, knowing they might get better deals in July.

I like the sound of that. The Yankees aren't just going to trade Nady away for nothing. The only thing here is that we once again don't know exactly what the Yankees hope to obtain.

I guess that's a good thing in the long run. Hank Steinbrenner was essentially negotiating through the media during the 2007-08 offseason, but we all know he's irrelevant now.

I really hope Nady and Nick Swisher stay. This team is better with both in the lineup.

Rest in peace, Todd Drew

The Yankees blogger community is mourning the loss of one of our own, Mr. Todd Drew, who succumbed to cancer at the age of 41. Todd created his blog Yankees For Justice and recently joined up with Alex Belth at Bronx Banter.

Here is the post Alex wrote about the loss and this is Todd's final post, written on Dec. 22.

He was a terrific writer and will be missed.

Posada wants to play in WBC, Yankees don't

Jorge Posada, who underwent shoulder surgery at the end of July, apparently wants to play in the World Baseball Classic. The Yankees, however, have other ideas.

"I am sure he would love to play [in the World Baseball Classic], but he is currently rehabbing from surgery and would not be ready," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said.

Reports out of Puerto Rico indicated that Posada has started training for the tournament. Posada's father, Jorge Sr., told the Associated Press that his son has already signed a participation agreement for the Classic.

"He feels fine and wants to play for Puerto Rico," Posada Sr. reportedly said.

Wow. If he were to play, he'd probably serve as the designated hitter, but I think he should sit tight and continue his rehab.

For the record, Yankees media relations director Jason Zillo said Posada will not participate. We shall see.

Yankees invite 20 to spring training

The Yankees announced 20 spring training invitees in a press release today. Some names we already knew from minor-league signing this offseason: Angel Berroa, Kevin Cash, Sergio Mitre and John Rodriguez. Other notables are Shelley Duncan, Kei Igawa, Austin Jackson and Jesus Montero.

In addition to the players on the 40-man roster, this brings the total number of players scheduled to report to 60. Chad Jennings notes that some names not included were J.B. Cox, Alan Horne and Eric Duncan.

Click the above link to read the entire release.

Yankees hire brokerage to sell seats

The Yankees have hired Prudential Douglas Elliman to help sell the most expensive seats in the new Yankee Stadium, according to Richard Sandomir.

“They have some customers we may not be able to reach, and they can, so we entered into a nonexclusive agreement with them,” Randy Levine, the Yankees’ president, said Tuesday. “They have customers they have sold real estate to, or will in the future, and they can sell our seats in an innovative way.”
...

The Yankees hope Douglas Elliman will accelerate the sales of seats that range in cost from $350 to $2,500 a game.

“There’s been a lot of press about how expensive the premium seats are,” said Neil Sroka, president of Douglas Elliman Worldwide Consulting, which promotes and markets real estate projects for developers.

He said buyers can still get a 20-game package for $7,000 a seat.

“It’s obtainable,” he said. “In this economic time, people are still looking for things to take their children or grandchildren to.”

These quotes make me nuts.

I would not feel an ounce of sorrow if the Yankees fail to sell out many of their games. In fact, I'm hoping they don't. There is no better way to get the organization to lower prices.

Heyman on Pettitte

SI's (as well as SNY's, WFAN's and MLB Network's) Jon Heyman is reporting Andy Pettitte has less than a 50 percent chance of resuming his Yankee career, according to team officials.

We all know Pettitte was upset at the Yankees' one-year, $10 million offer, but he hasn't seen anything better, according to Heyman, and will likely have to wait for the team to trade either Nick Swisher or Xavier Nady to free up payroll space.

If all else fails, retirement could be his second option, and pitching for either Houston or the Dodgers could be other long-shot alternatives, Heyman said.

If Pettitte really wants to pitch in 2009, I believe he is going to regret not taking the Yankees' original offer.

Just keep in mind what Pettitte said on Sept. 10 (via NoMaas): "The Yankees know me enough, it's not like I'm going to hold out. I guess if I had spent all my money or whatever, it might be different. But it's not about that, really, anymore."

Hmmm...

Virtual tour of Yankee Stadium

Enjoy this virtual tour of Yankee Stadium from Sony's MLB 09: The Show.

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

It features A.J. Burnett striking out an unidentified Seattle Mariner, Mark Teixeira hitting home runs from both sides of the plate (against the Red Sox), CC Sabathia striking out a batter and a closeup of Monument Park.

Vazzano has the virtual tour of Citi Field up on his blog.