Damon and Joba on the recent signings

Here are some quotes from Johnny Damon and Joba Chamberlain regarding the Yankees' recent signings.

Damon:

"All of us saw how he dominated us," Damon said of the right-hander, who was 5-3 with a 2.39 ERA and held Yankee hitters to a .213 batting average and fanned 72 batters in 71 2/3 innings. "We always said if we had this guy we would have won the past three years."

"On most teams, Sabathia, Burnett and Wang would be No. 1 starters," Damon said. "We have three No. 1 guys."

Chamberlain:

"It is great. It's going to be exciting for us," said Joba Chamberlain Joba Chamberlain , who was at Last Licks in Manhattan yesterday for an autograph signing. "[Sabathia] is a great competitor, and he brings a lot to the table."

"[Burnett] is just another guy who goes out and competes and knows how to win," the Chamberlain said. "He is a great addition and another top of the rotation guy for us."

"The way our front office did things today was fantastic," he said. "They went about their business and got things done, and it is very exciting."

"I feel less stress because you have all these guys around to be leaders for you," Chamberlain said. "It takes a little pressure off of everybody."

So there you have it. At least two people like the Burnett signing.

Cashman's breakfast

Brian Cashman was hungry for some cereal earlier this week in Las Vegas. Little did we know that some pieces of Alpha-Bits would cause him to have an epiphany, dramatically altering the Yankees' starting rotation.

Scott Proctor non-tendered

Scott Proctor was non-tendered by the Los Angeles Dodgers today, thus making him a free agent, according to Tony Jackson.

Proctor had elbow surgery in October to repair a partially-torn flexor tendon and shave down a bone spur in the back of his elbow.

In Yankees non-tender news, Chris Britton and Justin Christian made the list. Britton only pitched 35 2/3 innings as a Yankee and Christian stole seven bases last year.

Time to think offense

With the latest signing, the Yankees have spent $243.5 million this off-season on two contracts, both belonging to pitchers. While the pitching was bad last year, hitting was also an issue. The Yankees scored almost 200 less runs in 2008 than they did the previous year.

As it stands, two players who scored 168 of those runs last year will be gone. Those two players, of course, are Jason Giambi and Bobby Abreu.

At 34, Abreu hit .296/.371/.471 with 20 home runs, 100 RBI and 100 runs scored in 684 plate appearances. Giambi hit .247 with 32 home runs and 96 RBI. Both players had an OPS over .800.

Earlier this off-season, the Yankees refused to offer both arbitration, even though Abreu had Type A free-agent status, meaning they won't get two draft picks if he signs elsewhere.

The question is, should the Yankees think about bringing back Abreu or Giambi? The outfield and DH spots are congested, so there may not be room, but the Yankees need a bat. The lineup is lacking as of now.

Despite spending all of that money already, the Yankees have a lot of to play around with.

I hope Brian Cashman is thinking here, because I don't think Nick Swisher and (possibly) Mike Cameron will cut it. It's great that the rotation has been upgraded, but there are two sides to the game of baseball.

By the way, Mark Teixeira is still available. Imagine the uproar around baseball if the Yankees sign him to go along with CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett? There is money to be spent...

Crasnick: Burnett signs with Yankees

Get ready for five years of A.J. Burnett, Yankees fans.

According to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, Burnett and the Yankees have reached a preliminary agreement on a five-year, $82.5 million deal. That works out to an average of $16.5 million per season, but the two sides are still negotiating contract terms.

Burnett, 31, went 18-10 with a 4.07 ERA in a career-high 221 1/3 innings last year. His 231 strikeouts led the American League.

This obviously isn't a shock by any means, but I'm still not thrilled. It's too much money for too long for someone who's too much of an injury risk. Hopefully he's not on the disabled list for the majority of the contract like I think he could be.

And once again, the Yankees signed someone who I've preemptively made a hat for.

Cameron trade could happen, but nothing imminent

Kat O'Brien has the latest news on the proposed Mike Cameron trade. The trade could happen, according to Brewers GM Doug Melvin, but nothing is imminent, and he hasn't spoken to Brian Cashman since they both left Las Vegas yesterday.

"Right now there's nothing," Melvin said. " ... I think people get ahead of themselves a little bit, which happens at the winter meetings. I would hope to talk to (Cashman) and see if we can work something out. There's still a possibility."

Melvin also cleared the air about the money issue, saying the fact that the Yankees asked for some money in return "didn't bother me."

I will continue to update this news as well as anything that happens with A.J. Burnett as soon as I hear it, so keep checking in.

Yankees new Series favorites

From the "take it for what it's worth" department:

Before baseball’s winter meetings started here Monday, the Yankees had 6-1 odds to win the title, while the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox were at 5-1. As the meetings ended Thursday, the Yankees were a 3-1 choice. The odds for the Red Sox and the Cubs did not change.

But that's why they play the games.

The oddsmaker, Jay Rood, said he changed the odds because more people were betting on the Yankees as a result of them signing CC Sabathia and he sees the Yankees adding more players in the future.

Burnett mulling choices

Ed Price relays us an e-mail A.J. Burnett's agent, Darek Braunecker, sent.

According to Braunecker, Burnett is "in decision-making mode" and the agent "can't tell you when he will pull the trigger."

Sounds like we're getting down to the wire here. Is it bad that I accidentally wrote "Pavano" instead of "Burnett?" Freudian slip much?

Scott Proctor's Arm on Twitter

I've officially joined Twitter today. Basically, it's a whole Web site of Facebook statuses: small updates telling people what you're doing (if you're not on Facebook or don't know what it is, ignore the part about Facebook statuses). I've also linked it to my RSS feed so it'll update my Twitter account when I make a new post.

So follow me and I'll follow you! My name is proctorsarm.

We've gotten a lot of new readers over the last couple of days, so I'd like to remind you of some other things I've been doing. Scott Proctor's Arm has a Facebook page, is on the Blog Network (please join if you have a Facebook!) and has a BallHype account, among other things. I'm also a member of the relatively new Sports Blog Net.

You can subscribe to my RSS Feed, and I highly recommend using Google Reader. That's where I catch up on all of my favorite blogs and news outlets. I'm currently subscribed to 125 feeds. You can also subscribe via e-mail. The option to enter your e-mail address is on the sidebar on the right-hand side of the page.

As always, my email address is scottproctorsarm@gmail.com.

The newest on Burnett

Joel Sherman and George King (since when did he start calling himself George A. King III in bylines?) have the news:

Talking to a Yankee recently, A.J. Burnett informed the player they were going to be teammates.

"He wants to come to New York - those words came out of his mouth," the player told The Post last night. "He really wants to play here."

From all indications, Burnett will join CC Sabathia at the top of the Yankee rotation, and the deal could be sealed as early as today.

The writers go on to say that the Braves met with Burnett's agent last night and that it's possible they guaranteed a fifth year.

Pray to Smoking A-Rod...

Betemit gets a raise

Wilson Betemit, traded to the White Sox in the Nick Swisher deal, is getting a pay raise.

He will receive $1.3 million. He made $1.165 million last season after hitting .265 with six home runs and 25 RBI.

$1,300,000 doesn't buy what it used to these days. It's signings like this one that makes me wish I played professional baseball.

Burnett 'intrigued' by pitching in N.Y.

Dan Graizano brings us the latest on the A.J. Burnett front:

Two Yankees officials expressed confidence that the team would soon have a deal with free-agent right-hander A.J. Burnett. The Yankees have offered a five-year deal worth between $80 million and $85 million and could go higher. The Braves seem to have maxed out at around $80 million for five years, and Burnett is said to be intrigued by the idea of pitching in New York and staying in the American League.

The fact that he's intrigued by the idea of pitching in New York doesn't exactly intrigue me, as I've said numerous times.

More on this as it develops.

Poll analysis

Yesterday, I asked you: All things being equal, which pitcher do you want the most?

53 people voted, and the results were clear.

A.J. Burnett: 18 votes (33%)
Derek Lowe: 8 (15%)
Ben Sheets: 26 (49%)
None: 1 (1%)

I wish the Yankees were thinking the way the majority of you did. I would love Sheets here for two or three years. Burnett for five years scares the living you know what out of me, but apparently Brian Cashman feels comfortable offering that. We should learn soon as to which team - the Yankees or Braves - Burnett chooses.

Cameron trade a 'strong possibility'

Much can change in six hours.

According to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy, Brewers GM Doug Melvin said there is a "strong possibility" of the Mike Cameron/Melky Cabrera trade happening, maybe even as early as tomorrow.

Melvin said the financial hurdles have been resolved, but didn't get into specifics. Earlier reports today said the Brewers were insulted by the Yankees asking for money to offset Cameron's $10-million 2009 salary.

Stay tuned.

Bernie Williams hoping to play for Puerto Rico

Bernie Williams is hoping to play for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic this spring. As a result, he will fly there to play winter ball, according to ESPN's Bonnie Bernstein.

Williams, as you may remember, played for Puerto Rico in 2006.

Puerto Rico's manager says Wiliams could be used as a designated or pinch hitter, as Carlos Beltran and Alex Rios have already committed to playing two of the three outfield spots.

Also, as Bernstein mentions, Williams' second album is due out in the spring.

Cashman meets with Pettitte

Earlier today, Brian Cashman left Las Vegas again. The last time he left Vegas, he came back with news that CC Sabathia would be a Yankee. Today, he went to Texas to meet with Andy Pettitte, according to Joel Sherman.

Reading Sherman's piece, it sounded like Cashman was dispatched to deliver an ultimatum to the lefty.

So that leaves one rotation spot, and it is time to take the Yankees offer or the organization is prepared to fill that spot and close the door.

The Yankees are offering Pettitte $10 million for 2009. He made $16 million last year and does not want a pay cut. However, the Yankees are insistent he now is more of a No. 4 or 5 starter.
...

But it was clear Cashman also was ready to tell Pettitte this was the moment of truth: That if Pettitte really wanted to pitch as a Yankee in the new Stadium in 2009 he must act rather quickly to accept an offer -- or else the Yankees are prepared to move on elsewhere, perhaps to Ben Sheets or another option or two, including simply using youngsters Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy to battle for the job.

Interesting news here. Sherman quotes an unnamed team executive, saying Pettitte is probably worth $8 million, but they'd be willing to offer $10 million, "because we love him." Sherman speculates that Cashman could offer Pettitte reachable incentives to increase his pay.

While Pettitte struggled last year (14-14, 4.54 ERA), he still pitched over 200 innings. Having him back next season would be nice, but not at $16 million guaranteed. Hopefully Pettitte realizes this, because the most important thing in his life isn't baseball.

And with that, the Winter Meetings come to a close

With the Rule 5 draft coming to a close, the 2008 Winter Meetings have also come to a close. The Yankees lost six players, Reegie Corona, Zach Kroenke, Jason Jones, Ivan Nova, Andres Santos (Triple-A phase) and Josue Selenes (Triple-A phase).

I'd just like to give a big, huge THANK YOU to everyone who stopped by this week. I had one of my biggest days in terms of page views yesterday, and I'm very appreciative. Those who have been here before, thanks for continuing to check in. And those who joined us for the first time, I hope you enjoyed your stay and keep coming back!

I will continue to track the latest on A.J. Burnett, Derek Lowe and Mike Cameron. The latest I've seen regarding Cameron is that the Brewers don't want to give the Yankees any money after watching them sign CC Sabathia for $161 million. Completely understandable, if I do say so myself.

Reegie Corona taken by M's in Rule 5 Draft

Reegie Corona, a second baseman in the Yankees' system, was taken by the Seattle Mariners in today's Rule 5 Draft.

Corona, 22, hit .274 with three home runs and 39 RBI in 129 games for Double-A Trenton.

Zach Kroenke was drafted by the Marlins and Jason Jones by the Twins.

Cameron trade may not get done

According to Ken Rosenthal, the rumored Mike Cameron trade may not get done.

The Yankees will need to have a change of heart for it to happen, one source familiar with the discussion said.

The Brewers are asking for a second player in addition to Melky Cabrera. The Yankees want the Brewers to pay a portion of Cameron's $10 million salary.

Milwaukee is not inclined to fulfill that request at a time when the Yankees are on the verge of paying over $200 million for pitchers CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett.

If this trade doesn't happen, it's not the end of the world. It may even be a good thing.

While I'd love to ship Cabrera out of town, they don't have to force things. The Yankees still have Brett Gardner, after all.

Latest on Burnett

Here are the three newest reports on A.J. Burnett.

First from Jon Heyman:

The Yankees have offered at least $80 million over five years, and perhaps a little more to the talented right-hander.

The Braves may also offering five years to Burnett but it could not be confirmed that the fifth year in their bid is absolutely guaranteed. If it is, the Braves would be right there with the Yankees. Burnett is said to like Braves manager Bobby Cox, and some believe he may prefer to pitch in the National League East rather than the A.L. East.

Buster Olney:

The Yankees are feeling good about their position in the A.J. Burnett bidding. It is not likely that they will make an offer that is comparable to the $91.5 million deal once signed by Carlos Zambrano, as has been speculated, but they are confident that they will have the largest offer on the table -- five years and $80 million -- when the bidding is over.

That's good news, at least, because Burnett does not deserve Zambrano money at all. He also doesn't exactly warrant five years either, but the Yankees don't realize that for some reason.

And now from Ken Rosenthal:

Burnett's representatives were expected to contact interested clubs Thursday, giving them one last chance to beat the Yankees offer of five years and approximately $85 million.

The Braves have offered four years and an easily attainable vesting option for a fifth year that would put the total value of their package to about $80 million, according to sources. To land Burnett, they would need to guarantee the fifth year and increase their financial offer.

Swoop in with five and $90 million, Atlanta!