Girardi visits with Rivera

New manager Joe Girardi met with Mariano Rivera earlier this week.

According to Bill Madden and Anthony McCarron, there are signs that Rivera will accept the previous offer of $45 million over three years as a result of this meeting. Girardi thinks that "there is a good chance that he will return to the team."

This is very good news. A few days ago, I wrote that Rivera wanted four guaranteed years. I think the $45 million offer is the best he'll get by anyone and he is foolish to request anything more.

The sooner they get this done, the sooner they can bring back Alex Rodriguez and figure out the bullpen situation.

That's not going to be good for business

Headquarters for Scott Proctor's Arm (AKA my laptop) is down. My hard drive crashed overnight and the new one will arrive on Monday.

I don't know how much I'll be able to post over the weekend, but I'll try to best to post some news.

Please bear with my this weekend.

Thanks.

Yankees, A-Rod agree to contract outline

From the Associated Press:

Alex Rodriguez and the New York Yankees have agreed to the outline of a $275 million, 10-year contract, a deal that potentially would allow him to earn millions more if he sets the career home run record.

The amount of the guaranteed money was revealed by a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke Thursday on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn't been finalized. A-Rod met Wednesday in Tampa, Fla., with the Steinbrenner brothers but the parameters of the deal were set in place last weekend. (ESPN.com)

It's rather surprising to hear that they were discussing this last weekend.

The contract isn't terrible, considering the circumstances. Last night, I wrote about the contract being "heavily backloaded," with Rodriguez making less money these next three years, meaning he'll make the most money when he's oldest. However, he'll be nearing Barry Bonds' record around that time, so he'll be earning a lot of money for the Yankees anyway.

I am honestly shocked that Rodriguez is returning. I thought he burned all of his bridges during Game 4 of the World Series.

Now it's time to lock up Mariano Rivera and improve the rest of the bullpen. The outlook for 2008 is very much improved.

Peavy wins Cy Young Award unanimously

From Mike Fitzpatrick:

The San Diego Padres ace received all 32 first-place votes and finished with 160 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Arizona sinkerballer Brandon Webb, last year's winner, was a distant runner-up with 94 points. He was listed second on 31 ballots and third on one. (Yahoo News)

Jake Peavy won the pitching triple crown, so this doesn't come as a shock.

The AL MVP Award will be announced on Monday, and the NL MVP Award will be announced on Tuesday.

Rosenthal: Rivera wants four years

Ken Rosenthal cites Major-League sources, saying that Mariano Rivera wants a fourth guaranteed year.

You have got to be kidding me. Rivera deserves, at most, the three-year $45 million offer. Now he's just being a baby.

Rivera claims that he wants the same contract as Jorge Posada. Rivera, however, is two years older than Posada. Rivera showed a decline last year; Posada had the best season of his career. The Yankees had no viable replacements for Posada; they have a viable replacement for Rivera in Joba Chamberlain.

Star-Ledger: Yankees, A-Rod close to deal

From Ed Price and Dan Graziano:

According to a person who was briefed on the discussions, Rodriguez and the Yankees are already in negotiations on a 10-year contract worth approximately $280 million.

The person, who requested anonymity because he is not directly involved, said the deal would be heavily backloaded, with only about $50 million of it coming in the first three years.

The Yankees made it clear to Rodriguez that the only way they would do the deal is if he agreed to a much lower salary in 2008, 2009 and 2010. When Rodriguez went back to the Yankees and told them he wanted to come back, he agreed to essentially make up for the Texas money by accepting a lower salary for the next three years.

After 2010, Rodriguez's salaries would increase to an average of more than $30 million per year. The deal would also include incentive bonuses that could push Rodriguez salary higher, even in the first three years, if he met certain performance thresholds.

The average annual salary of $28 million would be more than $27 million a year he would have made in the peak-salary years of his previous contract and would match Roger Clemens' record salary of $28 million from 2007.

The person said the deal was complicated and could take a few days to finalize, but that both sides seemed confident it would eventually get done. (Ledger on the Yankees)

It looks like this thing is really going to get done. All of a sudden, 2008 isn't looking terrible, even though I didn't mind the loss of Rodriguez.

Personally, I hate backloaded contracts. See: Jason Giambi. He made $8 million in 2002 and is making $21 million this year. He got paid the least during his most productive years as a Yankee.

However, with Rodriguez's reported contract, it's all relative. I can't see Rodriguez having a "Giambian" decline in the near future.

From the horse's mouth (or fingers)

The article cited in the previous post cites an entry from www.AROD.com.

Here is Alex Rodriguez's official statement:

After spending time with Cynthia and my family over these last few weeks, it became clear to me that I needed to make an attempt to engage the Yankees regarding my future with the organization.

Prior to entering into serious negotiations with other clubs, I wanted the opportunity to share my thoughts directly with Yankees' ownership. We know there are other opportunities for us, but Cynthia and I have a foundation with the club that has brought us comfort, stability and happiness.

As a result, I reached out to the Yankees through mutual friends and conveyed that message. I also understand that I had to respond to certain Yankees concerns, and I was receptive and understanding of that situation.

Cynthia and I have since spoken directly with the Steinbrenner family. During these healthy discussions, both sides were able to share honest feelings and hopes with one another, and we expect to continue this dialogue with the Yankees over the next few days. (AROD.com)

Newsday: Rodriguez wants to return

From Jim Baumbach:

"It appears at this point that he wants to be a Yankee." Steinbrenner told Newsday in a cell phone conversation just a few minutes ago.

Despite so vigorously stating they would not negotiate with A-Rod after he opted out, the Yankees are entertaining this surprising new development because Rodriguez is willing to take sacrifices.

"The reason we didn’t entertain it in the first place is because of the opt out and the loss of the Rangers money and so forth," Steinbrenner said. "But at this point it appears he’s willing to make sacrifices to be a Yankee. Basically that’s it in a nutshell."

In his statement, Rodriguez referenced potential sacrifices -- which would include taking less money to account for the $21 million subsidary from the Rangers he cost them by opting out. (Newsday: On the Yankees Beat)

So there you have it. I honestly can't say I saw this coming.

Wedge and Melvin win Manager of the Year

From the Associated Press:

Eric Wedge received 19 of the 28 first-place ballots and got 116 points, finishing ahead of the Angels' Mike Scioscia (62 points). Joe Torre, who left the Yankees, was next with 61 and Terry Francona of the World Series champion Red Sox got 13.

Bob Melvin was chosen on 19 of the 30 first-place ballots and got 119 points. Philadelphia's Charlie Manuel (76), Colorado's Clint Hurdle (58) and the Cubs' Lou Piniella (25) followed. (ESPN.com)

Wedge was the easy decision in the American League. I would've given the National Manager of the Year to Charlie Manuel.

The National League Cy Young Award will be announced tomorrow.

Daily News: Yankees talking to A-Rod

From Mark Feinsand and Bill Madden:

Despite all of the back-and-forth posturing between the Yankees and A-Rod' camp, the Daily News learned today that the two sides have been discussing a deal for the past few days to keep the two-time MVP in pinstripes, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

The biggest catch? The Yankees don't want agent Scott Boras involved in the negotiations.

A high-ranking Yankees source told the Daily News that the team is willing to bring Rodriguez back on a below-market contract, one that would make up for the $21 million subsidy from the Rangers that the Yanks lost when A-Rod opted out of the final three years of his contract. (New York Daily News)

This is yet another installment in the soap opera that is Alex Rodriguez's career.

This source referred to in this article later says that Rodriguez will be a Yankee next year. Rodriguez was disliked by many Yankee fans before this fiasco. If Rodriguez indeed comes back next year, it'll be very interesting to see how he is treated.

Throughout the season, the Yankees were adamant that they would not negotiate with Rodriguez if he opted out. The new front office will come out looking like hypocrites if they bring him back.

Rivera in search of more money?

Mariano Rivera's three-year, $45 million offer wasn't enough?

From Pete Caldera:

But a three-year, $45 million offer is so far unacceptable to the Rivera camp, which is said to be seeking $50 million for the closer's last long-term contract. Rivera turns 38 later this month, and he'd be 41 in the final year of his deal.

According to a person familiar with the contract discussions, Rivera is not seeking a fourth year, but a three-year deal worth north of $16 million annually. And for what Rivera brings to the table, it could be argued that he settled below market value in previous contracts. (The Record)

I thought the original three-year, $40 million offer was a great deal which should've been taken immediately. After paying Jorge Posada $13.1 million per year in this new contract, the Yankees felt they should bump up Rivera's offer $5 million. That's fine.

But to want $50 million over three years at the age of 38? I understand you're mad at the Yankees for not negotiating during Spring Training, Mariano, but to demand this kind of money is absurd.

Sabathia wins AL Cy Young

From Anthony Castrovince:

In voting conducted by members of the Baseball Writers Association of America, C.C. Sabathia beat Boston's Josh Beckett for his first American League Cy Young Award. He is only the second pitcher in Indians history to win the award -- the first being Gaylord Perry, who won it in 1972.

Sabathia was listed first on 19 of 28 ballots cast by two writers in each AL city and totaled 119 voting points. Beckett received eight first-place votes and the Angels' John Lackey received one. (MLB.com)

I thought Beckett would win for sure. Congratulations to Sabathia.

Yankees added a fourth year late last night

The Times is reporting that the Yankees added a fourth year to Jorge Posada's contract late last night. This now makes him the highest-paid catcher in the league, slightly ahead of Ivan Rodriguez.

From the same article, it is being reported that Mariano Rivera's latest offer is three years for $45 million. He is looking at offers from other teams, but the offer from the Yankees will too make him the highest-paid player at his position.

Posada and Yankees agree to terms

On the last day the Yankees could exclusively negotiate with Jorge Posada, the team and the catcher agreed on a four-year, $52.4 million deal.

Peter Abraham has confirmed it.

This is a move the Yankees had to make. The four years could end up being too much, but they couldn't let him walk this off-season.

Pedroia and Braun win Rookie of the Year Award

From Ian Browne:

Dustin Pedroia was listed first on 24 of the 28 ballots submitted by two writers in each league city and second on the other four to total 132 points. The Rays' Delmon Young finished second behind Pedroia with 56 points, and the Royals' Brian Bannister tallied 36 to place third in the vote. Pedroia's fellow teammates Daisuke Matsuzaka (12 points) and Hideki Okajima (3) came in fourth and sixth place, respectively. (MLB.com)

From Adam McCalvy:

Ryan Braun was listed first on 17 of 32 ballots, second on 14 and third on one for 128 points, based on the 5-3-1 tabulation system. Tulowitzki was first on 15 ballots and second on the other 17 for 126 points. The two-point differential was the closest in the NL since the current system was adopted in 1980. (MLB.com)

No arguments here.

The AL Cy Young Award will be announced tomorrow, followed by the Manager of the Year Awards on Wednesday and the NL Cy Young Award on Thursday.

The AL and NL MVP Awards will be announced on the 19th and 20th, respectively.

Posada: We're really close

Jorge Posada was at tonight's Knicks game and spoke to several reporters. The interview was relayed to Peter Abraham.

Update on his situation: “We’re working on it. We’re working with the Yankees. We’re going to hear from the Mets tomorrow. I have no idea. … I would like to stay with the Yankees. My heart is with the Yankees, so hopefully we can get something done.

Does he want to stay with Yankees? “That would be the first choice, yes.”

When do you want to get this done: “I don’t know yet.”

Are you going to listen to other teams: “Yes.”

Are you in the driver’s seat? “Yeah. Yeah. We’re really close. It’s not about the money. For me, it’s the best situation.”

On Joe Girardi: “I love Joe. You know, Joe’s like a big brother to me. He’s been a big brother to me since like ‘96, so hopefully I’m hopefully looking forward to working with him.”

Are chances better than 50-50 you’ll be a Yankee? “Yes. Right now it’s up in the air, but the chances are good.” (LoHud Yankees Blog)

Looks like he'll be back.

As I said last night, the Yankees need Posada back next year.

Pavano to be released?

Is Carl Pavano's time in New York over?

From Joel Sherman:

There is a strong likelihood the Yanks will release Pavano before Nov. 20 so that they can use his 40-man roster spot for a player valuable to their future. Each team's 40-man roster must be set by that date in preparation for the Rule V draft on Dec. 6 at the Winter Meetings. (New York Post)

That's a shame.

This is a fun stat: Sherman noted that Pavano had as many wins in his Yankee career as Luis Vizcaino had from June 22 to July 21 last year.

A-Rod's been caught stealing

From YouTube (via Deadspin):

Yanks to offer Posada and Rivera deals

Tomorrow marks the end of the period of exclusivity - the period of time teams can negotiate with their own free agents alone.

That said, the Yankees are prepared to offer deals to Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera before tomorrow's deadline.

From Mark Hale:

The players' current offers are comparable. Rivera will be offered a three-year pact for $39 million, while Posada's offer will be for approximately three years and $40 million. (New York Post)

Posada has stated that he wants a four-year deal and wants to field offers from other teams.

I can't see any other teams offering Rivera that kind of deal.

Clemens considering pitching for Team USA

Roger Clemens is considering pitching for Team USA in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.

From MSNBC.com:

“I think, if things fell into place and he felt good, he would be interested,” agent Randy Hendricks told MLB.com. “He loves the idea of representing his country.”

I wonder how much they're going to pay him. I also wonder if Suzyn Waldman will say, "Roger Clemens is on George Bush's mound" (or something to that effect).