Yankees interested in Sheets, Pettitte

Jon Heyman comments on the Yankees interest in Andy Pettitte and Ben Sheets. Apparently, new teams are raving over some new Sheets medical info. He is an ACE when he is healthy, but missed the end of the season and the playoffs with an injured elbow.

I wouldn't mind signing Sheets instead of Pettitte, but regardless I think we need one more pitcher. Hughes shouldn't be promised a spot. Pettitte is the better bet for 200 innings, while Sheets is the better pitcher when healthy. We will wait and see how this one plays out.

Freddy Garcia choosing between Yanks, Mets?

UPDATE::It will be the Mets who land Garcia. More reason why the Yankees should bring back Pettitte.

Ken Rosenthal is reporting that free agent pitcher Freddy Garcia is choosing between the Yankees and Mets. It would likely be a one year deal worth around $2-4 million with incentives.

I don't really get this. Garcia isn't a good bet to be healthy and give us a lot of innings, if any. I'm guessing he'd be promised that last spot in the rotation, sending Hughes back to AAA. While I do agree with making Hughes earn his spot, I am not sure Garcia is the answer. We need that one other guy who can be a solid veteran and give us 200 innings, and Andy Pettitte is exactly that. Stay tuned.

13 Yankees headed to WBC

The rosters for the 2009 World Baseball Classic have been announced. 13 Yankees will be playing in the tournament. As listed here Derek Jeter will represent the USA, while A-Rod, Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera will play for the Dominican Republic along with other Yankees teammates Edwar Ramirez, Jose Veras and Damaso Marte. Some other Yankee players who will be in the tournament are Alfredo Aceves and Jorge Vazquez (Mexico), Francisco Cervelli (Italy), Jahdiel Santamaria (Panama) and minor leaguers Kai Liu and Zhenwang Zhang (China).

I think it would be best for Cano, Melky and Aceves to stay in camp, but they will take another route. I am glad Sabathia and Teixeira are skipping out, however. Some players who will benefit from these players not being in part of camp are Cody Ransom, Angel Berroa, Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, Phil Coke, David Robertson and Brett Gardner.

Yankees not pursuing Manny

Bryan Hoch has an interesting article up about the Yankees and Manny Ramirez. He mentions that the Yankees do not appear to be pursuing Manny. It also says that it doesn't appear as if the Yankees plan to do so. This being said, the point is made clear by this article, and by this offseason that the Yankees are unpredictable:

But while Hal Steinbrenner said that the Yankees continue to look at all options every day, the club co-chairman also noted recently, "We accomplished a lot in the last month." There's always the possibility of a last-minute Scott Boras swoop-in -- see Johnny Damon, 2005, and Teixeira, 2008 -- but it seems unlikely this time.

Similar articles were also popping up about Mark Teixeira and the Yankees, and we all know how that ended. While a 3-4-5 of A-Rod, Teixeira and Manny would be arguably the best ever, it would take a lot. The Yankees would need to trade one of Nady/Swisher as well as move Matsui or Damon. Trading Matsui would be close to impossible and we need Damon. Not to mention the price tag and Manny being Manny. For all it would take, I think the Yankees should pass on Manny.

Predicting the rest of the free agent market

A couple weeks ago, I tried to predict where 5 of the top remaining free agents would land. I was wrong on the 3 that have signed since then, and my other two predictions don't look to strong.

My predictions were:
Teixeira to the Angels Actual: Yankees
Derek Lowe to the Mets Actual: Braves
Manny Ramirez to the Yankees Actual: None
Adam Dunn to the Dodgers Actual: None
Brian Futenes to the Cardinals Actual: Angels

Its been a close to impossible predicting where players will land in this tough market, but I will attempt to predict the rest of the top remaining free agents. (No particular order)

Manny Ramirez-Prediction: Dodgers, 3 years, $66 million
Adam Dunn-Prediction: Braves, 2 years, $24 million
Bobby Abreu-Prediction: Reds, 2 years, $22 million
Orlando Hudson-Prediction: Royals, 3 years, $30 million
Orlando Cabrera-Prediction: Athletics, 2 years, $18 million
Ben Sheets-Prediction: Rangers, 1 year, $8 million with $4 million in incentives
Andy Pettitte-Prediction: Yankees, 1 year, $10 million
Ken Griffey Jr.-Prediction: Mariners, 1 year, $7 million
Juan Cruz-Prediction: Tigers, 2 years, $9 million
Chad Cordero-Prediction: Brewers, 1 year, $5 million
Perdo Martinez-Prediction: Dodgers, 1 year, $6 million
Oliver Perez-Prediction: Mets, 4 years, $48 million
Randy Wolf-Prediction: Phillies, 2 years, $20 million with $10 million club option

Yankees invite 20 to Spring Training

The Yankees have announced a list of 20 players invited to Spring Training.

Here is the list:
C Kyle Anson
IF Doug Bernier
IF Angel Berroa
C Kevin Cash
OF Colin Curtis
1B/OF Shelley Duncan
P Kei Igawa
OF Austin Jackson
P Jason Johnson
IF Justin Leone
OF Todd Linden
P Mark Melancon
P Sergio Mitre
C Jesus Montero
IF Eduardo Nunez
IF Ramiro Pena
C P.J. Pilittere
OF John Rodriguez
C Austin Romine
IF Kevin Russo

Out of those players, the ones with any chance of making the club are Berroa, Melancon and possibly Duncan and Jackson. The rest will likely be sent back down to the minors. Linden did tear it up last spring with the Yankees however.

The list is from here.

Cuban defectors open to any team, name Yankees

A couple weeks ago, it was reported that Cuban pitcher Yadel Marti and Cuban outfielder Yasser Gomez made it to the US and hope to play for major league teams next year. Marti is one of Cuba's best pitchers and dominated in the World Baseball Classic a few years back. Gomez is a speedy outfielder. Both players are seen as capable of playing in the majors now.

Newsday is reporting that both are currently in New York. In an interview with the two players they said they were willing to play for any team, but specifically named the Yankees, White Sox and Red Sox as some teams they may have interest in.

The White Sox of course are home to several Cuban defectors such as Jose Contreras, Alexi Ramirez and Dayan Viciedo, so they may have the inside track if they are interested.

I wouldn't mind the Yankees signing either player. Marti could be given the chance to be our 5th starter, and if not supposedly has experience as a closer, so he could move to the bullpen. Gomez could compete with Cabrera and Gardner for the center field job. I hope the Yankees go after both of these players, especially Marti.