Yankees Likely to Announce Cano Deal Tomorrow

The Yankees got Cano’s physical results back and will likely announce (make official) the deal tomorrow. Cano’s new deal could have him earning up to $57 million in total.

Blog Bounce: Yanksfan VS Soxfan

Looking for projections for your 2008 Yankees? Yanksfan VS Soxfan has a great writeup looking at both the offense and the pitching (based on BA’s PECOTA system). The writeup is by Paul, a red Sox fan, which makes the projection that much better.

Santana Unveiled in NY

 

From the Associated Press:

The house lights dimmed, music was turned up and a video montage of Johan Santana highlights started rolling on a screen so wide you could almost see the seams on every pitch.

Every minute or so, the string of strikeouts was interrupted by a famous New Yorker welcoming Santana to the Big Apple. There was Chris Rock, Alec Baldwin, Jerry Seinfeld.

The Mets spent big money on their new ace last week and then choreographed a lavish introduction Wednesday at Shea Stadium’s Diamond Club, set to some familiar guitar riffs by rock star Carlos Santana.

When it was over, the other Santana — the one with two Cy Young Awards — smiled as he pulled on his No. 57 jersey and blue New York Mets cap for the first time.

“It’s a new chapter in my career,” he said. “I’m going to make my time here special.”

Ha, you better. For $150 million, it better be something really special. When asked about his other suitors, Santana’s agent, Peter Greenberg, had this to say:

Greenberg said the Mets were Santana’s first choice but that all three bidders were acceptable.

“I think he would have been perfectly happy if he had went to Yankees. I think he would have been perfectly happy if he had went to the Red Sox,” Greenberg said.

I have a feeling that Santana truly wanted to play in NY (not Boston, his numbers there are pretty poor). At least now he gets his chance (although on an inferior team…).

The Smoking Gun?

From ESPN:

NEW YORK — Brian McNamee’s lawyers said Wednesday they gave federal prosecutors physical evidence backing the personal trainer’s allegation that Roger Clemens used performance-enhancing drugs.

“I think this is a significant point in the case. We believe that this is significant corroboration,” said McNamee’s lead lawyer, Earl Ward.

McNamee’s side turned over syringes with Clemens’ blood to IRS Special Agent Jeff Novitzky in early January, a person familiar with the evidence said, speaking on condition of anonymity because McNamee’s lawyers did not want to discuss details publicly. The syringes were used to inject Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone, the person said. A second person, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said the evidence was from 2000 and 2001.

Sounds bad. However, to be perfectly honest, why would McNamee be keeping this physical evidence since 2000 or 2001? Strange huh (unless he knew this day would come)? Clemens and his lawyers can probably nullify this blow. Remember, this physical evidence could have easily been tampered with since that “supposed” time (old needles from old lidocaine injections with a newly added HGH twist, etc.).

Yankee Bits: Melky and Tino

Tino Martinez will be joining the Yankees this year as a special instructor, and he’s been working with Shelley Duncan on his technique at first. Hopefully, whatever it is about Tino will rub off on the kids he’s helping to coach.

Switching gears a bit, we’ve all wondered about Melky Cabrera (here to stay), who was a big trading chip for the Yankees this offseason. Many thought he’d be headed to Minnesota. In fact, his friend Robinson Cano thought that as well. Melky finally spoke up about the situation, and had the following to say:

“I was a little worried about getting traded because I wanted to stick with my teammates,” Cabrera said. “I feel really happy that the Mets got Santana. (Trades) are part of baseball, but I’m really happy about staying with the Yankees.”

We too are happy about the trade. I’m sure the majority of us are actually very happy to have the Melk-Man deliver for another season (while in pinstripes).

(Thanks to RAB for the news).

C.C. Sabathia Update Pt.4

 

From Cleveland’s Plain Dealer:

Let’s take this from the top.

No. 1: The Indians, short of an early collapse this season, won’t trade C.C. Sabathia.

No. 2: Regardless of Johan Santana’s contract with the New York Mets last week, General Manager Mark Shapiro believes it will be Sabathia’s call on whether he stays in Cleveland after the 2008 season.

No. 3: Shapiro thinks there are other contracts just as relevant to Sabathia’s negotiations as Santana’s record-setting, $137.5 million six-year deal.

No. 4: The five-year contract extension the Indians made to Sabathia at the end of December is not an ultimatum.

No. 5: If Sabathia does go to another team, Shapiro said the Indians won’t crumble in 2009.

Shapiro, in his annual lunch with reporters before the start of spring training, touched on a number of subjects Monday at Progressive Field. Most of them pertained to the future home of the Indians’ defending American League Cy Young winner.

“I can’t present you with a scenario where it’s acceptable to us or to our relationship with our fans that involves trading C.C. or examining trading him,” Shapiro said.

Shapiro believes trading Sabathia would hurt the Indians’ chances of repeating as AL Central champs.

When asked to comment on Santana’s contract and how it pertains to Sabathia, Shapiro said, “You’re asking the wrong person. . . . There have been recent deals signed by pitchers as talented and capable as C.C., and in a more similar market than ours. But none of that matters. The only thing that matters is how relevant C.C. and his agents feel it is. Not to shift the burden to them, but I can’t answer you how relevant it is.”

The Indians definitely won’t trade Sabathia, especially since they know they are fully capable of making it to the playoffs, once again, this season. However, I’m not quite sure that Shapiro will be able to retain Sabathia’s services. If he expects to keep him, they’ll have to give him an extension similar to Jake Peavy’s $52 million, 3-year deal which includes a $22 million dollar option for 2013 (or $4 million buyout).

However, Sabathia’s people have also stated that Sabathia deserves a 5-7 year deal, which I’m sure is unlikely, although a 4-year deal wouldn’t be out of reach. Maybe a 4-year deal (exceeding $52 million) with an option would be suffice? If they offer something like that before the season starts, I wouldn’t be surprised to see C.C. take it.

Either way, there’s going to be much ado about C.C. Sabathia over the course of the season. No matter what Shapiro says, Santana’s signing has raised the bar a bit for upper echelon pitchers. If Sabathia makes it to free-agency, you know, I know, and even he knows that the Yankees will be waiting for him (along with the Red Sox).

Yu Darvish Could Be Posted?

 

From the great MLBTR:

According to Sankei Sports (link in Japanese), the Nippon Ham Fighters are willing to post starter Yu Darvish if he wants to play in the Majors.  Darvish isn’t a free agent until after the 2014 season.  A possible posting fee in excess of Daisuke Matsuzaka’s $51MM is a big consideration for posting him sooner.  A Mariners scout who watched Darvish pitch thinks he will be as good or better than Dice-K, and would get a higher posting fee because he’s younger.

Darvish has said he’s not interested in coming to MLB, but one Japanese baseball official believes he could change his mind after experiencing this summer’s Beijing Olympics.  So, watch for a possible posting next winter.

You can almost guarantee that the Yankees will post the funds necessary for this kid (he’s 21) if he becomes an actual option for MLB clubs. I posted about Darvish in early January as there were a few rumors about the Yankees being interested in the young pitcher.

His posting fee, if posted (which is still very unlikely), would be enormous, maybe around $60 million although the ceiling for that fee isn’t too far off from that figure. For those without background info on Darvish, he’s still developing (again, he’s 21), he has a mid 90s fastball, a good slider, and curve. However, he can be wild in the first inning (walks, walks, walks).