The New York Yankees defeated the Tampa Bay Rays by a score of 4-3 this afternoon. However, the final score of this afternoon’s game is immaterial compared to Derek Jeter’s historical performance. At 2:00 PM this afternoon, Derek Jeter hit an absolute shot to the left-center field bleachers to earn his 3,000th career hit. In the game, he went 5-5 with three singles, a double, and a home run in the game to give him his third career five-hit performance.
3,000 - AP
The New York Yankees were defeated by the Tampa Bay Rays tonight by a score of 6-5. Even worse than the fact that it was their sixth straight loss, AJ Burnett blew a great start with a bad inning and Kyle Farnsworth got the save for the Rays.
Don't Reach, Ben - AP
The AL East just got a little more interesting. The Tampa Bay Rays agreed to one-year contracts tonight with free agents, Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon. Ramirez is set to make $2 million this season while Damon will make $5.25 million. After losing Carlos Pena and Carl Crawford, the Rays will use Ramirez and Damon as stop gaps for the 2011 season. Damon hit .271 with 8 HRs and 51 RBIs for the Tigers last season. Ramirez hit .298 with 9 HRs and 42 RBIs for the Dodgers and White Sox. Damon and Ramirez clearly aren’t what they used to be, but should still be serviceable for the rebuilding Rays. I’m assuming Damon will play left field while Ramirez will be the team’s designated hitter. They may even rotate, who knows. Ramirez was a Type A free agent and Damon was a Type B, however neither of their respective teams offered arbitration, so the Rays will not forfeit draft picks. Great move for the Rays.
It’s crazy that they can pay $7.25 million and get two of the better hitters from the last decade. This move will definitely pay off for the younger hitters on the Rays.
Before I give you the details of this next trade, let’s just say that the Jays’ front office looks like the smartest group of baseball minds. The Jays agreed to trade outfielder Vernon Wells to the Angels for slugging catcher, Mike Napoli and ex-Yankee outfielder, Juan Rivera. Wells has failed to live up to the hype of his seven-year, $126 million contract he signed in 2006. Wells played well last season, posting a line of 31 home runs, 88 RBIs, while hitting at a .273 clip, but he is not worth $20 million+ per season. The Jays have virtually sold high on Wells, making the Angels pick up the remaining four years, $86 million left on his deal. Wells has the option to opt out of his contract after this season, but I doubt he’ll leave $65 million on the table. In return, the Jays will receive Napoli and Rivera. The duo combined for 41 home runs last season. Rivera is owed only $5.25 million this season before hitting free agency while Napoli just passed through his third-year of arbitration. The Jays made the best trade of the off-season.
While Manny and Damon really aren’t huge additions for the Rays, the Jays getting rid of Wells’ ugly contract is great news for the future of the franchise. The team has essentially freed up $20 million for the next four seasons. For the Angels, this may mark the end of a disappointing off-season. They shored up the bullpen by signing Scott Downs and Hisanori Takahashi, but they missed out on the big fish of the free agent class. I still have no idea what they are doing by taking on Wells’ monster contract when their outfield is already full. Peter Bourjos is a very promising young center fielder for the Angels and taking on Wells’ contract makes no sense to me. With all of the freed up money and only $14.5 million committed for 2012, expect the Jays to spend and contend in the AL East in the near future.
With only 35 days to go before pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training (Thank God), the free agent pool is starting to become more shallow. Brian Cashman told the media last week that he will not surrender a first round pick to sign one of the three remaining Type A free agents. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the Top 10 remaining free agents and gauge any potential Yankee interest.
The New York Yankees have parted ways with seven members of the 2009 World Series Championship roster. Can you name the seven? Some were heroes, some were just okay, and some were role players that were necessary to win a championship. We’ll review what those seven have been up to since they left the Bombers to play elsewhere. Also, we’ll guess where they’d fit in if they came back to play for the Yankees in 2010.
Photo by Elise Amendola / Associated Press
The Yankees and Tigers will square off for the first time in 2010 this week. Yankee fans will get their chance to see ex-Yankees, Johnny Damon, Phil Coke, and Austin Jackson.
REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine
The season is only a few days from kicking off. I’ve written a ton on fantasy baseball strategy and player projections. If you haven’t read any of those articles, check out the archives.
Anyway, on to my Fantasy Baseball Predictions for The 2010 Season: continue reading…
The New York Yankees were able to get two split squad games in today. Florida’s weather has caused two straight day of postponed games on Thursday and Friday.
Game 1: Yankees defeat Orioles, 5-3
Game Notes:
1. Javier Vazquez got the start for the Yankees. In three innings, Vazquez gave up two runs(HR to Ty Wiggington) and struck out two.
2. Alfredo Aceves came in relief of Vazquez. In four innings, Aceves gave up one run(HR to Garrett Atkins) and scattered three hits. Chamberlain, Hughes, Gaudin, and Mtire have struggled this season, making Ace an interesting candidate for the 5th stater’s role.
Spring Stats: 10 innings, 3 hits allowed, 1 earned runs, 5 strikeouts
3. David Robertson closed the game by striking out the side in the Top of the 9th inning.
4. Nick Johnson had an RBI Double in the win.
Game 2: Tigers defeat Yankees, 6-2.
Game Notes:
1. Chad Gaudin started this game. Gaudin yielded three earned runs in three innings.
2. Unfortunately, Sergio Mitre matched Gaudin’s stat line.
3. Ex-Yankee, Johnny Damon homered off Sergio Mitre.
Side Notes:
The Yankees cut pitcher, Kei Igawa today.
Photo Credit: news.yahoo.com
Johnny Damon has finally reached a contract agreement with the Detroit Tigers. The deal is speculated to be worth $8 million for 1 year. I’ve covered Johnny so much this off-season that this signing allows me to breathe a sigh of relief.
Reaction: In my opinion, the Tigers really screwed up this off-season. They are paying Johnny Damon $1.5 million more than they would have paid Curtis Granderson. Yes, Detroit unloaded Granderson’s final two years after 2010, but at what price? Will Austin Jackson perform at a fraction of Granderson’s costs in the future? That remains to be seen, but I’m in the majority that believes the Yankees sold high on Jackson. Jackson displayed great speed and defensive in the outfield, but his power numbers(2 HRs in Triple A in 2009) were a bit alarming. Another great off-season for the Yankees.
Tiger Fans: Enjoy the impressive defensive showing by Damon this season.
Written By: Matt Vereb
Before I begin, what the hell are the Detroit Tigers thinking? With Johnny Damon still uncommitted, the Tigers have been increasing their offer to the 36-year-old Outfielder. Reported earlier, their current offer stands at 1-year for $7.5 million with an undisclosed portion being deferred. The Chicago White Sox have set a deadline of Sunday Morning for Damon to accept their offer before they move on. So why are the Tigers so ‘hot’ on Damon’s trail?
I’m really not sure. Two months ago, the Tigers traded Curtis Granderson, one of their best and cheaper players, to the Yankees for a group of minor leaguers including Outfielder, Austin Jackson. This type of move seemed like one a rebuilding team would want to make. Or just a plain dumb one. Granderson is set to earn $6.5 million this season and is in the 3rd year of his five-year contract. Granderson will earn an average of $7 million throughout the deal. Granderson, 29, has been consistent in his four full seasons with Detroit. Granderson has averaged 24 HRs and a .280 batting average. Granderson plays an above average CF. Outside of an injury-filled campaign of 2007, Granderson has posted impressive UZRs of 14.1, 12.9, 1.6, which in standard baseball language means that the guy will cut down more runners and runs than he allows. It also means he is great at making plays that the average fielder can’t.
Back to Johnny Damon. Since I’ve written about him so much, I feel like I personally know Johnny Damon. Damon, 36, has played Russian Roulette with contract offers for the entire off-season. He has turned away the Yankees, Braves, Giants, Rays, Tigers, and White Sox. While Damon hit 24 HRs and scored 107 runs for the Yankees last season, how much were ‘Yankee Stadium aided’? Bill James and other projection software have Damon projected for 17 HRs and 95 runs this year. While the projected drop in offensive production is a bit alarming, his past defensive statistics are ghastly. Damon has posted UZRs of -9.2, -1.1, and -11.6 with the New York Yankees. The guy is a liability defensively. Everyone in the game knows it.
The Main Point: Why are the Tigers offering a 36-year-old outfielder, who is a defensive liability, a contract for $7 million when they were unwilling to pay their 29-year-old Superstar outfielder, an average of $7.5 million for the next three seasons? Plus, Granderson has been one of the more instrumental players off-the-field. Granderson has helped numerous charities in Detriot and is regarded as one of the ‘good guys’ in the game. Financially, the Tigers have seemed to contradict their own philosophies this offseason, but for those mistakes, the Yankees just keep getting richer. Yankee fans have been clamoring for an heir to Bernie Williams’ Center Field throne. I know Granderson has the ability to step up and play at an All-Star level.
In conclusion, we will happily take an outfielder who is 7 years younger, more athletic, and better defensively any day. Damon and Granderson are a virtual push when it comes to hitting, but the Yankee lineup is already stacked with many great hitters. Cheap, young, athletic players who have All-Star potential, don’t grow on trees. However, oIder players with ‘Noodle Arms’ do.
With all things being equal financially, who would Yankee fans rather have this season and moving forward?
