Outfielder Marcus Thames and the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to a one-year deal today. Thames will earn a base salary of $1 million with a potential $800K in incentives.
This strengthens the Andruw Jones argument that I built on Monday. The Yankees and Jones are apparently close to a deal, so hang tight.
With less than a month until pitchers and catchers report, the Yankees are filling out their roster with role players. Of note, the Yankees are seeking a fourth outfielder that can play the corner outfield positions. Last season, Marcus Thames excelled as a fourth outfielder/pinch hitter/righty specialist. This off-season, the Yankees have been tied to Thames and Andruw Jones. Jones, who is entering his 14th season in the Majors, smacked 19 home runs in only 278 at-bats for the Chicago White Sox last season. Jones is no longer the Gold Glove winning, 40+ homer smashing, whiz kid that befuddled the Yankees in the 1996 World Series, but would he help make the 2011 Yankees a better team?
Andruw Jones/Joe Girardi at Yankee Stadium
As fun of a ride as it was, the 2010 New York Yankee season is over. And now, the Yankees will have to do the only thing they know to help alleviate the stress of losing in the ALCS to the Texas Rangers: spend, spend, and spend.
Let’s take a look at the top priorities for the Yankees as they look forward to the 2011 season.
Deep in thought over whom to intentionally walk next - Ronald Martinez / Getty Images
The New York Yankees defeated the Minnesota Twins by a score of 6-1 to clinch the ALDS and move on to the American League Division Series. Phil Hughes grabbed his first career postseason victory after seven great innings of pitching. Who will the Yanks play? No one knows yet, but if the Rays lose, there will officially be no scrappy teams left for TBS announcers to root for. And also, for the first time since the Wild-Card format was initiated, the Yankees did not come out on the wrong end of a series.
Swish Pours it On - Jim McIsaac / Getty Images
Marcus Thames’ seventh inning two-run home run broke a 5-5 tie as the Yankees took the second game of their three game set against the Blue Jays, 7-5. The victory was the Yanks’ eighth straight win.
The New York Yankees defeated the Oakland Athletics by a score of 11-5 tonight. Javier Vazquez picked up the win in relief and the Yankees defeated Trevor Cahill for the second time this year. With the win, the Yankees move to 31 games over .500 and remain tied with the Tampa Bay Rays for the eighth consecutive day.
AP
Ivan Nova picked up his first career win today and Marcus Thames crushed his third home run in the last 24 hour as the Yankees squeaked by the Chi Sox, 2-1. Francisco Cervelli picked up a career high four hits. With today’s win, the Yankees finish the road trip with a 3-3 record and become the first team to notch 80 wins this year.
The New York Yankees couldn’t figure out Brett Cecil and ran out of innings against the Toronto bullpen and lost the game tonight by a score of 6-3. Phil Hughes lacked command and took his sixth loss of the year. With the loss, the Yankees drop to 78-49 on the season and are still tied for first in the AL East with a Tampa Bay loss.
Only in Boston will you find a player with a glove on his hand that isn't a pitcher getting ejected for arguing balls and strikes. - AP
The New York Yankees brought their bats tonight in support of Dustin Moseley by going yard five times in the win over the Toronto Blue Jays 11-5. Dustin Moseley got the win to improve to 4-2 on the year and keep his starting job (for now). With the win and the corresponding Tampa Bay Rays win, the two teams move to 78-48 for the season.
Thames Goes Deep - AP
This, my friends, was a game that you simply did not want to end. In the beginning, Rangers ace Cliff Lee looked just like Cliff Lee, striking out 11 and walking none and leaving with a 6-2 lead. However, the New York Yankees came back to take the lead in the top of the ninth and win it by a total of 7-6. Kerry Wood picked up the win and Mariano Rivera certainly earned the save. The Yanks move to 70-43 on the year and gain a game over the Tampa Bay Rays following their afternoon loss to the Detroit Tigers.
A-Rod Lines a Double - AP
