Kuzul

We all know the situation by now.

The Yankees really want to keep Robinson Cano around for a long time.

The second basemen is one year away from hitting free agency and is likely in line for a major payday.

The Yankees are also historically known as a team that doesn’t negotiate with players before or during a season.

However, for Cano, it looks like the Bombers are willing to make a major exception for their star slugger.

Wallace Matthews of ESPN New York reported that the Yankees and Cano’s agent, Scott Boras, have had discussions about a possible extension.

“We expressed to Scott how much we liked Robbie and what a great Yankee he’s been, and we hope he continues his career here for a long time to come,” (Hal) Steinbrenner said. “We just indicated to him, on a very preliminary basis, that we were willing to consider a significant long-term contract, and left it at that. There’s nothing really to report since then.”

In 2013, Cano is playing out the final year of his contract worth $15 million, but there has been a lot of talk that the Yankees second baseman could get a deal similar to Albert Pujols’ 10-year, $240 million deal or Joey Votto‘s 10-year, $225 million deal.

Matthews also mentioned Cano could get a similar deal to the one Felix Hernandez got with the Mariners, which was for seven years and $175 million.

The one obstacle that could hamper the negotiations between the Yankees and Cano is the self-mandated $189 million payroll mark that the Bombers are trying to get to before 2014.

It’s seen as a goal, but Steinbrenner is looking at it as more of a requirement for the team.

You also have to factor in that the Yankees have $86.5 million tied to just five players alone in 2014: $23 million will go to CC Sabathia, $22.5 million will go to Mark Teixeira and $25 million will go to Alex Rodriguez.

With those three alone, that’s $70 million. Ichiro Suzuki will make $6.5 million as well in the new two-year deal he signed with the team this winter.

Plus, Derek Jeter has an $8 million option that could go up to as much as $17 million based on how well he plays, and the team has to figure out if they have to give Curtis Granderson an extension or not after 2013.

After 2013, the Yankees will have Mariano Rivera’s, Andy Pettitte’s, Hiroki Kuroda’s, Kevin Youkilis’ and Granderson’s contracts all off the books, which is a combined $64 million that could be used to get Cano back.

The Yankees would like it if they didn’t have another major contract hampering their payroll, but with Cano, the team may have no other choice but to pay him.

The question becomes, can the Yankees get the deal done before Cano hits free agency?

Before Cano signed Boras to be his agent, I think the Yankees would have gotten the deal done by now and this issue wouldn’t even be talked about at this point.

But there’s a reason why players like Cano hire a super agent like Boras for one simple reason: to get paid.

And Boras will use the deals given to Pujols, Votto and King Felix as a starting point in negotiations with the Yankees.

If the Yankees don’t lock up Cano before free agency, there are teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels and Washington Nationals with large checkbooks and GMs who are willing to spend on talent to improve their clubs.

Cano would certainly fit all of their needs.

But he fits the Yankees’ need the most because he is in fact their best everyday player.

Just how high are the Yankees willing to go to keep Cano? Would they be willing to go over the seven- or eight-year mark in a contract?

Right now, I think the Yankees will do whatever it takes to get Cano back, so I’ll say it’s a 50-50 shot of getting Cano back before free agency.

The team has yet to negotiate with Granderson regarding a new deal, and I think they will wait until the end of the season to determine if he comes back or not.

But with Cano and Boras, I think this will be ongoing through 2013 with the Yankees.

In the end, it all depends on if Cano gets an offer he is satisfied with taking and if the Yankees can live with the fact that they might have to overpay him in order for him to stay in the Bronx.

Stay tuned, Yankees Universe.

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Spring training has officially begun for the New York Yankees.

On Tuesday, pitchers and catchers reported down to Tampa, Fl to get prepared for the 2013 season.

Over the next month and a half, we will see coverage of the Yankees during their time in Tampa on the YES Network, MLB Network and ESPN.

There will be some new names and faces that will be wearing the pinstripes and some will even be looking to make the roster.

Some of the new names were brought in on minor league deals with invitations to spring training with hopes of making the team.

Lets look at some of the new names we will see for the Yankees this spring.

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Alex Rodriguez really just doesn’t get it.

It seems like it’s never his fault and will never accept blame for the messes he has created in his professional career.

The latest is the report from the New York Daily News that A-Rod thinks both the New York Yankees and Major League Baseball are trying to conspire to push him out of baseball.

Yes, that’s right. The same New York Yankees who paid A-Rod a 10-year, $275 million deal back in 2007, are apparently trying to “blackball” A-Rod out of baseball.

This all started when A-Rod’s name was in connection with an anti-aging clinic that a Miami doctor was supplying him with PED’s while as a member of the Yankees.

After denying the allegations, ESPN then reported that the doctor involved, Anthony Bosch, personally went to A-Rod’s home and injected himself with the illegal drugs.

The Yankees have been trying to look for ways to void the remainder of A-Rod’s deal, which has five years and $114 million left on it.

But with the latest cry of conspiracy theory from A-Rod, this has sunk to a whole new level of ridiculousness.

It shows that A-Rod refuses to accept any blame for his actions and refuses to accept any responsibility for the wrong he has caused to himself and his team.

And if A-Rod really thinks the Yankees are trying to get him out of baseball, it’s just another reason why the team needs to get rid of him.

I don’t care if the Yankees have to void the contract or simply release him and eat the remainder of the deal, the Yankees need, in the worst way possible, to find a way to get rid of A-Rod.

It seems like it’s been one headache after another with the slugger, and it’s gotten worse with each passing year.

I could understand the Yankees putting up with A-Rod if he were still playing at an MVP level, but he hasn’t in almost three years.

What the Yankees have dealt with is an aging, over-the-hill former superstar who is dealing with the after effects of steroids and PED’s.

And that player is not worth $28 million, which is what A-Rod is set to make in 2013 as a member of the Yankees.

Because of how much money and the terms involved in the contract, voiding the deal is going to be very difficult, and some have wondered if the Yankees can even do it.

If they can, it has to be done, because it’s a financial burden on the Yankees payroll.

As far as A-Rod the baseball player goes, he has become a liability and a walking embarrassment every time his name pops up in the media.

And that’s why it’s time for the Yankees to sever the ties for good with A-Rod.

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The New York Yankees are fed up with Alex Rodriguez and the drama that surrounds him.

Tim Elfrink of the Miami News Times broke the story that a doctor sold performance-enhancing drugs to multiple baseball players, one of which was the Yankees third baseman.

Andrew Marchand of ESPN is now reporting that the Yankees are looking to void the remainder of A-Rod’s deal, which has five years and $114 million left on it.

Marchand said that the Yankees “are looking at 20 different things in order to void the rest of A-Rod’s deal and whether or not he breached his contract by acquiring the PEDs from the doctor without authorization from the team, plus breaking the law if he did in fact purchase the controlled substances.

The Yankees can’t do anything until Major League Baseball conducts its investigation to prove whether or not A-Rod did in fact purchase and use the PEDs from the clinic that is under investigation.

On Tuesday, I had posed the question to all of you whether or not the Yankees should look into either voiding his deal or simply releasing him.

And now, it looks like they are taking the proper steps needed to rid themselves of the embarrassment that is A-Rod.

Not only has he lied in the past, but if in fact it’s proven that he took PED’s with the Yankees from 2009-2012, he will have lied again and shed whatever credibility, if he had any, left with his teammates, the Yankees organization, the fans and the media.

With spring training right around the corner, this will be a major topic that the media will be asking the Yankees and all their players about when they report to Tampa, which is a distraction they don’t need.

And that is exactly why the Yankees need to find a way to get rid of his albatross of a contract once and for all.

I hope the Yankees void the deal, and I’m sure many other fans hope for the same

Stay tuned, Yankees Universe.

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It’s amazing how Alex Rodriguez finds himself in the news all the time.

And unfortunately for the New York Yankees, it’s potentially another embarrassing situation.

According to Tim Elfrink of the Miami New Times, Dr. Anthony Bosch’s clinic is under investigation for supplying performance enhancing drugs to prominent athletes.

According to the story, players like Melky Cabrera, Nelson Cruz and Gio Gonzalez are on the list of clients that Bosch reportedly treated and supplied PED’s to.

But the biggest name of all on the list is A-Rod’s, who back in 2009 swore that he had not taken anything since 2003 when he was with the Texas Rangers.

That, of course, was when he was outed for taking PED’s while in Texas from 2001-2003 after lying about it on national television back in 2007.

If the alleged reports are true, then it means that A-Rod has taken PED’s since 2009 while as a member of the Yankees after saying he’s been clean since his Texas days.

The story reads:

Yet there was his name, over and over again, logged as either “Alex Rodriguez,” “Alex Rod,” or his nickname at the clinic, “Cacique,” a pre-Columbian Caribbean chief. Rodriguez’s name appears 16 times throughout the records New Times reviewed.

Take, for instance, one patient list from Bosch’s 2009 personal notebook. It charts more than 50 clients and notes whether they received their drugs by delivery or in the office, how much they paid, and what they were taking.

There, at number seven on the list, is Alex Rodriguez. He paid $3,500, Bosch notes. Below that, he writes, “1.5/1.5 HGH (sports perf.) creams test., glut., MIC, supplement, sports perf. Diet.” HGH, of course, is banned in baseball, as are testosterone creams.

And further on in the story:

The mentions of Rodriguez begin in 2009 and continue all the way through last season. Take a page in another notebook, which is labeled “2012” and looks to have been written last spring. Under the heading “A-Rod/Cacique,” Bosch writes, “He is paid through April 30th. He will owe May 1 $4,000… I need to see him between April 13-19, deliver troches, pink cream, and… May meds. Has three weeks of Sub-Q (as of April).”

A-Rod has released a statement (via hardballtalk.nbcsports.com) through his newly appointed lawyer, Roy Black, who is considered one of the top lawyers in the United States.

“The news report about a purported relationship between Alex Rodriguez and Anthony Bosch are not true. Alex Rodriguez was not Mr. Bosch’s patient, he was never treated by him and he was never advised by him. The purported documents referenced in the story — at least as they relate to Alex Rodriguez — are not legitimate.”

Mike Mazzeo of ESPN New York reported the statement the Yankees released, which is them basically passing off responsibility to Major League Baseball.

“This matter is now in the hands of the Commissioner’s Office.” #Yankees have no comment until A-Rod investigation has concluded.

— Mike Mazzeo (@MazzESPN) January 29, 2013

A-Rod is already expected to be out until July due to a second hip surgery, which was done this month and needs at least six months of rehab and recovery time.

But if in fact these reports are true and A-Rod has been taking PED’s, the Yankees need to investigate on how they can get rid of him.

Hal Steinbrenner, Randy Levine and Brian Cashman need to investigate whether the Yankees can void A-Rod’s deal.

Not only has A-Rod lied and admitted to taking steroids in the past, but now, if the Miami New Times story is true, he will have taken PED’s while as a member of the Yankees after saying he’s been clean for nine years.

If there isn’t any way the Yankees can void his deal, then they might need to look at biting the bullet and simply releasing him from the final five years and $114 million he’s still owed.

It’s a lot of money for the  team to just eat, but let’s all be honest here, A-Rod has become a walking P.R. nightmare for the Yankees.

He’s not the same player he once was and is on a major decline, yet he gets paid like he’s the reigning MVP each year.

If A-Rod gets suspended by Major League Baseball for the 50 games as a first-time offender, then I think the Yankees need to take action after that point and cut their losses with the 37-year-old.

I know the Yankees are worried about their payroll getting to the $189 million mark for the 2014 season, so if they can rid themselves of A-Rod’s deal, then they need to do it as soon as possible.

Stay tuned, Yankees Universe.

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The trade speculation involving Justin Upton and the Yankees officially ended on Thursday.

The Arizona Diamondbacks dealt their superstar outfielder to the Atlanta Braves in a seven-team deal that sent Upton to Atlanta for Randall Delgado, Martin Prado and other prospects.

For the last three years, Upton’s name has come up several times in trade rumors involving the Yankees, but nothing had ever happened.

This past summer, Upton was again involved in trade rumors, but Yankees GM Brian Cashman never pulled the trigger.

And now, Upton is officially off the market and now not only playing for a contender but will be playing side by side with his brother and former Tampa Bay Rays center fielder B.J. Upton, who was signed as a free agent this winter.

The Yankees never made an attempt nor an offer to Arizona due to the fact that the team is trying to get under their self-imposed $189 million mark for their payroll by the 2014 season.

Did the Yankees make a mistake in not trying to trade for Upton?

Sure, the Yankees would have had to add another three years and $38.5 million for the 25-year-old, which considering his talent level, is pretty affordable.

And there’s a good chance that Upton would have cost the Bombers a small fortune in either current MLB players and/or prospects, such as Tyler Austin, Mason Williams and Slade Heathcott.

And ever since 2006, Cashman has really made a serious effort to rebuild the farm system and not trade away their young talent.

But Upton to the Yankees made so much sense.

Like I mentioned before, he is only 25 years old and is entering the prime stages of his career and would have given the Yankees the youth the older team desperately needs.

Upton could have been a fixture in right field for the next 10 years for the Yankees, and his career could have continued to thrive while playing under the bright lights of New York.

Upton could have also allowed the team to potentially trade Curtis Granderson at July’s trade deadline, while moving Brett Gardner back to center field and Ichiro Suzuki to left field.

Upton could have helped the Yankees get back to the playoffs and maybe even make a run at another championship.

But now, any dreams and wishes of having Upton in the Bronx are long gone, as he’ll be manning the outfield at Turner Field for at least the next three years, if not, even longer.

And now, unless the Yankees decide to make a franchise altering trade for someone like Giancarlo Stanton of the Miami Marlins, the team will have to continue their development of minor league outfielders like Austin, Williams and Heathcott.

Not trading for players like Upton will be seen as very unpopular by the fans, but they’re the kind of moves that should be expected going forward in the Bronx.

Stay tuned, Yankees Universe.

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The market for Rafael Soriano was a very slow one this winter.

After opting out of his contract to become a free agent again, teams weren’t jumping at the chance to lock up the closer, despite a strong 2012 campaign.

On Tuesday, according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports. the Washington Nationals have signed the former Yankees closer to a two-year deal.

Source: Rafael Soriano agrees to two-year, $28M deal with Nationals. Deal contains vesting option for third year. Story coming on Y! Sports.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 15, 2013

The deal has a vesting option for 2015 worth $14 million, so the deal could be as much as $42 million over three years.

Soriano took over for Mariano Rivera in May and was excellent in his role, posting a 2.26 ERA with 42 saves.

When Soriano originally signed his three-year, $35 million deal with the Yankees back in January of 2010, his deal included two opt-out clauses after the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

Some felt the market for Soriano would be a stronger one, however, teams didn’t want to surrender a draft pick in order to get Soriano, which is now what the Yankees will receive as compensation for his departure.

The Yankees made a one-year, $13.3 million qualifying offer to Soriano, which was immediately rejected because he felt he could get a multi-year deal in free agency.

The Nationals used former Yankee prospect Tyler Clippard as their closer in 2012, as he converted 32 saves for Washington.

Davey Johnson could either move Clippard to the setup role, or Nationals GM Mike Rizzo could look to trade Clippard or former closer Drew Storen for prospects.

It’s a solid move for the National League East Champions, who have now added an established closer 

As for the Yankees, losing Soriano isn’t as tough of a blow because David Robertson is still the setup man, a role in which he has performed well in.

Also, if former Mariners closer David Aardsma pitches to the level he once was at before injuries, then Soriano’s presence in the bullpen won’t be missed.

The Yankees might have lost a quality arm in the bullpen, but saving $14 million on what would have gone to Soriano was a smart move for the team, especially if Aardsma and Robertson perform up to expectations.

Stay tuned, Yankees Universe.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Earlier in the week, Mike Morse‘s name was added to the trading block.

The New York Yankees are one of about six or seven teams that have been confirmed to have interest in the Washington Nationals hitter.

Morse’s name immediately went on the block after the Nationals made two significant moves this winter—trading for Denard Span and re-signing Adam LaRoche.

By adding Span, Washington’s outfield became overcrowded with Bryce Harper, Jayson Werth and Span.

And by re-signing LaRoche, it knocked Morse out of a spot as well, which made him trade bait.

According to Jack Curry of the YES Network, the Nationals are not ready to talk a trade yet. However, they are expected to talk with the Yankees regarding Morse.

Yankees called the Nats about Morse after LaRoche signing, but Nats weren’t ready to talk trade yet. The two teams will eventually talk.

— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) January 11, 2013

I know that might seem like something to get excited over, but all that is saying is Nationals GM Mike Rizzo is willing to listen on an offer from the Yankees.

With a talented hitter like Morse, there is still the another six or seven teams who have interest in the 30-year-old, like the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays.

However, it does confirm that the Yankees are in full pursuit of a trade for Morse and will look to acquire him for 2013.

The Yankees are still looking for a right-handed bat that can potentially be a fourth outfielder and a part-time DH, which is what Morse be.

Morse would also fit into the Yankees budget with his salary at $6.75 million for 2013 and then he’ll be a free agent after the season.

In the original story on this site regarding the Yankees interest for Morse, it seemed like there was a lot of support in regards to the Yankees going after Morse.

As long as Rizzo isn’t looking for a farm-gutting return in a deal for Morse, I could see a deal being worked out with him and Yankees GM Brian Cashman.

But, will another team offer something better to the Nationals that trumps a Yankee offer?

Guess we’ll all find out soon enough once the Nationals start engaging in trade talks for Morse.

Stay tuned Yankees Universe.

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First, it was Scott Hairston.

Then, it was Vernon Wells and even Lance Berkman.

Now, there’s a new name that has entered the Hot Stove of rumors involving the New York Yankees.

With a little over a month to go until pitchers and catchers report, the Yankees’ search for a bat continues.

Wallace Matthews of ESPN has reported that the Bombers are interested in acquiring Michael Morse from the Washington Nationals.

 

Yankees interested in Nats‘ Morse, sources say espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/s…

— wallace matthews (@ESPNNYYankees) January 8, 2013

 

Morse became expendable after the team acquired Denard Span from the Minnesota Twins and re-signing Adam LaRoche to a two-year deal this week.

With Span, Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth, the Nationals’ outfield got overcrowded with Morse.

If the team didn’t re-sign LaRoche, the team could have transitioned him to first, but his re-signing took care of that, which put Morse on the trade block.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports also tweeted that there are several teams in on Morse, which also includes the Yankees.

 

Source: #Nationals speaking to 5-6 teams about Morse. Earning $7M this season, then eligible for free agency.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 8, 2013

 

Jim Bowden of ESPN said that the Nationals are looking for a left-handed reliever and/or prospects in any deal involving Morse.

 

Nationals looking for LH relief help and/or prospects to help replenish farm system in a Michael Morse swap according to #Nats source

— JIM BOWDEN (@JimBowdenESPNxm) January 8, 2013

 

In 102 games for the Nationals, Morse hit .291 with 18 home runs and 62 RBI while playing first base and both left and right field in 2012.

If the Yankees did get Morse, they could use him as a fourth outfielder and also as a DH since nobody is in that spot due to Raul Ibanez returning to the Seattle Mariners as a free agent.

If the Yankees have the chance to land Morse, they should make the move, as it would only add $6.75 million of salary for 2013.

However, with other teams vying for Morse as well, it’ll be interesting to see if the Yankees can land him or someone else beats them to the punch.

Stay tuned, Yankees Universe.

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Two years ago, the New York Yankees made a bold move at the trade deadline.

They acquired long-time slugger Lance Berkman from the Houston Astros for unknown prospects and at the time, it seemed like a steal of a trade.

In the 37 games that he played for with the Bombers, Berkman was hardly the slugging hitter that was advertised, as he hit .255 with one home run and nine RBI.

However, according to Ken Davidoff of the New York Post, the Yankees are interested in the free agent again.

 

The #Yankees are interested in Lance Berkman, but it’s not clear whether he’d consider a return to NY given the Texas teams’ involvement.

— Ken Davidoff (@KenDavidoff) January 4, 2013

 

Berkman did hit well for the Yankees in the 2010 playoffs, as he hit .312 that October for the Bombers.

After he left the Yankees to become a free agent, Berkman went back to the All-Star slugger that we all knew as a member of the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals in 2011, hitting 31 home runs with 94 RBI and finishing seventh in the N.L. MVP voting.

Berkman was limited to just 32 games in 2012 due to knee injuries that required surgery.

Some people thought that Berkman might in fact retire at the end of the season, but he is drawing a lot of interest from different teams.

Aside from the Yankees, Berkman has interest from the Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles and his old team, the Houston Astros, who are now part of the American League for the first time.

The Astros would make sense given that Berkman spent 12 years of his career there, and even though they have signed Carlos Pena, the team remains interested in him.

 

 

Astros GM Jeff Luhnow confirms for FOX 26 Sports that he has been in contact with Lance Berkman yesterday & today & talks are continuing.

— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) January 4, 2013

 

Mark Berman of FOX 26 in Houston has confirmed that the Rangers do in fact have an offer on the table for Berkman to be their DH in 2013 and would love to have him in their lineup.

 

 

 

Rangers Pres. Nolan Ryan confirms he has an offer on the table 2 Lance Berkman. “We r looking 4 a DH. We feel like he would fill that bill”

— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) January 4, 2013

 

With the Yankees losing out on Raul Ibanez to the Seattle Mariners, they too need a DH for 2013, which is why their interest in the 36-year-old makes sense.

When healthy, Berkman is a switch-hitter who can not only DH, but play first base and the outfield, although given his knee issues from 2012, DH duties would be best suited for him.

Personally, I think it’ll be tough for the Yankees to lure Berkman back to the Bronx given that two teams from Texas are heavily interested in him.

The one thing the Yankees do have in their corner is one of Berkman’s good friends and former Astros teammates, Andy Pettitte.

Berkman and Pettitte played together from 2004-2006 in Houston and then again with the Yankees in 2010 and Pettitte could influence Berkman to come back for one more try with the team.

It’s a long shot, and given how the first try with the team went, it’s an incredible long shot.

But you never know with the Yankees, and if they feel a desperate need for a bat like Berkman, they might be willing to spend a little more on a one-year deal.

Stay tuned, Yankees Universe.

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