Kuzul

All the New York Yankee brass and fans can do is wait for ace Cliff Lee to make his decision.

The Yankees need Lee, and anyone who doesn’t think so is living in denial.

The recent acquisition of two lefties, Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez, by the Yankees rival in Boston, does make the Red Sox slightly better.

Here is why:

Crawford is a five-tool player who posted a .307 batting average last season. What makes him such a pain at the plate is he can turn a single into a triple if the ball is fielded with any imperfection.

Crawford was a Tampa Bay Ray for the last nine years, so all AL East teams are well aware of the damage he can do.

Gonzalez is one of the top first basemen coming from the National League. What he lacks in speed he brings in power with his bat, finishing with a .298 average last season.

Considering Gonzalez spent the last five years with the San Diego Padres, who play at pitching-friendly PETCO Park, his bat should only be better at his easier new home of Fenway.

Remember the Red Sox did lose Adrian Beltre and Victor Martinez, who had batting averages of .321 and .302 respectively.

Combined, Beltre and Martinez had 48 home runs, 181 RBI, only three steals and a total of 134 strikeouts in 2010.

The two new Red Sox together posted 50 home runs, 191 RBI, 47 stolen bases and struck out 218 times. All 47 steals were Crawford’s, as Gonzalez had zero, but first basemen are not known to ever be fast—just look at Mark Teixeira.

Obviously the speed is undeniably better, but the strikeout number is almost a hundred more on the season.

Where does Lee come into the picture?

Lee is a strikeout king because he doesn’t walk batters, as he posted just 18 walks in the 2010 regular season.

Lee has never given up a home run to a Red Sox over his career. Gonzalez has gone yard on Lee once, but Crawford has a .222 average when Lee is on the mound.

That is one reason the Yankees would like Lee, but there are numerous others too.

Lee would also benefit from playing in New York. For one, it is the greatest place on earth, and two because it’s the Yankees.

Lee is not a Carl Pavano or Javier Vazquez mentally, as he has been to the Bronx and has preformed numerous times as an ace against the Yankees.

The Yankees wanted him before and lost out, so the money he will make is no question going to be more.

If Lee succeeds, the endorsement deals are endless in the Big Apple, and his celebrity will surely grow to an extent where Arlington, TX is not even on the map.

This relationship, if formed, is a win/win all around.

Plus, how great to already have two buddies in pinstripes, as Lee is BFFs with CC Sabathia and good old boys with A.J. Burnett from Arkansas.

What if the Yankees don’t get Lee?

Better to cross that bridge only if and when we come to it.

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The New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers went through an intense battle in the playoffs this year. But now both sides are at it again, this time over who will win the services of free agent Cliff Lee.

Reportedly, Lee has been offered $140 million over seven years by the Yankees.

Many would think that would be enough to sway the Rangers to back down, yet that doesn’t appear to be the case. Nolan Ryan isn’t giving in to the Evil Empire just yet, although it’s possible the Yanks will up the ante again, forcing Ryan to bow out.

This decision ultimately comes down to what Lee wants.

Does he choose to be loyal to the Texas organization, or does he want to team up with his buddy CC Sabathia in New York where he is guaranteed to compete for championships. 

That’s the million dollar question that everybody wants to know.

Not many players can turn down the bright lights of New York when the Bronx Bombers come calling, especially when they’re offering you big-time money.

That’s why Lee will wind up in a Yankee jersey by the end of all of this.

Unless the Rangers break the bank to top the Yankees’ offer, they are going to lose out. 

Lee’s been in the past two World Series, and both times he has had to watch the other team celebrate. There is no guarantee in sports that you’ll ever get back to the championship. 

But if you don the pinstripes, you know that the Yankees are going to keep reloading to compete for championships.

While the Rangers have some talented young players, will they be able to keep them down the road when they’re due for a big payday?

Texas is going to be competitive the next couple years, but Lee’s deal is likely to be six to seven years, and can Ryan guarantee to field a competitive team then?

Because NY can and will.

These are questions that have to be spinning around the lefty’s head.

When it’s all said and done, Lee is going to choose the Yankees, not only because they’ll offer the most amount of money, but also because the Bombers offer a chance at championships year in and year out.

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MLB Rumors: Russell Martin is done in Los Angeles, but he appears to have plenty of options on the open market.

Marc Carig of the Star Ledger tweeted that Martin has received offers from four teams, three of which are in baseball’s power division, the AL East.

The New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox have reportedly offered Martin a one-year contract while an unidentified fourth team has offered a multi-year deal.

According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the favorites right now are…the Red Sox.

Yep, with Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez already in Boston, the team is the frontrunner for Martin’s services.

The fourt team in the mix is reportedly the Colorado Rockies, according to Ed Price of AOL FanHouse.

Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com also notes that Martin would serve as a catcher for the Red Sox rather than as a utility player.

It does appear, however, that Martin would prefer to go to an East Coast team.

MLB Rumors: Edgar Renteria was a member of the San Francisco Giants when they won the World Series last season.

But he’s now stuck in no-man’s land, seemingly unsure of what his future entails.

According to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Giants have offered Renteria a one-year deal to but that’s to serve as a utility infielder.

Not to mention the deal is for $1 million, which is a huge decrease from his previous two-year $18.5 million deal with the team.

Renteria has gone on record in saying that he wants to finish his career with the Florida Marlins or St. Louis Cardinals, but the Marlins don’t seem to be a fit for him right now and there’s no word on him ending up in St. Louis.

There is speculation right now that Renteria will wind up back in San Francisco because of his friendship with Miguel Tejada, who recently signed with the team.

However, the Giants would have to restructure their infield if Renteria does re-sign.

Take a look at the Giants’ offseason outlook. 

MLB Rumors: Cliff Lee holds the key to the MLB free agency puzzle.

Whenever and wherever he signs, Lee is expected to have a ripple effect throughout all of baseball.

And perhaps no one’s future will rely on Lee’s signing more than Kansas City Royals pitcher ZackGreinke.

According to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star, the market for Greinke will heat up once Lee is off the market.

The reported asking price for Greinke?

Dutton says the Royals wants”two high-impact prospects, preferably a starting pitcher and either a middle infielder or center fielder, and two players capable of supporting roles.”

Damn, that sounds like a lot.

Greinke is coming off a so-so season, and it’s unclear how many teams would be willing to part with that much talent to acquire a pitcher who’s not a surefire ace.

FoxSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal notes that the Marlins have been in touch with the Royals aboutGreinke’s services but nothing is on the horizon.

So where would Greinke fit? Check out 10 possible destinations for the star pitcher.

Despite a flurry of movement at baseball’s winter meetings, free agent pitcher Cliff Lee remains unsigned.

But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been fielding offers.

According to reports, both the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers are bidding aggressively for the ace and an agreement may soon be reached. However, with some of the contracts that are being handed out (Jayson Werth – seven years/$126 million, Carl Crawford – $142 million), the price for the 31-year-old left-hander has become astronomical.

Lee and his agents have all the leverage right now in negotiations and any number of teams may be interested in his services. Here’s a look at the teams believed to be in the hunt for Lee, and which one may have the advantage in eventually striking a deal.

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MLB Rumors: The Boston Red Sox have stolen all the headlines early on in the MLB offseason.

They pried Adrian Gonzalez away from the San Diego Padres and signed Carl Crawford to one of the richest contracts in baseball history.

But now all the attention is on Cliff Lee.

The most coveted prize of this year’s free agent market has been linked to only a few teams, most notably the Texas Rangers—who he helped get to the World Series last season—and the New York Yankees.

When it’s all said and done, Lee will probably return to Texas or be wearing pinstripes next season.

But what will it be?

Well, I’m here to keep you updated on the latest news concerning the left-handed ace who will soon crush a team’s dreams or make them come true.

I’ll also talk about some of the latest news coming out of baseball’s winter meetings.

There’s no need to refresh this page. It’ll update every few minutes.

So sit back, relax and enjoy the latest MLB rumors.

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The Yankees know full well that offering Cliff Lee a seven-year guaranteed contract is a bad idea. At least, I think they do.

Lee will turn 33 during the 2011 season. Signing him to a deal that would conceivably pay him over $20 million the year he turns 40 doesn’t exactly reek of fiscal responsibility.

No, it doesn’t approach the mind-numbing idiocy of Alex Rodriguez‘s contract. The foolishness of that deal—home run “milestone” escalators and all—will be remembered by historians the same way they recall Napoleon’s decision to invade Russia in the dead of winter. Thanks Hank!

A better parallel may be Jason Giambi, another established veteran star the Yankees signed to a multi-year contract using the “Win now! Worry later!” strategy. Nearly 31 and having packed on roughly 80 pounds of muscle mass during the second Clinton administration, New York ignored the red flags and signed the Oakland MVP to a seven-year, $120 million deal nine years ago this Monday.

The Big G had his moments in pinstripes, but his PED non-admission admission combined with a steady decline in production made it a regrettable contract by its halfway point.

It’s certainly conceivable the Yankees would feel the same way about Lee’s deal.

For a more positive outlook, point to Mike Mussina, who began a six-year, $88.5 million deal with New York when he was 32, the same age Lee is now. Mussina never won a ring with the Yankees, but was more or less as good as advertised, even winning 20 games in his final season. He also drank Mountain Dew by the case and weirded out lughead teammates with his high intelligence, but that’s neither here nor there.

And while past signings have produced mixed results, there’s no disputing that the Yankees find themselves in a precarious position as things currently stand. Their biggest rival has turned the winter meetings into a personal playground, adding two (twenty-something) All-Stars in Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford who stand to shift the balance of power in the American League.

There’s no way to sugarcoat it—the Yankees need Lee just to keep up with Boston. Other than Crawford himself, no one benefited from the outfielder’s mega-deal with Evil Empire (NESN Division) more than Lee did. It made the Yankees desperate, the exact scenario every blue-chip star dreams of when he reaches free agency.

To further complicate matters for the Yankees, the clock is ticking. Derek Jeter is 36. A-Rod is 35. Jorge Posada is 39. Mariano Rivera is 41. Andy Pettitte (assuming his return) is 38. A.J. Burnett will be 34.

The bill is coming due. Maybe not this year, maybe not the next, but there’s an urgency to contend now before their high-priced veterans go from strengths to liabilities. The “Win now! Worry later!” roster makeup will eventually send New York into a rebuilding period of some kind. Signing Lee gives you the best shot for a title in your core’s glaucoma golden years.

And if Lee doesn’t sign with New York? Well, that’s when Cash gets on the horn with Carl Pavano’s people.

And that’s when I donate my body to the Human Centipede doctor.

Dan Hanzus writes three columns a week on his New York Yankees site, River & Sunset. He can be reached at dhanzus@gmail.com. Follow Dan on Twitter @danhanzus.

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Thank Jebus for Proctor and Gamble, because Bounty paper towels did a great job cleaning my vomit off the floor after I read about the Carl Crawford signing.

The dude is now the highest paid outfielder in history and he’s not once hit 20 home runs or knocked in 100 RBI’s.

Meanwhile in Colorado, Carlos Gonzalez has an erection—but I digress.

I needed to step away from the insanity of free agency, so I decided to take a closer look at the re-vamped Blue Jays coaching staff. Since the beautiful (overly sentimental) departure of Cito Gaston, GM Alex Anthopolous has hired former Red Sox Pitching Coach John Farrell as his replacement.

I’ll admit I knew little about Farrell before the interview process began. However, his pedigree with young arms like Bucholz, Papelbon and Lackey, not to mention endorsements from respected baseball people like “Un-named GM” really impressed me.

In the end, I was sold after watching the press conference where his hiring was announced. Relatively platitude free, Farrell seemed like an honest, straight shooting guy with the requisite savvy needed to relate to today’s pampered athlete; he also appeared to have a nice blend of older brother aloofness and cool dad authority that seems to gel with young players.

The proof will be in the pudding, but he will nonetheless be a refreshing departure from the comatose managerial style of Cito Gaston.

Zombies eat brains; Cito ate my soul.

So without further ado, here is my humble examination of a few key (non-managerial) Blue Jay Coaching hires.

Don Wakamatsu – Bench Coach:

I’m not sure what was more alarming about this hire: The fact that Don was just fired by Seattle because the Mariners sucked, or because he doesn’t look even remotely Japanese. 

Either way, I needed to really dig into this.

Turns out Tokyo Don was a career minor league Catcher who built a reputation as a superb game caller. If only he could hit a lick, he may have played more than nine MLB games.

Why is this significant? Catchers are great observers of the game and as a bench coach, his perspective will be a nice counter balance to the pitcher Farrell. 

Not to mention his ability to craft the finer points of J.P. Arrencibia’s emerging talent.

Torey Lovullo – First Base Coach: 

Lady-ish first name aside, I’m really excited by this hire. Luvollo actually interviewed for the Dodgers in 2006 and the Pirates in 2007, while he was the Manager of the AAA Buffalo Bison’s (Cleveland).

Most recently, as the Manager of the Red Sox AAA affiliate Pawtucket team, Luvollo brings a wealth of experience for such a young guy, as he won’t turn 46 until late July.

In short, Luvollo is a natural leader and his talents as a utility infielder and teacher offer insurance in case Brian Butterfield departs.

Pat Hentgen – Bullpen Coach: 

Outside of a stint in the minors, this is a great place for a first crack at MLB coaching. 

Know the line-up, know the hitters tendencies, work on the pitches and game-plan to get the one to three outs needed from the arms in the pen.

As I evaluate this hire, it’s tough separating my insatiable love for Paddy Hentgen, the former Blue Jay and Cy Young winner, from Coach Hentgen, member of John Farrell’s staff.

However, this move intrigues me.

I fully realize that there is an undercurrent of pandering chauvinisim involved here; be that as it may, Hentgen is no shrinking violet nor party hack.

On the contrary, Pat won a Cy Young due to balls and brains. He was never a lights out type like Halladay or Clemons, nor was he a sharp shooter like Maddux or Cliff Lee.

Rather, Hentgen was known as a pitcher who would throw strikes early, and then break your ankles with a 12-6 curve if you gave him the count.

It’s this combination of courage, tenacity and craftiness that could provide a marvelous influence on Toronto‘s collection of talented young arms.

Conclusion: Homerism notwithstanding, this an exciting young managerial staff. 

Adding this kind of fresh talent to a group that already includes Batting Coach Dwayne Murphy, Third Base Coach Brian Butterfield and Pitching Coach Bruce Walton further enhances an already strong posse of baseball minds.

In other news, the Yankees jack up their offer to Cliff Lee.

Where are those paper towels?

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Cliff Lee was just offered a seven-year contract by the New York Yankees. This comes on the heels of this morning’s announcement that the Boston Red Sox had nabbed Carl Crawford. 

So it seems it is good to be a fan of baseball in the East. It really is trying for us in the rest of the country. But my qualm is that the Yankees are throwing money down the tubes because Cliff Lee will never live up to his big contract.

How could anyone? No one can meet the standards of a contract that is surely to be more than their original $140 million offer. 

Here are the reason why Cliff Lee is not worth the money. 

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