The LoHud Yankees Blog

At the end of a slow day in baseball, I’ll turn the floor over to Joe Posnanski.

After Derek Jeter and Cliff Lee took their turns in the offseason spotlight — a place where speculation and wild guesswork are disguised as viable forms of analysis — it’s now Zack Greinke’s turn. And no one has covered Greinke as well as Posnanski, who wrote about him again this week:

I don’t know how Zack Greinke would do in New York or Chicago or any other big market. How could I know? But when I see people question his toughness or his psyche — either in direct words on Twitter or, infinitely more annoying, in read-between-the-lines quotes and stories — I guess they don’t know him any better than I do.

Feel free to debate the merits of the Yankees trading for Greinke — would he be worth the prospects, would he thrive in this market? — but that debate must always end with the realization that no one knows for certain.

Posnanski makes the argument that Kansas City might actually be the worst place for him, that pitching in games that matter would actually bring out the best in Greinke, and that a team of superstars would let him blend in rather than standout. Posnanski also acknowledges that, despite all the time he’s spent with Greinke, he can only guess what a move to New York might mean.

I also think it’s possible that the New York Yankees — with all of their money, their background checks, their good scouting and everything else — don’t know Greinke any better than anyone else.

And now a few more links and notes from a quiet Saturday.

• The Red Sox continue to build, signing reliever Dan Wheeler to help in their bullpen. Wheeler, Bobby Jenks and Daniel Bard give Boston some right-handed depth leading into the ninth inning.

• Boston is still reportedly interested in signing an additional left-handed reliever.

• Marcus Thames was being chased by Japanese team earlier this offseason. Now it seems he has some big league clubs interested in using him in left field. The Dodgers have been linked to him, and so have the Orioles. He could still fit for the Yankees as a right-handed corner outfielder, but the team would have to hope that his bat is good enough to make up for his glove.

• Hideki Matsui’s deal in Oakland has a partial no-trade clause that prevents trades to some of the worst teams in the American League. Of course, it’s hard to imagine any of those teams — except maybe the Twins — actually wanting to trade for him midseason.

• From the random, non-baseball events of my life category: This afternoon I put on an old live album called General Admission by the Pat McGee Band, one of my absolute favorites back in college. There’s no point to this paragraph, I’ve just been listening to that CD all day and felt like sharing an underrated band and an underrated album. PMB hit its peak with a studio album called Shine that seemed to come out about seven years too late, after the initial buzz of vaguely similar groups — Dave Matthews Band, Counting Crows, Blues Traveler — had died and given way to lesser forms of pop music.

Earlier this month, the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainer Society (PBATS) honored Gene Monahan and Steve Donohue as the Best Athletic Trainers in Major League Baseball for the 2010 season. Good stuff for two remarkably nice men. Here’s the announcement.

PBATS?is proud of all of its athletic trainers and athletic training staffs, they’re among the most skilled and respected in professional sports. But each year PBATS members are given the opportunity to honor one major league team’s athletic training staff based upon their skill, their professionalism and their dedication to the core mission of PBATS. In 2010, that honor was presented to the athletic trainers of the New York Yankees, Gene Monahan and Steve Donohue.

”With a total of almost 65 years of combined service as professional baseball athletic trainers with the New York Yankees, Gene Monahan and Steve Donohue have set an example for all athletic trainers to follow, working on possibly the toughest and brightest stage in all of professional sports. The length of Gene and Steve’s tenure in baseball is only exceeded by the extent of their generosity and leadership in helping advance fellow athletic trainers,” said Richie Bancells, President of PBATS and head Athletic trainer of the Baltimore Orioles. “We salute their wonderful efforts and thank them for being premier representatives for PBATS.”

Each baseball season, the membership of PBATS vote on who they believe is the Major League Baseball Athletic Training Staff of the Year. The criteria for this award is ability related to their profession, professionalism, dedication to health of their athletes and a demonstrated desire to advance the profession of athletic training.

There is no such thing as a can’t-miss, top-of-the-rotation starter on the free agent market. The closest thing — other than Andy Pettitte — might be Carl Pavano, and that’s a tough sell for the Yankees for many, many reasons. One thing the Yankees might try is a high-risk, high-reward, low-dollar signing. They’ve already added Mark Prior on a minor league deal, and one of these starters could have significant upside to go with a small price tag and a large injury risk.

Justin Duchscherer
Left hip impingement
Duchscherer has been an all-star starter and an all-star reliever, but a series of injuries have limited his career through seven DL stints. Most recently, a hip injury that wouldn’t quite go away required surgery in early June, limiting Duchscherer to five good starts with the A’s. He previously missed all of 2009 because of elbow surgery and depression, but in 2008 he had a 2.54 ERA in his first full season as a starter.

Jeff Francis
Shoulder inflammation
A shoulder injury began causing problems in 2008. It cost Francis all of 2009 and landed him on the disabled list twice in 2010. He’s had surgery, and last season he kept battling soreness. Francis was a pretty promising young pitcher with the Rockies in 2007, but he’s had an ERA above 5.00 his past two seasons. If he’s healthy, maybe he could bounce back. His best years haven’t been as good as the others on this list.

Noah Lowry
Shoulder, forearm and elbow issues
I wanted to mention Lowry because he technically fits on this list, but the guy hasn’t pitched in the big leagues or minor leagues since 2007. Various things have gone wrong, and he never quite made a comeback last year. He was a good young pitcher with the Giants, but that was a pretty long time ago, and it’s hard to consider him a viable option at this point, even as a long shot.

Brad Penny
Strained right lat
Penny made just nine starts last season before taking his familiar spot on the disabled list, where he also spent much of 2008. Those nine starts were good — he had a 3.23 ERA with the Cardinals — but his rehab didn’t go well enough for him to pitch beyond late May. Penny didn’t pitch well with Boston in 2009, but he finished that season in San Francisco and actually pitched very well for the Giants.

Ben Sheets
Torn elbow tendon
I decided to include Sheets because his name is on various free agent lists, but truth is, Sheets is not a legitimate option. He’s out at least the bulk of this season, probably all of it — maybe the rest of his career — after Tommy John surgery.

Brandon Webb
Shoulder soreness
For three straight years, Webb was among the top pitchers in all of baseball. He was the Diamondbacks Opening Day starter in 2009, and he hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since. Webb tried to avoid surgery in 2009, but finally had a procedure in August of that year and coming back has been a struggle. Like Wang, Webb pitched this fall. If the Yankees want to dream big, the best-case scenario probably doesn’t get much better than Webb, who won the Cy Young in 2006 and finished second in 2007 and 2008. At his best, he was kind of a more dominant version of Wang.

Associated Press photo

Whether the Yankees get him or not, Zack Greinke’s days in Kansas City might be numbered. He’s one of the few top-of-the-rotation pitchers in baseball who could be moved this winter, so he’s obviously going to get a lot of attention in the next few days.

Don’t misunderstand this post… This is not a list of pitchers who I believe the Yankees could acquire or should acquire.

This is simply an attempt to list the pitchers who — like Greinke — might be considered a reasonable alternative to Cliff Lee in the No. 2 spot. No middle-of-the-rotation arms or guys with high ceilings, these are strictly guys who could immediately slide into that spot behind CC Sabathia as a possible improvement on what the Yankees already have.

There are plenty of names on this list, but what stands out is how few might actually be traded between now and spring training.

Angels: Jered Weaver, Dan Haren
Weaver is just entering his prime, and last season went a long way toward establishing him as one of the premier pitchers in baseball. Hard to imagine the Angels trading him. Haren pitched much better after being traded out of Arizona, and his contract jumps quite a bit next season, but the Angels seem like buyers instead of sellers. They can make a playoff run with those two at the top of the rotation. Can’t imagine them being dealt.

Astros: Wandy Rodriguez
Not a big name, but Rodriguez put up good numbers the past three seasons in Houston, and clearly the Astros are in no position to win in the immediate future. He’s arbitration eligible after making $5 million last season.

Athletics: Trevor Cahill, Brett Anderson
There’s quite a bit of young pitching talent in Oakland, but I don’t think any of the A’s starters matter in this discussion. Oakland is building a very nice rotation, but their starters are also cheap and could make the Athletics contenders in the not-so-distant future.

Blue Jays: Ricky Romero
Similar to Oakland, Toronto has a nice core of young starters. Romero is the most proven of the bunch, but he just signed an extension and the Blue Jays already traded one starter this winter. Hard to see them trading another, especially not a guy they just locked up through 2016.

Braves: Tim Hudson, Tommy Hanson
Obviously the Braves aren’t trading Hanson, and I doubt they’re putting Hudson on the market. At $9 million, Hudson actually has a reasonable contract for a guy who was one of the National League’s best pitchers last season.

Brewers: Yovani Gallardo
After back-to-back 200-strikeout seasons, Gallardo is coming into his own in Milwaukee. He’s also 24 years old. He’s not going anywhere.

Cardinals: Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright
Hard to imagine Wainwright going anywhere, but check back on Carpenter in July. Right now the Cardinals clearly consider themselves contenders. They do need money for an Albert Pujols extension, but I don’t think they’re looking to dump Carpenter just yet. Jamie Garcia could make this list with a repeat of 2010.

Cubs: Carlos Zambrano
This is either a brilliant idea or a nightmare scenario. Zambrano has been great, and he’s been awful, and new Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild has been in Chicago for all of it. Zambrano’s best-case scenario is awfully good, but his contract is awfully bad. My opinion? Not worth the risk.

Diamondbacks: None
There are some solid options for the middle or back of the rotation, but Arizona doesn’t have a guy who would easily slide into the No. 2 spot for the Yankees.

Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley
Ted Lilly might be more attainable, but to me he’s more of a No. 3 or 4 starter, not a No. 2 type like Kershaw or Billingsley. That said, I can’t see Kershaw or Billingsley being traded any time soon.

Giants: Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain
Good luck with that.

Indians: Fausto Carmona
If the Carmona of 2010 and 2007 shows up again in 2011, he’d be a nice addition with a reasonable contract. But he was bad the two years in between, and the ups and downs are cause for concern. Could be a nice target. Could be a debacle.

Mariners: Felix Hernandez
The Mariners stink. I get that. But even if they aren’t in a position to win for another three or four years, Hernandez would still be in his prime for those teams. Seattle could get the sun and the moon for him, but I’m not sure that means Hernandez is legitimately available. How does any team trade a guy like that?

Marlins: Josh Johnson
There are other solid young pitchers on this staff, but none bring the can’t-miss comfort of Johnson. He’s not quite as young or as proven as Hernandez, but he’s in a similar situation, only on a better team. The Marlins have some good young players breaking into the big leagues. Before they start selling, it might be a good idea to be patient and see where guys like Johnson, Mike Stanton, Hanley Ramirez and Gaby Sanchez take them.

Mets: None
With Johan Santana coming back from surgery, there’s no one in that Mets rotation who would significantly help the Yankees.

Nationals: None
Even if Stephen Strasburg were healthy, he clearly wouldn’t be available.

Orioles: None
I like Brian Matusz a lot, but I’m not sure he would be ready to jump into the No. 2 spot in the Yankees rotation. Phil Hughes is closer to that spot than Matusz. Nice young pitcher, but not there just yet. No reason to think he’d be traded anyway.

Padres: Matt Latos
It’s probably a stretch to include Latos among the elite pitchers in baseball based on one season. Put him on the list, don’t put him on the list. It really doesn’t matter. He won’t be traded.

Phillies: Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, Cole Hamels
Apparently Joe Blanton is available.

Pirates: None
I like Ross Ohlendorf as much as anyone, but  the Pirates aren’t going to help the Yankees rotation.

Rangers: C.J. Wilson
The best-of-the-rest in Texas is Wilson, the converted reliever who was terrific in his first season as a starter. Clearly he’s not a Cliff Lee-level starter, and there’s absolutely no reason to think he’ll be traded this winter, but I do wonder if he might be traded in July if the Rangers aren’t in a position to repeat in the AL East.

Rays: David Price, Matt Garza
Obviously Price isn’t going to be traded, but Garza’s name has floated through trade rumors through much of the offseason. For the Yankees, though, it’s a tough matchup. The Rays will be hesitant to ship Garza within the division, and the Yankees should be hesitant to send some of their top young players to an organization that’s already in a strong position to quickly rebuild.

Red Sox: Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz
It’s also very possible John Lackey or Josh Beckett could pitch like a No. 2 starter next season, but it’s not possible any of those Boston starters will be traded to the Yankees.

Reds: Johnny Cueto
Just like a handful of other young pitchers on this list, I’m not sure Cueto qualifies as a proven top-of-the-rotation starter, but he’s certainly talented. Also like a handful of other young pitchers on this list, his inclusion doesn’t really matter. The Reds are ready to win, and they aren’t going to do that by trading Cueto.

Rockies: Ubaldo Jimenez
The Rockies just extended Troy Tulowitzki on a $157.75-million deal. By comparison, Jimenez is off the bargain rack, signed through 2014, with the cost never climbing higher than $5.75 million until the final year. He’s going to make $2.8 million next season, and in the NL West, the Rockies could very well make a playoff run. Jimenez won’t be on the block.

Royals: Zack Greinke
I don’t know Greinke at all, so I can’t write about his personality or his willingness to pitch for the Yankees. That said, his story is pretty well known, and it’s hard to blame anyone for wondering whether he would thrive in New York. I realize it’s different pitching for the home team, and the sample is small, but in four games at Yankee Stadium, Greinke has an 8.82 ERA, higher than at any other ballpark. He’s also incredibly talented. Some team is going to be extremely happy to get him.

Tigers: Justin Verlander
By bringing back Magglio Ordonez, and signing both Victor Martinez and Joaquin Benoit, the Tigers are signaling that they’re ready to make another push for the playoffs. Trading Verlander won’t make that happen.

Twins: Francisco Liriano
The Twins made the playoffs last season without Joe Nathan or Justin Morneau, so you can understand if they aren’t willing to give up on 2011 just yet. If they were to put Liriano on the market, one thing to keep in mind about his value is the fact he still has two years of arbitration ahead of him.  He’d under team control for a while, and team control costs extra.

White Sox: Mark Buehrle, Gavin Floyd, John Danks
If the White Sox are going to trade a starter, it won’t be Danks, and Buehrle has 10-and-5 protection that acts as a complete no-trade clause. Floyd could be moved, and although he’s not the classic overwhelming, top-of-the-rotation kind of guy, he’s been pretty good the past three seasons. The Phillies had little choice but to give up on him a few years ago. Somehow, I don’t think they miss him.

Associated Press photos of Greinke, Weaver, Carpenter, Johnson, Garza and Verlander

Good work by the Yankees, who hosted their Bronx Winter Wonderland event this afternoon in the Great Hall of Yankee Stadium. The team gave toys to approximately 5,000 children from the Bronx community. The event also included food, plenty of Christmas decorations and caroling from the Bronx-based Renaissance EMS (Education through Music and Sports). Mattel donated 2,000 toys, and the Yankees spent $25,000 on additional toys for the kids.

Good stuff. And on to some notes and links for the day.

• Zack Greinke apparently wants out of Kansas City. FOX Sports reports that he’s asked the Royals to trade him, and the Royals have discussed trade possibilities with multiple teams. Today Greinke also changed agents, signing with Casey Close, who represents Derek Jeter.

• Chad Gaudin has landed with the Nationals, agreeing to a minor league deal.

• Apparently the deal between Dennys Reyes and the Phillies is off.

• Apparently the trade between the Padres and Rays is back on. Jason Bartlett being traded to San Diego was reported during the Winter Meetings, but getting it finalized took a while.

• The top position player still on the market is Adrian Beltre, and the Angels have reportedly made a “significant” offer.

• Kerry Wood’s signing is official, and he acknowledged that his offseason was all about rejoining the Cubs. “It’s never been about the money,” Wood said. “It’s about being home and being here at Wrigley, which is home for me.”

With Pedro Feliciano on his way across town from the Mets, and Mariano Rivera officially re-signed as the closer, the Yankees bullpen has most of its pieces in place. It could still use an arm or two to solidify the late innings, and maybe another option for long relief, but most of the work has been done.

Locked in place
Mariano Rivera, Joba Chamberlain, Dave Robertson, Pedro Feliciano, Boone Logan, Sergio Mitre
Even though he’s currently their best option as a No. 5 starter, I’ll include Mitre on this list because it’s hard to imagine the Yankees not adding some sort of starter between now and spring training. He’s also their best option for long relief, with most of the alternatives — Alfredo Aceves, Dustin Moseley, Chad Gaudin — no longer on the roster.

Big leagues or bust
Robert Fish, Daniel Turpen, Romulo Sanchez
These three are on the 40-man roster, and they can’t be sent to the minor leagues. Fish and Turpen are the two Rule 5 picks, and they have to be passed through waivers and offered back to their former team before the Yankees can send them down. Fish, the lefty, seems to have a better shot than Turpen, but even he’s considerable long shot. Sanchez is out of options — confirmed by the Yankees — and could be a legitimate dark horse as a hard throwing reliever capable of pitching multiple innings.

On a minor league deal
Mark Prior, Neal Cotts, Brian Anderson, Andy Sisco, Buddy Carlyle
All of these are long shots, obviously, but I get the sense that Cotts intrigues the Yankees a guy who could come up to play a role if Logan or Feliciano is hurt during the year. I’m guessing we’ll see a few more minor league signings in the next two months, especially a Dustin Moseley/Jason Hirsh type who could start in Triple-A and pitch long relief in New York.

Prospects looking to open eyes
Andrew Brackman, Dellin Betances, Hector Noesi, Ryan Pope, Steve Garrison
I only listed the other minor league guys who are on the 40-man roster, but I’m sure others — David Phelps, D.J. Mitchell, Manny Banuelos, Adam Warren, etc. — will also be invited to camp. That said, I don’t think the Yankees are eager to move any of their young starters into the bullpen to start the season, and relievers like Pope and Garrison still need Triple-A experience. Probably not legitimate options out of spring training.

Associated Press photo of Feliciano

A team official confirmed a report from Jon Morosi that the Yankees have added outfielder Jordan Parraz off waivers from Boston.

Parraz never actually played in the Red Sox system. He was claimed off waivers from the Royals last month, and when Boston took him off their 40-man roster, the Yankees grabbed him.

Baseball American ranked Parraz as the Royals No. 19 prospect entering last season. The magazine described him as a “gap-to-gap hitter with below-average usable power.” His best tool is his arm, “which rates as a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale.” Last year was his first full season in Triple-A, and he hit .266 with 11 home runs and 27 doubles in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

Nothing to get too worked up about, but the Yankees are thin on outfielders in the upper levels, and a guy like Parraz could play a role similar to what Chad Huffman, Colin Curtis or Greg Golson did this year.

Plus he has a cool last name. Parraz. I don’t even know how to say it, but I like it.

Bill Hall is on the verge of a deal with the Astros. He’ll be the team’s starting second baseman, which seems to make the incumbent Astros second baseman, Jeff Keppinger, available on the trade market.

The Yankees have reportedly looked into the possibility of adding Keppinger to their bench.

Brian Cashman has said that adding a veteran utility infielder is not a priority, but that doesn’t mean it’s out of the question. Keppinger would certainly be an offensive upgrade over Ramiro Pena, and he’s more proven than Eduardo Nunez.

I’ve written before that I agree with Cashman on not prioritizing the utility spot. Even with Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter needing occasional days off, I still don’t think there are enough at-bats for a utility man to have a significant impact. That said…

Pena is what he is: Terrific with the glove, almost a black hole with the bat. Nunez has more upside than Pena, but compare these slash lines from last season:

Nunez: .289/.340/.381 in Scranton
Keppinger: .288/.351/.393 in Houston

Nunez probably has more power and speed, and he might be a better defensive shortstop — maybe, I’m not sure — but Keppinger has a better career slash line in the Major Leagues than Nunez has in the minors. Keppinger hit better than Nunez last season, and that was with Keppinger facing much better pitching.

I saw Keppinger a few times when he was in Triple-A, and he could really hit down there. Not much power, but he knew what he was doing at the plate. He’s continued to walk more than he strikes out at the big league level. I don’t think the Yankees need him, but I think he would make their team better.

Question is whether Keppinger is worth the price in terms of the prospects it would take to acquire him and the salary it would take to pay him.

Hardly a surprise at this point that the Yankees have agreed to a deal with Pedro Feliciano. Things have been pointing that way for a while now, some of them dating back to mid-November.

Feliciano led the National League in appearances the past three seasons, and he didn’t allow a left-handed home run in 2010. His career slash line against left-handers is .214/.282/.297. He’s good at what he does, but the contract is a bit of a surprise.

Some left-handed reliever signings this winter:

Scott Downs, Angels: three years, $15 million
Pedro Feliciano, Yankees: two years, $8 million
Randy Choate, Marlins: two years, $2.5 million
George Sherrill, Braves: one year, $1.2 million
J.P. Howell, Rays: one year, $1.1 million
Dennys Reyes, Phillies: one year, $1.1 million
Brian Tallet, Cardinals: one year, $750,000

For now, all the Russell Martin signing means for the immediate future of Jesus Montero — and Austin Romine for that matter — is that the Yankees have options. Martin gives the Yankees flexibility, plain and simple.

“Breaking in Robinson Cano at second base, or Brett Gardner in left field, or Joba Chamberlain in the bullpen, or Phil Hughes at the back of the rotation, or (Dave) Robertson in the bullpen,” Brian Cashman said, “those are a lot easier than breaking in a young catcher in the big leagues, especially with high veteran starters and relievers in a pennant race in the American League East. Russell Martin, we hope, is the perfect situation to come along to allow us the timeframe to gives these kids the chance to (develop).”

Montero just turned 21. He hit .252/.328/.415 in the first half last season, and he had to be disciplined for his attitude. By all accounts, things changed in the second half when he was better behind the plate, at the plate and in the dugout. I truly believe that the Yankees think he’s ready for the big leagues, but a few more months in Triple-A certainly won’t hurt him. Romine has never caught a game above Double-A, and he hit .268 in Trenton last season. At this very moment, he’s hardly a can’t-miss option at the big league level.

There’s no need to rush either of them, and adding an experienced catcher — especially one with Martin’s potential — makes obvious sense. But what might it ultimately mean for the future of Montero and Romine? Well, this move is about giving the Yankees options, and there are plenty of options for their young catchers.

New plan, same as the old plan
It doesn’t seem likely, but Cashman didn’t rule out the idea of either Montero or Romine beating Francisco Cervelli for the backup job out of spring training. “Those are things we’re going to work through in the spring,” Cashman said. There is still a chance — especially if Martin gets hurt again — that one of those two could open the season in New York, in one role or another. Not likely, but certainly an option.

Mid-season adjustment
The change of plans could be temporary. If Montero crushes the ball in Triple-A, or Romine takes a giant step forward, one of them could force his way to New York by mid-season. Martin isn’t a sure thing after two disappointing seasons, and his signing could do nothing but buy a little time for Montero or Romine to force the Yankees hand. Things could also change with a mid-season injury in New York.

See you in September
Could be that Martin is nothing but a one-year stepping stone. If Martin hits this season, and the young guys make progress in the minors, the Yankees could wait until September to give Montero or Romine a look in the big leagues — get their feet wet that way — and make the transition next season when the development has taken another step forward.

One is good, two is better
Martin is still arbitration eligible next season, and Jorge Posada is in the last year of his contract. Isn’t it entirely possible that Martin could bounce back to his all-star self, the Yankees could decide he’s actually their catcher of the near future and Montero could step into Posada’s DH role next season? Instead of being the bridge to Montero, couldn’t Martin become the bridge to Gary Sanchez? It’s possible.

Prospects are prospects, nothing more
Can’t pretend that every possible scenario is a good one. There’s a lot to like about Montero and Romine, but they haven’t done a thing at the big league level, and there’s always the chance they never will. The addition of Martin lets the Yankees keep the young guys in the minor leagues, where holes might be discovered and best-case scenario’s might not play out. There’s always the chance that Martin is, in fact, the best 20-something catcher currently in the Yankees organization.

From friend to foe
This is the part that makes a lot of folks nervous: Martin makes it easier for the Yankees to trade Montero or Romine if the right opportunity presents itself. Cashman has made it clear he’ll be hesitant to deal a proven hitter like Montero. Think of all the times Cashman did not trade Phil Hughes. It’s that kind of situation. If Montero is dealt, it will be for an elite player (like the Cliff Lee proposal in the summer). That’s one of the benefits of having considerable depth at a single position, and Martin limits the short-term impact if Cashman does pull the trigger.