Two new minor league signings, plus some notes and links
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Dec 16, 2011 
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According to Baseball America, the Yankees have signed two more minor league free agents, one of whom should be instantly familiar.
It seems Gustavo Molina will be back with the Yankees next year, likely serving his familiar role as veteran insurance behind the plate. It worked out pretty well for Molina last year when Francisco Cervelli was hurt and both Jesus Montero and Austin Romine struggled in spring training.
Molina got almost a full month of big league time, with only six at-bats — and one double — to show for it.
Baseball America also reports that the Yankees have signed right-handed pitcher Matt Daley. I know next to nothing about him except that he was apparently born in Queens and got some big league time with the Rockies last year.
A few other notes heading into the weekend.
• After Derek Jeter’s interview with Barbara Walters, Terence Moore took at a look atthe possibility of Jeter becoming an owner in the future. “I would like to be like The Boss,” Jeter said in the Walters interview.
• Buster Olney reports that the Yankees have had no trade talks regarding Hiroyuki Nakajima. Brian Cashman has said since the day the Yankees won the bidding process that the Yankees intended to keep Nakajima if they could sign him.
• Josh Norris caught up the Trenton manager Tony Franklin, who’s coming back to manage another season with the Thunder.
• The Yankees aren’t the only team unimpressed with Oakland’s asking price for Gio Gonzalez. The Nationals say they’re out of the mix, and a source tells MLB.com that the asking price is “way out of line.” Seems to me, there’s a difference between making a player available and actively trying to trade that player. The A’s clearly are making Gonzalez available, but I’m not sure they’re actually trying to trade him.
• Understandably, the Red Sox have reportedly looked into a trade for Hanley Ramirez, but those conversations went nowhere. My guess is every team checked on Ramirez after the Jose Reyes signing, but the Marlins seem intent on simply shifting Ramirez to third.
• And, of course, there’s Barry Bonds who was given probation — but not jail time — for obstruction of justice.
definitely the most boring offseason in decades…
I hope we sign the Cuban OF’s.
” Payroll tax deal reached in Washington ”
——–
Woohoo !
Guess what .
This turned out to be
another victory for us the 1% .
Go Republicans !
Ken_Rosenthal Tis the season to backload: C.J. Wilson breakdown with #Angels: $10M in ’12, $11M in ’13, $16M in ’14, $18M in ’15, $20M in ’16. 5-year, $77.5M contract with #Angels also includes $2.5M singing bonus, full no-trade first 2 years, limited no-trade final 3.
Ken_Rosenthal Hah! Tweeps should be my editors. That should be signing bonus for Wilson, not singing bonus. No idea if @str8edgeracer can sing!
YankeesNew York Yankees
Congrats to @RobinsonCano on winning GIBBY for Wow Factor of the Year! RT to congratulate him. http://atmlb.com/tAwGAf
OT – Kobe Bryant headed for divorce.
Apparently there’s just so far bling can take you. When you still have to look at your cheating husband who bears a strong resemblance to a mosquito, eventually the “let’s make up” diamonds just don’t mean enough.
CDickerson_PFTPChris Dickerson
@DRob30 congrats man, well deserved! RT @yankees congrats to David Robertson on winning GIBBY Set Up Man of the Year http://atmlb.com/sO8qCS
YankeesNew York Yankees
Congrats to Derek Jeter on winning GIBBY for Performance of the Year! RT to congratulate him. http://atmlb.com/u1XPh6
Tricia….Are you handling her divorce ??? I can only imagine what those fees will be for the future multi millionaire Vanessa Bryant…..Not bad for the former Huntington Beach HS cheerleader…..She wasn’t hard to notice as she was the only girl who wasn’t blonde…..
Got really choked up watching the Yankee contigency of the GIBBY award winners. I know I speak for all of us when I say, HOW I LOVE THIS GAME.
I have no idea when the vote was taken but if it was after the information about Braun, I have to wonder whether that affected the choice of Matt Kemp for the Player of the Year.
“Tricia….Are you handling her divorce ??? ”
I only wish! What better resume for a trophy wife than a former cheerleader with “ample assets”?!
JeffPassan Jeff Passan
Source: Yu Darvish still does not know which team placed the winning bid nor its size. Nippon Ham keeping information very tight, too.
15 minutes ago via web
Big Day tomorrow .
Rumors have toronto with the highest bid,as only yankees,texas,toronto,cubs bid.
Maybe 1 more team.
Rab saying the yankees waiting for next years fa pitchers,mainly cain,hamels.
They will trade any prospects,if it makes sense.
Wow, glad to see we’re gettin’ Gus Mo back ! Dire need there !!! REALLY ???
This and that:
Watching MLB TV, a nice accompaniment to baking Christmas cookies (my annual nonstop venture…) First time I have watched any hotstove television this season. Thoughts of what I have seen tonight.
1. Excited for Robin Ventura. I think he will end up being a great manager for the Chisox. Yes there will be some rebuilding but I think it’s awesome that he’s being given the opportunity to help Chicago and to manage.
2. NL East has really come into its own. Maybe it’s something about the East Coast mentality and the frenetic way of life that is part of being on the east coast.
3. The Florida Marlins will come to nothing despite their influx of great players because the baseball gods cannot stand sleezeballs like Jeffrey Loria (obviously my left-field take on how life works.)
I always feel a great deal of excitement when our AL East compadres get better (except for the scumdogs from beantown of course). Being a hedonist with a heart, I feel for the other teams in our division who in no way can keep up with the Yankees in terms of buying and keeping players. I want the AL East to be competitive and the teams in it to have dynamic teams. Every team has the right to field excellence, and all fans should be able to enjoy what we as Yankee fans have enjoyed. Sharing the wealth is the way to do it.
Perhaps I will be seen as heretical in even saying this, but I hope that the Jays get Darvish. The Jays have the right to have an exciting and competitive team. I love our Yankees and have no fear of other teams, so I want them to face the very best. Why not?!
Pat M, I don’t know if you follow this guy, but someone named Andy Meyers (think that’s the name) seems to have quite a following and his own website and paying followers with respect to betting on football. The guy sounds pretty obnoxious to me but he brags an 88% winning rate in terms of picking winners every week. I hear him on EEI every week. He talks a lot about people winning amazing amounts when they bet with him.
FWIW, he recommends taking the Denver Broncos this week. I’d automatically take them (were I betting) just because I hate the Pats!
We’ll see how good his prognostication is. I have to say that he does do a pretty thorough job of explaining why he makes the picks he does.
Tricia……One thing is for certain, the Wild Card in the AL is going to be a nail biter down to the wire as Tampa and Texas will be fighting it out….I see The Yanks and the Angels winning their respectful divisions as things sit today…….The NL Central is up for grabs although The Cards still have the edge…….Of course much will change before camps open in 2 months…..
Alert: Tyson Inc. just had an ecoli outbreak and had to recall 40,000 pounds of ground beef. The company is famous for their poultry. Supermarket meats can end your life. Farmer’s market meats much safer.
Bonds gets no jail time because he’s so thin now that he could slip through the bars anyway !
“If I’m going to build a baseball team, that’s the first player I pick.”
“He’s by far the best second baseman in baseball.”
“I think he’s the best position player in baseball. What he does exciting wise, and every time he has the bat in his hand or the ball is hit in his direction you have the chance to see something special.”
Greg Armsinger and Mitch Williams discussing Robby Cano, winner of the 2011 GIBBY for Wow Factor.
Tricia……..Everything they said about Cano is by definition the truth…..You’re up very late, time for some Cognac……
I’ve got no beef with the process, but Yu have to admit… something isn’t kosher with the Ham Fighters dealings.
I just think it’s funny that over in Japan, Yu Darvish has no idea who the winning bid might be from because they’re keeping a tight lid on it, and yet, over here, we’re already building the Blue Jays pitching staff around him..
Yu should get a NY Post delivered.
Congrats to DRob, Cano and Jeter for their respective GIBBY’s.
VN-
Good morning.
It’ll be good when the Darvish thing is over.
We’ll all be able to move on.
We’ll see if the Yankees can get something done on Kuroda as I believe they are contingent events.
Good Morning MTU
Ready to be over YD, too.
I think the process is too drawn out.
Here’s a list of potential FA pitchers for 2013.
Some really good namesScott Baker (31) – $9.25MM club option
Joe Blanton (32)
Matt Cain (28)
Fausto Carmona (29) – $9MM club option
Kevin Correia (32)
John Danks (28)
Jorge De La Rosa (32) – $11MM player option with a $1MM buyout
Ryan Dempster (36)
R.A. Dickey (38) – $5MM club option with a $300K buyout
Scott Feldman (29) – $9.25MM club option with a $600K buyout
Gavin Floyd (30) – $9.5MM club option
Freddy Garcia (37)
Zack Greinke (28)
Jeremy Guthrie (34)
Cole Hamels (29)
Dan Haren (32) – $15.5MM club option with a $3.5MM buyout
Tim Hudson (37) – $9MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Colby Lewis (33)
Francisco Liriano (29)
Kyle Lohse (34)
Derek Lowe (40)
Shaun Marcum (31)
Daisuke Matsuzaka (32)
Brandon McCarthy (29)
Brett Myers (32) – $10MM club option with a $3MM buyout
Carl Pavano (37)
Jake Peavy (31) – $22MM club option with a $4MM buyout
Anibal Sanchez (29)
Jonathan Sanchez (30)
Ervin Santana (30) – $13MM club option with a $1MM buyout
James Shields (31) – $9MM club option with a $1.5MM buyout
Chien-Ming Wang (33)
Jake Westbrook (35) – $8.5MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout if club declines
Dontrelle Willis (31)
Randy Wolf (36) – $10MM club option with a $1.5MM buyout
Carlos Zambrano (32) – $19.25MM player option depending on Zambrano’s Cy Young voting placement.
The Yankees are always looking ahead.
My apologies for the length.
Cain, Hamels, Greinke, 2 Sanchez’s, Danks, etc.
Maybe 1 or more make it to FA ?
Maybe the M’s will finally relent on Felix ?
It’s a strong class.
Morning, off to Tampa today to visit some friends. Plan to stop by Steinbrenner and get some stuff.
Have a good time Gary.
I’m off on an all-day hiking and photography excursion to Valley of Fire NV.
# MTU December 17th, 2011 at 7:54 am
Cain, Hamels, Greinke, 2 Sanchez’s, Danks, etc.
Maybe 1 or more make it to FA ?
Maybe the M’s will finally relent on Felix ?
It’s a strong class.
——————————-
It’s a strong class at the moment.
The FA class a couple of seasons ago was suppose to be Doc, Lee, Verlander, Beckett, and I think Cain was in it as well. Not directing this towards you but if we have learned anything over the past couple of yrs is things change.
Sure AAO.
No doubt about that. Nothing guarantees any of the big names hit the market.
Just saying the Yankees plan ahead and may have their eyes on it in their decision making process.
True they did that a with CC, Tex, and AJ.