The LoHud Yankees Blog

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.

Interrupting another slow offseason day to direct your attention to this beautiful goodbye from one of the very best columnists in New York.

I don’t know him well, but I’m always proud to tell people that I’ve spoken with George Vecsey on several occasions, and he’s always been about as kind a man as you could ever hope to meet. One of the great written voices in the City as well.

It doesn’t take long for a young sports reporter to get over the fact he’s surrounded by great athletes day after day. Being surrounded by writers like Vecsey, though, always feels special and never gets old.

All the best to George in all that comes next.

Good job by the Yankees who today once again hosted the Bronx Winter Wonderland, an event held in conjunction with the Bronx Borough President’s Office and Legends Hospitality. It drew approximately 5,000 local children last year. Some more details from the team…

Hosted in Yankee Stadium’s Great Hall, local youth will be treated to a holiday extravaganza, complete with holiday decorations, festive music, including caroling by the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club Choir, and food and drink.

The New York Yankees Foundation has made a contribution in the amount of $25,000 in support of this effort to cover the costs associated with the event. A matching in-kind contribution was made by Neil and Amanda Friedman to aid in ensuring that each child in attendance receives a holiday gift.

“Once again, I am thrilled to work with the New York Yankees and all of our sponsors to make the holidays a little more enjoyable for thousands of Bronx children. This event is a great way for my office, together with the New York Yankees, to show the Bronx that the true spirit of giving is alive and well this holiday season,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

It seems not much has changed in the week since baseball Winter Meetings came to an end.

“I could add significant payroll,” Brian Cashman said in Dallas, “and give up some serious top-end talent that’s cheap and under control for a long time. Those things are possible, but they wouldn’t be smart or wise moves or business decisions for the future of this franchise.”

One popular subject of fantasy trade proposals is Gio Gonzalez, but the A’s are asking for the Yankees very best prospects in return, and the Yankees don’t have the high-end third baseman they’re reportedly seeking. It’s not only the Yankees being asked to pay a premium price. The A’s reportedly asked the Marlins for Mike Stanton even though it’s hard to imagine Stanton as so much as a starting point for negotiations.

Young pitching is the game’s highest commodity, and clearly Gonzalez is being treated that way.

With Josh Willingham in Minnesota, Michael Cuddyer has moved on to Colorado.

The Rockies have signed Cuddyer to a three-year, $31.5-million contract. That’s one year after the 32-year-old hit .284/.346/.459 in his eighth season as a Twins regular.

Although it’s not a perfect comparison, the Cuddyer deal — much like the Willingham deal — could help set the expectations for Nick Swisher a year from now.

Next winter, Swisher will turn 32 (same as Cuddyer is today). Swisher is a career .254/.360/.466 hitter, Cuddyer is a career .284/.346./459. They’re not perfect comparisons, but they’re at similar levels, with the same sort of power from a power-oriented position. Swisher’s a more patient hitter, Cuddyer a more versatile fielder.

For the time being, three-year deals for Cuddyer and Willingham — Willingham got $21 million — give some idea of what it would have cost to replace Swisher this winter had the Yankees not picked up his option.

One way to pass the time during these slow days in the middle of December: Here are my picks for the best 25-man roster made entirely of players still on the free agent market.

Lineup
SS Jimmy Rollins
CF Coco Crisp
LF Carlos Beltran
1B Prince Fielder
RF Michael Cuddyer
DH Jason Kubel
3B Wilson Betemit
C Ronny Paulino
2B Ryan Theriot

No real standouts at second, third or catcher. For whatever reason, I’ve always liked Kubel, so maybe I’m higher on him than I should be. That heart-of-the-order is pretty good.

Bench
1B Carlos Pena
2B Jeff Keppinger
CF Endy Chavez
C Chris Snyder

I’ll take Pena for a power bat, Keppinger for versatility and Chavez to run a little bit and play center field. I’ll take Snyder because I need a backup catcher.

Rotation
RHP Roy Oswalt
RHP Yu Darvish
RHP Edwin Jackson
RHP Hiroki Kuroda
LHP Paul Maholm

I’ll give Oswalt the top spot in my rotation, if only out of respect for his career. I’ll include Darvish only because he’s already been posted, making him — more or less — officially a part of the free agent market. With C.J. Wilson and Mark Buehrle off the market, every option comes with some obvious questions.

Bullpen
RHP Ryan Madson
RHP Francisco Cordero
RHP Kerry Wood
LHP Mike Gonzalez
RHP Juan Cruz
RHP Brad Lidge
RHP Bartolo Colon

It’s a bullpen. There are always questions about who’s going to perform from year to year, but I’ll take Madson as my closer, and I’ll give Colon a spot as a long reliever.

It’s been a pretty quiet Thursday while all of baseball waits for the identity of the highest Yu Darvish bidder to be revealed.

Although a report yesterday indicated there might be announcement some time this morning, it now seems that the Nippon Ham Fighters might wait until just before Tuesday’s deadline to announce the highest bid.

As has been the expectation for a while, the Yankees still seem to be relatively minor players in this process. The aggressive bidders in the American League East might be the Blue Jays. 

• Good point by our friends over at River Ave. Blues: The new Josh Willingham contract in Minnesota could give an indication — roughly — of what Nick Swisher might be worth on the free agent market. At the very least, it gives an idea of what it might cost to find a replacement if the Yankees decide not to bring Swisher back in 2013.

• Speaking of Swisher, one of the other players involved in that White Sox trade, Kanekoa Texeira, has signed a minor league deal with the Reds. 

• Got my first Mat Latos email this morning wondering if the Yankees could get the young Padres starter. Today, Ken Rosenthal wrote that San Diego should be willing to deal Latos, but even if the Padres do put him on the market, I can’t imagine Latos would be remotely affordable. The Yankees have been hesitant to give up premier talent in other deals, and a young guy like Latos would surely cost a boatload of talent.

• If you missed Derek Jeter’s interview with Barbara Walters last night, Yankees.com took a look at the highlights from the Jeter’s appearance as one of the Most Fascinating People of 2011.

• The Yankees announced their Double-A field staff, with manager Tony Franklin returning for a sixth consecutive season.

Associated Press photo

Sports Business Journal has named its 50 Most Influential People in Sports Business, and Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner landed at No. 40, right behind two executives from U.S. Olympic Committee.

From the rankings:

It was a quieter year in Yankeeland, with perhaps the exception of milestone marches by Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. But under Steinbrenner, the Yankees remain by far baseball’s most popular team, its most powerful revenue producer, and a leading measuring stick for industry success.

Steinbrenner ranked ahead of notable names Don Fehr, Mark Cuban and Michael Weiner. Steinbrenner was five spots higher on the list last year.

At the top of the list is Steve Burke, the president and CEO of NBCUniversal.

Associated Press photo

Baseball’s new collective bargaining agreement is in place. Officially.

Major League Baseball just announced that all 30 clubs voted in favor of the new CBA, putting a new five-year contract in place between the league and the players union. At the end of the new deal, baseball should be at 21 consecutive years without a strike or a lockout.

“I am very pleased that the clubs have given their unanimous support of the new agreement,” commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. “Our sport has taken many significant strides over the past decade, and this agreement will allow us to continue to grow the game.”

This seems appropriate, doesn’t it? Yogi Berra will receive the Munson Legend Award at this year’s Thurman Munson Awards Dinner in New York. The event takes place at the end of January, just a couple of weeks before pitchers and catchers report to spring training. Mark Teixeira is also being honored. Here are the details. 

New York Yankees beloved Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra will be joined by Yankees star first baseman Mark Teixeira, Mets standout pitcher R.A. Dickey, and newly-inducted Basketball Hall of Famer and former St. John’s and N.B.A. star guard Chris Mullin as the honorees at the 32nd Annual Thurman Munson Awards Dinner on Tuesday night, January 31, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City, it was announced today. The gala, which remembers the late, great Yankees catcher and captain, benefits AHRC-New York City Foundation. Berra will receive the Munson Legend Award in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the 1962 World Champion Yankees, and Teixeira, Dickey and Mullin will each receive “Thurmans.” For tickets and information on the Munson Awards Dinner call 212-249-6188.

Diana Munson, Thurman’s widow, will attend her 32nd straight benefit, having been involved since its inception, raising nearly $10 million to assist children and adults who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Thurman Munson Awards are presented for success on the fields of play and philanthropic works off the field

The AHRC New York City Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that supports programs enabling children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to lead richer, more productive lives, including programs of AHRC New York City. AHRC New York City is one of the largest organizations of its kind, serving 11,000 children and adults who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injuries and other disabilities.