Robinson Cano’s world, plus notes and links • 01.14.11
Jack Curry went down to the Dominican Republic last month to spend time with Robinson Cano, bringing the YES Network into Cano’s world of offseason training. There’s a preview clip on the network’s website, and it’s well worth watching. Eduardo Nunez and Francisco Cervelli have been working with Cano, who basically serves as their hitting coach. It’s a great glimpse into the winter work of one of the Yankees top hitters.
• MLBTradeRumors has an long list of reactions to the Rafael Soriano signing. You’ll find a mix of pros and cons in there. I guess I’d label myself as being somewhere in the middle.
• Doesn’t necessarily mean Andy Pettitte is thinking about coming back, but Jon Heyman has heard that Pettitte has been working out. Heyman has also heard that the Yankees would be willing to trade Joba Chamberlain, but only for a “viable starter.”
• The Padres are reportedly close to a deal with Chad Qualls. That signing could impact George Kontos, the Padres Rule 5 pick out of the Yankees organization.
• Former Yankees reliever Jose Veras is reportedly choosing between minor league offers from the Giants, Rockies, Twins, Marlins, Rays and Pirates.
• CC Sabathia’s cousin, infielder Joe Thurston, has signed with the Marlins. He would have made no sense for the Yankees, but I’ve seen quite a bit of Thurston and always thought he was a nice player. Sabathia and Thurston are still doing considerable charity work where they grew up.
• Jordan Bastian predicts that newly married former Yankees fan favorite Shelley Duncan will make the Indians roster out of spring training.
• River Ave. Blues looked at the impact of third-base coach Rob Thomson, ultimately coming to the conclusion that, “the Yankees are doing just fine here.”
• The Yankeeist has posted an interview with former Yankees catcher and first baseman John Ellis, who played in New York in the early 70s and went on to play for Cleveland and Texas.
Associated Press photo of Cano
Yankees coaches linked to managerial openings • 09.17.10
Ever since he addressed the issue last month, talk of Joe Girardi taking over as Cubs manager next season has more or less gone away. But he’s not the only member of the Yankees staff connected to managerial openings.
• The Palm Beach Post is reporting that Tony Pena is a “serious candidate” for the Marlins opening. That job has been open since June 23 when Fredi Gonzalez was fired. The Palm Beach paper also lists former Yankees coach Larry Bowa as one of “a dozen” candidates.
• Jon Heyman is also hearing that Pena will be considered for the Marlins job, and he reports that third-base coach Rob Thomson is “expected to receive consideration” for the Blue Jays job after Cito Gaston retires. Thomson managed the Yankees for three games in 2008, becoming the first Canadian to manage in the big leagues since 1934.
• Speaking of managers, Dylan Heranandez out at the L.A. Times says former Yankees manager Joe Torre has told his wife and GM Ned Colletti what he plans to do next season but will not yet announce it publicly. Torre is in the last year of his contract as Dodgers manager.
