Links for Friday, four years to the day after the Cubs signed Aramis Ramirez to a five-year $75MM contract. He has 93 homers and a .287/.356/.510 line since signing the deal…
- MLB executives predicted the destinations for some top free agents along with Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com.
- Ivan Rodriguez told Raul Alzaga of Primera Hora that he works out for three or four hours per day and feels physically fit enough to play three more years (link in Spanish).
- Yankees manager Joe Girardi told Vincent M. Mallozzi of the New York Times that he's happy to help recruit free agents.
- The Royals announced that they promoted Lonnie Goldberg to scouting director.
- Cleveland GM Chris Antonetti has spoken to the agents for former Indian Jake Westbrook, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. When he was traded to the Cardinals, Westbrook said he was open to re-signing in Cleveland after the season.
- The Indians are looking for a third baseman, and they don't have much money to spend, but they have discussed potential trades.
- Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail told Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun that the O's have talked to "a wide variety" of free agents already.
- Derek Jeter and GM Brian Cashman told Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News that they're hopeful they can work out a contract.
- For what it's worth, Joe Torre, Jeter's longtime manager, told Peter Botte of the New York Daily News that he can't envision the shortstop playing elsewhere.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post argues that no team can "allow the heart to rule the brain in on-field decisions."
Joe
Any idea if the DBacks and Indians match up for Mark Reynolds?
Faceman937
Indians need a 3b that doesn’t cost a lot? Sounds like they should’ve held on to Andy Marte!
rockfordone
They can have Mark Teahan
Zach
No one needs Andy Marte
Vincent
i think the biggest preparation the yankees need to do with jeter is to be prepared for his true colors to show when they ask him to move positions.
petrie000
move him to where, exactly? only place you can play him everyday where he’s not an offensive liability IS at shortstop, and defensively A-rod, Cano and Texeira are all better fielders.
Vincent
DH?
Henry Castellanos
That’s where Jorge’s batting next season.
petrie000
shell out 12-15 million dollars annually for a singles hitter nearing 40 to be your designated hitter… I think this is exactly what Joel Sherman was trying to bring to Yankees fans attention and why the Yankees organization needs to think long and hard about the monetary value of past achievements today.
gigantes2425
Why? I’m not a Yankee fan but they don’t need to move him anywhere. The guy just won a gold glove
GriffeyandSizemore
I’m a Yankee fan and LOVE Jeter but the gold glove is a popularity contest mostly.
Henry Castellanos
Just cause he’s Derek Jeter. Ask how many Yankee fans that are tired of hearing the phrase “Past a diving Jeter”.
corkyciv
I think if the Yankees lowball Jeter (i.e. pay him what he’s worth), the Red Sox should sign him for 2 years. The Yankees forever ruined Johnny Damon for us Sox fans, why not return the favor.
wtk
I “liked” this because this was the funniest, most bitter post ever.
-wtk
bleachercreature
blame johnny damon if you want someone to blame. It was his decision. Did Johnny Damon really mean that much to your franchise? In the same way Jeter does the Yankees? If so then that must have been hard to handle
Louie L.
geez, it was a joke. it WOULD be HILARIOUS if he hit his 3000th career hit in a redsox uniform, wouldn’t it? anyway, he’s staying, dragging down his infield for the next few years, driving up their age, but always driving up revenue.
bleachercreature
that would be facepalm worthy for every yankee fan haha.
Vincent
Damon was the face of the 2004 Red Sox, which will go down as one of the most memorable teams in baseball history. And no, not a BoSox fan.
CitizenSnips
Damon’s four years in Boston are equivalent to Jeter’s career in New York?
Just_MLB
i can’t front…it would be hilarious to see the sox offer jeter a 1 year 100 million dollar contract JUST so he can get his 3,000th hit in a red-sox uniform…
Faceman937
I am in no way a Yankee fan, but what if the Yankees let Jeter walk? I could see the Yankees sliding A-Fraud back to SS and signing Beltre to man the hot corner.
robert m
What Joe Torre thinks is not worth much.
mrsjohnmiltonrocks
I think it’s sweet that the Indians contacted Jake Westbrook. They said they would try to re sign him, and they now know they can’t. It would be helpful to them to get another rotation piece, it’s necessary that they find someone that can actually play the field at 3rd base.
They need another legitimate outfielder too. Grady’s coming back from microfracture surgery; his replacements from the organization were inadequate last year. They have Choo and a bunch of question marks. I want them to trade for Rajai Davis. He’d be a relatively low cost solution if Grady isn’t ready/effective when he returns, plus he’s a right handed bat. Hey, if everything works out in Cleveland, they just move him out at the deadline.
I really hope they look at someone more established to be 4th outfielder or possibly more. His speed would certainly be an asset they are short of too.
LifeLongYankeeFan
God being a Yankee fan for 15 years since I was 9 years old its so weird just hearing that Jeter might not be a Yankee and is hoping to work out a contract with the Yankees. I grew up watching him play. However its a business also and if you want to stay competitive sometimes you have to make tough decisions not that the Yankees wouldn’t be competitive with Jeter.
LifeLongYankeeFan
God being a Yankee fan for 15 years since I was 9 years old its so weird just hearing that Jeter might not be a Yankee and is hoping to work out a contract with the Yankees. I grew up watching him play. However its a business also and if you want to stay competitive sometimes you have to make tough decisions not that the Yankees wouldn’t be competitive with Jeter.
Just_MLB
i think the mets should sign Pudge to help mentor Thole. Pudge has always wanted to play in NY and since the gm is no longer latin, signing him wont bring about the usual cries of reverse racism.
Aj Ambrosini
the Royals should get Ivan Rodriguez because the catchers position for the Royals is weak with Brayan Pena.