Yankees Sign Mientkiewicz
According to the New York Post, the Yankees have a tentative agreement with 32 year-old first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz. He’ll have a physical today.
Mientkiewicz will bat ninth and provide defense at first base. According to the Fielding Bible, which ranked him behind only Mark Teixeira with the glove:
"He has range and agility and is like a vacuum sucking up all throws, good and bad."
I suppose you can claim the Yankees don’t need more offense, but runs and runs. I would’ve sought out someone who can hit, too. It’s an easy way to upgrade the club further.
Yanks, D’Backs Close On Unit?
According to the New York Daily News, the Diamondbacks and Yankees could finish a Randy Johnson trade this weekend.
Arizona will need to talk to Johnson to extend his contract through 2008, pretty much guaranteeing he gets his 300th win as a Diamondback. The Yankees want one of Dustin Nippert, Micah Owings, and Ross Ohlendorf. Nippert seems to be the prize of the trio.
Meanwhile, the Yankees are getting closer to signing Doug Mientkiewicz to play first base and could also snag Mark Loretta as a utility infielder.
On the other hand, a source told the Newark Star-Ledger that there’s "nothing imminent" on RJ but things could be resolved within a week anyway.