The Daily Yankeeland - 1/16

Most players or coach would like to avoid road trips for as long as possible, but Yankees' hitting coach Kevin Long hit the road early this year. Bergen Record writer Pete Caldera tells us about Long's trips to see A-Rod, Robinson Cano, Jorge Posada, and Johnny Damon.

The Roger Clemens perjury investigation continued with sleaze bag Kirk Radimonski on the stand. Fellow sleaze bag Brian McNamee thinks the Rocket is headed for prison. Perhaps they should share a cell.

Shelley Duncan cleared waivers and was out righted to Scranton. He'll also receive an invite to the Major League training camp along with Austin Jackson, Jesus Montero, Austin Romine, Mark Melancon, Kei Igawa (CRINGE), Jason Johnson, Angel Berroa, Jason Johnson, Kevin Cash, Kyle Anson, Colin Curtis,Eduardo Nunez, Ramiro Pena, P.J. Pilittere, John Rodriguez, Doug Bernier, Justin Leone, Todd Linden, and Kevin Russo.

Xavier Nady, Melky Cabrera, and Brian Bruney have filed for salary arbitration.

Jorge Posada said he's training for the World Baseball Class, but the Yankees have other thoughts...like NO.

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That's about 25,000 a Walk

Brian Bruney avoided arbitration by agreeing to a 1-year $725,000 deal. Bruney falls into that pile of relievers that would be good, "if they could only harness that fastball". Nice job keeping the bullpen in shambles, Cash.

Maybe he should get his tattoo on home plate.

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Breaking News: Cano Close to 4-year Deal

FoxSports' Ken Rosenthal is reporting the Yankees and Robinson Cano are close to agreeing on a 4-year deal that would be worth a reported $30 million. The deal would include all of Cano's arbitration years and 1 or 2 years of free agency.

Cano and the Yankees were getting ready to go to arbitration with the two sides far apart. Cano had submitted a proposal of $4.55 million, while the Yankees submitted a figure of $3.2 million.

Cano qualifies as a "super-two" player, meaning he gets four years of arbitration eligibility, instead of the normal three years.

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Cano Looking to Future

The Yankees have not had a long-term 2nd Baseman since Mets' manager Willie Randolph manned the position in the 1970's and 1980's. (Pat Kelly only played more than 100 games twice in his 7 years in the pinstripes, and Chuck Knoblauch lasted only 4, mentally challenged years in the Bronx.) But Robinson Cano would like to change all of that. Entering his 4th full season in the majors, the native Dominican would like to sign a long term deal with the Yankees, and avoid arbitration.

In his first year of arbitration eligibility, Cano's reps a proposal of $4.55 million. The Yankees' proposal is well below that at $3.2 million. Cano started out poorly in '07, but finished with career highs in home runs and RBI, and has a lifetime batting average of .314. With help from former coach Larry Bowa, Cano's defense has also improved greatly and he is blossoming into one of the better defensive 2nd Baseman in the AL.

Cano's agent Bobby Barad told Newsday's Kat O'Brien that no negotiations have begun with the Yankees. But Barad said that Cano would be open to have his status locked up early, as the crosstown Mets did with David Wright and Jose Reyes.

"Could it get done? That's more complicated", said Barad. "It depends on, there's so many factors that would determine that."

With large salaries already being paid to a number of older veterans and others, such as Derek Jeter, having contracts coming up for renewal sooner rather than later, it's understandable that the Yankees may not want to throw too much money at Cano too soon. Then again they may want to learn a lesson from their previous contract negotiations with Jeter, who made much more money after the Yankees decided not to initially offer him a long term deal.

As Don Mattingly once said, referring to contract status, "This year they (the Yankees) have the hammer. Next year I will.".

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Pick a Number, any Number

We're heading towards the end of January, which means its time for those little nasty meetings called arbitration hearings. Agents usually advise their clients not to attend so they don't hear the bad things that management says about them.

Wilson Betemit avoided arbitration by agreeing last week to a 1-year, $1.165 million deal. That's a bump of three-quarters of a million dollars. In the meantime, representatives for Chien-Ming Wang, Robinson Cano, and Brian Bruney have submitted their arbitration figures and the Yankees have countered with their offers. Here's how it shakes out.

Chieng-Ming Wang Wants: $4.6 million
Yankees: $4 million
2007 Salary: $489,500

Our Take: Considering Wang has won 19 games in back-to-back seasons, we don't see his playoff meltdown impacting his salary. We think he should be awarded the higher figure. Obviously we'd like to see the two sides compromise at $4.3 and avoid the hearing.

Robinson Cano Wants: $4.55 million
Yankees: $3.2 million
2007 Salary: $490,800

Our Take: This is a tough one. Cano started the season horribly, but then had a huge 2nd half. Because of that split, we think the Yankees will win the arbitration hearing, so again we'd like to see a compromise and a pre-arbitration contract.




Brian Bruney Wants: $845,000
Yankees: $640,000
2007 Salary: $395,545

Our Take: Dude, seriously. You stunk last year. And ERA of 4.68 and 37 walks in 50 innings pitched. The Yankees will win this one in a cake walk.

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Hot Stove Update

And we could use that hot stove. 22 degrees and a storm on its way. Dreaming of Tampa, mid-February.

So all day long we've read how the Twins have gone back and forth on who has made the better offer, the Yankees or Red Sox. We don't even know what other teams, such as the Mariners could be offering. There was even one reporter- we'll call him Dick- who reported that the Twins wanted both Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy from the Yankees. Then he later admitted he was merely speculating.

Tonight we get word from SI's Jon Heyman that the Twins want either Alan Horne or Austin Jackson, in addition to Hughes and Melky Cabrera.

Earlier this evening, Buster Olney said the Red Sox and Twins were re-working an offer, thought to maybe include Jacoby Ellsbury or Clay Bucholz.

On and on it goes, and it won't stop until Santana is actually traded. In the meantime, it's creating a heated debated amongst Yankees fans who do or don't want to see Hughes included.

* * *

The Yankees offered salary arbitration to Alex Rodriguez, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, and Luis Vizcaino. The Yankees did not offer arbitration to Roger Clemens, Ron Villone, Jose Molina, and Doug Mientkiewicz. For A-Rod, Molina, and Mariano, this is merely a formality until their deals get formalized.

* **

Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Padres have snared free agent pitcher Randy Wolf, pending physical. There had been a lot of speculation that Wolf was going to return to the Phillies. The Padres have also reportedly talked to the Cubs about Mark Prior.

The Red Sox offered arbitration to Eric Gagne and Mike Timlin. The didn't offer it to Bobby Kielty, Eric Hinske, Doug Mirabelli, Royce Clayton and Matt Clement. Gagne is almost a certainty to sign elsewhere, while Timlin is close to returning to the Sox.

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Weekend Hot Stove

Kenny Rogers' 1 year deal to remain with the Detroit Tigers will net him $8 million. Source

Here are some tidbits from Ken Rosenthal:

Because of Aaron Rowand's huge contract demands, the White Sox are starting to look at Japanese star and unrestricted free agent, Kosuke Fukudome.

The Mets may targed Jose Guillen to replace Lastings Milledge.

Scouts around baseball are puzzled by the Red Sox not including Jacoby Ellsbury in a deal for Johan Santana. The feeling is that Ellsbury is overhyped and will be a good player, but not a star. Source

The Red Sox are looking to retain Mike Timlin and are working on a 1 year, $3 million deal. Source

Abitration info:

The LA Angels will not offer arbitration to free agent pitcher Bartolo Colon. Source

The Phillies will offer arbitration to Rowand, but not pitcher Freddy Garcia. Source

The Dbacks will offer arbitration to Livan Hernandez. Source

The Rangers will not offer arbitration to Sammy Sosa, Brad Wilkerson, Jerry Hairston Jr. and Jamey Wright. Source

The Braves will not offer arbitration to Andruw Jones or Octavio Dotel, but will offer it to Ron Mahay. Sourc

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