Rounding The Bases With the Yanks

It may not feel like it, but baseball is just around the corner.

Residents in New Jersey experienced a premature spring today as temperatures rose into the high 60s.  Who cares that the balmy weather was accompanied by clouds, fog and a pesky drizzle, followed by a 30 degree drop by sundown?  For me it signaled the changing of the seasons, even though Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter.

The New York Yankees will report to their spring training home in Tampa in less than two weeks and I'm starting to catch the fever.  I've fallen a bit behind in commenting on all news pinstripes, so I thought I'd catch up by posting some quick comments on the latest (and not so latest) happenings in and around Yankee Land.

Robinson Cano is staying in the Bronx.  The Bombers signed Cano to a long-term contract last week. The Yankees second baseman could earn as much as $57 million over the next six years.  Canu will earn a guaranteed $30 million for the first four years.  I don't know any Yankee fan who doesn't love this move.

Johan Santana is the new King of Queens.  The two-time Cy Young Award winner is headed to the Senior Circuit and I couldn't be happier.  The trade the Mets pulled with the Minnesota Twins means that the Yanks are sticking with their young starters and the superstar lefty will not become a member of the Red Sox rotation.

Wilson Betemit re-signs with the Yanks.  A solid move by the Bombers.  The thought of Betemit as the everyday third baseman made Yankee fans everywhere cringe, but A-Rod came to his senses and Willie could be a key contributor as a part-time first baseman and utility infielder.

Yankees play hardball with Chien-Ming Wang.  The Yanks locked up Cano to a multi-year deal, but seem reluctant to do the same for Wang.  Last season's ace fell flat against the Cleveland Indians in the ALDS, but still has a lifetime record of 46-18 with a 3.74 ERA.  Wang earned $489,500 in 2007 and is looking to increase his salary to $4.6 million in 2008.  The Bombers countered with a $4 million offer.  An arbitration hearing is set for Feb. 14.

Return of the Maltese Falcon.  Brian Bruney agreed to a one-year deal with the Yanks, avoiding arbitration.  Joe Torre ran Bruney out of town at the end of last season, but the new regime is bringing him back for another look.  Not a bad idea since Kyle Farnsworth heads into Spring Training as the eighth inning set-up man.

Paying the Man.  Derek Jeter had a little tax problem with New York state, but that business seems to be cleared up now.

Shrek could join Frankenstein.  The Yankees are apparently interested in Kevin Mench.  The right-hand hitting Mench hits lefties well (.314 average in 156 at-bats in 2007) and could serve as the team's fifth outfielder.  And in case you don't know, Mench's hat size comes in at a whopping 8 1/4.

Adding some depth.  The Bombers inked infielder Morgan Ensberg to a minor league deal.  Ensberg is a third baseman by trade, but the Yanks are interested in him at first.  The former Houston Astro and San Diego Padre played one game at first base last season.

Donnie Baseball takes a hit.  Don Mattingly cited family reasons when he stepped down as hitting coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers last month.  Boy, he wasn't kidding.  I wonder how this would have played out if he was named manager of the Yanks this past off-season.

Clemens, Pettitte and McNamee.  It's not the name of a law firm, but jail time could become a factor.

End of an era.  The Yanks will wear a commemorative patch on their uniforms this season, the last to be played in The House That Ruth Built.

There, now I'm all caught up (for the most part).

Time to take a lap and hit the showers.

Mike covers the Yankees and Jets on his blog, Green Pinstripes..Leave a Comment

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