Hughes has to be worth something or else the Yankees wouldn't have protected him the way that did; virtually unprecedented. He essentially is the next Clemens. And Matsuzaka has pitched quite a bit in Japan, his young arm has seen alot of action, which may be bad in the long run, but he has experience. I think he should transition well, like Matsui or, for a throwback, Nomo and his deadly slider compared to Matsuzaka's gyroball.

Plane in NYC crash registered to Yankee pitcher

WASHINGTON (AP) - A law enforcement official has told The Associated Press that a member of the New York Yankees organization was aboard the plane that crashed into a New York City high-rise.

FAA records show the plane was registered to pitcher Cory Lidle.
MORE TO COME

Source: FoxSports

I just read this I hope and pray it's not true

It's true, unfortunately. He was the only one onboard the plane, and he perished, as well as 4 people inside the building.

We're discussing it in the General Discussion forum...

Irish is much more concerned about the pitching staff. He will post right here thank you.

How the f*ck can you be so heartless Ice and JG who made a comment about that in the other thread in the General section. It just shocks and saddens me, the 2 of you

take it easy bud. everyone deals w/ grief in their own way.

Mr. Freeze: "I'm beyond emotions. They've been frozen dead in me."

Trade Rumour - from Mike and Mike this morning, apparently the ChiSox general manager Ken Williams has been on the phone with Yankee GM Brian Cashman nonstop discussing a deal as follows (even though papers are saying Cashman has said no dice to some of these):

1.) Yankees Get: Joe Crede (3B), Freddy Garcia (P) OR Javier Vasquez (P) OR Mark Buerhle (P).

White Sox Get: Alex Rodriguez (3B), cash.

2.) Yankees Get: Brandon McCarthy (P), Josh Fields (AAA Prospect 3B).

White Sox Get: Alex Rodriguez (3B), cash.

3.) Yankees Get: Josh Fields (AAA Prospect 3B), Freddy Garcia (P) OR Javier Vasquez (P) OR Mark Buerhle (P).

White Sox Get: Alex Rodriguez, cash.

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I'd most like to see deal #3, and get either Buerhle or Garcia to go with our new 3B prospect. Fields looks to be solid, and the Yankees need that youth movement. McCarthy seems decent, but with Proctor and Villone, do we really need more middle relief? Maybe.

Either way, I'm glad to see that teams are interested in A-Rod. It's just a matter of picking the right partner with whom to dance.

I'd personally trade him out of the AL to an NL team like St. Louis or Florida perhaps

DJ - although McCarthy pitched in middle relief most of last season, he's a big-time starter prospect. Many felt that Oz waited too long to put him in the starting rotation since he was one of pitchers who carried them down the stretch during the Sox's World Series year.

(Just to make it clear, although I'm from Chicago, I'm not a homer or anything. He's just one of the guys I track for fantasy purposes. )

My guess is that wherever he goes, if he goes, he'll return to playing shortstop.
I don't see him with the Marlins, who are building quite a team on a small payroll. ARod would disrupt that plan on multiple levels.
Wherever he goes, the Yankees will have to swallow the lion's share of his contract. The Players' Association will see to that.

klydon1 - Just wondering, why do you think the union cares that it's the Yankees picking up the lion's share of his contract (versus any other team looking to trade for him)? I would have figured that the Union won't care, just as long as ARod's paid what's owed.

I think because no one would take on the remaining part of A-Rod's contract unless the Yanks took on most of it (kinda of like Texas. They're not paying most of it but the Yankees saw that they didn't pay ALL of it). And yes klydon1, I agree, whereever A-Rod goes, he's gonna be a shortstop again.

ARod was all set a few years ago to be traded to Boston after agreeing to restructure his deal in a way that would decrease his compensation from the $25 million per year. The PA stepped in and prevented any devaluation of the original contract because of the potentially harmful precedent it might set. Accordingly, the deal was nixed, and he ended up in NY receiving full salary.

I believe that they will take the same stand again. As such, I don't think there is any team out there willing to pay ARod close to the $25 million, seeing how that contract was an albatross around the neck of the Rangers for the years he was there. Accordingly, if the Yankees move ARod and the PA makes sure there's no contract devaluation, the Yankees will be stuck with paying a big chunk of the contract.

A year ago, his market value was higher. After this season (although his stats were very good), I think there are some concerns about his defense and other areas that bring his value to a team down.

Oh I see. I was taking it as an assumption that the contract won't be devalued (also remembering the ARod-Sox deal). I see where you're coming from.

Rumour Mill

• New Chicago Cubs coach Lou Pinella came with a catch - he wants the team to be in full pursuit of a trade that would reunite him with Alex Rodriguez, whom he coached under Seattle and still has a good working relationship with.

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The best deal I can see coming out of this would be Aramis Ramirez (who is a good-if-not-great 3B, but he is a bit like A-Rod at the hot corner with suspect fielding on occasion) and a starting pitcher...but who would they want that can stay healthy? Not Wood or Prior. Maybe Carlos Zambrano - I'd take that.

Its a hard choice between the White Sox or the Cubs, but Crede lacked the offensive numbers this season, so I'd take the Cubs deal...although with McCarthy being a budding star (thanks DS - I hadn't followed the White Sox closely this year ) it may still be an option. Then again, we may also look at Cesar Izturis, who would bring speed and fielding but a drop off in power (obviously).

All in all, I'm glad to hear that there are some deals in the works despite the professed solidarity from Cashman and A-Rod.

Now if we could just get a deal with the Cardinals for Pujols... :p

Remember ARod has the right to veto any trade and there have been several reports that he has no interest in playing for the Cubs. The Yankees can only negotiate in good faith with only those teams that ARod would agree playing for.

Apparently, ARod's primary interest is getting a championship and proving he can deliver in the post season, and the Cubs are nowhere near challenging for the play-offs. It doesn't matter that Piniella is with the Cubs. Moreover, Zambrano is the Cubs' only dependable starter, and pitching is their greatest need. Essentially, the Cubs do not become a better team by getting ARod and losing Zambrano.

With ARod's no-trade clause, the list of teams, to which he may be dealt, is very limited. These teams know it, meaning that it would be a buyers' market for his services.

True, but both Boras and Cashman should be able to convince A-Rod to get rid of that - it isn't a good situation in New York, and he basically needs to start fresh. If he goes to an up-and-coming team, like the Cubs, who are only missing a few pieces, they could likely convince him that with less pressure in Chicago and the atmosphere being different in Wrigley, along with Pinella, he'd be better off in Chitown.

As far as Zambrano goes, I think that they could still finaggle a deal...Ramirez for A-Rod alone isn't going to do it, and neither Wood nor Prior are reliable starters...maybe the Yanks would have to toss in something else, but I'm sure it could be done, especially since Pinella and the Yankees are on good terms.

But A-Rod (and the Yankees) are just putting on the public face - of course they're "committed" to A-Rod staying in NY and A-Rod won't waive his trade clause - the offseason hasn't begun yet really. Believe me...I'm 99.9% sure that they're doing all they can to move Rodriguez.

True, but both Boras and Cashman should be able to convince A-Rod to get rid of that - it isn't a good situation in New York, and he basically needs to start fresh. If he goes to an up-and-coming team, like the Cubs, who are only missing a few pieces, they could likely convince him that with less pressure in Chicago and the atmosphere being different in Wrigley, along with Pinella, he'd be better off in Chitown.

[/QB][/quote]Knowing Boras' past, he's certainly not going to join Cashman in convincing ARod to do anything. Rather, if anything, He will cater to his client and tell Cashman, "If you want my boy to waive the no trade clause, it's going to cost you a lot of $." That clause has monetary value. He also knows that the Yankees want to move him more than Arod needs to move. He will limit the team or teams to whom ARod will be willing to go.

The Cubs aren't up and coming; they're down and going. I think that they're more than a few pieces away from competing. Dealing Zambrano for any offensive player would be a step backward. They were built on Wood and Prior and neither has had a healthy season in some time. If they are to compete, they need to overhaul, and acquiring ARod will hinder them in this regard.

ARod will only consider a team that is established and competitive now. My guess is that if he goes (and I have my doubts), it will be the Angels, and I don't think it will involve a veteran front-line starter.

True, without Zambrano the already depleted staff will take a hit, but with the payroll planned to rise with Pinella, I think the Cubs will be active in getting more starters. And that's what they need - when they have good starting pitching, they were a game away from going to the World Series...when they don't, they're in the basement.

And don't doubt A-Rod's wanting to leave - his career will rot and die here the longer he stays. The boos have shaken him, and he wants out. Boras can see that. If A-Rod stays in New York, he'll be a lame duck...an outcast, an undesirable. He needs a fresh start, and the Yankees need a new first baseman...Graig Nettles part 2.

If A-Rod goes to anybody, it will be for starting pitching and a blue-chip prospect. It has to be. The Yankees will be taking on all of that salary, and should get quite a bit in return...which is why the Yanks wanted from the White Sox McCarthy or Buehrle/Garcia and their star 3rd base prospect from Chicago's AAA team...and that seems fair...A-Rod and cash for 2 players.

If ARod goes to a Chicago team, it won't be to the Cubs, it will be to the White Sox. With the White Sox, it won't be too hard to move Uribe from SS so ARod can go back to his natural position. The Sox can give up Crede or Josh Fields (it won't be both) and some pitching talent for the trade. It will be a good trade on both sides.

The Cubs, on the other hand, do not have the same wealth of talent. They do have some pitching talent in the farm, but I think they're too green to entice the Yankees. Wood and Prior are done. ARod will not want to go to a last place team.

Japanese pitcher to be represented by Boras

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka selected Scott Boras to represent him in negotiations with major league teams, the agent said Tuesday.

Matsuzaka's rights are expected to be "posted" by the Seibu Lions next month, meaning that all 30 major league teams can bid on the 26-year-old right-hander. The team with the highest bid gains the right to attempt to sign the pitcher.
Matsuzaka was 17-5 with a 2.13 ERA and 200 strikeouts this year, and he impressed many major league scouts last March during the World Baseball Classic, where he was selected MVP as Japan won the title.

Source: FoxSports.com

C'mon Cashman, open that pocketbook and say hello to Seibu!

This guy is touted almost as highly as Hideki Irabu.

But he's not a fat pussy toad.

True enough.

Boras: Cashman says Yankees won't trade A-Rod

A-Rod isn't going anywhere.

That's the message agent Scott Boras said he received from New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman in a phone conversation about Alex Rodriguez recently, according to a report on the New York Daily News' Web site.

"Brian Cashman and I had a discussion and he made it clear that he has no intention of trading Alex," Boras told the Daily News, "and I told him that Alex Rodriguez has a no-trade clause.

"There will be no movement of Alex Rodriguez this offseason," Boras said.

However, baseball executives are unsure whether Boras' statements are believable, particularly given Rodriguez's postseason struggles and the media scrutiny in New York.

"There's nothing about playing in New York City that he finds as a negative," Boras told the Daily News.

Rodriguez's relationship with manager Joe Torre, who dropped A-Rod to eighth in the lineup during Game 4 of the division series, could be another factor in any decision to trade the third baseman.

"When there was talk about Joe's situation [as manager], Alex was very supportive," Boras told the Daily News. "That's not an issue. I never heard anything from him about [being offended by the lineups]. I think Alex's position is that when you're a player of his stature, you don't really care where you hit. You want to win."

Cashman has said he hasn't received any formal offers for Rodriguez, but executives told the Daily News that several teams have had internal discussions about what they'd be willing to offer in a trade.

However, Boras said he's certain Rodriguez isn't leaving the Big Apple.

"Alex came to New York and has averaged about 40 home runs a year," Boras told the Daily News. "Last time I checked, there aren't a lot of guys doing that. He came here because he wanted to be in a winning situation and the team has been close but hasn't done it yet. He wants to stay and be a part of doing it."

Source: ESPN.com

Umm...yeah. Sorry. I don't buy that.

Not after Steinbrenner saw his almighty powerhouse lose to the Tigers. This team is going to get a serious shakeup, and A-Rod will be dealt for decent starting pitching.

A-Rod will be traded this offseason. How else does Cashman justify keeping his job? He's got to do something. Now that Torre is back, A-Rod is gone.

As far as him being traded to the Cubs, I just don't see it. The Cubs have nothing to offer in return. Sure trading Zambrano and using the increased payroll money to acquire some veteran starting pitchers sounds like a nice idea in theory, but just look at the recent history of the Yankees to see how easy that actually is to do. The Yanks haven't been able to acquire a decent, veteran starting pitcher with unlimited resources at thier disposal. The Cubs are a long ways from contending, so if they want to shake things up, the smart thing to do would be to trade Ramirez for some young, major league ready pitchers, not vice versa. Of course, this is the Cubs we're talking about, so I guess it doesn't rule out the possibility that they would do something completely asinine like trade Zambrano for offense.

If I were Cashman, I'd hang onto A-Rod and go REALLY hard after Barry Zito. I'm not sure if Oakland will resign him and he's probably the best starting pitcher on the market today. This way the Yankees get to keep A-Rod and get a Cy Young starting pitcher