You can now because Facebook fans of River Ave. Blues. So get on that, folks.
Better you than me
MLB announced today that the Red Sox and A’s will open their season in Japan in March. When last we saw regular season games in Japan, the Yankees and the Devil Rays were attempting to face off in an opening series, and it was a disaster. Kevin Brown, Jason Giambi and others developed various illnesses, and the Yanks started the season 8-11 before shaking off the jet lag on April 27. You guys have fun with that, Boston.
Rivera, asking for $50 mil, overplays his hand
Yesterday, when Joe outlined our thoughts on Mariano Rivera’s contract situation, I figured we had written everything that needed to be said on the issue. In an effort to exact some measure of juvenile revenge, Rivera was keeping the Yankees and their overly generous three-year, $45 million offer waiting for a few days. I thought Rivera would just sign the deal and let bygones be bygones.
So much for that.
Go Away-Rod
Pigs may fly; the sun may rise in the West; and A-Rod may be open to the idea of a return to the Yanks. I guess Joel Sherman, George King and Mark Hale had some space to fill in The Post’s sports section. There’s just not much to say about a 2-4 Knicks team on a three-game losing streak. And I’m sure Scott Boras had absolutely nothing to do with a story designed to drum up interest in his client who hasn’t been flooded with $350-million offers yet.
Update by Joe: Mark Feinsand and Bill Madden offer a similar story.
Despite all of the back-and-forth posturing between the Yankees and A-Rod’ camp, the Daily News learned today that the two sides have been discussing a deal for the past few days to keep the two-time MVP in pinstripes, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
The biggest catch? The Yankees don’t want agent Scott Boras involved in the negotiations.
A high-ranking Yankees source told the Daily News that the team is willing to bring Rodriguez back on a below-market contract, one that would make up for the $21 million subsidy from the Rangers that the Yanks lost when A-Rod opted out of the final three years of his contract.
In addition, the Yankees don’t want to deal with Boras, who has been Rodriguez’s agent since the slugger was 16 years old.
“We will not negotiate with Scott Boras,” a Yankees source said. “He cannot be in the room.”
…
Rodriguez apparently approached the Yankees through a third-party intermediary. “He went to them,” said the source.
It’s tough to turn away the best player in baseball, especially if he’s willing to come back at a discount.
I’ll (Joe) have more commentary on this if anything else substantial arises.
Report: Jays interested in Roger, Andy
According to a report in Metro, a free paper in Canada, the Blue Jays are interested in both Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte. This is one odd report. First, if the Jays want Roger Clemens and his overinflated salary, you guys have fun with that. Second, Pettitte has made it perfectly clear that he will pitch for the Yankees or not at all. Why the Blue Jays would even waste their time is beyond me.
Current offer to Mo: 3 years, $45 million
That’s according to Tyler Kepner of the Times. Is anyone else a bit baffled as to why Mo hasn’t accepted yet? Does he think there’s some team willing to offer him four years at $55, $60 million?
Look, the game is up. We know Mo is crying about not getting a new contract back in the spring. Get over it. For a guy who is portrayed so reverently in Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty, Mo is acting like a teenager here. The Yankees have made a more than generous offer, which figures not to be topped by another bidder. What, does he think the Dodgers will outbid the Yanks just because Joe Torre is now the manager?
I’m honestly surprised the offer got this high. Three years, $40 million was an offer not likely to be topped. And now the Yankees upped the offer by $5 million in hopes of signing Mo before other teams could bid. Well, now that other teams can, the point of that $5 million is kind of moot.
What the Yankees should do, though they certainly won’t, is let Mo field offers from other teams. Hey, he wanted to test the market, right? So when teams are coming in with far less than three years, $45 million, the Yankees can say: “Mo, we’ll match your best offer. But you blew signing that three-year, $45 million deal. Just like we blew signing you cheaper back in Spring Training.”
After all, this should work both ways, right?
Hava Molina
With Jorge Posada under wraps and Mariano Rivera’s return seemingly imminent, the Yanks can now turn their attention to the team’s other holes. First up, according to The Daily News, is the ever-popular backup catcher situation. At the end of their piece on Posada, Mark Feinsand and Bill Madden report that the Yanks and Jose Molina are close on a deal. No word on the length, but I like this move. Molina should lessen the burden on Posada next season.