The Yankees have been in pursuit of free agent 3B/SS Manny Machado, who is reportedly looking for a deal that will pay him roughly $300 million over 10 years. Here are the latest rumors... 

Jan. 17, 8:01 AM:

Machado's agent, Dan Lozano, came out firing at ESPN's Buster Olney and USA Today's Bob Nightengale for what he said was "reckless" and "inaccurate" reporting regarding their claim that the White Sox had a seven-year offer for $175 million out to Machado, saying "the truth is that their reports on the details of the White Sox level of interest in Manny are completely wrong."

Yankees fans have been a bit confused this offseason, as GM Brian Cashman has been relatively quiet with the moves he has made. Instead of spending on players like Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, he has instead signed names like Troy Tulowitzki and DJ LeMahieu to fill in the gaps. 

Normally, New York is the team that goes after the big shots on the market, but why hasn't that been the case this offseason?

Sweeny Murti explains how the Yankees' recent success these past two seasons has kept Cashman's checkbook in his pocket instead of hashing out the big deals...

Newest Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu was introduced on Wednesday during a conference call with the press. The three-time Gold Glove Award winner agreed to a two-year deal with the Yankees on Friday. Here's what we learned about the All-Star's upcoming role in the Bronx.

All signs point to LeMahieu serving as a super-utility man

The possibility of LeMahieu playing in multiple positions for the Yankees next season is high. New York told the infield to "bring a lot of gloves" to Spring Training, according to The Athletic's Lindsey Adler. Although LeMahieu has only patrolled second base since 2015, he said he's comfortable playing shortstop, which will aid the Yankees while Didi Gregorius recovers from surgery. 

The Yankees made a trade with the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, acquiring LHP Ronald Roman and cash considerations in exchange for minor-league OF Tim Locastro, per MLB Network's Mark Feinsand.

New York designated Locastro for assignment earlier this week to make room for DJ LeMahieu, and instead of letting him walk, they were able to get a return. Roman is a 17-year-old Dominican Republic product the D-Backs acquired as an international signee last year.

Roman has yet to play a professional game, while Locastro has been playing in the minors since 2013 when he was drafted by the Blue Jays. In Triple-A last season he owned a .279 average with four homers and 25 RBI. 

The Yankees may be zeroing in on one of the last remaining elite relievers on the free-agent market.

With just weeks to go before pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training, New York's need to bulk its bullpen is reaching an apex. The Yankees reportedly still have their hat in the fiercely competitive ring for free agent Adam Ottavino. 

Fancred's Jon Heyman reported on Wednesday the Bronx Bombers are talking to the right-handed reliever. Acquiring Ottavino would give New York major leverage over its Red Sox rivals, who are still struggling to furnish an anemic bullpen.

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives: Manny Machado was supposed to help the Yankees surpass the Red Sox. He's apparently not coming (and neither is Bryce Harper), so the Yanks should double down on their strongest facet -- the bullpen.

If the Yankees want to measure up to the Red Sox, they must possess an advantage somewhere on the roster that unequivocally distances the World Series champs. Adding one more "elite" reliever, like Adam Ottavino, should make it next to impossible for the Red Sox to catch the Yankees in that department even if Boston re-signs Craig Kimbrel. Boston arguably has a slight edge in the rotation and the offenses are quite similar in strength, but the overall scale could tip toward New York if the Yanks add to an already dominant bullpen.

Much has been made about the Yankees "coming up short" in the offseason if they're unable to secure Machado or Harper. Expectations were high that one of the two 26-year-old stars would become part of the Yankees after the team reset their luxury tax rate. Adding Machado or Harper would have clearly pushed the Yanks offense ahead of Boston's.

It's not just his Gold Glove the Yankees like about DJ LeMahieu.

The Yankees' internal data suggested LeMahieu was undervalued offensively, according to Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic. His elite defense and superior makeup are bonuses for New York, which signed the former Colorado Rockie to a two-year, $24 million contract.

Former New York Yankees closer and Texas Rangers Hall of Fame pitcher John Wetteland was arrested on Monday on a child sex abuse charge in Texas. The Dallas Morning News was the first to report the arrest.

Wetteland, 52, is accused of continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14, according to Denton County jail records. He posted a $25,000 bond and was released from custody on Monday, the same day as his arrest. 

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter | Mel Stottlemyre always seemed to be at peace with the fact that he came along at the wrong time in Yankee history, an All-Star pitcher on many bad teams during one of the longest championship droughts the franchise has ever known.

"I was always too blessed to think of it that way," Stottlemyre told me once.

Even after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma, the blood cancer that he succumbed to on Monday at age 77, Stottlemyre had the relentlessly positive outlook of a man who was grateful for his lot in life, as a major league player and then coach with five world championship rings...

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Even with four newly elected Hall of Famers off the ballot, and my anti-PED stance firmly in place regarding Barry Bonds or Roger Clemens, I still voted for 10 players this year, the sixth straight time I've used the maximum number of spots allowed. 

So I guess I'm officially a Big Hall guy now, after years of thinking Small Hall was the way to go. And I'm OK with that. 

Not that I'm good with Harold Baines being elected by a 16-person committee in December, but I do believe that for years baseball writers as a whole tended to take too much pride in making the Hall of Fame more exclusive than those in other sports, at the expense of rewarding excellence. 

Yankees LHP CC Sabathia was just having a catch with teammate Dellin Betances when he began to feel shortness of breath. He knew something was up.

"For me," Sabathia told YES Network's Ryan Ruocco, "normally, I can run, swim, do whatever, elliptical for however long. My cardio's normally really good. So for me to have shortness of breath playing catch, I knew something was up."

The 38-year-old Sabathia would undergo an angioplasty to clear a blocked artery in December, a heart procedure he is expected to recover fully from.

Anthony McCarron, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Let's start the discussion of my 2019 ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame with an easy one: Mariano Rivera, the greatest closer in history, gets my vote en route to enshrinement. 
 
Any objections? No? 
 
That won't last long. 

Former Yankees and Mets pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre died at age of 77 at his home in Seattle on Sunday night, as first reported by Bill Madden of the New York Daily News. 

Stottlemyre had endured a long battle with bone marrow cancer. 

He won a World Series as Mets pitching coach in 1986 and won four World Series as pitching coach for the Yankees from thier title run between 1996-2000. 

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter | 

For months, it's been clear through sources that while the Yankees like Manny Machado as a player, they don't plan on outbidding aggressive teams like the Phillies and White Sox. 

Now, word comes from a person with direct knowledge of Machado's thinking that he plans to choose the team that makes the highest offer.

In most cases, this would be about as stunning as "Source: Sun will set this evening."

The Yankees have some more moves to make this offseason, which still includes trading Sonny Gray. 

Per Fancred's Jon Heyman, things are "ramping up" in talks centering around Gray since CC Sabathia was given clearance to pitch. 

Heyman reports at least six teams are interested in the right-hander, which includes the Reds, Padres, Brewers, A's, Mariners and Braves. 

With the addition of DJ LeMahieu, the Yankees now have two of the Top 10 second basemen in baseball -- at least according to MLB Network's Top 10 Second Basemen Right Now! show.

Gleyber Torres (No. 8) and LeMahieu (No. 10) made the list.

The full list, in order...

With the deadline for teams to exchange numbers with players who are arbitration-eligible passed on Friday, the Yankees had nine players to strike deals with. And all but one settled.

Yankees RHP Luis Severino will enter arbitration as both sides couldn't come to terms. Severino, who made $604,975 last season, is projected to make $5.1 million in arbitration. But Severino didn't help himself with a rough second half of his 2018 season.

This will be Severino's first year in arbitration, so the process will be new to him. It also may be new to some Yankees fans depending on if you followed Dellin Betances' rough hearing back in 2017. 

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives: The Yankees came to an agreement with a Gold Glove infielder Friday afternoon, but it wasn't Manny Machado.

The Yankees appear to have strayed even further away from Machado, agreeing to a two-year, $24 million contract with DJ LeMahieu according to reports and confirmed by SNYtv's Andy Martino.

LeMahieu, 30, is contact hitter who owns a career .298 avereage with a .350 on-base percentage and .406 slugging percentage. LeMahieu does possess home/road splits that favor hitter friendly Coors Field, but his approach at the plate could still translate well in New York.

Friday is the deadline for teams to exchange numbers with players who are arbitration-eligible. If a deal is not agreed upon they must schedule a hearing next month in front of a panel of arbitrators to determine that player's salary for the 2019 season. 

Teams that do not reach deals could still negotiate up until the hearing date on a one-year contract or multi-year extension. 

The Yankees are close to signing another infielder: D.J. LeMahieu. 

SNY's Andy Martino has confirmed that LeMahieu has agreed to a two-year deal with the Yankees, pending physical. 

The deal for the infielder likely pulls the Yankees out of the Manny Machado sweepstakes, but Martino reports that is not a certainty, yet. 

The Yankees announced they re-signed LHP Zach Britton to a three-year, $39 million deal with a team option that also includes an opt-out clause.

New York must exercise or decline its fourth-year option for the 2022 season after the second season of Britton's contract. If the Yankees decline Britton's fourth-year team option, then Britton has the ability to opt out and become a free agent prior to the 2021 season.

Britton will earn $13 million in each of the first three years of his contract. The fourth-year team option is worth $14 million.

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter | It's come to this: The final lingering hope for Yankee fans who want free agent Manny Machado is that Brian Cashman will pull one of his stealth strikes, swoop in with a late offer and shock us all with news out of nowhere.

At this point, that's probably the only way Machado becomes a Yankee.

The Yanks haven't engaged Machado's camp much in the new year, according to multiple major league sources. Plus, they haven't made an offer yet. Plus, they signed another guy and told him that he was their shortstop. Plus, as we reported way back in October, they've been lukewarm in Machado's free agency all along...

The Yankees, clearly in need of outside help in order to add more stars to their payroll, can thank one fan for helping them raise (so far) $87 toward a $300 million goal to help them sign free agent Manny Machado. 

Joshua Anderson started the GoFundMe page on Jan. 9 with the hope that the Yanks -- who are not the favorites to snag Machado -- will get him. 

"Help Hal Steinbrenner sign Manny Machado," the page reads up top, followed by this blurb...

The Yankees have reached the offseason many believed would see them make monumental moves that push them to the head of the pack in the American League as they aim for a 28th World Series title.

Here is an update of rumors surrounding the Yankees' pursuits, followed by my take on how things currently stand and may shake out…

Is Machado off the board?

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives

All along, attached speculation to the Yankees potential signing of Manny Machado has come with Miguel Andujar enduring the largest impact of the move - a trade out of New York.

However, there is a distinct chance that the Yankees hold onto Andujar - at least in the short term - should they sign Machado and consequently unavoidable fallout to the rest of the roster. The Yankees will not trade Andujar for just anyone. The starting pitchers worth Andujar's talent might not necessarily be available in trade and certain clubs may not be willing to deal with New York.

Keeping Andujar presents some issues (not all necessarily bad) for the Yankees.

As everyone awaits if Manny Machado will sign with the Yankees, or elsewhere, perhaps the Bombers are no longer the big-spending behemoth they once were. 

According to the final MLB spending figures obtained by The Associated Press for 2018, the Yankees had the sixth-highest payroll in the leauge at $182.7 million.

It marked a significant decrease of more than $25 million from the 2017 season and was their smallest payroll figure since 2003. 

The Yankees received some good news about LHP CC Sabathia.

Sabathia, who underwent a heart procedure last month, passed a follow-up stress test on Tuesday. Now, the veteran is allowed to work out, which includes baseball activities. 

Yankees GM Brian Cashman said during a conference call last week that he has been waiting to deal RHP Sonny Gray until he was sure Sabathia would be healthy enough to play next season. With Sabathia just getting back on the grind, Cashman may not be too hasty in sparking a trade for Gray, but it wouldn't be a surprise to hear talks have ramped up again.

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

The theme of this Yankees' offseason is finding ways to close the gap on the Red Sox, and there's no denying the rivals to the north established a clear level of superiority last season.

Yet it's plausible to make the case that, at least for the moment, the Yankees have opened an important gap of their own over the Sox. Right now, in fact, they own a Patriots vs. Jets-like advantage in the bullpen, if I can extend the New York-Boston angle to make a point.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman has said Troy Tulowitzki is the starting shortstop but it would also not take them out of the Manny Machado sweepstakes. 

Tulowitzki said he joined the Yankees because he could continue to play shortstop, so what would happen if Machado, who prefers shortstop over third base, signs with the Bombers?

Well, it would be "awesome," according to Tulowitzki. 

Troy Tulowitzki garnered interest from 16 teams following a workout in front of scouts in December, but the veteran shortstop ultimately chose the Yankees. 

Tulowitzki said it was simple: He wanted to play shortstop and play for a contender. 

The 34-year-old explained his reasoning during a conference call on Monday and said the Yankees offered him both of those opportunities, despite the team's pursuit of free-agent Manny Machado and expection for Didi Gregorius to return the second half of the season from Tommy John surgery. 

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives: The Yankees should be pursuing the likes of Manny Machado, but the hole in the bullpen was much larger than the need for a $30 million per season position player.

As such, the Yankees sought out a familiar face in left-handed reliever Zach Britton to seal the gap, laying out a guaranteed $39 million for three years. The agreement has a fourth year option for $14 million that the Yanks can exercise after year two of the deal. If the Yankees decide not to grant the option, Britton has the ability to opt out of the deal. If neither happens, Britton sticks around for the third year.

Either way, the Yankees, who are being criticized by some for their lack of spending, are sinking significant cash into a set-up reliever and there's a reason for that.

Zach Britton will don pinstripes once again.

The lefthander has reportedly agreed to a three-year deal worth $39 million guaranteed; the contract includes an opt out and club option for a fourth season.

A source told SNY's Andy Martino earlier Saturday night that Britton was close to a deal with the Bombers.

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives

The Yankees have reached the offseason many believed would see them make monumental moves that push them back to the head of the pack in the American League as they aim for a 28th World Series title. 

Here is an update of rumors surrounding the Yankees pursuits, followed by my take on how things currently stand and may shake out...

Yankees GM Brian Cashman declared back at the GM Meetings that he was working hard to ship beleaguered RHP Sonny Gray out of the Bronx via trade before Spring Training begins. 

Well, things might have changed on that front. 

Last month, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal broke the news that Yankees veteran LHP CC Sabathia needed a heart procedure known as an angioplasty to fix a blocked artery. The surgery went as expected, and Sabathia was said to be ready by the time Spring Training came around. 

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter | : Troy Tulowitzki signed with the Yankees to be the starting shortstop until Didi Gregorius returns, meaning that Manny Machado almost certainly will not be able to play his favorite position in New York.

According to people with direct knowledge of negotiations, Tulowitzki was only talking with teams that were willing to offer him a starting job. That list included the Cubs and Pirates, as SNY reported earlier on Friday.

If the Yankees do sign Machado, it would only be to play third base, where he is an elite defender. But Machado has repeatedly expressed a preference to play short. He will have to compromise if he wants to be a Yankee.

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter | 

The Yankees remain silent about their pursuit of Manny Machado, and the baseball world is left to guess where the star free agent will ultimately sign. But, as we've previously reported, their interest in the player appears lukewarm. They might land him, but they don't exactly seem thrilled about the possibility.

And now, new information about Troy Tulowitzki's decision to sign with the Yanks makes you wonder again if Machado will indeed choose another team.

Consider this:

The Yankees officially announced the signing of free-agent SS Troy Tulowitzki to a one-year deal on Friday.

As the Bronx Bombers continue to wait on the decision of free agent Manny Machado, Tulowitzki will join the Yankees on a league minimum contract -- $555,000 -- after he was released by the Blue Jays, who will pay the remaining $20 million owed to him this year, earlier this offseason. 

The Yankees will likely insert Tulowitzki in at shortstop while Didi Gregorius recovers from Tommy John surgery. 

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives

The Yankees have reached the offseason many believed would see them make monumental moves that push them back to the head of the pack in the American League as they aim for a 28th World Series title. 

Here is an update of rumors surrounding the Yankees pursuits, followed by my take on how things currently stand and may shake out.

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

The market for relievers is beginning to move, and the Yankees appear poised to make a move.

Earlier on Thursday, agents began to say that they were getting close to accepting deals, even if the offers were for shorter terms than expected...

David Robertson's second stint with the Yankees is officially over. 

The free agent reliever agreed to a deal with the Phillies on Thursday, per ESPN's Jeff Passan. 

Robertson, 33, agreed to a two-year deal guaranteed at least $23 million, per MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. He will earn $10 million in 2019, $11 million in 2020 with a $12 million club option (with a $2 million buyout) for 2021. 

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives

The Yankees have reached the offseason many believed would see them make monumental moves that push them back to the head of the pack in the American League as they aim for a 28th World Series title. 

Here is an update of rumors surrounding the Yankees pursuits, followed by my take on how things currently stand and may shake out.

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter | : All through the offseason, the Yankees' stance on Manny Machado has remained the same: They like the player, but won't go crazy for him, especially after a troubling postseason that raised serious questions about his on-field maturity. They believe they can assemble a championship-caliber team with or without him, and they do not expect to be the highest bidder.

By staying consistent in this stance, the team now finds itself in strong position because it's easier to win a negotiation when you are sincerely willing to walk away.

The guess here -- and really, it's just speculation because neither Machado nor his agent, Dan Lozano, has telegraphed his intentions to anyone in the media, as far as we can tell -- is that the Yankees will ultimately land him. Just call it a vibe we're catching.

Times Square isn't the only place where the ball drops around here. Difference is, when it happens in the stadiums and playing fields of New York, with pigskin and horsehide instead of the 12-foot diameter geodesic sphere plummeting on New Year's Eve, you're not always looking to celebrate afterward.

There have been some notorious "drops" in NYC sports history, moments that have helped derail championship hopes, besmirched reps and provided endless video low lights for the type of person who can't look away from a wreck.

In some cases, one New York team has benefited from another's folly -- Luis Castillo's drop, anyone? In others, it's been nothing but heartbreak.

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives

It's that time once again to pledge changes in our lives that are sure to be broken within a week. I took a stab at 2019 New Year's resolutions for key Yankees (including some staff) on an indi-vidual basis. The list is taken alphabetically.

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives

The Yankees have reached the offseason many believed would see them make monumental moves that push them back to the head of the pack in the American League as they aim for a 28th World Series title. 

Here is an update of rumors surrounding the Yankees pursuits, followed by my take on how things currently stand and may shake out…

Yankees working on bullpen market

As the Yankees await a decision from Manny Machado, the club is reportedly working on revamping its bullpen according to a tweet from Jon Heyman.

One Yankees fan is about to be disappointed. 

Bryce Harper has long been coveted by Yankees fans and while the team has indicated it is not pursuing him this offseason (although they're a fully functioning Death Star, as Brian Cashman noted) some are still holding out hope that the slugger will don pinstripes. 

One fan, a waiter and Bronx native, must have thought he unearthed the ultimate scoop this week when a patron he mistook for Harper told him he was signing with the Yankees

Yankees GM Brian Cashman said this offseason one of his priorities was to trade RHP Sonny Gray, and one team that has reportedly showed continued interest is the Milwaukee Brewers.

Milwaukee has "remained prominent" in trade discussions regarding Gray, according to Fox Sports' Jon Morosi, after the Winter Meetings ended, while the Cincinnati Reds, who have since acquired pitchers Tanner Roark and Alex Wood, have slowed their interest.

Cashman said at the Winter Meetings that 11 different teams have expressed interest in Gray, a 29-year-old starter who was relegated to the bullpen in 2018 after his immense struggles on the mound.

The Red Sox and White Sox are among the teams showing "continued interest" in Yankees free agent target Adam Ottavino, reports Jon Morosi of MLB.com, who says the Rockies are open to re-signing Ottavino.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman met with Ottavino's representatives earlier in December, with Joel Sherman of the New York Post reporting at the time that Ottavino was high on New York's wish list. 

The 33-year-old reliever is coming off the best season of his career. He had a 2.43 ERA (2.74 FIP) and 0.99 WHIP while striking out 112 batters (13.0 per 9) in 77.2 innings for the Rockies.

Christmas lasted an extra day for the Yankees in 1919.

On Dec. 26 of that year, the Bombers bought Babe Ruth's contract from the Red Sox for $100,000, a transaction that, like Ruth himself, has gained legendary status. 

The deal, perhaps the most lopsided in sports history, saw the best player in baseball at the time (and arguably ever) on a successful franchise go to a club that hadn't yet won a title.