The Yankees are in pursuit of free agent Gerrit Cole. Here's the latest...

Dec. 5, 8:17 PM:

ESPN's Jeff Passan has reported that not only have the Yankees made signing Cole their top priority, which SNY's Andy Martino has previously noted, but that the team now has "ownership-level approval to offer him a record deal."

On Thursday during his R2C2 podcast, former Yankee CC Sabathia got very heated when talking about the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal.

"It just sucks that it happened," Sabathia said. "I knew those m-----f------ didn't beat us fair and square. I knew were better than them, man! F---!"

Sabathia would go on to say, "That organization, man, they need to fire everybody. Jeez!"

Former Yankees All-Star pitcher Andy Pettitte was part of the team's contigent that sat down to meet with free agent pitchers Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg, according to ESPN's Buster Olney and the New York Post's Joel Sherman.

Using Pettitte to help recruit Cole to the Yankees makes plenty of sense, as Pettitte played three seasons for the Astros, where Cole pitched the last two years.

Pettitte and the Yankees met with Strasburg in a hotel near agent Scott Boras' office in Newport Beach, CA. Yankees GM Brian Cashman, manager Aaron Boone, and new pitching coach Matt Blake were also in attendance for the meeting.

As the Yankees focus their efforts on landing free agents Gerrit Cole or Stephen Strasburg, they remain optimistic about a reunion with outfielder Brett Gardner, reports SNY's Andy Martino.

Martino notes that the Gardner situation could potentially resolve when the Yankees' payroll situation is clearer.

In November, Yankees GM Brian Cashman was open about the team's desire to have Gardner back, and wouldn't say whether he felt it would take more than a one-year deal to get it done.

According to a report, the Yankees met with free agent right-hander Stephen Strasburg on Wednesday.

MLB.com's Mark Feinsand has reported that the meeting between the two sides went well, and that while the Yankees tried to sell the righty on their organization and the New York market, exact dollars were not discussed.

The Bombers have also met with Gerrit Cole, with Jon Heyman reporting that the two sides had a "very nice" first meeting. 

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

The Yankees liked Zack Wheeler, and they like Madison Bumgarner well enough.

But in the wake of Wheeler's five year, $118 million agreement with the Phillies -- and in the face of an intensifying market for Bumgarner -- it is clearer than ever that the team's square focus is on the two big fish, Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg.

Of the two, Cole is the primary target, but the Yanks consider Strasburg elite, too. And that's the entire list of elite starters available via free agency. Bumgarner is no longer in that top tier.

The Astros' sign-stealing scandal has been one of MLB's top stories this offseason, and it doesn't help that most of the case studies have been seen during Yankees games. 

Well, a current Yankee decided to troll the Astros during his Call of Duty live stream on Tuesday night. 

Clint Frazier, who was playing the video game with Giants rookie QB Daniel Jones, was having his player make a gesture towards trash cans in the game to mock the Astros' system of hitting a trash can in the clubhouse to let hitters know what pitch was coming. Check it out:

The Yankees are interested in signing free agent starting pitcher Zack Wheeler. Here's the latest...

Dec. 4, 2:21 PM:

SNY's Andy Martino has reported that Wheeler has reached an agreement with the Phillies. Many were getting the feeling that Wheeler's market was heating up to the highest degree before Winter Meetings, and that's exactly what happened as he joins the Mets' NL East rival. 

Martino adds that the official deal is five years, worth $118 million over that span. So the Yankees have one top pitching target off the board, and now crunch time begins.

As Didi Gregorius hit the open market, the Phillies were instantly mentioned among the teams interested in adding the veteran shortstop.

Now, Philadelphia has allowed two of their infielder mainstays to become free agents, and their manager - former Yankees skipper Joe Girardi - has gone on the record about how much he likes Gregorius as a player. 

"He's a real character guy and he's a real hard worker who is a really important clubhouse presence," Girardi told reporters in Philadelphia on Tuesday. "I felt that he was important to the clubhouse in New York and what he brought every day. 

"I've always been a big fan of Didi and what he's been able to accomplish."

CC Sabathia knows exactly what it feels like for a pitcher to sign a massive contract with the Yankees. 

The left-hander did that very thing on December 18, 2008, inking a seven-year, $161 million deal with the Bombers.

Now officially retired, Sabathia knows that the Yankees are likely to pull out all the stops to try to sign Gerrit Cole or Stephen Strasburg.

All 32 MLB teams had to tender contracts to their arbitration-eligible players by 8 p.m. on Monday, or they would officially hit the free agent market for anyone's bidding. 

The Yankees tendered contracts to all of their specified players, but they could be in the hunt for some players that didn't see a contract from their now former team. 

Here's who could interest the Yankees on the free agent market...

The Yankees will be sitting down with free agent right-hander Stephen Strasburg on Wednesday, reports Jon Heyman.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported on Monday that in addition to Strasburg, the Yankees will also meet with Gerrit Cole.

According to Rosenthal, Strasburg and Cole -- who are both represented by Scott Boras -- have been meeting with interested teams in California.

"We're going to talk to Strasburg. We're going to talk to Cole," Yankees GM Brian Cashman said earlier this offseason. "We're going to talk to the higher-end guys and talk to some surprise guys I'm sure. It's hard to predict, but obviously anybody would have interest in players like that."

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Since the beginning of the offseason, the Yankees have made Gerrit Cole their top free agent target, without knowing if Cole wants to play closer to his West Coast roots.

While many in the industry believe that Cole prefers California, the Yankees don't have any information to that effect from the agent, Scott Boras, or the player. They are left to prepare to meet with Cole this week, as The Athletic first reported they would.

According to people familiar with the Yankees' thinking, the team is trying to balance the Cole pursuit with engagement in at least two other free agent starting pitchers, Madison Bumgarner and Zack Wheeler. They see flaws and concerns with both, but they see upside, too, and will stay engaged.

The Yankees have tendered contracts to all 12 arbitration-eligible players this offseason, with James Paxton, Aaron Judge, and Gary Sanchez the biggest names in that group. 

Once a player is offered arbitration, the team and that player's agent have until a set date -- usually at some point in February -- to come to terms on a new contract. If that doesn't happen, both sides submit salary proposals and the player's salary is determined at a hearing by independent arbitrators. 

According to MLB Trade Rumors, here's what the Yankees' arbitration-eligible players are projected to make in 2020...

The Athetics non-tendered RHP Blake Treinen on Monday, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. 

On Friday, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported that the A's were listening to offers on the 31-year-old reliever, and that the Yankees were one of the teams inquiring about him. The Yankees were one of several teams approached by the A's regarding Treinen, but Oakland was unable to find a trade partner, according to SNY's Andy Martino.

The previously arbitration-eligible Treinen will now cost the Yankees only money should they stil be interested in acquiring him.

The Reds ignited the Hot Stove on Monday by signing Mike Moustakas to a four-year, $64 million dollar contract. Moustakas is expected to play second base for Cincinnati, who non-tendered infielder Jose Peraza earlier in the day.

The Reds had been named as a potential suitor for Didi Gregorius, who is also a free agent after playing the last five seasons for the Yankees. How Moustakas' signing affects their chances of landing the 29-year-old. 

With Peraza no longer on the roster, that removes him as a potential replacement for Jose Iglesias, a free agent who played 144 games at shortstop for the Reds last season. The team also claimed Freddy Galvis off waivers from Toronto in August and have him under contract for 2020, as well. 

After the Rangers reportedly agreed to a three-year deal worth $30 million with RHP Kyle Gibson last Wednesday, a Sunday report suggested that Texas has interest in New York Yankees 3B Miguel Andujar.

The Rangers are "definitely intrigued" by the idea of a trade for Andujar, according to MLB.com beat writer T.R. Sullivan, with the need for a replacement at the hot corner evident.

Adrian Beltre retired from MLB after 21 seasons Nov. 20, 2018, following nine years with the Rangers and leaving Texas in need of a long-term option after releasing starter Asdrubal Cabrera Aug. 4.

Whether or not the Yankees re-sign RHP Dellin Betances and C Austin Romine remains to be seen, but the Phillies reportedly could make a move for the duo.

Philadelphia, which hired former New York manager Joe Girardi (2008-17) Oct. 24, has interest in Betances and Romine, according to a report published Friday by George A. King III of the New York Post.

The Phillies have also been tied to SS Didi Gregorius, who is set for free agency after the Yankees did not extend a qualifying offer Nov. 4.

As the Yankees look to upgrade their roster in the offseason, one move they addition New York now is reportedly considering comes from the bullpen.

After the Athletics traded RHP Jharel Cotton to the Chicago Cubs last Saturday for cash considerations, Oakland is reportedly listening on offers for three other players.

One of the available chips is RHP Blake Treinen, with the Yankees among the teams that are expressing interest, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

In honor of Black Friday, where the lure of bargains convinces otherwise rational people to navigate the madness of overcrowded shopping, here's a list of free agents on which you won't find Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg, or Anthony Rendon.
 
No, this isn't the big-ticket aisle but more of a discount store for players who could provide the best bang for the buck. 

In some cases that means gambling on bounce-back seasons for players who were dealing with injuries, in others it means settling for an under-the-radar level of performance and certainty.

Anthony McCarron, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Chew on this while you chew on a turkey leg. 

We know you're not supposed to bring up politics or religion at Thanksgiving Dinner. But what about predictions for Major League Baseball free agency? 

Even your eccentric uncle likes those tasty morsels.

The Yankees announced Wednesday that 1B Greg Bird has decided to elect free agency instead of accepting his assingment to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. 

Bird has been playing in the Dominican Winter League at the moment, preparing for next season. However, the Yankees made the move to designate him for assignment along with the release of Jacoby Ellsbury in a move that freed a couple spots on the 40-man roster to keep prospects. 

For the Yankees, it's most likely hard to see Bird go despite his lack of production over his career. He was a top prospect at one point, with a bright future as the Yankees' franchise first baseman ahead of him in many eyes. However, injuries hindered his time on the field, and ultimately his spot on the team. 

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Imagine if you took the virtually unprecedented step of initiating a partial rebuild in the Bronx, trading major league players for prospects. Then you resisted all temptation to move your own young players.

You cultivated a core of homegrown stars, and they started winning. You did what a responsible team is supposed to do … and then you found yourself defeated in the postseason twice by a team caught in the worst cheating scandal the game has seen in more than a decade.

You would probably feel like you got screwed by an opponent acting in bad faith, and that you had lost opportunities you could never get back.

Starting pitching is the obvious priority for the Yankees this offseason, but shoring up the bullpen also seems to be on GM Brian Cashman's list. 

According to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, the Yankees are reportedly among those intersted in trading with the Royals for reliever LHP Tim Hill. Feinsand says the Yanks are "chief among the suitors."

The 29-year-old debuted for the Royals in 2018, where he had a 4.53 ERA over 45.2 innings pitched (70 games). He improved in 2019 with a 3.63 ERA over 39.2 innings (46 games). 

The Yankees have traded left-handed pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr. to the Seattle Mariners on Monday, the team announced. 

The 24-year-old netted the Yankees international signing bonus pool money in the deal. 

Cortes was a Rule 5 Draft acquisition from the Baltimore Orioles after the Yanks selected him in the 36th round of the 2013 MLB draft. In his lone season with the Yankees, he made 33 appearances for often banged up Bronx Bombers. He recorded a 5.67 ERA in those outings. 

Voting is underway for the first-ever All-MLB team, and there are five Yankees on the ballot -- Gleyber Torres, DJ LeMahieu, Aroldis Chapman, Gary Sanchez, and Edwin Encarnacion.

There will be an All-MLB first team and All-MLB second team, and the teams will not be broken up by league. Those teams will be determined by taking into account the fan vote (50 percent) and the voting of a panel of experts (50 percent).

Voting runs through Dec. 3 (there are 60 position player candidates and 30 pitching candidates) and the teams will be announced at the Winter Meetings on Dec. 10.

Torres is among eight options at shortstop, LeMahieu is among six options at second base, Chapman is among 11 options at reliever, Sanchez is among seven options at catcher, and Encarnacion is among five options at DH.

The Yankees have hired Rachel Balkovec as a minor league hitting coach, the New York Times reported on Friday. Balkovec, who signed a contract earlier this month, is believed to be the first woman to serve as a full-time hitting coach in the history of professional baseball.

Balkovec, 32, has an impressive resume and has already broken barriers as a woman looking to move through the coaching ranks. After playing softball collegiately at both Creighton University and the University of New Mexico, she's worked in both the Cardinals and Astros organizations. 

In 2014 and 2015, she was the Cardinals minor league strength and conditioning coordinator, the first woman in affiliated baseball to hold a full-time position in that role, as well. 

The Yankees made a move to potentially improve their outfield depth on Friday evening.

According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the Yankees have signed outfielder Zack Granite to a minor-league deal that includes an invite to spring training.

Granite, a Staten Island native and former Seton Hall Pirate, was originally a 14th round pick of the Twins in the 2013 amateur draft. The left-handed-hitting outfielder made his MLB debut for Minnesota on July 8, 2017 and went on to play 40 games for the Twins that year. A .237 hitter, Granite hit one home run and drove in 13 runs that season. 

It seems one-time Yankees manager Joe Girardi is interested in one of his former players, as the Phillies have emerged as suitors for free agent Didi Gregorius, it was reported by MLB Network's Jon Morosi.

Girardi managed Gregorius during the shortstop's first three seasons in New York from 2015-2017. Girardi was named the new manager of the Phillies earlier this offseason.

With the idea of bringing in Gregorius, current Phillies shortstop Jean Segura would either move to a different position or even potentially be traded if a deal were to happen.

After being released by the Yankees on Wednesday, Jacoby Ellsbury was expected to receive the remaining $26 million left on his deal, but that might not be the case.

According to The New York Post, the Yankees will try to get back the money that they owe Ellsbury by filing a paperwork on Friday against him ,because he used an outside facility that the team did not approve of while rehabbing the injuries that kept him off the field since 2017.

Ellsbury has missed the last two seasons with multiple injuries, which included requiring hip surgery in August of 2018.

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

After signing catcher Yasmani Grandal on Wednesday, the White Sox are expected to pursue free agent pitcher Zack Wheeler, according to major league sources.

Wheeler, who has spent his entire big league career with the Mets, is also on the Yankees radar -- though the team seems initially lukewarm on him, at least compared to the big prize of the pitching market, Gerrit Cole.

There is reportedly a proposal under consideration by Major League Baseball that would eliminate roughly 40 minor league teams after the 2020 season, with the logic being that the elimination of those teams would lead to improvements -- including regarding ballparks -- throughout the minors.

If the proposal, first reported by Baseball America, comes to fruition, the number of minor league teams affiliated with Major League Baseball would drop from 160 to roughly 120. 

One of the teams that could be impacted is the Staten Island Yankees, currently the Yankees' Short-Season A-ball affiliate, and team president Randy Levine released a statement Thursday.

The Yankees announced a slew of moves Wednesday night, as the upcoming Rule 5 Draft made them switch up their 40-man roster to protect valuable assets within the organization. And as a result, veteran OF Jacoby Ellsbury was released by the team. 

With the move, Ellsbury's rough tenure with the Yankees officially comes to an end, as he had trouble coming back from injuries that included his oblique, back and hip. He needed surgery to repair his hip in 2018 and has been rehabbing since. 

But these injuries won't deter Ellsbury from returning. Just because the Yankees let him go doesn't mean the 36-year-old's career is over. 

The Yankees made the move to protect seven prospects and avoid December's Rule 5 Draft by adding them to their 40-man roster ahead of Wednesday's 8 p.m. ET deadline.

New York added OF Estevian Florial, RHP Deivi Garcia, RHP Luis Gil, RHP Brooks Kriske, RHP Luis Medina, RHP Nick Nelson and RHP Miguel Yajure to its MLB roster.

As corresponding moves, it released OF Jacoby Ellsbury while designating 1B Greg Bird and LHP Nestor Cortes for assignment.

Before the 8 p.m. ET deadline Wednesday for the Yankees' 40-man roster, New York made two major moves to create room.

The Yankees released center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury and designated first baseman Greg Bird for assignment.

New York also designated left-handed pitcher Nestor Cortes while adding outfielder Estevian Florial and right-handed pitcher Deivi Garcia, among seven additions to the 40-man roster.

Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Brian Cashman has made it known that the Yankees will be pursuing Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg this offseason. But landing either of them could be an uphill climb.

There is no mandate for the Yanks to get under the $208 million luxury tax threshold, so they should conceivably be able to outbid any team for Cole or Strasburg. But will that matter? Cole is rumored to prefer a team on the West Coast and the Nationals are expected to aggressively move on trying to retain Strasburg. 

Perhaps money conquers all and the Yankees get their man. But if they don't -- and they still want to add a pitcher with ace-level upside -- they'll need to have fallback options. Here they are, ranked...

Anthony McCarron, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Let's get this out of the way early: Derek Jeter should be elected unanimously to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Duh. 

Will he get 100 percent of the vote of the Baseball Writers Association of America in this election cycle? Well, that's one of the biggest questions this voting season, and it'll be a talking point until the Class of 2020 is announced Jan. 21. 

Does it really matter? Of course not. He's getting in next year, whether everyone votes for him or a few sit back and make him pay some sort of absurd "first-ballot tax" because he might not have had the same kind of monster career as, say, Hank Aaron. Or if they despise his fielding because the new defensive metrics weren't in love with the Yankee star. 

Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Most experts view the Yankees' farm system overall as middle of the pack, with many of their most exciting prospects -- including 16-year-old wunderkind Jasson Dominguez -- in the lower levels.

But the Yanks have a handful of prospects who could potentially make an impact during the 2020 season, including their No. 1 overall prospect.

Deivi Garcia, RHP

The diminutive Garcia (he's just 5'9") took the minors by storm in 2019, striking out 120 batters in just 71.1 innings as he stormed through High-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton and his name began to surface in rumors as a potential headline piece for an impact pitcher at the trade deadline.

The 2020 National Baseball Hall of Fame ballot has been released, and "The Captain" has made it. 

Derek Jeter highlights the multiple Yankees that are up for election, and it is safe to say he should be a first-ballot inductee. The real question is whether or not he'll join Mariano Rivera as a unanimous selection, after the legendary closer became the first member to be inducted with 100 percent of the vote. 

Playing all 20 seasons in pinstripes, Jeter was a 14-time All-Star that had a career .310/.377/.440 slashline with 3,465 hits -- the most in Yankee history. He collected the Rookie of the Year award in 1996 and his stardom only rose since then. Jeter also has the hardware with five World Series rings, while being named the World Series MVP in the 2000 Subway Series. 

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Brian Cashman said last week he has received numerous inquiries from teams about trading Miguel Andujar, and while Gio Urshela's emergence makes that idea tempting for the Yankees, the pros and cons of it lean toward such extremes that finding the right deal could be difficult.

Consider, for example, these contrasting points of view from two scouts I talked to this weekend:

"Andujar's ceiling as a hitter is so high that I'm not sure the Yankees could get anywhere near the value they should for him," one scout said. "He's got an innate ability to make contact, square the ball up and hit it hard, which everybody saw in his rookie year, and he'll only get better as he continues to see major-league pitching."

After the Yankees asked Major League Baseball to investigate the Houston Astros for whistling to convey signs in this year's American League Championship Series, the league announced that it found no evidence of wrongdoing, and left it at that.

As it turns out, the reality of the situation was a bit more complex.

A league official sitting on the dugout level did not report whistling. But when MLB reviewed video of Game 1 in Houston, officials did hear frequent loud whistling on the footage, sources told SNY. However, the league could not conclusively determine if the sounds were coming from the Astros dugout or the crowd.

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

During the first game of this year's American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park, as the Yankees started jawing at the Houston dugout about sign stealing, Astros hitting coach Alex Cintron raised his middle finger and directed the gesture toward the opposing bench.

This infuriated New York's third base coach Phil Nevin, who yelled at Astros third baseman Alex Bregman, "Tell your f--king hitting coach I'm going to kick his f--king ass."

Managers A.J. Hinch and Aaron Boone also exchanged words, and the Yankees ultimately asked Major League Baseball to investigate the Astros for using whistling to convey pitches to their hitters (MLB said they found no evidence of wrongdoing in that instance).

Anthony McCarron, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Tino Martinez can't believe it, either.

The former Yankees great is as perplexed by the club's recent championship drought as some of the Bronx Bombers' most ardent fans.

Much of the focus of the Yankees' offseason has been on their pursuit of Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg, but they also have big decisions to make on three of their own free agents.

Didi Gregorius (who the team did not extend a qualifying offer to), Brett Gardner, and Dellin Betances are all free to walk. And GM Brian Cashman doesn't seem ready to let all of them go.

Gregorius and Betances have the same agent, and Cashman said Thursday that the two sides sat down at the GM Meetings in Scottsdale, Ariz. to talk about Gregorius, with Betances "also in that conversation."

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

So Theo Epstein is open for business, seemingly determined to shake up a roster that has fallen short of expectations since the Cubs' curse-busting championship in 2016.

He told reporters at the GM Meeting in Arizona this week that "change is not always easy but it's necessary," and declared "there are no untouchables" when it comes to the possibility of a trade this offseason.

Yes, with his once-youthful core of position players now speeding toward free agency, and a payroll that went over the luxury-tax threshold this season, Epstein apparently is ready to consider any and all deals that could save the Cubs some money while still giving them a shot in 2020 at another championship.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman updated the team's pursuit of free agents Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg on Thursday night, and detailed his approach when it comes to how the Yanks hope to attract their targets to the Bronx.

"Everything we're getting right now is information, we're either providing (or) expressing interest," Cashman said while preparing to sleep outside Yankee Stadium to bring attention to Covenant House. "You get some definition of -- depending on the agent -- of what might be."

But it's so early in the process in my conversations with personnel that obviously, clearly, the bigger the name -- and they've earned the right -- the bigger the contract, the bigger the expectation, the bigger the money. There's gonna be some opportunities for people to take advantage of their great performance, obviously, in this marketplace. And they're gonna come out really well."

Cashman said on Monday at the GM meetings that the Yanks would pursue Cole and Strasburg, adding on Tuesday that he has "no mandate" from ownership to get under the $208 million luxury tax threshold.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman talks about his ninth sleep-out with the Covenant House.

Cashman has been on the Covenant House Board since 2011, mentioning that this is the foundation's largest fundraiser every year.

Anthony McCarron, SNY.tv | Twitter |

While Joe Torre says he won't be involved in Major League Baseball's investigation into the Astros, the league's chief baseball officer has no problem offering his strong opinion on the accusations that Houston used technology, including cameras, to steal signs during their 2017 World Series run:

"It's disturbing to me, I don't think there's any secret," Torre said Thursday evening. "Sign stealing has always been a part of our game, but in the legitimate way - you get to second base and if you see something the catcher is doing, you try to let the hitter know."

On Thursday night, Joe Torre was in attendance for his Safe At Home annual gala.

The former Yankees and Mets manager, and now Chief Baseball Officer for all of Major League Baseball, was asked to weigh in on the current sign-stealing accusations against the Astros, and while Torre oversees league operations and on-field discipline, he said that this topic doesn't fall under his umbrella. 

"That's the other side of the office, and I'm not copping a plea, but it's disturbing to me," Torre said. "I don't think there's any secret. Sign-stealing has always been a part of our game, but in the legitimate way. If you're at second base and you see something the catcher's doing, you try to let the hitter know." 

"But to use the technology, which you can't get away from, to get a leg up, I always want the ability on the field to determine who the winner is. I just don't think it's a level playing field and it's not good for our game."