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

As spring training approaches, there are still some roster decisions in front of the Yankees as they try to push to the head of the pack in the American League in the chase 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 | Free agent infielder Manny Machado has met in recent days with at least one unidentified suitor, according to major league sources.

There are at least two mystery teams pursuing Machado, in addition to the Phillies and White Sox.

Additionally, the Yankees have kept an open line of communication with Machado's camp, even after signing infielder D.J. LeMahieu, sources say

With the Yankees'potential interest in Nolan Arenado over Manny Machado, as reported by SNY's Andy Martino, it begs the question: which third baseman would you rather have?

Arenado and Machado are both similar players, and the Yankees also have a pretty good up-and-coming third baseman already on their roster in Miguel Andujar. 

Let's break it down:

The Yankees appear to be getting closer to trading Sonny Gray. 

The Reds are "making progress" on acquiring the right-hander, SNYtv's Andy Martino confirmed. The Giants and Padres are also talking to the Yankees about Gray. 

Fancred's Jon Heyman reports that the deal could be made for two prospects and a draft pick by the end of the weekend and that either second base prospect Shed Long or catching prospect Tyler Stephenson could be involved. 

When Troy Tulowitzki was released by the Blue Jays back in December, it appeared his MLB career was coming to a close. He hadn't seen a diamond in the bigs since July, 28, 2017, as recovery from heel surgery wasn't the eight weeks the Blue Jays thought it would be.  

But then there was his open showcase at Long Beach State in December that changed that narrative.

Being a five-time All-Star normally piques the interest of MLB front offices, but Tulowitzki's workout at his alma mater opened some eyes to the point where offers were put on the table. And Long Beach State head coach Troy Buckley, who helped conduct the workout, knows exactly why.

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. 18, 10:20 PM:

Machado met personally with at least one of the unidentified teams in recent days, reports SNYtv's Andy Martino. The All-Star will go to the highest bidder, period, says Martino. 

Anthony McCarron, SNY.tv | Twitter | : Mel Zitter is already thinking about summer nights at Yankee Stadium, watching two of his former pupils working in the bullpen, wearing pinstripes.

"That's going to be a trip," Zitter says, chuckling.

It should be a point of pride for Zitter, since he runs Youth Service, the Brooklyn sandlot club that new Yankee teammates Dellin Betances and Adam Ottavino both pitched for in the mid-2000s.

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter | Maybe Alex Cora was simply playing to the crowd at the Boston baseball writers' dinner Thursday night. But suffice it to say he didn't seem concerned that the Yankees had just added another weapon, Adam Ottavino, to the best bullpen in baseball. 

"Somebody might write this, I don't care," Cora said upon receiving his AL Manager of the Year award. "If you guys thought last year was special, wait 'til this year."

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter | Earlier this week, after I published my nine millionth story of the offseason about the Yankees and Manny Machado, a major league source reached out with a suggestion: Don't sleep on the Yanks and Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado.

Certainly, there's been smoke there already. 

Back in December, WFAN's Sweeny Murti wrote about how Arenado would fit the Yankees, and on Friday morning, MLB Network's Ken Rosenthal made passing reference to the possibility on the "Hot Stove" morning show. 

Manny Machado's dad is adding some more intrigue to his son's free agency. 

We know Machado has at least been offered a seven or eight-year deal by the White Sox, but the elder Machado told Hector Gomez of Z101 Digital on Friday that the Phillies, Yankees and even Dodgers have all made offers to his son. 

And while the White Sox appear to be the strongest suitor, Manuel hinted his son could still sign elsewhere. 

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

The Yankees will be adding another elite arm to an already dominant bullpen, giving the club a certain advantage over virtually the entire league.

New York and free-agent right-handed reliever Adam Ottavino agreed to a three-year, $27 million deal on Thursday, SNY.tv's Andy Martino confirmed.

The use of an "opener" in Major League Baseball is a polarizing topic. Fans either love it, or hate it. With more and more teams experimenting with the idea after Kevin Cash and the Tampa Bay Rays saw successful results, it's reasonable to think the New York Yankees could be the next club to start a relief pitcher on the mound.

For one, they've already done it. Right-handed reliever Jonathan Holder started, coincidentally, against the Rays on Sept. 24. He pitched one inning before handing the baton to Stephen Tarpley, Sonny Gray, Chad Green, David Robertson, Aroldis Chapman, Dellin Betances and, finally, Zach Britton to cap the game. Given, the Rays were nine games behind the Yankees with no shot of overtaking New York for the wild card spot. So the stakes to use an "opener" were low. But the point is, eight relievers and a 4-1 win later, it worked. 

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter | The exact terms of the Chicago White Sox offer to Manny Machado are not known -- you might have noticed some drama about that topic Wednesday -- but some new details of their discussions could offer a roadmap to the Yankees, if they want to jump back into the Machado sweepstakes.

The sides have at least discussed a contract structure that would allow Chicago to exercise an option after year three that would trigger team control for an eighth or ninth year, according to major league sources. This probably accounts for some of the confusion over whether Machado has a seven or eight year offer on the table. He has likely been offered a contract that could be either.

In that structure, Machado would get to opt out after 2021 if the team doesn't opt in. The Yankees and Zach Britton recently agreed to that structure, which Britton's agent Scott Boras called a "swellopt," in an interview with Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic...

While the Yankees are making trades that may be surprising fans this offseason, there's still an expected deal remaining.

The Yankees are getting closer to trading Sonny Gray, according to a report from Fancred's Jon Heyman. In addition to Gray, teams are also asking about Tommy Kahnle and Jonathan Holder. 

Per Heyman, things were "ramping up" in talks centering around Gray since CC Sabathia was given clearance to pitch. Heyman also recently reported at least six teams are interested in the right-hander, which includes the Reds, Padres, Brewers, A's, Mariners and Braves.

The Yankees are closing in on a three-year deal with free agent reliever Adam Ottavino, SNY's Andy Martino confirmed.

The deal will be worth $27 million over three years. 

Ottavino is coming off a huge season where he had a 2.43 ERA (2.74 FIP) and 112 strikeouts in 77.2 innings, or a 13 K/9 ratio and did it while pitching his home games hitter-friendly Coors Field with the Rockies. His 0.99 WHIP in 2018 was much improved from a 1.63 WHIP with a 5.06 ERA in 2017...

Yankees outfielder Clint Frazier tweeted he has been cleared for spring training and hopes to win a spot on the major-league roster after he missed most of the 2018 season due to concussion-like symptoms.

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. 

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."

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: