Yankees baseball blog

Damon's new World

One of the criticisms of the World Baseball Classic is that it will rob players, particularly those on new teams, of valuable bonding time with their teammates during the laid-back, sunny days of spring training.

But Johnny Damon, the new Yankee center fielder, doesn't agree. Damon, who signed a four-year, $52 million deal this winter, never hesitated when he was invited to play, even though he knew he was facing an offseason of free agency and might not return to Boston. There is plenty of time to brew team chemistry during the season, Damon believes. Continue

Pass on Piazza

IT was a play straight out of the familiar Yankees playbook. The Mets brought the bulk of their roster to New York to drum up ticket sales and enthusiasm for the upcoming season, and there were the Yankees dabbling with Mike Piazza. Piazza is the kind of toy George Steinbrenner has been unable to resist, right down to his big name and Flushing pedigree.

But wasn't this supposed to be a new age for the Yankees? One in which considering advancing age was supposed to become a bigger factor. One in which Brian Cashman orchestrated all moves and the Yankees distanced themselves from a Steinbrennerian business model that forced fame into the clubhouse at the expense of athleticism, versatility, roster flexibility, and anything pretending to be a budget. Continue

It's a Small fortune

The Yankees got a huge lift from Aaron Small last season and now he has gotten a huge raise. The righthander, who was 5-0 in a September during which the Bombers wrested the AL East title away from the Red Sox, signed a one-year contract with the Yankees that will give him more than $1 million over what he made last year. The deal will pay Small $1.2 million plus incentive bonuses. He made just $149,180 in 2005.

Small was one of the saviors of the Yankees' 2005 season. The journeyman was called up July 17 and finished 10-0 with a 3.20 ERA in nine starts and six relief appearances. He is one of only four pitchers to finish a season unbeaten with at least 10 decisions. Small can earn $15,000 bonuses for starting 15 and 20 games and $25,000 bonuses for starting 25 and 30 games. The most he ever made in a single season, according to the AP, is $197,500 in 1998. (Daily News)

Small living large

Two weeks after the Yankees' season ended in October, Aaron Small was enjoying a quiet evening at home in Loudon, Tenn. He and his wife, Macy, had just put their two young children to sleep when there was a knock on the front door. A woman Small had never seen was standing there, eager to speak to him.

"She said, 'I know you pitch for the Yankees and I wanted to prove to my husband that you live here. Can you come outside?'" Small recalled. A few weeks later, he was leaving the Little Caesars in a neighboring small town, carrying two large pizzas, when someone stopped him and said, "Aaron Small, ten-and-oh!" Continue

Piazza in pinstripes?

Mike Piazza has turned up on the Yankees' radar, of all places. The Yankees have some interest in Piazza and will consider whether to offer the Cooperstown-bound catcher a contract, American League sources told Newsday yesterday.

Piazza's agent, Dan Lozano, has called Yankees general manager Brian Cashman regarding the free agent's interest in playing for the Yankees, and Cashman did not dismiss the offer. On the contrary, it is expected that the Yankees soon will consider the merits of signing Piazza -- primarily as a designated hitter -- if they haven't already. Continue

Alex: Too big to skip World

In a radio appearance yesterday, Alex Rodriguez called the World Baseball Classic an ambitious event and said he was proud to play for Team USA. But he also acknowledged the Yankees' dim view of the 16-nation tournament, admitting that if he were George Steinbrenner, he wouldn't want his players risking injury in an exhibition. "No, I wouldn't, I'd be nervous," Rodriguez said on Michael Kay's show on ESPN Radio. "But you've got to knock on wood that guys stay healthy."

Rodriguez had several long debates with his wife, who wanted him to play for Team USA, and his mother, who wanted him to play for the Dominican Republic. He asked other players - Manny Ramirez, who will play for the Dominican despite gaining American citizenship in 2004, said A-Rod should play for the U.S. - and talked with baseball bigwigs, including Bud Selig. Continue

Damon to Bosox: I'm not washed up

Johnny Damon was known as a heartbreaker in New England. Reportedly, his own heart is shattered by Boston's botched negotiations. The 32-year-old former Red Sox fan favorite and new Yankee center fielder is intent on proving he's not over the hill after signing a four-year, $52 million contract.

Damon, who was working out at Disney's sports complex in the Orlando area, told the Miami Herald, "I want to show the Red Sox that they made a mistake and the rest of baseball that I'm not old — I'm not washed up." After the Red Sox lowballed him with a four-year, $40 million offer, Damon turned to the dark (navy) side of the blood rivalry. Not only is he set for life, he told the paper, but so is his brother's family. Continue

Yankee doodle dandy

There were three choices for Alex Rodriguez regarding the upcoming World Baseball Classic: He could bypass it, play for the USA or play for the Dominican Republic. A-Rod is going to play, and he'll be representing the U.S. Rodriguez's agent, Scott Boras, confirmed the development via telephone last night, and the player explained his choice in a statement posted on his official Web site just after 10 p.m.

"In recent weeks, following dialogue with caring friends and players, both Dominican and American, I reached the conclusion that if I played in the Classic, I would play for the United States and honor my American citizenship," he wrote. Continue

Alex makes World wait as stars line up for U.S.

Some of the biggest names in the majors were part of the provisional roster announced last night for the United States team in the World Baseball Classic, including the Yankees' Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon and new Mets closer Billy Wagner. But it was still unclear what Alex Rodriguez, who has waffled on whether to play for the Americans, the Domincans or not at all, would do. Rodriguez told the Yankees several weeks ago he wasn't going to play, but since has had several conversations with officials from Major League Baseball and the Players Association who were urging him to take part.

"We'll know (today)," Bob Watson, the general manager of the USA team, said on MLB.com's television show announcing the first 42 players. "We'll save a spot for him on our roster." Officials could add as many as 18 more names today to reach the interim limit of 60. The final roster of 30 players has to be filed on March 2. Rodriguez's agent, Scott Boras, did not return a call seeking comment on his client's status for the 16-nation event, which begins March 3. Continue

Gossage doesn't make Hall

Rich Gossage didn't get in the door, again. But the "Goose" is toeing the threshold. On the day a fellow reliever revelled in selection to the Hall of Fame, Goose Gossage, who threw fear into batters while Bruce Sutter was only throwing splitters at them, high-kicked his way to Cooperstown's doorsill.

With the reluctance of ballot-holding veteran baseball writers to enshrine closers gradually wearing down, it was probably unrealistic for two of them to get simultaneous nods. But there was encouragement as well as disappointment in Gossage's numbers: 336 votes, on 64.6 percent of the record 520 ballots cast. Continue

Yanks give Leiter minor deal

Several days after the Yankees' season ended in a crushing playoff loss, Al Leiter stood outside the Stadium and talked about how he did not expect the defeat to be the end of his career. But, he said, he was "pretty sure that was it."

However, the end of Leiter's career will have to wait, at least a while. The 40-year-old lefty agreed yesterday to a one-year minor-league contract with the Yankees and will come to spring training to compete for a spot in the bullpen, perhaps as a lefty specialist. He held lefties to a .221 average last year for the Yanks. Continue

Leiter may be back

The broadcast booth and politics will have to wait. Al Leiter, it turns out, is not the retiring type. The Yankees are close to signing Leiter to a minor league contract to compete for a bullpen job in spring training. Leiter, 40, had indicated that last season would be his final one in the majors. But he enjoyed his time with the Yankees and the organization felt he had sufficient spark in his arm to attempt one more reunion.

"He'd be an insurance policy," GM Brian Cashman said. "He would come in to compete for the bullpen to get lefties out like he was doing in the playoffs. That is what we are talking to him about." Continue