Yankees baseball blog

Yankees sign GM Brian Cashman to a new three-year deal

The Yankees settled their first bit of offseason business Tuesday, announcing that they have a decision-maker in place - Brian Cashman is returning as the club’s general manager for three more years. Cashman, who has been the Yankee GM since 1998, will hold the same role through the 2011 season and said in a statement he returned because “I’ve got a job to finish here. That’s the bottom line. Continue

Joe Girardi throws no curveballs, says Yankees need new starters

In what could be perceived as an open casting call to elite free-agent-to-be pitchers such as CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, Joe Girardi said Monday there would be "a conscious effort" to upgrade the Yankees' starting rotation this winter.

Girardi headed into what figures to be an offseason of uncertainty for the Yanks by saying, "The project is, in a sense, big, because we probably have to add a few people to the rotation. But the whole scope of things, you wouldn't necessarily say that you have to fix everything. The focus is the rotation." Continue

Mike Mussina wins 20 games for first time as Yankees beat Red Sox, 6-2

The monkey is finally off the Moose's back. After 18 years of being "Mr. Almost," Mike Mussina recorded the first 20-win season of his career with the Yankees' 6-2 decision over the Red Sox Sunday in the first game of a day-night doubleheader at Fenway Park. The Yankees dropped the nightcap, 4-3, in 10 innings to finish the season 89-73. Mussina also may have pitched the final game of his career, hinting that he might hang up his spikes to go home to his wife and three children in Pennsylvania.

"As of right now, it's my last game in my last year, so I don't know what the future holds," Mussina said. "It could be my last year or it may not be my last year, but when you get to your 18th season, it could always be your last year." Continue

GM tells Steinbrenners he wants to return

While Brian Cashman remained mum about his future, the buzz smothering the Yankees' universe yesterday focused on the GM telling the Steinbrenner family he wants to return. An announcement could come as soon as tomorrow.

"Sooner than later," Cashman said with a smile when asked about reaching a decision. Hal Steinbrenner, who wants Cashman back, hasn't made an offer. However, there are indications Cashman could tell Steinbrenner he wants to return and negotiate later. Continue

Yanks seal Boston's fate as Wild Card

It had been more than a decade since the Yankees visited the home of their archrival with no personal playoff aspirations to play for, a scenario so foreign that most were not quite sure what to expect upon checking in. The result turned out to be an offensive bonanza, as the Yankees thumped the Red Sox, 19-8, on a wet and late Friday evening at Fenway Park, setting season highs in runs scored and hits (20) before a noticeably thinned crowd braving inclement weather. Continue

Mariano Rivera has MRI; Jays beat Yankees 8-2

- Despite Joe Girardi's attempt at a coverup, it was revealed last night that Mariano Rivera returned to New York Thursday for an MRI after informing the Yankees that he has nagging discomfort in his right shoulder. Results of the MRI won't be available until today, when Rivera is expected to rejoin the Yankees in Boston. "Once we were eliminated, he said his shoulder had been barking, so we decided to get it looked at," general manager Brian Cashman said in a telephone interview. "We could have waited until after the weekend, but we figured we wouldn't mess with it." Continue

Free-agent pitchers on Bombers' radar

Is this a six-month blip? Or is this the beginning of a two- to three-year slide? With the Yankees going home Sunday, the question is where are they headed. Co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner and manager Joe Girardi have talked aggressively about chasing free agents this offseason. Nevertheless, is there enough money to plug all the holes? And who is in charge? GM Brian Cashman's future is uncertain. Plus, do free agent hurlers CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Ben Sheets want to come to The Bronx? Continue

Yankees' Hughes saves best start of year for last

Joe Girardi said Phil Hughes didn't need a win to give him peace of mind going into the offseason. Hughes echoed that as he and Girardi said it would be more important to pitch well. Hughes couldn't get a win last night, but the Yankees were pleased to see him match up evenly with top free-agent-to-be A.J. Burnett in a 6-2 victory over the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

Bobby Abreu's 10th-inning grand slam off Jesse Carlson (7-2) lifted the Yankees to victory. Abreu, who hopes to secure a contract to return to the Yankees, had a couple milestones in his sights. The home run was his 20th, making him one of only three players with eight seasons of 20-plus homers and 20-plus steals (Barry and Bobby Bonds each had 10). Abreu has 99 RBIs and 95 runs scored. Continue

Mike Mussina gets 19th win, but Yanks officially eliminated from playoffs

Mike Mussina's dream might still be alive, but the Yankees watched theirs die Tuesday night on the out-of-town scoreboard at the Rogers Centre. Mussina moved another step closer to his first 20-win season, beating the Blue Jays, 3-1, to move within one victory of the milestone. Unfortunately for the Bombers, the Red Sox held on for a win over the Indians in Boston, eliminating the Yankees from the playoff race, bringing their 13-year run of October baseball to an end.

"It basically boils down to we weren't good enough," said Derek Jeter, who had reached the playoffs in each of his first 12 full seasons. "Our team didn't play well enough the whole season in order to get where we needed to be." Continue

Bombers snub Roger Clemens at Yankee Stadium farewell

The Yankees did not invite Roger Clemens to the last game at the Stadium because they feared boos would rain down on their parade. Clemens is one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, but he is also the target of a federal perjury investigation, and the Yankee brass made no mention of him during Sunday's celebration because they did not know how fans would respond.

"They didn't want boos to be the last memory of Roger at the Stadium," a source familiar with preparations for the last game told the Daily News. Continue