Yankees baseball blog

Park signs with Yanks

The addition of Chan Ho Park to the Yankees’ bullpen doesn’t present an over-crowding problem for Brian Cashman or Joe Girardi.

Though Cashman refused to publicly admit the Yankees and the veteran right-hander have agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.2 million that will become official when the 36-year-old passes a physical, the GM said he believes there isn’t any such thing as too deep a 'pen.

“The more the merrier,’’ Cashman said. “You can never have enough.’’

Girardi echoed his boss.

“We will make sure we will take the best 12 guys,’’ Girardi said. “Having more quality arms than spots is a luxury.’’ Continue

Thames signs with Yanks

The Yankees completed their outfield shopping Monday, bringing back one-time Bomber Marcus Thames on a minor-league contract and inviting him to spring training and finally making a formal announcement of their one-year deal with Randy Winn. Both could give Brett Gardner significant competition for at-bats in the Yanks' third outfield spot, with Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher manning the other two. Continue

Winn in, Damon out

The Yankees have known for more than a month — since they agreed to terms with Nick Johnson on Dec. 17 — that Johnny Damon was a long shot to return. Yesterday, with the commitment to Randy Winn, that long shot turned into a virtual no-shot.

Winn, 35, agreed to a one-year, $2-million contract with the Yankees, pending a physical examination. A switch hitter, he’ll serve primarily as the righthanded component of a platoon with Brett Gardner, either in leftfield or in centerfield (with Curtis Granderson shifting to left). Continue

Damon the $2 million dollar man?

Johnny can come marching home again, but only on the cheap.

The Yankees have spoken with Johnny Damon's agent, Scott Boras, in recent days about the possibility of a Bronx encore for the outfielder -- even though club officials aren't exactly holding their breath.

With only $2 million or so remaining in the Yankees' budget (perhaps a few extra dollars would be available in incentives), Damon is expected to say "No" one final time and hope for a better offer elsewhere.

An Internet report yesterday indicated Damon had been given the weekend to decide on returning. However, general manager Brian Cashman denied that was the case. Continue

Yankes trade Melky for Vazquez

Javier Vazquez is coming back to the Bronx.

The Daily News has learned that the Yankees will acquire the righthanded pitcher from the Braves along with lefthanded reliever Boone Logan, sending Melky Cabrera, lefthander Mike Dunn and righthander Arodys Vizcaino to the Braves.

Vazquez pitched for the Yankees in 2004, going 14-10 with a 4.91 ERA before being traded to Arizona for Randy Johnson - in a deal Brian Cashman didn't want to make at the time. Now Cashman is reacquiring the 33-year-old, adding him to a rotation with CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Andy Pettitte and either Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain. Continue

Nick Johnson returns, Damon done

The Yankees Friday finalized a one-year, $5.5 million deal with first baseman-DH Nick Johnson, effectively ending Johnny Damon's run in pinstripes.

The deal will not be officially announced until sometime next week after Johnson completes a physical. According to baseball sources, Johnson, 31, had more lucrative offers from a couple of other teams but wanted to return to the Yankees, who drafted him in 1996 and with whom he began his career in 2001.

Johnson was one of many options GM Brian Cashman spelled out to the Yankee high command in organizational meetings two weeks ago in the event the Yankees couldn't agree with Damon. Continue

Gone-zilla

According to the source, the World Series MVP will receive about $6.5 million, replacing Vladimir Guerrero as the Angels' designated hitter.

Matsui had intended to wait for the Yankees' situation to be resolved before signing elsewhere, but with the Johnny Damon saga seemingly weeks away from a conclusion, Matsui decided to take the Angels' offer.

The Yankees hadn't planned to pursue Matsui unless Damon signed elsewhere, not wanting to lock up their DH spot with one player. Jorge Posada is expected to see at least 50 games as the DH, while A-Rod should get 15-20 games there, too. Continue

How bad does Damon want to stay in NY?

Contract talks between Johnny Damon and the Yankees haven't reached the "Now or Never" stage.

But . . .

Though the Yankees want Damon to play left field next to Curtis Granderson and hit behind Derek Jeter, if agent Scott Boras continues to hunt for a three- or four-year deal -- something the Yankees are very unlikely to offer -- Damon's four-year stint in The Bronx could be over. Continue

Damon may be left out in the cold

The way Brian Cashman sees it at the moment, lefty swinging Curtis Granderson will be the Yankees’ No. 2 hitter against right-handed pitchers.

That, however, doesn’t mean the GM has turned his back on last year’s second-place hitter, Johnny Damon. It’s simply stated because Damon is an unsigned free agent.

However, Cashman talking openly about his latest acquisition hitting in Damon’s spot indicates the Yankees are hatching a plan to live without Damon. Continue

Andy is back for 1 more

have reached a deal with Andy Pettitte to bring the left-hander back for another year in pinstripes.

The two sides reached an agreement on one-year contract worth $11.75 million, a source said. This is a significant raise over the $5.5 million he made in base salary in 2009.

For Pettitte, 37, it will be his fourth season back with the Yankees after a three-year stay with his native Astros in Houston, and his 13th season, overall, with the team that drafted him.