Numbers Never Lie: Mariners overpaid for Robinson Cano [Video]

Of course, we won't know for sure if the Mariners overpaid for Robinson Cano until 2023, but ESPN's Tim Kurkjian reminds us that big contracts for older players don't usually pan out.

Seeing Cano wearing an M's cap so soon was tough to take, but this video should help fans deal with the pain.

Yankees rightly part ways with Robinson Cano, Curtis Granderson

Two of the most lovable and productive Yankees from the last four years departed one after the other this afternoon. Just after the shock of Robinson Cano’s impending move to Seattle sunk in, Curtis Granderson was gone too. 

Grading the Yankees Friday deals

I don’t think there will be a better time for me to return to writing than right now. 

Maybe you already know all of the moves the Yankees made – and the moves they didn’t make. Maybe you’re asking yourself, What moves? Or, maybe you just want to hear me blab (thanks). 

So, on Friday…

Yankees sign Hiroki Kuroda for a year at $10 million

It seemed that the Yankees were going to go quietly this offseason despite NOT winning the World Series in 2011. What were we thinking?

Minutes after reports surfaced of the Yankees trading Jesus Montero for right-hander Michael Pineda, Jack Curry reported the Yankees have signed Hiroki Kuroda for a one-year deal worth $10-11 million. Buster Olney confirmed it will be $10 million.

Kuroda had a strong season with the Dodgers last year, posting a 3.07 ERA in 202 innings pitched, striking out 161 with a 1.21 WHIP. At first glance, Kuroda likely becomes the No. 3 starter between Pineda and Ivan Nova.

Gammons: Yankees might try to sign Edwin Jackson

If Yankees ownership isn't satisfied with the team's starting pitching, they might seek free-agent starter Edwin Jackson, according to Peter Gammons.

Jackson played with the White Sox and Cardinals last season, finishing with a 3.79 ERA and 148 strikeouts in 199.2 innings pitched. Jackson would provide some stability to the Yankees' rotation, as he's pitched at least 183 innings each season since 2008.

As a reminder, right now they have (via official depth chart):

1. CC Sabathia

2. Ivan Nova

3. Phil Hughes

4. A.J. Burnett

5. Freddy Garcia

6. Hector Noeisi

Jackson threw a no-hitter once but has proven to be inconsistent throughout his nine-year career.

Yankees re-sign Andrew Junes

The Yankees don't have a lot on their wish list this offseason, but one thing many fans have clamored for is to see Andruw Jones back in pinstripes.

Now he is, reports Jon Heyman, for one year and $2 million plus incentives. And it's hard to find fans upset with this deal.

Red Sox add Andrew Bailey, GM is #winning

New closers keep coming to Boston while the Yankees haven't had to change in 16 years.

After losing six-year closer Jonathan Papelbon to free agency (Phillies, $50 million, 4 years with vesting option), the Red Sox weren't quite set on plugging in flamethrower Daniel Bard as the full-time closer. So they added Mark Melancon, as noted earlier today, saying he would be in the mix for the job after a strong 2011 with Houston. Just minutes ago, the Red Sox acquired Andrew Bailey, the Athletics' All-Star closer.

Hideki Okajima, Yankees agree to minor league deal

The Red Sox signed an ex-Yankee earlier this offseason in Mark Melancon, now the Yankees have agreed to a deal with a former Red Sox player, tweets David Waldstein.

Hideki Okajima had a 3.11 career ERA in five seasons with the Red Sox, but spent most of last year in Triple-A with Pawtucket, where he had a 2.29 ERA in 51 innings. Okajima was shaky with the Red Sox in 2010, and his general upward trend in ERA indicates that he's lost his deceptiveness with major league hitters.

Kevin Millwood & Chris Dickerson in, Sergio Mitre out

After keeping quiet for most of spring training, the Yankees made a couple of moves this morning, less than a week away from Opening Day.

First, they finally signed Kevin Millwood. Second, they traded Sergio Mitre to the Brewers for center fielder Chris Dickerson.

Of course, the Yankees had to stir the pot right after I released my pitching projections.

Albert Pujols will never be a Yankee, and that’s a good thing

Mark Teixeira told Joel Sherman he’s “not going anywhere” and I can assure you no team — even the Yankees — will spend $300 million on a DH. Teixeira is signed through 2016, so he’s the Yankees’ first baseman for the long haul.

Albert Pujols will be a free agent after this season because he refuses to negotiate midseason and he couldn’t reach an agreement with the Cardinals before he arrived at camp this week.

Yankees notes: Swisher, Sabathia, Joba, Ayala, Chavez, Aceves

After an extremely busy Tuesday, I’m back with a quick roundup of Yankees notes. A few have arrived at the Yankees minor league complex in Tampa, and there are also a few notable transactions.

• Nick Swisher was featured in the Wall Street Journal yesterday for his Twitter usage.
• CC Sabathia was the heaviest man in baseball last year, but supposedly has lost 30 pounds.
• Joba Chamberlain put on some weight. But at least it’s muscle, according to Erik Boland.
• Luis Ayala signed a minor league deal with the Yankees. Ayala has pitched relief for nearly six years in the National League, but spent all of last season in the minors.
• Eric Chavez’s deal with the Yankees could be worth up to $5.5 million. He’ll have to spend a lot of time on the Yankees roster in order to do that, but first he has to make the team.
• Alfredo Aceves signed with the Red Sox to a major league deal. Aceves spent three seasons with the Yankees (only one full season).
• LoHud has you covered for some small spring training notes from Tampa.

That’s it for now.

Andruw Jones signs with Yankees for $2M

The Yankees finally found their fourth outfielder today. Andruw Jones, a five-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glover, agreed to a $2 million deal which includes an additional $1.2 million in performance bonuses.

As a backup the past few seasons with the Dodgers, Rangers and White Sox, Jones isn’t getting many hits but he’s making them count when he does — 50.3 percent of his hits have gone for extra bases.

Plus, as he’s done his entire career, he still mashes against southpaws — last season to the tune of .272/.380/.565.

What do you think of the Jones signing?

Yankees offered Carl Pavano $10 million!!

Source

Ahh! Thank goodness this didn’t happen. I’d rather have Kei Igawa in the rotation. 

I decided to re-read the 10 things I associate Carl Pavano with in order to calm me down. Carry on.

Joba Chamberlain is not the answer for the Yankees’ rotation

And you’d be hard pressed to find a quality starter left on the market.

While the Yankees waited for Derek Jeter and Cliff Lee to make their decisions, the few quality starters available this offseason signed with other teams. Jeff Francis signed with the Royals yesterday, leaving Justin Duchscherer and Freddy Garcia as the next best candidates for the Yankees’ rotation. Neither of those two are very appealing. I think the Yankees are better off waiting for Brian Cashman to make a move midseason.

So where does this leave Joba Chamberlain? He lies deep in the Yankees’ bullpen, where he looks to regain his reputation as a dominant pitcher.

Yankees sign Rafael Soriano $35M/3yrs

The Rafael Soriano saga is finally over: he’s a Yankee. Jon Heyman reports the deal is worth $35 million over the next three years ($11.67M/yr). To compare, the Yankees signed Mariano Rivera for two years and $30 million this offseason.

This deal is a bit surprising because Brian Cashman had explicitly stated he would not “lose our No. 1 draft pick.” Honestly, it’s tough to think about that when the Yankees just took the Rays’ closer and made him their setup man.

LATEST: Pettitte’s decision on 2011 awaits

The NY Daily News first reported Andy Pettitte told Brian Cashman he decided to sit out for the start of 2011, but that was a misunderstanding. But here’s the latest from Cashman:

“Nothing new or different,” Cashman said. “Exactly what I’ve been saying for the past month or two months.”

So, it was definitely a false alarm. There is still hope for Pettitte to return, and this “misunderstanding” does not mean Pettitte is more likely to retire.

Waiting for Pettitte’s decision is holding back Cashman from upgrading the pitching staff, don’t you think?

Give me Hairston. Either Hairston!

The Yankees are pursuing Andruw Jones. Yes, the 33-year-old longtime Braves outfielder who has not played a full season since 2007 or hit above .250 since 2006. But apparently his glove is still tempting, since the Yankees are looking for a backup outfielder NOT a backup DH.

Jorge Posada IS the DH, according to the Yankees.

I don’t think the Yankees should bother with Jones. His glove may still be gold, but who knows? He’s not healthy enough these days to judge that. The free agent outfield market is very thin, but here are the top alternatives:

Brian Cashman: Rafael Soriano no longer an option for Yankees

Enough with the “Yankees interested in Rafael Soriano” talk, so it seems. Great, now there's no chance of me resurrecting my old Alfonso Soriano shirt!

Via LoHud:

“I will not lose our No. 1 draft pick,” Brian Cashman said. “I would have for Cliff Lee. I won’t lose our No. 1 draft pick for anyone else.”

Finally, a credible source: the man who actually makes the decisions. Let this be a lesson to all when free agent and trade reports surface. Don’t bet your house on anything from a “source close to the Yankees” or a “baseball executive.”

Andy Pettitte decision might be delaying the Yankees from signing Rafael Soriano

THIS IS JUST A HUNCH, but I believe Andy Pettitte’s decision is holding up the Yankees from signing Rafael Soriano.

Yesterday, ESPN’s Andrew Marchand wrote a “Memo to Cashman: Go Get Soriano.”

Almost two weeks ago Newsday’s Ken Davidoff wrote (regarding Soriano), “If Andy Pettitte retires, they'll have big money to spend, and they'll be looking at a roster that will need an ultra-deep bullpen to support a thin rotation.” I have two takeaways from this.

1. My hunch is correct.
2. Can an ultra-deep bullpen really support a thin rotation?

10 hilarious reactions to Bartolo Colon being linked to Yankees (the news is true)

When I heard the Yankees had joined the “sweepstakes” for free agent Bartolo Colon, my reaction was: “a sweepstakes implies there will be a prize. Bartolo Colon is no prize.”

The reactions to this news on Twitter were too good not to post.