There may be a gaping hole at third base for the Bombers, but they aren't about to give away the farm to fill it.
"It's pretty obvious which players we're not going to trade. Chamberlain, Hughes and even Kennedy. Not for a position player.''
Don't you just love the way Hank gave Ian Kennedy a back-handed compliment right there.
Anyway, baseball's hot stove is just heating up so teams are going to ask for the moon for players. The Yanks obviously have a glaring need at the hot corner, but trading starting pitching -- especially with Andy Pettitte's situation still up in the air -- doesn't make sense. Still, Cabrera is an interesting option. He hit .320 with 34 HRs and 119 RBI in 2007 and will turn only 25 in 2008. The downside is that he can't seem to say no to a meal and may have an attitude problem. But New Yankee manager Joe Girardi, who managed Cabrera in Florida in 2006, didn't see any negatives.
"He's a great player, a smart player. He really understands the game of baseball. I was impressed in how mature he was as a hitter at a young age, his approach on a daily basis. I did not have any problems with him. He worked hard for me."
Stay tuned.
Also it looks like one starting pitcher won't be available next season. Roger Clemens seems poised to begin his "personal services contract" with the Houston Astros in 2008. There seems to be some confusion on whether The Rocket has to be officially retired for the 10-year pact to kick in, but I think once Roger sees video of himself pitching in Game 3 of the ALDS last year, he'll get the message.
And finally, the Yankees seem determined to re-sign catcher Jorge Posada and closer Mariano Rivera this winter. Great. But that didn't stop GM Brian Cashman from taking a parting shot at former Bomber skipper Joe Torre. When Cashman was asked if the offers for the two Yankee free agents were aggressive, he responded with this:
"I wouldn't make an insulting offer. The Yankees wouldn't do that."
Meow.
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