New York Yankees

World Series Most Valuable Player Hideki Matsui and star Johnny Damon were among those not offered salary arbitration by Tuesday's deadline by the Major League Baseball champion New York Yankees. The Yankees declined to risk a possible salary arbitration loss to the Japanese star, Damon or five others, including ace pitcher Andy Pettitte, Xavier Nady and Jerry Hairston Jnr. As a result, the Yankees will receive no compensation if those players are signed by another club. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, whose team spent 201 million dollars on salaries last season to bring New York a championship for the first time since 2000, will ... Read Full Story

The Yankees declined to offer salary arbitration to World Series MVP Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon and Andy Pettitte, a move that means New York would not receive draft picks as compensation if they sign with other teams. Tuesday night was the first big deadline of baseball's offseason, with teams having until midnight to make arbitration offers to their former players who became free agents. Players have until Dec. 7 to accept; if they reject, they still can re-sign with their former clubs at any time. As of early evening, Houston offered arbitration to pitcher Jose Valverde and Detroit made offers to right-handers Brandon Lyon ... Read Full Story

Derek Jeter, who sparked the New York Yankees to their first Major League Baseball title in nine years, was named Monday as Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year. Jeter becomes the first member of the 27-time World Series champions to capture the award from the US magazine, which began honoring athletes in 1954. The 35-year-old team captain has been a member of five World Series championship teams with the Yankees and batted .334 this season while making a career-low eight fielding errors to claim Gold Glove honors for a fourth time. Jeter surpassed the late Lou Gehrig as the Yankees' all-time hit leader this ... Read Full Story

It takes 25 players to make a MLB roster. It takes 40 potential options to get through a MLB season. Often times the MVP of the team can be debated as the year progresses. Who should be in the lineup everyday can lead to nine names, and the rotation can be five more. But what happens when you take an in-depth look at the entire organization and try to come up with a list of names who make that team run? With about a week before any remote chance of Hot Stove action, this begins a list of 27 players (in honor of the ... Read Full Story

According to The Star-Ledger , the Yankees announced today that they will not be offering arbitration to any of their eligible players. Those players include Johnny Damon, Jerry Hairston Jr., Eric Hinske, Hideki Matsui, Jose Molina, Xavier Nady and Andy Pettitte. It's the second year in a row that the team has not offered any of their players arbitration. Read Full Story

As I did with the Mets earlier this morning I put together a Yankees “All Homegrown” Team. These are active players that were drafted by the Yankees or signed as international free agents. Interesting to see how the 2009 Bronx Bombers would look like without free agency or trades. One note: I didn’t add Alfonso Soriano because he was purchased from Japan and not signed. Lineup C- Jorge Posada 1B- Nick Johnson 2b- Robinson Cano SS – Derek Jeter 3B – Mike Lowell LF – Melky Cabrera CF – Brett Gardner RF- Juan Rivera DH – Marcus Thames Bench Brad Ausmus Omir Santos Shelley ... Read Full Story

The Yankees just won the World Series and I’m very happy. I’m enjoying the off season thus far. It’s a nice feeling to know that your team are the world champs. Still, should I be worried about next year already? Should I let the recent world series title sink in and enjoy more of it? I guess I should but I’m a worry wort. I’m worried that the Yankees won’t have enough starting pitching next year. C.C. Sabathia and Andy Pettitte were the only reliable starters in the playoffs with A.J. Burnett showing up every once in a while. Andy Pettitte will be another ... Read Full Story