Could Danks be the Yankees Number 2?

It seems pretty clearly that Yu Darvish is not going to be a Yankee. So as it stands now, the 2012 Yankees pretty much look exactly the same as the 97 win 2011 team that got bounced out of ALDS. Names have floated but nothing has gotten serious. Felix Hernandez and Gio Gonzalez would be the best choices for the Yanks but the asking price is way too high, pretty much cleaning out the best of their farm system. The Yankees really need a number 2 starter and the most realistic choice at this point would be John Danks. Danks, who is a 26 years old lefty, won 15 games in 2010 but struggled last year going 8-12 with a 4.33 ERA.

Danks will become a free agent after next season and although his asking price from the White Sox has been somewhat high this winter you might see it lower as Spring Training approaches in a "mild rush" to get something for him. The young guns the Yanks have in their farm system are A+ prizes and look to be future stars so rushing to get rid of them for ANY pitcher is dumb. If the price comes down and is right for Danks, the Yankees really have no choice but to make a move and to try and solidify a better rotation for 2012.

Is this trade worth King Felix?

Felix Hernandez in pinstripes? This has come up many times over the last few years but every time Yankee fans start to get excited it dies quickly. If the Yankees were to make a deal, this is probably what it would look like according to ESPN's Jim Bowden: Yankees Acquire RHP Felix Hernandez Mariners Acquire RHP Ivan Nova, C Jesus Montero, RHP Dellin Betances.


During the Winter Meetings, Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik said he would not trade Hernandez but a big deal like this could really help Seattle become contenders. Nova and Betances would fit well into an already young Mariners rotation while Montero would give them a solid bat in the middle of their order for years to come.


*HERE'S THE KICKER* Not only would it be amazing if the Yankees acquired Hernandez to go behind C.C. Sabathia in their rotation, but all the money saved on Hernandez could give the Yankees the opportunity to go after Price Fielder and absolutely solidify a championship team.

Cano working hard to move up in the order

Without a doubt the best number five hitter in the league, Robinson Cano is working very hard this off-season to bat third in the Yankees lineup this season. Cano says he is going to work very hard over the next couple of months to start the season in the three spot, bumping Mark Teixeira to possibly fifth in the order like he does in the playoffs.

"I want to work even harder to not let the team down in getting the opportunity to move up to the third spot," Cano  said at the Yankees food drive on Wednesday. Cano batted fifth for most of the regular season batting .302 with 28 HR's and 118 RBI's.   

Kevin Long Upsets Josh Beckett, Boo Hoo!

Well what do you know, someone on the Red Sox has a problem with someone on the Yankees. Boston Red Sox ace Josh Beckett is upset with Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long for saying he takes too long in between pitches, throwing the hitter off his rhythm. These comments were brought up by new Sox manager Bobby Valentine this past Saturday at an event. However, the funny thing is last season Valentine called Beckett out during Sunday Night Baseball saying "That’s a half hour added to this game of him standing around and us sitting around watching him do nothing".

Josh Beckett needs to go back to eating his chicken, drinking his beer, and playing video games during games instead of being concerned about what Long says. I remember when I was watching that game last year someone mentioned that the rule book says that the average time between pitches is supposed to be around 13 seconds, Beckett takes almost 30! I mean the Yanks/Sox games aren't long enough right! Just another useless Red Sox player thriving for attention. Disgusting! 

Goodbye A.J.?

Could this be the end of the A.J. Burnett saga? Numerous sources have reported that Brian Cashman and the Yankees would consider finally shipping off Burnett, even offering to pay $8 million of the $33 million remaining on the final two seasons of his contract. Burnett does have a limited trade clause making the teams interested in him vary.

If Burnett goes, this will open a spot in the already "iffy" Yankees starting rotation but could allow them to sign someone more reliable like Hiroki Kuroda or Gio Gonzalez (my favorite). Last season Burnett went 11-11 with a 5.15ERA and did nothing but annoy Yankees fans and Joe Girardi with his inconsistency. It really is a shame that someone with such electric stuff could be such a headache so I think this would be a good move by the Yanks. Let him go to the NL and flourish there because the AL is pretty much Burnett's "daddy".