BASEBALL HOT CORNER: Yankees Rumors, Prospects and Suspects

Monday, October 27, 2008

Yankees Rumors, Prospects and Suspects

Yankees fans hear rumors of a World Series, but it doesn't really register. There are bigger fish to fry: "the sooner the Series ends, the sooner CC Sabathia can file for free agency." The chum is in the water, the free-agent-feeding-frenzy can't come soon enough. As always, Yankees news never sleeps:

The one that got away: 2008 all star catcher Dionner Navarro showcases his skills on the World Series stage while the Yanks have another giant hole to fill. Why would the Bombers brain trust trade away a key cog when viable replacements are so rare? Here's an interesting theory: " He had been traded from the Yankees to the Dodgers on Jan. 11, 2005, as part of a three-way trade involving the Diamondbacks in which Randy Johnson, Javier Vazquez and Shawn Green also switched uniforms. The Dodgers, like the Yankees, questioned Navarro's fitness and, by extension, his work ethic. Trying to follow the pretzel logic that would deal a 21 year-old catcher, with a gut, and transition to Ponson and Molina while drooling over CC.

Another fitness issue? "New York Post reported that an "industry source" indicated that the Brewers would listen to offers for first baseman Prince Fielder in a "substantial package."
That source probably came from the New York Yankees because the Post report went on to say that club probably wouldn't be interested in Fielder for various reasons. The portly Prince would not fit in pinstripes.

Pass the sugar:" New York doesn't appear to be Sabathia's cup of tea, what type of sweetener would it take? The Yankees could do it." If fitness is part of the criteria, Santana was clearly a better option, that decision gets uglier by the day.

From prodigy to project:"Hughes made that decision look horrendous during the season, and isn't stopping now."

Next:"Oh... did we mention that the scouts often skim money from the bonuses given to the little tykes' families?Our six-figure signings: SS Gian Carlos Arias, Dominican Republic, 16; OF Ramon Flores, Venezuela, 16; 3B Jackson Valera, Venezuela, 16; OF Yeicok Calderon, Dominican Republic, 16; SS Anderson Felix, Dominican Republic, 16; CF Ericson Leonora, Venezuela, 16.Remember those names.
No, on second thought, forget the names.Remember the ages. Sixteen. Sixteen. Sixteen. Sixteen. Sixteen..." --(It is High, It is Far..) A new wave of fresh talent hits the shore.