VA Sox Fan

Yankees Agree To Terms With Randy Winn The New York Yankees have agreed to terms with free agent outfielder Randy Winn on a one-year contract, pending a physical, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney. The contract is worth in the neighborhood of $2 million. The deal, in all likelihood, ends any chance that Johnny Damon will return to the Yankees. The Yankees now seem set with their outfield for the 2010 season. The 35-year-old Winn hit .262 in 149 games last season for San Francisco. He was an All-Star in 2002, when he batted .298 with 14 home runs and 75 RBIs for the Tampa Bay Rays. Winn could put an end to a novel and unwanted distinction now that he's signed with the Yankees: According to Baseball-reference.com, he has played 1,601 career games without a postseason appearance. That's the longest drought by an active major league player. Texas third baseman Michael Young is second among active players with 1,351 games and no postseason appearance. Damon and his agent Scott Boras are trying to engage the Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds as possible alternatives, a baseball source told ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick. Boras has been successful placing many of his clients in Detroit, and the addition of Damon in left field would allow the Tigers to give Carlos Guillen more at-bats at DH. The Tigers traded leadoff hitter Curtis Granderson to the Yankees in December and lost No. 2 hitter Placido Polanco to the Phillies in free agency, so the top of their batting order is in a state of transition. Cincinnati's outfield alignment currently consists of Jay Bruce in right field, Drew Stubbs in center field and Chris Dickerson in left. The Reds' leadoff hitters also ranked last in the major leagues with a .650 OPS in 2009. The catch is, the Reds and Tigers don't appear to have much money left in the budget. Both clubs have been economizing this offseason, and that might be truer than ever now that Cincinnati has signed Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman and Detroit has added closer Jose Valverde. Both teams would probably have to get creative to make a run at Damon. Buster Olney is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine.

You know me. Gotta keep a sense of humor out here!! Except with Yankee fans, of course! :thumbsup:

If that happens, you'll be able to say your favorite 4 words "I told you so"

Thank you.

You are right about the sarcasm part. You'll see in the "in game thread" on the days when Wake starts, the whining will be "deafening". It is good news about Wake's health. He had a good enough 1st half of the season in 2009to be asked to be on the All-Star team. Here's to hoping he stays healthy all season. Cannot find the specific article but have read he won't be in the bullpen. Go Timaaaay!

He is gone. Who cares? Let it go. You'll feel better, I promise.:thumbsup:

Good Lord. Please allow this slow time in the off season to end soon. Please.

Agreed 110%!!!!

I agree but when I saw Jason Varitek in the Cleveland airport in June of 2008, he had on a white short sleeved shirt and jeans and he was VERY HOT. Even hotter than in uniform! He be hot, IMO! :thumbsup:

Good move!

Can't say that I don't want him for our closer, but he was extremely hard to watch a lot of last season.

Papelbon doesn't want a multi-year deal: Arbitration figures due tomorrow Posted by Amalie Benjamin, Globe Staff January 18, 2010 09:53 PM The Red Sox have four arbitration-eligible players (Manny Delcarmen, Ramon Ramirez, Jeremy Hermida, and Jonathan Papelbon), with whom they will exchange figures at noon tomorrow if the sides haven't reached agreements. General manager Theo Epstein has yet to go to arbitration in his tenure with the team, but Papelbon just might break that streak. While it appears likely that the other three could come to a deal with the Sox, Papelbon could be a special case. He received a one-year deal for $6.25 million last season, and is likely looking for a large bump from that figure. Papelbon has been adamant about setting the bar for closers in terms of salary, and has a chance to prove that this year again. Neither side appears interested in a long-term deal. The Sox, as a rule, do not give out multi-year deals to relievers (other than to Keith Foulke). And Papelbon has said repeatedly that he is fine with going year-to-year, rather than giving up money for the security of a multi-year deal. The Sox also have Daniel Bard, likely their closer of the future, in their back pocket. The closest that Epstein came to going to arbitration was with Wily Mo Pena, when the two sides came to an agreement moments before walking into the hearing.

Plenty of talent still available Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff January 17, 2010 09:00 AM The Sox appear to be done with their roster, at least for now. Just for fun, here's a look at the top free agents still out there. Amazingly, you can still go two deep with somewhat reasonable players: 1B: Russell Branyan, Carlos Delgado 2B: Orlando Hudson, Felipe Lopez SS: Orlando Cabrera, Miguel Tejada 3B: Joe Crede, Melvin Mora DH: Jim Thome, Jason Giambi OF: Rick Ankiel, Reed Johnson OF: Johnny Damon, Xavier Nady OF: Jermaine Dye, Gary Sheffield C: Bengie Molina, Jose Molina SP: Joel Piniero, Vicente Padilla SP: Jon Garland, Pedro Martinez SP: Ben Sheets, Braden Looper SP: Chien-Ming Wang, Mark Mulder SP: Erik Bedard, Jarrod Washburn RP: Kiko Calero, Chan Ho Park, RP: Ron Villone, Kevin Gregg RP: David Weathers, Jamey Wright Also: Endy Chavez, Hank Blalock, Ronnie Belliard, Jerry Hairston Jr., Marcus Thames, Adam Kennedy, Rocco Baldelli, John Smoltz, Brett Tomko, Jose Contreras, Rod Barajas. Is there anybody on this list who would give the Red Sox a significant upgrade? Kiko Calero is an interesting guy. He had a 1.95 ERA in 67 appearances for Florida last season, opponents hit .180 against him and he allowed seven extra-base hits. Just saying.

Don't see any reason to be that way, especially after 2004 and 2007.

F*** the World Baseball Classic.

Nice to know we can count on you bro!

Keep up the good work!

Good for you bro. Not much of a whiner myself. I support the roster.

YES AND NO MORE WHINING ABOUT HIM!!!