Yankees Going with Current Pitching for Now Going into 2011

After losing out in the Cliff Lee sweepstakes to the Philadelphia Phillies and not trusting Zack Greinke's psyche enough to trade for him, the Yankees seem as though they will head into Spring Training this February with the current pitchers on their roster. GM Brian Cashman does not see anyone on the current trade or free agent market that would be worth bringing aboard to bolster his team's starting rotation depth.

Cashman is prepared to go into the season with CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes, AJ Burnett and two newcomers, probably rookies, to the full-time rotation, many of whom have never pitched above the Triple-A level.

Yes Yankees fans, notice that short list did not include Andy Pettitte. Cashman is operating under the assumption that Andy Pettitte, back home in Deer, Park, Texas, following an excellent season cut short by a groin injury, will not be returning for a 17th major league season.

Cashman acknowledged his team could use a major league ready starter as well as another arm in the bullpen but seemed pessimistic about the chances of getting one before Opening Day.

"Could I go out and get a starter? Yes, I could. But there's just not much out there," Cashman said. "I have March, April, May, June and July, really, to come up with someone."

Cashman also ruled out, although not absolutely, the possibility the Yankees might include catching prospect Jesus Montero in a trade for a front-line starter now that the Yankees have signed Russell Martin to assume every-day catching duties. "There's just nobody out there I would consider trading Montero for," Cashman said.

Asked if that included Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez, Cashman said, "That ain't happening."

So heading into spring training, Cashman said the Yankees would try to select two starters from a young crop that includes Ivan Nova, who is virtually assured a spot in the 2011 rotation, as well as right-handers Andrew Brackman, Dellin Betances, Adam Warren, Hector Noesi and left-hander Manny Banuelos.

Of the six, only Nova has pitched at the major league level, appearing in 10 games the second half of last season (seven starts), and compiling a 1-2 record and 4.50 ERA, but displaying enough stuff and poise that the Yankees are counting on him to fill one of the starting spots.

None of the others has pitched at a higher level than Double-A, and Banuelos and Betances, who had Tommy John surgery in 2009, spent last season in Class A ball.

"We have 10 prospects starting from Double-A on up that our organization can choose from," Cashman said.

Cashman declined to say whether he was interested in free agent right-hander Freddy Garcia. According to a report, the Yankees asked for the medicals on the 35-year-old Garcia, who was 12-6 with a 4.64 ERA for the White Sox in 2010. "We ask for the medical records on every free agent," Cashman said.

The Yankees need Pettitte to return, otherwise they risk having a rotation that was once deemed a strength become a potential weakness. Pettitte has stuff left in the tank at 39 and the Yankees will need him to be their number two starter once again this season.

I don't think Phil Hughes is quite ready to be the number two starter because, let's face it, we don't exactly know if he can repeat this past season's 18 win performance. Let's hope the Yankees rotation doesn't become the old Milwaukee Braves adage "Spahn, Sain and pray for rain." If Andy Pettitte returns, the chances of that saying coming to life aren't very high, but if he doesn't, I'm a little nervous of what the Yankees rotation may be able to accomplish as a whole.

Mottau Done for Season

As reported by Katie Strang, the Islanders have placed defenseman Mike Mottau on season-ending IR with a torn labrum in his right hip. The injury was a lingering issue that pre-dated the eye injury (hyphema) that has sidelined him since November 21.

The 32-year-old veteran, signed when top defenseman Mark Streit suffered a serious pre-season shoulder injury, played 20 games this season for the Islanders.

Mottau was a steady force on the Islanders depleted blueline for the 20 games he played for them, collecting three assists. His leadership and steady presence will be missed on the Islanders blueline and this is a big blow to a unit already missing Mark Streit and Mark Eaton and one that missed Milan Jurcina and Andy MacDonald for extended periods of time as well.

Kind of interesting to see the guy the Islanders signed to replace Mark Streit is now out for the season as well, but what can you do?

DiPietro to IR?

In the wake of 21-year old forward Matt Martin's two game suspension for his hit to the head of Phoenix Coyotes forward Vernon Fiddler Saturday night, the Islanders have to call up a forward to take his spot. In order to do that they have to place someone on IR and the most likely candidate seems to be franchise goaltender Rick DiPietro, according to Newsday's Arthur Staple.

DiPietro has experienced swelling in his knee after earning the first star in the team's 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks last Thursday and has not skated since Saturday. DiPietro would have to miss the next two games - at least - if he's placed on the IR.

A potential call up is Josh Bailey, who has been tearing it up in Bridgeport to the tune of six goals and 11 assists in 11 games with the Sound Tigers. If Bailey were to return, though, it would not be for the two games Martin is out. His return would be for the long haul because the first game he plays upon returning would be his 160th career game, thus the team would have to put him through waivers if they were to send him down again.

UPDATE: Rick DiPietro has been placed on IR. The former first-overall draft pick, who is 4-6-4 with a 3.68 goals-against average this season, is eligible to return after seven days.

Yankees Officially Sign Russell Martin

The Yankees, obviously not overly comfortable going into Spring Training having Jesus Montero and Francisco Cervelli competing for the starting spot behind the plate, have signed former Dodger, and native Canadian, Russell Martin to a a one-year, $4 million contract to become the Yankees' starting catcher on Thursday.

Martin now becomes the low-risk, high-reward acquisition general manager Brian Cashman was looking for to address an uneasy situation behind the plate. The ultimate reward would be for Martin to feel completely healthy and somehow reacquire the skills that made him one of the best catchers in the National League just two years ago.

"I'm expecting what I've done in the past, and hopefully even better," the former Dodgers backstop said via conference call. "I'm going to do everything I can to get back to those ways. Because talent just doesn't go away. I know I can hit, you know what I mean? I just want to get back to that consistency."

Martin wasn't just consistent -- he was great for a two-year stretch from 2007-08, when he put up a .286 batting average, .380 on-base percentage and 32 home runs while making two All-Star teams and winning both Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards.

But he batted just .250 in 143 games the following year, then had a nightmarish 2010 that began with a Spring Training groin injury, proceeded with a .248 batting average and five homers in 97 games and ended prematurely with a broken right hip.

The Yankees are also hoping that Martin can return to the Gold Glove caliber defensive player from two seasons ago. Last season the Yankees were atrocious defensively behind the plate, where Jorge Posada and Cervelli were less than adequate behind the plate, failing to throw out runners at, what seemed like, every other attempt. Martin brings a career 31% caught stealing rate to New York with him, surpassing Posada's 28% and Cervelli's 22% for their respective careers.

Martin threw out 30.6 percent of runners attempting to steal, the seventh-best percentage among qualifying MLB catchers (81+ games) while Cervelli and Posada had two of the five worst caught stealing percentages in the majors, combining for only a 12.4 percent success rate at nabbing basestealers. Furthermore, Martin had four pickoffs last year (only Humberto Quintero of the Astros had more). Posada and Cervelli combined for one the entire season (by Cervelli) and Posada hasn’t had one since 2006.

Posada and Cervelli combined for ten passed balls, 21 errors last season (easily the most in the majors) and their pitching staff threw 67 wild pitches when they caught, 8th most in the majors in 2010. They also allowed the fourth most stolen bases in the majors, something that the Yankees hope will change with the acquisition of Martin. Posada ranked fourth in the majors with eight passed balls and sixth in errors, 8, in only 83 games caught and Cervelli ranked second in the majors with 13 errors in 90 games caught.

Martin's career high in passed balls was six in 2008, 14 errors in 2007 in 145 games caught and his pitching staff threw 41 passed balls in 2006, the most he has ever been behind the plate for. It seems that the Yankees are getting a significant upgrade behind the dish for the 2011 season, and the presence of Martin also gives the Yankees a lot of flexibility because now they don't have to rush Montero and 22-year old Austine Romine into action with the big club and they can develop at a steady pace in the minors.

Romine is considered to be a plus defensive catcher and has progressed significantly offensively over the last couple of seasons, which has many people believing he will be the catcher of the future and, as a result, Montero's big bat may be dangled in a trade for a big name pitcher.

"The assets this organization currently possesses is high-end pitching depth, as well as high-end catching depth," Cashman said. "If we ever choose to shoot those bullets, we're in a better position to do so.

"I'm not saying I want to shoot any of these assets for trade purposes, but sometimes you have to."

After an extensive physical examination on Martin, it was revealed that he has a small meniscus tear in his right knee and will undergo the same surgery that Posada and CC Sabathia had earlier in the offseason, with recovery time expected to be three weeks. Cashman said he's "very comfortable with what I've been told" regarding Martin's injury, which is more common with football players and is believed to have a high recovery rate.

The Yankees will no doubt be careful, but the 27-year-old Martin is expected to be ready by Spring Training, and Martin said his hip issues are "over with."

"It feels great," Martin said. "I haven't felt anything wrong with it for at least a month now. There's absolutely no problem with it. Before I hurt my knee, I was really pushing [the hip] pretty hard in training and stuff, and I never really had any side effects of pain or anything of that nature. I had full range of motion and everything, so I feel pretty comfortable with my hip."

Now he just needs to get comfortable at the plate again and the Yankees think that their highly regarded hitting coach, Kevin Long, can fix his swing like he did for Curtis Granderson in the second half of last season, and Nick Swisher two seasons ago.

Martin, who believes he's "getting better every year" defensively, believes the key to that is a return to basics.

After a successful '08 season, Martin went on a very strict diet and intense offseason training regimen that made him more athletic, but also caused him to lose pop in his bat. He said that forced him to do more with his swing to try to compensate and thus led to an inconsistent approach at the plate.

Heading into the 2010 campaign, Martin took the opposite approach. He put on about 25 extra pounds that put him at 231 at the start of Spring Training, but he still struggled.

Now, Martin said he wants to weigh between 215 and 220 pounds. He vowed he'd be in the best shape of his life when camp opens up in February, and he preached a return to what made him successful in the past.

"I think I got almost in my own way," Martin said. "So this year, I made sure to just come back to the roots and what really got me to where I wanted to be those two All-Star seasons and my first year."

DiPietro Out Tonight With Minor Swelling in His Knee, Lawson Called Up to Start

After arguably his best performance of the season in Thursday night's 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks Rick DiPietro will miss tonight's game against the Phoenix Coyotes with minor swelling in his knee.

The swelling in his knee doesn't seem to be anything major, as the franchise goaltender implies it's not a big deal and "the setback is (a) minor one."

However, as a precaution, since it is clear DiPietro would not be able to back-up Dwayne Roloson tonight, the Islanders have called up AHL netminder Nathan Lawson on an emergency basis from Bridgeport. Lawson, 27, will start for the Isles in the contest tonight against the Phoenix Coyotes. It will be Lawson's NHL debut.

In other news, Jon Sim was put on waivers yesterday for the sole purpose of sending him to Bridgeport. He was skating this morning with the team, so it appears he has, in fact, cleared waivers and will be assigned to the SoundTigers.

UPDATE: Sim cleared waivers and was recalled from Bridgeport and was in the lineup tonight in the Isles 4-3 shootout loss to the Coyotes. Sim saw 10:45 of ice time.

Yankees Sign Feliciano, Begin the Bullpen Rebuild

And we're back. Sorry for the two month hiatus, it's been a hectic two months at that. Back to business now though.

So back the Yankees. After watching the Red Sox sign Carl Crawford, trade for Adrian Gonzalez, sign Bobby Jenks and watching the Phillies swoop in and steal Cliff Lee, the Yankees went out and signed Russell Martin, Mark Prior and now Pedro Feliciano.

Not exactly an earth shattering move, but a great one nonetheless. With the signing of Feliciano, the Yankees get that second lefty in the 'pen that they've been searching for. And Feliciano is no slouch. He has pitched in New York, with that team in Queens, for the past eight seasons, breaking the franchise record and leading the National League in appearances by appearing in 86 games in 2008, 88 games in 2009 and 92 games in 2010.

"After I broke the record the first time, I just tried to put in my mind that I tried to break it again, and I did it," Feliciano said. "This past year I just put in my mind that if I could break it again I would do it. And I did it."

Feliciano, 34, doesn't think all the games will impact him going forward.

"Not at all," Feliciano said. "I work hard for every year. I don't let down and just do what I did last year. I want to keep proving I can do more than what I did last year."

Feliciano has been a late bloomer, which had a lot to do with ex-Mets pitching coach Rick Peterson instructing him to drop down to a low three-quarters delivery in 2004. Feliciano went to Japan in 2005 and when he returned to the Mets in 2006 he was a difference-maker against lefties.

"I had that in my mind," Feliciano said. "Before I dropped down, I was thinking, 'Next year I'm going to come a little more sidearm.' All of a sudden, they said, 'Let's drop you down.' They put in my mind that Buddy Groom and all those guys, they were average lefties, and then they dropped down and changed from average to one of the best. I started working out."

Lefties hit just .211 against him last season.

SI.com first reported the deal will be for two years with a team option for a third. It is expected to be in the $8 million range. The deal could be announced as soon as Friday.

Now onto the bullpen "rebuild" that the Yankees are trying to accomplish. After the Yankees got absolutely manhandled in the ALCS against the Texas Rangers in just about all facets of the game, they realized that their biggest deficiency in that series was their pitching. Their pitchers had a 6.58 ERA against the Rangers, surrendering 63 hits in 52 innings pitched. Part of the problem was that two of the key cogs in the bullpen, David Robertson and Boone Logan, had ERAs of 20.25 and 27.00 respectively.

CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes, Sergio Mitre and the enigma that is AJ Burnett combined for an ERA of 8.84 in the six games against the Rangers, nothing very comforting for the Yankees brass. Basically, their pitching staff was atrocious and since they really don't need a major upgrade in the rotation, unless Andy Pettitte decided to pack it in, they are going to try and load up the bullpen.

It has been rumored that the team is looking into signing left-handed setup man Brian Fuentes as well as right hander Grant Balfour and Rafael Soriano. Fuentes is a possibility and the team has been in discussions with his agent. Balfour may be less of a possibility because he is a Type A free agent, and thus the Yankees would have to give the Twins their first round draft pick if they signed Balfour. Soriano seems to just be talk because the Yankees have no interest in paying closer money for Soriano to set up Mariano Rivera, and Soriano will close somewhere. I guess since the Yankees are taking the patience approach that's just what we will have to be, patient. Hopefully the Yankees can make some moves that counter those great ones made by the Red Sox.

Yankees: Burnett Will Start Game 4 Regardless of Game 3 Outcome

New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi plans to stick with right-hander A.J. Burnett in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on Tuesday, no matter the result of the previous night's matchup between Cliff Lee and Andy Pettitte.

Before the Yankees' workout at the Stadium on Sunday, Girardi said CC Sabathia -- who would have been the alternative, working on short rest -- would proceed with his normal between-starts bullpen session. Girardi added that using Sabathia in Game 4 would require Phil Hughes to pitch on short rest in Game 5 on Wednesday, something the 24-year-old right-hander has not been asked to do in his career.

"We set up our rotation for a number of reasons," Girardi said. "We're just staying with it. Phil Hughes has never thrown on short rest. We have Andy Pettitte, who is coming off an injury. There's a lot of things that go into making up your rotation. We believe in A.J. I know it's been a tough year for him at times this year, but we believe in A.J."

Burnett last appeared in a game on Oct. 2, at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox. He threw a simulated game last Wednesday in the Bronx between rounds, before the Yankees departed for Texas. During that outing, Burnett hit teammates Greg Golson and Austin Kearns with pitches.

"It's different when they're our guys," Burnett said after the simulated game. "They know I didn't mean to do it. But it's still not a good feeling."

During his final 22 starts of the regular season, Burnett was 4-13 with a 6.48 ERA.

"A.J. hasn't questioned -- and I haven't heard any rumblings from the clubhouse -- 'Am I starting Game 4 of not?'" Girardi said. "...Maybe other people have talked about it, but my message has been clear that we're on rotation."

Wisniewski Suspended Two Games for Obscene Gesture

New York Islanders defenseman James Wisniewski has been suspended for two games for making an obscene gesture to New York Rangers forward Sean Avery during Monday's game in Long Island.

"A lot of actions on the ice are regrettable," Wisniewski said. "I've been given a suspension from the league and I'm going to accept it and move on from here."

Wisniewski and Avery jostled in front of the Islanders' net after the play was stopped in the first period Monday. Wisniewski made the gesture with his hand and mouth at Avery as the two were separated by officials.

Wisniewski will miss the Islanders' game on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals and Friday's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Before the season started Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Nick Boynton was suspended for a regular-season game for making a throat-slashing gesture during a preseason game against Tampa.

While playing for Anaheim last season, Wisniewski was suspended on March 17 for eight games after he knocked Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook out of a game with a hard check into the glass.

Wisniewski is now considered a repeat offender under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement. Because of that he will lose two games' salary worth $79,268.30 instead of two days' salary.

Yanks Shut Down Marte, Surgery Likely

To the surprise of exactly no one, the Yankees have pulled the plug on the attempted rehab of lefthanded reliever Damaso Marte and now believe shoulder surgery is in his immediate future. The Yankees were hoping that Marte, who missed a chunk of time in 2009 with shoulder soreness but returned to play a key role in last year's post-season, would be able to recoved in time to help them this October, too.

But Marte, who has been on the DL since July 17 with a similar case of left shoulder inflammation, has not responded to treatment. "He's attempted to come back but it just hasn’t worked out,'' GM Brian Cashman said. "We’ll have to go the more aggressive route. That could involve surgery, and most likely will.''

Cashman said Marte will fly from Tampa, where he has been rehabbing, to New York tomorrow to be examined by team physician Dr. Chris Ahmad, before a final determination is made. In Marte's absence, Boone Logan has emerged as the Yankees left-handed specialist out of the pen.

Ryan Says He Would Have Convinced Favre to Return Had Team Not Drafted Sanchez

Technically, Brett Favre was Rex Ryan's quarterback for 23 days in the winter of 2009 -- from Ryan's hiring by the New York Jets to Favre's "retirement" announcement.

They spoke only once, and it wasn't until the day Favre quit -- an "uncomfortable" phone conversation, according to Ryan. The perception was that Ryan wanted to start fresh at quarterback, that he wanted no part of the interception-prone gunslinger.

On Monday, Ryan added a new twist to the coach-quarterback relationship that never made it to the field.

"If we never drafted Mark Sanchez, there would've been major recruiting," said Ryan, claiming he would've tried to talk Favre out of retirement to return to the Jets. "Maybe nobody knows that, but I can promise you, that's what I was feeling."

That Ryan never mentioned this until now seems a bit odd. There were ample opportunities to throw it into a conversation over the last 17 months, but he always was curiously vague about his ever-so-brief overlap with Favre.

Of course, the Jets (3-1) are facing Favre and the Minnesota Vikings (1-2) Monday night at home, and it just so happens that Sanchez is the fourth-highest rated passer in the NFL (105.3) after three straight wins.

Obviously, the Jets are thrilled with Sanchez, but Ryan made it sound like he would've been happy to coach Favre, whom he described as "a once-in-a-lifetime quarterback." Revisionist history?

If Ryan really wanted him back, he would've called a lot sooner than the day of Favre's retirement -- a retirement that lasted only six months. Ryan said he wanted to draft a quarterback, revealing that he was smitten with Kansas State's Josh Freeman before Sanchez. As the pre-draft process unfolded, they got hot for Sanchez, selecting him fifth overall.

The day after the draft, Favre asked the Jets to release him from their reserve/retired list. Obviously, he already had designs on joining the Vikings, his preferred destination in 2008. The Jets were his third choice, his only choice really, as the Green Bay Packers refused to trade him to an NFC team.

If necessary, Ryan believes he could've convinced Favre to stay a Jet.

"Yeah, I do, because he would've seen how sincere I was and the kind of passion I have," Ryan said. "I'm not going to say it's equal to his, but maybe it is. We both want to win, I know that."

It would've taken one of the all-time sell jobs because Favre never got comfortable in the Jets' offense and, according to friends, didn't love living in New Jersey.

Favre's only season with the Jets ended dismally after a promising start. The team was 8-3, in first place, but he injured his throwing arm (not disclosed until after the season) and played horribly down the stretch. The Jets finished 9-7, missed the playoffs and Eric Mangini got fired. Enter, Ryan.

Favre was reborn last season with the Vikings, enjoying a career year, but he'll be remembered in New York as the hired gun who failed to deliver.

"I'm sure they're probably not going to embrace him," said left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, anticipating the crowd reaction at the New Meadowlands Stadium.

It's hard to second-guess the Jets' decision. After struggling for most of his rookie year, Sanchez has won seven of his last nine starts (including playoffs), with 12 touchdown passes and only two interceptions in that span.

"It worked out I'm sure for Brett and the Jets," Ryan said. "We got a quarterback that'll be here for the next 10 years. Brett Favre, he's a great player. Last year, those statistics [33 touchdowns, seven interceptions], I kept saying, 'That can't be right.' This guy is ridiculous, how good he is."

Santonio Holmes Returns to Jets

The New York Jets' streaking offense got stronger Monday with the return of wide receiver Santonio Holmes, who served a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy.

Holmes, who learned of his suspension before his trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers in April, has spent the last few weeks at the Jets' facility. He was allowed to attend meetings and work out, but wasn't permitted to practice or attend games.

The former Super Bowl MVP will practice Wednesday, when the Jets begin preparation for their Monday night home game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Adding defensive-line depth, the Jets re-signed tackle Howard Green, as expected. They released Green last week to make room for defensive end Trevor Pryce. The uncertain status of end Shaun Ellis (sprained knee), injured in Sunday's 38-14 win over the Buffalo Bills, adds to the importance of line depth.

To make room for Green and Holmes, who was activated from the suspended list, the Jets waived wide receivers David Clowney and Patrick Turner. Clowney has one reception for 22 yards. Turner could be added to the practice squad.

Longtime Yankees Writer Maury Allen Dies at 78

Longtime sports writer Maury Allen, who penned biographies of everyone from Jackie Robinson to Joe Namath and spent 27 years writing for the New York Post, has died of lymphoma. He was 78.

Allen primarily covered the New York Yankees for the Post, which confirmed that the author died Sunday at his home in Cedar Grove, N.J. Allen also worked for The Journal News and Sports Illustrated, wrote more than three dozen books and served as an adviser on "The Bronx is Burning."

Allen made a cameo in the ESPN miniseries about the 1977 Yankees, along with a minor acting role in "The Odd Couple." He also was a staple in several sports documentaries.

He recently completed a book about former Brooklyn Dodgers outfielder Dixie Walker, which was released earlier this year.