Update: HOLLIDAY A CARD 7yr/120 million, p178

[Jocephus]

guess i'll just put this here

Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com report that four teams remain in the running for free agent outfielder Jason Bay.
It was starting to look like the Mets were bidding against themselves, but it appears that the Mariners, Angels and Giants have varied levels of interest in the 31-year-old outfielder, as well. According to a person familiar with the team's plans, it's "not impossible" to envision the Giants signing either Bay or Matt Holliday. It turns out that the Mets might not be the shoe-in many thought they were.
Source: FOXSports.com
Related: Angels, Mets, Mariners, Giants

[Jocephus]

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that a big-ticket outfielder doesn't fit into his plans for 2010.
"I will continue to look at any remaining piece, but it won't be a big piece," Cashman said during a conference call to discuss the Javier Vazquez trade. "Any speculation about some high-end player who has big ability and dollars attached on a large scale would be inappropriate." This would seem to eliminate them from the running for Matt Holliday, Jason Bay and possibly Johnny Damon, but if history has taught us anything, it's that the Yankees can't be counted out in regards to any free agent.
Source: MLBlogs.com
Related: Johnny Damon, Jason Bay, Matt Holliday, Yankees

[ghostrunner]

This would seem to eliminate them from the running for Matt Holliday, Jason Bay and possibly Johnny Damon, but if history has taught us anything, it's that the Yankees can't be counted out in regards to any free agent.

I feel like I've read this eleventy thousand times this offseason.

[TheoSqua]

This would seem to eliminate them from the running for Matt Holliday, Jason Bay and possibly Johnny Damon, but if history has taught us anything, it's that the Yankees can't be counted out in regards to any free agent.

I feel like I've read this eleventy thousand times this offseason.

That's what happens when your owner throws out $15m/year contracts like he's buying bubble gum.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

This would seem to eliminate them from the running for Matt Holliday, Jason Bay and possibly Johnny Damon, but if history has taught us anything, it's that the Yankees can't be counted out in regards to any free agent.

I feel like I've read this eleventy thousand times this offseason.

It's like music to my ears every time i hear it though.

[fanforever]

guess i'll just put this here

Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com report that four teams remain in the running for free agent outfielder Jason Bay.
It was starting to look like the Mets were bidding against themselves, but it appears that the Mariners, Angels and Giants have varied levels of interest in the 31-year-old outfielder, as well. According to a person familiar with the team's plans, it's "not impossible" to envision the Giants signing either Bay or Matt Holliday. It turns out that the Mets might not be the shoe-in many thought they were.
Source: FOXSports.com
Related: Angels, Mets, Mariners, Giants

I call B/S on this. Mariners, Angels and Giants ...all west coast teams and teams Boras has season tickets. another PR move by Boras to generate interest..

[Radbird]

Bernie's latest.

http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/bernie ... -holliday/

The Yankees and Braves Make a Trade: Earlier today the Atlanta Braves traded RHP Javier Vazquez to the Yankees for a three-player package that includes LF Melky Cabrera. Considering that Cabrera was being slotted to start in lef for the Yankees before the trade, does this mean that Matt Holliday or Jason Bay are back in play as potential free-agent signings for the Bombers? Or does it mean that the Yankees will revisit their attempts to re-sign Johnny Damon? It could be that overreaching agent Scott Boras will get lucky after all, either with Holliday or Damon to the Yankees.

But not so fast …

If the Yankees want to buy a left fielder, there are plenty of options out there, ranging from expensive to cheap. There’s Holliday, Bay, Damon, Jermaine Dye, Marlon Byrd, or Xavier Nady, just to mention a few. They could also, in theory, sign Mark De Rosa to be part of a platoon or time-share in LF.

As my friend Joel Sherman wrote moments ago in the New York Post:

“The trading of Cabrera re-opens an outfield spot for the Yankees, but they will not bring back Johnny Damon or pursue top free agents Jason Bay and Matt Holliday. But they have had interest in Mark DeRosa and Jermaine Dye. It is possible the Yanks could try to sign DeRosa or Dye, and pair them with a strong late-game defender such as Brett Gardner.”

I wouldn’t automatically assume the Yankees will make a serious run at Holliday. Yes, they are always a threat because they have the largest bankroll in the majors. But don’t forget that the Yankees are picking up all of the Vazquez salary, which is $11.5 million for 2010. Vazquez becomes a free agent after next season, and that is notable for this reason: Yanks GM Brian Cashman seems to be seeking short-term commitments this winter. As baseball writer Tyler Kepner of the New York Times tweeted a while ago: “Cashman’s going for short-term deals to save up for dream free agent class next winter.” So Holliday may not be a Yankee target. He may be too costly for their long-range planning.

[fanforever]

http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/hardball/ ... dq2HIKg1VM

6. So what do the Yanks do in left field now? They insist that they have a real budget and will work diligently to not exceed $200 million. The Yankees calculate contracts by average annual value because that is what they are taxed on. So that means, for example, Kei Igawa does not count toward that payroll because he was removed from the 40-man roster, though he will still be paid $4 million next year. However, there also is a significant amount of money added to cover items such as insurance and other benefits. In this structure, the Yankee payroll currently stands at about $198 million, including educated guesses that on their last two arbitration cases: Mitre and Gaudin.

Now the Yanks will almost certainly try to trade one if not both Gaudin (due about $2.5 million next year) and Mitre (due about $1.25 million). That would provide a few more dollars to maneuver. But not nearly enough to completely change course and go after Jason Bay or Matt Holliday. They are not under consideration.

In order for Johnny Damon to now be under consideration, he would probably have to accept a one-year contract in the $5 million to $7 million range (the Bobby Abreu deal from 2009). But even if his market really had fallen that far would he accept the humiliation of returning for those dollars? And if he were willing to would the Yanks want him with the fear that he is so angry with that contract that he would not play to his fullest?

Mark DeRosa interests the Yanks, but he probably will be priced out, as well. I do think it is possible that the Yanks could try to bring back Xavier Nady on a low base with a lot of incentives as long as his Tommy John repaired elbow tests out OK. His right-center power would be effective in Yankee Stadium.

For now, though, the Yanks are saying they will go with Brett Gardner with Rule 5 pick Jamie Hoffman as a possible righty-hitting caddy. They do want to emphasize defense and they feel Gardner would be one of the best defensive left fielders in the majors. He also is probably a better center fielder than Granderson, but the Yanks think their left field is so big that they would want Gardner there, especially since he has experience in left, too.

Also, the Yanks believe that if they do not find a left fielder they can do it during the season if necessary.

But keep in mind they once said they were going with Bubba Crosby in center before signing Damon, and they were saying they would go with Cabrera and Gardner in center again before obtaining Granderson. So we might see a veteran left fielder before Opening Day if history holds.

[Hungary Jack]

Unless the Yankees are blowing total smoke about the $200M figure, I don't see how they possibly sign Holliday or Bay. There is just no room in the budget for a contract that will average >$15M annually. They would have to trade Burnett or Posada to get it done. Obviously they aren't looking to do that.

Damon is still the best candidate for them, followed by DeRosa and perhaps Nady. Garrett Anderson, Randy Winn, Marlon Byrd could also be considered.

[Eephus Speed]

The Yankees calculate contracts by average annual value because that is what they are taxed on.

I guess that explains why Cot's shows them to be over 200M already. I'll say it again, it's pathetic that a team with that high of a payroll still has a hole to fill.