YANKEES NEWS & TRANSACTIONS ARCHIVE

Yankees Add Damon and Dotel
On December 20th, the Yankees signed center fielder and former Boston Red Sox Johnny Damon to a four-year contract and signed relief pitcher Octavio Dotel, who is recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery, to a one-year contract. Damon gives the Yankees their first big time leadoff hitter since Chuck Knoblauch was at the top of the order a half-decade ago—an era when New York won three straight World Series titles and four consecutive AL pennants. Damon, who turned 32 last month, led Boston with a .316 batting average, 197 hits 117 runs in 2005. Dotel had 36 saves for Houston and Oakland in 2004 but struggled in 2005 with Oakland, going 1-2 with seven saves and a 3.52 ERA before he went on the disabled list May 20. Dotel had reconstructive elbow surgery June 6th to repair a torn ligament but hopes to be pitching by midseason.

Yanks Sign Farnsworth
The Yankees agreed to a three-year contract with reliever Kyle Farnsworth on December 2nd, moving quickly to replace Tom Gordon as the primary setup man for Mariano Rivera. The hard-throwing righty, who turns 30 in April, split last season between the Detroit Tigers and Atlanta Braves. He combined to go 1-1 with a 2.19 ERA in 72 games, striking out 87 and walking 27 in 70 innings.

A-Rod Wins MVP
Alex Rodriguez was named the Most Valuable Player in the American League on November 14th. The vote for MVP, conducted by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, was held just prior to the start of postseason play. Rodriguez finished with 331 points, edging Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz who received 307 points. A-Rod completed the 2005 season with a .321 batting average, 130 runs batted in, and an American League leading 48 homeruns. This is the second MVP award for Rodriguez; he was named MVP in 2003 while playing for the Texas Rangers, and he is the first Yankee to be named MVP since Don Mattingly won the award in 1985.

Yankees 2005 Postseason Awards
Five New York Yankees have been recognized with postseason awards following the 2005 season. Alex Rodriguez and Gary Sheffield were honored with Silver Slugger Awards—an award given to the best offensive player at each position in each league. Winners are picked by major league managers and coaches who are not allowed to vote for their own players. On his way to earning his eighth career Silver Slugger Award, Rodriguez finished the year with 48 home runs, 124 runs scored and a .321 average. Sheffield received his fourth Silver Slugger Award after hitting .291, with 34 home runs and 123 RBI’s.

Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter was awarded his second consecutive Golden Glove Award after being voted the American Leagues best defensive shortstop. Jeter finished the 2005 season with a fielding percentage of .979 and a total of 454 assists. After missing 82 games in 2004 with a pituitary tumor and an intestinal parasite, power hitting first baseman Jason Giambi has been awarded the American League Comeback Player of the Year Award and was named the Players Choice Award recipient of the 2005 AL Comeback Player of the Year. After a slow start in April and May, Giambi rebounded to post solid numbers, hitting .271 with 32 home runs and 87 RBIs for the Yankees in 2005. Closer Mariano Rivera was recognized as the DHL Delivery Man of the Year after a terrific season in which he recorded 43 saves while finishing with a 1.38 ERA and 80 strikeouts.

Yankees Trade Berg for Lawton
The New York Yankees acquired outfielder Matt Lawton from the Chicago Cubs on Saturday, August 27th. In exchange for Lawton, the Yankees sent minor league pitcher Justin Berg to the Cubs. Berg, 21, was 6-1 with a 3.07 ERA for Class A Staten Island. Lawton batted .268 with 11 home runs and 49 RBI over 120 games this season with Chicago and Pittsburgh. Lawton has played for five teams in parts of 11 major league seasons with a career batting average of .269, a .369 on-base percentage and 164 stolen bases.

Yankees Acquire Al Leiter
On July 15th, the New York Yankees acquired left-hander Al Leiter from the Florida Marlins for a player to be named later. The Marlins designated Leiter for assignment on June 14th after a disappointing season in which he went 3-7 with a 6.64 ERA. Leiter, 39, was originally drafted by the Yankees in 1984 and spent five years with the organization before being traded to Toronto in 1989. Leiter was 10-8 with a 3.21 ERA for the Mets in 2004. He is 158-127 with a 3.76 ERA in his career and 1-3 with a 4.50 ERA in 17 career postseason games.

Yanks Trade Quantrill for May and Redding
On Saturday, July 2nd, the New York Yankees traded relief pitcher Paul Quantrill to the San Diego Padres for starting pitchers Darrell May and Tim Redding. Quantrill, who was in his second season with the Yankees, had a record of 1-0 with a 6.75 ERA in 22 games. The veteran right hander gave up 48 hits and 24 runs in just 32 innings. May and Redding have both been very inconsistent for the Padres in 2005. May, 33, has pitched for six major-league teams and in Japan and was 1-3 with a 6.69 ERA in eight starts for the Padres. Redding, 27, was 0-5 with an 8.94 ERA. He has a career mark of 21-33 but was a 10-game winner for the Astros in 2003.

Randy Johnson Joins Yanks Rotation
After weeks of negotiations, the New York Yankees finally introduced veteran five-time Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson to their staff on Tuesday, January 11th. The Yankees sent pitchers Javier Vasquez and Brad Halsey, catcher Dioner Navarro and cash to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for the all-star pitcher. Johnson adds a powerful left-hander to the Yankees rotation and joins a pitching staff of Mike Mussina, Carl Pavano, Jaret Wright and Kevin Brown. The Big Unit, 41, went 16-14 with a 2.60 ERA last season. He ended the season second to Roger Clemens in the National League Cy Young vote. In addition, last season he finished first in the league in strikeouts (290), first in opponents’ batting average (.197), and second in overall innings pitched (245). Johnson’s history includes stops in Montreal, Seattle, Houston, and Phoenix where he has proved to be one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball.

Yanks Welcome Back Tino
The New York Yankees signed free agent first baseman Tino Martinez to a one-year contract on Friday, December 31st. Martinez, a member of the Yankees in 1996-2001, played on four World Series champion squads (1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000) in six seasons and drove in at least 100 runs five times after being acquired from Seattle following the 1995 season. He left the Yankees after the 2001 season. In 2004, the 37-year-old Martinez hit .262 with 23 homers and 76 RBI in 138 games for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays after playing the prior two seasons for St. Louis. He has a career average of .272 with 322 homers and 1,222 RBI in 1,892 games. Martinez has been an All-Star twice in his 15-year career and will likely share time at first base and as a designated hitter with Jason Giambi.

Yanks Sign Wright
The New York Yankees and free agent pitcher Jaret Wright finalized a three-year contract on Wednesday, December 29th. Wright is the second pitcher the Yankees have signed this offseason and joins fellow right-hander Carl Pavano in the rotation. The 29-year-old Wright went 15-8 with a 3.28 ERA and a career-high 159 strikeouts for the Atlanta Braves last season, but lost both of his starts against Houston in the opening round of the playoffs. The 10th-overall pick in the 1994 draft, Wright owns a 52-45 career mark with a 5.09 earned run average in 180 career games (128 starts) with the Indians, Padres and Braves. During his rookie year (1997) with Cleveland, Wright helped eliminate the Yankees in the first round of the playoffs and posted a 3-0 record in five postseason starts to help the Indians reach the World Series.

Yanks Sign Pavano
The New York Yankees announced on Wednesday, December 22nd that they signed free-agent righthander Carl Pavano to a four-year contract. Pavano was among the most sought-after pitchers in the free agent market. He joins holdovers Mike Mussina and Kevin Brown in a rebuilt Yankees rotation. The 28-year-old Pavano was 18-8 with a 3.00 earned run average in 31 starts for the Florida Marlins in 2004. His 18 wins were tied for second most in the National League (with Houston's Roger Clemens and San Francisco's Jason Schmidt) while establishing a single-season franchise record. He also recorded career bests in ERA (3.00), innings pitched (222.1) and strikeouts (139). He ranked sixth among all National League pitchers in innings pitched and seventh in ERA, walks per 9.0 innings (1.98) and winning percentage (.692). Pavano held opposing hitters to a .253 batting average while the Marlins posted a 22-9 record in his 31 starts. He allowed two runs or less in 17 starts and also set Florida's single-season record for road wins, going 12-2 with a 2.83 ERA in games away from Pro Player Stadium this past season.

The Southington, Connecticut native made his first All-Star appearance of his career in 2004 and was a key member of the Marlins' 2003 World Championship team where he posted a 2-0 record with a 1.40 ERA in eight games during the '03 postseason. Prior to joining the Marlins in the middle of the 2002 season, Pavano spent parts of five seasons with the Montreal Expos (1998-2002). He was originally selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 13th round of the 1994 First-Year Player Draft.

Yanks Sign Womack
The Yankees finalized a two-year contract with second baseman Tony Womack on Tuesday, December 21st. Womack, 35, helped the St. Louis Cardinals reach the World Series last season as he posted a .307 batting average with five home runs, 38 RBI and 26 stolen bases. The 35-year-old set new career highs for both on-base percentage (.349) and slugging percentage (.385). Womack, who is expected to take over for Miguel Cairo as the starter at second base, has also played for Arizona, Colorado and the Cubs.

Yanks Trade for Rodriguez
In a separate trade on December 3rd, the Yankees acquired additional bullpen help by sending outfielder Kenny Lofton and cash to the Philadelphia Phillies for reliever Felix Rodriguez. Lofton, 37, will be going to his ninth major league team. A six-time All-Star earlier in his career, Lofton hit .275 with seven stolen bases in 83 games in his only season with New York. Rodriguez, 32, was 5-8 with one save in 76 games for San Francisco and Philadelphia last season. The Giants traded him to the Phillies for outfielder Ricky Ledee and a minor league pitcher in late July. Rodriguez joins a deep bullpen, but one that struggled after the Yankees won the first three games of the ALCS. The righty went 25-9 from 2001-03 and helped pitch the Giants into the 2002 World Series.

Yanks Swap Heredia for Stanton
Mike Stanton and Felix Heredia traded boroughs on December 3rd, crossing town as the Mets and Yankees completed a swap of left-handed relievers. In 2004, Heredia was 1-1 with a 6.28 ERA in 47 regular-season appearances for the Yankees. Heredia has pitched for the Marlins, Cubs and Reds over the course of his nine-year career, logging a 26-15 record with six saves and a 4.50 ERA in 349 2/3 NL innings. Stanton, 37, signed with the Mets before the 2003 season when the Yankees allowed him to leave via free agency. The last two seasons were frustrating for Stanton, who has also pitched with Atlanta, Boston and Texas over a 15-year Major League career. Stanton was healthy most of this past year, but his performance suffered due to overuse. The veteran appeared in 83 games—good for seventh in the Majors and breaking a club record of 80 set by Turk Wendell in 1999—en route to a 2-6 record and a 3.16 ERA.

The deal is the 12th all-time between the Mets and the Yankees, and the first since July 16, 2003, when the Mets sent reliever Armando Benitez across town for reliever Jason Anderson and two minor leaguers.

Yankees Receive Awards for Outstanding Play
On November 2nd, New York Yankees Right Fielder Gary Sheffield received his fourth Silver Slugger Award, given annually to the top offensive player at each position in each league. Sheffield had previously won the award while playing with the San Diego Padres in 1992, the Florida Marlins in 1996, and the Atlanta Braves in 2003. This season while suffering a torn trapezius muscle in his left shoulder, Sheffield had a batting average of .290, hit 36 home runs and drove in 121 RBIs.

Also on November 2nd, Derek Jeter became the first Yankee shortstop to win a Golden Glove Award, an accolade given to the leagues’ best defensive player at each position. Jeter won his first Golden Glove Award after ranking fourth among AL shortstops in fielding percentage (.981) and errors (13) for the 2004 season. The Yankees have now won a Gold Glove at every position, with 20 players combining for 55 awards; Don Mattingly's 10 at first base top the list.

Yankees Deadline Deals
On July 31st, Major League Baseball’s non-waiver trade deadline, the New York Yankees boosted their starting rotation by acquiring All-Star right-hander Esteban Loaiza from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for right-hander Jose Contreras and cash considerations. Loaiza, an All-Star in each of the past two seasons, has totaled a 9-5 record and a 4.86 ERA in 21 starts this season. The 32-year-old enjoyed a breakout season in 2003, going 21-9 with a 2.90 ERA while finishing second in the American League Cy Young Award voting.

Contreras had been inconsistent in his first two seasons in Pinstripes since coming over from Cuba in 2002, totaling a 15-7 record with a 4.64 ERA. Although successful against most teams, Contreras struggled mightily against the rival Boston Red Sox.

Yankees Trade Mike Lamb
On Wednesday, March 25th, the New York Yankees traded third baseman Mike Lamb to the Houston Astros for minor league right-hander Juan DeLeon. The Yankees acquired Lamb on February 3rd, but became expendable once the Yankees acquired Alex Rodriquez. Lamb was hitting .292 this spring, with one home run and two RBI.

DeLeon, 22, was 2-0 with a 1.83 ERA in 39 1/3 innings with the Astros Class-A affiliate in Lexington, KY. Deleon will be assigned to the Yankees Class-A affiliate in Tampa, Florida.

Yankees Sign Travis Lee
On Wednesday, February 25, the New York Yankees signed first baseman Travis Lee to a one-year contract. The 28-year-old Lee spent last season with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, playing in 145 games while hitting .275 with 19 home runs, 37 doubles and 70 RBI. Lee’s addition gives the Yankees an outstanding defensive option at first base if Jason Giambi does not fully recover from off-season knee surgery that removed inflamed tissue from his left knee. As a first baseman, Lee has a career .997 fielding percentage, making only 23 errors in over 6,800 chances.

Yanks Welcome A-Rod to Pinstripes
On Monday, February 16, the New York Yankees acquired Texas Rangers’ shortstop Alex Rodriguez in a blockbuster trade for second baseman Alfonso Soriano and a player to be named later. Rodriguez , a seven time all-star, will play third base next to Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter, filling the void left by the offseason injury to third baseman Aaron Boone. The Rangers will also send the Yankees $67 million over the remaining seven years on A-Rod’s contract.

The loss of Soriano leaves a void for the Yankees at second base, where Soriano had been an all-star the last two years. The past two seasons Soriano finished fifth in the American League in home runs, while being one of the league’s most prolific base stealers. In 2002, Soriano led the AL in plate appearances, hits, runs, stolen bases, and extra base hits. He was also third in the voting for the AL Most Valuable Player in 2002.

However, in Alex Rodriguez, the Yankees receive arguably the most talented player in baseball and the reigning AL MVP. The Seattle Mariners drafted the 6-3, 190-lb Rodriguez with the first pick in the first round of the 1993 amateur draft. In December of 2000, after seven years in Seattle, A-Rod signed a ten-year $252 million contract with the Texas Rangers, making him baseball’s highest paid player. Since arriving in Texas, Alex Rodriguez led the American League in home runs all three seasons, won two Gold Gloves and missed only one game.

Yankee great Craig Nettles, who won two Gold Gloves as a third baseman, will work with A-Rod in spring training on the transition from shortstop to third base, where Rodriguez has played only one inning in an all-star game. In addition to changing positions, Rodriguez will wear number 13 in pinstripes as number 3 was retired to honor Babe Ruth.

Henson Leaves the Yankees
New York Yankees minor league third baseman Drew Henson became an unrestricted free agent on February 9th, clearing waivers without being claimed by another big league club. The Yankees drafted Henson in 1998, and in 2001 signed him to a lucrative six year, $17 million contract. The third baseman never really blossomed in his role with the pinstripes, playing second tier to veteran hot corner specialists Scott Brosius, Robin Ventura, and Aaron Boone. Many believed that Henson might have had a shot at third base this year because of Boone’s ACL injury, however he has opted to give up the remaining $12 million on his current contract in order to pursue a career in the NFL. The Houston Texans hold the exclusive rights to Henson and will showcase him to other NFL teams starting February 12th.

Yanks Trade Garcia for Lamb
On Tuesday, February 3rd, the New York Yankees acquired third baseman Mike Lamb from the Texas Rangers in exchange for minor league pitcher Jose Garcia. In 2002, the 28-year-old Lamb played in 115 games for the Rangers, batting .283 with nine home runs and 33 RBI. Lamb was available during the offseason because of the emergence of the Rangers’ Hank Blalock in 2003. In spring training, Lamb will join Enrique Wilson, Miguel Cairo, and spring training invitees Tyler Houston and Erick Almonte in the competition for the Yankees’ opening at the hot corner.

In other transaction news, the Yankees added Joe Girardi to their list of spring training invitees. Girardi will compete for the Yankees backup catching job with incumbent John Flaherty, who signed a one-year guaranteed contract worth $775,000 in December. If Girardi is unsuccessful, he will cover the Yankees as a broadcaster for the YES network.

Quantrill, Lofton and Gordon to the Yankees
On Tuesday December 22, 2003, the New York Yankees completed a two-year contract with outfielder Kenny Lofton. Lofton hit .296 last season for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs with 12 homers, 46 RBIs and 30 steals. He and Bernie Williams will compete for the center field job in spring training, manager Joe Torre said.

New York also announced the completion of a two-year contract with right-hander Tom Gordon on Tuesday. He was officially introduced via conference call. Last season, Gordon went 7-6 with 12 saves for the White Sox, posting a 3.16 ERA. The right-hander struck out 91 batters in 74 innings.

Paul Quantrill was also signed by the Yankees’ to bolster their bullpen. Quantrill was 2-5 with a 1.75 ERA last season for Los Angeles in a major league-high 89 relief appearances. In each of the last three seasons, Quantrill has led the league in appearances, pitching in 80, 86 and 89 games.

The addition of Gordon, Quantrill and the return of Steve Karsay, from shoulder surgery, should provide the Yankees with much stronger middle relief from the right side.

Yankees Trade Hammond For Two Minor League Prospects
On Thursday, December 18, 2003, the New York Yankees dealt the left-handed reliever Chris Hammond to the Oakland A's in exchange for two minor league prospects: shortstop J.T. Stotts and pitcher Eduardo Sierra. In 62 games last season, Hammond went 3-2 with one save and a 2.86 ERA.

The 23 year-old J.T. Stotts, has averaged .281 with four home runs and 132 RBIs in three minor league seasons. Last season, Stotts batted .293 with two homers, 51 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. Eduardo Sierra, who turns 22 in April, has been pitching in the Oakland organization since 1999. In five minor league seasons, Sierra is 14-17 with a 3.36 ERA. Last season, Sierra went 3-5 with 17 saves and a 2.09 ERA for Single-A Kane County in the Midwest League.

Three-year Contract Brings Sheffield to the Yankees
On Wednesday, December 18, 2003, after weeks of negotiations, Gary Sheffield and the New York Yankees finalized a three-year contract to bring the right fielder to New York. Sheffield is a powerful slugger with incredible quickness and great bat speed that allows him to drive the ball to all fields. His career batting average is .299 with 379 HR and 1232 RBI. Last season, Sheffield hit .330 with 39 homers and a career-high 132 RBI for the Atlanta Braves. In 2003, Sheffield also reached the 2,000 career-hit plateau and stole the 200th base of his career. Sheffield's 379 career home runs are the most of any player ever acquired by the Yankees prior to the start of a season.

Kevin Brown to the Yankees
On Saturday, December 13th, the Yankees completed a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Yankees receive six-time All-Star pitcher Kevin Brown in exchange for right-hander Jeff Weaver, minor-league pitcher Yhency Brazoban, a player to be named and cash.

Last season, Brown went 14-9 with a 2.39 ERA, marking the seventh time in the last eight seasons that he has posted an earned-run average of 3.00 or lower. Brown, 39 years old by Opening Day, steps in to fill the void left by Andy Pettitte's departure to Houston. He will join Mike Mussina, Javier Vazquez, Jose Contreras and Jon Lieber in the starting rotation.

Yankees Acquire Vasquez
On Thursday, December 4th, the New York Yankees made their first major transaction of the offseason with the acquisition of starting pitcher Javier Vasquez from the Montreal Expos in exchange for three players. The blockbuster deal sent New York first baseman Nick Johnson, outfielder Juan Rivera and pitcher Randy Choate to Montreal. Vazquez, 27, will now fill one of the holes in the Yankees' starting pitching rotation. Last season, he had a record of 13-12 with a 3.24 ERA and ranked third in the National League in strikeouts (241) in 230 2/3 innings. Vazquez can best be described as a power pitcher with a vast arsenal of pitches featuring a sinker, slider, cutter, curveball and changeup.

The Yankees rotation has begun to take shape, while the team continues to wait on the decision of Andy Pettitte. In the meantime, the New York Yankees rotation will consist of Vazquez, Mike Mussina, Jose Contreras, Jeff Weaver and Jon Lieber.

Yankees Say Goodbye to El Duque
The New York Yankees traded a piece of their history yesterday. January 15, 2003 saw the end of the El Duque era for the Yanks. Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez and $2 million cash were traded to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for right-handed relief pitcher Antonio Osuna and minor-league right-hander Delvis Lantigua. Although the trade eliminates one starter from the Yankee's overcrowded pitching rotation, it also marks the end of El Duque's reign with the Yankee's, a reign that began in 1998 and carried strong through the 2002 season. In five seasons with New York, Hernandez racked up a 53-38 record with a 4.04 ERA. His impressive 9-3 post season record helped theYankees to three World Series titles from 1998-2000.

The acquisition of Osuna helps to fill the loss of Ramiro Mendoza who signed with the Red Sox in December of 2002. The Yankees now have seven starting pitchers - Roger Clemens, Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte, David Wells, Jeff Weaver, Sterling Hitchcock and newly acquired Cuban defector Jose Contreras.

Yankees Sign Contreras
On Tuesday, December 24, 2002 the Yankees reached an agreement with Cuban defector Jose Contreras on a $32 million four-year contract. The right-handed Contreras pitched for the Cuban National Team for seven years and had a 2.82 ERA in the Cuban League. With the addition of Contreras and the re-signing of Roger Clemens the Yankees now have eight starting pitchers competing for five spots in the rotation. One pitcher rumored to be on the way out is Cuban Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez.

Godzilla Invades NY!
After months of negotiations, the Yankees have reached a deal with Japan’s Hideki Matsui. Matsui’s three-year agreement with the Yankees, announced December 19, guarantees the former Yomiuri Giant $21 million plus performance bonuses. Although the final agreement is still pending a physical examination of the 28 year-old Matsui, the Yankees look forward to adding his prolific bat -- .334, 50 hrs, 107 rbi in 2002 -- to their lineup. Matsui also received interest from the Mets, Orioles and the Red Sox. Matsui is expected to play either left or right field.

Bombers Deal for Zeile
Former Colorado Rockies player Todd Zeile signed a $1.5 million 1-year contract with the Yankees on Wednesday December 18, 2002, a move that will reunite him with former manager Joe Torre and his close friend Robin Ventura. Zeile, who played for the Mets in 2000-01, is looking forward to his return to New York. He will replace Ron Coomer as the Yankee’s back-up first and third baseman, as well as becoming one of the team’s primary designated hitters. The Yankees also signed former Atlanta Brave relief pitcher Chris Hammond on Wednesday. Hammond’s two-year deal will guarantee him $4.8 million. Hammond was recently named MLB.com’s Setup Man of the Year.

Yanks Trade for "Dream" Weaver
The New York Yankees acquired Detroit Tigers ace Jeff Weaver on Friday, July 5th, in a three-team deal that sent New York pitcher Ted Lilly to the Oakland Athletics and Oakland first baseman Carlos Pena to the Tigers. In addition to Lilly, the Yankees were also forced to give up a pair of top prospects, sending outfielder John-Ford Griffin, the team’s number one pick in last year’s draft, and right-hander Jason Arnold to the Athletics. Weaver, a 25-year-old right-hander, posted a 6-8 record and a 3.18 ERA and was the only bright spot on a dismal Tigers team that went 30-58. Weaver’s addition should significantly improve an already deep Yankees rotation that already includes Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, David Wells, and Orlando Hernandez.

Yankees Acquire Mondesi
On Monday, July 1st, the New York Yankees filled a major need by acquiring Raul Mondesi, 31 from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Scott Wiggens, a 7th round draft pick in 1997. Ever since the departure of Yankee right fielder Paul O’Neill, the Yankees have been searching for someone to fill that hole. Mondesi is known around the league as a strong right fielder with an outstanding arm. He was named National League Rookie of the Year in 1994 with the Dodgers and won two Gold Gloves in ‘95 and ‘97. His defensive skills will be a welcome addition to a team that was struggling to find defense at the right field position. This season with the Blue Jays, Mondesi was hitting .224 with 15 homers and 45 RBI in a span of 75 games. He is only one of eight players with multiple 30-home run, 30-stolen base seasons. Mondesi’s speed, power and defensive skills will be assets to the Yankee outfield. Mondesi will be put to the test on July 2nd in his first start with the Yankees.

Posada Signs For Another 5 Years!
On February 3rd, Jorge Posada signed a $51 million, five-year contract with the New York Yankees to become the second highest paid catcher in baseball history. Posada, 30, has made the All-Star team the past two seasons and is now getting paid an all-star's salary. In 2001, Posada established career highs while batting .271 with 95 RBI and 22 home runs. With 26 home runs in 2000, Posada fell only one shy of Yogi Berra's franchise record for most home runs in a single season by a Yankee catcher. Posada underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder during the offseason but believes that he will be ready to go by the start of the season. By signing Posada to a multi-year deal, the Yankees have managed to secure most of their core position players for the next few years-creating substantial stability for an already deep and talented ball club.

Yankees Land Giambi and Co.
While the Mets were making most of the noise with their wheeling and dealing this offseason, the New York Yankees were calmly rebuilding their team for another championship run. The biggest deal was one that had been anticipated for months-Jason Giambi in pinstripes. On December 13th, the Yankees announced that they had added one of the most feared hitters in baseball to their team. Giambi, 30, was the 2000 AL MVP and brings a .308 lifetime batting average. Last season, Giambi batted .342 with 38 home runs and 120 RBI. He was considered the biggest free agent available this offseason and will surely add major firepower to the Yankee lineup this season.

With the departure of Paul O'Neill, Tino Martinez, Chuck Knoblauch, and David Justice, the Yankees knew they needed to add more than just Giambi to maintain their success. As a result, the Yankees signed outfielder Rondell White. White spent the past season with the Cubs, however he is best known for his time with the Montreal Expos. White, 30, spent time on the disabled list this past year as he only played 95 games for the Cubs; although he does carry a .295 career batting average and a .351 career on-base percentage. Despite being banged up, White posted a .307 batting average and added 17 home runs. With a vacancy in right field remaining, the Yankees were able to fill that void through a trade. The trade involved Jay Witasick, who never found his place in New York, being sent to San Francisco in exchange for outfielder John Vander Wal. Considered by many to be one of the best pinch-hitters in baseball, Vander Wal was a pleasant surprise for the Giants in the role of an everyday player. In 146 games, Vander Wal posted a .270 batting average with 14 home runs and 70 RBI. With his career .357 on-base percentage, the Yankees hope he will score plenty of runs with the help of his teammates.

With the lineup taking shape, the Yankees did not ignore their rotation. Despite a rotation that is considered the best in baseball, the Yankees appear to have brought back David "Boomer" Wells. While no official announcement has been made, it seems Wells has agreed to a two-year deal with the Bombers. Considered to have been one of the flamboyant characters in the Yankee dugout during his first tour with the team, Wells was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Roger Clemens. In two seasons with the Yankees, Wells posted a 34-14 record. Last year, Wells was hampered with back problems and had a record of 5-7 with a 4.47 ERA. The deal gives the Yankees six starters and brings speculation for a possible trade in the future…stay tuned.

Mets-Yanks Trade in Rare Moment
September 17th, 1993 was the last time these two teams were able to work out a deal with which either could agree. On Friday, December 7th, the New York Mets and the New York Yankees made a major crosstown trade when third baseman Robin Ventura was sent to the Bronx in return for outfielder David Justice. Ventura batted .237 with 21 homers and 61 RBI for the Mets last season. His 15 career grand slams are the most of any active player and ninth all-time. Justice, whose teams have reached the past 10 postseasons, will provide the Mets with the left-handed power hitter they've been seeking to protect Mike Piazza. He has 294 career homers, including a career-high 41 in 2000. Justice struggled last season because of a recurring injury that sidelined him for nearly 50 games. As a result, he batted just .241 with 18 homers and 51 RBI. Both teams hope this deal will address some of their offseason needs. The last time the Mets and Yankees made a trade was when pitcher Frank Tanana was sent to the Yankees in exchange for minor league pitcher Kenny Greer.

Yanks Add Depth to Bullpen with Karsay Signing
On Friday, December 7th, the New York Yankees added much-needed help to their bullpen by signing reliever Steve Karsay to a four-year contract, with an option for a fifth year, worth $23 million. Karsay is a power pitcher who spent half the season with the Cleveland Indians, where he posted a 0-1 record with one save and a 1.25 ERA in 31 games. Karsay was then traded, along with Steve Reed, to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for John Rocker. While with the Braves, Karsay had a 3-4 record and a 3.42 ERA in 43 games. The Yankees expect Karsay to serve as their right-handed short reliever, a bridge between the starting rotation and Mariano Rivera.

"Hitched Again"; Yanks Reacquire Sterling
On July 30th , 2001 the Yankees acquired lefty Sterling Hitchcock in a trade with the San Diego Padres. In the deal, the Yankees traded Triple-A pitcher Brett Jodie and Double-A outfielder Darren Blakely for the former Yankee, Hitchcock. As a Padre, Hitchcock was named NLCS MVP for his stellar performance in the 1998 National League Playoffs. In June of 2000 he sustained an elbow injury requiring “Tommy John” surgery. Hitchcock has made only three major league starts this season since recovering from the surgery. Since his return on July 4th, 2001 Hitchcock has a 2-1 record with a solid 3.32 ERA. Hitchcock joins the Yankees in New York on July 31st.

Williams and Wohlers bring experience to Yanks
On June 29th and June 30th, Gerald Williams and Mark Wohlers, both experienced and talented baseball players, joined the pinstriped Yankee family. The 34-year-old outfielder Gerald Williams, released from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, signed a contract with the Yankees that brought him back home to New York through the end of the 2002 season. Williams began his career playing with the Yankees from 1992-1996. In order to make room for Williams, who last season hit .274, set career highs with 21 home runs and 89 RBIs, and earned the title of Devil Ray’s Most Valuable Player, the Yankees traded outfielder Darren Bragg.

To compliment the addition of Williams, 31-year-old right-handed pitcher Mark Wohlers made his way into the Yankee bullpen in exchange for minor league pitcher Ricardo Aramboles. Wohlers played for the Braves until April 1999 when he was traded to Cincinnati. Wohlers recorded 97 saves from 1995-1997 with the Atlanta Braves and was 3-1 this season with a 3.94 ERA with Cincinnati. In order to join the Yankees and the opportunities that it promised, Wohlers waived his no-trade clause allowing the trade to go through. Yankee fans best remember Wohlers as the pitcher who gave up Jim Leyritz’s game tying three run home run in the eighth inning of Game 4 of the 1996 World Series enabling the Yankees to win four straight and their first title since 1978. The Yankees believe that Williams and Wohlers will bring experience and talent to the team, aiding in their quest for a fifth ring in six years.

Yankees Reacquire Henson from Reds
On Tuesday, March 20th, the Yankees completed a deal with the Cincinnati Reds to reacquire third-base prospect Drew Henson. Along with Henson, the Reds also sent outfielder Michael Coleman to the Yankees in return for outfield prospect Wily Mo Peña. Henson, who was part of the Denny Neagle trade before last year's deadline, is also the starting quarterback for the University of Michigan. Henson is considered by many to be a Heisman Trophy candidate in the coming fall season. However, the Yankees believe that he has the ability to be their starting third baseman of the future. During his time in the minor leagues last season (mostly Double-A ball), Henson had a .266 batting average with nine home runs in 308 at-bats. The question, of course, is whether Henson will choose football or baseball. The Yankees believe he will ultimately choose to wear pinstripes over pads.

Yankees Secure Two of Their Best
In the span of a week, the New York Yankees agreed with two of their top players on new contracts. Derek Jeter, the team's MVP and star shortstop, was given the second highest contract in sports history on February 9th. Jeter, 26, signed a 10-year deal worth $189 million, securing him as a fixture in Yankee Stadium for the majority of his career. The Yankees were able to also secure their closer for four more years. Mariano Rivera, considered the most dominant closer in baseball, agreed to a 4-year, $39.99 million dollar deal. The signing makes Rivera the highest-paid relief pitcher in baseball. By securing two of the team's centerpieces for years to come, the Yankees have assured their fans that they plan to continue their success.

Yankees Add a "Moose" to Their Pitching Staff

On Thursday, November 30th, the New York Yankees signed free-agent pitching ace Mike Mussina to a six-year, $88.5 million contract. Mussina, known as "Moose", spent the first ten seasons of his career with the rival Baltimore Orioles, where he posted a 147-81 record along with a 3.53 ERA during that time. Last season, Mussina had an 11-15 record with a 3.79 ERA on an Oriole team that ranked last in run support. He was also third in the American League in both strikeouts and earned run average. Mussina joins an already dominating pitching staff of Roger Clemens, Orlando Hernandez, and Andy Pettitte.

Last Updated On: Thursday, December 22, 2005



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