Noteworthy News 11/12/13

Robinson Cano, Curtis Granderson and Hiroki Kuroda all rejected their qualifying offers of $14.1 million which would have kept them in pinstripes for another year. Absolutely no surprise to me, although, I truly hoped that Grandy would accept as this will probably prove to be the nail in his Yankee coffin. However, according to this tweet by Mike Puma of The New York Post, the Mets are on the chase for Granderson. Makes sense; Mets had one of the worst offensive outfields in the majors last year. It would certainly feel strange to see Grandy in a Mets uniform, but it would be cool for him to stay in New York. I will still, however, keep my fingers crossed; I am truly a Granderson fan.

Several headlines came out of Yankeeland in the last day or two. Here are the most noteworthy:

• Yesterday, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported that the Kansas City Royals are now in contention for the services of Phil Hughes, This would put Hughes back under the tutelage of former Yankee pitching coach, Dave Eiland.

• According to Bill Madden of the Daily News, at present, Cano is garnering no interest from any major league team other than the Yankees. Right now, Cano's price tag is too high.

• Jerry Crasnick of ESPN also tweeted yesterday that the Yankees have signed outfielder Antoan Richardson to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training. Richardson is a switch-hitter with incredible speed and a lifetime on base percentage of .381.

• Some positive news on Alex Rodriguez, our embattled third baseman met with the family of Avonte Oquendo, the autistic teenager from Long Island City who disappeared from his school on October 4 and hasn't been seen since. This, reported by Ken Davidoff, also of The Post. A-Rod spoke with Oquendo's mother, grandmother and brother at La Marina restaurant in Upper Manhattan in an effort to lend his support in their search for the missing teen. 

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Noteworthy News 11/7/13

Last night, Robinson Cano won his fourth consecutive Silver Slugger Award and fifth overall. There's really no question as to whether Cano is the best offensive second baseman in the majors. He lead the pack in 2013 with 27 home runs and 107 RBI, and was second in slugging percentage at .515. While most of us would probably agree that the $300 million starting price for which he and Roc Nation are asking for is a bit on the "very unlikely" side, I think it's still safe to assume that Robbie will be the biggest winner coming out of free agency.

There was not much else happening in Yankeeland in over the last 24 hours, but at least two headline made me smile:

• The New York Post reported yesterday that fans are showing their support in changing River Avenue to Rivera Avenue in honor of Mariano Rivera. So far, about 500 supporters have come down to Foley's Pub in Midtown to sign the petition.

• And in more Mo news, MLB.com reported yesterday that he and Andy Pettitte will be honored by the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA). They will each receive the Joe DiMaggio Toast of the Town Award. I couldn't possibly think of any two New York athletes who deserve the award more. Kudos!

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Noteworthy News

Perhaps newly-donned sports agent Shawn Carter, a.k.a. Jay-Z, should pay a bit more attention to MLBPA's manual on player regulations. Reported yesterday by ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, the super agent may have violated said regulations by giving his client, Robinson Cano, a $33,900 watch as a birthday gift. Agents are not allowed to give gifts in excess of $500 without the price tag being reported to the union. Bad boy Mr. Carter...bad, bad, boy! Here are some more interesting notes from around the Yankeesphere:

• Curtis Granderson says he is considering accepting the Yankees $14.1 million, one-year offer but will continue to weigh his options. Granderson told MLB Network Radio that the offer is "definitely something you have to think about," and that he "appreciate[s] the Yankees extending that offer to [him]."

• The Yankees are doing their due diligence in the unlikeliness that Cano does not return. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported yesterday that the Yankees made a call to the Cincinnati Reds on second baseman Brandon Phillips.

• Alex Rodriguez' attorneys decided to take their battle with Major League Baseball up another notch, calling for MLB investigators to be probed by the feds. As reported by The New York Post, Lanny Davis, an advisor on Team A-Rod, released what we'd call on the Boulevard, "fighting words" in his assessment of Bud Selig & Co., and implied that perhaps their purchase of stolen documents from Biogenesis or the information MLB filed with the IRS, requires federal involvement into their "misconduct." Fanatics, this thing, is just getting started.

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Noteworthy News

The measure of true greatness? When the accolades and achievements continue to come, even after retirement. Yesterday, Mariano Rivera was named AL Comeback Player of the Year by Major League Baseball; a remarkable accomplishment following a great bounce-back season, after suffering an ACL injury in 2012 which sidelined him for the year. Congratulations Mo, I don't think we fanatics ever get tired of saying that. Here's more news from around Yankeeland:

• The Yankees made one-year, qualifying offers to Robinson Cano, Curtis Granderson and Hiroki Kuroda for $14.1 million yesterday. Each player has until next Monday to accept or reject the offer.

• Our beloved former manager Joe Torre will join great former managers Tony LaRussa and Bobby Cox on the Hall of Fame expansion era ballot next month. Also on the ballot as a holdover, is our much loved, missed and esteemed, Mr. George Steinbrenner.

• The New York Post reported yesterday that the Yankees are looking at Detroit's Omar Infante as a possible replacement at second for Cano, should they fail to re-sign him. Detroit has no plans to extend a qualifying offer to Infante, so if the Yankees did acquire him, they would not forfeit a draft pick to his former team.

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Noteworthy News

Robinson Cano and Mariano Rivera teamed up to secure the Yankees' win against the Diamondbacks last night, but other noteworthy news made its way around Yankeeland as usual. Here are some interesting reads on our boys in pinstripes:

• George A. King III of The NY Post recounts the Yankees "Sweet Caroline" tribute supporting the people of Boston in lieu of the Boston Marathon bombings.

• The Post's Dan Martin and George King III also report that Andy Pettitte is ready to return for his start this Friday.

• Mark Feinsand and Anthony McCarron of the NY Daily News report that Derek Jeter has been ordered by the Yankees to cut back on the groundballs he's been taking down in Tampa.

• Anthony McCarron also reports on Curtis Granderson's visit to Abraham Lincoln HS yesterday in Brooklyn, citing Grandy's admission that free agency is weighing heavy on his rehab.

• The Record's Jeff Roberts discusses how David Phelps has become the Yankees' "Mr. Everything."

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Noteworthy News

With the Yankees blanking the Orioles 3-0 last night, much was "a-buzz" over Hiroki Kuroda's pitching performance. But there's always much more to talk about in Yankeeland and some stories made for interesting headlines. Here is some noteworthy news you might be interested in:

• Dan Martin of The NY Post reports that Curtis Granderson has yet to take a swing and is unsure of his timetable to return to the lineup.

• The Post's Joel Sherman also discusses Robinson Cano's value in terms of an MVP candidacy.

• John Harper of the NY Daily News says that the aging Yankees are getting no help from the young arms in their rotation.

• Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer breaks down his assessment of the Yankees' future path.

• John Jeansonne of Newsday reports that Granderson says Derek Jeter is "ripping" the ball down in Florida.

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Noteworthy News

Good morning maniacs!! While the Yankees-Indians matchup was rained out last night, news pertaining to our men in pinstripes was ongoing. There is always something going on in Yankeeland that makes for interesting headlines. Here's today's batch of noteworthy news:

• Dan Martin of The NY Post reports that Derek Jeter took batting practice for the first time since returning to the disabled list with ankle soreness.

• The Post's Kevin Kernan discusses how the newcomers have energized the Yankees' clubhouse.

• Christian Red of the NY Daily News covers Mariano Rivera's press conference yesterday, where he reveals the toughest batter he ever faced in his career.

• Andrew Marchand of ESPN New York questions whether Phil Hughes can get better.

• Newsday's David Lennon argues that Kevin Youkilis has been a prefect fit for the Yankees.

• Andrew Binninger of Rant Sports says there was no reason for Nick Swisher to be hurt after Yankees never reached out to him during the offseason.

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Noteworthy News

Much has been written about the Yankees mash-up of Cleveland last night. But other stories made for some interesting headlines as well. Here's some noteworthy news from around Yankeeland:

• Joel Sherman of The NY Post discusses how Curtis Granderson's return will force changes in the outfield.

• Dan Martin, also of The Post reports on Derek Jeter's progress and how Joe Girardi is seeing improvement.

• The NY Daily News' Mark Feinsand reports that Cleveland's Carlos Carrasco's drilling of Kevin Youkilis comes after a 6-game suspension for a similar incident last August.

• Stefan Bondy of the Daily News also reports that Jay-Z will sell his shares in the Brooklyn Nets franchise, a condition necessary to take on his new venture as a sports agent.

• ESPN New York's Wallace Matthews discusses how Vernon Wells is proving the naysayers wrong.

• Mike Oz of Yahoo! Sports' Big League Stew bids a fond, pictorial farewell to Joba Chamberlain's mustache.

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Noteworthy News

Although the Yankees had a monster night against Cleveland, other stories made notable headlines in the last 24 hours. Here is some noteworthy news from around Yankeeland:

• Mark Feinsand of the NY Daily News discusses how Nick Swisher is learning to move on from his career with the Yankees.

• The NY Post's Dan Martin says that Nick Swisher was "hurt" when the Yankees never contacted him once he became a free agent.

• Kevin Kernan, also of the Post reports that Robinson Cano is not happy batting in the 2-spot, but is taking one for the team.

• ESPN New York's Andrew Marchand argues that the Yankees should take a less conservative route, and keep Brett Gardner in center field.

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