New York Yankees beat writer for | Newark Star-Ledger. Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 2006, Harry the K author, proud Jeannette Jayhawk and Pitt grad.
Congrats to
#Yankees
2B Gleyber Torres, who just told me he’s a first-time father. His wife gave birth last night to a healthy baby boy who was named Ethan. His wife was in labor for 24 hours.
For what it’s worth, my source who is close to Bryce Harper tells me
#Dodgers
and
#Cubs
were 1st choices all along and he prefers not to sign with
#Phillies
. I’ve been hearing all winter that Harper does not want to play for Gabe Kapler due to analytics and quirky personality
#Yankees
Gerrit Cole just called me over in clubhouse to listen to him play Simple Man by Skynyrd on electric guitar signed by Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder. Kyle Higashioka then took over and took requests from me … Metallica’s Enter Sandman and Van Halen’s Ain’t Talkin Bout Love.
John Sterling isn’t happy
#Yankees
manager Aaron Boone isn’t using reliever Chad Green more. “This is the American League Championship Series. I’d be using him until his arm falls off."
I just got more info from Juan Soto’s father. He told my friend in a phone call a few minutes ago that “Juan is super happy” that he’s going to be traded to the Yankees.
I just asked newly reacquired
#Yankees
1B Anthony Rizzo about current mandates that unvaccinated players can’t play in NY and Toronto. He talked last year about not getting shots but answered this time, “That shouldn’t be a problem.”
#Yankees
writers just talked to Tyler Wade in Fort Myers. He’s very very upset about being optioned. He’s as angry as any player cut on last day that I’ve seen in 20 years as a beat writer.
At 2 hours old, Anthony Volpe was prepped for his destiny when his uncle put a
#Yankees
cap on his head. He’s the story and the picture of 2-hour-old Volpe wearing a NY cap.
I was just told Harrison Bader is planning to come to ballpark today and say goodbye to Yankees. His 48-hour waiver window ends at 1 p.m. That’s when he will find out where he’s headed. Yanks’ game in Detroit starts at 1:10, so they will play a man short today.
Anthony Volpe changed his swing over the winter to cut down on Ks and promptly leads off Yankees’ first spring with a ground single to center against Tigers on Saturday in Lakeland.
#Yankees
RHP Luis Severino and LHP Jordan Montgomery are off the IL and will be in uniform tonight. Sevy will make season debut in a start Tuesday, while Montgomery will pitch Sunday either as starter or behind an opener.
I just got confirmation that Juan Soto indeed is in Miami waiting for trade to Yankees to be done. Soto has homes in South Florida and in his native DR.
I was just walking to the Yankees clubhouse and Gerrit Cole popped out of a back door right in front of me. I said, ‘Hey Gerrit, how are you feeling.” Walking fast away from me, he answered, Good, thanks for asking.” No word yet on results from Monday’s MRI on his elbow.
I’m sitting behind a Yankees beat writer to watch Nestor Cortes pitch to Aaron Judge and Juan Soto in a sim game. Anyone want to guess who this mystery bald man is?
#Yankees
GM Brian Cashman on Ellsbury: “Right now he’s not in a position health wise” for
#Yankees
to know if he can be an option in 2020 after being hurt for all of 2018 and 2019.
I had a fascinating 20-minute talk last week with
#Yankees
LF Joey Gallo, who opened up about being a three-true-outcomes hitter since he was 10 years old. "I wish I was DJ LeMahieu, but I’m playing the hand I was dealt,” he said.
I’m hearing Aroldis Chapman turned down more money from Padres to sign with Royals for one year at $3.75M. He wants to close and he’ll do that in KC. Marlins offered $2M.
#Yankees
2nd baseman Gleyber Torres showed up for spring training a few days before position players begin workouts and greeted catchers and coaches with hugs as they finished a spring training BP session today in Tampa.
Aaron Boone is saying something is going on with
#Yankees
rotation that will be announced tonight. He says Severino will start Friday for sure. He added Rodon, Schmidt, Cole and German are healthy. Nestor will start this weekend. I have no idea what news is coming.
#yankees
SS Troy Tulowitzki just hit an absolute bomb over the LF wall for a 3-run, 1st-inning HR off
#pirates
LHP Steven Brault. He’s homered in first AB of his first 2 spring games.
I just mailed in my 2023 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot. I voted for 5 this year: Andruw Jones, Todd Helton, Billy Wagner, Scott Rolen and Jimmy Rollins.
Jordan Montgomery said he would be starting for
#Yankees
today in his return from June 2018 Tommy John surgery, but Chad Green is listed in game notes as the opener. So apparently Montgomery will be pitching after Green.
#Yankees
DH Edwin Encarnacion and RHP Luis Severino will begin rehab assignments today for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Sevy will start for RailRiders while Encarnacion will DH and bat second.
Yankees free agent Aroldis Chapman threw a bullpen today for the Miami Marlins and received a second contract offer that was better than the first. He also has offers from the Padres and Royals. The Dodgers and Rays are interested, too, but have yet to make an offer.
#Yankees
medical and training staff rightfully so getting questioned this year and now they decide Happ was OK making multiple starts with biceps tendinitis.
Aaron Judge news conference about to begin. His parents and agents just walked into a crowded news conference room at Yankee Stadium. One seat at podium with no name. Mystery guest could be Derek Jeter for captain announcement.
#Yankees
have talked a little about doing something for racial injustice during anthem before Thursday’s Opening Day, Aaron Boone said. He says that he will support players opting to kneel if they decide to do so.
I heard today from a Juan Soto friend that he traveled from the DR to Miami in the last 2-3 days. If true, he’ll be able to get to NY quickly if Yankees want a physical before signing off on trade with Padres that is close to done.
Aaron Judge apparently was house hunting while he was in SF meeting with Giants. Based from talks with sources close to Giants & Judge camp, I've been predicting since late Oct. that Judge goes to SF & I will feel that way until he re-signs with Yankees.
#Yankees
LF Brett Gardner has 6 stitches in his lower lip due to throwing his helmet in the dugout and having it bang off a wall into his lip. He got the stitches after the game with no novocaine, which he says hurt the most.
John Sterling calling Mike Ford’s first career homer from booth that is next to area where
#Yankees
writers are at Angels Stadium. Sterling said on air, “For the Yankees, there’s a Ford in your future. Mike is Ford tough!”
#Yankee
Aaron Boone wants Clint Frazier, who missed most of 2018, to just play this spring instead of worrying about earning roster spot (or starting job). I’m hearing
#Yankees
plan to start him in Triple-A unless they need him on big-league roster due to injury.
Anthony Volpe with another line hit for
#Yankees
. He’s now 2-for-2 with a liner to short, double to right and single to left in 3 ABs vs.
#BlueJays
in first-ever spring training start. He also stole second AND third after his second hit!
Don Mattingly was available last offseason after let go as Marlins manager. Yankees should have fired Dillon Lawson then instead of today and brought back Mattingly, who signed on as bench coach for the Blue Jays. If playoffs started tomorrow, Jays would be in, Yanks would be out
Yankees 3B LeMahieu made it through one inning in his first rehab game with Double-A Somerset at Reading. He struck out in first, played third in bottom of inning and then left game in bottom of second.
Baseball Hall of Fame contacted
#Yankees
for items from CC Sabathia’s 3,000th strikeout game. They are getting one of three jerseys CC wore and a game ball. CC changed jerseys after the 1st, 3rd and 5th innings.
I just said hello to
#Yankees
non-roster RHP David Hale, who is back after a wild 2018 in which he signed with them 5 times and also was
#Twins
for one day. “My wife just told me I got 5 W2s from the
#Yankees
, he said.
#Yankees
GM Brian Cashman defending club not adding big pitchers. He said they made an offer for Corbin. He said Verlander wasn’t possible due to luxury-tax at time. He says Yankees made an offer to Pirates for Gerrit Cole. “That doesn’t mean we passed,” Cashman said.