Some people think Lincecum is the best young pitcher in baseball. I seriously doubt they'd entertain trading him for an 80 year old outfielder.

If the Giants trade Lincecum or Cain for Matsui then I'm giving up on the Giants. Since I couldn't find the heart to root for anyone else I'd really be giving up on baseball.

All of these trade rumors are making me nervous. I don't want the Giants to do something stupid with their young pitching.

What do Yankees fans think about Matsui being traded?

I'm honestly surprised they'd consider trading him. I like Matsui and he had a subpar year for him but he still put together some good numbers. I would like to see him rebound in 2008 but the Yankees have enough power and if they can get some more great, young arms then I'm for it (especially if they can trade those guys for Johan while hanging onto Joba, Hughes, and Kennedy). However, Matsui has a full no-trade claus and I don't think he's going anywhere.

From what I've heard he would be willing to waive his no-trade clause to go to the Giants because San Francisco has a huge Asian population and is a beautiful city, etc... plus he played for the Japanese version of the Giants before coming to the Yankees so it's a marketing thing for himself as well as the Giants.

Although I still wouldn't give up either of the top to young pitching prospects on the Giants for him. Possibly Lowry or Sanchez if Matsui were going to backing up another slugger.

Yes, I did take into account the Japanese population in San Francisco as well as the team name Giants. I think it might be the only other city he could or would play for.

If I were the Yankees, I wouldn't unload him just to unload him. If you're afraid to give up Lincecum or Cain, I'd go after them. Are they in the Giants farm system or did they play in the majors last season? I hope the Yankees don't feel as if they "have" to trade Hideki because they most certainly don't. Again, I'd love to see him bounce back in 2008 after a subpar 2007 and a short, injuried 2006 season (I think he was afradi of reinjuring it last year).

Cain and Lincecum both played in the majors last year. For Cain it was his second full season. They are both very young potential Cy Young winners in the future, especially Lincecum.

As you quoted in one of your earlier posts, the Blue Jays are willing to trade Alex Rios for either of them. A five-tool, two time all-star just coming into his prime for one of these two young pitchers says a lot.

I don't think the Yankees would unload Matsui "just to unload him" as you said. They want to bolster their pitching staff and teams like the Giant's and A's are loaded with pitching deep into their farm system. So some sort of a trade including Matsui wouldn't surprise me.

If they're good as much as you say they are Blibble, now you've got me foaming at the mouth

Yankees reach deal with Hawkins

NEW YORK -- The Yankees moved forward to bolster their bullpen on Sunday, reaching a preliminary agreement with reliever LaTroy Hawkins on a one-year, $3.75 million contract.

The deal was reported by the Associated Press and is subject to Hawkins passing a physical. A baseball official familiar with the negotiations, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the transaction, which has not been officially announced.

The right-handed Hawkins, who turns 35 on Dec. 21, was 2-5 with a 3.42 ERA with the National League champion Colorado Rockies this past season. He is expected to fill the role of right-hander Luis Vizcaino, who declined the Yankees' offer of salary arbitration last week. Vizcaino, who is seeking a multiyear contract, is expected to sign elsewhere.

Hawkins will be joining his fifth Major League team, having spent nine seasons of his 13-year career with the Twins. The Twins and Rangers also had expressed interest.

A workhorse who has appeared in 60 games or more in eight straight seasons, Hawkins also has pitched for the Cubs, Giants and Orioles. During the 2007 season, Hawkins appeared in 62 games for the Rockies, allowing 52 hits in 55 1/3 innings. He walked 16 and struck out 29.

The Yankees have identified bolstering their bullpen as one of their main priorities in this period of the offseason, having already stepped up and stepped back in the hunt for Twins ace Johan Santana. New York soon will officially announce a three-year, $45 million agreement with closer Mariano Rivera, but much of the bridge leading up to the future Hall of Famer is unclear.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has said he is not intrigued by repeated offers from other clubs to obtain setup man Kyle Farnsworth, who could slot back into his eighth-inning role that was filled in the season's final two months by rookie Joba Chamberlain.

Along with Farnsworth, Hawkins also could help set up for Rivera, a task that was met with varied results by Vizcaino, who was a large help some months and ineffective in others. Aside from those two veterans, the Yankees may have open auditions for bullpen roles in Spring Training, a competition venue that new manager Joe Girardi said he will embrace.

Source: Yankees

Prior interests Yankees, Mets

The possibility of the Yankees and Mets competing for a big-name pitcher always puts sizzle into a free-agent chase, but it remains to be seen how deep the two teams get into discussions over rehabbing righty Mark Prior, the ex-Cub. Both have expressed "preliminary interest" in Prior, John Boggs, the pitcher's agent, said yesterday. "But it hasn't been anything more than that. Next week will probably be pretty busy." Boggs says 11 teams have expressed interest in his client, who likely will be ready to pitch in the majors by the end of May.

Source: Fan Nation

The Yankees are going to be on YES today at 2:00 in an exhibition game against the Phillies!!! HOORAY!!! Baseball on my TV again!!!!

Sweet

I guess the game started at 1:00 (my bad) because they're fairly well into it right now.

I totally forgot about it! But it's gonna reply at 9PM

Tell me what it says when it replies.

I miss the YES Network. They won't play on ESPN until sometime mid-March and then their first game on the 31st

It was great to see them again. The game went well, until they put in Henn and Farnsworthless.

I was watching FOX cartoons then Beowulf

Why do we still have Farnsworthless?????

My husband liked Sean Henn last year, mostly because he could say things like, "Henn's in and he's pecking away at the competition."
However, he's so inconsistent. As for Farnsworthless, they seem to feel that they can turn him around. After he blew how many games??

Don't worry, I believe this is Farnsworthless' last year. He won't be back next year

Today's game vs TB is now playing on YES Mussina's pitching... (replay tonight at 11:30)

Blue Jays Tuesday 1pm (encore 7pm)

We're watching right now. It would be nice if the Yankees could actually SCORE or something.

OMG!! Farnsworth had a 1-2-3 inning!! How did that happen??

I gotta "watch" them lose on my phone cuz I took my car in for a few little things and apparently it's gonna take a few hours I walked over to Atlanta Bread Company for dinner and wi-fi and lo and behold my best friend just happens to be here working, so it could've been worse...

Over the last few days, Joba, Hughes and Kennedy all had excellent outings. Isn't that nice for a change - positive reports on Yankee pitching!

A bit of useless information...

Last season the Yankees became the first team in the modern era to win a three game series in which each winning pitcher recorded his first career win.

I love Klyd trivia!!

And Beckett already has back problems. Not to mention Schilling. Will Boston's pitching staff get bit by the same injury bug as the Yankee pitchers last season?

Ah, but what team was it against?

Devil Rays? Indians?

They're reporting nothing is wrong with Beckett's back, and it's just an excuse for sending him with the team when they play their opener in Japan.

I'm not sure, that's why I was asking you