The New York Yankees have a team policy that the Front Office doesn’t negotiate contract extensions with its current players in-season.  This policy is so concrete that GM Brian Cashman said they won’t even bend the rules for two of the most popular players Yankees history: Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter.  Joe Girardi is also in the final year of his contract, but he will have to wait for another contract until the 2010 season is finished.  So, there is the possibility that both Jeter and Rivera will become free agents at the end next season.  I’m not really sure why this is a big headline on MLB.com, because I doubt any Yankee fans are truly scared that these two New York icons will leave town.

Both of these players have spent their entire careers in the Yankee organization and have now won five World Championships during their time here.  When you say “New York Yankees” to the most recent generation of baseball fans, they will say either Jeter or Rivera.  So, I agree with Cashman’s stand here; he knows that in the end, both of these players want to stay exactly where they are, so there is no need to rush negotiations and potentially cause distractions during the season.

Fortunately for the wallets of Mo and Jeter, they are finishing the last couple years of their contracts very strong, so they will be able to demand similar pay or a significant increase.  MLB.com contributor, Bobbie Dittmeier, reported that Jeter may be asking for a salary similar to the $27.5 million average that Alex Rodriguez earns every year, and Rivera will be looking for at least $15 million since that is what he has been making for the past two-plus years.  In all reality, money will not be an issue for these guys getting contracts; yes, the Yankees did claim to have budget problems towards the end of this off-season, but they were also negotiating with Johnny Damon, an extremely expendable player.  Jeter and Rivera are the heart and soul of this franchise; without the leadership from the Captain and all of the saved ballgames from Rivera, New York would still be sitting on 22 World Championships, not 27.

Dittmeier mentioned Hank Steinbrenner in his article as well.  He was quoted as saying, “Jeter’s place in Yankee history is obvious, so I think you can pretty much assume from there.”  I’m sure that if the Yankees have budget problems again next offseason, the Steinbrenners will whip out a personal check for both of these well-known players and tell them to write in whatever amount they want.

So, for all those paranoid Yankee fans that freak over the littlest things… RELAX.  This is the New York Yankees, they will give Jeter and Mo what they want and you’ll never see them in anything other than pinstripes.

Well, it took him almost the entire off-season to get a contract for the second year in a row, but Orlando Hudson finally agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal on February 5th with the Minnesota Twins.  Hudson helps solidify a revamped middle infield for the Twins in 2010; the Brewers traded shortstop J.J. Hardy to Minnesota in exchange for outfielder Carlos Gomez in the beginning of the winter.  This is a great move for the Twins– just go back and read my post about how good of a player Orlando Hudson is and you’ll see why.

To be honest, I was relieved when I heard the news of this signing because earlier in the week there were rumors flying around that Hudson was close to signing with the Washington Nationals.  Not only would it have been horrible to see such a good player on such a horrible team, but since the Nats are in the NL East, my fellow Met fans would have to see him 19 times in 2010- just a friendly reminder about how we haven’t been able to sign him for the last two years.

It is too bad that Orlando wasn’t able to get a two-year deal and have some job security, but he at least is going to play for a great organization that is always in the thick of the playoff race when September rolls around.  These moves being made by the Twins are showing their fans and current superstar players (i.e. Joe Mauer) that the franchise is serious about getting talent to compete with big market teams.  I heard a few months ago that Mauer told Minnesota that if he was to sign a long-term deal with the Twins, they would have to show a concerted effort to win, which would be bringing in key free agents, making trade deadline deals to give the team an extra boost, etc.  Now that the Twins are showing Mauer that they mean business, it seems as if it is only a matter of time before the best catcher in baseball is locked up for the next few years.

It’s amazing how things can change in a few short years; it wasn’t too long ago that Bud Selig was trying to have the Twins contracted because they played in such a small market.  Since the organization was faced with that situation in 2002, the team has appeared in the playoffs five times and been in a pennant race each and every year.

Congratulations on finally getting a contract for 2010 Orlando.  Even though a lot of people take your talent for granted and don’t realize how good you are, I will be picking you up once again during fantasy baseball (like I do every year), and I will be laughing all the way to the bank when you help propel me to victory.

ESPN reported this morning that Plaxico Burress sat down for an interview with former coach Bill Cowher that will air on CBS’ NFL Today on Sunday.  It seems as if the point of the interview was for Burress to tell the NFL that he’s staying in shape and is planning on playing pro football once he is released from prison.  He is currently serving a two-year jail sentence in an Upstate New York prison for violating state gun laws when he shot himself in a Manhattan night club in November 2008.  If I could give Plaxico one message, it would be this: I don’t care what you think or have to say- ever again.

As a New York Giants fan, I had to deal with the ups-and-downs that came with having Burress on my favorite NFL team.  The ultimate “up” was when he caught the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLII to beat the New England Patriots, but the many “downs” included him quitting on plays, griping about his contract, and being a distraction to the rest of the team.  When I heard news of this incident in a Manhattan night club, I was honestly not surprised because I don’t think he has any common sense.  I also fully endorsed him going to prison because he got exactly what he deserved, even if it did negatively effect the Giants.

Burress told Cowher how his jail sentence has been an eye-opening experience and how he blames nobody but himself for what happened… basically what any imprisoned sports star would say these days.  He also played the sympathy card and talked about how his daughter was born while he was in jail; I wonder how he’s going to explain that to his child, “Daddy wasn’t there when you were born because he doesn’t know how important family is in life.”  That’s probably what it should sound like.

As for his desire to play football once he gets out in July 2011, Burress let Cowher know that he’s working out around four days a week with the limited resources he has while in jail.  It sounds like he is assuming teams will have interest in him as soon as he gets out of jail- but he will have yet another rude awakening.  I’m sure he’ll point to Michael Vick and say that if he can come back and play the way he did, so can he.  However, Vick is a once in a generation-type athletic talent, and Burress is far from it.  Someone will end up taking a chance on him, but the combination of being out of the game for two years, being a month away from his 34th birthday, and being the complete idiot that he is will scare away plenty of teams.

Jerry Crasnick, a contributor for ESPN.com, reported on February 1st that the Cubs have agreed to terms on a one-year, minor league deal with 1B Kevin Millar.  This deal includes an invite to spring training, which will give Millar a chance to compete for a spot on the Chicago bench for the 2010 season.  I’ll tell you what, this man really impresses me; I’ve watched him play plenty of times and he is definitely a good ballplayer, but his skills are no more than average.  He has had a decent career over the last 12 years ( .274 BA, 170 HR), but he only hit .223 in 78 games with the Toronto Blue Jays last year.  So why the hell would the Cubs want to give the 38 year-old Millar a shot at the big league squad this year?

This deal happened because of his attitude and approach to the game.  Millar mentioned that he is excited about his chance of making the team because he has played with a few of the current Cubs players in the past and would love to be reunited with them (i.e. Ryan Dempster and Derek Lee).  He has a lot of playoff experience and knows what it’s like to feel the pressure of winning the World Series after a long drought (see 2004 Red Sox).  In my opinion, Millar was the person that molded the identity of the 2004 World Champions; without his quiet confidence and knack for keeping teammates loose during high intensity situations, there is no way Boston comes back from the 3-0 deficit in the ALCS to beat the Yankees.

Just having this guy on the bench and the clubhouse will be the lift the Cubs have been looking for; he relishes every day on the field because he loves his job.  Ego doesn’t get the best of him (unlike Johnny Damon), because as long as he is wearing a uniform and playing ball, he’s a happy man.  I’m sure that all Millar will need to show during spring training is that he can produce consistently late in the game and he will get a spot on the team.  This is a smart move by the Cubs, and hopefully Millar will help the 2010 Cubs erase the disappointment of 2009 from their fan’s minds as well as their own… even though I still don’t think they will sniff the World Series again this year.

Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik has done it again; with Seattle looking for an experienced right-handed bat to put on the bench, the organization came to terms on a one-year deal with former Arizona Diamondback Eric Byrnes.  The best part of this entire deal was the attitude that Byrnes brought to the table.  He was released this off-season by the Diamondbacks after missing the majority of the last two seasons with a torn hamstring and a broken left hand; it took him a while to regain his desire for the game, but after a rehab stint in the minors, Byrnes has made it known that he is ready to contribute again.

With Ichiro in right field, Franklin Gutierrez in center field, and probably Milton Bradley in left field, consistent playing time in the outfield will be tough to come by, but that doesn’t bother Byrnes one bit.  In the article on ESPN.com, he told Zduriencik that he doesn’t care what his role on the team is, as long as he can contribute in same manner.  He has had experience being a bench player, so being in that position again doesn’t discourage him.  This deal was a steal for Seattle; Arizona cut Byrnes in the last year of his $30 million deal, and he is still owed $11 million from his former team.  So, all Seattle had to do was sign him for the league minimum ($400,000) and the Diamondback would pick up the rest of the paycheck, which is exactly what the Tigers did last year when they cut Gary Sheffield and he signed with the Mets.  There is really no risk at all here for the Mariners, so it is worth a shot.

Like Seattle has done all off-season, they haven’t just made big moves that are impressing everyone, but they are putting together the chemistry of this team with a strong base of supporting players, and Eric Byrnes is no different.  When healthy, he is not only productive on the field, but he plays with terrific competitive fire and always shows maximum effort.  He also knows how to enjoy himself and have a good time, so I’m sure he’ll help unite the guys in the clubhouse.

Each additional move that Zduriencik makes this off-season amazes me more and more.  I don’t see any of these moves turning sour for Seattle, not even the Milton Bradley trade.  I am very excited to see what 2010 brings for the organization.  It will be interesting to find out exactly how successful they will be this year, because Zduriencik has built this team to win right now.

Pending a physical, it sources report the New York Yankees have finally solidified their outfield for 2010 with veteran Randy Winn.  ESPN’s Buster Olney said that the deal is believed to be for one year at $2 million.  For weeks, New York has claimed their budget only allowed them $2 million to sign another free agent, especially since they already have $205 million tied up between 18 players for the upcoming season.  I think this is a good sign for them; Winn will most likely split time with Brett Gardner in  left field.  This move works for the Yankees because not only were they able to sign a quality veteran player to an inexpensive deal, but he will be much better on the defensive side of the ball.  Damon played reasonably well in left field, but he’s a center fielder by trait, plus he throws like a girl; so almost any player would be an improvement in that department.

I’m sure Damon is disappointed he won’t be donning the pinstripes in the Bronx this year, but it was really his own fault.  He thought that since he had a productive year in 2009 while making $13 million, he and agent Scott Boras insisted he should get a 2-year deal worth about $26 million.  I understand the rationale behind all of this, but before the Yankees had to worry about their budget (that’s a really odd thing to say), they offered Damon a 2-year/$14 million deal to return to New York.  Yes, that’s a big pay cut, but if he really wanted to go back and play with the defending World Champions, he would have taken the hit.  He just completed a 4-year/$50 million deal, I doubt he’s in such dire straits that he needs a few extra million.

Now, because Damon was either greedy or he didn’t know how to tell Boras to shut up, he’s not sure where he’ll stick for the 2010 season…if at all.  The Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds show glaring needs for an outfielder and/or a productive hitter at the top of the order, but they won’t be able to come close to that aforementioned $13 million salary.  So, if he really wants to play next year, Damon will have to take a significant pay cut; what’s worse though, is that since he didn’t do this with the Yankees, he will have to settle in with a team like the Reds or the Tigers…two teams that aren’t very close to winning the World Series in 2010 like New York is.

A lot of players say it’s not about the money, but it’s about the game.  However, sometimes (like in this case) it definitely seems as if Johnny Damon is more concerned about his ego than playing baseball.  Grow the hell up!

An ESPN report surfaced this morning that had a clear message from Ernie Banks to Sammy Sosa: come clean about steroids.  After the huge fiasco that was the Mark McGuire admission of using PEDs during his record-breaking 1998 season, Mr. Cub told the Chicago Tribune that Sosa needs to set the record straight once and for all, so there will hopefully be a chance that he is forgiven.  During a congressional hearing in 2005, Sosa denied taking steroids during his playing career and also forgot how to speak English when being asked important questions.  He also appeared on the list of 104 players that tested positive for performance enhancers in 2003.

Like McGuire, this is really a foregone conclusion; everyone knows that Sammy Sosa used steroids during his playing career.  I don’t know why he just won’t suck it up and confess so he can move on with his life.  He’s been running away from the issue ever since he was first asked about PEDs, and as most of us know, when running away from a problem in life only makes matters worse instead of better.  Avoiding the steroid issue makes Sosa look like a coward, as did McGuire, until he fessed up a few weeks ago.  Personally, whether he really used steroids or not, I loved Sosa for his great attitude and exuberance for the game- not all the home runs he hit.

Ernie Banks doesn’t seem to care what Sosa did either, he just wants him to come clean so he can come back to Wrigley Field and enjoy being with the fans again.  His tenure with the Cubs ended in 2004 with a bitter departure between Sosa and the organization, so that’s why Banks wants him to come back and reconcile with the city of Chicago and it’s fans.  It was no secret that when Sammy was on top of his game, he was by far the most popular player in a Cubs uniform.  I truly think that if he comes clean about what he did and returns to Wrigley, his fans will forgive him and just love him for the player that he once was.  I don’t know what the rest of the country will think of him, but in the end it doesn’t matter.  I doubt Sosa wants to live with such guilt the rest of his life, so he just needs to confess and get it over with like his buddy McGuire did.

It is safe to say that Brett Favre has had a career year with the Vikings, leading them to the NFC Championship game yesterday, but falling short against the Saints in an emotional 31-28 battle.  This is now the media’s favorite time of the year, especially Sportscenter, because they will be talking about whether Favre will return to Minnesota for a 20th season or not, and will probably be talking about it every day.  Already, Brett spoke to ESPN’s Ed Werder briefly and stated that it was “highly unlikely” that he would be coming back next season.

Personally, I think that he should come back for a final year- but not for the popular reasons; not because he had a career year, not because the Vikings have a good chance of being in the same position next year, and not because he’s Brett Favre.  He should return for a 20th NFL season because if my memory is working correctly, he signed a two-year contract with Minnesota back in August when he decided to come out of retirement for a second time.  I’m very big on finishing things that I start, especially if there is a contract involved.  If I signed a tw0-year contract with a professional team, that’s because I intend on playing for another two years, not play one year and then think about retirement.

I realize that the Saints defense really hit him hard yesterday and he is both physically and mentally exhausted from the game, as well as the entire season, so that’s why he should go home and relax for about a month or two and think things over.  Favre is doing just that, but I wish he wouldn’t give out any comments to fuel the media’s fire.  Don’t say a word to anyone about next year until you’ve had time to rest, heal, and see if you still have that itch to play once you’re sure that the pain and disappointment from your last game isn’t playing a role.  I’m sure that the Vikings will allow him to take all the time that he needs to make a decision, but don’t tell Ed Werder that it’s “highly unlikely” that you won’t be back next year; of course it’s highly unlikely, you just got physically beaten for 60 minutes by men that are twice your size!

In the end, I really hope that Brett returns to the Vikings because he did sign a two-year deal.  Plus, I think that if he comes out and says 2010 will be his final year before they actually start playing, it will make the decision of stepping away from the game a little easier.  I feel his pain; I’m a former athlete myself (not even close to the caliber of Favre), and it is never going to be an easy decision to walk away from the game that you love, whether you’re still at the top of your game or past your prime.  That’s why I think it’s important to make the choice to walk away before he goes through the emotional roller coaster that is the NFL season.  I just hope he stays quiet and doesn’t give the media any hints until he makes his final decision.

Bravo, Omar Minaya, Bravo.  Looks like he’s done it again folks.  First, let me talk about Bengie Molina, because this whole situation really confuses/upsets me.  At the Winter Meetings last month, Minaya extended a multi-year offer to Molina and his agent to come play for the Mets.  It was believed to be a two-year deal, which I thought was a decent offer since Molina is a catcher and he’s not exactly young.  This would have been a great deal for the Mets because Josh Thole, their primary catching prospect, probably won’t be Major League ready until 2011.  The month-long stalemate between the Mets and Molina was frustrating for many Met fans, especially because it appeared that Molina was trying to squeeze out a third year.

Then, he turns around and signs a one-year/$4.5 million deal to return to the San Francisco Giants.  How did this happen?  Molina has spent his entire career on the West Coast, so I can see why he would want to return there, but Minaya couldn’t do anything to entice Bengie to play at Citi Field?  I guess not.  This was disheartening for New York fans, but the back-up plan of using Omir Santos and Henry Blanco isn’t too shabby.  What makes me more angry than anything is the news of Joel Pineiro signing with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

The Dodgers and Mets were proclaimed the front runners for his services, and with Randy Wolf Signing a three-year/$29.75 million deal with the Brewers, rumor had it that Pineiro felt he deserved more than that.  News broke yesterday that he actually signed a two-year/$16 million deal with the Angels.  Sportscenter had later reported that the Angels only entered the chase after they heard that Pineiro expressed that they were his first choice.  Losing out on Pineiro puts the Mets in quite the bind; they really don’t have a back-up plan within the organization like they did when Molina didn’t sign.  It is clear that the Mets still need at least one quality starting pitcher, and they have waited so long that a majority of the best pitchers on the market have been snatched up.

I actually wouldn’t mind if Minaya tried to go after Ben Sheets with a one-year deal and a second-year option (he’s seeking a two-year deal), even though he is high risk for injury.  The problem is that since Minaya and the Mets Front Office have waited this long to find a pitcher, veterans and players coming off of injuries are all they have left to choose from.  I wish Omar some luck, because he’s going to have to pull something out of nowhere to truly impress me.

ESPN Sportscenter’s Josh Elliot told America this morning about the multiple reports claiming Tiger Woods is attending a rehabilitation center in Mississippi for sex addiction.  It’s about time!  There is no way Tiger is having sexual encounters with almost 20 women other than his beautiful wife, Elin, solely because he wants to.  I understand that some people may see this as an excuse for his “transgressions,” but I at least applaud Tiger for not saying he had a sex addiction as soon as these countless mistresses spoke up.  I think that if he came right out and said he had a problem, a lot of people would’ve forgiven him immediately.  However, he took full responsibility for his ridiculous behavior, and is now seeking treatment to see if there is any way he can salvage the mess that is his personal life.

The claim that Tiger is attending Pine Grove Behavioral Health & Addiction Services in Hattiesburg, Mississippi has not actually been confirmed yet.  Benoit Denizet-Lewis, author of “America Anonymous: Eight Addicts in Search of a Life” and recovering sex addict himself, used an unnamed source when he posted this information to his blog on January 19th.

I really hope Tiger is attending this rehab clinic, because it is clear that he needs a lot of professional help.  Pine Grove also offers group and couples treatment, so if Tiger and Elin truly want to try and repair their broken relationship, they have the opportunity.  It’s pretty obvious that Tiger had so many secret sexual relationships partly because he was larger than life, thinking he wouldn’t be caught.  However, having so many mistresses doesn’t sound like a normal case of a husband cheating on his wife.  When news first broke of him cheating, I thought, “Ah that’s too bad, he’s such a huge star that you knew he was bound to have a girl on the side.”  When the numbers kept increasing on a daily basis, it was apparent to me that there was something else going on here.

I’ve heard some rumors starting to spread the past couple of days that he is planning his return to the PGA Tour.  I hope what I’m hearing isn’t true.  He did the right thing by taking a break from competition to fix his personal life; he shouldn’t even entertain the idea of coming back until some parts of his life have cleared up, whether that means getting more professional help or ending his marriage to Elin.

So, the saga continues with Tiger… let’s see what happens next.