LOL Raf @ the first blog.

We offered Dotel a deal; Adding another RH reliever would’ve made one of our other guys expendable in a trade. [Maybe we could've gotten Hudson with Pavano(paying his contract) and Bruney and/or Proctor]
Do not ever count Veras and Beam. They are not even Yankees. I would love to be wrong about them, but I’m probably not.

The Yankees are good people who do not screw anyone because that is who the Yankees are.
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Where is Bobby Meacham nowadays, anyway

As for Dotel, I can see the Yanks not signing him because they have enough RH guys in the pen (Britton, Proctor, Farsnworth, Beam, Bruney, Veras, etc) where they felt he wasn’t necessary.

If having Fern Cuza as an agent gets us Mariano at a discounted rate, why is that pathetic. We could not even get *the Captain* at a discounted rate. We rarely get anybody at a discount. Fern also has Papi and had no problem re-upping him w/ the Sox for around 6 million a year.

After giving Dotel free money this year, I read an article during the season in which he said he wanted to repay the Yanks for their generosity and stay 3 or 4 years. What happened to that?!?!?! The Yankees are good people who do not screw anyone because that is who the Yankees are. Yet, their good is never rewarded.

The only reason to explain Mo not getting in the Hall on the first ballot is simply the anti-Yankee bias…..and the fact that people with little knowledge of the game such as ESPN’s Pedro Gomez get a vote.

I find myself agreeing with Steve a lot of the time, except that I feel bad for Alex and the media’s depiction of him. So, maybe Steve should get a vote!!! )

That Mariano Rivera would have to make any public statement is another sign he has a very weak agent in Fernando Cuza. This is pathetic. Mo did the same thing a couple years ago. Apparently it doesn’t matter to him, but he lowers his price by stating his case so openly. Brian Cashman appreciates the fact there will never be another like Mariano, but the organization is infected with others who either don’t know, don’t care, or are actually trying to minimize the phenomenon that is Mariano. I refer in particular to those involved in YES Network studio productions. You live in a dream world if you think the current regime of baseball awards voters will put Mo in the Hall on the first ballot, as he
deserves. Out of 280 votes for AL MVP this year, he got 1 vote. Billy Wagner was paid the same as Mo this year. If Mo put himself on the market, he could get $20 million a year.

There seems to be an echo in here.

But I agree. No question, no hesitation. Sign Mo to a contract that keeps him as a Yankee.

I have admired Brian Cashman’s work in these winter meetings as much for what he has NOT done as in going for the overpriced and undertalented just to seem to be doing something. He was excellent so far.

But here, and I cannot believe I am saying this, money is no object. Mo is that special a player he must be retained.

Whatever it takes to extend his contract. If it means 16 mil a year, then so be it. But I think that Mo would be willing to take a mid-range offer, just not a “Red Sox lowball” offer. This guy is arguably the greatest postseason pitcher of all time….with the New York Yankees. If somehow he went to the Red Sox, could you imagine what he would do. He could be 45 years old with his arm half falling off and post an under 1 ERA. MONEY SHOULD BE NO OBJECT TO RESIGN MARIANO RIVERA.

After giving Chewy a whipping for his profligate attitudes the other day, on this one I’ll eat crow(s)…..Just sign him, whatever it takes. Give me mo Mo. I still can’t imagine what NYY baseball will be after this guy. HOF? …slam dunk yes; 4 rings and a good chance for a couple more? ….slam dunk yes; still the man?…slam dunk yes. Solid citizen with a positive impact on the whole organization? …slam dunk yes.

heyman had in an article earlier in the week that the yankees will likely extend his contract during spring training like they have done in the past with him.

Even if Mo never threw a pitch in ’08 (God forbid) sign him now through 2009. The man is significatntly underpaid ($10.5 mill per yr) for the value he has brought and continues to bring to the Yanks. In my book, he’s the Yanks MVP fpr the last 10 yr’s.

I couldn’t agree more. Get Mo signed.