Wow has it been a busy week for the management of the New York Yankees. Earlier in the week the team announced that they had signed pitcher Damaso Marte to a new three year – $12 million dollar contact. Marte will make $3.75 million next year, $4 million in 2010 and $4 million in 2011. The 2012 option is also worth $4 million and includes a $250,000 buyout.

And then on Thurday the Yankees picked up Nick Swisher and a minor leaguer from the Chicago White Sox via a trade that sent Wilson Betemit, Jeff Marquiz, and Jhonny Nunez to the White Sox. Expect Swisher to get looked at to the everyday starting first basemen. He can also play all three outfield positions for the team.

Swisher has three years left on a five-year, $26.75 million contract. He’s scheduled to make $5.3 million in 2009, $6.75 million in 2010 and $9 million in $2011. His deal also includes a $10.25 million club option for 2012, with a $1 million buyout. As you can tell, the deal didn’t come cheap for the Yankees.

On Tuesday the New York Yankees declined options and starting pitcher Carl Pavano and first basemen / dh Jason Giambi. Pavano’s option was to be worth $13 million instead it was bought out for $1.9 million. Giambi’s was worth $22 million and he was bought out for $5 million. Not a bad payday for going on the free agent market if you ask me.

Pavano could possibly be re-signed by the Yankees if he will take a cheap deal but don’t look for the Yankees to really negotiate with Giambi.

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The New York Yankees are expected to decline the $22 million option on Jason Giambi but resign him to a much cheaper deal the New York Post is reporting. Giambi made $21 million in 2008 and will have to take a huge paycut if he chooses to stay with the Yankees in 2009.

The Yankees wouldn’t mind not re-signing Giambi if they are able to get a decent first basement via trade or free agency but I fully expect Giambi to be back in pinstripes in 09. Even if they choose to go with a younger player, Giambi can platoon at first and also DH while helping out a younger player.

The Yankees management should soon know if Mike Mussina plans to retire or not as his agent will be meeting with him in the next week to see what he would like to do. Mussinw won 20 games for the Yankees last year and if he chooses to retire, the Yankees will be looking for another starting pitcher as well.

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The New York Yankees were down 1-0 heading in the seventh inning but then then they scored two runs in the seventh and then two more in the eighth inning to beat the Chicago White Sox by the score of 5-1. It was a very good win for the Yankees as they beat the White Sox who are in the middle of a playoff run in the Central division.

Johnny Damon provided the big blast in the bottom of the eighth as he hit a two-run home run that provided some insurance runs for the Yankees. Alex Rodriguez also hit a solo home run in the eighth inning. In the seventh inning, Xavier Nady singled to score Rodriguez and then Nady scored on a wild pitcher for the go ahead run.

Phil Hughes got the start on the mound and he only lasted four innings. Huges only allowed four hits and one run before he was taken out of the game. Phil Coke tossed the next two innings of action before Brian Bruney, Joba Chamberlain, and Edwar Ramirez each pitched one inning each. Bruney ended up with the victory in the game.

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The New York Yankees doubled up the Chicago White Sox by the score of 4-2 on Monday night as the two teams kicked off a four game series. The Yankees scored two runs in the second and and seventh innings as they went on for the victory.

Xavier Nady had the big hit for the Yankees in the second inning when he hit a two run blast off of Mark Buehrle of the White Sox. In the seventh inning, the Yankees got a rbi ground rule double by Wilson Betemit and then he scored on a Johnny Damon single.

On the mound, Alfredo Aceves got the start and tossed six innings of five hit baseball. Aceves did give up both runs that the White Sox scored when Dewayne Wise took him deep for a two-run home run in the fourth inning. Phil Coke, Joba Chamberlain, Mariano Rivera and all tossed one inning each in relief to hold of the sox. It was Rivera’s 36th save of the year.

Good win for the Yankees as they kicked off the series exactly like they wanted to do. Yankees Blog

The New York Yankees lost to the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday afternoon by the score of 4-2. The Yankees dropped two games to the Angels as they clearly just didn’t have the team to keep up with the high powered Angels. There is a reason why they are about to clinch their divison and start looking forward to the playoffs while the Yankees will be staying home.

Starting pitcher Andy Pettitte did not have a very good game as he only threw 4 2/3 innings. He allowed nine hits and all four runs that the Angels scored. Three runs scored in the fifth inning when only two should have. Pettitte gave up a rbi single to Robb Quinlan that scored two, but then Xavier Nady had a costly error that allowed one more run to score. Pettitte was then pulled from the game after walking the next batter.

The Yankees were up 2-0 early in the game as they pushed across two runs in the first inning. Jason Giambi had a rbi single that scored Derek Jeter and then Bobby Abreu scored on a balk. The offense threatened in the ninth inning with two runners on base but Hideki Matsui struck out to end the game.

The team will be off on Thursday and then play the Tampa Bay Rays this weekend. The Yankees could play the spoil role by beating the Rays this weekend.

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The Los Angeles Angels but a whooping on the New York Yankees Monday night by the score of 12-1. The Angels used a big sixth inning where they scored six runs to really break the game wide open. There was also a little fight between Pudge Rodriguez and Torii Hunter that caused the benches to clear in the sixth inning. Hunter bumped into Pudge and Pudge pushed him and Hunter went back at Pudge. Wasn’t a full out brawl but sure did nothing for the Yankees in the end.

Carl Pavano dropped to 2-1 on the year as he took the loss for the Yankees. Pavano gave up five runs on six hits in just 5 1/3 innings. Dan Giese and Edwar Ramirez both allowed three runs to score each before Chris Britton allowed one more in the eighth inning. All the Yankees pitchers struggled against the high powered Angels lineup.

Alex Rodriguez had the one rbi for the Yankees. A-rod singled in the first inning to score Johnny Damon. That was all the offense for the Yankees and it was just a terrible game.

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The New York Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox on Thursday afternoon but they wouldn’t have if Jason Giambi didn’t have the game that he did. Giambi had all three of the Yankees runs including the game winner in the bottom of the ninth inning. Giambi stepped up big when the Yankees really needed him.

Giambi had a two run home run in the seventh inning to get the Yanks on the board and then added the game winning rbi single in the ninth inning. Pitch runner Brett Gardner scored the winning run on the Giambi single. It was sad to see the rest of the Yankees offense not show to play however.

Mariano Rivera ended up getting the win and is now 5-5. Starting pitcher Mike Mussina pitched good as he went seven innings and only allowed five hits and two runs but for the lack of run support he ended up with the no decision.

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It was a little bit of revenge for the New York Yankees on Wednesday night as they beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1. A night after losing 2-1, the Yankees made sure that wasn’t going to happen as they really didn’t have any problems with the Jays on Wednesday night.

Yankees starting pitcher Andy Pettitte improved to 13-9 as he pitched seven innings and only allowed five hits and one run. Pettitte was on top of his game as he did not walk a batter and struckout four. Brian Bruney pitched the final two innings and held the Blue Jays hitless.

At the plate it was two runs in the first inning and then three runs in the fourth inning. In the first, Jason Giambi had a rbi sac fly and then Xavier Nady hit a rbi single. In the fourth, Johnny Damon grounded out but got a rbi and then Yankee captain Derek Jeter connected on a two run home run to put the team up by five runs.

Great win for the Yankees! Yankees Baseball Blog

Finally the New York Yankees were able to end their losing streak!  The Yankees pounded out a 13-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday afternoon to break their three game losing streak.  With the win, they were able to avoid the embarrassing three game sweep.

Bobby Abreu hit two home runs and Alex Rodriguez connected for one as well.  It was great to see the Yankees score 13 runs and pretty much dominate the entire game.  Abreu finished the game with three rbi while A-Rod and Xavier Nady both had two rbi.  Johnny Damon, Justin Christian, and Jason Giambi all finished with one rbi.

Joba Chamberlain earned the win and is now 4-3 on the year.  Joba tossed six innings while allowing five hits and two runs.  He struck out six batters while walking none so he did have good control of his pitches.

David Robertson was charged with one run in the eighth inning.  Dan Giese pitched the ninth inning to finish up the game.

I will be out of town until Aug 11th for a conference so I will not be able to do any game recaps on the blog until I get back on the 12th.  If there is anyone out there that would like to blog some game recaps and let their opinion about the Yankees be heard, email us and we can talk and possibly get you setup!

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