Player Profile On Derek Jeter

Photo by the AP

Want to know the two traits that make Derek Jeter an exceptional baseball player?

Read my player profile on Derek Jeter by clicking here.

Hope you enjoy it!

- Joshua
InsideTheYankees.com

Jeter, Damon, and Jordan Participate in Charity Golf Tournament

Derek Jeter recently hosted his annual charity golf tournament, which brought in a total of $600,000 for various charities that his Turn 2 foundation supports.

Present at the tournament were Michael Jordan, Tino Martinez, and other athlete celebrities who Derek has been friends with for years.

Also present at the tournament was Johnny Damon, who told the New York Daily News that it was a good chance to get to know Jeter and develop a bond with him. (Photo by the Associated Press)

Luckily, Johnny Damon will have even more time to get to know Jeter and A-Rod when all three represent team USA in the World Baseball Classic.

Some critics of the tournament say that it will eat into time that is meant to allow new teammates bond with one another.

Although Damon won't have a chance during Spring Training to bond with players who aren't participating in the WBC, like Sheffield, Matsui, and Posada, he isn't worried. Damon figures that there will be plenty of time to bond with his new Yankees teammates during the course of the season.

I happen to agree with Johnny on this one. Besides, he already knows Jason Giambi very well, and is known to have a good personality that allows him to get along with just about everyone.

- Joshua
InsideTheYankees.com

Latest On Aaron Small and Shawn Chacon

Aaron Small and the Yankees have agreed to a $1.2 million dollar deal for the 2006 campaign. Included in his contract are potential bonuses that add up to $80 thousand.

Up next: Shawn Chacon, who asked for $4.5 million, while the Yankees offered $3.1 million. Because the two sides are so far apart, I expect this one to go to arbitration, with Chacon winning.

The cases of Aaron Small and Shawn Chacon makes me fantasize about how great it would be if we could re-distribute players' salaries based on their performance.

For example, for the 2004 season, I would take all of Jason Giambi's salary and split it, giving half to Matsui and half to Sheffield.

For the 2005 season, I would take 10 million away from both Randy Johnson and Mike Mussina and give these amounts to Aaron Small and Shawn Chacon.

Oh, and also for the 2004 and 2005 season, I would take away a total of 20 million from Bernie Williams and split this three ways between Matsui, Sheffield, and Bubba Crosby. Matsui and Sheffield because they earned it. And Crosby because I feel sorry for the guy. He hustles and plays the game the right way, but has never really had an opportunity to show his talents on an everyday basis.

If only fantasies like this one came true.

- Joshua
InsideTheYankees.com

Update On Aaron Small

With all of his time served in the minor leagues over the past several years, Aaron Small is eligible for arbitration.

He has asked for $1.45 million, while the Yankees have offered $1.025 million. It's possible that Small and the Yankees could reach an agreement before an arbitration hearing that is scheduled to take place in the next few weeks.

No matter what happens, Aaron Small figures to make much more money this coming season than what he has made over the past several years.

During his time with the Yankees in 2005, he was paid a pro-rated portion of the league minimum for one season - $350,000.

He was making $13,000 a month playing in the minors.

It's also likely that he hasn't been working for UPS during the past few months, as he did in the winter of 2001, loading boxes every day from 5 am to 9 am, to help make ends meet.

You've got to love the fact that a good guy like Aaron Small has earned a payday that should make his family a whole lot more comfortable that it has been over the past decade.

- Joshua
InsideTheYankees.com

Player Profile on Gary Sheffield

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to let you know that I just finished writing up a player profile for the fearless Gary Sheffield.

It includes a couple of good pictures of Gary.

Check it out here: Gary Sheffield.

- Joshua
InsideTheYankees.com

Player Profile on Alex Rodriguez

Just finished posting a player profile of Alex Rodriguez.

- J
InsideTheYankees.com

An Important Year For Jorge Posada's Family

Since joining the Bomber's major league club in 1997, Jorge Posada has made just over 41 million dollars in salary.

His current contract states that if he starts behind the plate a minimum of 81 times this coming season, he is guaranteed another full year in 2007 for 12 million dollars.

Catchers typically begin a sharp decline in their early to mid 30s. So at 34 turning 35 in August of 2006, Posada's current contract will most likely be his last chance to make serious dollars.

Look for Posada to have a strong first half of the season to ensure that he starts enough games to get that 12 million.

He seems like a good guy, so I'm rooting for him to get it.

- Joshua
InsideTheYankees.com

Theo Epstein Returns to Fenway

The man who gave Edgar Renteria a 4-year, 40 million dollar contract has returned to the Red Sox organization.

After an 80-day hiatus, Theo has officially been added back to the baseball operations staff at Fenway.

His official title?

It's to be announced next week.

One thing is for sure: he will have more power than the two co-general managers who were put in place when Theo departed back on October 31, 2005.

And almost just as certain is that Theo will have less interference from Larry Lucchino with regards to making important decisions in the baseball operations department.

The majority owner of the Red Sox, John Henry, values Larry Lucchino for his sharp business acumen. Under Lucchino's watch, the Red Sox have quietly purchased several businesses in and around the Fenway neighborhood, including a McDonalds and an auto mechanic shop right next to Fenway.

But it's Theo Epstein who John Henry values most to head the baseball operations department.
The only big question at this point is what kind of contract Theo will sign. Will it be the same 3-year, 4.5 million dollar contract that he walked away from in a gorilla suit on Halloween?

Will it be more? Less?

Stay tuned.

- Joshua
InsideTheYankees.com

Damon Out To Prove His Worth

With less than four weeks remaining before pitchers and catchers have to report to spring training, some of the more dedicated position players in the big leagues have already started their own workout sessions.

One of them is Johnny Damon (photo by the AP), who is clearly a man on a mission.

Yesterday, he made it clear that he is out to prove to the Red Sox and the rest of the league that his skills have not diminished.

Damon was having a monster season in 2005 before multiple injuries slowed him down for the second half.

Being the sort who does his best to play through injuries rather than opting for some time on the DL, Damon believes that playing while hurt is what caused the Red Sox and others around the league to think that he is on the decline.

From 1996 to 2005, Damon made 47 million dollars in salary alone. But not surprisingly, he was nowhere close to being financially secure by the end of last season.

In fact, during negotiations with the Red Sox a few short months ago, he cited some bitterness about having been led to believe by Sox management that he could count on a long term future with the Red Sox, which led him to purchase a home in the Boston area that he could not afford without another big contract.

Of course, some of Damon's financial challenges were the result of his divorce from his first wife a few years ago. According to his book, Idiot, Damon's wife ended up with quite a large share of what they had accumulated since he started playing in the majors.

Now, with a 4-year, 52 million dollar contract under his belt courtesy of Mr. Steinbrenner, Johnny told a Miami reporter yesterday that he and his brother's family are totally set for life.

Good for Johnny Damon and his brother's family.

Now let's hope that he has a career year for the Bombers in 2006.

- Joshua
InsideTheYankees.com

Manny wants to remain with Red Sox Nation

Manny Ramirez wants to stay with the Boston Red Sox. This is the story coming from an ESPN reporter down in the Dominican.

Apparently, Manny has thought things through and realizes that things could be much worse than his current situation with Boston. Making 20 million dollars a year won't be as much if it's earned while playing for a team that loses more than 90 games a year.

It's amazing how some athletes lose touch with how lucky they are. They will never have to worry about money for the rest of their lives and they make their living playing a game.

And still, some of them like Manny Ramirez and Miguel Tejada grumble about their playing environments.

A message to Manny, Miguel, and A-Rod: stop your whining and remember how lucky you are. Yes, you're blessed with tremendous athletic ability. Yes, you've practised hard for many years to get to your current abilities. Now stop acting like spoiled little kids and be grateful that you and your families have more money than you know what to do with.

- Joshua
InsideTheYankees.com

Why I Love Paul O'Neill

I really miss watching Paul O'Neill play baseball. Talk about a class guy who knew how to play the game the right way.

I loved every part of his game, but there is one particular aspect of his approach to playing baseball that I have a tremendous amount of respect for. It's something that is very hard to see on the field today. Heck, I haven't seen it since Paul O'Neill retired.

Curious about which part of Paul O'Neill's game I love so much?

Read my take on Paul O'Neill here

- Joshua
InsideTheYankees.com

Tejada to join Red Sox Nation?

Can you believe the changes that have occurred in Boston this off season?

They are only one season removed from their World Champion ship run in 2004 and they are starting to look like the Chicago Bulls did after Reinsdorf and Krause broke up Michael, Scottie, and Phil in 1999.

Well, maybe things aren't that bleak in Red Sox Nation.

They still have David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Jason Varitek, and Trot Nixon.

If they can find a willing trading partner, they would love to be free of the 3 years and 60 million remaining on Manny's contract.

A lot of people in the baseball world believe that the Red Sox will do everything that they can to trade for Miguel Tejada.

As a Yankees fan, Tejada is one player who I don't really want to see playing for the Red Sox.

Even though Manny is a better hitter, Tejada brings a lot of hustle and passion to his team, much more than Manny ever has or would.

And Tejada is really close to David Ortiz. The two of them playing on the same team would lead to some amazing chemistry in the clubhouse, no doubt.

Another side of the Yankees fan in me wants to see Tejada in a Red Sox uniform, as he would add some much needed legitimacy to the Red Sox - Yankees rivalry.

How weird would it be to see Giambi and Damon in pinstripes playing against Tejada in Boston, when they were the three central players of the deadly Oakland Athletics in 2001?

Yes, I think I would like to see Tejada join Red Sox Nation.

- Joshua
InsideTheYankees.com

Yankees Hoping to Trade Pavano

According to Newsday, the Yankees are quietly hoping to find a suitor for Carl Pavano.

Pavano signed a 39.95 million dollar deal over 4 years before the 2005 season, and has roughly 30 million dollars left for the next three years.

It is thought that management was extremely disappointed with Pavano, whose mysterious shoulder injury kept him on the DL for much of the season.

Serious potential suitors appear to be the Detroit Tigers and the Seattle Mariners. Both of these teams were hoping to land Pavano before he signed with the Yankees during the 2004 off season.

Look for Pavano to be dealt sometime before Spring training with the Yankees throwing in some cash to complete the deal.

- Joshua
InsideTheYankees.com