I talked about the market for Carlos Beltran earlier this morning, but there is another Mets player that I think might be desirable to contenders: Mike Pelfrey. After losing to the Phillies on Sunday afternoon Mike Pelfrey is 5-9 with a 4.67 ERA. After making so much progress with his splitter last season it appeared [...]

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported yesterday that either Joba Chamberlain or Ivan Nova could be traded within two weeks for Twins lefty Francisco Liriano. Brian Cashman denied this to Wallace Matthew of ESPN New York later in the day. In speaking to my Tampa source, there are rumblings the Yankees are working towards a [...]

@NYBD Laird actually hit .330 against portsiders at Trenton last year. #yankeesless than a minute ago via webJed Weisbergerjedleyq Jed has a great point about Brandon Laird. Laird was a much talked about prospect last year as he enjoyed a breakout season in Trenton/Scranton Wilkes-Barre. He finished the year with 25 homers, 102 RBI, and [...]

Last year Jed Weisberger of MILB.com predicted that Brandon Laird would be the breakout prospect in the Yankees organization. In 2010 Laird hit 25 homers and drove in 102 runs between Trenton and Scranton Wilkes Barre. On Sunday’s podcast Jed joined me to discuss his 2010 Top 50 Yankees Prospect List, and Joe Delgrippo gave [...]

The hot stove officially begins in New York today. What kind of changes do the Yankees need to make to stay a playoff team in the competitive American League? Here are some of my thoughts on what the Yankees offseason focus should entail. The Great Mariano and Jeter Debate: There is no doubt that both [...]

As many fans know, baseball doesn’t stop with the playoffs and World Series. Beginning with the Arizona Fall League, Winter Baseball takes center stage. The AFL, Venezuelan League and Mexican Pacific League are in full swing, while the Dominican and Puerto Rican Leagues are poised to start. There are a few purposes to Winter Baseball. [...]

For as much as the fans love prospects it’s always a long shot they ever see the big leagues. That couldn’t be truer with the Yankees as it’s the worst place for a kid on the 40 man roster to be. You are stuck behind in prime stars and the organization is hesitant to take [...]

Earlier today Joel Sherman talked about the Yankees need for offense in a season where they have received it inconsistently. He discusses possibly bringing up Jesus Montero, not a terrible idea, but not the impact bat they need. For as much potential Montero has his line at Scranton (.251/.318/.417) translates into a pedestrian .622 OPS [...]

We have profiled Brandon Laird before on this website before. As a matter of fact, NYBD contributor Jed Weisberger predicted that he would breakout this season during a December hot stove prospects show. Yesterday, against Erie he had 2 homers, 7 RBI to bring his season totals to 18 homers, 76 RBI, and a .902 [...]

When Alex Rodriguez opted out of his deal after the 2007 season the Yankees, specifically Brian Cashman, were ready to move on. It was ownership that saw the marketing potential with Rodriguez going for 500 homers and spending the rest of his career in the Bronx. A-Rod hitting his 800th homer in pinstripes was not [...]

Back in early December I brought up Kansas City outfielder David DeJesus as someone that could be a “value player” available in the marketplace. DeJesus is actually a local product that was born in Brooklyn and played for Rutgers University. He was drafted by the Mets in 1997, but did not sign. Yesterday, Jon Heyman [...]

We were told by our main Yankees source down in Tampa on Thursday that the Yankees have been having internal discussions in regards to trading for the Mariners Cliff Lee. As we have reported numerous times over the past year, the Yankees have long had an interest in Lee, and actually tried to acquire him [...]

Trenton Thunder third baseman Brandon Laird was named Eastern League Player of the Week yesterday. So far this year Laird is second in professional baseball in RBI with 50, trailing only journeyman Mike Hessman of the Buffalo Bisons. You know a player has arrived when the mainstream media starts to talk about their performance. For [...]

Having gotten to know many of the Yankees pitching prospects personally, I certainly have sympathy for any who are bitten by the injury bug. I’ve seen both Chris Garcia and Jeremy Bleich go down this year.  The Yankees released Garcia May 14 to open up a roster spot. He underwent elbow surgery. Bleich, who in [...]

TRENTON, N.J. – Brandon Laird’s name has not appeared on several listings of top Yankees prospects. Maybe it’s because the 22-year-old native of Garden Grove. Cailf., was taken by the Bombers in the 27th round of the 2007 draft. Laird, who has been stationed at third for the Double-A Trenton Thunder this season – but [...]