WHAT IF THE YANKEES SIGN NOLAN ARENADO?

Source: The Athletic

With just about 14 days until the start of spring training, the Yankees have a lot of options when it comes to infielders.  As our writer Missy posted on Friday in TWO YANKEE BATTLES TO TAKE PLACE THIS SPRING TRAINING, infielders Tyler Wade and Thairo Estrada may get a shot to be replacement infielders but what if I told you to forget all that?  What if the Yankees could tap the Colorado Rockies again for an infielder and this time it could be Nolan Arenado?

According to The Athletic, "The Yankees could offer a strong package that includes third basemen Gio Urshela and Miguel Andújar, along with top pitching prospect Deivi Garcia and outfielder Clint Frazier. ... All four of those players would be expendable to the Yankees if they can land Arenado. This type of deal makes a lot of sense baseball-wise. ... Another option could be for the Rockies to offer Arenado straight up for outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, who has eight years remaining on his 13-year, $325 million contract, of which approximately $60 million will be paid by the Miami Marlins if he doesn’t opt-out after this season — and he’s not opting out of this contract no matter what."

Wait, what...Giancarlo Stanton to the Rockies?  Oh blessed redeemer, yes.  I would really hate to see Urshela and Andujar go and this other idea of Stanton just sounds so much sweeter.  But with Stanton's no trade clause and the fact that he loves being a Yankee, this deal is less likely, no matter how sweet.

Source: CBS Sports

"The 28-year-old Arenado is a five-time All-Star and seven-time Gold Glove winner. Arenado has at least 37 home runs and 110 RBI in each of last five seasons, making him a perennial National League MVP candidate," reports NJ.com.  He also has a no-trade clause and there is a line of other teams in contention with the Yankees to grab Arenado.

Source: ESPN

If he was to come to New York and perform even close to his former teammate DJ LeMahieu, wow...I mean that would be incredible.  We will keep an eye on developments.  This is the kind of excitement and anticipation that the offseason is supposed to be about...not about cheaters who have consumed all of our brains and perhaps unnerved our passion for the game.  Let's focus on the the anticipation of 2020 and it starts with the possibility of Arenado coming to the Bronx.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof 

JETER HUMBLED BY HALL OF FAME SELECTION

Derek Jeter is a class act.  Being voted in to baseball's forever shrine is an incredible honor, if not the best one can receive.  He relished the moment much like he did his whole career.  It is an honor just to play; it is an honor to be a Yankee; it is an honor to be in Moment Park and it is an honor to be selected among baseball's greats.

"When you think about playing your career, this is the highest honor that a player can receive. It's a very humbling day and I was happy I had an opportunity to share that with family and friends, and I also want to take an opportunity to congratulate Ted Simmons, Larry Walker and the late Marvin Miller and family. So, thank you very much," Jeter said upon being selected to the Hall.

Source: AP

The headlines spoke about Jeter's failure to receive an unanimous vote, but Jeter spoke about the honor to be among the best that every played.  "Well, I look at all the votes that I got. It takes a lot of votes to get elected in the Hall of Fame. Trying to get that many people to agree on something is pretty difficult to do. That's not something that's on my mind, I'm just extremely excited and honored to be elected," said Jeter.

My fitness instructor always says after a great workout, "Thank God for the gift of movement." I believe Derek Jeter is grateful to have played, grateful to have succeeded, grateful to be a Yankee and now grateful to be a Hall of Famer.  It is not about the one vote.  It is about one career.  A career that made a difference.

Source: The New York Times

Derek Jeter was not just a great player but a change agent for a dynasty that needed to be reborn.  "The shortstop won five World Series titles, helping resurrect the Yankees from their down years in the 1980s into a late-1990s dynasty. By age 29, Steinbrenner named him captain of the team, and over the years, he’d simply become known as “The Captain.” And when it mattered most, he brought it," reported NJ.com.

He felt blessed to be Selected.  Chosen.  Included.  Among the Best.  It is a great day to be a Yankee fan and it is an even better day to be a Derek Jeter fan.  Congratulations to our forever Captain, Derek Jeter.  You're on your way to Cooperstown!

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof