Trying to trade Javier Vazquez

Today, we heard that the Yankees have been actively kicking the tires on Cliff Lee. What's more is that the Yankees believe that they could trade for Lee if they wanted to, by offering a package built around one of their young catchers such as Austin Romine or Jesus Montero.

But wait, the Yankees have five very good, if not great, starters. How could they possibly acquire Lee if there is no room in the rotation?

The Answer? Trade someone.

CC Sabathia? Not going anywhere. A.J. Burnett? Iffy, but no. Andy Pettitte? Absolutely not. Phil Hughes? Fuhgetabatit.

Javier Vazquez?

Vazquez, who pitched for the Yankees previously in 2004, was acquired from the Atlanta Braves before 2010 in a trade that sent OF Melky Cabrera, RHP Arodys Vizcaino and LHP Mike Dunn from New York to Atlanta. Vazquez, who started the season as the team's fourth starter, struggled early, going 3-5 with an ERA in the 8.00's through April and May. Fans called for Vazquez's and GM Brian Cashman's heads, demanding the pitcher be traded and Cashman fired. However, the durable righty turned around in June and, in his last seven starts, is 4-2 with a 2.93 ERA, totaling a 7-7 record with a 4.81 ERA on the campaign.

Vazquez, 33, who makes $11.5 million this season, is a free agent at the end of the season. Many believe that the Yankees will not re-sign Vazquez, who qualifies as a Type-A free agent (meaning they get two first round draft picks) because the man they want, Lee, is also a free agent.

However, we heard today as mentioned above, that the Yankees are interested in Lee and believe that they have a package that could land them the ace left-hander. Lee is 8-3 with a 2.34 ERA and has 89 strikeouts while giving up just six (!!!) walks. He makes $9 million this season. But, trading for Lee means trading one of the current starters, and the four mentioned above are going nowhere, leaving Vazquez the lone odd pitcher out.

From Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports:
"The source, however, estimates that the Yankees’ chances of landing Lee are “less than 50 percent,” and says that such a move likely would require the team to spin right-hander Javier Vazquez to another club."

There lies the problem. What team, with Lee on the block, would trade for Vazquez, who is not having as good a year? Could the Yankees encourage a team to join them in a possible three-team trade for Lee? What would the Yankees have to give up?

Due to Vazquez's recent hot streak (4-2 with a 2.93 in seven starts) and his qualification as a Type-A free agent, the Yankees could value Vazquez higher in order to get a top prospect in return since they would be giving up a top prospect for Lee.

I've narrowed down some possible destinations for Vazquez if the Yankees were to trade him if they acquired Lee:

• Seattle Mariners - They're going to get rid of one of their best pitchers in Lee, so wouldn't the want a big league ready pitcher in return? Perhaps they'd take Vazquez from the Yankees with a prospect like Romine or Montero. That way the Mariners would get a pitcher that they could bring back next season for a cheaper salary as well as the prospects.
  

• Minnesota Twins - Have already made an offer to Seattle for Lee which includes top prospects Aaron Hicks and Wilson Ramos. Vazquez would be a good fallback option along with Dan Haren since they'll be battling with the Tigers and ChiSox for the division title.
  

• Detroit Tigers - Very shaky rotation outside of Justin Verlander, need a stable #2, but what do they have that the Yankees would want? Austin Jackson? Sure to be battling with Twins and ChiSox for division title.
  

• Chicago White Sox - Same as Tigers: shaky rotation, battling with Tigers and Twins all year, what do they have?
  

• New York Mets - They've been heavily interested in Lee, so if they feel that they can acquire him, they'll push for it and give up the prospects. If they're unable to get Lee because he goes to the Yankees, expect them to be interested in Vazquez when he becomes available. But would the Mets really want to see a top prospect, which it would most likely cost for Javy, flourish with their crosstown rival?
  

• Philadelphia Phillies - They must really regret trading Lee over the off-season. The Phillies are in third place in the NL East, four games behind the second place Mets. They're interested in Lee to backup Roy Halladay. They've been rumored as interested in re-trading for Lee. If they can't acquire Lee, they'll go for Haren, who they've been reported as scouting recently. If not Haren, expect them to call the Yankees about Vazquez. Their Farm system was rich with talent before they traded for Roy Halladay and isn't so great now outside of Domonic Brown. The Phillies are in desperation mode right now and it's getting late early for them if they want to make the playoffs. They'd probably be in a rush to trade for Vazquez if they can't get Lee.
  

• Cincinnati Reds - Interested in Lee, but questions about what they have to give up outside of first baseman Yonder Alonso that's valuable. They could look to Vazquez as back-up option, but what could they give the Yankees? Alonso would be a good guy to start with since he can also catch. The Yankees would most likely have to give up Romine or Montero for Lee, so acquiring another top prospect who can catch in Alonso would easily replace the pain of losing Montero or Romine. Acquiring Vazquez could help the Reds solidify the NL Central title.
  

• St. Louis Cardinals - Rumored to be willing to part with 2009 first round pick LHP Shelby Miller, but no one knows how serious they are. They'd probably call for Vazquez if they really need him, especially since their only two games from first place.
  

• San Francisco Giants - They're not interested in Lee according to reports, but are more interested in acquiring a bat. However, the rotation needs help outside of Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Jonathan Sanchez. Question is still what they would have to give up.
  

• Los Angeles Dodgers - They've been scouting Lee according to reports, but some are skeptical if they can take on Lee's contract at $9 million, meaning a trade for Vazquez, who makes $11.5 million, would be unlikely.
  

• Texas Rangers - Ditto that for the Rangers. They're having problems with ownership and have declared bankruptcy.
  

Again, these teams would only be interested if Lee ends up with the Yankees. Vazquez makes more money, is older (33 to 31), and is not having as good a season as Lee. Javy has proved to be a dominant National League pitcher in inter-league play as well as his season last year with Atlanta, which could make him more attractive to an NL team. However, he would not cost as much, in prospects, as Lee would. Therefore, the team that could be most interested in acquiring Javier Vazquez is:

The Cincinnati Reds.

Why the Reds?

Like I said before, the Reds are fighting, fighting, to hold on to first place in the NL Central from the St. Louis Cardinals. Acquiring a front-of-the-line starter like Lee would make them possible division champs. However, the Reds may not have enough money to sign Lee to extension in the off-season, thus losing him to another team, such as the Yankees. That'd mean that Lee was a rental, and that the team traded premium prospect talent for a half a year's worth of Lee, despite gaining a first round draft pick if he's let go. You can't imagine that Reds' RHP Mike Leake will continue to get lucky all season, so acquiring an ace like Lee to bolster their rotation would be critical to make the playoffs. In a trade for Lee, Cincy would most certainly have to give up 1B prospect Yonder Alonso, who is blocked by Joey Votto, LHP Travis Wood, 3B Juan Francisco and another player.

Let's say in this scenario that the Yankees trade Jesus Montero/Austin Romine with 2B David Adams and a throw-in, and acquire Lee and then make Javier Vazquez available. The Reds need a pitcher now to make a playoff push. Something tells me that the Reds would be interested in acquiring a pitcher who a) they wouldn't have to give up as many prospects for and b) dominates in the NL. Sliding Vazquez in front of Leake, Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang would make for a great rotation in Cincinnati. As I mentioned above, if the Reds were to trade with the Yankees for Vazquez, starting the deal with Alonso, 23, would be good place to begin. Alonso has been said to be a power hitting, left handed batting first baseman/catcher. He's slumping in his first go around in Triple-AAA hitting just .253 with 5 home runs. Jesus Montero and Austin Romine are two of the game's best catching prospects and are ranked #1-#2 on the Yankees' top prospects list. Alonso, the Reds' #2 prospect, has played first base and catcher in the minor leagues.

If the Yankees give up Montero or Romine for Lee, which they most certainly would have to, acquiring Alonso for Vazquez straight-up, one for one, would ease the pain of losing one of them. Alonso could move behind the plate and take the place of Romine or Montero as one of the Yankees' top prospects. There are questions if Alonso could stay behind the plate, but if not, he could move to third base or a corner outfield slot.

So why should the Reds give up a top prospect? For starters, Vazquez is still a great pitcher and could surely help an NL team out. Secondly, he's a Type-A free agent, meaning the Yankees could simply keep Vazquez (unlikely, but who knows) and take the first round draft pick at the end of the year. Finally, the Yankees gave up a top prospect in Vizcaino for Vazquez, so they should expect a top prospect in return if they were to trade him. It'd be an extremely fair trade for both sides if the trade was just Vazquez for Alonso. Alonso is blocked by superstar Joey Votto at first base. Not only is Alonso blocked by Votto, but it doesn't seem as though the Reds plan to move the former first round pick from UMiami behind the plate anytime soon, due to questions if he can stay behind the plate. The Reds drafted catcher Yasmani Grandal, who also went to UMiami, in the first round with the 12th overall pick this year. Grandal is a more polished hitter, is younger, and is a better defensive player. The Reds may simply look to move Alonso because they have no place for him, making him even more attractive for the Yankees in a trade for Vazquez. For the Reds, Vazquez would jump immediately into Cincinnati's rotation and make them a more powerful team, most likely division champs. Vazquez is a free agent at the end of the season, but he'd probably be more signable for Cincinnati than Lee, seeing as he'd cost less and the Reds would not have to sign him to a long-term contract, maybe three or four years at the most. The Yankees would most likely have to eat some cash off Vazquez's contract to get the top prospect. This would be a great trade for both sides and makes the most sense.

The Phillies could also be interested, but I don't see what they could give up outside of Domonic Brown and Kyle Drabek, who are untouchable, since the Halladay trade depleted their system.

The Yankees should try to get a top prospect for Javy, especially since they're losing Romine or Montero. I wouldn't be surprised if they had to settle for a reasonable price though, such as a B-level prospect. Perhaps the Yankees could include Javy in the trade for Lee. Would a trade of Vazquez and Montero/Romine get a deal done for Lee?

Am I ready to write Javy off the ship so quickly? Not exactly. He's been hot recently, but he's had a shaky season and I wouldn't exactly trust him much more than Burnett in a one game playoff series. Also, the Yankees aren't going to trade CC, A.J., Andy or Phil. That being said, Javy's value is at an all-time high right now, so the Yankees could net a top prospect. It'd be the only way that Lee would fit on the team.

It seems like the Yankees could trade for Lee whenever they want to, the only difficulty is moving Javier Vazquez. A rotation featuring Sabathia, Lee, Burnett, Pettitte and Hughes is just wild. While it's not set in stone that this is to happen, it's pure speculation and only matters if Lee is acquired by New York. If the Yankees want to make the best of a trade for Lee then they would have to sign him to an extension. The next few weeks are going to be very interesting.

Update 11:03 PM: Just heard on SNY's SportsNite that the Yankees were talking a trade with the Mariners for Lee and that Vazquez would be traded to Seattle along with a prospect or two. Talks are surely heating up!

Giants talking trade with Brewers for OF Corey Hart

According to MLBTradeRumors as well as Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, the San Francisco Giants are exploring a trade for Milwaukee Brewers' All-Star right fielder Corey Hart.

The Giants, who are somewhat offensively struggled, have been scouting the Brewers extensively of late for, what many thought to be, a trade for All-Star first baseman Prince Fielder. Hart is signed through 2011, so the Giants would not just have him as a rental player, but as a player for the future. Hart, 28, is currently at .288 with 19 home runs and 61 RBI through 75 games this season while making the NL All-Star team for the second time in his career.

Last week, the Giants completed a trade that sent catcher Bengie Molina to the Texas Rangers for RHP Chris Ray and a player to be named later, freeing up salary space on the roster for a big acquisition.

The cost for Hart would be great however. The Giants would likely have to give up at least a top prospect such as catcher Tommy Joseph, who is now blocked by Buster Posey, or LHP Dan Runzler. Either way, a trade for Hart by the Giants would be a great move for their playoff push.

Yankees' Robinson Cano to participate in State Farm Home Run Derby

Major League Baseball announced six players who will participate in the State Farm Home Run Derby. The Derby, for those who don't know, is a silly competition in which a player tries to hit the most home runs possible. Each player gets 10 outs, outs being hits that are not home runs. If a home run is hit, it does not count as an out. Anything else hit (grounders, fouls) are outs. The top four home run amounts in the first round move to the second round. Home runs from the first round transfer over to the second round, and the two players with the most home runs combined from the first and second rounds move on to the final round, in which the home run total is whiped and the player has to restart. In the final round, two players are entered and the player only gets 5 outs. The player with the most home runs in the last round wins. You can read the rest of the rules here. The participants this year as as follow:

• Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
• Robinson Cano, Yankees
• Corey Hart, Brewers
• Matt Holliday, Cardinals
• David Ortiz, Red Sox
• Vernon Wells, Blue Jays

10 contestants are needed, so expect the announcement of the final four in a couple of days.

I've never really liked the Home Run Derby due to the lingering affect it has on a player's swing. Cano, who leads all major league second baseman with 16 home runs, was not someone I expected to be in the Home Run Derby before the season. I know he's a great hitter, but the proof of the Home Run Derby curse is real (see Bobby Abreu after 2005). I just hope Robbie doesn't try to go crazy and mess up his swing.

The Latest on Cliff Lee, Updates

With only a few weeks to go until the July 31st trading deadline, trade talk is poised to heat up. Cliff Lee, the most prized and sought after trade target, is on the block and has been coveted by every team. The rumors about a Lee trade are starting to heat up. We'll be monitoring how it goes today and we'll provide all rumors heard.

• Yesterday, the Twins offered the Mariners a package of prized catching prospect Wilson Ramos and 2008 first-rounder, outfielder Aaron Hicks. Ramos, who debuted this year and was hitting .296 in the majors, is hitting .208 with 4 home runs and 19 RBI at Triple-AAA Rochester through 52 games. Hicks is hitting .260 with 5 home runs, 34 RBI, and 11 stolen bases at Single-A Beloit. Both Hicks and Ramos were ranked one and two respectively, on Baseball America's Twins' Top 10 Prospects List. Various reports have said that both sides are still far from a deal. It's very unorthodox for the Twins to trade their top prospects, especially since their team is made up of homegrown players. The Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Rangers and Reds are among other teams interested in acquiring the ace left-hander.

• Via MLBTradeRumors and Twitter, Peter Gammons is reporting that rumors of a B.J. Upton - Cliff Lee deal are going around and that a third team could be involved with the Tampa Bay Rays and Mariners.

• More from MLBTradeRumors: Olney hears that the Mariners "really like" Brewers prospect Brett Lawrie (Twitter link). The 20-year-old second baseman recently made Baseball America's mid-season All-Star team. Lawrie "still strikes out too often and is a work in progress at second base," but is among the offensive leaders at AA. The Mariners have 2009 first rounder Dustin Ackley, also a second baseman, hitting well in AA, though Ackley's presence doesn't mean they can't pursue Lawrie.

• Morosi hears that talks between the Mets and Mariners have not progressed much (Twitter)
  

• B.J. Upton, now involved in the Lee rumors, tells Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times that he doesn't want the Rays to trade him (Twitter link). Joe Maddon also talks to Topkin about the Upton rumors, saying there's "nothing from our end regarding that being true."

• The Yankees believe they could trade for Lee if they wanted to, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (via Twitter).

• The Yankees are “kicking the tires” on Lee, a source tells Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The source estimates that the Yanks have less than a 50% chance of obtaining Lee and suggests the Yankees could flip Javier Vazquez to another team if they do acquire Lee.

• The Rays are on the periphery of the Lee sweepstakes, according to Rosenthal’s sources, who confirm that B.J. Upton-Cliff Lee trade talk surfaced amoung scouts last night.

• The Tigers like Lee, but aren't optimistic about acquiring him, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter).

Swisher falls to second place in Final Vote behind Red Sox's Youkilis

If you really want to know, the Cincinnati Reds fans and Red Sox fans have come together to vote for first baseman Joey Votto and first baseman Kevin Youkilis together. Since Youkilis is from Cincy, the Reds fans have agreed to vote for him in the AL if Red Sox fans vote for Votto. Nonetheless, I think the title is pretty self-explanatory.

VOTE SWISHER! VOTE SWISHER! VOTE SWISHER!

STUFF THE FREAKIN' BALLOT BOXES!

Pettitte placed on All-Star Roster, Nick Swisher Final Vote leader, Amare signs with Knicks

Andy Pettitte replaces Clay Buchholtz on All-Star Roster

From Riveraveblues:
"Via Bryan Hoch, Andy Pettitte has replaced Clay Buchholz on the AL All Star Game roster because the latter has been placed on the disabled list with a hamstring issue. Joe Girardi had no say on this move since Buchholz was elected to the game by the player’s vote. The next highest vote getter simply took his spot, and it happened to be Pettitte. Girardi will have to name a replacement for CC Sabathia, who is scheduled to pitch on Sunday and is therefor ineligible to play in the game.

Pettitte makes seven Yankee All Stars, the most of any team. This will be his third trip to the mid-summer classic, and his first since 2001. Hard to believe that Pettitte has more top five finishes in the Cy Young voting than All Star Game appearances."

Swisher and Votto in the lead for Final Vote

From MLB:
"NEW YORK, July 5, 2010 -- Nick Swisher of the New York Yankees and Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds topped the early returns from the more than 10 million votes registered in the opening 24 hours of the 2010 All-Star Game Final Vote Sponsored by Sprint.

Swisher led a tightly-contested race for the American League's final roster spot, followed closely by Kevin Youkilis of the Boston Red Sox; Michael Young of the Texas Rangers; Paul Konerko of the Chicago White Sox; and Delmon Young of the Minnesota Twins.

On the National League ballot, Votto grabbed the top spot out-of-the-gate over the other four candidates, narrowly ahead of Ryan Zimmerman of the Washington Nationals; Billy Wagner of the Atlanta Braves; Carlos Gonzalez of the Colorado Rockies; and Heath Bell of the San Diego Padres.

The ninth annual All-Star Game Final Vote ballot commenced exclusively on MLB.com and the individual Club sites at 1 p.m. (EDT) yesterday and will continue until balloting concludes at 4 p.m. (EDT) on Thursday, July 8."

Amare Stoudemire signs with Knicks

From NBA:
"The New York Knicks finally got a return on their two years of self-induced misery on Monday, finishing up the final touches on a five-year contract for Phoenix Suns free agent forward Amar'e Stoudemire that is expected to be worth around $100 million. A source indicates a formal announcement from Stoudemire should be forthcoming within the hour at Madison Square Garden."I feel great about being a pioneer and showing my leadership," he said at Madison Square Garden, where signs throughout the entrances showed the player pictured in a Knicks uniform and reading "Welcome, Amare Stoudemire."

The deal can't be signed until Thursday, after the salary cap for next season has been set.

Stoudemire and the Knicks quickly found each other last week, each in need of a soft landing place. The 27-year-old Stoudemire was looking for a team that still believed he could be a dominant player in the next few years, despite concerns about his knees and his eyes following serious injuries to each. And the Knicks, who'd sold their fans for the last two years that they'd be a major player in free agency this summer, able to lure the likes of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, were desperate for a splashy acquisition that would give fans hope and add to their depleted roster."

Your links for the day. Had an awesome, yet tiring day. That's for tonight unless anything major happens.

Oh yeah...

Happy 4th of July, wherever you are.

AL All-Star Roster UPDATE

Update 9:07 PM: Perhaps the one of the biggest surprises to the baseball world was that Yankees' LHP Andy Pettitte was not named to the AL All-Star Team. Pettitte, who is 10-2 with a 2.82 ERA, is arguably the Yankees' best pitcher right now, leading many to believe it as a snub. Many analysts were shocked to see that Girardi had picked CC Sabathia over Pettite. Sabathia is 10-3 with a 3.33 ERA. However, Joe Girardi has a plan to make Pettitte's All-Star dream, as well as chance to start, a reality.

From ESPN:

"Under baseball's rules, no pitcher who starts on Sunday, July 11 -- the last day of play before the All-Star break -- is allowed to pitch in the All-Star Game on July 13. Girardi's plan is to substitute Pettitte for Sabathia on the All-Star roster.

"That's pretty much right on,'' Girardi said. "I thought CC was well-deserving and Andy is well-deserving. And I hate the fact that one guy wouldn't make it. So in this case, we could have two left-handers in Anaheim.''

Pressed to admit that Pettitte was as good as a member of his All-Star squad right now, Girardi would only say, "That's a move that could possibly be made by the end of the week.''

Then he added, "As soon as one pitch is thrown on Sunday.''

In the likely event that Pettitte is added to the All-Star team, he might even get the starting assignment, since his next start is scheduled for Thursday in Seattle. After that, his next day to start would be on Tuesday, July 13 -- the day of the All-Star Game.

"Who the starter would be is something we still have to think about and discuss,'' Girardi said. "But as I said, Andy is well-deserving.''

So no worries Yankees fans, Andy Pettitte was not snubbed, and will be an All-Star. It'd be extremely cool to see Andy as the AL's starting pitcher. Think about it this way: If Pettitte is named an All-Star and Nick Swisher makes the Final Vote, the Yankees will have eight all-stars. Crazy.

New Polls

On the right side of your screen.

Do it.

• Who will join Amare Stoudemire and the New York Knicks?

• Which group is likely to play together?

• Who will be traded to the Yankees?

• Who will be traded to the Mets?

Report: Tony Parker "wants to play with Amare"

From the Daily News:

"The Spurs' point guard is hoping to be traded to the Knicks and has long wanted to play with Stoudemire. A person close to both players said Stoudemire and Parker hatched a plan to join forces in either Miami or New York.

"It's perfect for Tony because he wants to be in New York and he wants to play with Amar'e," said the source."

And this from the Bleacher Report:

"Rumors have been swirling that Parker is very close to be traded to the big apple.

In theory it makes a lot of sense. Not only is Parker an All-Star caliber point guard, but he is a player that does not demand the ball in order to take 20 shots a game.

But do not get me wrong, he will still get his fair share of shots. Also, Amar`e and Parker have both expressed their desire to play together. So that could be an added bonus in the Knicks favor.

The Knicks could offer up Wilson Chandler, a future second round draft pick, and cash consideration for Parker.

It gives the San Antonio Spurs a young small forward to replace Richard Jefferson and a non-guaranteed salary with the second rounder ( the Spurs always find gems in the second rounds).

The cash will give them a bit more cap relief as well. "

New York, get ready for Tony Parker because it looks like this deal is bound to happen. A trade for Tony Parker would be a great deal for both sides. New York would acquire the great point guard they've been looking for and San Antonio would acquire a guard to replace Richard Jefferson. I'm the Knicks I would get on this right away! Make 2011 New York's year! Thanks Amare!

Amare Stoudemire: Recruiting Officer

Amare Stoudemire is making himself accustomed to New York City.

The future Knicks' center's tour was underway last night at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in Manhattan, where Stoudemire saw the Broadway hit "Rock of Ages." However, according to ESPN, "Stoudemire hinted that he'd be putting together a show of his own on Broadway next season."

Coming to a basketball court near you, soon to be playing at Madison Square Garden in New York City: The 2011-12 New York Knicks, starring Amare Stoudemire and featuring Carmelo Anthony and Tony Parker.

Wait, "Melo" and Parker?

ESPN:
"I've talked to Carmelo Anthony and [told him] that he needs to come here," Stoudemire said while standing on the corner of 47th St. and 8th Ave. after the show. "I've talked to Tony Parker. Both guys are ready to join me if I decide to come here. So we'll see if we can work it out."

What about LeBron James?

"That would be great," said Stoudemire, who wore a navy blue Yankees hat to the play.

The Knicks, of course, would have to swing a trade for either Anthony or Parker, both of whom are under contract next season."

So, looks likes Amare is going to start working as the Recruiting Officer of the New York Knicks. If the Knicks were to get "Melo" from the Denver Nuggets and Parker from the San Antonio Spurs, they'd be legitimate contenders for the NBA Finals. A complete haul of the roster would be a fresh start for the Knicks, and trading for Parker and Melo would do just that. Hopefully, for Knicks fans, Amare can reel in the big fish in James, but if not, Melo and Parker are good back-up options for next season.

More from ESPN: "Stoudemire confirmed to ESPNNewYork.com that he would be meeting with Knicks brass on Monday.

Saturday night, Stoudemire called the Knicks "one of the most historic franchises in NBA history. [New York] is a beautiful city. Madison Square Garden is definitely one of the most intriguing places to play. So they definitely have a few great points on their side."

When asked what he'd add to the Knicks roster, Stoudemire smiled and said, "We'll have to wait and see."

"I love New York, it's a great city," said Stoudemire, who left in a white limo shortly after being questioned by reporters."

Hopefully Amare can bring in the big guys in order to make the Knicks a contender again. It'd be great for the Knicks and for New York City to experience Championship Basketball again.

On a side note: Amare Stoudemire = one of my favorite players now. Why? He's a Yankees fan.

In other basketball news:
- The Atlanta Hawks re-signed Joe Johnson and agreed on a new six-year deal worth approximately $119 million. Johnson, considered a Knicks target, will now spend his days in Atlanta.
- Dirk Nowitzki re-signed with the Dallas Mavericks for a four-year deal worth $80 million.
- The Boston Celtics re-signed Paul Pierce to a four-year deal worth $61 million.

All-Star Rosters announced, Yankees get six All-Stars, Mets get two, Strasburg not named to team

The All-Star voting results were released today:

American League All-Stars
STARTERS
1B - Justin Morneau, Twins
2B - Robinson Cano, Yankees
SS - Derek Jeter, Yankees
3B - Evan Longoria, Rays
C - Joe Mauer, Twins
OF - Josh Hamilton, Rangers
OF - Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners
OF - Carl Crawford, Rays
DH - Vladimir Guerrero, Rangers

PITCHERS
RHP - David Price, Rays
RHP - Clay Buchholz, Red Sox
LHP - Jon Lester, Red Sox
RHP - Phil Hughes, Yankees
RHP - Mariano Rivera, Yankees
LHP - CC Sabathia, Yankees
LHP - Cliff Lee, Mariners
RHP - Neftali Feliz, Rangers
RHP - Jose Valverde, Tigers
LHP - Matt Thornton, White Sox
RHP - Fausto Carmona, Indians
RHP - Joakim Soria, Royals
RHP - Trevor Cahill, Athletics

RESERVES
1B - Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
2B - Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox *(injured, will not play)
C - Victor Martinez, Red Sox*(injured, will not play)
DH - David Ortiz, Red Sox
3B - Adrian Beltre, Red Sox
2B - Ian Kinsler, Rangers**(replaces Pedroia)
SS - Elvis Andrus, Rangers
OF - Vernon Wells, Blue Jays
OF - Jose Bautista, Blue Jays
C - John Buck, Blue Jays**(replaces Martinez)
OF - Torii Hunter, Angels
INF - Ty Wigginton, Orioles
3B - Alex Rodriguez, Yankees

National League All-Stars
STARTERS
1B - Albert Pujols, Cardinals
2B - Chase Utley, Phillies*(injured, will not play)
SS - Hanley Ramirez, Marlins
3B - David Wright, Mets
C - Yadier Molina, Cardinals
OF - Ryan Braun, Brewers
OF - Andre Ethier, Dodgers
OF - Jason Heyward, Braves

PITCHERS
RHP - Jonathan Broxton, Dodgers
RHP - Chris Carpenter, Cardinals
RHP - Matt Capps, Nationals
RHP - Yovani Gallardo, Brewers
RHP - Roy Halladay, Phillies
RHP - Tim Hudson, Braves
RHP - Ubaldo Jimenez, Rockies
RHP - Josh Johnson, Marlins
RHP - Tim Lincecum, Giants
RHP - Evan Meek, Pirates
LHP - Arthur Rhodes, Reds
RHP - Adam Wainwright, Cardinals
RHP - Brian Wilson, Giants

RESERVES
C - Brian McCann, Braves
1B - Ryan Howard, Phillies
1B - Adrian Gonzalez, Padres
2B - Martin Prado, Braves**(will start for Utley)
INF - Omar Infante, Braves
SS - Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies*(injured, will not play)
SS - Jose Reyes, Mets**(replaces Tulowitzki)
2B - Brandon Phillips, Reds
3B - Scott Rolen, Reds
OF - Michael Bourn, Astros
OF - Corey Hart, Brewers
OF - Marlon Byrd, Cubs
OF - Matt Holliday, Cardinals
OF - Chris Young, Diamondbacks

There you have it, your 2010 All-Stars!

However, there's one more thing. There's voting for the final two roster spots on each team, as you, the fans, get to select the final players. Among the nominees are:

American League
1B - Paul Konerko, White Sox
OF - Nick Swisher, Yankees
1B - Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox
OF - Delmon Young, Twins
3B - Michael Young, Rangers

National League
RHP - Heath Bell, Padres
OF - Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies
1B - Joey Votto, Reds
LHP - Billy Wagner
3B - Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals

Make sure you get out and vote here, voting ends Thursday at 4 PM.

As for me, I'll be voting for Joey Votto and my boy Nick Swisher, who I've been campaigning for all season. If Swish makes the team, there will be seven Yankees! Make sure you go out and vote for Nick Swisher!
Update: Make sure to check out Jayson Stark of ESPN's article here. He lists his feelings about the rosters and I can't help but agree with Stark. How can Votto, Wagner, Konerko, Rafael Furcal, Felix Hernandez, Jered Weaver, Josh Willingham, and Brennan Boesch not make the team? It's a good read.

Knicks and Amare Stoudemire moving closer to deal

ESPN is reporting that the New York Knicks are close to signing a big star.

No, it's not him.

The Knicks and Amare Stoudemire, according to ESPN's Chris Broussard, are moving closer to agreeing to a deal. The Knicks have reportedly offered Stoudemire a five-year contract for $100 million. The two sides are moving closer to completing the deal, but Stoudemire, 27, can't sign until July 8th, and the Knicks want to meet him in person to further discuss the deal.

From ESPN:

"Stoudemire is scheduled to fly into New York on Saturday and is expected to sit down with Knicks brass on Monday. Earlier, Yahoo! Sports and the New York Daily News reported that Stoudemire and the Knicks had the "framework of the deal" in place. Stoudemire and his representatives broke off negotiations with the Suns on Friday.

"It wasn't the right deal," Stoudemire's agent, Happy Walters, told The Arizona Republic."

Stoudemire, who has been seeking a $100 million contract, received a five-year, $95 million contract from the Phoenix Suns, his old team. According to David Berri of Opposing Views, Amare is not worth $100 million due to the fact that, in his calculations, Amare is only worth 32.4 wins averaged over five years as he ages.

Now that Stoudemire has received a $100 million contract, it's very likely that negotiations will move quickly. The Knicks are hoping that signing Stoudemire will also help LeBron James consider New York. In what could go down as the best NBA free agent classes of all time, don't count the Knicks out on other stars. Expect a deal to be done quick, because it won't be long before Amare is in NYC.

Yankees Trade Target 2010: Ty Wigginton

Ty Wigginton, INF/OF Baltimore Orioles
2010 season: 74 G, .254/.338/.458, 14 HR, 42 RBI

When any baseball fan hears the name Ty Wigginton, they think one word: versatility. A 17th round draft pick in the 1998 draft by the New York Mets out of UNC Asheville, "Wiggy" has had a very solid major league career. Wiggy made his major league debut in 2002 for the Mets at age 25, posting a line of .302/.354/.526 with 6 HR, and 18 RBI in 116 AB, making his future look bright. Wiggy started at third base for the Mets for the 2003 season, and while he struggled early, finished with a .255 average with 11 HR and 71 RBI in 156 games. However, he struck out 124 times, a career high for Wiggy. The following season, Wiggy started 2004 on a tear. Wigginton hit .285/.334/.487 to go with 12 HR and 23 doubles with 42 RBI through his first 312 at-bats. His hot streak made his stock higher, and the Mets traded Wigginton on June 30, 2004 to the Pittsburgh Pirates in a six-player trade for RHP Kris Benson. The trade of Wigginton opened the door for current Mets' third baseman and All-Star, David Wright. For the rest of 2004, Wiggy would cool down, finishing at .266 with just 17 HR, after hitting 12 in his first 312 AB, with 66 RBI. Wigginton was again the starting third baseman for the Pirates in 2005, but, after early struggles, was demoted to the Minor League Triple-AAA team. Wiggy was recalled on August 22, 2005. Despite going on a tear, hitting .365 the final few weeks of the season, the Pirates released Wiggy at the end of the season.

On January 10, 2006 Wiggy signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. 2006 would prove to be the San Diego native's best season, as he batted .275 with 24 HR, a career high, and 79 RBI, also a career high, in 122 games. It would also be the first year that fans would get to see the versatility that is Ty Wigginton. In 2006, Wiggy spent time at first base, second base, third base, and the outfield. His breakout 2006 prompted Tampa to sign him for the 2007 season. Wiggy, 30 at the time, started for the Devil Rays in 98 games, hitting .275 with 16 HR and 49 RBI before being traded to the Houston Astros for RHP Dan Wheeler on July 28, 2007. For the Astros, Wiggy hit .284 with 6 HR and 18 RBI in 50 games as the starting third baseman after Houston designated Morgan Ensberg for assignment. Wiggy finished 2007 at .278 with 22 HR and 67 RBI. Houston would sign Wiggy to another contract at the end of the season, as he would again be the Astros' starting third baseman. However, in August, after LF Carlos Lee broke a finger, Wiggy made a majority of his starts for the season in left field. Wiggy made Astros feel as though Lee was still on the team, posting a .379 BA after Lee's injury. He finished the season hitting .285, a career high, with 23 HR and 58 RBI while playing in 111 games in the infield and outfield. Despite his strong 2008, the Astros did not tender Wiggy a contract, making him a free agent. This upset many Astros' fans.

On February 10, 2009 Wiggy signed two-year for $7 million. In 2009, Wiggy had major drop-offs in home runs and runs batted in, despite playing in 11 more games. He finished 2009 at .273 with 11 HR and 41 RBI. 2010 however, has been a different story. Named a bench player for 2010, Wiggy came into spring training with low expectations since not being named a starter. However, Roberts missed much of spring training with a herniated disk in his back. Regardless, Roberts started the season as Baltimore's starting 2B, before being put on the 15-day DL with a abdominal strain stealing second base. After being placed on the DL, Wiggy became the starting 2B for the O's. Suffice to say, Wiggy has surpassed expectations. Through the first 60 games of this season, Wiggy hit .272 with 13 HR. He currently has 14 HR in his first 264 AB, his third highest career home run rate per at bat ratio in his career, hitting a home run every 18.8 at bats this season, since hitting a home run every 16.7 at bats in 2008 with Houston. Currently, Wiggy's hitting .254/.338/.458, 14 HR, 42 RBI through 74 games at second base, short stop, third base, and the outfield. Wiggy's strong season, as well as his versatility, along with Baltimore's league worst record at 24-55 and doomed last-place finish, has prompted the Orioles to make him available in trade.

Yesterday, via MLBTradeRumors, we heard that the Yankees are interested in acquiring Wiggy. Today we heard that the Yankees want to solidify their bench. A trade for Wigginton would be the best way to improve the bench. The current Yankees' bench consists of all home-grown inexperienced players in Francisco Cervelli, Ramiro Pena, Chad Huffman, and Colin Curtis. The Yankees are still waiting for Marcus Thames to return from injury. Not a very threatening or powerful bench for Joe Girardi to use. If Wigginton, 32, were acquired, he could play all the positions to give the starters days off, and wouldn't be a typical 0-3 bench player. He's had a strong 2010 season, so he'd be treated like a starting player. Doug Rush over at The Bleacher Report, says that "The Yankees need a guy who can play multiple positions and be able to give guys like Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano and Alex Rodriguez days off when needed. Wigginton can play all of the infield positions, the DH, and even the outfield if needed."

However, the one issue with acquiring Wigginton is Baltimore's demand: one young shortstop. From The Beacher Report: "Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports called the demand by Baltimore a self-defeating one because any team like the Yankees would be unlikely to deal away a young shortstop to rent Wigginton for a few months." Wiggy is making $3.5 million this season, and is a free agent to-be at the end of the season. No team would want to give up a young shortstop for a guy who will be a bench player on a contending team. Baltimore would most likely ask for top shortstop prospect Eduardo Nunez, 23, who is enjoying a break-out season at Triple-AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, hitting .312 with 3 HR and 39 RBI in 81 games. If not Nunez, than Baltimore would most likely ask for Ramiro Pena, Kevin Russo or minor league SS Reegie Corona. Corona, who was left unprotected in the 2008 Rule-5 Draft and was chosen and returned to the Yankees by the Seattle Mariners, is hitting .231 with 5 HR and 20 RBI, along with 11 stolen bases in 81 games. He's currently on the 40-man roster, meaning if traded, the Yankees would have a spot for Wigginton on the 40-man without releasing any other player. I don't think that the Yankees would be willing to part with a prospect of Nunez's caliber for a rental of Wigginton. While Wiggy isn't a great defensive player, "Wigginton makes up for it as a much better and stronger hitter who can produce runs" says the Bleacher Report. If I'm Brian Cashman, I'm only giving up minimal prospects for Wiggy. A realistic trade could be one that consists of Corona and maybe Double-AA shortstop Luis Nunez. If that's what I can get away with giving up, then I'm making the trade for Wiggy.

The Yankees could use Wiggy anywhere on the field. One idea I had was to make Wiggy the alternating third baseman with Alex Rodriguez. This would push A-Rod to the DH role on some days in order to rest his ailing hip, and would allow Wiggy, and his crazy 2010 season, to start and help the team's dreadful offense of late. Therefore, New York would have both A-Rod's and Wiggy's bats in the lineup. On the other hand, the Yankees could use Wiggy on the bench, which is what has been seen as their mindset. I think having Wiggy start would be a much better idea due to his strong season so far. I think he's deserved the right to start and alternating DH and 3B with A-Rod would be a great way. As well, the Yankees bench would drastically increase by having Wiggy. By September, the Yankees bench would consist of Wigginton, Nick Johnson, Thames, Cervelli, and possibly Colin Curtis if the Yankees decide to use Wiggy as a starter. Having Wiggy in the lineup would really increase and hopefully wake up the Yankees' offense. I'm not saying Wiggy is Albert Pujols, but all I'm saying is that he's having a great season and it would help the offense.

If I'm the Yankees, and it seems as though they already have, I'd be on the phone right now with the Orioles trying to work out a trade for Wiggy. Wiggy would be a great addition to an already strong Yankees team, and would help the bench become stronger and the offense become slightly better. It seems as though a deal could be reached soon.

Brian Cashman, Yankees GM: "The bench is the area of priority as of right now," Cashman said. "That doesn't mean we're not open to anything else. But if you ask me what's the priority? What's the area of weakness? It's the bench."

World Cup Quarter Finals

Argentina Vs Germany: Germany wins 4-0, WOW, advances to semi final.

Paraguay Vs Espana: 2:30

Teams that advanced to Semis:
Netherlands
Uruguay
Germany


Yeah, I don't know much about soccer. That's it.