Yankees hope CC Sabathia can be asset for middle of the rotation
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(9:57 am ET) While the Yankees are optimistic about starting pitcher CC Sabathia bouncing back from knee surgery, general manager Brian Cashman is also realistic about the expectations moving forward for the 34-year-old hurler.

“We look forward to him in spring training,” Cashman told NBC New York, per NJ.com. “He’s rehabbing right now. He had the knee surgery. I don’t think the velocity is ever going to return, but I do think that you’re going to see a guy that can pitch in the middle of our rotation and give us the innings that we obviously desperately need. So he’ll be an asset, we hope, for us as we move forward. But until he’s back there every five days, doing what we’re used to seeing him do, there’s a little bit of a question mark there.”

Cashman: ‘I don’t think Yankees fans will be looking at Max Scherzer’
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(9:47 am ET) Unless Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is being deceptive about his offseason plans, then Yankees fans better prepare to not see Max Scherzer in pinstripes starting in 2015, as it doesn’t appear New York is actively pursuing the free agent starting pitcher.

“I don’t think Yankees fans will be looking at Max Scherzer,” Cashman said in an interview with NBC New York, per NJ.com. 

It has been reported Scherzer is looking for a deal in the $200 million range. Cashman said Scherzer is on a “higher level than we’d like to play in right now.”

Last week at the Winter Meetings, the agent for Scherzer — Scott Boras — was angling for the Yankees to sign the 30-year-old pitcher.

“The idea of them having a No. 1 pitcher certainly would add protection to where their current pitchers are, to take innings off them, give them a little bit an umbrella, somebody to be the No. 1,” Boras said Wednesday. “It certainly … I can’t predict what the Yankees are going to do, but a guy like Max fits in with their starting rotation to develop a World Series-caliber set, similar to what they’ve had in the past.”

Report: Chase Headley could come to decision as soon as Monday
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(9:32 am ET) Third baseman Chase Headley could come to a decision about his free agency as soon as Monday, according to WFAN. The Yankees and Giants are among the teams pursuing the 30-year-old infielder.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman indicated during an interview Monday with NBC New York the team’s desire to re-sign Headley, and apparently Headley’s desire to stay in New York.

“I do know this — Chase wants to be a Yankee,” Cashman said, per NJ.com. “He was a tremendous acquisition in the second half. A great leader. A tremendous defender. A switch-hitter with great discipline. He kind of checks off every box that we’d like a prototypical Yankee to look like.

“If we can find common ground, I’d like to have him man third base as we move forward.”

Nats’ Harper nets two-year, $7.5M deal, avoids grievance hearing
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(9:05 am ET) The Nationals and outfielder Bryce Harper avoided a grievance hearing regarding his 2015 salary by agreeing to a two-year deal, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

The two sides were scheduled to have a grievance hearing Tuesday before coming to terms on a two-year, $7.5 million contract, sources told Heyman. Harper will make $2.5 million in 2015 and $5 million in 2016.

Harper was set to make $1.5 million in 2015 due to the contract he signed as a first-round pick in 2010. Had he been eligible for arbitration, he would have likely made about $2.5 million, according to The Washington Post. Harper and his agent, Scott Boras, believed Harper had the right to opt out of his deal and enter arbitration.

Melky Cabrera agrees to three-year, $42 million deal with White Sox
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(12/14/2014) The White Sox have agreed to a three-year, $42 million contract with outfielder Melky Cabrera, CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman has confirmed.

The 30-year-old Cabrera had one of the best seasons of his career in 2014, batting .301 with a .351 on-base percentage, .458 slugging percentage and .808 OPS in 139 games with the Blue Jays. He had 16 home runs, 35 doubles, 73 RBI and 81 runs.

Cabrera has done well in his career at U.S. Cellular Field. He has a .336 average, .591 slugging percentage, .957 OPS, two triples, seven home runs, 10 doubles and 24 RBI in 34 career games.

Report: White Sox, Melky Cabrera agree to three-year deal
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(12/14/2014) The White Sox have agreed to a three-year deal with outfielder Melky Cabrera pending a physical, 670TheScore.com reports.

The White Sox have been on the radar in the Cabrera market for weeks, as CBSSports.com baseball insider Jon Heyman reported on Nov. 20 that the team was considering pursuing the outfielder. As pointed out in the report, the White Sox managed just a .279 on-base percentage from the No. 2 spot in the batting order last season, a slot that Cabrera is the favorite to now fill.

The Mariners were seen as the favorites to land Cabrera earlier this week and reportedly offered him a three-year deal as well, but the outfielder has apparently chosen to return to the AL Central, where he hit .305/.339/.470 with 18 home runs, 87 RBI, 20 stolen bases and 102 runs with the Royals in 2011. He delivered similar numbers in 2014, hitting .301/.351/.458 in 568 at-bats with the Blue Jays. Cabrera has spent most of the past three seasons in left field, where he’ll presumably line up for the White Sox.

Report: Cardinals not active in Max Scherzer market
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(12/14/2014) The Cardinals say they are not active in the market for free-agent pitcher Max Scherzer, USA Today Sports reports.

Scherzer is expected to command a huge deal, one the Cardinals feel is too expensive for their budget. He’s 39-8 with 492 strikeous in 434 1/3 innings over the last two seasons.

Report: Twins have interest in Jack Hannahan
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(12/13/2014) The Twins have been in contact with free-agent third baseman Jack Hannahan, 1500 ESPN reports.

The Twins were interested in signing Hannahan two offseasons ago before he landed with the Reds. He was held to just 48 at-bats with the Reds in 2014 after undergoing shoulder surgery last offseason.

Report: Mariners ‘not looking’ to trade Brad Miller
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(12/13/2014) The Mariners are “not looking” to trade shortstop Brad Miller but remain open to the right deal, a club official told the Tacoma News Tribune.

“Look, there’s all sorts of speculation (about Miller),” the club official said, “and it’s easy to see why. The guy’s an athlete, and everybody — and I mean everybody — thinks he’s going to hit. That’s why lots of teams ask about him. But understand this: We’re not looking to trade him. I’m not saying it won’t happen, but it’s a lot less likely than some people seem to think.”

Miller was in the Mariners’ offer to the Dodgers when the team was looking to acquire Matt Kemp before he was traded to the Padres. If he remains on the team, Miller is expected to battle Chris Taylor for the starting shortstop role.

Red Sox considering Mookie Betts as leadoff hitter
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(12/13/2014) The Red Sox are considering using outfielder Mookie Betts as the team’s leadoff hitter, ESPNBoston.com reports.

“He’s clearly a candidate for us,” manager John Farrell said of Betts Saturday. “[Former leadoff hitter Jacoby Ellsbury] did such a great job for us for a number of years and when he signed elsewhere we went through a little bit of a search to get those skills.”

Betts posted a .388 OBP out of the leadoff spot last season. However, he’s not guaranteed a starting job in Boston’s crowded outfield.