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Yankee President Randy Levine, get back to negotiations

The New York Yankees President Randy Levine says it time to get back to the negotiating table.  Levine says he has learned that the stumbling block to a baseball season is not money, it’s a host of issues such as health and safety protocols and determining how to deal with a second wave of the new coronavirus.  That statement makes you wonder if he has been watching the situation closely enough.

“So what I believe needs to happen is that the parties need to get together as soon as possible to resolve those issues so we can get the season going,” he said Tuesday. “All 30 clubs want to play. The commissioner wants to play. The players want to play. So let’s get these issues solved so we can begin playing baseball. The March agreement said the players would negotiate these issues. The commissioner has assured me he’s ready to do so. The players should get in a room and start negotiating so we can get going.”

MLB has made three proposals, the last for a 72-game season starting July 14 that would guarantee about $1.23 billion of salaries that originally totaled roughly $4 billion and would increase the total to $1.45 billion if the postseason is completed. The union offered two plans, the last for an 89-game schedule starting July 10 with salaries of $2.25 billion.  These don’t sound like health issues.  MLBPA leader Tony Clark says further negotiations would be futile.

Maybe I have had my head in the sand, but I just learned that the sides in the negotiations have not met in person since March 14th.  They have had a few conference calls and have sent messages and letters back and forth.  The sides need to meet in person and hammer out a deal if there is to be a baseball season in 2020.  Commissioner Manfred, it’s your call the clock is ticking.

Gary Sanchez and others light-up Twitter with calls for games to start!

The New York Yankees starting catcher Gary Sanchez along with a host of other baseball players have been busy on Twitter asking for a baseball season to start.  Sanchez said on his Twitter account: “We are ready to get back on the field. Tell us when and where.” Tyler Wade and Mike Tauchman echoed the same thing.  The new Yankees ace pitcher Gerrit Cole put forth a video of him driving to Yankee stadium and having a bullpen session at the stadium.

Yankee’s first baseman Luke Voit retweeted pitcher Max Scherzer’s tweet calling for the season to start. Yankee pitcher Ben Heller: “We want to play,” Heller wrote. “We want to grow the game. We want to give the fans what they want. It’s beyond frustrating to see the current and future state of the game be destroyed.” Slugger Aaron Judge retweeted Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who wrote, “Tell us when and where! We are ready!” Star Mike Trout and pitcher Trevor Bauer among others, have also let their feeling be known as well.

New York Yankees sign four free-agent pitchers

In the MLB Draft last week, the Yankees used two of their three draft picks for position players. In the first round, they picked Austin Wells (catcher).  In the 3rd and 4th rounds, they picked Trevor Hauver (second baseman) and pitcher Beck Way.

Now they have signed undrafted free agents right-handers Carson Coleman (Kentucky), Ocean Gabonia (Everett Community College in Washington), Trevor Holloway (UCF), and Jared Lessar (BYU) to deals worth $20,000. After the draft, players that were undrafted were free to sign with the team of their choice.  After signing with the Yankees, Lessar said: “I hung up the phone and was overwhelmed with a sense of joy and gratitude.’’

New York Yankees have not cut salaries, or furloughed staff

All the teams around baseball have been hemorrhaging money since baseball was shut down on March 12th.  Teams across baseball have been cutting expenses as much as possible, with many teams cutting staff and salaries.  The New York Yankees have not cut any salaries or furloughed any of their staff.  It is not known how long that will last, but it is believed it will be at least to the end of the month.

The Athletics Ken Rosenthal calls out Rob Manfred

Rosenthal said on Twitter yesterday, “The best Commissioners offer statesmanlike presence and superior vision.  Few ascribe those qualities to Manfred.

He and the owners, supposed stewards of the game, are turning the national pastime into a national punch line, effectively threatening to take their ball and go home. At the same time, the country struggles with medical, economic, and societal concerns.

Tulane RHP Pellerin agrees to deal with Yankees

Last night Brian Hoch reported that the New York Yankees have signed a 5th undrafted player.  Connor Pellerin, a right-handed pitcher from Tulane University who signed as an undrafted free agent as the Yankees continue to beef up their pitching options.  Pellerin is a 6-foot-4, 210-pound hurler from Baton Rouge, La., Pellerin compiled a 4-4 record with a 5.67 ERA over 55 collegiate appearances (two starts), allowing 54 hits and 75 walks with 94 strikeouts in 74 2/3 innings.

Aaron Judge’s foundation helps kids in California

The Yankees slugger Judge and his All Rise Foundation have selected the Boys & Girls Club of Sierra Vista in Stockton, Calif., to receive its $2,500 Spring 2020 Mini-Grant for school activities, health and well-being, youth citizenship and character development.

“Education and staying healthy are very important to me,” Judge said in a statement. “The work that the Boys & Girls Club is doing within the Sierra Vista neighborhood is exceptional. I am excited to provide this mini-grant that will help keep members engaged in educational opportunities, creative projects and develop healthy habits. The values of the Boys and Girls Club are perfectly aligned with the mission of our foundation.”

This is not the first time The All Rise Foundation has come to the aid of children.  Earlier in the coronavirus season, Judge and his foundation donated thousands of headphones to needy children in the Bronx near Yankee Stadium to aid children as they transitioned to learning at home.