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Posada deal "close" for the Yankees

Jorge Posada prefers to stay with the New York Yankees and believes he is really close to reaching a new deal with the team. Posada feels like his "heart is with the Yankees."

"It's not about the money, it's about the situation,'' Posada told the Daily News. Posada has played his whole career in a Yankees uniform so can you really blame him?

Too bad for the Mets. They still were highly interested in Posada but they will have to look elsewhere to fill their catch-needs.

Mariners interested in Japanese pitcher Hiroki Kuroda

Add the Seattle Mariners to the long list of suitors for Japanese pitcher Hiroki Kuroda. In 11 seasons in Japan, Hiroki Kuroda was 103-89 and there is a list of teams interested.

The Mariners will be one of the major bidders for the free agent's services. The Kansas City Royals, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and Los Angeles Dodgers have also expressed interest in Japanese free agent.

MLB News and rumors

• Cubs deal outfielder Jacque Jones to Tigers for infielder Omar InfanteThe Tigers are doing a good job of addressing their issues this off season.
• Ryan Braun and Dustin Pedroia won the Rookie of the Year awards. Nobody really challenged Pedroia in the AL; Braun just barely beat out Troy Tulowitzki for NL award. I would've given it to Tulowitzki.
• Joe Torre said that "its possible" that Alex Rodriguez may join him in LA. The Dodgers need to make that deal.

Yanks interested in Tejada?

The Yankees don't look like their going to be able to get Mike Lowell from the Boston Red Sox. They don't seem like they wanna pay the kind of money its gonna take to get Miguel Cabrera from the Marlins either. So who is left to replace Alex Rodriguez at third base. Miguel Tejada's name came up in the discussions and he is probably the best option for the Yankees.

Tejada's availability was no secret this week so the Yankees are highly interesting in the 2002 AL MVP. Tejada had hard season this year hitting only .296 with 18 homers and 81 RBI. He had injury issues throughout the whole season.

I honestly don't see any deals going down here though. Yes Tejada is available and yes the Yankees need a third basemen BUT the Yankees are in the same division as the Oriels so I couldn't see the Oriels doing anything to help the King of their own division for the past 13 seasons.

Yankees, Mets, and Red Sox and many others interested in Santana

The Yankees will be one of the top teams in the running for picking up Johan Santana if he becomes is put on the trade market. It looks like that will happen and while the Yankees are in the running and have young players to send to Minnesota in exchange for Santana, there are a lot of other teams interested in picking the former Cy Young award winning pitcher.

The Mets, the Dodgers, the Angels, and the Red Sox have also shown interest in picking up Johan Santana. All of those teams also have a lot of young talent to offer the Twins in a possible deal. As far as young pitching goes though, few of the top market teams have the type of superior young talent as the Yanks have in their stash. They have Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy and while they are reluctant to trade any of those guys, they understand they will probably have to include one of those guys in a deal for Santana.

The Twins have always been known for having exceptional scouting so expect them to fare very well in any deals that they get for Santana.

A-Rod moving uptown?

So Omar Minaya, the Mets GM, is scheduled to meet with Alexa Rodriguez and his agent Scott Boras this week.  The Mets are considered to be one of the teams that are highly interested in employing A-Rods services.  The number of teams considering that are in the A-Rod hunt is unclear right now.  His agent has stated that they will discuss offers and keep things as confidential as possible.

First of all, Alex Rodriguez is an amazing player but what has he done in the postseason?  New York is still New York.  The Yankees expectations are a little higher but the media will still rip him apart even if he is wearing a Mets uni.  Secondly, The Mets already have a Third basemen and a Short-Stop in David Wright and Jose Reyes.  Wright has stated that he would be willing to move to second base if they sign A-Rod but would he really be ok with it if it actually happens?  Only time will tell but as a Mets fan I say, let Rodriguez leave New York.  He's not built for it.

Andy Pettitte Opts out

Andy Pettitte declined on his $16 contract with the Yankees next year.  He claims that he doesn't even know if he will be pitching at all next year.  He has stated that at this point though, his only options are the Yankees or retirement. 

Yankees GM Brian Cashman has stated that they not only want Pettitte back but they need him back.  I'd have to agree with him on that.  They have a few young pitchers coming along but no leaders. 

Quickies

• Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis will be put on the trade market this week. 
• Nationals met with Andruw Jones this week.  They have also met with Torii Hunter and Aaron Rowand