How does player-for-cash transaction go down? One of Steinbrenner's Tampa toadies has to run out to an ATM because the Rays won't take a check?

But I've often wondered how the financial end of the deal does work.

But who are some recent Yankee "purchases" - any notable players? and what was the price?

"Without Feathers" - gosh that was a funny book

Dusty aapparently is hearing "good things" about our Toney Womack's performance in AAA Iowa.

To which one can only add, "of course you are Dusty, you're the guy who refused to give Hee Seop a legitimate shot in the majors, so it's no surprise you think that Womack is going to be the Cubs' savior at 2nd base."

8 Bean cleared waivers and was assigned to Columbus.

"The Phillies are facing a very good problem. Shane Victorino is playing lights out while Aaron Roward is recovering from his broken nose. He's creating about two more runs per 27 outs than Aaron did, and his defense in center is very good. When Rowand comes back, does Victorino become trade bait for a pitcher? Or do you keep him around, spelling Abreu and Burrell defensively and filling in when someone's injured? He reached base twice in five tries today, keeping his OBA at .400. At age 26, he's at the peak of his abilities. He seems he would be valuable to someone in a starting role."

Too expensive (in terms of pitching prospects) for the Bombers, I'm guessing.

>>Yankees catcher Jorge Posada has a torn hamstring tendon in his left knee and will be sidelined at least a few days.

Posada wasn't placed on the disabled list following his MRI exam that revealed the injury, but the club said Thursday that it planned to call up a catcher from the minor leagues on Friday. Posada is scheduled to be evaluated in the next few days.<<

Is Juan Pierre the worst leadoff batter in the history of baseball (that played every day)? I wouldn't doubt it at all. He's got an OBP of .270, 85 GO (1st in the majors by a mile), and he's walked 8 times so far this year. Eight times!

I wouldn't doubt it at all that Womack bats right behind him if he ever gets promoted. A Pierre-Womack 1-2 would be absolutely incredible. I'd start tuning in to Cubs games for the same reason I might rubberneck at a scene of a 747 crash.

If Posada is hurt he will be missed. He's a huge advantage over most teams with his offense at Catcher.

http://tinyurl.com/jha26

General manager Brian Cashman said through a spokesman that Posada will be evaluated by team trainers during the next few days. If he does not show progress, the disabled list is a possibility.

"This is not a tendon from what is described to me that he needs to function with," Cashman said. "We just have to wait for the swelling to go down before he could play. How long that is, I don't know."

The Marlins and Royal's suckitude have been totally expected.....

The Cubs however....... the curse lives on... hard core.... not that they are doing a good job of avoiding it or anything....

A couple of other teams are sucking more than expected too... Angels and Twins comes to mind...

Ack, torn hamstring doesn't sound like something that can avoid a pretty lengthy DL ... good god nooooooo

Also, the NYtimes had this hilarious comment:

Asked if Pavano could pitch again this season, Cashman said, "Actually, it's expected."

That's just too funny. I'm sure he'll stub his toe, or maybe use the wrong conditioner in the shower one morning which will delay his comeback further.

It just doesn't make sense to me that they would expose him to waivers especially since he has 2 options left. (he does have 2 left doesn't he?) As you pointed out yesterday they could clear room on the 40 man by moving Pavano or Matsui to the 60 day DL.

It's bugging me because either I'm missing some information on how the DFA process works or they're up to something that I can't figure out. I feel like Alvie Singer worrying about the Warren Report; except that was, you know, important.

Why did they do it this way?

And he expects Pavano to resume throwing in three weeks.

26 Pavano had bone chips removed from his elbow in 2000 and it took him a full calendar year from his surgery date to return to action.