Yanks Land Pudge

As reported by ESPN's Buster Olney, the Yankees aqcuired catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez from the Detroit Tigers for Kyle Farnesworth:

The New York Yankees have found a replacement for Jorge Posada.

New York acquired catcher Ivan Rodriguez from the Tigers on Wednesday for right-handed pitcher Kyle Farnsworth.

The deal was first reported by ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.

Rodriguez, who is in the option year of the $50 million contract he signed with the Tigers in 2004, waived his no-trade clause to join the Yankees, sources told ESPN.com.

"He's hitting over .290 I believe and he's been hot so we're looking forward to having him," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said after New York's 13-3 rout of the Orioles on Wednesday.

Rodriguez is batting .295 this season with five home runs and 32 RBIs in 82 games. In 18 seasons with the Rangers, Marlins and Tigers, he's hit .302 with 293 homers and 1,214 RBIs.

A 14-time All-Star, Rodriguez won the American League MVP award in 1999 and for years was known as the best defensive catcher in the game. He earned Gold Gloves in 13 seasons.

"He's been a great player for a long time and I remember the battles we had in Texas. He's been a world champion," said Girardi, who was a member of the Yankees during playoff battles with the Rangers in the 90s.

In his lone season in Florida in 2003, Rodriguez helped lead the Marlins to a World Series victory over the Yankees.

Farnsworth, who is 1-2 with a 3.65 ERA this season, played for the Tigers in 2005.

"Another team wants me. That's the way I look at it," he said. " They [the Tigers] know my reputation. They know what type of person I am."

Posada, a five-time All-Star catcher, announced he would have season-ending surgery on his right shoulder on Monday. He had the surgery on Wednesday, and the rehab time is about six months. Posada has struggled with shoulder pain for most of the season, limiting his ability to throw out baserunners and cutting down his playing time behind the plate.

On the disabled list for the second time this year, Posada was trying to rehabilitate his shoulder enough to come back as a designated hitter or first baseman this season. But after the Yankees acquired outfielder Xavier Nady in a trade with Pittsburgh on Saturday, they determined it was best for Posada to have surgery now, general manager Brian Cashman said Monday.

Posada Crosses Fingers, Hopes to Delay Surgery

According to an article posted on ESPN.com (from the AP), Yankee catcher Jorge Posada is hoping that he can postpone or delay surgery on his ailing shoulder:

NEW YORK -- New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada wants to put off surgery on his right shoulder even if it means sacrificing the start of next season. If he does play the rest of this year, it won't be behind the plate.

On the disabled list for the second time this season, Posada had his throwing shoulder examined by New York Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek on Tuesday, and surgery was again recommended. An MRI showed fraying in the tendons around the labrum, but not a rotator cuff tear, Posada said Wednesday before the Yankees played the Minnesota Twins.

He missed more than a month earlier this season with right rotator cuff tendinitis.

"I've got 15 days to make a decision," said Posada, who went on the DL Monday. "I'll rehab it and see how it feels and have a decision by then."

In his 14th season, Posada is extremely proud about being a full-time catcher his entire career. But he said that if he is to continue playing this season, catching is "out of the question" for the remainder of the year.

"It's not about me. It's about the team now, how can I help the team. That's why I'm going to go through the rehab," Posada said. "If I'm able to hit, I'm going to try to do that. If I'm not able to hit, I'm going to have surgery."

Posada said the Yankees agreed with his decision to keep playing even with the possibility of a six-month rehab looming after surgery.

Posada will continue his rehabilitation regime without throwing drills and will make a decision based on how the shoulder is responding.

"The doctor said if I'm not throwing, it won't ge weak because I'm not throwing," Posada said. "I can strengthen it and hit. Then it won't get weak. They put me on the DL to make a decision of what to do and strengthen and rehab it and go from there."

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Harden Packs Bags, Heads to Windy City

Anything you can do, I can do better. This sentiment running rampant in the NL Central Division as the Cubs picked up A's ace Rich Harden in a six player deal.

The trade comes only a few days after the Brewers picked up linebacker CC Sabathia in a trade with the Cleveland Indians.

Chicago also picked up Chad Gaudin while jettisoning right hander Sean Gallagher and outfielders Matt Murton and Eric Patterson.

C-Rod Says Adios to A-Rod

Alex Rodriguez's wife, Cynthia, filed divorce papers today, according to the Associated Press:

MIAMI -- Alex Rodriguez's wife filed for divorce Monday, calling her husband an adulterer who "emotionally abandoned his wife and children."

"The marriage of the parties is irretrievably broken because of the husband's extramarital affairs and other marital misconduct," according to Cynthia Rodriguez's petition for dissolution of marriage, filed in the family division of Miami-Dade County Circuit Court.

"The petitioner has exhausted every effort to salvage the marriage of the parties," Cynthia Rodriguez said in the filing. "However, Alex has emotionally abandoned his wife and children and has left her with no choice but to divorce him."

Rodriguez's attorney in Miami, Ira M. Elegant, said he had not reviewed the divorce petition but added: "As you know, anyone can pay the filing fee and make allegations."

The couple, who married in November 2002, have a $12 million, six-bedroom house in the upscale Miami suburb of Coral Gables. A company run by a corporation controlled by Rodriguez bought an apartment at Trump Park Avenue in Manhattan for $7.4 million in July 2005.

Cynthia Rodriguez has asked for primary custody of their two children, as well as child support and alimony.

Their two daughters are Natasha Alexander, 3, and 2-month-old Ella Alexander.

The filing comes just days after the third baseman was linked to Madonna in various media outlets.

"I brought my kids to a Yankee game," Madonna said in the statement. "I am not romantically involved in any way with Alex Rodriguez. I have nothing to do with the state of his marriage or what spiritual path he may choose to study."

Cynthia Rodriguez's lawyer, Maurice Kutner, declined to elaborate on the filing, which does not mention Madonna or any other alleged paramours by name.

"Cynthia has made it very clear to me that she wants to take the high road and protect her children and herself. There's no vindictiveness here," Kutner said. "She wants to resolve the issues between Alex and herself in an amicable fashion."

The couple has had prenuptial agreement in place since Oct. 3, 2002, according to the divorce papers.

CC Says See You to Cleveland

ESPN.com News Services is reporting that Cleveland ace C.C. Sabathia has been traded to the Brewers for a couple of minor leaguers:

The Brewers and the Cleveland Indians agreed in principle to a deal for the reigning AL Cy Young on Sunday, sources told ESPN's Buster Olney. The deal is contingent on paperwork being finished and the exchange of medical records.

The trade was first reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

In a text message to ESPN.com's Amy K. Nelson, Sabathia all but confirmed the deal.

"I'm good, excited," Sabathia wrote. "It's weird leaving these guys."

Cleveland would get Double-A outfielder Matt LaPorta, who is hitting .288 with 20 homers and 66 RBIs in 84 games for Huntsville, and others. The other players do not include top prospects Alcides Escobar or Mat Gamel, according to the Journal Sentinel.

Damon Appears to be Heading to DL

According to an article posted by the Associated Press on ESPN.com, Yankee outfielder Johnny Damon appears to be headed to the disabled list:

NEW YORK -- Johnny Damon was very careful as he got dressed to leave the ballpark Saturday, wincing from the pain in his left shoulder as he pulled a shirt over his head.

One day after the New York Yankees outfielder crashed into the left-field wall on one strange triple, Damon was still holding out hope he won't have to go on the disabled list for the first time in his 14-season major league career.

"I think we'll know more tomorrow," he said after the Yankees' 2-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox. "If I wake up and I'm feeling the same then I think they're going to DL me. But if I'm improving, [they'll] try to keep getting me ready."

Damon got treatment and did some exercises Saturday but said it could be 10 days or more before he throws again.

"Certain movements I really can't do too well," he said.

He sprained and bruised his shoulder trying to track down Kevin Youkilis' line drive in the third inning of New York's 6-4 loss to Boston on Friday.

Damon raced back, jumped and gloved the ball but lost it when he crashed into the fence. It popped out of the webbing of his glove, bounced up off the top of the wall and came to rest briefly on the fence.

A-Rod Allegedly Says Good By to C-Rod

According to reports from the Daily News, ESPN News services, and the Associated Press, Alex Rodriguez and wife Cynthia have allegedly split after what inside sources say, were a rocky past three months.

This news comes amid allegations that A-Rod has been a late night guest to superstar Madonna on many occasions. Here is the report, as seen on ESPN.com:

NEW YORK -- Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez and his wife have split less than three months after the birth of the couple's second daughter, according to a report in the New York Daily News.

Rodriguez refused to address the topic on three occasions Tuesday, once saying "no" when asked if he had any comment.

Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner also criticized the team's lack of hitting before an 18-7 win over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night, suggesting "a little less outside distractions and a little more concentrating" might help the team at the plate.

The Daily News reported Wednesday night, citing an anonymous source, that Rodriguez and wife, Cynthia, have separated after having "problems" for about three months.

The couple was married in November 2002 and has two children, Natasha Alexander and Ella Alexander, who was born April 21.

Bon Jovi Set to Play Free Concert During All-Star Game Weekend

Legendary rocker Bon Jovi and bandmates are slated to play a free concert during the All-Star Game Weekend this summer.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Major League Baseball, and the event's sponsor, Bank of America, held a press conference announcing the band will play to a crowd of no more than 60,000 people. Tickets are free to fans, and according to a news article on MLB.com, tickets can be obtained a handful of different ways;

Fans will be able to register for a chance to win free tickets through MLB.com. Check back soon for details.

Tickets can also be obtained on a first-come, first-served basis, two per fan, throughout all five New York City boroughs.

Distribution begins 9 a.m. ET on Wednesday, July 2 at the following locations:

• Bronx:
  Yankee Stadium
  E 161st St. & River Ave., Bronx, NY 10451
  
• Queens:
  Shea Stadium
  12301 Roosevelt Ave., Flushing, NY 11368
  
• Staten Island:
  Home of the Staten Island Yankees
  75 Richmond Ter., Staten Island, NY 10301
  
• Brooklyn:
  KeySpan Park
  1904 Surf Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11224

Only 7,500 tickets (with a limit of two per person) to the free Bon Jovi concert will be distributed at Yankee Stadium at the ticket windows outside Gate 4.

Tickets will also be distributed in Manhattan at various locations at dates and times to be announced.

Union Files Paperwork in Chacon Case

The Shawn Chacon case just keeps getting hairier and hairier; now the Major League Baseball Player's Union is getting involved (story from Associated Press):

NEW YORK -- The players' association filed a grievance Tuesday over the release of pitcher Shawn Chacon, saying the team's decision to terminate his contract was without just cause.

Chacon cleared waivers and was released Monday, five days after a physical altercation with Houston Astros general manager Ed Wade in the clubhouse.

Chacon had a $2 million salary this year, and the decision to terminate the contract meant $983,607 won't be paid. He also lost the chance to make up to $1 million in performance bonuses based on innings.

"The grievance alleges that he was unlawfully terminated and asked that he be made whole," said Michael Weiner, the union's general counsel.

The union alleged Chacon was disciplined without just cause under the collective bargaining agreement and terminated without just cause under the uniform player contract.

The Astros said Chacon violated a provision in the UPC that states the player may be terminated if he shall "fail, refuse, or neglect to conform his personal conduct to the standards of good citizenship and good sportsmanship or to keep himself in first-class physical condition or to obey to the club's training rules."

While its pretty clear that Chacon couldn't have been more wrong in this situation, the Union has to protect its players. If Chacon is released based on this situation, it could open up a floodgate for MLB General Managers looking for an excuse to dump an unmovable contract. Giambi looks at Cashman cross eyed? GONE! Milton Bradley steps on the foul line? CUT! Ol'Milton will be riding the slow boat to some backwater Independent League.

While some may question the Union's position to back Chacon up, realize its not Chacon their protecting.