As per Pete Abraham over at LoHud, Brian Cashman has decided to end the nightmare that has been Mike Myers vs. lefties.  He's been DFA'ed.

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From USA Today and ESPN Radio:

"Commissioner Bud Selig is heading toward suspending Jason Giambi next week if the New York Yankees slugger does not cooperate with former Sen. George Mitchell's investigation on steroid use, according to a high-ranking Major League Baseball official."

"The official, who talked with Selig but has not been granted permission to speak publicly because of ongoing talks, said Selig wants Giambi's decision by Tuesday."

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/yankees/2007-06-13-giambi-facing-suspension_N.htm

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Major League Baseball is close to announcing a deal that will place its Extra Innings package of out-of-market games exclusively on DirecTV, which will also become the only carrier of a long-planned 24-hour baseball channel.
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Extra Innings has been available to 75 million cable households and the two satellite services, DirecTV and the Dish Network. But the new agreement will take it off cable and Dish because DirecTV has agreed to pay $700 million over seven years, according to three executives briefed on the details of the contract but not authorized to speak about them publicly.

InDemand, which has distributed Extra Innings to the cable television industry since 2002, made an estimated $70 million bid to renew its rights, more than triple what it has been paying. Part of its offer included the right to carry the new baseball channel, but not exclusively.

The baseball channel is scheduled to start in 2009.

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From ESPN:

Yankee Stadium will be the site of the 2008 All-Star Game, sources in baseball said, in the last year of the ballpark.

The new Yankee Stadium is scheduled to open in 2009, and old Yankee Stadium closed, 86 years after the ballpark was first built in 1923, and 33 years after the ballpark was remodeled on the same site in 1976. With the All-Star Game slated to be in an AL park in 2008, officials chose Yankee Stadium for the site, believing it to be an appropriate way to usher out the historic building.

The All-Star Game has been held in Yankee Stadium three times previously, the last time in 1977.

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From ESPN:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2708779

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Angels didn't waste much time finding another hitter after Juan Rivera broke his left leg playing winter ball in Venezuela.

The Angels agreed with free-agent first baseman Shea Hillenbrand on a $6.5 million, one-year contract on Tuesday.

Hillenbrand, who split last season between Toronto and San Francisco, gets $6 million next year, and the Angels hold a $6.5 million option for 2008 with a $500,000 buyout. The option could become guaranteed based on his plate appearances next season.

 The 31-year-old Hillenbrand hit a combined .277, with a career-high 21 home runs and 68 RBI in 141 games last season. He finished with 73 runs and 27 doubles.

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Is he going to be key?  At the very least, he'll give a break to Farnsworth and Proctor.  If returns to the same form as a setup man that he showed with the Astros, the Yankees bullpen will be great. ESPN

Octavio Dotel was activated Wednesday by the New York Yankees, 14 months after the reliever had a ligament replaced in his right elbow. To open a roster space, the Yankees optioned reliever Jose Veras to Triple-A Columbus of the International League.

This guarantees the 27th Championship!

Carl Pavano, who has not pitched in a Major League game since June 2005, will make a rehab start with the Class A Tampa Yankees on Thursday.

Pavano threw batting practice to several of his teammates last week, including Saturday, and will throw a bullpen session Monday in Tampa, Fla. Thursday will be the first of a series of rehab starts, which will allow Pavano to rebuild his arm strength and endurance.

"He's ready to go," Torre said. "We're very enthused about what we saw yesterday."

Pavano also said he was very excited to be pitching in a game. If his rehab outings go well, Pavano could make a few starts with the Yankees down the stretch in September.

"That's what we're building toward," Torre said.

Pavano was sidelined last season after 17 games due to rotator cuff tendinitis. He's been battling back from a series of injuries, which includes surgery to remove a bone chip in his right elbow.

Click on the comments to vote

Poll

How will Carl Pavano get hurt this week?

13%

Ebola/Hanta Virus.

5 votes

23%

Hit by meteor.

9 votes

21%

Falls on butt. Again.

8 votes

13%

Eats bad shellfish.

5 votes

21%

Burns himself in icebath after start.

8 votes

7%

He doesn't get hurt and is an ace again.

3 votes

38 votes | Poll has closed

How do you guys and gals think Corey Lidle will perform?  I have to admit being nervous about his start but after two years of a combination of Ponson, Chacon, May, Redding, Erickson, Wilson and on and on, I have to believe Lidle is going to be batter.

My less than educated guess is 6+ innings 2 runs and a Yankees win.  

I want Lidle to do well for two reasons.  Obviously to help the Yankees, but also to stick it in that schmuck Chris Russo's eye.

You?

From ESPN Insider:

Is Abreu Yankee-bound?

Jul 29 - The odds are becoming greater that Abreu will be moved before the deadline, and the Yankees are the most likely match for a trade, reports ESPN.com's Jayson Stark.

The Phillies and Yankees spoke about Abreu all day Friday and into the night, discussing different variations of a deal that would send the outfielder to New York.

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According to this, thank God, the Yankees have NO interest in that Burnitz stiff and minimal interest in Jose Guillen.

From the Times:

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