It is now official: AJ Burnett passed his physical, Selig signed off on the money exchange and I don't miss the right-hander at all and I honestly don't see that changing. Today using some of the $5M the Yanks saved by shipping the pitcher out, Raul Ibanez was signed to a one-year deal for just over $1M. Anyone paying attention saw this one coming; it wasn't quite kept under wraps. And while there are the countless times when players (or, rather, their agents) use the Yanks to drive prices up on an available player, this is where being the Bombers is a boon-- there are those players who let it be known that they will take less for the chance to play in the Bronx, for the chance to play in the post-season in search of that ring.

Eric Chavez should re-sign in the next few days as well giving the Yanks another powerful lefty bat along with a good guy who can spell A-Rod at third and Tex at first. This too should come as no surprise; both deals have seemingly just been awaiting the shipping out of Burnett.

Still waiting the call from "the coast" about "Field Trip" although still not sure which coast that call is coming from so makes it a little hard to prepare. Well, french press of black tea has been imbibed so what other preparation does one really require to have smoke blown up their you-know-what. No, not bad attitude at all, just more like Hollywood reality.

And this week I should finally be able to unveil the look of "Rose" and I'll do it on here first even before facebook...

Cheers,
Brian