JSB WIRE REPORTS

In a stunning development that has turned the sports world on its head, the Yankees are leaving Major League Baseball.

The announcement came shortly after the Yankees agreed to an 8 year deal worth approximately $180 million with slugging first baseman Mark Teixeira.  Sources close to the team say that the Yankees are fed up with the current financial climate hovering around most of MLB’s other 29 teams, and have decided that they could do better playing games against teams around the world.

“We’d like to take over the world, enough of this MLB crap,” said one source who chose to remain annonymous.  “We feel that with our continued growth, and our worldwide appeal that we can make this a very successful business venture.”

Derek Jeter couldn’t be reached for comment, but a source close to the face of the franchise said that Jeter was, “shocked, but very much intrigued.  He’s excited to take this all star squad around the globe,” he said.

While this would be the first time a team has left a league in the offseason (not because of relocation or contraction), it is the Yankees we’re talking about.

“They do their own thing,” said the annonymous source. “This was something they had explored, but ultimately decided to do earlier in the month.”

No word on how this will affect MLB or the 2009 schedules, but the Tampa Bay Rays are reportedly ecstatic about the decision.

Angels are Front Runner for Teixeira

The Angels are set to offer Teixeira $160 million over eight years, my source says. The Red Sox are the other contender, also willing to offer $160 million or more, but would Teixeira want to leave Los Angeles?

Teixiera may be on the Yankees radar as well as a backup in case they don’t sign Sabathia, but with the Angels and Sox getting serious about him, chances are he will be already signed by the time the Yankees get done dealing with Sabathia. That may be why they put a deadline on his offer.

That said, my source doesn’t expect Sabathia to sign with the Yankees, so here we go with…

C.C. Sabathia

Probable destination? The San Francisco Giants.

Despite the Yankees offering him $20 million more, Sabathia will take $110 million over five years with the Giants to go back to his hometown.

The Dodgers may also be interested if they fail to resign Ramirez.

The Players’ Union may pressure him to sign with the Yankees because it would increase the market value of everyone else, and they do have lots of sway over players, so he still could sign with the Yankees, but chances are he won’t. If they Yankees don’t sign Sabathia or Teixeira, A.J. Burnett is supposed to be their next target.

Ramirez’s Value Down; Dodgers May Be Favorite

Despite early indicators suggesting some team would go crazy and vastly overspend for Ramirez, the market has been surprisingly unfavorable to him.

He’s not expected to get over $100 million, and the best he might have to settle for is $70 million for three years with the Dodgers.

Other Odds and Ends

-Edgar Renteria said to be signing with the A’s or Cardinals.

-My source on the Coco Crisp for Rimon Ramirez (Royals to Red Sox) trade: It’s a bad trade for the Royals because they need relief help, and Crisp just isn’t all that good. He’s a good outfielder, but he overpreformed in Cleveland two years ago, his only year of batting .300. That said, playing in a large market and suffering from bad injuries did hurt him in Boston, so he Kansas City should be a better fit.

Below is my original report from early this afternoon:

ORIGINAL REPORT: It’s the day of the trade, my friends. With the deadline coming up on Thursday night, my source says Teixeira will be traded today. At first, the Angels weren’t expected to trade Casey Kotchman, but they may be coming around to it.

Though the Braves do want pitching, Kotchman (.287, 12 HR, 54 RBI) is good enough that he could probably get Teixeira straight away. If not, the Angels would be very reluctant to trade pitching.

Brandon Woods has also been pondered by some, but my source hasn’t heard any mention of him. He’s not being considered.

The Diamondbacks, who were originally thought to be the top contender, do not want to part with either 1B Connor Jackson or P Jarrod Parker. While the trade could go down without Jackson, it would probably have to feature Parker.

I’ll keep you posted on Teixeira as I learn more.

More Tidbits

-Dodgers trading for Michael Young? Not happening, my source says. The Dodgers don’t want to give up young pitching. Young might get traded somewhere in the offseason, though.

-Will the Marlins get a catcher or reliever? Probably not; they’re too cheap.

-Manny trade talk: This deal isn’t completely dead. Mets GM Omar Minaya is still interested, but ownership isn’t as much.

-The Jarrod Washburn-to-New York deal is dead, though.