Empty the Bench

- It seems that $28 million isn’t all the Last Place Yankees have guaranteed their 44-year-old starting pitcher savior. They’ve also given him a no-trade clause.

- No, we’re not ashamed to promote ourselves once in awhile. In case you missed it, Andrew posted a fantastic look at five young guns who could help your fantasy roster (though you might want to wait on Phil Hughes for at least 2 months now).

- Jeff Passan for Yahoo! Sports has put together two pretty solid rosters for his All-Overpaid and All-Underpaid teams. We’re shocked–shocked–that anyone would consider Jason Kendall (.189, 0 HR, 13 RBI) overpaid, however, at the reasonable price tag of $13.43 million. That’s a bargain.

- Heading into a big four-game series against the Cleveland Indians (who swept them in Detroit last week), the injuries continue to pile up for the Tigers. Starting third baseman Brandon Inge will likely miss the series with a broken toe, and Carlos Guillen might miss a few as well with a mild left groin strain.

- A well thought-out case is made for $7 beers at the ballpark being a good thing.

- It’s never too early to start thinking about trades, is it?

- For the record, we can’t bring ourselves to talk about or link to anything about that non-story going on in New York about that one guy who plays third base and did something with a blonde girl in Toronto. We just won’t do it, and think it’s rather ridiculous that it was front-page news on yesterday’s New York Post.

- Rumors and Rants are none too pleased about minor-leaguer Mitch Hilligoss “bitching his way into continuing his hitting streak” at 36 games and counting.

- Mr. Met is totally a party animal. (via Deadspin)

- The defending World Series champ St. Louis Cardinals have been a major disappointment thus far this season. One writer sounds like he should be considered for a front-office job.