Buddy, can you spare $1.3B?
Jeter short on cash to buy Marlins
DEREK JETER needs more dough. The Yankee legend’s quest to become an owner has hit a snag as he’s told MLB he currently doesn’t have the necessary funds to purchase the Miami Marlins and is still looking for help from other investors, according to an Associated Press report.
A group featuring Jeter had bid $1.3 billion for the Marlins while Mitt Romney’s son, Tagg, led a different group that made a similar bid. Jeter, who is still trying to buy the Marlins after Jeb Bush left his group, met with MLB and Marlins officials in New York on Thursday, the AP reported, and multiple other groups are still in contention for the Miami franchise.
I’LL BE SEEING YU
The last time Masahiro Tanaka and Yu Darvish pitched against one another was in 2011 in Japan. The winner of that duel? “Darvish,” Tanaka said flatly. The two Japanese righthanders will meet tonight in the Bronx, their first meeting since each made the move to MLB; Darvish’s first MLB season was in 2012, and Tanaka’s in 2014. Tanaka said the two communicate here and there, and this has been a matchup he’s been hoping to be involved in since he arrived in New York.
“I think it’s something that hopefully Japanese baseball fans are looking forward to,” Tanaka said Thursday through an interpreter. “I just want to go out there and come up with a strong performance.”
ALMOST SET TO FLY
If the cortisone shot Greg Bird had in his troublesome right ankle does what it’s supposed to, the first baseman may begin rehab games again with Scranton or Trenton once the Yankees hit the road after Old Timers’ Day on Sunday.
Bird said when he first began his recent rehab assignment he felt great, but some days were worse than others and at the time he was shut down last week he was still feeling some discomfort. He was diagnosed by Dr. Robert Anderson in North Carolina with inflammation in the ankle and received the cortisone shot on Tuesday. Bird said Thursday he was still a little sore from the shot.
The 24-year-old is optimistic this won’t be a lingering issue throughout the season.
HEADLEY AILING
Chase Headley was unavailable Thursday because of back spasms. Joe Girardi expected that to clear up soon but isn’t sure if he’ll have Headley tonight. Headley has had lowerback issues in the past. Ronald Torreyes started at third and went 1-for-4.
A POOL & A POND
Be the ball. That would’ve been sound advice for Tyler Webb, who shares a name with Chevy Chase’s “Caddyshack” character, Ty. The southpaw was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before Thursday’s game to give the Yanks an extra arm. Rob Refsnyder was optioned to make room.