Jorge should stay; Tejada might arrive

Three bits of Yankee news:

1) Jorge Posada wants to stay, and the Yankees want to keep him (from the sound of things, keeping Posada appears to be job 1 for Cashman and the Steinbrenner boys). Anyway, judging from here, there is reason for optimism. The Yanks and Posada have seemingly come together around 13 mil per year; the sticking point is over the fourth year Posada wants. There may be an option or end-of-contract buyout involved, or the Yankees, knowing that 1) Posada seems to get better with age; 2) Posada is beloved by fans and media alike; 3) Posada is Derek Jeter's best friend on the team (a not entirely unimportant point); and 4) the market for catchers drops off considerably after Posada (with Paul LoDuca available as a stop-gap, and after him, pee-yew, open a window), may simply cave and give him a 13-million gold watch.

2) The Yankees have made an identical offer (3 years, 40 mil) to Mariano Rivera, who is not only a Hall of Famer still pitching well but is the linchpin of the Yankees plans for the pitching staff, with Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy set to follow Chin-Mieng Wang in the rotation. If Mo goes, Joba will be pressed into closer duty, much as Dave Righetti (following a season, 1983, in which he pitched a no-hitter against Jim Rice, Wade Boggs and the rest of the Boston Red Sox) was dragooned into replacing the departed Goose Gossage. No word from Mo.

3) The most hopeful and sensible solution for third? Try Miguel Tejada. Apparently the Birds are the only team not asking the moon (Hughes/Joba/Ian) for a third baseman. Tejada knows the division, and he hasn't gained 70 pounds lately. The Yanks might could package Kyle Farnsworth (who, if he starts pitching in that bandbox in Bal'mer, could inspire Francis Scott Key to write another song). Details here.