Canseco "Does Not Have The Goods" On A-Rod

According to the New York Daily News, Jose Canseco's plans for his follow-up to the steroid confession Juiced is already losing credibility. Former associated editor of Sports Illustrated, Don Yaeger, who was supposed to collaborate on the book has decided to pass on the project. Essentially, Yaeger told the Daily News Canseco ain't got $h*t on Alex Rodriguez.

From the Daily News:

Jose Canseco’s sequel to his 2005 best-seller “Juiced” has hit its first snag.

As the Daily News first reported last weekend, former Bash Brother Canseco has finalized a deal to publish “Vindicated” with Penguin Books, with a planned release date to coincide with Opening Day.

But former Sports Illustrated associate editor Don Yaeger, who was scheduled to collaborate with Canseco on the book, has passed on the project. Yaeger said Friday that Canseco does not have the goods on Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez that Canseco alluded to in media interviews last month.

“I’m passing,” Yaeger told the Daily News. “I had a chance to review the Jose Canseco (material) that he provided me. I don’t think there’s a book there. I don’t know what they’re going to do. I don’t think he’s got what he claims to have, certainly doesn’t have what he claims to have on A-Rod.

“There’s no meat on the bones.”

Yaeger said what he was provided with fell far short of the Canseco boasts. "The thing is, if he had all this material, why wasn't it in the first book?" asked Yaeger.

There you have it; them bones is bare.

Jose may have been "shocked" that Rodriguez was not included in the Mitchell Report, but no one's shocked by this devastating blow to Vindicated. No doubt Canseco knew some of the goings-on of the steroid renaissance, but deep down he was always just a opportunistic media-whore looking to turn a quick buck.

Maybe he can write a new tome.... just title the project Evicted, expressing the hardships of a fallen cheater author. The only one vindicated, here, is Alexander the Great.

· Hankenstein Refuses To Shut Up

Hank Steinbrenner continues to broadcast Yankees internal debate on Johan Santana:

“Nothing is really decided at this point. I’m still leaning towards doing it. There’s others leaning not to do it. There are some others that are leaning to do it also. Disagreements within the organization. Nothing major, but just different opinions. I’ve changed my opinion a couple times.”

He also explained though Cashman is the general manager, "I am going to make the final decisions."

On December 2, here's what Hank told Bill Madden of the Daily News during what Little Steinbrenner referred to as his last interview:

"My dad always loved the limelight," Hank says, "and that was part of the reason he never wanted to retire. Me? I could take it or leave it, although I do enjoy connecting with the media and, by association, our fans."

Gee, Hank sure seems to be taking a lot more of the limelight than leaving during his first few weeks on the job. Like I said two months ago, shut your yap Lil' Stein.

Power Struggle: Cash vs Hank

Tyler Kepner of the New York Times believes payroll is at the heart of the Santana debate. A debate which has reportedly divided the Yankees seller (Hank) from the Yankees farmer (Cashman).

From NY Times:

Hal Steinbrenner’s primary responsibility is to oversee the Yankees’ finances, and he is reluctant to add another huge contract.

According to several people who have spoken to the brothers recently, that is the crux of the debate in the organization over whether to trade for Johan Santana of the Minnesota Twins.

Both Steinbrenners want the team to keep winning. Hal Steinbrenner would try to do it with the existing payroll of roughly $200 million. Hank is more inclined to add Santana, largely to keep him away from the rival Boston Red Sox.

The result of the internal debate is that nothing has changed since the Yankees pulled their offer at the winter meetings in Nashville a month ago.

There is no standing offer, but from earlier trade talks, the Yankees know they would have to deal starter Phil Hughes, center fielder Melky Cabrera, the minor league pitcher Jeff Marquez and another prospect for Santana.

For the Yankees, the $140 million figure would be compounded by an additional $56 million they would owe in luxury taxes, because they are still charged an extra 40 cents for every dollar they spend. Investing almost $200 million in Santana for seven years — and the prospects — is clearly too steep a price for General Manager Brian Cashman.

Cashman wrested autonomy over baseball decisions from George Steinbrenner when he signed a three-year contract extension in October 2005. But Steinbrenner had already begun moving to the background, and his sons did not take an active role until last season.

So far, Hank Steinbrenner has listened to Cashman, endorsing his strategy of investing in amateur talent and developing and keeping homegrown pitching.

Hughes offered the Yankees two delicious glimpses into his future last season: his first major league victory, on May 1, when he fired six and a third no-hit innings until leaving with a strained hamstring; and his showing in September, when he went 3-0 with a 2.73 earned run average before earning a victory in relief in the playoffs.

Some Yankees officials believe Hughes could eventually be as good as Santana at a fraction of the cost. But Santana, despite an ordinary second half, is a two-time Cy Young award winner who would make the Yankees much more imposing to the champion Red Sox.

Kepner reminds fans the required inclusion of Melky Cabrera in any Santana deal would result in a defensive hit to an already shaky outfield.

He then brings up the possibility of the Yankees signing Mike Cameron to patrol centerfield, "a player Alex Rodriguez has been privately endorsing," though the ex-Met will miss the first 25 games of the season after testing positive for amphetamines.