All Things Bubba

Pete Abe reports that Melky Cabrera and the Yankees avoided arbitration. Melky wanted $1.7 million, the Yanks offered $1.2 million. They settled on a $1.4 million deal, plus performance incentives.

Unreal. He was terrible. He got sent down to AAA. There were stories about him and Cano partying at all hours, and it was rumored one reason he was sent down was because they wanted to separate the two and break up the party. I can't believe Melky had the 'nads to even file for arbitration after the year he had. And he gets a million dollar raise.

In other hot stove news...Mike Stanton signed a minor league deal with the Cuba.

And Doug Mientkiewicz, though still unsigned, may return to the Pirates. Apparently, the Pittsburgh fans love him:

Doug Mientkiewicz said he was "blown away" by feedback he has heard and read from Pittsburgh fans urging the Pirates to re-sign him. Had he been received like this anywhere else? "Not this quickly," he said. "And I had a good year, but I didn't do what I thought I was capable of doing. My numbers were very average, at best. I should have had more home runs, more RBIs. But, that said, the way the people there took to me - I'm overwhelmed, floored, whatever words you can use to describe it. They get me. They understand me."