Yankees News: Granderson talks Blue Jays, future in pinstripes

New York Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson continued his goodwill tour Monday, visiting children from Staten Island’s Public School 39, where he delivered backpacks to youth who were unable to purchase school supplies in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. The effort which will supply 2000 children with supplies, is part of Granderson’s Grand Kids Hurricane Sandy School Recovery Program, sponsored by the Yankees and PwC. While handing out supplies, Granderson took some time to give his thoughts on the moves the Toronto Blue Jays have made this offseason, the postseason letdown and his future in the Bronx.

Curtis Granderson wants to stay with the Yankees, but knows that he holds no power in the matter. (Image: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)

Granderson said, in a report by Max Dickstein of the New York Daily News, that the Blue Jays had the potential to be tough foes in the American League East before suffering from injuries last season.

"“A lot of their top pitching guys were done. They were hurt, and obviously it wasn’t as good a team as they could have been,” Granderson said of that September series. “Some of their hitters, from (Jose) Bautista to (Edwin) Encarnacion, were hurt,” I said, ‘Man if this team just gets healthy, they’re going to be really good.’ ”"

The addition of Josh Johnson, Jose Reyes and Mark Buehrle from the Miami Marlins and the most recent acquisition of now former New York Mets pitcher and 2012 National League Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey, puts the Jays in the thick of AL East if not top contenders for the title. Granderson is impressed by the moves.

"“They made the first big trade earlier in the offseason, now they add R.A. Dickey,” Granderson said. “They want to compete. They want to get into it.”"

Granderson has been traveling the world just coming back from South Korea and Japan as an ambassador of the game for MLB. He talked about the Yankees and his poor display in the American League Championship Series against the Detroit Tigers. For Granderson it was an awful postseason overall — he went 3-for-30 with 16 strikeouts.

Granderson is looking to get back into the swing of the game and to move on from the 2012 season. He said the downturn during the postseason is part of the ebb and flow of baseball.

"“It’s just baseball being baseball,” he said. “We just got cold at the wrong time. . . . Baseball has a funny way of kind of happening that way.”"

Granderson said he would love to remain with the Yankees, something that is going to be difficult given the Yankees desire to lower payroll beginning in the 2014 season. Granderson is set to earn $15 million this season and will be in line to receive a lucrative multiyear deal. He has been the subject of trade speculation this offseason, but Granderson  says it’s not his decision to make.

"“I don’t hold the keys to that, but right now I’m in pinstripes and I’d love to remain here.”"