Michael Pineda and the Verducci Effect

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Rob Abruzzese

Overall most pragmatic followers of the Yankees like the Michael Pineda for Jesus Montero deal because it fills their need for pitching. The problem is that if Pineda doesn’t do well in Pinstripes, it is likely we will be looking back at this deal as a big mistake for the Yankees because Montero figures to do so well (at least offensively).

One of the biggest things that could hold Pineda back would be injuries. If he’s on the shelf for a prolonged period of time it is going to be real hard to get the kind of production out of him that is needed to matchup to Montero.

This is certainly something to take seriously. because as recently as 2009 Pineda missed nearly an entire season with elbow soreness. He never ended up having surgery, a good sign to be sure, but that could potentially be a red flag.

It’s potentially more worrisome when you consider his innings since then. He threw just 47.1 innings in 2009. He then came back the next year and threw 139.1 innings, a huge 92 inning difference. Then finally he ..read more

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Rumor: Yankees interested in Raul Ibanez

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Rob Abruzzese

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has said that he would prefer to use one of his excess starters to land a DH on the trade market, but perhaps he is beginning to reconsider.

Sources have told Kevin Kernan of the NY Post that the Yankees are interested in former Phillie outfielder Raul Ibanez for their vacant DH spot.

The left handed hitting Ibanez had a .307 OBP and a .747 OPS against right handed pitching last year and had a .289 OBP and .707 OPS overall.

However, Kernan reported that Ibanez has been working with well known hitting instructor Rudy Jaramillo and thinks he has fixed something in his swing. He had a .366 OBP and .822 OPS against righties the year before so if there is something to that the Yankees may get an opportunity to buy low on a guy who may have another good year left in him.

The Yankees preference has been to trade A.J. Burnett to fill their DH spot, but with $33 million still owed to him they might be finding that impossible to ..read more

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Yankees have 4 on MLB.com’s Top Prospect list

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Rob Abruzzese

Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com put together a list of the top 100 prospects in the MLB and the Yankees had four players on the list with two in the top 50.

Left handed pitcher, 20-year-old Manny Banuelos was ranked highest among Yankees players at No. 13, one behind the now former Yankee Jesus Montero. Mayo said that if he improves his command he has the chance to be an “electric starter.”

Dellin Betances, the 23-year-old righty, was ranked No. 41. Mayo said that him improving his command is the difference between him being a No. 2 or 3 starter and being a back end of the rotation type or even a reliever.

19-year-old catcher Gary Sanchez was the next Yankee on the list at No. 53. Mayo would like to see his defense improve before he would consider him a major league catcher.

Finally, 20-year-old outfielder Mason Williams comes in at No. 73 and the last Yankee on the list. Mayo called him the “toolsiest prospect” in the Yankees system ..read more

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Rumor: Gerardo Concepcion close to signing a deal

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Rob Abruzzese

Cuban left handed pitcher Gerardo Concepcion is close to signing a deal and his agent told Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes that a deal could be reached by this weekend or early next week.

Concepcion, an 18-year-old lefty who was the rookie of the year if Cuba last season, has worked out in front of the Yankees and Rangers last week and has interest from as many as eight other teams.

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Yankees reach deal to avoid arbitration with Boone Logan

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Rob Abruzzese

The Yankees have finalized a deal with their last arbitration eligible player as they have reached a agreement with Boone Logan on a one-year $1.875 million contract, according to an AP report.

Headed to arbitraton, Logan proposed a $2.1 million deal while he countered with $1.7 million. This deal is right in the middle, but includes a $25K bonus if he appears in at least 55 games this season.

Logan will likely be the Yankees primary reliever next season with Hideki Okajima and Cesar Cabral getting a chance to be the second lefty out of the pen.

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Yankees DFA Whelan as Kuroda signing official

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Rob Abruzzese

The Hiroki Kuroda signing is finally official and to make room on the 40-man roster for him the Yankees have designated righty Kevin Whelan for assignment, according to Bryan Hoch and Jon Heyman.

“I feel happy to be a part of such a storied franchise, which is always in contention for a World Series,” Kuroda said. “I am also very proud to be a part of this current team, which boasts so many great players. As a member of the Yankees, I would like to do my part by doing the best I can throughout the season. I hope that I can make a difference in achieving the team’s ultimate goal, which is to win the World Series.”

Teams now have 10 days to claim Whelan otherwise he will stay in the Yankees system. He was originally acquired back in 2006 in a sign and trade with the Tigers for Gary Sheffield. The Yankees also landed Humberto Sanchez and Anthony Claggett.

Whelan had a good year in ..read more

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I’m Pinch Hitting at LoHud today

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Rob Abruzzese

Check out my article on David Robertson that appears over at the LoHud Yankees blog today. I want to thank Chad Jennings for keeping this cool tradition alive. This is the second time I have Pinch Hit.

I choose to write about D-Rob because I felt like he was one of the best Yankees in 2011, but he really didn’t get too much attention in articles. I also tried to change things up and take a different look at him than I normally would.

The article essentially takes a look at what D-Rob did differently last season that made him more of an elite closer. It also briefly asks the question if he is good enough to sustain that level of play and potentially take over as the next Yankees closer.

Here is the link again, head over there, read the article, and then come back here and tell me what you think.

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Yankees finalize 1-year deal with Andruw Jones

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Rob Abruzzese

The Yankees finally made the Andruw Jones signing official today, finalizing a $2 million one-year deal plus incentives, according to an announcement made by the team.

Jones had a .384 OBP and a .923 OPS against left handers and played a decent right and left field last season and the Yankees have re-signed him hoping to get more of the same next year.

He has incentives in the deal that will give him $45K once he reaches 100 and 125 plate appearances, then $70K for 150, 175, 200, and 225 PA’s, $170K for 250 and 275 PA’s, $220K for 300 and 325 PA’s, and finally $300K for 350 plate appearances.

Essentially he can earn an additional $1.45 million if he gets up 350 times. He had 222 plate appearances last season meaning he would have earned an extra $300K under the same parameters last season.

The Yankees 40-man roster is now full so the Yankees will need to designate somebody for assignment when Hiroki Kuroda is officially added to the roster. Righty Kevin Whelan ..read more

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Cuban slugger Yoenis Cespedes is a free agent

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Rob Abruzzese

The race is on.

The 26-year-old Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is finally a free agent and is finally able to negotiate and sign with a major league team, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America.

The Yankees have been attached to Cespedes through rumors since the very start, but reporters have been split. The guys who cover the international market generally believe the Yankees will be involved, but the beat reporters, the guys that usually know best how Brian Cashman operates, seem very skeptical.

Cespedes’ own agent has even come out and said that the Yankees weren’t interested, but something might be going on because after that Wallace Matthews described them as “laying in the weeds.”

I’m not sure what to expect anymore, but it seems doubtful that the Yankees would get involved. They definitely won’t be involved if his contract goes upwards of $50 million. To read all of the rumors on him click here.

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Remembering the pork chop incident as Kim Jones leaves YES

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Rob Abruzzese

After seven years with the YES Network, pre and post-game reporter Kimberly Jones is leaving the network, according to Neil Best of Newsday.

It took me a while to warm up to Jones, or even to tell her apart from Nancy Newman, but I feel like she has really come into her own as a YES personality over the last two or even three years.

Her shining moment of course took place in Minnesota during the 2010 season when a Yankees fan snuck up behind her and took a bite of a pork chop she was holding as she discussed the foot at Target Field. It was unintentionally hilarious and will likely be a part of the YES Network’s blooper reals in the future.

Jones was actually asked by the YES Network to come back next season, but the two sides parted amicably. She doesn’t have a job yet, but the rumor is that she will hook on with the NFL Network. A job at WFAN is also a possibility as she does a lot of work for them too.

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