Via Israel Pacheco Velasquez of the Venezuelan newspaper the Meridiano (translated via MLB Trade Rumors):
“My preference is to be with the New York Yankees, and it’s not unreasonable to have that in mind, because I’ve demonstrated that I can be useful,” Freddy Garcia said. “A team like New York would be ideal for my age, [as would ] playing in a successful, media-heavy, demanding division. Without doubt it would be an inspiration.”
Garcia may want to be a Yankee for the reasons he listed above. More likely he wants to be a Yankee because of the money involved or that he thinks he has a good chance to make their rotation.
Either way, if he really wants to become a Yankee then he’ll sign a similar deal that Bartolo Colon signed. A minor league deal that only pays him if he makes the major league roster out of spring training. If he would agree to that it’s hard to see the Yankees not taking him as it would only cost them room and board in spring training to see if he has what it takes to start in the AL East.
It feels like the Yankees are waiting to hear one way or another from Andy Pettitte before adding another starter though. They probably only added Colon to make sure they didn’t come away totally empty handed. There is less than three weeks to go until pitchers and catchers report to spring training so hopefully that means it will take Andy less than three weeks to make up his mind.
Yeah, I'd be for signing him. I'd like to see the Yanks develop a mosh of 3 inning pitchers, working toward length, and he would be one of the strongest, good for long relief, as well.
Millwood, Garcia or Duchscherer are the most prevelant of the pitchers out there right now. Bonderman gets mentioned, but I’m not convinced of his worth. I wonder how John Maine is doing?
Good thought: I'm a Maine-iac. But he had something wrong with his shoulder. Did he ever get surgery?
Maine’s shoulder is mush. He’s probably never going to be even close to what he was again.
I like Garcia on a minor league deal. He can be good for long relieve. He might even hold down the 5th spot until one of the kids is ready to take it, assuming one of them don’t win the job out of spring training.
agreed, Garcia may still have some life left…i’m not sure if he’ll sign a minor league deal but he’s an upgrade to Colon imo…