For Pettitte, Wright DFA’d

January 27, 2009 by Benjamin Kabak 63 Comments

While I had pegged Dan Giese as the likely man designated for assignment, the Yanks had other ideas in mind. The AP reports that Chase Wright has been designated for assignment to make room for Andy Pettitte. Wright, 26, is a lefty famous for giving up back-to-back-to-back-to-back home runs against the Red Sox in 2007 when he was rushed into an emergency start. As a young lefty with a good MiLB ERA but mediocre peripherals, I doubt he’ll clear waivers. I guess the Yanks like Giese as a potential long man instead. (Hat tip to MLBTR.)

Frank

I can see the Padres picking up. They have a tendency to pick up the Yankees cast offs.
- whozat
  
  He’s got options left too, so it’s not even like they have to expose him to waivers to send him to the minors. Anyone with a 40-man slot can afford to take this kid.
  
  I think that Coke emerging as a better pen option and the fact that Giese showed the ability to be an effective swingman at the MLB level made this decision for the Yanks.
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
    
    Wright has an option left. He was optioned in ’07 (after being called up and the Fenway episode) and ’08 (on Opening Day), so he can still be optioned next year.
    - whozat
      
      I know…that’s why I said “He’s got options left”
      
      :-)
      - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
        
        Wow. EPIC FAIL on my part.
        
        Mike Pop
        
        Sounds like you got mental problems, man.
        
        Mike Pop
        
        Where is the Video Game Review!!!!
        
        27 this year
        
        he said wednesday or thursday.
        
        Mike Pop
        
        I just bought it today. I don’t have a PS3 though so I’m waiting to go over my buddy’s house tomorrow to play it. Looking forward to it big time though.
        
        http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
        
        Yeah, you got mental problems. Man.
A.D.

to the Mets… could fill the Shoenwiess role.
http://www.bronxbaseballdaily.com Rob Abruzzese

I thought for sure it was going to be Giese. Or even waiting to make Pettitte official while they traded Juan Miranda.

The Yankees still have 10 days to trade him, so maybe they could get something for him.
- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
  
  Let’s trade him to Boston for the rights to Jason Varitek.
  - Mike Pop
    
    Nope, Jeff Bailey. THE DUDE WAS A FREAKIN MVP!
Ryan S.

I never saw Wright being anything more than a small trade piece for us and Giese is a potentially useful piece in the bullpen, so it makes sense. I thought Giese was the one getting DFA’d personally, since a 26 year old lefty pitcher just seems like the more valuable commodity. I agree with Ben in that its tough to see Wright clear waivers – best of luck to the kid, its really might be a good thing for his career since he wasn’t going to ever get much attention from the Yankees.
pat

Ug ill never forget that night. Walking down burbon street sticking my head in 4 different bars and watching 4 different redsox hit consecutive homeruns. Much was consumed thereafter.
Sidenote- looks like everyone including myself gets a big FAIL for thinking geise was gone.
- http://actyankee.blogspot.com Matt
  
  I remember watching it in my dorm room. My roommate at the time wasn’t a baseball fan and he said “Has that ever happened before?” My neighbor at the time–and future apartment mate–is/was a huge Sox fan; hearing four loud screams through the walls was not fun.
Frank

On a seperate note, just heard Joba will be in studio tonight on MLB Network’s “Hot Stove.”
- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
  
  Will he show up for the beginning, or wait until 7/9ths of the show is over for the really important part of the interview?
  
  ZING!
  - That guy
    
    ICWUDT
  - pat
    
    sometimes they just write themselves……..
- Mike Pop
  
  Harold Reynolds will bring up the “debate”. It’s all but gauranteed.
  - whozat
    
    Actually, he’ll probably spend the entire interview trying to get Joba to say he prefers relieving.
    - Mike Pop
      
      Joba: Well ya know, I like starting and I think that is where I give the Yankees the best chance to win. Especially considering that the bullpen is solid and and all the options we have for it. (Thinking to himself, Harold isn’t even listening to me)
      
      Harold: Ya ya ya ya, but the 8th inning is important. You can be so shutdown in that inning and that is what you do best. It makes the game a 7 inning game with you and Mo in there.(thinking to himself, wow I didn’t even pay attention to what Joba said)
  - Yankee1010
    
    And then tell us why David Price should be in the rotation. Those 2 viewpoints make total sense Harold.
Andiamo

Cash probably has a trade ready to go. It is not like this was a surprise.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Ben K.
  
  Maybe, but I wouldn’t expect too much in a trade here.
  - J.R.
    
    Pittsburgh also likes taking Yankees pitchers who just couldn’t stick in the bigs.
    - Mike Pop
      
      I think some team will give up a small pieve for him. But then again it’s the Yankees and no team gives anything to the big bad ruiners of baseball which are the Yankees.
jsbrendog

wright for rasmus. its all but done
- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
  
  Cashman is an idiot for not getting Pujols. Theo woulda gotten Pujols.
  - whozat
    
    Theo IS getting Pujols. In exchange for the Cards paying for Mike Lowell to be the Sox’s UTIF.
  - mtt
    
    He just has to bundle Hideki Matsui to offset Pujols’ contract coming back.
  - 27 this year
    
    Igawa was the sticking point. Cards wouldn’t take his salary or Pujols’s.
  - Reggie C.
    
    you betcha.
mustang

Well so much for the he is only 26 with with a good MiLB ERA theory.
Peace.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Ben K.
  
  Eh, the theory still exists. He’ll get picked up because of that. But I guess if the Yanks see a legit MLB role for Giese and have Coke over Wright on their depth chart (as they should), then Wright ends up being the odd man out.
  - http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
    
    Or it could be that while he is 26 and a lefty, they just don’t think he’s truly good enough to get better and become anything more than what he is, which is a mediocre AAAA lefty who Dan Giese can and will continue to outperform.
    - mustang
      
      Keep rolling, rolling, rolling.
      Keep rolling, rolling, rolling.
      LOL
      - http://www.riveraveblues.com Ben K.
        
        Is that a Limp Bizkit reference? (I hope so…)
        
        http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
        
        Wait, people make Limp Bizkit references? (I hope not…)
        
        mustang
        
        LMAO
        Maybe I am that old.
        
        mustang
        
        Mr. tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous has been on a good comment roll today.
        And yes it is I’m not that old.
        :-)
    - mustang
      
      Agree
  - mustang
    
    Ok sounds about right. I think yesterday people were making Mr. Wright out to be more then he is. No one is going to lose any sleep if he gets picking-up.
Number 27

is the news about Pedroia’s brother old news? I just heard about it. seems like there’s some pretty fucked up blood running through that douche’s veins.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2009/01/26/pedroias_brother_accused_of_child_abuse/
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Ben K.
  
  We’re not touching that with a ten-foot pole, but the open thread will be up in 18 minutes, and I’m sure you can find a bunch of folks ready, willing and able to make tasteless jokes about it there.
  - http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
    
    All of whom should have the mighty hammer of Thor smite them painfully.
  - Number 27
    
    …what’s wrong with tasteless jokes…
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

If anyone is looking for something to do tonight, the Jeopardy Online Test for the East Coast is at 8PM. You have to register by 7:30.

http://www.jeopardy.com/onlinetests/national2009/index.php
Troy

Erik Bedard.
- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
  
  Umm… okay.
  
  Oil Can Boyd. (This is fun!)
  - ceciguante
    
    john candelaria
  - Troy
    
    tommie…you do get the reference, don’t you?
    
    http://waswatching.com/2007/04/15/chase-wright/
    
    http://waswatching.com/2007/04/17/chase-wright-erik-bedard/
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Joseph P.
      
      That’s one of my favorite forgotten references.
  - Troy
    
    you do get the reference…don’t you?
    - Troy
      
      FAIL on my part…the first time I posted that, it didn’t show up. :(
      - http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
        
        Oh, my bad.
        
        No, I don’t read WasWatching. Went over my head.
  - Mike R.
    
    IETC
ceciguante

ha. as i was saying yesterday, sometimes it’s not about whose age makes them look better on paper. sometimes, it’s just about who’s better. giese > wright
- mustang
  
  But he is younger, a lefty, and has a good MiLB ERA.
  How dare you judge him on his MLB performance?
  - mustang
    
    just kidding agree
- Steve H
  
  It’s also about 2009. The Yankees are built to win this year, and Giese has a (decent) chance of being a useful part, Wright does not. I highly doubt 5 years down the road we’ll consider Wright the one that got away.