Feb

Yankees sign Luis Ayala to a minor league deal

Brian Cashman‘s trolling of the “they’d win the World Series if this was 2003!” crowd continued today, with the team signing righty reliever Luis Ayala to a minor league contract. Ayala, 33, last appeared in the big leagues with the Twins and Marlins in 2009. He spent last season in Triple-A with the Rockies, Diamondbacks, and Dodgers, and like Bartolo Colon, he pitched pretty well in winter ball this year (40.2 IP, 37 H, 9 R, 7 BB, 25 K). He’s always been a ground ball guy (47.3% career with several years over 50%), so strikeouts aren’t his forte (5.88 K/9).

Ayala made his name with the Expos back in the day, running off three straight seasons with at least 65 appearances and a sub-3.00 ERA, but he’s perhaps most famous for becoming the first casualty of the World Baseball Classic. He blew out his elbow during the 2006 event and needed Tommy John surgery. I really have no idea where he and some of these other non-roster invitees are headed, the Triple-A bullpen is full as it is.

Categories : Asides, Transactions

13 Comments»

The Big City of Dreams says:

February 9, 2011 at 11:35 am

Angry Yankee fans in 3….2….

Benjamin Kabak says:

February 9, 2011 at 11:45 am

I really have no idea where he and some of these other non-roster invitees are headed, the Triple-A bullpen is full as it is.

I believe most of them will just be cut. For ex-Major Leaguers, a lot of these deals have a pre-Opening Day outclause, and for others, the Yanks will just cut the cord before the season starts. That’s why they’re all low risk deals.

MannyGee says:

February 9, 2011 at 11:56 am

and somewhere on the West Coast, a tear runs down Jason Giambi’s cheek…

MIke says:

February 9, 2011 at 12:00 pm

why?

Reply
- Esteban says:
  
  February 9, 2011 at 12:38 pm
  
  He wants to be part of the 2003 All Star team that the Yankees are assembling.
  
  Reply
  - The Big City of Dreams says:
    
    February 9, 2011 at 12:59 pm
    
    Well he can still be a mid season pick-up. The Yankees are always looking for a bat off the bench
    
    Reply
    - MannyGee says:
      
      February 9, 2011 at 3:15 pm
      
      I thought I read “Lefty off the Bench” somewhere in the Position Battles” post…
      
      SIGN THAT MAN
      
      Reply