Yankees put a waiver claim on Carlos Peña
ByThe Yankees have claimed Carlos Peña on waivers from the Cubs, according to Jon Heyman. Peña, working on a one-year, $10-million, is hitting .223/.342/.450 with 23 home runs and a .343 wOBA. Against righties, however, he has an .865 OPS and a .374 wOBA and would give the Yankees a power bat to platoon with Andruw Jones at DH and an option to spell Mark Teixeira at first base. Peña, who provides more power and defensive versatility, than Jorge Posada would be an intriguing waiver pickup for the Yanks, but odds are slim that the Cubs simply let him go or work out a deal with the Yanks. Ken Rosenthal says a a deal is unlikely and that the Cubs are “reluctant to make a move.” Chicago has until 1 p.m. on Friday to make a decision, and we’ll have more as this story develops.



I’d assume the Cubs would be looking for a B- prospect since Carlos projects as a Type B free agent this offseason
/2bornot2b’d
Questions:
So, Cubs are history, it’s a one year deal – why wouldn’t they cut their losses and save about $2 million?
If the Yanks get him, could Jorge be the 2nd catcher in a short Post-season series allowing them to cary Chavez, Posada and Jones (and a Golson type speedster) and not having to give a post season roster spot to Cervelli?
I assume he can be offered arbitration at the end of the season and a draft pick is involved?
lol, no.
Posada is not a catcher. Ever again. No ifs, ands or buts.
AJ Burnett for Pena
/ShitforShat
+1
Pena doesn’t make it to the Red Sox? I like.
We’re ahead of the Red Sox in the standings? They willingly passed on him.
The Yanks and Sox are tied in the standings, but because the Yanks are 2-10 vs. Boston, they have waiver priority.
Ah, OK. My mistake.
No, the Yankees are ahead, all be it in the slimmest of margins. Here’s the standings: http://espn.go.com/mlb/standings
Good call. W% trumps H2H W-L.
Well crap. Thought I had that one figured out per Ben’s logic.
I think Olney actually said that waiver claims priority is based on the standings on the day that player was put on waivers, we were ahead of Sox on that day so they did pass on him I think. Yanks were dead last in waiver claim priority on NL players so this isn’t even really a block I guess, it’s just a straight claim.
Please no.
In addition to the offense, Pena has always been good in the field and could give Tex a day off with little to know decrease of defense.
if they can get him for something like Z-Mac for Kearns last year then I’d take him. Would be better than Jorge Vazquez or whatever else in in AAA to give Teix some days off and platoon at DH. Although things would start getting a little crowded with Jorge, Andruw, Chavez and Pena (and Nunie) all trying to get ABs.
well, scratch that
http://twitter.com/#!/CarrieMu.....2264687616
“#Cubs Pena may have been claimed but he’s not going anywhere.”
That’s pretty much been the original report. I don’t think he’s going anywhere.
I saw that, but does it make sense? The Cubs can save money, get a prospect, and sign him anyway if they want to that bad.
I just wrapped up DJ Mitchell for nothing, then.
I dont know why the Cubs would insist on keeping him? Unless they think we will be better than Prince Fielder.
they think the type B comp pick is better than what they’ll get in a trade? If they get a decent B-prospect I don’t know why the wouldn’t trade him and save the salary. They can always re-sign him after this year if they pass or miss out on Pujols/Fielder.
More apt to hit one out than Jorge.
amirite?
I like the addition if the Yanks work out a deal. Can play a great 1B, has tremendous power and gets on base at a decent clip. Only knock is that he can’t hit LHP, but that’s why Andruw Jones is around.
Did any reporter figure out who won the claims on Thome or Kubel yet?
Rumors are swirling that the White Sox claimed either one of them or both of them possibly to block them from Cleveland, which deosnt make much sense because Cleveland’s fading.
I don’t think that he’s getting dealt, but, this move meant the Yanks were prepared to DFA someone. I wonder who it would have been?
I highly doubt it’s Posada. It would be batshit insane to be willing to release Posada for Carlos-freaking-Pena but not their #1 prospect.
Not really. They may view it as unlikely that Montero would do better than Jones as a right-handed DH. As a left-handed DH, I could see that they would greatly prefer Pena to Posada, plus Pena plays a position at a high level.
They are not going to release Posada for anyone. That just needs to stop.
They’d figure out a way to get Pena on the roster and, then, let the chips fall were they may come playoff time.
That being said, I’d wager there’s no way he winds up a Yankee, although I’d give up a fringy guy blocking someone else’s progress for him for sure.
I don’t know what the hell they’re doing, but Posada’s got a 162 OPS+ over the last month.
I don’t see the point of Pena. If they want to add a power bat, go that righty slugger in Scranton. They don’t need another lefty.
They know exactly what they are doing. Pena is a far better hitter than Posada against right handed pitching, plus he plays a position very well.
Andrew Jones has crushed left handed pitching, plus he is a decent extra outfielder. Montero is only 21, so plenty of time for him.
There aren’t many ways to improve this team, and this is a decent shot at it, although it sounds unlikely that it will happen.
Posada vs. RHP this year 279/357/471, .361 wOBA, 126 wRC+
Pena vs. RHP this year 251/370/495, .374 wOBA, 131 wRC+
Pena has been barely better than Posada vs. RHP
That is better, and the Yankees must think he is better or the claim wouldn’t have been made. It certainly isn’t for a backup first baseman.
oh I’d definitely take him if the cost isn’t high and they DFA Posada.
I’m just saying he isn’t a huge upgrade as LH DH
I don’t know what the hell they’re doing
But they do, so you can stick to writing and running.
Intriguing option for the Yanks. I like the idea. Hopefully, the Yanks claimed all of the White Sox pitchers on waivers.
Confusing
Wasn’t Pena in our system years back?
Yup, he was in the system back in 06.
Both the Yanks and Boston released him before he went to Tampa. It happens.
Yep. Then the Sox grabbed him, then released him, then Tampa grabbed him, and the rest is history…
Yeah, he was pretty solid in Columbus (then NYY’s AAA) in ’06, but the team released him in August that year. The BoSox picked him up, and he was also solid for them.
Like an old lady in a casino who stalks slot machines (ie, watching and waiting for people who are feeding money into a machine, that never pays out, then moving in after they’ve left and hitting the jackpot) the Rays finally hit the Carlos Pena jackpot in ’07.
The Yanks had Pena for a Spell a number of years ago.
We need if anything, a right handed bat. A lefty bar has got to be a guy who kills lefties. Otherwise, we are not going to have room for him.
Is there a possibility that this claim was insurance in case A-rods thumb x ray results were bad news? The claim went in Monday right?