Yankees acquire utility man Dean Anna from Padres; add six to 40-man roster

November 20, 2013 by Mike Axisa 54 Comments

The Yankees have announced a series of roster moves. First, they have acquired IF Dean Anna from the Padres for Single-A reliever RHP Ben Paullus. Second, IF Corban Joseph has been outrighted off the 40-man roster. Third, they have added Anna, C Gary Sanchez, OF Slade Heathcott, RHP Jose Campos, RHP Bryan Mitchell, and RHP Shane Greene to the 40-man roster. Midnight tonight was the deadline to set the roster for next month’s Rule 5 Draft and all six players were eligible. There is still one open spot on the 40-man roster.

Anna, 26, hit .331/.410/.482 (140 wRC+) with nine homers and three stolen bases in 582 plate appearances for San Diego’s Triple-A affiliate this past season. He’s a left-handed batter with little power (.138 ISO in 1,339 plate appearances between Double and Triple-A) but a good idea of the strike zone (12.5% walks) and good bat control (11.9% strikeouts). Anna has a ton of experience at the two middle infield positions while also dabbling at third and in the outfield corners. I’m guessing the Padres didn’t have a 40-man roster spot for him and wanted to turn him into something rather than lose him for nothing in the Rule 5 Draft. Nifty little pickup for the Yankees, nice extra guy to have.

We heard Greene and Mitchell would be protected from the 40-man roster a few days ago. Sanchez and Heathcott were no-brainers but Campos was on the bubble as a 21-year-old who has never pitched above Low Class-A. He now has three years before running out of minor league options and having to stick in the big leagues for good. Joseph missed most of this season due to shoulder surgery and is really just a spare part for New York. He can hit a little but he doesn’t really have a position — he doesn’t have the range for second base or the arm for third. Not a surprise he cleared waivers.

The three most notable players the Yankees left exposed to the Rule 5 Draft are RHP Danny Burawa, RHP Tommy Kahnle, RHP Chase Whitley. The first two are hard-throwing relievers with questionable control (especially Kahnle) who spent last season with Double-A Trenton while Whitley is more of a command and control guy who spent the year at Triple-A Scranton. The Bombers tried to trade Kahnle for Michael Young and Alfonso Soriano at the trade deadline a few months ago, but no dice. Both he and Kahnle are very likely to be selected — hard-throwing relievers are the backbone of the Rule 5 Draft — and there’s even a chance both will stick in the big leagues next season. Most Rule 5 picks don’t, however.

Need Pitching & Hitting

So with these 6 and Brendan Ryan, doesn’t that make 41?
- JohnnyC
  
  They outrighted Corban Joseph to AAA. That makes 40.
  - Need Pitching & Hitting
    
    Yeah, I posted before that tidbit was added.
    Still, an already packed roster, and they likely need to add at least 5 external players.
    - Havok9120
      
      Yeah, not sure packing the 40 man roster was the way to go into the signing season.
      - Havok9120
        
        Though I think Nix and Stewart are goners, so that’s two spots.
        
        Need Pitching & Hitting
        
        + ARod ;)
- Caballo Sin Nombre
  
  The Yankees website is showing 34, with CoJo. They drop CoJo, they add the six above… leaves 39. That’s OK going into the Rule 5 draft. Later, the 40 man has plenty of warm bodies that could be dropped if they sign a better player.
  - Need Pitching & Hitting
    
    Add Brendan Ryan when it becomes official and they’re at 40.
    But yeah, there are a few bodies that can definitely be dropped.
Handsome B. Wonderful

That’s a pretty girly name.
Havok9120

What’s a Ben Paullus? Didn’t he surrender to the Soviets at Stalingrad?
- Caballo Sin Nombre
  
  Ben Phallus?
I’m One

Hmmm ….. Nunez replacement?
- Havok9120
  
  Sure looks like it. I can’t see both of them chilling on the 40 man all year.
- Need Pitching & Hitting
  
  Maybe. Or possibly Nix.
  Or both, if they add another left side of the IF.
- JohnnyC
  
  .892 OPS in the PCL at age 26, playing mostly SS. Fielding stats don’t look outstanding though.
  - Havok9120
    
    Plus it was the PCL. Offensive stats are not to be trusted.
    - Caballo Sin Nombre
      
      His PCL stats are not out of line with his career. He seems to get on base quite a lot.
      - Havok9120
        
        I’m pretty excited to have the guy kicking around. We could have something good here. Just saying I will put a serious hold on my excitement about his offense until I see him do it in Scranton.
  - Caballo Sin Nombre
    
    He appears to be better than Nuni in every dimension.
Mike Myers

where is the Campos love? The guy has legit Ace ceiling. TINSSAAPP!
- Havok9120
  
  Yeah, but I don’t think anyone believes he’ll be able to tap into that potential next season.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  ….and a whole lot of floor as well. I would have protected Whitley over him, to be honest.
zs190

Interesting that they chose to not protect any of the upper minor relievers, Whitley, Burawa, Kahnle, etc, seem like arms that could easily stick in several bullpens.
- Havok9120
  
  Leaving Whitley out there makes me nervous.
nycsportzfan

That Dean Anna guy sounds like a solid pickup, especially for only giving up Paullus. 331BA is very impressive BA..
Darren

I can’t beliebve they outrighted Corban Joseph! They were on the verge of trading him for Mike Trout.
- Havok9120
  
  They’ve clearly gone too far this time. I don’t see how I can remain a fan after the Yankees, yet again, forgo a chance to get younger.
  
  I’ll burn my Yankee gear tomorrow evening.
  - Fin
    
    Selig made them do it, he hates the Yankees, Arod but especially Corban Joesph.
Dalek Jeter

This Dean Anna signing sounds like either Ryan, Nunez or Nix time in major league pinstripes may be coming to an end (~~OH GOD PLEASE LET IT BE NIX~~) because having 4 guys for one, maybe two, utility infield spots seems…a bit crazy.
- Need Pitching & Hitting
  
  He could just be minor league depth.
  They didn’t just sign Ryan only to immediately get rid of him.
  At least one of Nix or Nunez will likely be gone.
  - Dalek Jeter
    
    I’m saying I don’t think all 4 of them remain on the 40 man, that would be insanity, I agree I think it’s going to be Ryan and 1 of Nix/Anna/Nunez in the majors and 1 of Anna/Nunez in the minors. The more I think about it, the team seams to like Nunez a lot, so I can see it being Ryan and Nunez in the majors as bench players and Anna in the minors and Nix being gone *jumps for joy*…but at the same time Girardi and the real owners of the team (Sterling and Waldman) seem to love the son of a bitch.
    - Need Pitching & Hitting
      
      I wouldn’t be surprised if Nix ends up with a similar deal to last year.
      Non-guaranteed, non-roster split contract with a spring training invite.
      Unless he finds a better opportunity elsewhere.
      - Dalek Jeter
        
        Last season, if I remember correctly, there was essentially a handshake agreement that unless he was injured or terrible beyond terrible during spring training that he would spend the entire off season not on the 40 man to allow the Yankees roster flexibility but would break camp with the team.
Kevin W.

Why is Chase Whitley not mentioned in this post at all? He will definitely be picked
- Dalek Jeter
  
  While I agree that Whitley could possibly be picked, the Yankees have done really well at turning nobodies into good to elite guys out of the bullpen for stretches for as short as a month to as long as a couple seasons…in fact even the most hardened Girardi hater has to admit he gets a lot out of the Luis Ayalla’s and Cory Wade’s of the world.
  - Havok9120
    
    I don’t think it’s a crippling blow to the franchise or anything, but it seems odd to add Greene and Campos and leave guys exposed who are so much more likely to stick and be at least peripheral bullpen pieces.
    - Need Pitching & Hitting
      
      Maybe afraid Campos will end up as the next Jose Quintana?
      - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
        
        Quintana wasn’t a Rule 5 pick, he was a free agent. The White Sox signed him and were able to send him to the minors, which they did for a few weeks before calling him up.
        
        Need Pitching & Hitting
        
        I know it’s not the exact same situation, but the Yankees still could have protected Quintana by adding him to the 40-man roster.
      - Robinson Tilapia
        
        I’d say you take the chance the single-A pitcher turns into Quintana somewhere else very time.
        
        Need Pitching & Hitting
        
        I generally agree, but I’m wondering if the Quintana situation has made the Yankees be more aggressive in protecting SP’s.
        
        Robinson Tilapia
        
        I hope not. Even if the Yanks’ internal scouting on him was bad, and it clearly was, there’s a whole lot that’s still flukey.
SDB

Is Pat Venditte eligible for the rule 5 draft?
- steve
  
  only his right arm
  - Pseudoyanks
    
    His Left Arm isn’t eligible until 2015.
your mom

I wonder what Eduardo Scissorhands could fetch in a trade?
- CashmanNinja
  
  I doubt he could get much at all. At this point in time I think the best you could think of is a PTBNL if that. He’s got good speed and the ability to hit for contact, but he simply cannot play on the infield with all of his mistakes, nor does he offer good enough defense/athleticism to become a solid OF. His real value was that he was seen as a fast short stop, but he’s not going to stick there and he can’t really play 3rd either because he’s just so sloppy. That’s why this Dean Anna looks so intriguing. I don’t see Nunez being on this team much longer so whatever they can get for him…do it and free up a roster spot.
- SDB
  
  A glove with a hole in it?
Tom

Anyone know the option status on Anna? Does he have any left?

If not he would have to be on the 25man or clear waivers at some point in the spring before being optioned, no?
Dillon

give this guy some PA’s and he’s going to be solid. He’s consistently got on at every level at a high clip and the lefty swing might give him a bit more pop. not a huge signed, but i like it a lot better than Nix.
PunkPitch

Losing Dan Burawa would be the one that hurt the most. He has more upside than Whitley or Kahnle.
Dan

I looked at Anna’s minor league stats, and he’s hit at every level. He could be a more than useful player (although I’d really like them to acquire another infielder, especially if A-Rod is suspended)
Dr. Grenaldine

I don’t know about you guys…but I now smell a World Weries Championship where I once didn’t before
Dick M

Maybe this guy could be A-Rod’s caddie. I like the idea of a younger guy as opposed to the Youkilis/Chavez/sure to break down approach. The 64k question is, can he play 3b?