River Avenue Blues » Transactions

Jackson, Nova among 40-man additions

Benjamin Kabak — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:52:13 +0000

The Yankees have announced seven additions to the team’s 40-man rotation in advance of December’s Rule 5 draft. Among them are Austin Jackson and Ivan Nova. What a difference a year makes for Nova, who was selected and then returned to the Yanks in 2008.

To go along with this move, the Yanks also outrighted Shelley Duncan to AAA Scranton. I’m sure the Yanks would be happy to trade him for some cash. Here’s the full list:

PItchers
Hector Noesi
Ivan Nova
Romulo Sanchez

Infielders
Reegie Corona
Eduardo Nunez
Kevin Russo

Outfielders
Austin Jackson

Interestingly enough, the Yanks now have 39 of their 40-man spots filled, but the team is down a left fielder, a designated hitter and a starting pitcher. Either the Yanks don’t plan to resign more than one of their three big-name free agents so quickly or they will be prepared to cut loose someone on the 40-man if need be. Of those on the current 40-man, Christian Garcia looks awfully expendable.

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Jackson, Nova among 40-man additions

Yanks decline option on Mitre

Benjamin Kabak — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:33:39 +0000

Via Marc Carig on Twitter, the Yankees have declined the $1.25 million option the team held on Sergio Mitre. This move, however, does not portend the end of Mitre’s pinstriped career. Since he is arbitration-eligible, he remains, as Carig notes, under team control. The Yanks could still opt to non-tender him, but for the amount it will cost to resign him, Brian Cashman will look to retain him on an incentive-laden deal. Just a few days ago, I predicted that the Yanks would pick up his option. So much for that.

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Yanks decline option on Mitre

Yanks cut loose Towers, Guzman

Joseph Pawlikowski — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:01:17 +0000

In a basic roster maintenance move, the Yankees have outrighted both Freddy Guzman and Josh Towers, according to Chad Jennings of The Journal News. Unsurprisingly, both players have elected free agency rather than accepting a minor league assignment. It’s unlikely that either receives a major league deal in free agency. Guzman has speed but no bat, and Towers hasn’t pitched well since 2005. Towers did pitch well over 18 starts and one relief appearance for AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, so maybe he’ll return. Chances are, though, that Towers, 33 in 2010, will seek out a team that will have him a bit higher on the depth chart.

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Yanks cut loose Towers, Guzman

Yanks add five as rosters expand

Benjamin Kabak — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:30:19 +0000

With the Major League rosters expanding today, the Yankees have opted to add five players in their initial round of call-ups. While four are familiar faces, one — Michael Dunn — will be making his Bronx debut this month.

Chad Jennings first brought us word of these call-ups this afternoon. As expected, Ramiro Pena, Francisco Cervelli, Mark Melancon and Edwar Ramirez will rejoin this team as well. Jonathan Albaladejo remains the odd man out.

Dunn is an interesting case simply because he has been largely off the Yanks’ radar this year. The other four call-ups have all spent significant time in the Bronx this year, but Dunn has not. Dunn, a lefty, is a 24-year-old pitcher who spent time at AA and AAA this year. On the season, he has thrown 73.1 innings in relief and has 99 strike outs. While he has walked 46, opponents are hitting just .216 against him. He’ll see some low-leverage innings out of the pen and should provide Phil Coke with a few days off. I’ll be curious to see how his K/BB ratio plays among selective hitters in the American League.

For now, these five players will be the only ones summoned to the big leagues for the Yankees. The team is, after all, still involved in a pennant chase and won’t be resting its regulars until much later in the month. Meanwhile, Scranton too is involved in its own pennant chase. The AAA farm club has a 3.5-game lead in its division, and the Yanks won’t strip it of too many regulars before the season is out.

With these five men up, the only remaining members of the 40-man roster eligible for call-ups are as follows:

Jonathan Albaladejo
Andrew Brackman
Anthony Claggett
Wilkin De La Rosa
Christian Garcia
Ian Kennedy
Kevin Cash
Juan Miranda
Shelley Duncan
Brett Gardner

We’ll see Gardner back as soon as his thumb is healed, and we’ll probably see Shelley, Miranda, Claggett and De La Rosa at some point this month too. The rest are injured or not quite ready for the Show.

Update: Feinsand notes that both Shelley Duncan and Austin Jackson could join the team once Scranton is done with its playoff run.

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Yanks add five as rosters expand

Game 131 Spillover Thread

Mike Axisa — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:34:45 +0000

Small trade: the Yanks have acquired lightning quick outfielder Freddy Guzman from the Orioles for a PTBNL. He’s going to Triple-A Scranton, where I assume he’ll serve as an extra body once Sept. callups ransack the roster. He can’t hit, but he’s got 436 steals in 778 minor league games.

Meanwhile, how about this Andy Pettitte fella?

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Game 131 Spillover Thread

Report: Angels on the verge of landing Kazmir

Benjamin Kabak — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:23:55 +0000

MLB.com’s Lyle Spencer is reporting that the Angels are on the verge of acquiring Scott Kazmir for two minor leaguers. Pitcher Alexander Torres and third baseman Matthew Sweeney would head to Tampa. Kazmir is under contract through the 2011 season. He’ll make $8 million next and $12 million in 2011, and the Angels will hold a $13.5 million option or a $2 million buyout for the 2012 season. Reportedly, Kazmir will it’s about the money. No matter what, though, the October picture could be radically altered by this acquisition. The Angels have long had the Yanks’ number, and this move gives them another left-handed weapon for their pitching staff.

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Report: Angels on the verge of landing Kazmir

Wagner OK’s trade to Red Sox

Benjamin Kabak — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:52:54 +0000

Despite a public tiff with current Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon, Billy Wagner is heading to Boston. Despite rumors last night that he would decline the trade, the left-handed reliever, 11 months removed from Tommy John Surgery, has approved a trade to the Red Sox, Jon Heyman reported a few minutes ago. Wagner has looked dominant in his rehab appearances and has thrown two scoreless innings with four strike outs for the Mets this month. The Red Sox will ship two players to be named later to New York and will pay Wagner a little over $3 million — a little over $2 million for this year plus a $1 million buyout for 2010 — for five weeks of regular season pitching.

Last week, I had urged the Yankees to claim Wagner, and in the end, one of the two teams that could block the Yankees from acquiring the lefty did so. While Wagner, poor October track record notwithstanding, is a weapon in any bullpen, I believe the Red Sox made this move as much to block the Yanks as they did to improve their own team. Such are the ways of late-season trade machinations.

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Wagner OK’s trade to Red Sox

The Cody Ransom Era isn’t over quite yet

Benjamin Kabak — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 21:30:32 +0000

A few days ago, while I was away, Mike succinctly summed up my feelings on Cody Ransom. He might be able to jump high, but he’s not really a viable Major Leaguer. Shortly after that post, the Yanks designated Cody Ransom for assignment. According to Chad Jennings, Ransom has cleared waivers and will rejoin AAA Scranton with a minor league contract. Despite the Twitter love for him, no other team in baseball wanted a 33-year-old infielder with a 57 OPS+ and 25 strike outs in 86 plate appearances this year. While some fear we might see him again in the Bronx when rosters expand in three weeks, I don’t see the team clearing a space on the 40-man roster just to call up Ransom on Sept. 1.

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

The Cody Ransom Era isn’t over quite yet

Yankees acquire Chad Gaudin

Mike Axisa — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 02:00:25 +0000

Via the YES broadcast (Carig confirms), the Yanks acquired Chad Gaudin from the Padres for a player to be named later. Gaudin figures to compete with Sergio Mitre for the fifth starter spot, if not assume it outright. He had a 5.13 ERA in 20 games (19 starts) with San Diego, but his FIP is a much prettier 3.68. Amazingly, Gaudin is only 26 and still has another year of team control left. The PTBNL might be fairly significant (as in not lower level filler).

I’ve been a Gaudin fan since he was with Oakland, so I approve.

Update (10:17pm): Joel Sherman says the Yanks owe Gaudin $650,000 the rest of the year, but tack on another $260,000 to the league for luxury tax.

Update (10:38pm): T-Kep says the plan is for Gaudin to work out of the bullpen, but you have to assume the clock is ticking on Mitre.

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Yankees acquire Chad Gaudin

Yanks acquire Jerry Hairston Jr.

Joseph Pawlikowski — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:19:45 +0000

Yep, that’s the word from Joel Sherman. He’s a righty and plays many positions. Could they turn Shelley around?

Just as some background on Hairston, he’s a 33-year-old utility man, mostly corner OFs, SS, and 3B. Had an excellent season in Cincinnati last year, but ended up overexposed this season and his numbers tumbled. He’d go along well with Ransom as a guy who can play multiple positions.

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Yanks acquire Jerry Hairston Jr.