River Avenue Blues

Update: Yankees not interested at Yuniesky Betancourt “at this time”

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8:30pm: Jon Heyman says the Yankees are not interested in Betancourt “at this time.” The Phillies did indeed release him earlier today rather than add him to their roster, by the way.

2:00pm: Via Jim Salisbury: The Yankees are one of a handful of teams “poking around” on infielder Yuniesky Betancourt. I assume their thinking involves bringing in someone who would make Eduardo Nunez — who will start at shortstop as Derek Jeter slowly recovers from his ankle injury — look like an All-Star by comparison.

Betancourt, 31, can opt-out of his minor league contract with the Phillies if they do not add him to the roster today. He’s had a strong camp — 21-for-47 (.447) with three doubles and a homer — but remains one of the very worst players in baseball, a no-hit/no-glove type. Yuni is a .266/.290/.392 (79 wRC+) hitter in nearly 4,000 career plate appearances with a -49.2 UZR and -74 DRS in just over 8,200 defensive innings, in case you didn’t believe me. The Phillies are likely to keep him as a backup infielder, so the Yankees might not even get a chance to acquire Betancourt if they wanted.

Yankees close to acquiring Vernon Wells from Angels

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8:30pm: Joel Sherman says the Yankees will pay nearly all of that $13M in 2013, meaning Wells will not count towards the $189M payroll limit in 2014. Money assumed in trades does not get spread out according to average annual value for luxury tax purposes.

7:56pm: Heyman says the Yankees are indeed paying Wells $13M over the next two years. Truly unbelievable. Reeks of desperation and panic.

7:35pm: The Yankees and Angels have reached an agreement on the money in the deal, reports Heyman. The league still has to approve everything, but it’s basically a done deal.

7:22pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Angels will eat at least $32M of the $42M left on Wells’ contract. Meanwhile, Buster Olney says New York will pay him $13M over the next two years. Either way, barf.

4:57pm: David Waldstein says the trade is not expected to be finalized tonight, but it will happen as some point. MLB has the sign off given the amount of money changing hands. Tomorrow seems like a safe bet.

4:40pm: Buster Olney says Wells will approve the trade while Mike DiGiovanna notes his locker is already being cleaned out in Anaheim’s clubhouse. Sounds like there are still some minor details to work out.

4:10pm: The deal is close enough to being done that the Yankees are reviewing Wells’ medical information according to Scott Miller. So I guess this is really happening.

3:51pm: Mark Feinsand says the Yankees would surrender a low-level prospect for Wells.

3:33pm: Via Jeff Passan: The Yankees are in talks to acquire Vernon Wells and a trade could happen as soon as today. The Angels would be eating a whole lot of the $42M owed to the outfielder over the next two years. Wells has a full no-trade clause and it’s unclear if he would waive it to come to New York. We heard the two sides talked trade back in December.

Wells, 34, has had a strong spring — 13-for-36 (.361) with a double and four homers — but he’s been terrible during his two years in Anaheim: .222/.258/.409 (82 wRC+) in 791 plate appearances. He has hit .266/.313/.481 (119 wRC+) against southpaws the last two seasons, but he’s been far below-average against lefties in three of the last four years (134 wRC in 2011 being the exception). If the Yankees give up a fringy prospect and the Halos eat enough salary to make him a ~$2M per year player, it would be not horrible but still pretty bad.

Open Thread: 3/24 Camp Notes

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(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

The Yankees walked off with a win over the Rays this afternoon thanks to a Ronnie Mustelier solo homer in the tenth inning. Kevin Youkilis hit not one, but two homers while Travis Hafner went deep once. Eduardo Nunez had a pair of knocks, including a triple. The Yankees struck out just once as a team (Youkilis) while drawing four walks.

As has been the case for most of camp, the team’s defense was laughable. They were only charged with one error, but Youkilis booted two balls and short-hopped a throw to first base. There was also a poorly timed dive in the outfield (Ben Francisco). The defensive miscues contributed to the five runs (one earned) allowed by Adam Warren in 3.2 innings. Vidal Nuno, who is competing for a bullpen spot in the wake of Clay Rapada’s injury, allowed all three men he faced to reach base (walk and two singles). Two of the three were lefties. David Aardsma allowed a run in an inning for work, blowing the save in the ninth. Mariano Rivera allowed two singles in a scoreless inning. Here’s the box score and here’s the rest from Tampa…

  • The Yankees will give Robinson Cano a few days off just to recharge his batteries, so to speak. He’s healthy, but he played (and traveled) a whole bunch during the World Baseball Classic, so he’ll get a few days of rest. [Jon Heyman]
  • Slade Heathcott ran the bases for a second straight day on Sunday. He’s been dealing with patellar tendinitis — in English: an achy knee — and there was no timetable for his return at the time of the injury. So yeah, good news. [Josh Norris & Donnie Collins]
  • Infielders Addison Maruszak, Jose Pirela, and Walt Ibarra was all reassigned to minor league camp. I didn’t even realize they were still with the big league team. The Yankees are down to 43 players in camp, unofficially. [Chad Jennings]

Here’s your open thread for the night. The Rangers, Islanders, and Nets are all playing, plus MLB Network will air a Spring Training game as well. Looks like Orioles-Pirates for most viewers. You folks know how these things work by now, so have at it.

Spring Training Game Thread: MASH Unit

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(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

In all likelihood, the only players who played for the Yankees on Opening Day 2012 who will play for the team on Opening Day 2013 next Monday are Brett Gardner and Robinson Cano. That’s it. Well, I guess CC Sabathia as well, but I’m talking about position players. Just two of nine regulars are both still with the team and healthy enough to play next week. That’s pretty unbelievable. Here’s this afternoon’s starting nine…

  1. CF Brett Gardner
  2. SS Eduardo Nunez
  3. RF Ichiro Suzuki
  4. 3B Kevin Youkilis
  5. DH Travis Hafner
  6. 1B Juan Rivera
  7. LF Ben Francisco
  8. C Frankie Cervelli
  9. 2B Jayson Nix

And on the mound is the 135th overall pick in the 2009 draft, right-hander Adam Warren. No word on the day’s second stringers, but Mariano Rivera is expected to throw an inning. The game is scheduled to start at 1:05pm ET and can be seen on YES. Enjoy.

Cashman: Jeter has soreness in ankle, Yankees targeting April 6 return

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From the not-so-shocking news department: Derek Jeter experienced soreness in his surgically repaired/cortisone shot ankle following yesterday’s minor league game. Brian Cashman confirmed he is likely to start the season on the DL, and they are targeting an April 6th return. I’ll believe it when I see it. Eduardo Nunez will be the starting shortstop until the Cap’n returns according to the GM.

King: Rivera battling “severe” headaches

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Via George King: Mariano Rivera has been battling “severe” headaches for two weeks and went for tests on Friday. “It was severe … When you have issues you want to make sure everything is OK. They said it seems like migraine headaches,” said Mo, who underwent a CAT-scan and blood test.

Rivera, 43, said the headaches haven’t impacted his pitching and he is expected to throw an inning today. The doctors still haven’t told him how he will be treated, so hopefully they get on that pretty soon. Brian Cashman said the team wasn’t concerned there is something more serious going on (concussion?), but obviously it’s good to know the tests didn’t reveal anything major. Still … getting pretty sick of this injury stuff.

Open Thread: 3/23 Camp Notes

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(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

The Yankees lost to the Tigers this afternoon despite leading by three runs at one point. Andy Pettitte allowed four runs in 6.1 innings of work, so he’s pretty much stretched out for the season. Just one more tune-up start to go. Cody Eppley faced five batters and allowed five hits, which is … uh … not good. Shawn Kelley allowed a run in an inning and a third.

Ben Francisco was the big star of the day, hitting not one but two homers. They both came off righties — Anibal Sanchez and Bruce Rondon — even though the team is looking at him as a lefty masher. Juan Rivera had three hits including a double while Brett Gardner, Eduardo Nunez (two), Ichiro Suzuki, and Chris Stewart all singled. Kevin Youkilis and Jayson Nix doubled. Here’s the box score and here’s the rest from Tampa…

  • Brennan Boesch (stiff left ribcage) was checked out by the doctors today and he will not play this weekend. The Yankees are off on Monday and the plan is to get him back in a game Tuesday or Wednesday. [Andy McCullough & Bryan Hoch]
  • Joe Girardi said he doesn’t expect to make any final roster decisions until the exhibition game against Army at West Point next Saturday. Fifth starter, first base, left field, bench, and Clay Rapada’s vacant bullpen spot are all up for grabs. [Chad Jennings]
  • David Adams played in his first minor league game of the year this afternoon. He had been battling a back injury that required an epidural and kept him out of big league Spring Training. [Josh Norris]
  • Jose Campos pitched in a minor league game this afternoon and was sitting 89-91 mph with the fastball in the first inning. He missed basically all of last year with an elbow problem, so it’s good to hear he’s back on the mound. [Norris]
  • The Yankees released a handful of minor leaguer pitchers today: righties Cory Arbiso, Pedro Guerra, Will Oliver, Matt Richardson and lefty Matt Bashore. Arbiso was the best of the bunch. [Norris]
  • Adam Warren will start against the Rays when they come to Tampa tomorrow. That game will be on YES and MLB.tv (no local blackout).

Here is your open thread for the evening. The Devils, Knicks, and Nets are all playing, plus MLB Network will air a Spring Training game later tonight. Sounds like most people will get the Pirates and Red Sox. Talk about any of that stuff and more right here. Enjoy.