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River Ave. Blues ยป Brad Halsey

Former Yankees lefty Brad Halsey dead at 33

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(AP Photo/Ed Betz)

Former Yankees left-hander Brad Halsey is dead at the age of 33, his representatives at O’Connell Sports confirmed. He was killed in a climbing accident near his home in Texas according to Bob Nightengale. No other details have been released.

Halsey was New York’s eighth round pick in the 2002 draft. He reached the big leagues in June 2004 and won his first career start by holding the Dodgers to two runs in 5.2 innings. Halsey started the famous July 1st game against the Red Sox, which is best remembered for Derek Jeter’s face-first dive into the stands and John Flaherty’s walk-off double.

After going 1-3 with a 6.47 ERA in seven starts and one relief appearance in 2004, the Yankees traded Halsey to the Diamondbacks as part of the package for Randy Johnson. He spent one year with Arizona (8-12, 4.61) before being traded to the Athletics for Juan Cruz. Halsey spent the 2006 season with Oakland (5-4, 4.67) before blowing out his shoulder and needing surgery.

Halsey filed and won a grievance against the Athletics for the way they handled his shoulder injury. He bounced around Triple-A and the independent leagues for a few years before returning to the Yankees on a minor league contract in 2011. Halsey had a 4.73 ERA in 24 relief appearances with High-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton that year, his last as a professional player.

Our condolences go out to Halsey’s family and friends.

He’s back! Yankees sign Brad Halsey

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Via the AP, the Yankees have signed left-hander Brad Halsey to a minor league contract. He’s in Extended Spring Training working out for the time being. You probably remember Brad Halsey for starting this game (he dives into the stands!), but believe it or not he only appeared in eight games (seven starts) for the Yankees. I thought it was more than that.

Anyway, Halsey went to the Diamondbacks in the Randy Johnson trade and he eventually wound up in Oakland. He had a bit of a falling out with the A’s, blasting the organization for calling up Dallas Braden over him when Rich Harden got hurt in 2007. He then suffered a torn labrum later that year, and won a grievance against the team after claiming they misdiagnosed the injury. Halsey has spent the last two years in independent leagues, but obviously this is more minor league filler than anything. But hey, he’s left-handed, who knows.