The Journal News suggests Jorge Vazquez could ”legitimately hit his way into roster contention” this spring.
Concerns about Vazquez’s strikeout rate and ability to hit for average remain, but the Yankees have yet to sign an everyday designated hitter and could be content to wait things out. The 29-year-old career minor leaguer hit .262 with 32 home runs in 500 at-bats for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this past season.
Source: lhblogs.com
Tagged as: Jorge Vazquez, news, Yankees
Joba Chamberlain (Tommy John surgery) has started throwing off a half-mound.
Chamberlain, who underwent Tommy John surgery last June, threw off a five-inch mound at the Yankees’ minor league complex in Florida on Friday under the supervision of Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild and the team’s vice president Billy Connors. The 26-year-old right-hander hopes to make his way back to the Yankees’ bullpen sometime during the first half of the season.
Source: msnbc.com
Tagged as: Joba Chamberlain, news, Yankees
Yankees sent RHP Kevin Whelan outright to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Whelan was designated for assignment last week and drew no interest on waivers. The 28-year-old right-hander had a 2.75 ERA in 52 1/3 minor league innings last year.
Source: twitter.com
Tagged as: Kevin Whelan, news, Yankees
Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork.com reports that the Yankees are still interested in re-signing Eric Chavez.
The Yankees are also reportedly talking to Bill Hall, but it’s not expected to have much of an impact on Chavez. According to Marchand, Hall would receive a minor-league deal while Chavez would get a big-league contract. The 34-year-old was limited to just 58 games last season due to a fractured foot, batting .263/.320/.356 across 175 plate appearances.
Source: twitter.com
Tagged as: Eric Chavez, news, Yankees
Mark Teixeira said Tuesday that he might lay some bunts down this season in order to beat the shift.
Teams have quickly adjusted to Teixeira’s pull-happy ways, which led to career-lows in batting average (.248) and batting average on balls in play (.239) last season. We’d imagine the Yankees wouldn’t be thrilled about their cleanup hitter bunting — and they’ll likely continue to look for more constructive solutions to the problem — but the hope is that occasionally laying one down could keep opposing defenses honest.
Source: twitter.com
Tagged as: Mark Teixeira, news, Yankees
According to ESPN Chicago’s Bruce Levine, former Cubs GM Jim Hendry has been hired by the Yankees.
Hendry will function as a special assistant to Yankees general manager Brian Cashman as part of a multi-year agreement. He was let go by Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts in August after two straight fifth-place finishes.
Source: go.com
Tagged as: Derek Jeter, news, Yankees
Yankees signed RHP Manny Delcarmen to a minor league contract.
He also gets a spring training invite. Delcarmen, who turns 30 next month, posted a 5.59 ERA and 33/15 K/BB ratio over 38 2/3 innings last season with the Triple-A affiliates for the Mariners and Rangers. The former Red Sox reliever hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2010 as a member of the Rockies and will likely serve as organizational depth.
Source: twitter.com
Tagged as: Manny Delcarmen, news, Yankees
According to ESPN’s Andrew Marchand, Yankees officials are saying Phil Hughes is in “great” shape.
Hughes showed up to spring training last year with a little extra weight and went on to post a brutal 5.79 ERA and 47/27 K/BB ratio in 74 2/3 innings of work. He’s hoping for far better results this upcoming season.
Source: go.com
Tagged as: news, Phil Hughes, Yankees
Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that Hiroki Kuroda’s one-year, $10 million contract with the Yankees also contains a full no-trade clause.
It’s not surprising, as Kuroda likely would have been dealt at last year’s deadline but didn’t want to waive his no-trade clause. It’s very unlikely the Yanks would want to deal him, anyway, as he’s been an integral cog in what figures to be another playoff team in 2012. Kuroda, who turns 37 in February, has a 3.45 ERA over his first four seasons stateside.
Source: twitter.com
Tagged as: Hiroki Kuroda, news, Yankees
The Yankees and LHP Boone Logan avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.875 million contract.
Logan requested $2.1 million and was offered $1.7 million from the Yankees when arbitration figures were exchanged last Tuesday. It took a little over a week to find a middle ground. Logan, 27, will serve as a lefty specialist this year for New York.
Source: bostonherald.com
Tagged as: Boone Logan, news, Yankees