FOXSports.com News for Yankees

Buzz: Latest from spring training

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:39:33 GMT

ROSTER REPORT

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:09:21 GMT

The Yankees open their title defense without some of the folks who helped earn it but remain optimistic they have made the right moves. While they could miss the veteran presence of Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui as well as the clutch, carefree vibe Melky Cabrera added, the Yankees improved their starting pitching dramatically with Javier Vazquez and added some impressive bats in Curtis Granderson and Nick Johnson. It will be important for the newcomers to get acclimated in spring training, much like last year's free agent stars did, so manager Joe Girardi might want to consider another pool tournament or a trip to a bowling alley. ARRIVALS: RHP Javier Vazquez (trade with Braves), DH Nick Johnson (free agent from Marlins), CF Curtis Granderson (trade with Tigers), OF Randy Winn (free agent from Giants), OF Marcus Thames (minor league free agent from Tigers), C Mike Rivera (minor league free agent from Brewers), RHP Dustin Moseley (minor league free agent from Angels), RHP Chan Ho Park (free agent from Phillies). DEPARTURES: OF Melky Cabrera (traded to Braves), RHP Ian Kennedy (traded to Diamondbacks), LHP Phil Coke (traded to Tigers), OF Austin Jackson (traded to Tigers), RHP Brian Bruney (traded to Nationals), RHP Josh Towers (free agent, signed minor league deal with Dodgers), DH Hideki Matsui (free agent, signed with Angels), INF/OF Eric Hinske (free agent, signed with Braves), INF/OF Jerry Hairston Jr. (free agent, signed with Padres), RF Xavier Nady (free agent, signed with Cubs), OF Freddy Guzman (released, signed minor league deal with Phillies), LF Johnny Damon (free agent, signed with Tigers), C Jose Molina (free agent, signed with Blue Jays), RHP Chien-Ming Wang (free agent, signed with Nationals), RHP Edwar Ramirez (traded to Ranger). SPRING FOCUS: The Yankees don't have a lot of glaring holes, but the most interesting battle will be between Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain for the No. 5 spot in the rotation; the loser is likely to be the setup man for Mariano Rivera. The other main competition will be in the outfield, where Marcus Thames, Randy Winn and Jamie Hoffmann will battle to form a right-handed platoon with LF Brett Gardner or offer an impressive enough display to somehow win the job outright. PROJECTED ROTATION: 1. LHP CC Sabathia 2. RHP A.J. Burnett 3. LHP Andy Pettitte 4. RHP Javier Vazquez 5. RHP Phil Hughes or RHP Joba Chamberlain The Yankees were operating from strength but not depth in the rotation last year, and the addition of Vazquez adds both. He should be an impressive No. 4 starter and take the pressure off of whoever wins the battle between Hughes and Chamberlain. The club also has some options in case of injury with RHP Chad Gaudin, RHP Alfredo Aceves and RHP Sergio Mitre. As impressive as the bottom end is, the Yankees' top is even better with Sabathia coming off of an impressive postseason that should only boost the ace's confidence even more. PROJECTED BULLPEN: RHP Mariano Rivera (closer) RHP Joba Chamberlain or RHP Phil Hughes RHP Dave Robertson LHP Damaso Marte LHP Boone Logan RHP Alfredo Aceves RHP Chad Gaudin The Yankees bullpen grew as the season wore on last year and should be stocked in 2010. With Rivera facing a contract year and knowing he'll once again have to show he can defy his age, he should have a typically dominant season. The loser of the Chamberlain-Hughes battle for the rotation should make for an impressive setup man, though Robertson could surprise if someone struggles. Marte showed in the postseason he could be trusted as the top lefty out of the bullpen, and Aceves and Gaudin will give the club a strong middle relief base from which to work. Logan, who came over from Atlanta, will have to impress in spring training to ensure his spot as a second lefty and stave off other relief candidates, such as Sergio Mitre. PROJECTED LINEUP: 1. SS Derek Jeter 2. DH Nick Johnson 3. 1B Mark Teixeira 4. 3B Alex Rodriguez 5. C Jorge Posada 6. CF Curtis Granderson 7. 2B Robinson Cano 8. RF Nick Swisher 9. LF Brett Gardner The Yankees lose a little versatility with Johnson in the No. 2 spot instead of the speedy Johnny Damon and have to hope that Granderson can get his strikeouts under control and find a little more success against lefties than he had with Detroit. But it's an impressive lineup, and manager Joe Girardi will have some options to play with at times. He can flip Granderson and Posada or even move Granderson to the No. 2 spot against lefties. He also could move up Cano depending on who has the hot hand. The 3-4 combination of Teixeira and Rodriguez could be the most potent in the league. PROJECTED RESERVES: INF Ramiro Pena C Francisco Cervelli or C Mike Rivera OF Randy Winn OF Marcus Thames or OF Jamie Hoffmann Pena and Cervelli are expected to graduate to full-time reserve duty thanks to their impressive stints as rookie fill-ins last year. Cervelli has been praised for his work behind the plate, and Pena is an excellent defensive infielder but would probably not be used as a primary sub in the event of a long absence by a starter. Also in the mix at catcher is Mike Rivera, signed as a minor league free agent. Winn should have a spot on the roster after signing a one-year deal, leaving minor league invite Thames and Rule 5 draftee Hoffmann to likely battle for a spot depending on how many pitchers the club carries. TOP ROOKIES: OF Jamie Hoffmann figures to be given every chance to succeed since he is a Rule 5 draftee; if the Yankees do not keep him on the big-league roster they will have to return him to the Dodgers. C Francisco Cervelli impressed the Yankees enough during his brief stint that the club let veteran backup C Jose Molina go. At times, Cervelli was considered the best signal-caller on the roster. MEDICAL WATCH: --C Francisco Cervelli (concussion) was given a new, safety-oriented batting helmet after suffering his second concussion in five months on March 6. Cervelli was hit by a pitch in early March, prompting manager Joe Girardi to recommend the Rawlings S100 helmet, which features more padding. --SS Derek Jeter (illness) missed some time in early March with what he said was food poisoning, but the condition wasn't considered serious.

NOTES, QUOTES

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:09:19 GMT

--3B Alex Rodriguez told reporters recently his lawyers had met with federal agents regarding the investigation of Dr. Anthony Galea, who had been arrested in Canada on suspicion of smuggling human growth hormone and another drug, Actovegin. Galea told reporters his relationship with Rodriguez was based on his treatment of the Yankees star with anti-inflammatory drugs following Rodriguez's hip surgery last year. "My attorneys are working with the authorities as we speak about scheduling issues," Rodriguez, who has been asked to meet with the feds, said March 10. "I intend to cooperate." As he did when the issue first gained attention, Rodriguez emphasized that the investigation "is not about me." --C Francisco Cervelli was given a new, safety-oriented batting helmet after suffering his second concussion in five months. Cervelli was hit by a pitch in early March, prompting manager Joe Girardi to recommend the safer but less visually appealing Rawlings S100 helmet. "It's not about how I look," Cervelli said. "If it's for my health, I've got to do it." The oversized helmet has drawn ribbing for its comparisons to The Great Gazoo character from "The Flintstones." --RHP Joba Chamberlain was rumored to be facing an uphill climb in his battle for the No. 5 starter spot when camp began, and his first couple of outings didn't make the trek any easier. After a subpar first outing, Chamberlain followed that up by allowing six runs on five hits with three walks in 2 1/3 innings in his second, a 9-8 win over Detroit. While the numbers aren't the main concern in spring training, Chamberlain again saw his velocity stay in the low 90s rather than rise. "I understand what's at stake," Chamberlain said after his second outing. "You've got to get better. ... There is a sense of urgency, but not a panic button." --RHP Phil Hughes continued to best RHP Joba Chamberlain in the race for the No. 5 starter spot, but that doesn't mean he has run out of competition. The Yankees have said from the start of camp that middle relievers/spot starters Alfredo Aceves, Sergio Mitre and Chad Gaudin are also in the mix, and each started the exhibition season strong. GM Brian Cashman acknowledged in an early spring training report that the 2010 Yankees might be best served by using Chamberlain and Hughes as a dynamic setup tandem and using one of the other starters in the No. 5 spot thanks to the strength of the rest of the rotation. He also said that might not be the best long-term plan for the club, though. "I think any scenario is possible," manager Joe Girardi said recently. --LF Johnny Damon shared some hugs with his former teammates in their first reunion when the Yankees played the Tigers in a March 10 spring training game. Damon said he had done his best to move on after signing with Detroit following his failure ailing to agree to a new contract with the Yankees. "I'm OK with it," Damon said. "I'm just happy that our team was able to win a championship last year. We definitely are on good terms; they are just doing things the way they want to, and I have to do it my way." After wisely declining to wear his Red Sox World Series ring during his time in New York, Damon said he would now wear that one along with his ring from the Yankees' title and joked "that there's not too many people who can do that." --OF Curtis Granderson has had a smooth transition to Yankees camp, humbly accepting the possibility of playing left field instead of his usual center and showing the type of quality character traits he had been known for in Detroit. Granderson also stood out in his March 10 return to Tigers camp, when he was reunited with his old team and fans. Granderson went 2-for-3 and made a strong case for himself as a center fielder, racing deep to rob former teammate Miguel Cabrera with an impressive catch. --SS Adeinis Hechavarria, who defected from Cuba last year, has reportedly made the Yankees his top choice. There are five teams in the running for the 21-year-old, but the Yankees are the favorites, sources told the New York Post. Hechavarria's lean, muscular body was compared to that of former Yankee Alfonso Soriano. Hechavarria is looking for a contract similar to the $8 million deal the Red Sox gave his countryman, Jose Iglesias, the Post reported. Hechavarria would face a challenge breaking into the Yankees middle infield with SS Derek Jeter likely to sign at least a four-year extension in the offseason and young star Robinson Cano at second base. But the potential of a decline in range for Jeter in his late 30s or Cano's trade value could keep some options open. --SS Derek Jeter was initially thought to be one of several Yankees to be hit with a flu bug, but he later said he thought his illness was related to food poisoning. Jeter missed some time, but the illness wasn't considered serious. BY THE NUMBERS: 10 -- Consecutive years new Yankees No. 4 starter Javier Vazquez has pitched at least 195 innings. QUOTE TO NOTE: "There's not too many people who can do that." -- Former Yankees and Red Sox OF Johnny Damon, on how he will wear his World Series rings from each club now that he's in Detroit.

INSIDE PITCH

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:09:17 GMT

Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes have commanded the most attention this spring, as usual, due to their high-profile battle for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, but the club's "other" pitchers vying for that spot as well as bullpen roles have given the Yankees a lot to feel good about one way or the other. If the team decides to go against its long-term plan of committing to one of its young stars as a starter this year, it knows Alfredo Aceves, Sergio Mitre and Chad Gaudin have each gotten off to solid starts this spring. If the Yankees stick to the more long-term friendly plan of grooming a potential stud starter, they at least know they have a potential star setup man in Dave Robertson. While talk of a Chamberlain-Hughes setup combination is tantalizing, Robertson opened eyes with his dominant performance in last year's postseason. The young pitcher reminded folks of Mariano Rivera's stunning arrival on the postseason scene back in 1995. While Robertson may not have the potential of the future Hall of Famer -- the Yankees' closer is too unique a talent to offer such comparisons -- he showed the same type of steely nerves during his inaugural postseason appearance. Robertson didn't allow a run in 5 1/3 innings and struck out three, escaping several pressure-packed jams, most notably a bases-loaded, no-one-out situation in the AL Division Series. So, while manager Joe Girardi said "any scenario is possible," the Yankees can feel good about most of them.

Spring Training Capsules

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:57:12 GMT

Sizing Up The Starting Pitchers - Part One

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:27:19 GMT

Ramirez near the top of the pack of AL shortstops

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:32:15 GMT

Where have all the great American League shortstops gone? Many such as Cal Ripken Jr., Tony Fernandez, Nomar Garciaparra and current White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen are retired. Others such as Alex Rodriguez, Michael Young and Miguel Tejada are playing out their careers at third base. And the best fielder of the bunch ? 11-time Gold Glove winner Omar Vizquel ? is now a 42-year-old utility man with the White Sox .

Pirates 10, Yankees 5

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:15:10 GMT

Jays GM won't deny interest in Cuban SS

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:53:05 GMT

Reliable Young eager to make postseason

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:44:33 GMT

Nine-year vet Michael Young has never played in a postseason game.