Rays sign Manny, Damon

Via MLBTR: The Rays have agreed to terms with both Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez, tweets Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated.  The deals are pending physicals.  Damon’s deal is worth $5.25MM plus a potential $750K in bonus money based on attendance.  Ramirez’s deal is worth $2MM.  (Twitter link)  Both players are represented by Scott Boras. [...]

Yanks get Berkman (it’s official)

Here’s the press release via LoHud: The New York Yankees today acquired first baseman/designated hitter Lance Berkman and cash considerations from the Houston Astros in exchange for right-handed pitcher Mark Melancon and minor league infielder Jimmy Paredes. Berkman, 34, batted .245 (73-for-298) with 39 runs, 16 doubles, 13 home runs and 49 RBI in 85 [...]

Kearns to platoon with Granderson? Goodbye Thames?

Via Ben Shpigel of the NY Times: Kearns should start versus left-handers over Curtis Granderson, who has not overcome his struggles against them. That has been a rare weak link in the Yankees’ lineup, and Marcus Thames’s outfield deficiencies created the need for a right-handed hitter who plays better defense. On days Kearns starts, he [...]

Quick Bits: Recap, Posada, Aceves, Sanit, Swisher

Here are a few quick, yet noteworthy, news items on the day: Thanks to both Phil Hughes and Robinson Cano, the Yankees beat Cleveland last night, 8-2. Good news on Jorge Posada–he has been cleared to start motion exercises by Dr. Ahmad. Not so good news on Alfredo Aceves–he had his second epidural of the season yesterday. [...]

CC spots mechanical flaw

Via George King of the NY Post: Dave Eiland and CC Sabathia believe the pitching coach has spotted the reason Sabathia was ineffective Sunday night against the Mets at Citi Field. After watching video of the start in which Eiland was away from the team for his daughter’s confirmation in Florida, Eiland spotted a mechanical [...]

G36: Yankees VS Twins

Here are the lineups for today: YANKEES (23-12) Derek Jeter SS Nick Swisher RF Mark Teixeira 1B Alex Rodriguez 3B Robinson Cano 2B Jorge Posada DH Marcus Thames LF Francisco Cervelli C Brett Gardner CF PITCHING: LHP Andy Pettitte (4-0, 2.08) TWINS (22-13) Denard Span CF Orlando Hudson 2B Joe Mauer DH Justin Morneau 1B [...]

To Teixeira, away, away, away

Prior to last night’s game, on the season, Mark Teixeira has hit .119/.280/.254. Against right-handers, Teixeira has hit .109/.281/.217. Here’s pitchFX data of those 46 at-bats. Teixeira is a switch-hitter, so notice how most pitches have been away. He hasn’t hit those pitches, obviously. Against left-handers, Teixeira has hit .143/.280/.333. Here’s pitchFX data of those [...]

Please, no more Marcus Thames in LF

Here’s a bit I wrote a few weeks ago with regards to Marcus Thames: This season, as a left fielder, the 33-year old is projected to be 11 runs below average over 150 defensive games. He would cost a win, essentially. Of course, in a platoon with Brett Gardner, Thames’ time in the field would [...]

Defense an issue with Gardner-Thames platoon

With Marcus Thames on the Yankees’ bench to start the season, despite a dreadful spring in which the 33-year old outfielder hit a dreadful .135/.182/.269 while striking out a team-leading 21 times, many were left wondering what role he would play. Would he be a late-inning pinch-hitter used only against left-handers, where his strong career [...]

Yanks claim Chad Huffman

From Bryan Hoch’s Bombers Beat Blog: The Yankees have claimed first baseman-outfielder Chad Huffman on waivers from the Padres, and will assign him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman confirmed the move on Wednesday. San Diego had  designated Huffman for assignment on Sunday in order to make room on their roster for Matt [...]

A Gardner-Thames platoon in LF?

Yesterday, when asked whether or not the remarkably gritty Brett Gardner would be in left field tomorrow, at Fenway Park, with the left-handed Jon Lester on the mound, manager Joe Girardi refused to commit to any configuration in particular, noting that the team would have a lineup ready just prior to the game. In view [...]

Thames will need to prove his worth all season

This spring, over 42 at-bats, Marcus Thames, the right-handed, power-hitting outfielder the Yankees signed to a minor-league deal for a base salary of $900k, is hitting a mere .143/.200/.286, while leading the club with 17 strikeouts. Now, spring statistics are generally hollow numbers, however, in some instances, particularly when a player is signed to a [...]

Expect Marcus Thames to make the team

According to George King III of the NY Post, despite Marcus Thames‘ poor showing this spring – he is hitting just .107/.167/107 over 11 games (with 11 strikeouts) – Yankee fans should expect the non-roster invitee to be on the team come opening day. “When the Yankees inked [him] to a minor league contract,” writes [...]

Melancon waits for an opportunity

Right-handed relief prospect, Mark Melancon, previously hailed as Mariano Rivera’s successor because of his live heater and hard curve, tossed 16 1/3 innings last season posting a 3.86 ERA. A closer look at his numbers indicates a much weaker performance than his ERA suggests, however, as Melancon walked 5.51 batters per nine and only struck [...]

Park scratched with “sore glute”

According to Sam Borden of the LoHud Yankees Blog, today, right-handed reliever, Chan Ho Park, was set to throw live batting batting for the first time this spring, however, his session has been canceled due to what Joe Girardi referred to as a “sore glut.” The “injury” occurred while Park was running and is considered [...]

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