The Orioles and Cubs had scouts at Yankee Stadium last night, fueling speculation the Yankees have an interest in left-handed relievers Mike Gonzalez of Baltimore and John Grabow of Chicago. And although the White Sox weren’t present, they are listening to offers on Wil Ohman, as are the Marlins on Randy Choate.
The Yankees have been coy about their interest in a lefty reliever, but other organizations don’t believe the Bombers can solely trust Boone Logan as the only lefty in the bullpen.
Gonzalez hasn’t pitched well (42 hits in 35 IP; 5.66 ERA) for the Orioles, but going into last night’s action, lefty hitters were batting .229 (16-for-70) against the 33-year-old, who is making $6 million and whose contract is up at the end of the year.
Grabow, 32, also has struggled, giving up 48 hits in 43 1/3 innings and posting a 5.19 ERA. However, lefties are hitting .238 (15-for-63) against him. He is making $4.8 million and not signed past this year.
Ohman, 33, is having a solid season (3.60 ERA) and has held lefty swingers to a .204 (11-for-54) average. The Yankees would like to stay away from contracts that spill into next year and Ohman’s does, even if it’s not exorbitant. He makes $1.5 million this year and is owed $2.5 million next season.
The Yankees could avoid dealing for a lefty and instead promote J.C. Romero from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. In six games, Romero has fanned 12 and walked three in 7 1/3 innings.
Damaso Marte is on the disabled list and there is a small chance he could be ready by the end of the season but nobody is counting on that since Marte hasn’t pitched all year due to off-season shoulder surgery.
*
According to a report, Dodgers starter Hiroki Kuroda
would waive his no-trade in order to be dealt to the Yankees or Red Sox. However, the Dodgers hadn’t been told that by the pitcher as of last night.
Kuroda, 36, is 6-12 but has a 3.19 ERA working for the punchless Dodgers. He makes $12 million and not signed for next season.
The Mariners have let be known they will listen on lefty starter Doug Fister
, who faces the Yankees tonight. Fister is 3-11 but has a 3.30 ERA working in front of an anemic lineup. Tigers have an interest.
*
Rafael Soriano
made his fourth minor league rehab appearance for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last night and told reporters he was bound for The Bronx after working a perfect inning, striking out one. Soriano hasn’t pitched since mid-May due to right elbow inflammation.
“I would expect to see him [today],” manager Joe Girardi
said. “He has thrown two days in a row so he won’t be available to us. We will make a decision Wednesday.”
Considering how well David Robertson
has pitched since taking over the eighth-inning role after Soriano and Joba Chamberlain
were injured, the Yankees would be dancing with danger if they hand the eighth-inning job back to Soriano, who has easily been the biggest disappointment of the year after signing a three-year, $35 million contract.
Soriano, who admitted earlier in the year it was an adjustment to working the eighth instead of the ninth like he did a year ago with Tampa Bay, said last night it doesn’t matter where he is used when activated.
“I don’t think you have to have anything nailed down,” Girardi said. “The important thing is when you can get all your guys back that’s great and that helps your bullpen. But as far as having what a guy’s role is, I don’t think you have to have that knocked down any time soon.”
Girardi said.
*
Ivan Nova
pitched a simulated game at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre yesterday and is on track to start one of the two games against the Orioles on Saturday.
Nova won four straight but was sent out to make room for Phil Hughes
. Nova left a game last week with a foot problem and was put on the seven-day disabled list.
*
Eric Chavez
went on the DL with a fractured foot, but was forced to remain there due to kidney stones and a mysterious back injury.
“I don’t know,” Chavez said when asked exactly what the back discomfort was. “It was the same timing as the kidney stones. I don’t know if that caused it. Everything is fine with that.”
Considering Chavez has missed huge chunks of time due to back problems, retiring entered his mind at the beginning of the back trouble. However, he recovered and is expected to be activated today. Chavez has been out since May 6.
“I will hold my breath for the next two months,” said Chavez, who batted .303 (10-for-33) in 17 games.
Chavez provides a left-handed bat off the bench and the ability to play third and first. Brandon Laird
will likely be sent back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to make room for Chavez.
*
Ewing, N.J., native Steve Garrison
made his major league debut last night. The lefty retired the final two batters in the Yankees’ 10-3 win.
“It was definitely a cool feeling,” Garrison, a minor league starter, said of the jog in from the bullpen in the ninth. “It’s something I would do again if they want to.”
Garrison was given the lineup card by Girardi.
*
Girardi said he believes the shelling Hughes absorbed Friday night from the Athletics wasn’t a precursor of things to come.
“He’s going to pitch on Wednesday so we are relying on him right now,” Girardi said. “So I’m looking for him to go out and throw the ball the way he’s capable of on Wednesday and hoping that Friday was just a little blip on the screen.”
Hughes, who made progress in his second start since coming off the DL in Toronto, couldn’t get through the fifth inning and qualify for a victory in a game the Yankees won 17-7. He allowed seven runs and nine hits, walked four and hit a batter.