ST. PETERSBURG–According to a Latin America talent evaluator, 16-year-old Luis Torrens, whom the Yankees signed to a $1.3 million deal yesterday, is a better catching prospect than Gary Sanchez and Jesus Montero when they were 16.
“He is the premier prospect in Latin America, better than Sanchez and Montero,’’ the evaluator said of Torrens, a native of Venezuela.
Other scouts like Torrens but weren’t ready to go that far.
“He was a third baseman who has become a catcher who will hit for a high average rather than a lot of power,’’ a scout said. “He is pretty raw back there but is a smart kid who will figure it out. We thought more than $1 million was too much for a kid who … hasn’t played much catcher.’’
Hours after taking eight stitches in his lower lip, getting tooth fragments extracted from the lip and being cleared by a neurologist to play, Raul Ibanez flew from New York to Florida yesterday and grounded out as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning of a 4-3 loss to the Rays.
“I lost half a tooth and it stayed inside my lip,’’ said Ibanez, who hit his face on a metal railing getting out of the way of a foul ball Sunday in the Yankee Stadium dugout. “I should have taken the ball.’’
“He stayed in New York to get stitches and tooth fragments removed from lip and be certain there was no concussion,’’ general manager Brian Cashman said.
CC Sabathia, on the 15-day disabled list with a groin strain, played catch and said he felt good enough to repeat the exercise today and possibly throw a bullpen session tomorrow. Originally, Sabathia said the session was slated for Friday.. … Russell Martin, without a hit in 19 at-bats and in a 4-for-46 slide, was on the bench last night. Chris Stewart caught and went 1-for-2 with a walk. Dewayne Wise made the final out of the game pinch-hitting for Stewart.
Chad Qualls joined the Yankees yesterday and immediately lost his goatee to adhere to the team’s rule against facial hair below the upper lip.
Acquired from the Phillies on Sunday, Qualls is a right-handed reliever with a history of success against righties. He was 1-1 with a 4.60 ERA in 35 games for the Phillies and retired both batters he faced last night in his Yankees debut.
“I’ve been around for a little while so I know I can come in and get key outs in crucial situations and help get the ball to [Rafael] Soriano in the ninth,” said the 33-year-old. “I’m going to come in here and just throw wherever [manager] Joe [Girardi] wants me to throw.”
How tough were things in Philadelphia?
“Obviously it’s an organization that wants to win. They were hit by a lot of injuries and didn’t want to try and use that as an excuse, but the losing was getting to everybody. It just kept getting tougher and tougher over there. I wish them the best. I’m just glad I can move on to a better situation.’’
Qualls, on whose arrival Cory Wade was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, said hewasn’t aware of the facial-hair regulations.
“I didn’t realize it, I was talking and said, ‘I’ve got to shave my face.’ I guess I will learn all the rules on the fly,” Qualls said. “It’s only facial hair. I’m not too worried about it. My wife has probably only seen me shaved twice. I think the first time she told me, ‘Don’t ever do it again.’ She is going to have to bear with it on this one.”
Girardi told struggling reliever Wade to go to Triple-A, get his stuff together and that the club expects to see the righty at some point this season.
“His location got out of whack,’’ Girardi said of Wade, who pitched very well in April and May but struggled in June. “He will get back and help us at some point.’’