MLB

Yankees to scout Cuban outfielder in Miami

The Yankees will be represented Saturday morning at Alex Rodriguez Stadium on the campus of University of Miami when Cuban defector Rusney Castillo will work out for a bevy of major league teams.

Castillo, 27, has been cleared by MLB to sign with clubs and plenty are interested in the outfielder who has been compared to Rangers center fielder Leonys Martin and White Sox outfielder Dayan Viciedo, each Cuban defectors.

“He reminds me of Viciedo, not with the power, but with the way he plays and he has very good speed,’’ a talent evaluator said of Castillo, a 5-foot-9, right-handed hitter. “He is not [Yasiel] Puig. Some teams think he is a fourth outfielder but others believe he can be more.’’

It’s believed following Saturday’s showcase event the Roc Nation Sports client will begin accepting bids from teams and Castillo could sign shortly after the bids are in. There are no dollar limits on free agents out of Cuba like there are in Latin America and attached to players eligible for the MLB draft.

What will it cost to sign Castillo? Puig received a seven-year deal for $42 million from the Dodgers and Martin got five years for $15.5 million from Texas.


Yankees assistant general manager Billy Eppler interviewed Wednesday for a second time with the Padres, who are looking for a GM. San Diego hopes to have a GM hired sometime next month.


CC Sabathia was scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in Los Angeles. As of Wednesday afternoon, manager Joe Girardi had not been briefed on the procedure.

“I guess the surgery went well,’’ manager Joe Girardi said after a 2-1, rain-shortened win over the Rangers. “I don’t know if we will see him. He isn’t allowed to travel for a few days.’’


Girardi said he doesn’t expect updates on Masahiro Tanaka’s right elbow for a while.

“There won’t be for two more weeks,’’ Girardi said. “He said he feels better but I don’t think you really know how he is doing until you get him on a mound.’’

Tanaka is attempting to rehab a small tear in his ulnar collateral ligament and hoping to avoid having Tommy John surgery, which would put him out from 12-to-18 months.


According to Girardi, Michael Pineda threw batting practice Sunday and is scheduled to throw a simulated game Thursday in which the right-hander will throw two innings or 30 pitches. Pineda hasn’t pitched in the majors since late April because of a 10-game suspension for using pine tar and a terres major (back) injury that required surgery.