Robinson Cano, Brian Bruney, David Robertson and Mark Melancon cleared waivers yesterday when the Yankees put another batch of players on trade waivers.
Included in yesterday’s group was last night’s starter A.J. Burnett, Melky Cabrera, Alfredo Aceves, Phil Coke, Sergio Mitre, Edwar Ramirez and Shelley Duncan. They have until Monday to clear.
The fact that players clear or are put on trade waivers isn’t an indication they will be moved. Most times it’s a procedure clubs go through to gauge interest in their players and see if they are able to trade them later should another team have something they want.
In order for a player to be dealt after July 31 he has to clear waivers.
The Yankees certainly aren’t going to move Burnett — who pitched 7 2/3 innings while striking out and walking six during the Yankees’ 2-0, 15-inning victory over the Red Sox last night at the Stadium — Cano, Cabrera, Aceves or Coke in the middle of a pennant race. Melancon and Robertson are arms they believe will develop into bullpen parts.
Bruney, who pitched two scoreless innings and struck out two last night, could be used as a trading chip before Aug. 31. To be eligible for the postseason a player has to be in the organization before Aug. 31.
Two stints on the disabled list cost Bruney his eighth-inning setup role, and he has pitched twice since July 26. He and the club insist his powerful right arm is healthy and that could make the right-hander attractive.
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The Yankees don’t have an interest in Dancing Bear II.
Jason Giambi, who was let go by the Athletics yesterday, isn’t a player the Yankees want to bring back according to a club source.
Several sources said Giambi is drawing “interest from several teams” and expects to continue playing.
Giambi hit .193 in his second tour with the A’s and has been on the disabled list since July 20 with a strained right quadriceps.
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Utility man Ramiro Pena, who pinch ran for Jorge Posada last night but did not get an at-bat, was promoted from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre yesterday when the Yankees sent out right-handed reliever Anthony Claggett.
Pena, an infielder, was sent to SWB on July 1 and played several games in the outfield.
Asked if he could help the Yankees in the outfield, Pena smiled and said: “I think so.”
In 46 big league games the switch-hitter batted .267.
Claggett pitched an inning Thursday night, allowing two runs in his second big league appearance.
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Yankees will need a roster spot tomorrow when pitcher Chad Gaudin is expected to be activated. Acquired from San Diego Thursday, the right-hander will begin in the bullpen. Because manager Joe Girardi said he will not go with 13 pitchers, it’s between David Robertson and Mark Melancon who gets sent out.
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Melky Cabrera took Brett Gardner’s center field job early in the season but still had Gardner around to fill in. So when Gardner went on the disabled list with a fractured left thumb the question was how would Cabrera handle playing every day.
The answer is very well.
Going into last night’s action Cabrera was batting .292 (12-for-41) since Gardner went down on July 25.
“Melky has stepped up for us,” manager Joe Girardi said. “Before we had a rotation and we could spell guys. Now he has stepped up and hasn’t had a day off. He has done as much as you can do as a player.”
A year ago the Yankees sent Cabrera to SWB and Girardi said it served as a wakeup call.
“Sometimes that tap on the shoulder hurts a lot,” Girardi said. “It can be an extremely motivating factor. It’s a different life in New York rather than Scranton.”
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Jason Bay (right hamstring) said he doesn’t expect to be out too much longer.
“It definitely could be a couple of days, I don’t see it much longer than that,” the Red Sox left fielder said.
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Tim Wakefield (lower back strain) is scheduled to throw a simulated game Monday.
Red Sox designated pitchers John Smoltz and Billy Traber for assignment yesterday. They claimed infielder Chris Woodward on waivers from Seattle and promoted pitcher Junichi Tazawa from the minors.
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