ANAHEIM, Calif. — The most significant part of signing Rafael Soriano was the $35 million it took. Yet that three-year deal wasn’t the only price tag the Yankees paid for the injured reliever who is on the early path to being a bust.
Until they inked the free-agent right-hander, the Yankees had the 31st pick in tonight’s MLB draft. But they forfeited that to Tampa Bay and will have to wait until the 51st spot to make their initial selection.
“We will try to find the best available guy we can,” amateur scouting director Damon Oppenheimer said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s high school or college.”
The Yankees rarely pick high in the first round, and according to Oppenheimer it’s more challenging the lower you go.
“It’s a lot harder,” Oppenheimer said of waiting until the 51st pick. “When you pick higher. you can center in on a guys and get multiple looks. Now, with all the supplemental picks, you don’t have a clue what [other teams] will do.”
Long before the Yankees pick, they will see one of their former first-round selections taken and possibly by the Pirates with the first choice.
Gerrit Cole was a California high school pitcher in 2008 and the Yankees took him with the 28th pick. But Cole and the Yankees didn’t agree on a deal and the right-hander went to UCLA.
***Derek Jeter, who went 1-for-5, needs 14 hits to reach 3,000 and there is possibility Jeter will reach it during the upcoming 10-game homestand that brings the Red Sox, Indians and Rangers to The Bronx.
“As a club and the fans, you get excited,” manager Joe Girardi said. “You would love to see him do it at home.”
Jeter is averaging a tad over one hit per game so that will have to improve if he is yo reach 3,000 on this homestand.
***Phil Hughes reported no problems with his right shoulder yesterday, one day after throwing a 22-pitch batting practice session.
Hughes will fly to Tampa today and will throw a bullpen session and then a simulated game later this week. If all that goes well, he could make a minor league rehab start for the GCL Tampa team next week.
***Girardi announced he will start Freddy Garcia tomorrow, A.J. Burnett on Wednesday and CC Sabathia on Thursday against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.
In a regular turn, Thursday would be Ivan Nova‘s turn, but today’s day off means Sabathia will be pitching on regular four days’ rest.
Nova will start Friday against the Indians and be followed by Bartolo Colon, who will pitch with an extra day of rest.
***With a day off today, Girardi figured he could provide Russell Martin with two days of rest by catching Francisco Cervelli yesterday.
“[Martin] is going to catch plenty as we move forward,” Girardi said.
***Jorge Posada made a baserunning mistake in the fourth inning that he was fortunate didn’t cost the Yankees a win.
Posada ripped an opposite-field double into the left-field corner and as he neared second he saw the Angels lining up to throw to third. Then he saw left fielder Howie Kendrick‘s throw going to second and decided to try for third. However, first baseman Mark Trumbo trailed Posada to second, took the throw and threw to third baseman Alberto Callaspo and Posada was an easy ouy.
“I don’t know, to be honest,” Girardi said of the blunder. “He hit a double and the next thing I know he is in a rundown. I asked, ‘What happened?’ I didn’t see the play, I assumed it was a double.”