Lefty shopping?

Here’s Ken Davidoff (Newsday) on the Yankees’ needs

Clubland rip as they approach the trade deadline:

Bullpen continues to be their greatest concern, yet Phil Hughes, Phi l Coke and Alfredo Aceves have tempered those concerns. The bet here is that they’ll pick up Villone from Washington, to give themselves a second left-handed option.

Snow Dogs dvdrip

That’s right—Davidoff is referring to former Yankee Ron Villone, who he cites as someone that “won’t be phazed by a pennant race.” Villone has a nice ERA in Washington (2.78), but it’s based on a scoreless May. When you consider that he’s been terrible in June, posting a 6.52 ERA this month while walking 8 in just 9 2/3 IP, he doesn’t seem like he’ll be a very attractive pickup (he has actually been worse against lefties this year). It’s not like he was a good reliever last year either, as he was awful with the Cardinals.

Sure, Davidoff is just speculating here so there’s no need to worry about the Yankees dipping into the Nationals’ firesale, right? Well, the thing is, Girardi likes having two lefties in his bullpen and without Damaso Marte—there’s no word on when he’ll be back—I can see the Yankees acquiring another lefty (it may not be Villone, of course) before the deadline. However, I don’t think it’s at all necessary, though, especially since all of the team’s relievers outside of Phil Hughes have been dominant against lefties this year.