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Mike Silva spoke to Chad Jennings last night, and Jennings suggested that the Chan-Ho Park addition could result in Alfredo Aceves beginning the year in the minors. Here’s how:
Rivera, Robertson, Marte, Joba/Hughes, and Park. I would put Aceves as a lock, but what if Melancon or Albaladejo have a great spring? Don’t forget Chad Gaudin who the Yankees brass likes. The Yankees rotation is going to give length on most nights and Park is someone that could go 2 innings plus, if necessary. Last year he was called on for two or more innings eleven times by Charlie Manuel.
Another thing going against Aceves is the fact that he has options. Gaudin will need to clear waivers if he is demoted. Knowing the state of pitching in the game it’s hard to imagine another team not claiming him if he has a good spring. Aceves might very well become a victim of the numbers game.
Basically, the idea is that Park might make carrying Aceves and Gaudin redundant, such that the club would be inclined to take a one inning type reliever such as Melancon rather than both Aceves and Gaudin. Being that Aceves has options and the others do not, he would be the odd man out.
The one thing that bothers me about this idea is that I’m not so sure Melancon or Albaladejo are better one inning relievers than Aceves at this point. If Aceves only provided flexibility over the one inning type options, I would understand giving that up for better performance due to the flexibility of the other Yankee relievers. But if the Yankees believe that Aceves is the better pitcher, he should not be sent down simply because his greatest attribute is something that the Yankees have plenty of. Hopefully, the Yankees take their seven best bullpen arms north.
What do you think? Is there a scenario under which you would send Aceves to AAA?
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10 Responses to Is Aceves Ticketed For The Minors?
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I think you send the loser of the Joba/Hughes competition down. That way you can go with a bullpen of Mo, Robertson, Marte, Aceves, Gaudin and Park and then keep Mitre around if he seems like he might actually have something in the tank. Otherwise, maybe Melancon or Romulo Sanchez might look really good and deserve a shot.
I think your right on whether the loser of the Joba/Hughes battle should be sent to triple A along with Mitre. Mitre is awful and Aceves is much much better and was an important part of the team last year in the bridge to Mo. Mo, Robertson, Marte, Aceves, Gaudin and Park is the ideal bullpen as you stated.
Mitre is out of options though, if he’s decent in spring training, they’ll keep him around for a bit
Mitre should be shot and then released. He has no redeeming value.
I don’t see how/why they would send Aceves to the minors. He was invaluable last year playing caddy to Joba and picking up 2-3 innings at a time to save the rest of the bullpen and keeping the Yankees in the game providing a chance for the offense to comeback several times. Assuming everyone is healthy (which is a big if), I could see Mitre agreeing to pitching in AAA and/or trading him to a team looking for SP depth. Frankly, I don’t understand the love affair with Mitre….other than that one great game against the White Sox, he was horrendous. Melancon and Albaladejo (who I don’t particularly care for) would be the first 2 in the pecking order for call up.
I don’t have *too* much of a problem seeing him sent to the minors. He’s far enough down in the depth chart that it wouldn’t be a tremendous loss to the team, and it could mean keeping Gaudin, which is awesome. Depth doesn’t suck, even if it sucks for Aceves.
That said, I’ll be pissed if Mitre makes the team over him. If the Yankees go with 7 relievers, which they probably will, its really a Mitre/Gaudin/Aceves debate, with Hughes or Joba with outside chances.
The nice thing about Melancon? He’s got options too. I don’t see him coming up right away, as much as I would like to.
There is zero chance Aceves will go to the minors, unless he’s crazy terrible in spring training.
Mitre and Gaudin wouldl be traded or cut first IMO.
Neither Hughes not Joba is going to the minors either.
No way.
Both are better pitchers than Mitre and probably Gaudin and Park.
YAnkees would never ruin two guys that valuable in the pen in Hughes & Joba if neither grabs the #5 starter role.
Didn’t Aceves win 10 games for the Yankees last Year? Good -Bye Chad Gaudin!!
I agree that neither Joba or Phranchise are going back to AAA unless they’re horrible in ST.
I hope they don’t keep Mitre over anybody.
I don’t get the Melancon deal. Not very long ago he was being touted as Mo’s eventual successor. Now he can’t even make the 25-man?
Don’t sleep on Melancon. Remember that David Robertson was in the minors to start the year last year and made a huge contribution. Girardi knows how to develop relievers over the course of a season. Its his best attribute as a manager.