- Despite what we’ve heard regarding Hiroki Kuroda being unwilling to waive his no-trade clause to come to the east coast, MLBTR reports that the Yankees are still among the teams pursuing him. As many have noted, Kuroda is likely the best starter available on a rather thin trading market.
- Good news on the injury front: Eric Chavez is expected to be activated on Tuesday, and if he can actually stay on the field his 124 wRC+ bat would be a huge boost to the Yankee bench. Rafael Soriano is also expected to return on either Wednesday or Thursday. If Soriano can get back to his normal self he’ll essentially function as the bullpen trade deadline acquisition the team has been trying to make. [via RAB]
- More good news on the injury front: Brian Cashman expects Alex Rodriguez to return to the lineup during the second week of August. As many have noted — myself included — the Yankee offense has taken a pretty substantial hit in the aftermath of losing its cleanup hitter, and so Alex’s return really can’t come soon enough. [via BBD]
- In extremely exciting news, Scranton starter Adam Warren is preparing to make his Major League debut this Saturday, starting one of the two games the Yankees play against the O’s in a day-night doubleheader. Many have been clamoring for Warren — who zipped up the Yankees’ top prospect list this past winter after an excellent 2010 campaign at AA — to get a chance to start, and it’ll be fascinating to see how Warren – who has posted a 3.26 ERA/3.80 FIP in 110.1 AAA innings this season, along with a 6.04 K/9 and 3.18 BB/9 — performs in the biggest outing of his life. As you’ll recall, the last Yankee to make his first career start in pinstripes was Ivan Nova last summer, and that went reasonably well. [RAB]
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10 Responses to Yankee News and Notes: Kuroda, Chavez, Soriano, A-Rod, Warren
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FYI — a quick thank-you to Twitter friends @zs190, @firstheart42 and @sherripizza for the heads-up that Joel Sherman apparently Tweeted that Ivan Nova may be able to pitch the Saturday game — if so, Adam Warren’s MLB debut will obviously have to wait a little bit longer.
I hop that once Chavez comes up, they let him start at third against right handed pitching and Laird against lefties and send Nunez down. It seems like Nunez has much more of a future with the team (for better or worse) and I think he needs to do more work on his fielding and his plate approach in a pressure-free setting.
But that would take ABs away from Doug Bernier.
HOW DARE THEY?!
I wonder if Nunez would be better off as an OFr? He does have a strong arm although he tends to miss his target now and then.
His bat prevents that. At short his bat is at least representable, in the outfield it’s not good enough to get on the field.
‘Surprised the Yanks and Os didn’t want a Labor Day doubleheader ($$$$$). My guess is the Yanks didn’t want to play three doubleheaders in September as they already have two scheduled then.
Bench Posada, make Chavez the DH, and keep starting Laird at 3B. Over time Chavez can make some starts at 3B.
Buster Olney seems to think the Yankees are a likely destination for Carlos Pena, on essentially a salary dump. His swing fits in really well with Yankee Stadium, but you have to wonder what then happens to Posada. Jorge’s not been contributing outside of one hot season, but if you replace him full time is he going to cause a problem? If you believe the reports he was upset enough to demand a trade/release for being dropped to the 9 hole. You almost have to wonder if it would be better to DFA him altogether at that point. As a bench player he isn’t of much use, and if he is going to be disgruntled I would rather he not be in the clubhouse dampening the mood of other players.
If we are going for a DH I would rather see it be a right handed bat honestly. We are a lefty heavy team, and with Alex out it’s even more glaring how little production we have from right handed bats. The best bat available would probably be Carlos Quentin. I’m not sure the cost, but at the right price it would certainly be worth it to bringing in Quentin and Thornton, or Quentin and Edwin Jackson. Carlos is under contract through 2013 I believe, so bringing in Quentin probably means they go with him in RF starting next season, and they reject Swisher’s 2012 option.
Pena would be interesting, but he’s definitely a little redundant with Posada. I’m not sure if they’d have room on the roster for both (plus Montero, if he is up in the next few weeks), and I don’t see any non-messy way of giving Posada’s spot up.
I’d be down with Pena, who I’d mentioned as a potential acquisition a few weeks ago. He’s slumping a bit, but he always rakes at YS and at this point anyone’s better than Jorge.