Luis Ayala is still looking for a job. This time last year, the Yankees signed Ayala to a minor league contract after a roughly half a decade of ineffectiveness. He pitched his way on to the roster and stuck there for the entire year. He pitched 56 innings with an ERA of 2.09, a K/9 of 6.3 and a BB/9 of 3.3. According to MLBTR’s Ben Nicholson-Smith, the Yankees are interested in bringing him back.
I think Joe Girardi’s preferences are informative here. Despite a low ERA all season, he was very slow to use Luis Ayala in key situations. 68% of Ayala’s plate appearances against were in low leverage situations. His poor walk and strikeout rate show us why – he just didn’t have good inputs. Ayala put a lot of baserunners on and got lucky. He might not be a terrible reliever, but he certainly isn’t the kind of guy who’s a good bet to put up anything close to a 2.09 ERA in 2012.
Stay away from him. I wouldn’t even sign Ayala to a minimum salary deal. The Yankees have the benefit of guys like George Kontos, D.J. Mitchell, Pat Venditte, Chase Whitley, and others sitting around in the high minor leagues. These guys are not only in some ways better bets than Ayala, but have the benefit of having options. If the Yankees need a fresh arm or the pitcher isn’t working out, they can exchange him for another. That kind of flexibility is a real asset, and one that won’t really be in supply on the 25-man very much next season.
Sure, the Yankees could just release Ayala if they wanted to get rid of him, but that’s a harder option to exercise. I don’t think there’s any real reward that Ayala offers to justify the risk. We shouldn’t get overly excited about 56 low-leverage innings for a pitcher previously thought to be washed up, especially with plenty of present alternatives.
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5 Responses to Stay Away from Luis Ayala
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TIQ IQ
A-f’ing-men to this. Not having Ayala around again would free up some of those pesky late innings in ALDS games for guys like Robertson and Mo to pitch.
The Yankees need a long man. Ayala, as he was used, doesn’t fit that role. Use the young guys and keep them around as long as their hot. When they cool off, send them back to AAA and call up the next young arm. Rinse and repeat.
Ayala was fine last year. Let’s just keep our memories of him.
I think you guys are being a little flip. He is a crafty pitcher that, from Brad, I take was used in a bit too high leverage situation. I seem to share the emotion, think I recall.
I was too flip on Luis midseason (called him “Bennie”), but started to watch what he did. Nice slider, think he also pitched on the righties’ hands effectively. I like a story where the guy sucked for a long time, but learned how he could pitch, and make his stuff work.
You’re right Joe used him in low leverage situations, which probably explains our moods when we viewed him. But I’d ask Joe how valuable competence is, when you need to spare Robertson or Mo.
He might rather keep a pretty confident innings eater.
Oh I’d love to see Pat Venditte in the majors.
Me too.