Getting Help for Bullpen Moves to Yankees’ Front Burner
By TYLER KEPNER
Published: December 7, 2007
NASHVILLE, Dec. 6 — The Yankees left the winter meetings Thursday with one new relief pitcher and a lot of public optimism about their pitching prospects. But young starters need to be supported by strong relievers, and the Yankees’ bullpen is a free-for-all before closer Mariano Rivera.
“It’s a work in progress right now,” General Manager Brian Cashman said. “It’s an area of weakness we need to focus on. No matter how we address it, we’ll have to see how it plays out in February.”
The Yankees have had trade talks for relievers, Cashman said, but the free-agent market is unappealing. Cashman said he was he skeptical about any trades being completed.
The San Francisco Giants are interested in left fielder Hideki Matsui, but the Yankees do not believe they could get one of the Giants’ top young starters, Matt Cain or Tim Lincecum, for him. If the sides become serious about a trade, the Yankees could seek relievers like Jonathan Sánchez, Brian Wilson or Kevin Correia.
Internally, the Yankees believe the minor league starters Alan Horne and Daniel McCutchen can make an immediate impact in their bullpen, as Joba Chamberlain and Ross Ohlendorf did last season. Relievers J. B. Cox and Mark Melancon are recovering from elbow injuries, but could be major factors by midseason.
“We’ve got some pitchers we think are going to be really good relievers, top-notch types,” said Hank Steinbrenner, the Yankees’ senior vice president. “We don’t know when they’ll be ready, but we’ve got a great future with our bullpen.”
The Yankees have splurged on veteran free agents in recent years, only to learn expensive lessons about the unpredictability of relievers. Tom Gordon succeeded, but injuries doomed Steve Karsay, and Kyle Farnsworth has regressed. Other free agents, like Chris Hammond, Mike Myers and Paul Quantrill, finished their contracts elsewhere.
“Definitely, the bullpen is a volatile situation, especially when you’re in the American League East,” Cashman said. “It makes it that much more volatile with the lineups in our league now. Ultimately, my job is to get as many quality candidates for Joe Girardi to utilize. We’re still sifting through that.”
Cashman said he wanted to add more reliable relievers to keep the bullpen from becoming a giant experiment in front of Rivera. Whatever happens, he said, some spots will be up for grabs in spring training.
The salaries of veteran relievers are soaring, and the available candidates — LaTroy Hawkins, Ron Mahay, Trever Miller — may not be worth hefty salaries. The Yankees have checked in on those relievers, but there are no indications they have made offers.
Cashman did acquire the right-handed reliever Jonathan Albaladejo from Washington for starter Tyler Clippard at the meetings. The Pittsburgh Pirates have the left-handers John Grabow and Dámaso Marte, who are also possibilities.
“We have some things that might have some legs to them,” Cashman said. “Whether they ever get completed, I can’t predict. But they’re small in nature.”
Albaladejo, who pitched 14 games last September, joins a pool of right-handers that also includes Chris Britton, Brian Bruney and José Veras, who has pitched well in the Dominican winter league. The Yankees could use more certainty to back up a rotation that will include at least two inexperienced pitchers, unless they reverse course and resume their pursuit of Johan Santana.
Chamberlain worked 112 1/3 innings last season (including the minor leagues), with Phil Hughes working 110 1/3 and Ian Kennedy 165 1/3. A starter who works a full major league season (33 starts) and averages six innings a start would throw 198 innings.
It is unlikely the Yankees would ask Chamberlain or Hughes, especially, to pile up that many innings next season. Cashman would not publicize the specific limits, but he said, “We will protect their innings.”
Steinbrenner has often pointed to the success of the 2006 Detroit Tigers and the 2003 Florida Marlins, teams that defeated the Yankees in October with a stable of young pitchers. Tigers Manager Jim Leyland said it was not much of a challenge to handle a young staff.
“Not if they’re talented enough,” Leyland said. “I’ll take talent every time. You have to be aware of the workload for all of your pitchers, the younger ones and the older ones. You can’t manage defensively.”
Chicago Cubs Manager Lou Piniella has been accused of impatience with some young pitchers. But others have thrived under him.
“As long as they’re not intimidated and as long as they compete, you can win with young pitching, especially if you have a nice, veteran bullpen to go along with it,” Piniella said. “I like the idea of good, young starters, I really do.”
So do the Yankees, who have staked their future on the concept. They are still working on forming that nice, veteran bullpen.
INSIDE PITCH
The Yankees lost a Class AA reliever, Michael Gardner, to San Diego in the Rule 5 draft, while gaining a Class AA reliever, Bo Hall, from Milwaukee. Brian Cashman said he expected to lose Eric Duncan, the 2003 first-round pick who hit .241 with 11 home runs in Class AAA last season, but Duncan was not chosen. ... The Yankees will probably drop Carl Pavano from their 40-man roster soon, because they will need spots when they finish new deals for Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera and Alex Rodriguez. Pavano is progressing slowly in his recovery from elbow surgery and has parted ways with Gregg Clifton, the third agent to represent him in his career.
News source：
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/07/sports/baseball/07yankees.html?ref=baseball
NASHVILLE, Dec. 6 — The Yankees left the winter meetings Thursday with one new relief pitcher and a lot of public optimism about their pitching prospects. But young starters need to be supported by strong relievers, and the Yankees’ bullpen is a free-for-all before closer Mariano Rivera.
“It’s a work in progress right now,” General Manager Brian Cashman said. “It’s an area of weakness we need to focus on. No matter how we address it, we’ll have to see how it plays out in February.”
The Yankees have had trade talks for relievers, Cashman said, but the free-agent market is unappealing. Cashman said he was he skeptical about any trades being completed.
The San Francisco Giants are interested in left fielder Hideki Matsui, but the Yankees do not believe they could get one of the Giants’ top young starters, Matt Cain or Tim Lincecum, for him. If the sides become serious about a trade, the Yankees could seek relievers like Jonathan Sánchez, Brian Wilson or Kevin Correia.
Internally, the Yankees believe the minor league starters Alan Horne and Daniel McCutchen can make an immediate impact in their bullpen, as Joba Chamberlain and Ross Ohlendorf did last season. Relievers J. B. Cox and Mark Melancon are recovering from elbow injuries, but could be major factors by midseason.
“We’ve got some pitchers we think are going to be really good relievers, top-notch types,” said Hank Steinbrenner, the Yankees’ senior vice president. “We don’t know when they’ll be ready, but we’ve got a great future with our bullpen.”
The Yankees have splurged on veteran free agents in recent years, only to learn expensive lessons about the unpredictability of relievers. Tom Gordon succeeded, but injuries doomed Steve Karsay, and Kyle Farnsworth has regressed. Other free agents, like Chris Hammond, Mike Myers and Paul Quantrill, finished their contracts elsewhere.
“Definitely, the bullpen is a volatile situation, especially when you’re in the American League East,” Cashman said. “It makes it that much more volatile with the lineups in our league now. Ultimately, my job is to get as many quality candidates for Joe Girardi to utilize. We’re still sifting through that.”
Cashman said he wanted to add more reliable relievers to keep the bullpen from becoming a giant experiment in front of Rivera. Whatever happens, he said, some spots will be up for grabs in spring training.
The salaries of veteran relievers are soaring, and the available candidates — LaTroy Hawkins, Ron Mahay, Trever Miller — may not be worth hefty salaries. The Yankees have checked in on those relievers, but there are no indications they have made offers.
Cashman did acquire the right-handed reliever Jonathan Albaladejo from Washington for starter Tyler Clippard at the meetings. The Pittsburgh Pirates have the left-handers John Grabow and Dámaso Marte, who are also possibilities.
“We have some things that might have some legs to them,” Cashman said. “Whether they ever get completed, I can’t predict. But they’re small in nature.”
Albaladejo, who pitched 14 games last September, joins a pool of right-handers that also includes Chris Britton, Brian Bruney and José Veras, who has pitched well in the Dominican winter league. The Yankees could use more certainty to back up a rotation that will include at least two inexperienced pitchers, unless they reverse course and resume their pursuit of Johan Santana.
Chamberlain worked 112 1/3 innings last season (including the minor leagues), with Phil Hughes working 110 1/3 and Ian Kennedy 165 1/3. A starter who works a full major league season (33 starts) and averages six innings a start would throw 198 innings.
It is unlikely the Yankees would ask Chamberlain or Hughes, especially, to pile up that many innings next season. Cashman would not publicize the specific limits, but he said, “We will protect their innings.”
Steinbrenner has often pointed to the success of the 2006 Detroit Tigers and the 2003 Florida Marlins, teams that defeated the Yankees in October with a stable of young pitchers. Tigers Manager Jim Leyland said it was not much of a challenge to handle a young staff.
“Not if they’re talented enough,” Leyland said. “I’ll take talent every time. You have to be aware of the workload for all of your pitchers, the younger ones and the older ones. You can’t manage defensively.”
Chicago Cubs Manager Lou Piniella has been accused of impatience with some young pitchers. But others have thrived under him.
“As long as they’re not intimidated and as long as they compete, you can win with young pitching, especially if you have a nice, veteran bullpen to go along with it,” Piniella said. “I like the idea of good, young starters, I really do.”
So do the Yankees, who have staked their future on the concept. They are still working on forming that nice, veteran bullpen.
INSIDE PITCH
The Yankees lost a Class AA reliever, Michael Gardner, to San Diego in the Rule 5 draft, while gaining a Class AA reliever, Bo Hall, from Milwaukee. Brian Cashman said he expected to lose Eric Duncan, the 2003 first-round pick who hit .241 with 11 home runs in Class AAA last season, but Duncan was not chosen. ... The Yankees will probably drop Carl Pavano from their 40-man roster soon, because they will need spots when they finish new deals for Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera and Alex Rodriguez. Pavano is progressing slowly in his recovery from elbow surgery and has parted ways with Gregg Clifton, the third agent to represent him in his career.
News source：
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/07/sports/baseball/07yankees.html?ref=baseball
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