What I Am Thankful For: The Return of Brendan Ryan

Thanksgiving is this week and obviously all the talk is what we are thankful for, well that and turkey, gorging ourselves, and Black Friday deals, and The Greedy Pinstripes is no different. This week we will cover what we are thankful for when it comes to the New York Yankees, and we may throw a personal touch in there as well. Today I wanted to start small and start slow with the little things that don't get enough attention, things like having a capable back up for a 39 year old short stop that is coming off of basically a missed season due to injury. Enter Brendan Ryan.

I fully expect Derek Jeter to come back healthy and ready for the 2014 season, I even expect him to play 140 games or so at short stop, but it never hurts to have depth. Last year we saw the Yankees throw guys out in a baptism of fire like Jayson Nix, Brent Lillibridge, Luis Cruz, Eduardo Nunez, and Alberto Gonzalez to name a few as every day players at short. None of these guys outside of Nunez has any business playing every day or even more than once or twice a week but with Ryan the Yankees finally had a legit backup in 2013 and will once again in 2014. Ryan is widely considered to be the best defensive short stop in the game right now and has range for days, as we all saw in 2013, and made plays last year that no infielder on the Yankees roster would have gotten to.

Ryan is not going to win us a lot of games, he probably wont have a positive WAR, he probably wont hit above .230, he probably wont hit for power or hit at the top of the order either but he will save a lot of games, he will probably save a lot of miles on Derek Jeter's legs, and will save a lot of runs.

To put in a Thanksgiving kind of perspective Brendan Ryan is not the turkey, he's not the stuffing, and he's not the pumpkin pie. Ryan is more like the rolls or the bread that no one keeps coming back for plate after plate for the weeks to come but is always have to wipe up the gravy and all the good stuff on the plate.

Miller, Lillibridge, and Gonzalez Are Now Free Agents

The cookie is starting to crumble just a little bit on the off season as three Yankees minor league players declared themselves free agents today just a couple days after the Yankees took Mike Zagurski off the 40 man roster. Jim Miller, Brent Lillibridge, and Alberto Gonzalez all declared free agency for themselves and are able to sign with any team.

Miller pitched well for the Scranton team in his age 31 season and saw one inning of relief work with the big league club this season giving up three runs against the Boston Red Sox. Lillibridge played in 11 games for the Yankees fighting to stay above the Mendoza line while playing about every position on the infield. Gonzalez was brought up and sent off the 40 man roster two separate times this season and played 13 games as a 30 year old.

In other Yankees minor league news Roberto de la Rosa has been released and is also a free agent after throwing in one game way back in 2011 as an 18 year old rookie. If you feel like you should know his name but don't there is a good reason for that, de la Rosa has not pitched since that one game and is now 20 years old. Adios!

Jose Gil bounced around a little bit in 2013 after spending time in the Independent League and with the Baltimore Orioles before coming back to New York. Gil was a member of the Yankees minor league system from 2005 - 2012 and has resigned to be a member of the Yankees in 2014.

RJ Johnson was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers with their 36th round pick in the 2010 draft and is now a member of the New York Yankees farm system after signing a minor league contract. He was released by Milwaukee in 2012 after not having pitched since the 2010 Arizona Fall League but his twitter account says that he is an infielder now so the switch must have been made recently.

2014 New York Yankees Arbitration Eligible Players

Let's take a closer look at the Yankees slew of arbitration eligible players coming into the 2014 season. I truly think that this crop of players will make or break the Yankees plans of getting under the $189,000,000 luxury tax thresh hold. Just as an FYI you can be arbitration eligible three times before becoming a free agent so guys like Brett Gardner and David Robertson will be in their contract years for the New York Yankees in the 2014 season.

Here is the list:

Brett Gardner (3rd time)
2013 salary - $2,850,000
Prediction: $7,000,000

David Robertson (3rd time)
2013 salary - $3,100,000
Prediction: $5,000,000

Shawn Kelley (2nd time)
2013 salary -$935,000
Prediction: $1,500,000

Jayson Nix (2nd time)
2013 salary - $900,00
Prediction: $1,750,000

Ivan Nova (1st time)
2013 salary - $575,600
Prediction: $850,000

Michael Pineda (1st time)
2013 salary - $528,475
Prediction: $650,000

Francisco Cervelli (1st time)
2013 salary - $515,350
Prediction: $1,000,000

Chris Stewart (1st time)
2013 salary - $515,100
Prediction: $1,115,000

David Huff (1st time)
2013 salary - $494,000
Prediction: $900,000

Brent Lillibridge Clears Waivers & Is Outrighted To AAA

Brent Lillibridge has cleared waivers after being designated for assignment to make room for Alex Rodriguez and has been outrighted to AAA. Lillibridge will join a talented Scranton Wilkes Barre Railriders team with former teammate Alberto Gonzalez.

Luis Cruz Likely Headed To DL With MCL Injury

Nothing has been officially announced yet but Yankees infielder Luis Cruz is likely headed to the DL after that awkward fall on Monday in Texas. The Yankees are calling it an MCL injury and it should side line him for a little while. Luis is headed this morning back to New York for an MRI and the determination will be made after that. With Alberto Gonzalez off the 40 man and 25 man roster again I can see him coming right back unless the Yankees acquire Alfonso Soriano sometime today.

Alberto Gonzalez Clears Waivers & Is Sent To AAA

Alberto Gonzalez was designated for assignment by the Yankees over the weekend and has since cleared waivers and accepted an outright to AAA Scranton. This is the second time this season that Alberto has cleared waivers by the Yankees after being DFA'd and sent to the minor leagues. You cannot really blame the Yankees here as he has only hit .176/.176/.206 this season in 34 plate appearances.

Alberto Gonzalez Designated For Assignment Again

The Yankees have designated infielder Alberto Gonzalez for assignment for the second time this season to make room for Thomas Neal and Melky Mesa to come up to the majors. Alberto has played all over the Yankees infield, outfield, and pitching this season but it has not been enough to guarantee him a roster spot. With Brent Lillibridge being called up along with having Luis Cruz the Yankees had one too many utility infielders on the roster.

Yankees Kick Off HOPE Week Today

The Yankees have kicked off Helping Others Preserve & Excel Week, or more commonly known as HOPE Week, today by celebrating with the Rockaway Special Athletes.

Ivan Nova, Zoilo Almonte, Preston Claiborne, Adam Warren, David Adams, and Alberto Gonzalez to name a few surprised the team today at St. Rose of Lima School in Rockaway Beach. The Yankees and the RSA athletes played kickball, wiffle ball, and basketball in the schools gym. If that was not enough all of the members of RSA are invited to Yankees Stadium tonight to watch the Yankees take on the Kansas City Royals. The athletes will watch batting practice and be part of an on the field ceremony before the game.

I'll concede to Chad Jennings of Lohud for the story of the Rockaway Special Athletes by clicking the link provided because he did a great write up, as usual, and I refuse to paraphrase it.

Reid Brignac Designated For Assignment, Gonzalez Up

The day that has been long overdue has finally come as the Yankees have finally designated Reid Brignac for assignment. In a corresponding move the Yankees have also brought Alberto Gonzalez back up to the major leagues to take his spot essentially. Brignac is a wonder with the glove but so is Alberto Gonzalez and Gonzalez has more flexibility and versatility in my eyes. Also Gonzalez is a right handed batter and is a marginal upgrade offensively over Brignac and the Yankees definitely need offense right now. What is amazing is that Gonzalez is a career .242 hitter and he is being called an "upgrade" offensively over what we currently have... yeah... the offense has been that bad. I fully expect Reid to clear waivers so the possibility remains that he can be sent to AAA to Scranton to essentially be swapped with Alberto.

Yankees Outright Alberto Gonzalez To AAA

The Yankees designated Alberto Gonzalez for assignment last week when they acquired Reid Brignac from the Colorado Rockies for cash. Alberto has cleared waivers and has accepted a minor league assignment and has been outrighted to AAA Scranton. The Yankees hold on to Alberto for minor league and major league depth and insurance so there is always that.

Yankees Designate Alberto Gonzalez For Assignment

The Yankees have announced that they have designated Alberto Gonzalez for assignment to make room for recently acquired Reid Brignac. This is a head scratcher because Gonzalez can play all over the field, even serving as a back up catcher and a pitcher for an out here or there, but Brian Cashman believes that Reid Brignac can lefty platoon with the likes of Jayson Nix. Seems like Brignac is coming to the majors and not to AAA like we all originally thought or hoped.

Nunez To DL Alberto Gonzalez Called Up

The Yankees have announced that Eduardo Nunez has been placed on the 15 day DL with a strained rib cage muscle. The Yankees will call up Alberto Gonzalez to take his place on the 25 man roster. Mark Teixeira has been placed on the 60 day DL to make room on the 40 man roster for Gonzalez. Nunez's DL trip can be placed back to last Sunday since he has not played since then and Mark Teixeira's 60 day DL is retroactive to Opening Day. Kind of wondering why we don't see Corban Joseph in this situation but hey what do I know.

Ryan Pope, Gil Velazquez, & Cody Johnson Released

Ryan Pope, Gil Velazquez, and Cody Johnson were all released today from the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Railriders team. Outfielder Thomas Neal was activated off the DL and recently acquired infielder Alberto Gonzalez was activated so the roster moves were necessary. Ryan Pope was already on the disabled list before the move so there is a shot we may get him back when he heals up.

Yankees Acquire Alberto Gonzalez

The Yankees have announced that they have acquired infielder Alberto Gonzalez from the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named later or cash, so basically nothing. This is going to be a minor league situation where he will be depth for AAA Scranton Railriders so nothing wrong with that. Gonzalez spent time with the team between 2007-2008 so the comfort level in New York should be okay if he makes it to the major leagues.