Former Yankees Update Juan Cedeno

The former Yankees updates just keep on coming don't they. The Yankees released Juan Cedeno way back on May 10th and he has finally latched on with another team. The Atlanta Braves have signed Juan to a minor league deal and have assigned him to their AAA Gwinnett team. Juan should get a real look by the Braves for their bullpen this season with all the arm troubles that they have had this season so good for him and good luck to Mr. Cedeno.

Yankees Release Juan Cedeno & Shaeffer Hall

The Yankees have given an unconditional release to left handed Scranton Wilkes-Barre Railriders pitcher Juan Cedeno. The move was caused by, directly or indirectly, Caleb Cotham coming off the DL and a roster move being needed. Cedeno was originally added to the DL himself before getting released. Shaeffer Hall is another lefty reliever pitching for the Trenton Thunder that was also released today for some reason. You don't see teams get rid of effective young lefties often so both of these moves are real head scratchers.

Flurry Of Roster Moves Before The Season Starts

The Yankees have announced that they have sent outfielder Melky Mesa and pitcher Sam Demel to Triple A Scranton Wilkes-Barre.

The Yankees have reassigned Jim Miller, Preston Claiborne, Brandon Pinder, Juan Cedeno, Vidal Nuno, Josh Spence, Bobby Wilson, Dan Johnson, Jose Pirela, Gil Velazquez, and Thomas Neal to minor league camps.

The Yankees have officially added Ben Francisco and Jayson Nix to the 40 man roster so they both apparently have made the team.

Dominican Republic Beats Up On The Yankees

The Yankees played Team Dominican Republic today and Robinson Cano and it did not bode well. The Yankees did not have a hit headed into the 7th inning. Robinson Cano went 1-3 with an RBI against his big league team. Yankees minor leaguer Vidal Nuno pitched four scoreless innings with 4 K's and a walk. Another Yankees minor league Juan Cedeno pitched a scoreless inning with a walk against his big league club as well. Former Yankee Jose Veras also pitched a scoreless inning with a K for Team Dominican Republic. Team DR would win the game 8-2.

"Ha! You Guys Suck!!"

The Yankees pitching struggled outside of starter Hiroki Kuroda against this powerful Dominican Republic team.  Kuroda pitched three scoreless innings with two hits allowed and while striking out four. It was all downhill from there when Cody Eppley allowed the first run while allowing two hits and a walk in one inning pitched. Clay Rapada came in and pitched 1/3 of an inning while allowing two hits, a run, and walked two batters. Jim Miller would replace Rapada and in his 1.1 IP of work he was charged with three runs allowed on two hits while walking three and striking out one. Tommy Kahnle came in to finish the bottom of the 6th and then start the 7th inning and allowed a run on two hits with a walk and a strike out in his 1.1 IP.

The Yankees offensive round up should be pretty quick. Francisco Cervelli, Dan Johnson, and Melky Mesa both drew a walk each for the only runners on base before Zoilo Almonte hit a two run home run in the bottom of the 7th for the Yankees first hit of the game. Bobby Wilson followed with the next at bat with a double that looked like it could have gotten out but a fan interfered with it in right field. Dan Johnson has continued to prove that he cannot play third base with yet another throwing error and he let another ball eat him up at the hot corner. Between him and Corban Joseph I do not see Kevin Youkilis getting much time off in a meaningful game this season. Team DR would win the game 8-2.

Yankees Shut Out In 2nd Spring Training Game

The Yankees banged out 11 hits today while the Blue Jays could only muster 9 hits but the Yankees lost the game today 2-0. The Yankees pitched well today but just could not string enough hits together to score a run. This may become a common occurrence as the Yankees also lost Curtis Granderson to a fractured forearm after taking a fastball from Blue Jays lefty JA Happ today and will miss the next 10 weeks before he is back to the majors.

The Yankees pitched well today but just did not have enough offense to stay in the game. Yankees starter Adam Warren had a pitching line of 2 IP 0 H 0 ER and we saw impressive performances by Jim Miller, Preston Clairborne, Juan Cedeno, and others but it was not enough as the Yankees go down 2-0.

The Yankees continue their Spring Training schedule tomorrow afternoon as they send Vidal Nuno to the mound to pitch against the Baltimore Orioles.

The Rule 5 Draft & The Yankees

The Yankees head into this mornings Rule 5 Draft with a full 40 man roster so I do not expect to be selecting anyone but we have 6 guys that are unprotected this year. The Yankees could always just designate someone for assignment if a real option fell in their laps but I will not get my hopes up in that department. Here is a list of the Yankees players that are left unprotected for this mornings draft:

Abe Almonte
Luke Murton
Addison Maruszak
Vidal Nuno
David Herndon
Juan Cedeno

I fully expect Juan Cedeno to get pickef after great numbers in AAA and in Winter Ball this season. Add on top of that the fact that he is left handed adds to the possibility of him sticking somewhere.

David Herndon will probably get taken because of the fact that he can be hidden on the 60 day dl after his Tommy John surgery.

Vidal Nuno is another left handed starter that sat at the top of the AA Trenton Thunder rotation for most of last season and pitched extremely well. At almost a K/9 with 100 k's in 114 IP I think that SOMEONE will take the chance.

Abe Almonte may be hidden on someones 40 man roster because of his speed, versatility, and ability to play all three outfield positions well. Add 30 steals to his resume and he may be an attractive Dewayne Wise type signing.

Yankees Resign 4 Minor Leaguers, Release Another

The Yankees wasted no time in trying to lock up some of their minor league systems yesterday as they announced that the resigned LHP Juan Cedeno, LHP Francisco Rondon, OF Abe Almonte, and OF Cody Johnson. The Yankees also announced that they released OF Bill Hart. These are nothing but depth moves but you have to consider that Juan Cedeno and Abe Almonte could be Spring Training invitees in 2013 so the re signs make sense.