16 Yankees Minor Leaguers Hit Free Agency

16 members of the New York Yankees have officially hit the minor league free agent market. Here is the list:



Andury Acevedo (AAA)

Scottie Allen (AA)

Joel de la Cruz (AAA)

Diego Moreno (AAA)

Wilking Rodriguez (AAA)

Cesar Vargas (AAA)
Jose De Paula (AAA)

Aaron Dott (AA)
Francisco Arcia (AA)

Juan Graterol (AAA)

Kyle Higashioka (AAA)
Cole Figueroa (AAA)

Ali Castillo (AAA)

Jose Rosario (AA)
Ericson Leonora (Hi A)

Rico Noel (AAA)

The End of Brendan Ryan

The All-Star Break is a bit of a Catch 22 for the New York Yankees this season because while the rest can do a body good the rest can also do a body good, let me explain. The Yankees bullpen is overworked, anyone who watches the games can see that, and could use the four or five days off depending on their usage before and after the break but in the same token some of those injured Yankees players are also taking advantage of the rest. While Alex Rodriguez and others are recharging the batteries players like Brendan Ryan and Carlos Beltran are rehabbing injuries and will be able to come off the disabled list after the break. The Yankees aren’t going to rid themselves of Beltran and eat that hefty contract for 2015 and 2016 but if the team has any inkling of a brain inside their collective heads this will be the end of Brendan Ryan.

How many weak hitting defensive minded middle infielders do the Yankees really need? Take Ryan out of the equation and fill him in with Gregorio Petit or Cole Figueroa and you receive comparable defense with equivalent offensive outputs for half the cost or more. Instead it seems likely that the team will send Robert Refsnyder, who made the biggest mistake of his life collecting two hits including a game winning home run in the first half finale inside Fenway Park, back down to Triple-A to accommodate Ryan. Ryan has been injured for much of his Yankees tenure, his defense hasn’t been bad but has been far from as advertised and he’s more of a black hole in the lineup than Stephen Drew is which speaks a lot for that aspect of Ryan’s game.

The Yankees can easily eat Ryan’s remaining contract and not bat an eyelash so the money factor is off the table, it should come down to the need in the infield. Ryan’s biggest strength is his ability to play the shortstop position but with Refsnyder at second platooning with Drew you have a legitimate backup shortstop option with Mr. .170.  Ryan can also back up at second and third base in a pinch, so can Drew, while the Yankees have used him at first base on occasion, they have used Garrett Jones, a healthy Mark Teixeira, Brian McCann and Chase Headley there too though.

Ryan has no real spot on this team and he really only hurts the team’s makeup and chemistry by being added back into the rotation. Cut your losses, announce the designation for assignment and let’s watch this team go win an American League East Division title and make a deep October playoff run. The team has eaten the contracts of Vernon Wells, Brian Roberts and Alfonso Soriano in consecutive seasons so the Ryan contract should be no skin off Hal’s nose…. The problem is just convincing Brian Cashman that it’s a good idea.

Meet a Prospect: Cole Figueroa

Cole Figueroa was called up before the finale of the game between the New York Yankees and the Oakland Athletics while the Yankees sent Jose Pirela down to Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre. Why the Yankees flat out refuse to use Robert Refsnyder in these situations and what they have against the man is beyond me but whatever, more on that later as promised.

Stephen Coleman Figueroa was born on June 30, 1987 to parents Cindy and Bien Figueroa and spent his college career at the University of Florida playing on the Gators baseball team. Figueroa was the starting shortstop for the team and impressed many teams there including the San Diego Padres who drafted him in the sixth round of the 2008 MLB First Year Players Draft. Figueroa was also drafted in the ninth round of the 2006 Draft but elected to not sign with the Toronto Blue Jays, seems like that was a good decision for him.

Figueroa hoped that his father’s baseball blood, Bien is a former major league player with the St. Louis Cardinals, would translate to a great career with the Padres but the team traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays on December 17, 2010. San Diego received Jason Bartlett while trading Figueroa, Brandon Gomes, Cesar Ramos and Adam Russell to Tampa. Figueroa saw his first major league at bat on May 22, 2014 after the Rays called him up and recorded his first major league hit on May 23, a walk off RBI double against the Boston Red Sox in the bottom of the 9th inning.

That to date is the highlight of Figueroa’s career as he is now a member of the New York Yankees big league club. Good luck Cole, make the most of the opportunity. 

Recap: Yankees 6, A's 2

Masahiro Tanaka tossed 7 2/3 innings of two-run ball and the Yankees cruised past the A's, 6-2, in a Thursday matinee at Yankee Stadium.

Just Like the Old Days: Tanaka logged arguably his best outing of the season in this one, holding Oakland to just one earned run and two hits while walking one and striking out six. He ran into some trouble in the second -- the A's scored twice on RBI doubles by Billy Butler and Mark Canha -- but it ultimately proved to be nothing as the veteran recorded the win.

His Knee Must Be Healed: Batting with two men in scoring position and one out in the fourth, Jacoby Ellsbury delivered probably the biggest hit of the game -- a clutch two-run single off Jesse Chavez to break a 2-2 tie. Ellsbury, activated off the DL on Wednesday, was able to lace one just fair down the right-field line to give the Yankees the lead -- the ball barely clipping the corner of first base as it flew by in mid-air. 

An All-Star Selection and a Home Run: If his first-inning home run and two subsequent singles didn't already make him happy, Brett Gardner can at least take solace knowing he's now on the 2015 AL All-Star team -- an announcement made on the stadium jumbotron between the fourth and fifth. Gardner will fill the spot previously occupied by the Royals' Alex Gordon, who will miss the event due to a recent injury.

Staying Hot: Mark Teixeira continued his great week with an RBI single in the third, a liner on a 2-2 sinker that plated the aforementioned Ellsbury. It was Teixeira's eighth ribbie of the homestand and third of the series, bringing his total on the year to 62.

A Good First Impression: Making his major league debut following a few months with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Cole Figueroa went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles -- the latter of which likely would've driven in a run had it not bounced into the stands. Figueroa is expected to be one of the Yankees' backup infielders for the time being, joining Gregorio Petit as a defender capable of playing second, short and third.

Next Up: The Yankees will look to keep their momentum going on Friday when they visit the Red Sox for a weekend at Fenway -- beginning at 7:10 p.m. ET and airing live on MLB Network. Michael Pineda (8-5, 3.79 ERA) will get the nod for the Yankees hoping for a third straight quality start, facing surging Sox right-hander Clay Buchholz (7-6, 3.27 ERA).

Tanaka throws first spring simulated game

Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka pitched his first simulated game of the spring Saturday morning at George M. Steinbrenner Field, throwing 29 pitches and roughly two innings to a pair of live hitters.

"He's exactly where you want him to be at this point in spring training," Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild said of Tanaka after his performance, according to The LoHud Yankees Blog.

Young catcher Eddy Rodriguez was behind home during Tanaka's outing -- in which the 26-year-old reportedly had little trouble. 

Prospects Gary Sanchez and Cole Figueroa batted against Tanaka -- with Sanchez recording the only would-be hit. Tanaka had told Rodriguez he wanted to work the outside part of the plate before Sanchez lined one softly to center -- a routine single. 

Tanaka is recovering from the partially torn UCL he suffered last July, and is attempting to get healthy in time for Opening Day. 

"It's good to see him get out there and be able to go through all his pitches and have a good day of work and feel good after," Rothschild said. 

Of the Yankees' next 10 games, seven will take place in Tampa -- so it's likely Tanaka will compete in a real contest soon. The starters for the Yankees' meetings with the Red Sox Wednesday and Braves Thursday still haven't been announced, nor have the ones for New York's weekend matchups with the Tigers and Phillies. 

Rothschild and the Yankees don't seem to be looking that far ahead yet, however, and appear to be content for the moment with what Tanaka did here. 

"It's his first sim game, so it was a good day of work," Rothschild said.

Meet a Prospect Cole Figueroa

Spring Training is ever so close ladies and gentleman, it’s so close you can almost taste it. Last season the team brought so many players to camp that players had to share jersey numbers, remember that? Anyway this year there will be 67 players in camp including a fresh new face over from the Tampa Bay Rays in Cole Figueroa. Let’s meet him.

Stephen Coleman Figueroa was born on June 30, 1987 to parents Cindy and Bien Figueroa and spent his college career at the University of Florida playing on the Gators baseball team. Figueroa was the starting shortstop for the team and impressed many teams there including the San Diego Padres who drafted him in the sixth round of the 2008 MLB First Year Players Draft. Figueroa was also drafted in the ninth round of the 2006 Draft but elected to not sign with the Toronto Blue Jays, seems like that was a good decision for him.

Figueroa hoped that his father’s baseball blood, Bien is a former major league player with the St. Louis Cardinals, would translate to a great career with the Padres but the team traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays on December 17, 2010. San Diego received Jason Bartlett while trading Figueroa, Brandon Gomes, Cesar Ramos and Adam Russell to Tampa. Figueroa saw his first major league at bat on May 22, 2014 after the Rays called him up and recorded his first major league hit on May 23, a walk off RBI double against the Boston Red Sox in the bottom of the 9^th inning.

That to date is the highlight of Figueroa’s career as he is now a member of the New York Yankees and will fight for a position and a bench spot with the team in Spring Training. Go get ‘em Cole!

Yankees Still Yet to Finalize non-roster Invitations to Spring Training

Some teams including the Los Angeles Dodgers have already finalized and announced their non-roster invitees to spring training camp this year but the Yankees have not. Who the Yankees will invite is anyone’s guess but there seem to be more than a few obvious choices for New York.

Nick Noonan, Cole Figueroa, Robert Hernandez, and Slade Heathcott have all signed minor league deals with invites to spring training so we shouldn’t be surprised to see these three names. Joining them, besides the 40 men that currently occupy the 40 man roster, will likely be Aaron Judge, Greg Bird, Luis Severino, Robert Refsnyder and Taylor Dugas. We may see a Jake Cave, Cito Culver or Kyle Roller signing as well but that’s merely speculation on my part.

I expect New York to invite a ton of pitching this spring as many men battle it out for the last remaining bullpen slots and maybe a rotation spot if Chris Capuano is not up to snuff. It’s going to be an interesting spring with tons of competition, just the way Brian Cashman envisioned it and Joe Girardi wanted it. 

Article Revisit: Is Robert Refsnyder Now Trade Bait?

http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/2014/12/robert-refsnyder-now-trade-bait.html

Not so long ago I was down and out thinking that my favorite prospect Robert Refsnyder was destined to be trade bait in New York, so I wrote about it. Then Brian Cashman traded Martin Prado and others to Miami thus opening the door for either Refsnyder and/or Jose Pirela only to close the door shut again with a Stephen Drew signing. Is Refsnyder now trade bait, again, or am I simply overreacting? You be the judge because I know, and fully admit, that my fandom and my attachment to prospects gets in the way sometimes. 

Writing this blog feels like filling out the paperwork on a death certificate for me but I think it has to be done. I truly do believe that the signing of Chase Headley may have unofficially ended the tenure in pinstripes for Robert Refsnyder. Refsnyder overall is major league ready, although obviously his defense and footwork at second base could use some work, and is now blocked at his natural position of second base for two years behind Martin Prado, his second position in right field for two years behind Carlos Beltran and now third base is blocked for at least four years with Headley. The Yankees need pitching and the team thinks pretty highly of Jose Pirela and that’s not a great combination for Refsnyder.

Players will get hurt this season and the Yankees will need an infielder at some point which is a given but the signings of Nick Noonan and Cole Figueroa point towards there being “plenty” of depth in the system. The fact that Pirela and Prado can play everywhere along with Brendan Ryan being pretty versatile himself truly helps the team and hurts Mr. Refsnyder.

Barring a big time signing like a Max Scherzer or a James Shields or another acquisition for a starting pitcher via trade or free agency I worry about the future of Refsnyder in pinstripes. I have beat the drums for Refsnyder’s call up for months now and the beating and the candles may be all for nothing if the Yankees don’t solidify that rotation and fast. A Refsnyder and Romine deal makes sense to the Yankees I just hope that it isn’t enough elsewhere.

Stay tuned…

Robert Refsnyder Now Trade Bait?

Writing this blog feels like filling out the paperwork on a death certificate for me but I think it has to be done. I truly do believe that the signing of Chase Headley may have unofficially ended the tenure in pinstripes for Robert Refsnyder. Refsnyder overall is major league ready, although obviously his defense and footwork at second base could use some work, and is now blocked at his natural position of second base for two years behind Martin Prado, his second position in right field for two years behind Carlos Beltran and now third base is blocked for at least four years with Headley. The Yankees need pitching and the team thinks pretty highly of Jose Pirela and that’s not a great combination for Refsnyder.

Players will get hurt this season and the Yankees will need an infielder at some point which is a given but the signings of Nick Noonan and Cole Figueroa point towards there being “plenty” of depth in the system. The fact that Pirela and Prado can play everywhere along with Brendan Ryan being pretty versatile himself truly helps the team and hurts Mr. Refsnyder.

Barring a big time signing like a Max Scherzer or a James Shields or another acquisition for a starting pitcher via trade or free agency I worry about the future of Refsnyder in pinstripes. I have beat the drums for Refsnyder’s call up for months now and the beating and the candles may be all for nothing if the Yankees don’t solidify that rotation and fast. A Refsnyder and Romine deal makes sense to the Yankees I just hope that it isn’t enough elsewhere.

Stay tuned…

Yankees Bring Three Minor Leaguers In Including Jose Campos

#Yankees RHP Jose Campos and #Braves RHP Gus Schlosser re-sign with orgs after being non-tendered earlier this month.
— Matt Eddy (@MattEddyBA) December 15, 2014

New York has brought back minor league right handed pitcher Jose Campos after non tendering him last week before the deadline. You may remember Campos as the "other" guy the Yankees got in the Michael Pineda and Jesus Montero trade. Campos has had consecutive seasons with elbow injuries including a Tommy John surgery so a trip to the bullpen may be in store for the young right hander.

In addition to re-signing Jose Campos, #Yankees also sign minor league free agents C Juan Graterol and 2B/3B Cole Figueroa.
— Matt Eddy (@MattEddyBA) December 15, 2014

In other news the Yankees brought in some new blood in from the Tampa Bay Rays in infielder Cole Figueroa and catcher Juan Graterol formerly of the Kansas City Royals.