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)

Yankees Announce 12 Cuts From Spring Camp

The New York Yankees have announced 12 cuts from spring training camp today. The cuts include outfielders Ramon Flores, Tyler Austin, and Mason Williams, catchers Peter O'Brien and Francisco Arcia, RHP's Robert Coello, Bruce Billings, Brian Gordon, Mark Montgomery, and Chase Whitley, and infielders Jose Pirela and Corban Joseph.

Flores was the only man on the 40 man roster so he was technically assigned to Scranton Wilkes Barre with the RailRiders. None of these guys except for maybe Whitley or Montgomery had a legitimate shot at making the team so these cuts should not come as a surprise.

The real cuts will start coming later this week and next week as the roster continues to shrink to 25.

Nuno makes strong bid for fifth starter spot in loss to Orioles

Vidal Nuno gave up just 2 base runners in 4 innings of work today as the Yankees lost another game to the Orioles, 2-1. In those four frames, Nuno impressively allowed just one hit, while also striking out 3 and walking 1. 

Anyway, a few notable Yankees who played in this ballgame were Brian Roberts, who went 2-for-3 with a couple of singles, Kelly Johnson, who went 0-for-2 with a walk, Ichiro, who just went 0-for-3, and first base prospect Francisco Arcia, a guy I've never heard of who went 1-for-2 with a home run. So yea, overall I'd say this game didn't go too well, but those are still the numbers. Make what you want with them.

Winter League Assignments Are In

Just a quick blurb here announcing where the Yankees minor league players will be playing their winter ball this season. Obviously just because they are assigned there and on the team does not mean that they will necessarily play there as the Yankees still have full control over these players but the lists are what they are, and here they are:

Mexican Pacific League: 
OF Jose Figueroa
 IF Walt Ibarra
UTIL Ronnie Mustelier

Venezuelan Winter League:

 C Francisco Arcia

 IF Ali Castillo

 C Francisco Cervelli 

 C Jose Gil

UTIL Jose Pirela

Yankees Re-Sign Six Minor Leaguers

The New York Yankees have resigned six minor league players today including LHP Francisco Rondon, catcher Francisco Arcia, and RHP's Diego Moreno, Jairo Heredia, Kelvin Castro, and Manny Barreda. I can remember the days where Barreda and Jairo were the next big things that all of us "prospect humpers" but they fizzled out a little. Rondon was on the 40 man roster as recent as last year before struggling, being designated for assignment, and brought back on a new minor league deal. Now Rondon is in the AA Trenton Thunder bullpen and excelling and 2014 may be his time to shine. Nothing major here but it encouraging that all these little moves are getting done now so we can focus on the important stuff in November.

Game 1 Thriller: Thunder Stun B-Mets in 10 Innings

Five consecutive two-out hits win series opener

TRENTON, NJ - In miraculous fashion, Trenton salvaged Game 1 of the Eastern Division Championship Series from the jaws of a seemingly-unavoidable loss to win 6-5 over the Binghamton Mets to begin their 2013 playoff run.

After Pat Venditte allowed a pair of runs to the B-Mets in the top of the 10th inning, the Thunder bats entered the bottom of the 10th inning trailing 5-3. Mets closer Jeff Walters recorded a pair of outs to the first two batters he faced and was ahead of Jose Pirela 0-2 in the count before surrendering a two-out double to start the rally.

Catcher Gary Sanchez singled to score Pirela and draw the Thunder back within a run and Sanchez was immediately lifted for pinch-runner Francisco Arcia. Tyler Austin was the next batter- representing the tying run- and he hit an infield single to put runners at first and second base with still two outs.

The next batter was Casey Stevenson who had replaced starting first baseman Kyle Roller in the 9th inning as a pinch runner, and in his first at-bat the lefty shot a soft liner the other way over the head of Binghamton's third baseman Josh Rodriguez for a game-tying base hit. Ben Gamel's single to right field was his second run-scoring base hit of the night and scored Tyler Austin for the win. Venditte gets the win for the Thunder after he had one win in eight regular season appearances.

Trenton leads the best-of-five series over the Binghamton Mets, 1-0.

Following their thrilling walk-off win, the EDCS continues Thursday with a 7:05 p.m. game against the Binghamton Mets at ARM & HAMMER Park. RHP Mikey O'Brien (7-8, 4.12) pitches for the Thunder against LHP Darin Gorski (6-1, 1.83) for Binghamton. Tickets are available for 2 of the series by going to www.trentonthunder.com/tickets or by calling (609)394-3300. Radio coverage of Thursday's game on 91.3 FM (WTSR) and coverage online begins at 6:45 p.m.

Being posted with permission from the Trenton Thunder organization. The original article can be seen HERE. 

Thunder Sweep DH, Clinch Wild Card Playoff Berth!

Thunder Sweep DH, Clinch Wild Card Playoff Berth!

Trenton wins Game 1, 8-0; Game 2, 4-2

PORTLAND, ME - The Trenton Thunder take both games of Saturday's double-header against the Portland Sea Dogs and are in the playoffs for the second straight season-this season as the 2013 East Division Wild Card.

In Game 1, Trenton used a complete-game shutout by Shane Greene to secure an 8-0 win and the Wild Card bid. Greene gave up just three hits and one walk while fanning five Sea Dogs in the outing. He moves to 8-4 with the win and lowers his ERA to 3.18 in 14 appearances (13 starts) since his promotion from High-A Tampa. Greene induced the final out of the game on a Deven Marrero groundball to second base.

Offensively in Game 1 the Thunder jumped all over starting pitcher Mickey Pena and had five runs already on the board with one out in the 3rd inning. After a run-scoring triple by Ramon Flores with one out to give Trenton a 3-0 lead, Jose Pirela launched a homer into the nets above the Maine Monster for his 10th home run of the season.

Lefty Caleb Smith, a 14th round selection in this year's MLB draft, was promoted from Short-Season Single-A Staten Island to make his first Double-A appearance. Smith impressed with one run allowed over 3.2 innings before being lifted for Pat Venditte who earned his first win with the Thunder this season.

Smith had a two-run lead in the first inning before he even took the mound thanks to a two-out, two-run homer by Kyle Roller-his team-leading 17th of the season. Trenton added a pair of runs in the 3rd inning on doubles by Francisco Arcia, Flores and Pirela to make it 4-0 Thunder. Danny Burawa pitched a scoreless 6th and 7th inning for the save.

Trenton continues their final series of the regular season Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Hadlock Field against Portland featuring LHP Nik Turley (10-8, 3.90) pitching for the Thunder against LHP Henry Owens (3-0, 1.09) for Portland. Radio coverage on 91.3 FM (WTSR) and streaming online begins at 12:45 p.m.

Being posted with permission from the Trenton Thunder organization. The original post can be seen HERE. 

Yankees Announce Latest Roster Cuts

The Yankees have announced their latest round of roster cuts this spring and it includes Gary Sanchez, Tyler Austin, David Adams, Cito Culver, Rob Segedin, Francisco Arcia, and Kyle Higashioka. None of these men had a legit shot at making the team so with all the competition going on I can understand them all going down. I just hate to see the future like Austin and Sanchez go down.