Yankees Bring Back Prospects, Lose Prospects

Just a quick catch me up regarding what the Yankees are doing down on their farm system this offseason.

 - New York has re-signed minor league free agent Ali Castillo for at least one more season. Castillo has been playing shortstop in Double-A Trenton and has been lighting up the ball in Winter Ball this season.

 - Fellow shortstop Walter Ibarra left the Yankees and has signed on with the Arizona Diamondbacks on a minor league deal. Yeah, like they need more shortstops.

 - Zoilo Almonte has signed a major league deal with the Atlanta Braves. World War Z is local for me now. Chien Ming Wang will be joining him in Atlanta on a minor league deal.

 - Russ Canzler has been in the Yankees system for two straight seasons but now finds himself with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Walter Ibarra Jumps Ship To The Chicago Cubs

Long time New York Yankees prospect Walter Ibarra has become a minor league free agent and has decided to leave New York and go to the Chicago Cubs on a minor league deal. The 26 year old career minor leaguer finally reached AAA last season with the Scranton Wilkes Barre RailRiders and will now look to provide the Cubs with some middle infield depth. Ibarra is coming off a triple slash of .276/.308/.367 but is known far more for his glove then his bat. Good luck to Ibarra and we hate to see him go.

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

Trenton Thunder Roster Finalized

With not many surprises here and an "All Prospect" kind of outfield the Yankees Double A affiliate the Trenton Thunder's roster has been finalized. Check it out!

C - J.R. Murphy
C - Kyle Higashioka
C - Tyson Blaser

1B - Kyle Roller
2B - Jose Pirela
SS - Walter Ibarra
3B/LF - Rob Segedin
INF - Kevin Mahoney
INF - Reegie Corona

OF - Tyler Austin
OF - Slade Heathcott
OF - Ramon Flores
OF - Neil Medchill
OF - Shane Brown

SP - Nik Turley
SP- Francisco Rondon
SP - Matt Tracy
SP - Caleb Cotham
SP - Zach Nuding

P - Jeremy Bleich
P - Aaron Dott
P - Shaeffer Hall
P - Tommy Kahnle
P - Kelvin Perez
P - Josh Romanski
P - Graham Stoneburner
P - Branden Pinder
P - Ryan Pope

New York Yankees Spring Training Notes 3/11

David Aardsma threw a bullpen session today and reported no set backs, pain, discomfort, etc. Nik Turley and Jose Ramirez also threw side sessions today as scheduled. Boone Logan is scheduled to throw a bullpen session tomorrow. Michael Pineda is expected to throw a 35 pitch bullpen session tomorrow and include sliders for the first time since his shoulder surgery.

Infielders Walter Ibarra and Gil Velazquez are back with the Yankees after Team Mexico was eliminated from the World Baseball Classic. Gil seemed embarrassed when asked about the brawl between Team Mexico and Team Canada and stated that it was as bad as it looked on television.

David Robertson pitched a scoreless inning today for the first time since he had trouble getting his shoulder warm in the bullpen. David claimed that he just slept on it wrong and did not have anything wrong but the Yankees were being extra cautious with their set up man.