Searching for Minor League Depth: Rex Brothers

EDIT: The Chicago Cubs acquired Brothers from Colorado in a trade today

Yesterday when we searched for minor league depth for the New York Yankees this upcoming season we showcased a former Yankees farm hand and recently DFA’d pitcher by the Colorado Rockies, Mr. Tommy Kahnle. We mentioned in the article that Kahnle was designated for assignment alongside three of his teammates, John Axford, Wilin Rosario and Rex Brothers. Axford is not a great fit for the Yankees and there just isn’t the room on the Major League roster for Rosario but I believe that Brothers may be willing to accept a minor league deal and I believe it should be the Yankees that are offering him one. Now.

First and foremost Brothers is still just 27-years old and is a former first round pick as recently as the 2009 MLB First Year Players Draft. Brothers was drafted 34^th overall in that draft class by the Colorado Rockies and made his Major League debut just two years later on June 6, 2011. Brothers is still just first year arbitration eligible in 2016 and will not be eligible for free agency until the 2019 season.

Brothers has averaged, and keep in mind he pitches half his games inside Coors Field, a 3.42 ERA in his career while striking out 10.3 K/9 and walking just 5.2 BB/9, His walk rates are a little higher than you would like to see them but his home run numbers, again especially considering his home park has been Coors Field, are under 1.0 per nine innings pitched with a 0.8 HR/9. Brothers’ FIP, 3.89, suggests that he is the pitcher the stats say he is and on a minor league deal that would be a hell of a steal for the Yankees bullpen.

Brothers may go out and find a Major League deal making this post moot, and honestly at his age and with the relative risk in terms of contract, durability and age he should, but if he doesn’t then Brian Cashman better be making some phone calls. ASAP. 

Yankees Hot Stove Update

Yankees also in discussions with Rockies involving Jorge De La Rosa who is red hot 3-0 with a 1.78 ERA and 1.105 Whip in July #Rockies #NYY
— JIM BOWDEN (@JimBowdenESPNxm) July 25, 2014

The New York Yankees and Brian Cashman are extremely active this week as we head towards the trading deadline of July 31. Instead of writing 100 posts detailing all the potential deals I thought one nice and neat little post would be more efficient.

The Yankees are said to be discussing a trade with the Colorado Rockies for Jorge De La Rosa.

yankees are interested in kennedy but not in clarkin plus jagielo for kennedy.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) July 25, 2014

New York is discussing an Ian Kennedy trade with the San Diego Padres

Both the Colorado Rockies and Chicago White Sox have shown some interest in acquiring backup catcher Francisco Cervelli. I have seen the names of De La Rosa, Brett Anderson, and Wilin Rosario thrown around from Colorado and John Danks name mentioned from the White Sox.

Yanks are currently not in on Matt Kemp, according to a source.
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) July 25, 2014

The Yankees are not said to be interested in Matt Kemp. That's a shame, his talent would be amazing in New York.

Rockies Willing To Trade A Catcher

The Colorado Rockies are looking for pitching help, and apparently are willing to give up one of their catchers to do so.

Don't get your hopes up about the Yankees possibly acquiring Wilin Rosario, who finished 4th in National League Rookie of the Year voting last season. Wilin is the last guy I'd expect the Rockies to part with due to him being only 24 and having years of team control remaining, along with the fact that Colorado doesn't have any big catching prospects in their system. Sure, if the Yankees offered the right player(s) for Rosario then there's a chance, but does the team have that guy? Although Phil Hughes' injury doesn't seem to be serious, it wouldn't be a good idea for them to offer him, Ivan Nova, or David Phelps for the Rockies' young catcher. Outside of Sabathia, Kuroda, and Pettitte, the only other possible candidate in a trade would be Adam Warren, but I doubt one MLB start is going to make the Rockies bite.

So if anything were to happen involving one of Colorado's catchers it would have to be for Ramon Hernandez or Jordan Pacheco, and neither player tickles my fancy. Hernandez is coming off a season in which he hit .217/.247/.353 in only 52 games for the Rockies in 2012, and hasn't played more than 97 games in a season since 2008. Pacheco is a bit more intriguing thanks to having hit .306/.338/.413 in 593 MLB plate appearances, but from what I've read he's not much of a defensive catcher (something Girardi is big on), which led to him playing the vast majority of the time at third of first base for the Rockies.

Call me crazy, but I'd like to see what Austin Romine could do as a regular backstop for the Yankees before they deal away somebody with even modest value. And who knows? Maybe the Yankees should listen to what Yogi Berra said, and get Eduardo Nunez more at bats by teaching him to catch.