Quick Hit: Johan Santana Making Another Comeback Attempt

Johan Santana has went from being a nobody, to a Rule 5 Draft pick, to an All-Star, to traded to the Mets, to the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter in the history of the Mets, to being injured and out of the game since. Johan has had two torn shoulder capsules in his shoulder, and FYI one surgery is usually the end of a pitcher's career, and is now rehabbing a torn achilles muscle. Many would take their licks and go home but not Johan as he is once again attempting a comeback to the major leagues.

Santana has been pitching in the Venezuelan Winter League this winter and hopes to latch on with a MLB team on a minor league deal in 2015. Santana is still only 35 years old and was likely to break camp with the Orioles last season before the achilles tear ended his season. Santana is reportedly only throwing 86-89 MPH while showcasing for teams and has said, through his agent, that he wants to go out of the game on his terms. Good for him, maybe the Yankees are watching.

Yankees Winter Ball Playoffs Update

Last month we gave you all an update from the various Winter Leagues that Yankees prospects were taking part in and now those same players are playing in the playoffs, time for another update.

Zoilo Almonte:

.262/.295/.333 and six RBI's in 10 playoff games

Jose Pirela:

.269/.321/.269 in six games, all in the outfield. Pirela is normally a middle infielder

Adonis Garcia:

.313/.371/.438 through seven playoff games all that third base. Garcia is normally an outfielder

Ronnier Mustelier:

.286/.375/.286 in only four games with zero power

Zelous Wheeler:

The new guy on the block posted a .318/.400/.500 through seven games

MLB &Players Reach Winter League Deals

A deal has been reached between the MLB and the players association that will allow major leaguers to head down to winter league ball and play this season. With the Venezuelan Winter League and the Mexican Pacific League ready to start up this week, the Dominican Winter League starting on Friday, and the Puerto Rican League opening November 1st this news comes right on time.

This does not necessarily mean that the Yankees can let a, for example, Robinson Cano to go down and play in the winter leagues but it does relax the rules just a tad. If pitchers who spent the majority of their time in AA and threw 140 innings or more they will not be eligible which is down from 155 innings pitched from last year. The max for AA relievers has been reduced as well from 55 appearances last year to a max of 45 appearances this year.

With major league positional players with up to 552 plate appearances which is up from 502 plate appearances last season. Also the "physical incapacity" rule will be more strict and followed through instead of the club just filing paperwork. Other minor changes include better equipment, facilities, bathrooms, clubhouses, and fields.

Obviously teams are worried about their players being overworked and all that but teams still control whether their players can play or not so I see no problems with these new welcomed additions.

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

Dellin Betances Unlikely To Play In Winter Ball

In what is going to be a make or break season for Dellin Betances as a member of the New York Yankees things are not going as planned. Dellin asked for permission from the Yankees to go to winter ball and keep his arm fresh but, right now anyway, it seems unlikely that Mark Newman, senior vice president of baseball operations, and company will allow Betances to do that in an attempt to keep his arm fresh.

Betances believes that the extra work will help with him repeating his delivery and building on what was a strong 2013 season after being moved to the bullpen. Dellin may have a point as he posted a 6.00 ERA as a starter with the Scranton Railriders with 19 hits allowed, 19 runs allowed, 16 walks, and 25 strike outs in 24 innings. As a reliever Dellin posted a 1.35 ERA with 33 hits allowed, 26 walks, and 83 strikeouts in 60 innings. Dellin says the repetition of pitching every other day rather than every fifth or sixth day is the reason for his performance and confidence.

I can understand not wanting him to pitch all year round but it is not like the Yankees gave him a real shot to earn his spot this September. I can see both sides of the argument but you can limit him in winter ball if you really wanted him to go so I don't know. I just hope this does not effect Dellin in 2014 because he will be relied on heavily after the retirement of Mariano Rivera.

Gary Sanchez Has Been Traded For Pedro Ciriaco

We learned today that Yankees #1 prospect  Gary Sanchez has been traded for Pedro Ciriaco. Both players are under contract in the Dominican Winter League and that is where the trade went down, not between the Yankees and the San Diego Padres. I didn't scare you guys, did I? Gary is still a New York Yankees player and we did not trade him for a guy that was recently designated for assignment and picked up by the Padres from the Boston Red Sox.

Yankees Will Not Allow Cano To Play In Winter Ball

The Yankees have declined Robinson Cano's request to play in this years Dominican Winter League playoffs. Cano will be entering his age 30 season and will be the integral part of the Yankees offensive attack so this move makes a lot of sense especially when you consider that he has played in the third most number of games in the last six seasons with at least 159 games in each. He really has nothing to gain and everything to lose from this so this makes sense from the Yankees point of view.