Yankees Sign Mark Reynolds To Major League Deal

I believe I predicted this a week or so ago but it is finally a reality now that the New York Yankees have signed Mark Reynolds to a major league deal today. The Yankees are only on the hook for a pro-rated portion of the league minimum for the rest of the season which is somewhere below $200,000. The Yankees have been searching for a right handed power bat to compliment Lyle Overbay and, strike outs and terrible defense and all, they found it with Reynolds. Reynolds has put up a .207/.315/.373 triple slash with the Indians this year including 16 home runs. Welcome to the team Mark!

Mike Zagurksi Opts Out & Becomes A Free Agent

Yankees minor league left handed pitcher Mike Zagurski has used his opt out clause to become a free agent in search of a major league opportunity. The 30 year old lefty has allowed 10 runs in six innings with the Pittsburgh Pirates this season but has dominated AAA batters with a combined 2.66 ERA and a 14.3 K/9 ratio in 47 innings this season between the two clubs. The problem is he has not limited lefties enough to be a true LOOGY, left handed batters have a triple slash of .244/.310./321, but is not good enough to be more than a one or two batter kind of pitcher in the majors. Hopefully he latches on with a team that will give him a shot at a major league deal and good luck to Mr. Zagurski.

Derek Jeter Unlikely To Come Off The DL Sunday

Derek Jeter is eligible to come off the disabled list this Sunday when the Yankees travel to Boston to take on the Red Sox but it seems unlikely that the Yankees will activate their captain and short stop. Derek Jeter is taking batting practice and playing catch but has yet to run at full speed which is going to be the obvious test for Jeter's calf and it's health. Jeter has been on the disabled list three times now this season all with lower leg injuries so I cannot see the Yankees being anything but overly cautious this time around so do not expect to see Jeter before our series with the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday.

David Huff Promoted, Dellin Betances Sent Down

David Huff, as everyone probably saw today, was promoted to the major leagues from AAA Scranton to be part of the Yankees suddenly think bullpen. The 25 man roster move would be to send Dellin Betances back down to the RailRiders after getting lit up in his season debut earlier in the week. The Yankees needed a starter for next Tuesday's double header against the Toronto Blue Jays so I guess that is where Huff factors in. To make room on the 40 man roster David Phelps was transferred to the 60 day DL from the 15 day DL while fighting another forearm strain on his pitching arm.

Yankees lose series finale to Angels despite a good start from Hughes

Phil Hughes gave up just 3 earned runs over six innings of work today as the Yankees lost this series' finale to the Angels, 8-4. While a win today would've been nice, it's not all that bad that the Bombers finally lost a game. You have to lose a few of those. 

With this loss, Hughes 2013 record is now a very bad, 4-12. This season just hasn't been his season. He is either so bad that the Yankees can't out-score the opponent or he's good but loses in a pitcher's duel. Either way, he's been bad with a dash of unlucky. 

Yankees Sign Mark Reynolds

According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the Yankees have reached an agreement with corner infielder Mark Reynolds on a contract.

Reynolds hit .205/.307/.373 with 15 home runs before being released by Cleveland. Reynolds was hot early in the season, as he hit .291/.367/.645 through May 9th, but has only hit .177/.277/.240 since.

Reynolds was probably signed to play first base against lefties, as the Yankees have been forced to use Lyle Overbay against most lefties because they have not had a platoon partner for him. Reynolds has a 111 wRC+ and a .330 wOBA againt lefties this year, which are solid numbers and a big upgrade over Overbay's 50 wRC+ and .250 wOBA against lefties this season.

Hughes Willing To Relieve In 2014

According to Andy Martino of the Daily News, Phil Hughes is willing to sign as a reliever when he becomes a free agent after the season. When asked if being a reliever was off the table, Phil responded with the following...

“No. I mean, I feel like pitching at this level is a blessing in any way. So if teams value me as a starter, that’s great. If not, and that’s their opinion, we’ll see what happens. We will see how it shakes out.”

Hughes hasn't appeared in a game in a relief role since 2011, but his numbers in that spot are stellar. He has a 1.44 ERA and 0.905 WHIP in 56.1 innings out of the bullpen. Seeing that the Yankees will certainly be looking at bullpen help this offseason, the news that Hughes could go there greatly changes things.

Game Thread: Angels @ Yankees 8/15

The New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim finish their four game set at Yankees Stadium today at 1:05 pm ET. The pitching match up is Phil Hughes for the Yankees trying to keep the line moving and CJ Wilson for the Angels trying to salvage a game in the series. The game can be seen on the YES Network, MLB network, and MLB TV so tune in to watch the Yankees attempt a sweep of the Angels and get back into this playoff race for the Wild Card.

Follow us on twitter by following @GreedyStripes. Go Yankees!!

Los Angeles Angels @ New York Yankees 8/15

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the New York Yankees finish off their four game series this afternoon in a getaway game at Yankees Stadium. The Yankees will send Phil Hughes to the mound looking for the sweep of the Angels and will be matched up with CJ Wilson for the Halos. The game will be televised at 1:05 pm ET on the YES network, MLB Network, and MLB TV.

Delmon Young Released But Is He A Target?

The New York Yankees are suddenly creeping right back into the wild card race and the playoff hunt with a strong series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and a little help from the league. The Yankees may now consider some upgrades on the roster, especially if they only require money and not players in trade, and a intriguing player just became available on the free agent market. The Philadelphia Phillies released Delmon Young yesterday after he refused an assignment to AAA after being designated for assignment. Young is a right handed bat with some power and has put up a stat line of .260/.301/.397 in 291 plate appearances this season after signing a one year deal worth $750,000 in the off season.

If the Yankees were to sign Delmon we would only be on the hook for around $180,000 for the rest of the season and he would become a free agent at the end of the season. Delmon is really a DH only kind of player but has dabbled some right field and other outfield spots in his career. Delmon has a career 162 game average triple slash of .283/.316/.423 with 16 home runs but would he be a fit for the Yankees?

If Delmon could play first base and finally give the Yankees the right handed platoon partner with Lyle Overbay I think he would already be signed but do the Yankees really need another outfielder and DH type to rotate into the lineup? We honestly need another outfielder like we need another injury or another prospect to bust. Also I cannot see the Yankees clogging up the DH spot so it seems likely that the Yankees will pass on Young whether he is an upgrade to the lineup or not.