Yankees Send RP Cory Wade To AAA

And the Chad Qualls trade makes a whole lot of sense now....

The Yankees announced today that they have sent down Yankees right handed reliever Cory Wade to AAA Empire State Yankees. The Yankees have also called up Chad Qualls to take his spot on the 25 man roster. Cory Wade has recently come back down to Earth so the move is somewhat justified, not that I necessarily agree with it. Not to mention his 56 pitch outing the other night had me worried also about a possible DL stint so we'll have to watch out for that.

Hopefully Chad Qualls can come in and give the Yankees some quality innings. Good luck Chad!

Yankees Sign Luis Torrens, Yancarlos Baez, & Alex Palma

The Yankees, on the first day of international free agent signings, wasted no time in signing three guys from the international pool of talent. The new collective bargaining agreement, as a reminder to all, only allows the Yankees to spend $2.9 million this time around.

Luis Torrens is a 16 year old Venezuelan catching prospect who signed for $1.3 million. Yancarlos Baez is a Dominican 16 year old short stop prospect who signed for $650K. These two are considered to be "big splashes" in the international market while Alex Palma signed a $800K deal as a 16 year old Venezuelan outfielder prospect.

The Yankees, after these three signings, only have $150K left to spend on international players so dont expect any more big names to come off the board to Yankee land.

Torrens was considered the 2nd best prospect in this years international pool and Alex Palma was considered the 4th best international free agent in this years draft. Baez is not listed in the top 20 prospects but he seems to be a good find with switch hitting power and average or above everything else.

Yankees @ Rays 7/2/12

Bullpen blows it again in another 4-3 Yankees loss

The Yankees will welcome Freddy Garcia back to the starting rotation, in place of Andy Pettitte, tonight against the Rays and Matt Moore. The game will be televised at 7:05 pm ET on ESPN and the YES Network. The Yankees are red hot and the Rays have really been trying to just stay close until they get Evan Longoria back so it should be a fun series. Get ready to see every shift imaginable and probably some questionable managing calls from Joe Maddon if we are lucky.

Lineups

Derek Jeter DH
Curtis Granderson CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Andruw Jones LF
Jayson Nix SS
Chris Stewart C

Go Yankees!!

Yankees Acquire Phillies RP Chad Qualls

Chad Qualls, a few days after being designated for assignment (DFA), has been traded to the New York Yankees for a player to be named later (PTBNL) or cash considerations. The Yankees basically stole the guy who is a right handed reliever and closer type with tons of major league experience. He was not exactly tearing up the National League, do not get me wrong, so do not expect him to be the savior.

For those who care here are his stats for this season from fangraphs. It will be interesting to see who, if it is a player, we give back to the Phillies for Qualls.

The Yankees have designated Mike Antonelli, who they claimed off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles, for assignment to make room for Qualls on the 40 man roster.

White Sox @ Yankees 7/1/12

UPDATE:

The Sox jump all over Phil Hughes in the first for two runs. The Yankees loaded the bases with no outs and could not score. 2-0 CHW after 1 inning. 

Eric Chavez hits a two run home run to tie the game in the 2nd!

2-2 Tie

Robinson Cano adds a two run home run to make it 4-2 Yanks 

Soriano gets the save after 8 IP from Phil Hughes.

Yankees win 4-2

Today is Old Timers Day which is always a good entertaining watch. Tune in to YES to see this years Old Timers game. With this today's game will start a little late, a 2:05 pm ET start, and will be televised on YES Network and TBS Sunday Afternoon Baseball.

This afternoon the Yankees will throw Phil Hughes out on the mound to face Chicago's Gavin Floyd. The Sox have won the first two games of the series before being shut out yesterday afternoon in the Bronx. The Yankees will look to split the series this afternoon with yet another great start for Phil Hughes (i hope).

Lineups

1. Jeter SS
2. Granderson CF
3. Teixeira 1B
4. Cano 2B
5. Swisher RF
6. Ibanez DH
7. Chavez 3B
8. Martin C
9. Wise LF

Go Yankees!!

Yankees 2012 All Star Game Selections

The All Star selections are in and we have quite a few familiar Yankees faces. Congratulations go out to these current Yankees who will be going to the All Star Game for 2012 in Kaufmann Stadium in Kansas City, home of the Royals.

Starting Lineup:

Starting 2B Robinson Cano

Starting SS Derek Jeter

Starting OF Curtis Granderson

Pitchers:


SP CC Sabathia

Reserves:


N/A

Phillies Agree To Trade Jim Thome To Baltimore Orioles

I know that this is not exactly Yankees related but it is relevant to the AL East so I decided that I would post it anyway. This afternoon the Philadelphia Phillies agreed to trade 1B Jim Thome to the Baltimore Orioles for  A ball pitching prospect Kyle Simon and 19 year old catching prospect Gabriel Lino (basically nothing....).

The Orioles were in need of a DH type hitter and someone to help from the left side and they got both with this Thome deal. Is he going to be the one to lead the Orioles to the promised land? Probably not... Is he going to help? Immensely in my opinion.

White Sox @ Yankees 6/30/12

The Yankees win behind 7 shut out innings from Hiroki Kuroda.

Yankees win 4-0

The Yankees look to break a two game losing streak against the Chicago Whitesox. Hiroki Kuroda will be on the mound this afternoon against Jake Peavy. The game will be televised at 1:05 pm ET on YES and MLB Network's matinee.

1. Derek Jeter SS

2. Curtis Granderson CF

3. Alex Rodriguez 3B

4. Robinson Cano 2B

5. Mark Teixeira 1B

6. Nick Swisher DH

7. Raul Ibanez RF

8. Russell Martin C

9. Dewayne Wise LF

Go Yankees!!

Jim Thome and the Yankees

I was just over at ESPN.com and read something from Jayson Stark saying that the Phillies would start listening to offers for Jim Thome. The problem for the Phils is that Thome can't play the field anymore due to his back, therefore he's become a DH-only in a league that doesn't give teams a DH (*stupid*cough*stupid*).

Thome has said he'd like to return to a team that he already played for, but since the White Sox already have Adam Dunn, and the Indians will soon get back Travis Hafner, that option just isn't possible. But... is the option of being dealt to the Yankees a possibility? I say "no".

Although I'd love to see Jim walking up to the plate, instead of either Andruw Jones or Lord Voldemort's long-lost brother, the cost to get him wouldn't be worth it. Now, I'm not saying Jim Thome isn't worth what Philadelphia could get for him. What I'm saying is Jim Thome is not worth the cost to the Yankees.

The Yankees have to give guys like Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter half days off, meaning they DH instead of playing the field. In that case Thome would ride the bench. Sounds okay in theory, but in practice that means the Yankees would have traded away some good prospects for a guy that doesn't play everyday.

To put it another way, the cost of acquiring Jim Thome is too much not to play hin everyday. So I'm sorry to say that you'll be seeing more of Jones and Ibanez.

White Sox @ Yankees 6/29/12

Adam Warren makes his major league debut tonight in place of the injured CC Sabathia against the Chicago White Sox. The Sox are flying high after getting to the Yankees bullpen in the 9th and coming back from a 3-1 deficit to win 4-3. For the Sox on the mound will be Jose Quintana,  former Yankee farm hand. The game will be televised at 7:05 pm ET on YES and MLB Network. 

Lineups

1. Jeter SS
2. Granderson CF
3. Teixeira 1B
4. A-Rod 3B
5. Cano 2B
6. Swisher RF
7. Jones DH
8. Nix LF
9. Stewart C

Go Yankees!!