Yankees Acquire Brent Lillibridge From Cubs

The Yankees and the Cubs have hooked up in a trade that brings Brent Lillibridge to the Yankees for a player to be named later or future cash considerations. Hopefully this light hitting infielder/outfielder is even more depth for the minor leagues and not in the major league plans because that will seriously depress me.

Michael Pineda's To Start For Trenton On Tuesday

Michael Pineda's next stop on the 30 day rehab assignment train will stop in Trenton to start for the Trenton Thunder on Tuesday. Pineda has roughly three or four more starts left in this rehab assignment before the Yankees have to option him to the minors or activate him on the big league club so every start is important at this point for Pineda. Our friend Mike Ashmore is usually Johnny on the spot when it comes to covering the Thunder so we should have plenty of information at our finger tips for the start on Tuesday. Follow Mike @mashmore89 on twitter and follow us @GreedyStripes to stay up to date with Michael Pineda and his rehab assignment start.

Game Thread TB @ NYY 6/21

The Yankees offense needs to show up tonight with Roberto Hernandez on the mound for the Tampa Bay Rays. If they cannot beat him then I cannot see how the Yankees can make a serious playoff push this season. David Phelps will take the ball for the Yankees to try and get them back to their winning ways. The game will be televised on MY9 so check that out.

Here is the Yankees lineup

Brett Gardner CF
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Robinson Cano 2B
Travis Hafner DH
Lyle Overbay 1B
Zoilo Almonte LF
Jayson Nix SS
David Adams 3B
Austin Romine C

Follow us on Twitter @GreedyStripes all season long 

Mark Montgomery Back On AAA Disabled List

The best relief prospect in the Yankees system is back on the AAA disabled list for the second time in less than a month. The first time was for a fatigued shoulder and was called simply seven days of rest. This time I do not see the fans or the media buying that kind of explanation so I am curious to see what exactly is wrong with Mark. The move is retroactive to June 19th.

Reid Brignac Designated For Assignment, Gonzalez Up

The day that has been long overdue has finally come as the Yankees have finally designated Reid Brignac for assignment. In a corresponding move the Yankees have also brought Alberto Gonzalez back up to the major leagues to take his spot essentially. Brignac is a wonder with the glove but so is Alberto Gonzalez and Gonzalez has more flexibility and versatility in my eyes. Also Gonzalez is a right handed batter and is a marginal upgrade offensively over Brignac and the Yankees definitely need offense right now. What is amazing is that Gonzalez is a career .242 hitter and he is being called an "upgrade" offensively over what we currently have... yeah... the offense has been that bad. I fully expect Reid to clear waivers so the possibility remains that he can be sent to AAA to Scranton to essentially be swapped with Alberto.

Yankees Acquire Mike Zagurski & Yoshinori Tateyama

The Yankees announced a couple of moves today that will impact their farm system, specifically the AAA Scranton Wilkes Barre Railriders team.

The Yankees acquired Yoshinori Tateyama from the Texas Rangers for future considerations so that probably means we will send some money that way. Tateyama was sent to AAA after a lackluster 2012 season and had a 1.38 WHIP in AAA for the Rangers this season. Whether Tateyama has a legitimate shot at ,making the Yankees bullpen or if he is simply AAA depth is yet to be determined but I tend to go with the latter personally.

Mike Zagurski was signed to a minor league deal as a free agent and will also join the AAA Scranton team but this time for the starting rotation. He does not make much sense for the Yankees as they already have two Mike Zagurksi's in AAA named David Huff and Josh Spence but I guess you cannot have too much pitching especially in the year of the injury so there you have it. Zagurksi has big league experience, albeit limited, and could be in the Yankees bullpen out of necessity this season.

Peter O'Brien & Alex Smith Promoted To Tampa

Charleston Riverdogs catcher Peter O'Brien and pitcher Alex Smith have both been called up and promoted to the Tampa Yankees. The happiest person on the field right now may be Gary Sanchez who is currently catching for the High A Tampa Yankees and that means that a promotion to AA Trenton Thunder is probably in the works. O'Brien is coming to Tampa with a .325/.394/.619 triple slash so while he has big shoes to fill I think he may be the one that can do it.

BREAKING NEWS: Ivan Nova Scratched From Start

Ivan Nova has been scratched from his AAA start tonight according to Donnie Collins signaling that he could be coming up to make a start for the Yankees next week. The Yankees will need a starter after the double header Wednesday with the Dodgers and currently have a TBA lined up for the finale with the Rays Sunday. With Vidal Nuno still on the disabled list with a groin injury it looks like all signs are pointing to Ivan Nova getting that start so let's hope that if this is indeed the case that he makes the best of it.

Tampa Bay Rays @ New York Yankees 6/21

The New York Yankees continue to host the Tampa Bay Rays for game two of a four game extended weekend series at Yankees Stadium. The Yankees will send David Phelps to face off with Roberto Hernandez for the Rays, formerly Fausto Carmona. The game will be televised at 7:05 pm ET on MY9 and on MLB TV.

Game 73 Lineup: Rays vs. Yankees

Here's the lineup for Game 2 of this 4 game set! David Phelps vs. Roberto Hernandez!

Brett Gardner CF
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Robinson Cano 2B
Travis Hafner DH
Lyle Overbay 1B
Zoilo Almonte LF
Jayson Nix SS
David Adams 3B
Austin Romine C

RHP David Phelps

Some Notes:

-- The Yankees have DFA'd Reid Brignac and Alberto Gonzalez now has his spot on the roster. Surprising fact, the Yankees were 27-16 before acquiring Brignac. After acquiring Brignac? 12-17.