The Yankees agreed to terms with 13 players on Minor League contracts with invitations to Spring Training yesterday. The signings of 1B Russell Branyan, 2B Bill Hall, and RHP Manny Delcarmen were made official. In addition, the signing of LHP Hidkei Okajima was confirmed. Also, OF DeWayne Wise was signed, probably headlining the nine other players who were signed. The Yankees also invited 14 prospects to Spring Training.
Branyan and Hall were both signed in the 48 hours prior to the official announcement while Delcarmen was signed quite some time ago. Delcarmen and Okajima will compete for bullpen spots while Wise will battle for a role as a fourth outfielder. Other players the Yankees have invited to Spring Training include LHP Manny Banuelos, LHP Juan Cedeno, LHP Mike O'Connor, RHP Daniel Burawa, RHP Matt Daley, RHP Adam Miller, RHP Ryan Pope, RHP Graham Stoneburner, RHP Adam Warner, RHP Kevin Whelan, RHP Chase Whitley, C Jose Gil, C Kyle Higashioka, C Gustavo Molina, C J. R. Murphy, C Gary Sanchez, SS Doug Bernier, 3B Jayson Nix, 1B Jorge Vazquez, RF Colin Curtis, LF Cole Garner, and RHP Brett Marshall.
Showing posts with label yankees first basemen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label yankees first basemen. Show all posts
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Yankees sign Branyan
The Yankees have agreed to terms with 1B Russell Branyan on a Minor League contract and invited him to Spring Training. Branyan has destroyed Yankees pitching at home since 2009. Now 36, he has hit the two longest home runs in the short history of the new Yankee Stadium. Branyan batted .197 with five homers and 14 runs batted in with the Angels and Arizona last season.
Branyan holds a .234 batting average with 194 home runs in his career. In 2010, Branyan hit the longest home run in new Yankee Stadium history off of RHP Javier Vasquez while playing for Seattle. Branyan had hit the longest home run in the stadium's history in 2009 when he hit the Mohegan Sun Sports Bar in dead center in 2009 and has hit eight homers in 47 at-bats at the new Yankee Stadium including one in his only at-bat there last season.
Branyan holds a .234 batting average with 194 home runs in his career. In 2010, Branyan hit the longest home run in new Yankee Stadium history off of RHP Javier Vasquez while playing for Seattle. Branyan had hit the longest home run in the stadium's history in 2009 when he hit the Mohegan Sun Sports Bar in dead center in 2009 and has hit eight homers in 47 at-bats at the new Yankee Stadium including one in his only at-bat there last season.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Yankees First Basemen
The Yankees are looking to repeat as AL East Champions in 2012. Having said that, a large part of their team remains intact from last season. One such area is first base.
1. Mark Teixeira: Teixeira had a strange season last year, struggling in many areas but still able to be effective as a slugger and run producer. He only batted .248 and failed to reach 150 hits, but he hit 39 home runs and knocked in 111 runs batted in. The Yankees are hoping that he can repeat with the power and production next season, and they'd welcome more consistency at the the plate, though it isn't really necessary at this point. In addition, Teixeira provides Gold Glove calibre defense at first.
2. Nick Swisher: Swisher will be the first line of defense behind Tex when he needs a day off. Having said that, his playing time there will be quite rare. A defensive standout and only 32 in April, Teixeira doesn't figure to get much time at DH, so Swisher's only real time at first should come when Tex gets a rest. Of course, Swisher will still be the everyday right fielder.
3. Brandon Laird: Laird is a huge prospect who is probably ready to make the next step to the big leagues. The only problem with that is that there doesn't seem to be any place to play him. A natural third baseman, Laird is penciled in to get some time at first in Spring and it probably wouldn't be a surprise to see him in left a bit also. He may have a chance to win the last spot on the bench, but that job looks like it's going to fall to a left-hander with the recent re-signing of DH/OF Andruw Jones.
The Yankees look pretty good at first base. Teixeira is a star even if he is inconsistent at times. Swisher is a good source of power in the lineup whether he plays in right or at first. Laird is a good prospect who could provide some pop off the bench or be marketed as a trade chip for bullpen help at some point, or he could be packaged with RHP A. J. Burnett for God knows what, as the Yankees have made their desire to trade Burnett in Spring Training no secret.
1. Mark Teixeira: Teixeira had a strange season last year, struggling in many areas but still able to be effective as a slugger and run producer. He only batted .248 and failed to reach 150 hits, but he hit 39 home runs and knocked in 111 runs batted in. The Yankees are hoping that he can repeat with the power and production next season, and they'd welcome more consistency at the the plate, though it isn't really necessary at this point. In addition, Teixeira provides Gold Glove calibre defense at first.
2. Nick Swisher: Swisher will be the first line of defense behind Tex when he needs a day off. Having said that, his playing time there will be quite rare. A defensive standout and only 32 in April, Teixeira doesn't figure to get much time at DH, so Swisher's only real time at first should come when Tex gets a rest. Of course, Swisher will still be the everyday right fielder.
3. Brandon Laird: Laird is a huge prospect who is probably ready to make the next step to the big leagues. The only problem with that is that there doesn't seem to be any place to play him. A natural third baseman, Laird is penciled in to get some time at first in Spring and it probably wouldn't be a surprise to see him in left a bit also. He may have a chance to win the last spot on the bench, but that job looks like it's going to fall to a left-hander with the recent re-signing of DH/OF Andruw Jones.
The Yankees look pretty good at first base. Teixeira is a star even if he is inconsistent at times. Swisher is a good source of power in the lineup whether he plays in right or at first. Laird is a good prospect who could provide some pop off the bench or be marketed as a trade chip for bullpen help at some point, or he could be packaged with RHP A. J. Burnett for God knows what, as the Yankees have made their desire to trade Burnett in Spring Training no secret.
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