Early start: Yanks sign Mitre to Minors deal
NEW YORK - The Yankees dipped into Joe Girardi's managerial past to produce an option for their future pitching staff on Monday, agreeing to a Minor League contract with right-hander Sergio Mitre.
Mitre, who turns 28 in February, is recovering from Tommy John ligament replacement surgery in July. He was a member of Girardi's stable in 2006, when both were in the uniform of the Florida Marlins.
"We've agreed in principle to a Minor League contract," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "He's rehabbing from Tommy John and he's on a Minor League contract, so it doesn't really affect anything on the Major League side. We hope someday it could."
The Major League portion of Mitre's contract is for $1.25 million, and there is a team option for 2010.
Due to the severe surgery on his right elbow, Mitre may not be ready to pitch until mid-season, according to his agent, Matt Sosnick. Normal recovery time from Tommy John surgery is 12-18 months.
"About eight teams showed interest," Sosnick said. "The Yankees showed the most interest."
When healthy, Mitre has tremendous upside. He could be a key contributor for New York in the second half, working either out of the rotation or in the bullpen.
"We'll help finish off his rehab and hopefully have someone that could, once healthy, push his way into the mix at some point," Cashman said. "Once we get him healthy, we'll get a look and a feel what's best for our needs, but first we've got to get him healthy."
Mitre broke in with the Cubs, but he was traded to the Marlins before the 2006 season as part of the Juan Pierre deal. In 2007, the right-hander was 5-8 with a 4.65 ERA in 27 games, all starts. He threw 149 innings.
A sinkerball pitcher, Mitre was especially effective early in 2007. In May of that year, he was 2-0 with a 1.12 ERA in 40 1/3 innings. As the season progressed, however, he dealt with fatigue, and his second half statistics suffered. In 12 starts after the All-Star Break, he was 2-4 with a 72.7 ERA.
Mitre entered Spring Training with the chance to be among Florida's top three starting pitchers. However, he made just one appearance in Grapefruit League action, facing three batters without recording an out before being lifted with forearm tightness.
Cashman said that he used Girardi as a resource in considering signing Mitre.
"I was able to pick Joey's brain about his experience with him because our pro scouting department certainly had interest in him," Cashman said.
The signing of Mitre could be a precursor to a busy week for the Yankees. Cashman arrived in Dana Point, Calif. on Sunday for the General Managers' meetings, which opened Monday at the St. Regis Monarch Beach hotel.
"We hope to do bigger and better than a Minor League contract with some people, but we'll see," Cashman said.
Here we go again. Cashman is brain dead. Let's sign another guy rehabbing from T.J. surgery. Let's say the Yankees get 2 picks if other teams sign Abreu/Pudge, who realy cares if Cashman chooses more rehab guys. 2009 is looking like 2008 already.
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Couldn't agree with you more NoDig, but can you really say that you're surprised about this *******? Crashman is just keeping his long streak of mistakes alive, nothing has changed with this idiot. Going after another injury prone pitcher this team really doesn't need doesn't make sense. I just hope he doesn't waste his time going after players like Manny, The Drama Queen, or JAke PEavy who doesn't even want to play in NY.
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Jeter voted 22nd in ranking of MLB shortstops:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/11032008/sports/yankees/jeter_gets_no_glove_from_survey_136649.htm
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Why all the negativity? We haven't made a true offseason move yet.
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You can hardly call Cashman braindead for a minor league signing. If Mitre recovers the Yanks have another starter, if not who cares, he hasn't exactly been given Pavano money.
Jeter's glove stats don't surprise me. He's no Jimmy Rollins that's for sure but I reckon the difference between all but the league's top 4/5 shortstops is quite minimal
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I'm sorry but I don't see him as the worst at his position. At 34, he may not be the SS that he was in 2000 but his stats bare out that he's FAR from below average. His fielding pct was above his career and above the league average. His range factor was just above league average at his position. And maybe if pitchers would stop hitting him on the left hand, maybe he'd be better. I think he needs to charge the mound just ONCE next year when someone plunks him in the hand.
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Ok. This is just wrong.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2008/11/03/2008-11-03_source_brian_cashman_mulling_wild_pitch_.html
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The only way that is right is if he agrees to play for free.
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MLB Trader rumors reporting that Peavy HAS approved the Bombers and Halos as acceptable AL trade teams.
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Golf,
look at the disgruntled writer, he likes attention. No way we pick up Pavano's option and no way he re-signs if we don't. Plus if we did, Mussina would probably sign with the red sox to show his disapproval.
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Ok, I am at a loss. Boras represents Perez, Texiera, Manny and Lowe. We wouldn't deal with him with Arod or Sheff, so is Cashman suddenly talking to him? Cash said he reached out to the agents of the players he is most interested in.
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-I am hearing we made Lowe an offer.
-Kennadia is headed to Puerto Rico to build his trade stock.
-The Brewers offer for Sabathia maybe higher than the contract Santana got. No confirmation but thats the rumor.
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Pavano will meet with Cashman but his agent says he is not interested.
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Would Lowe signing end Pettitte's career? LA might make Pettitte an offer but since Pettitte said he wants to return all has been quite, if we sign Lowe, would that be a sign we don't want Pettitte?
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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/sports/baseball/02base.html?ref=baseball
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Abreu or Manny? Both! Manny at DH, Abreu in right, Damon in center or left if Nady is dealt.
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I still say we should get Fuentes or I guarantee Joba eventually goes back to the pen, beyond Rivera you have a bunch of kids who will quickly acquire tired arms.
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Whether the Yanks get Fuentes or not, there's no chance Joba goes back to the pen. Fuentes isn't that good. I think the Yanks will probably stay in-house to fill out any holes in the pen. IF Melancon impresses enough he could fill that hole. A Lowe signing could say that the Yanks don't want to spend big money on risky players like Burnett more than anything else, this team could still keep Pettitte. Also, from what I have been hearing Peavy could be going to Atlanta.
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Peavy will go to Atlanta if they finally give up the prospects Diego wants.
Fuentes is the best lefty I have seen in years, way better than Marte, Myers, Traber, Villone and Henn. A pen full youngster will be a huge mistake, Fuentes will shore it up.
I'd actually rather have Lowe than risk another Pavano will Sheets or Burnett. However, I would rather have Pettitte instead of Lowe.
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You're not saying much when you compare Fuentes to the likes of Myers, Traber, Villone, and Henn, you might want to tweak that a little bit there. It's still within the realm of possibility that you could see Lowe and Pettitte in the same rotation. Yankee pen is young but does have experience.
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Our pen will fall apart if Rivera is the only veteran. Our rotation better go 7+
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While we are at it, let's bring back Mike Morgan, Bob Shirley, Hawkins, Farnsworth..etc. Why not sing Cordero instead? At least he has done something productive in the past. I am not a big Lowe fan but he is less of a risk than Pavano, Sheets and Burnett. However, I agree with B. Park. I would rather have Pettitte in that case. At least that way, the risk will be minimal as would the cumulative cost. Go for young studs, not guys who happen to have their best and only remotely healthy seasons in walk years. Hughes and Aceves are more exciting options and at least cannot be considered bad , high risk and cost investments. Sorry, but Fuentes wants to close and the Yankees do not need two 8 figure guys in the bullpen.
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