Results tagged ‘ Jesus Montero ’
Tex likes Yankees’ trade for Pineda
Mark Teixeira offered a positive review for the Yankees’ big move of the offseason, saying that Michael Pineda could have a great impact on the club’s rotation for years to come.
Jesus Montero, dealt to the Mariners in last month’s four-player deal, might well turn into an elite big league hitter, but Teixeira said that the gamble seems to be worth it.
“Montero might be really, really good. He’s got a chance to be special, but so does Pineda,” Teixeira said last night at the Thurman Munson awards dinner in midtown. “I think that’s what we’re banking on; Pineda being a top tier starter and somebody that can be a force for a long, long time.”
Teixeira and the Yankees faced Pineda just once last season, on May 27 in Seattle. Teixeira went 2-for-4 against the right-hander, including a first-inning solo home run.
“[Pineda has an] electric fastball, really good slider,” Teixeira recalled. “He’s so big. Any pitcher that is that big, that can throw that hard, his margin of error is going to be a lot bigger than everyone else’s. He can go out there and not even his best stuff. When you’re 6-foot-7 and throw 97 (mph), you’re going to get outs.”
Teixeira did seem to suggest that the Yankees could use one more bat to complete their offseason shopping. If the season started today, New York’s DH would likely be Andruw Jones, with some consideration given to Minor League slugger Jorge Vazquez and the rest of the at-bats rotating between players like Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter.
“We basically have the lineup we had last year,” Teixeira said. “Rotating a DH wouldn’t be bad, but if you could pick up a guy that could come in and give you some pop off the bench or be a DH every now and then, we’re not going to say no to that. We can use all the help we can get.”
Pujols’ camp touched base with the Yankees
Because Dan Lozano wouldn’t have been doing his job if he hadn’t at least asked, the Yankees did have a chance to talk about Albert Pujols, general manager Brian Cashman said on Thursday.
“They touched base with me, but I said no,” Cashman said. “I gave it a nice, respectful no. We’ve made our commitments, we have guys we’re committed to, and … even though you can say he can fit on anybody’s club, realistically our money is spent in those directions. Trying to add that, how do you add that, with our commitments? You just can’t, it’s not feasible.”
Cashman said that Pujols’ camp understood the Yankees’ situation.
“Even Dan Lozano recognized [Mark] Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, [Jesus] Montero,” Cashman said. “There’s no vacancy here. I think if you were in my chair, you’d be in the same decision-making mode.”
If your eyebrows go up at the mention of Montero alongside Pujols, Teixeira and A-Rod, Cashman was in a joking mood this morning (though, of course, they do think highly of Montero).
Asked for his reaction to Pujols’ reported agreement with the Angels, Cashman replied, “Obviously he’s one of the greatest that’s played. He makes everybody significantly better. If he played for anybody, he’d make them all significantly better. He’s a special player. I don’t know him personally, but I see what he does with that bat. It’s Montero-like.”
Yankees keeping an eye on Danks
The Yankees have been linked to White Sox left-hander John Danks for some time, with little movement on the situation. Meanwhile, Brian Cashman has been talking about how he’s made his calls, but some teams seem to be asking for too much from New York’s farm system.
This could be an example. Jon Heyman tweets that the White Sox asked the Yankees for both catcher Jesus Montero and left-hander Manny Banuelos in exchange for the 26-year-old Danks. The Yankees weren’t interested at that price, but they will keep listening with regard to Danks, who was 8-12 with a 4.33 ERA in 27 starts this year for Chicago.
Girardi: Yankees’ rotation may be set
Yankees manager Joe Girardi tells the New York Daily News that he expects to go into the 2012 season with a rotation that includes CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova, Phil Hughes, Freddy Garcia and A.J. Burnett.
“I think we’ll look at maybe possibly adding some more depth to it, but I feel pretty good about these guys,” Girardi told the newspaper in a Tuesday telephone interview. “Our pitching was really overlooked last year, I thought. We threw the ball well all year long. Will we try to add one more veteran arm? It’s possible, but I feel pretty good about the guys we have in camp right now.”
Girardi does not seem to be expecting a big free agent along the lines of C.J. Wilson, Mark Buehrle or Edwin Jackson to be arriving in the Bronx.
“I think our club is starting to try to develop a little bit more,” Girardi said. “Sometimes you feel that you can overpay for pitching and it can cost you.”
The Daily News indicates the Yankees may be interested in trading for the Cubs’ Matt Garza, but are unwilling to move blue chip prospects like Jesus Montero or Manny Banuelos for him. The New York Post also notes that the Yankees could consider dealing Dellin Betances to the White Sox for John Danks.
Jesus Montero joins the Yankees
Jesus Montero’s first taste of life in the big leagues will come with the Yankees and the Red Sox facing off at Fenway Park. The Yankees are wasting no time getting their top prospect started, batting him seventh as the DH in Thursday’s series finale.
“This was my dream, to be here with the team,” Montero said. “Now I’m going to do my job, now I’m going to keep working to help us win.”
Montero said that his parents and girlfriend have tickets and will be on hand in Boston as he makes his big league debut.
“This is amazing for me – it’s a great night tonight,” Montero said. “I hope I do everything really good – I just want to help them to win. I’m here to have fun and help them to win, that’s it.”
The Yankees’ other September callups today are: pitchers Lance Pendleton, Scott Proctor and Raul Valdes, infielder Brandon Laird and outfielder Chris Dickerson.
Yankees may not make a big move
It is little secret that the Yankees would like a big-time arm to slot behind CC Sabathia in their rotation, given the uncertainty their current hurlers may offer come October, but the Rockies’ asking price for Ubaldo Jimenez is still believed to be too rich.
The New York Post reported Wednesday that the Yankees have spent more time discussing relievers and, internally, have pessimism that they will be involved in a major deal before the Trade Deadline. Ownership is also not pushing general manager Brian Cashman to make a big move.
The Rockies’ original asking price for Jimenez, according to the Post, was left-hander Manny Banuelos, right-hander Dellin Betances and catcher Jesus Montero, plus right-hander Ivan Nova.
Cashman has been generally protective of those players, though he was willing to part with Montero last July when the Mariners were dangling Cliff Lee. He balked at including Nova in that deal.
If Phil is right, do the Yankees need Ubaldo?
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — That’s the question I’m pondering from St. Pete, just a few hours before the start of a four-game series against the Rays and just a few hours removed from a very convincing start by Phil Hughes.
Hughes looked awfully close to that 18-game winner from 2010 against the Blue Jays on Sunday, when he notched his first win and first quality start, retired eight of his final nine hitters he faced and registered just 80 pitches through six innings. He could’ve gone longer, but Hughes (pictured left by The Associated Press) went deep enough to make a very important point — he looks like an effective starting pitcher again.
Over the All-Star break, the right-hander worked with pitching coach Larry Rothschild on better aligning his stride towards the plate and adjusting his curveball grip. That grip gave him a much sharper breaking ball he was able to use as a reliable No. 2 pitch to offset his four-seamer (one that consistently sat in the 92- to 93-mph range and got better as the game wore on).
Now, the question: If Hughes truly is back, and he’s the 2010 version again, do the Yankees need Ubaldo Jimenez?
Here’s the thing about Jimenez: Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd doesn’t really have to move him. It reminds me a lot of the situation with Padres closer Heath Bell in recent years. Jimenez is under club control for a while (signed through 2012 with two additional club options thereafter), he’s awfully affordable (making no more than $8 million through 2014) and his stock is rather low (Jimenez is 5-8 with a 4.08 ERA in 18 starts this year — though he does have a 2.56 ERA since the start of June).
Since the Rockies are 9 1/2 games out of first place and the starting-pitching market is weak, it’s not surprising they would shop him. But considering all the above-mentioned factors, it’s no wonder Colorado seeks the sun and the moon for the services of Ubaldo (pictured right by the AP).
MLB.com colleague Thomas Harding says the Rockies are at least listening to offers for Jimenez, but a deal remains unlikely. Peter Gammons, meanwhile, put the chances of a deal at 10 percent. We all know how quickly things can change as the non-waiver Trade Deadline draws closer, though.
With regards to the Yankees, the names that have surfaced as potential pieces to a deal are the likes of Manny Banuelos, Dellin Betances, Ivan Nova and Jesus Montero (though SI.com is reporting today that Montero wouldn’t be the centerpiece of the potential trade, since the Rockies don’t view him as a catcher).
Now, if Hughes is right, then the Yankees would have an in-house rotation of CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Hughes at the top, with the final spots going to any two between Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia and Nova.
Would they still need Jimenez to make a return trip to the playoffs? And would it be worth it to give up what the Rockies would want in return?
Curious to hear your thoughts.
Some links from the series finale in Toronto …
* Efficient Hughes looks strong in first win
* Yankees Notebook, on Gardner, Dickerson, Teixeira and A-Rod
* Yankees intend to push Rays down standings
– Alden
Hughes: Ready for the rotation
Phil Hughes checked in with The Associated Press down in the shadows of George M. Steinbrenner Field today, saying that he’s ready to battle Joba Chamberlain and others to be the Yankees’ fifth starter come Opening Day.
“I know I’m coming into the spring fighting for a job,” Hughes told the AP after a pre-spring training workout on Thursday. “I’m out of the
reliever mindset for right now. Anytime nothing is going to be handed
to you, you strive to be a little bit better.”
Hughes started throwing in mid-December and has thrown fastballs off a mound a couple of times this month. He said that last year’s success in a bullpen assignment helped his confidence.
“I definitely feel at a point where I’ve never been, having the
experience of consistently getting big league guys out,” Hughes said.
“It helps, and obviously winning the World Series also helps.”
Hughes guesses that his innings count could be between 175 and 180 if he makes the rotation.
- We launched a story on MLB.com looking ahead to the fifth starter battle today with a little more detail, and I jumped on with Noah Coslov and Pete McCarthy to talk about the negotiations – or lack thereof – with Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera right now.
- The AP also notes that Jesus Montero is working out at first base. It seems like a good idea for him to get acclimated there if possible, but with Mark Teixeira and Nick Johnson there for 2010 (plus Nick Swisher in an emergency), don’t look for that to be his calling card to the Bronx. Either way, Montero’s big bat will be what punches his ticket to the big leagues, maybe as soon as this year.
- How many miles do you figure the World Series trophy has traveled this winter? Here’s a couple of more appearances on the agenda to pass on from the Yankees… the trophy will be on display at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow (Friday, 2/12) at the Connecticut Sports Foundation Dinner at Mohegan Sun.
On Saturday (2/13), it will be on display and available for the public to take pictures with just outside of the Box Office in The Shops at Mohegan Sun from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. General public looking for additional information should call 1.888.226.7711.
Jays asking for Yankees’ best
The Blue Jays’ asking price for Roy Halladay is too rich for the
Yankees to stomach at this moment, and as was widely believed, Toronto
is asking for the cream of New York’s young talent.
ESPN.com
reported confirmation on Friday that the Blue Jays’ request of the
Yankees for Halladay is that New York should structure a deal around
either Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes, plus catcher Jesus Montero and
others.
MLB.com has reported that the Blue Jays are enamored
especially by Montero, a power-hitting prospect whose bat is close to
Major League ready at this time. There is some question if Montero will
physically be able to catch at the big league level, and could become a
first baseman somewhere down the line.
Yankees general
manager Brian Cashman said that he is aware of the request for talent
on the pitching front and called it “pricey.” Cashman is still smarting
somewhat from dealing three young players for Curtis Granderson, but
said he would be willing to dip into the farm again if needed.
“I’m
hesitant to move certain young players because of what they can do for
us in the future,” Cashman said. “At the same time, for the right
player, I’ll move anybody.”
Bryan Hoch
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