Via Joel Sherman -
In a move designed to boost the Yankees’ sagging offense, the team today will demote Melky Cabrera to the minors, waive Richie Sexson, and promote Brett Gardner and Cody Ransom from Triple-A, The Post has learned.
Not sure I see the need to send Melky down to bring up Gardner.
If Gardner is going to be a bench player/defensive sub/pinch runner, why not use Melky in that role? Then again, maybe the Yankees are trying to send a message to Cabrera by sending him down?
The Ransom for Sexson move makes sense – when you consider that Derek Jeter is banged up. You need a back-up infielder who can catch the ball, unlike Wilson Betemit, more than you need a RH-batting 1B/DH type…now that Nady is here and Matsu may be returning.
Back to Cabrera, it will be interesting to see if this move has any impact, good or bad, on Robinson Cano now – since they’re so tight.
18 Responses to “Melky & Sexson Out, Gardner & Ransom In”
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August 15th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
If Gardner is going to be a bench player/defensive sub/pinch runner, why not use Melky in that role?
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I guess the organization still sees Melky as an everyday player.
August 15th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
And Gardner’s not?
August 15th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Melky is a warning shot to Cano.
August 15th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
And Gardner’s not?
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That’s the part I don’t understand; he was sent down to play everyday, right?
Personally, they both strike me as “4th OF” types.
August 15th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Its obvious they are sending Melky a message, the question is whether they delivered any sort of message when he was told he was being optioned out. I mean, its gotta be a shock to him after playing in the majors two + years. Did they tell him “we believe in you, but you’ve got to regain your batting stroke before we bring you back”? Or did they say “Melky, we don’t think you’re going to be starting right now, so better to play regularly and we promise you’ll be back when rosters expand, maybe before”?
August 15th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
And so the Big Sexy Era comes to a close, not with a bang but a whimper. Yet another of Cashman’s idiotic “lightning in a bottle signings” that failed to pan out.
August 15th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Yet another of Cashman’s idiotic “lightning in a bottle signings” that failed to pan out.
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What?
Sexson as a Yank: .250/.371/.393, 28 AB, 1 HR; vs LHP: .273/.393/.455, 22 AB, 1 HR.
Not quite sure what you were looking for, but he was bought on board to hit lefties. Looks like that’s what he did.
August 15th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Yet another of Cashman’s idiotic “lightning in a bottle signings” that failed to pan out.
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Don’t see what was idiotic about paying under $500,000 to a guy that crushes LHP. In 28 AB’s for the Yanks, Sexson hit .250/.371/.393. The sample size is pretty small but it looks like he was doing OK as a bench player. Furthermore, I don’t see what’s so idiotic about “lightning in a bottle” signings. Every team makes them, as evidenced by the Red Sox taking a flier on a fat, over-the-hill Bartolo Colon or the Tigers trying to squeeze juice out of the crooked elbow of Freddy Garcia.
And if Sexson had panned out, would you still think that it was an idiotic signing?
August 15th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
What are the longer term implications, if Melky is who he is right now… who is our CF.. going into 09.. and do you resign/extend Damon. AJax will not be ready until 2010 .. we may need a solid stop-gap OFer as much as we need a 1B this offseason.
August 15th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
What are the longer term implications, if Melky is who he is right now…
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If that’s the case, I would suspect Damon’s the CF in 2009, barring a trade or a FA signing. Otherwise, you’ll see the same cast (Damon, Gardner, Melky, Christian, Nady) manning CF next year.
August 15th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
If Damon is our CFer, do we have to keep Pudge.
i think teams will start running again if Jorge returns behind the plate and Damon roves in the CF.. we know Molina cant be everyday… the Yanks cannot just rely on Damon for the CF option.. its will all be easier if Melky gets his act together… oh well.
August 15th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
If that’s the case, I would suspect Damon’s the CF in 2009, barring a trade or a FA signing. Otherwise, you’ll see the same cast (Damon, Gardner, Melky, Christian, Nady) manning CF next year.
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I don’t think there are any attractive FA options for CF this winter. The Yanks would be best served by putting Damon back in CF unless Melky somehow has a great spring. AJax shouldn’t be rushed to the bigs and should be allowed to develop naturally through 2009.
What I’d suggest is the Yanks try to trade for one of the Braves’ excess OF prospects.
August 15th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
How is Melky the problem and not the millionaires that make up the rest of the offense?????
Clearly too many Yankee employees read and listen to the media. Last week everyone jumped on Melky and today he is demoted. Cano should have been demoted, alot more was expected from him.
August 15th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
They probably sent Melky down to work on his swing because it looks awful, more than sending him a message.
Any doubt he’ll be back up when they expand the rosters? I say he’s down there for two weeks and comes right back.
August 15th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
How is Melky the problem and not the millionaires that make up the rest of the offense?????
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.242/.296/.337 (.633 OPS) is ugly no matter which way you cut it.
Melky is the worst hitting regular on the team.
August 15th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
I was a big Melky fan and thought he had turned a corner after his big April, but he has been simply overmatched since that time and looked awful. Hopefully he can rebound, but I’m not hopeful.
August 16th, 2008 at 12:25 am
“And if Sexson had panned out, would you still think that it was an idiotic signing?”
Um, what the hell? This makes no sense. Yes, if a player is signed and does well it’s a good signing. If not, no.
August 17th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Um, what the hell? This makes no sense. Yes, if a player is signed and does well it’s a good signing. If not, no.
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Exactly. So tell me why Sexson was an idiotic signing since he did exactly what he was supposed to do.
Sexson as a Yank: .250/.371/.393, 28 AB, 1 HR; vs LHP: .273/.393/.455, 22 AB, 1 HR.