Via Tyler Kepner -

The Southern California Trojans came to town Saturday, but that had been scheduled long in advance. The appearance of another U.S.C. man, Ian Kennedy, was far less certain. But there he was in the Yankees’ clubhouse, with a No. 38 jersey, back in the major leagues.

“It’s been a blessing just to be here,” said Kennedy, a former first-round pick who pitched well down the stretch in 2007. “To line something like this up, only God can do.”

Kennedy has reason to frame his ordeal in spiritual terms. While pitching for Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in April, he was diagnosed with a vasospasm in his right middle ringer. A follow-up magnetic resonance imaging test showed an aneurysm near his right shoulder, which was surgically removed May 12.

“When it happened, they assured me it was not career threatening,” Kennedy said. “I’d rather have this than have a shoulder problem or Tommy John surgery. But when I first heard ‘aneurysm,’ I was kind of scared.”

Kennedy said his doctor told him not to worry about a recurrence. The operation – “he sewed my vein into my artery,” Kennedy said – had been a success. David Cone, who had aneurysm surgery in 1996 and returned to the Yankees late that season, assured Kennedy he could feel normal again on the mound.

When he started throwing, though, Kennedy said he “didn’t have any feel at all” for pitching. But it came back after a week, just as Cone had promised, and on Sept. 12 he started for Class A Tampa in the Florida State League playoffs, tossing two scoreless innings. Four days later, he threw three perfect innings for Scranton, with nine strikeouts.

Hey, at his worst, Alfred E. Kennedy was just as “good” as Sergio Mitre…so, why not use him over the final few weeks…if there’s a chance to do it?

Via George King -

Reliever Damaso Marte, out since April with an injured left shoulder, is expected to rejoin the Yankees bullpen tonight for the series opener with the Red Sox.

It’s possible the Yankees could go with 13 pitchers and send down a position player, who then would be recalled when rosters expand Sept. 1.

Marte, who signed a three-year, $12 million deal this offseason, has pitched in seven games with a 15.19 ERA.

Kei Igawa wants to know if this means the Yankees are instituting a “No Lefty Left Behind” program…

The Yankees have acquired starting pitcher Chad Gaudin from the Padres for a player to be named later.

Gaudin, 26, is a little righty who has been around. Before joining the Yankees, he’s pitched in the majors for the Rays, Blue Jays, A’s, Cubs, and Padres. He’s much more effective against RH-batters than LH-batters, to date, in his career – as the latter have fashioned a .388 OBA against him.

In his last 11 starts this season for the Padres, Gaudin has gone 2-6 with an ERA of 5.22 in 58.2 innings pitched.

You can probably expect the same from him when he pitches for the Yankees this season.

George King has the story.

Every time I hear “Anthony Clagget,” I think “Jed Clampett.” Why is that?

Via Joel Sherman.

Now, if the Yankees can only trade for Scott Hairston, then we can start having flashbacks to 1973 when the Yankees had Felipe and Matty Alou…

Via the Daily News -

New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada will come off the disabled list before Friday night’s game at Cleveland.

The All-Star played six innings Thursday in an extended spring training game, then said he was scheduled to fly to Cleveland to meet up with his team.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Posada will be activated but he did not yet have a corresponding roster move.

Posada has been sidelined since straining his right hamstring May 4. The Yankees open a four-game series with the Indians on Friday night.

“The hamstring is feeling good,” Posada said. “I’m happy with everything. The most important thing was just running, seeing some pitches and getting the timing down.”

Wow. This is four weeks faster than I thought.

Who goes to make room? Kevin Cash, Angel Berroa or Brett Tomko – with the latter being a long-shot. When you consider that Berroa has not faced a pitcher since May 4th, Cash might be safe for a little while longer…

Via wire services -

Former Texas A&M pitcher Casey Fossum signed a minor-league deal with the New York Yankees on Saturday, then was the starting pitcher in the team’s Triple-A club that afternoon.

The 31-year-old left-hander pitched 3 2/3 innings in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s 5-1 victory over Norfolk. Fossum allowed two hits, one run, striking out four and walking two.

The New York Mets designated Fossum for assignment Sunday after clearing waivers, but he elected for free agency.

Fossum opened the season with Triple-A Buffalo, making two starts. The Mets called him up on April 19. He didn’t have a decision in three games, pitching four innings with a 2.25 earned run average.

Fossum has pitched in 237 major league games, 120 of them as a starter. He has a career record of 40-53 with a 5.45 ERA.

When I think of Casey Fossum, I think of two things:

1. The sound of his name, “Casey Fossum,” rings in my head with the sound of Michael Kay’s annoying usage of the words “flotsam and jetsam.” Say it to yourself a few times…Casey Fossum, flotsam and jetsam……Casey Fossum, flotsam and jetsam……Casey Fossum, flotsam and jetsam…see?

2. The fact that the Arizona Diamondbacks were stupid enough to trade Curt Schilling for this guy and a bunch of other bushers. And, that the Yankees could not manage to better of the offer of Fossum, Michael Goss, Brandon Lyon and Jorge de la Rosa for Curt Schilling.

Via Marc Carig -

With the starting pitchers struggling to get deeper into games, the Yankees called up reliever Anthony Claggett to bolster a bullpen that’s quickly become depleted. First baseman Juan Miranda, called up on Friday, was sent down.

I guess this Miranda has no rights. He gets one day in the Bronx and then has his ticket punched for the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Funicular the next morning…

Good guy Chase Wright is Brewer bound.

In sending Wright packing, the Yankees picked up Eric Fryer.

Fryer is not a terrible prospect. It looks like he can hit a bit. And, if he can catch, maybe he’ll turn into a Jim Leyritz type?

The fact that the Yankees were able to get someone like Fryer for Wright tells you something about Wright. In most cases, when you DFA a player, like the Yanks did with Chase, you have zero leverage in trying to deal him. Getting a somewhat prospect like Fryer says there was a market for Wright…even as a DFA guy.

I hope Wright makes the Brewers this season and wins 20 games this year. To me, that would be cool – in so many ways.

In case you missed it, the Yankees have designated Chase Wright for assignment. Now, you may recall, back in 2007, I was a fan of Wright. And, while this is just a hunch, if Wright is picked up by another team, with a decent roster, and given 30 starts at the big league level in 2009, it would not shock me to see him win between 10 and 15 games in the majors this season.

Lefties like John Tudor, Jamie Moyer, Larry Gura and Bob Ojeda were late bloomers. Wright could be one too.

Via the AP –

Andy Pettitte and the New York Yankees agreed Monday to a $5.5 million, one-year contract that brings the left-hander back to New York.

Pettitte can make an additional $6.5 million on performance bonuses and bonuses based on time on the active roster.

“There was never another team brought up,” Pettitte said during a conference call. “I wanted to come back to the Yankees.”

Didn’t I say, if the Yankees offered Pettitte somewhere around $12 to $13 million, this would get done?

Looks like $12 million was the magic number.

A rotation of Sabathia, Wang, Pettitte, Burnett and Chamberlain. Now, that’s pretty darn impressive. No excuses this year, huh?

Via the Yankees site -

The New York Yankees obliged Darrell Rasner’s wishes by selling his contract to a team in Japan’s Central League for $1 million, according to a Saturday night report by ESPN.com.

Rasner, a 27-year-old right-hander who spent much of the 2008 season in the Yankees’ rotation but wasn’t perceived to be in the team’s 2009 plans, was sold to the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, with whom he is expected to soon sign a two-year contract.

Rasner’s agent, Matt Sosnick, told ESPN.com that Yankees general manager Brian Cashman “really bent over backwards to make this work for Darrell and his family.”

Cashman should have offered to throw in Kei Igawa if the Golden Eagles would have been willing to send over a few of those famous Eagles Bras as holiday presents for Jean Afterman and Jennifer Steinbrenner:

Via mlb.com:

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 and was a member of Girardi’s stable in 2006, when both were in Florida Marlins uniforms.

“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 midseason, according to his agent, Matt Sosnick. Normal recovery time from Tommy John surgery is 12-18 months.

I’m not certain, but, I think Sergio Mitre is Latin for “Jay Witasick.”

Via George King -

Add Damaso Marte to Jason Giambi and Carl Pavano as players the Yankees aren’t likely to exercise options on – which will make them free agents.

Giambi has a $22 million option with a $5 million buyout and Pavano has a $15 million option with a $1.95 million buyout.

Declining Marte’s $6 million option isn’t an indication the club doesn’t want the lefty reliever back. It means the Yankees don’t want to pick up the option ($250,000 buyout) that trailed Marte from Pittsburgh when he was acquired with Xavier Nady for Jose Tabata, Ross Ohlendorf, Jeff Karstens and Daniel McCutcheon on July 26.

I’m shocked at this move.

Sure, $6 million is not chump-change. But, the Yankees can afford it.

Plus, as crazy as this may seem, Marte is one of the Yankees better bets in the pen after Mo.

The Save/Hold rates for Jose Veras and Edwar Ramirez last season were terrible. Can you trust Brian Bruney and his wild spells? Everyone else is green – including Phil Coke, the other lefty out there now.

Sure, no question, Marte will be hard pressed to get $6 million on the open market. But, some team (like the Mets?) might give him something close to that. So, for the few bucks that you might save, is it worth the risk to allow Marte to talk to other teams?

Seems silly to me…but, of course, Brian Cashman knows what he’s doing when it comes to making pitching moves…right?

Now that Scranton’s post-season season is done, the Yankees have called up Juan Miranda. I’ve seen Miranda play – most recently as the game on ESPN2 last night. As I mentioned back in July, he cannot touch a left-handed pitcher. In many ways, “Juan Miranda” is Spanish for “Kevin Maas.” I suppose that Miranda could go on to have a Mike Epstein-type career or something…but that’s probably the high-end for him on the projection-side.

Peter Abraham is reporting that Dave Robertson was sent to Triple-A and Alfredo Aceves has been added to the big league team.

Aceves had an ERA of 4.12 in 10 games at Scranton-Wilkes Barre. However, he only allowed 6 ER in his last three starts there – covering 18 IP. Lefties were hitting only .213 against him in Triple-A…and right-handed batters averaged .291 against him.

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.

Via Ed Price -

Ian Kennedy, hammered Friday for five runs on nine hits in two-plus innings, was optioned to Triple A. No word yet on a replacement starter for Wednesday.

Kennedy was more contrite today that after his start and said some veterans, particularly Andy Pettitte, counseled him on choosing his words better.

The team told Kennedy to work on his offspeed pitches while in the minors. He has a tendency while in the majors to go to his fastball too often — many times because he is behind in the count — and his fastball isn’t very hard and is straight.

I agree with this move. Kennedy has a lot to learn. But, in some respects, I blame the Yankees for this as well…

…they made him a first-round pick…they rushed him through the minors last season…and they gave him the golden ticket to be one of their starters this season…

…and all this has caused a “too much, too soon, leading to a big head” case (in Kennedy). So, maybe the Yankees can learn from all this too?

Several reports out there now suggest that the Yankees and Richie Sexson have come to agreement where he will join New York’s big league team. One week ago, I called for this move – in terms of the Yankees going after Sexson – so, obviously, I agree with the call here (by Brian Cashman).

Now, the trick is to use Sexson in a correct manner. This means its an automatic that he starts at first base when a left-handed starter faces the Yankees – with no ifs, ands, or, buts…

And, you have to get him into some blow-out games, as early as possible, to allow him to keep his batting-eye for those games where he would start against a lefty. Lastly, there’s no way – barring an injury to Giambi – that Sexson should be allowed to start (at either 1B or DH) when the Yankees are facing a quality right-handed pitcher.

If you use Sexson in a manner contrary to this…he’s probably going to hurt the team more than he will help it.

Peter Abraham is reporting that Gardner has been called up to the big team. I recommended this move two days ago.

Thank you, Yankees, for listening.

WFAN is reporting that the Yankees have called up David Robertson. No word on who’s leaving the big league roster to make room for him.

Could be Igawa? Then again, it could be Hawkins?

WFAN also mentioned that Girardi said surgery could be an option for Godzilla. That would be a bummer.

Via George King -

With Johnny Damon sidelined by an injured foot, the Yankees today called up outfielder Justin Christian for tonight’s game against the Pirates at PNC Park.

Chrisitan is in the starting lineup, batting eighth and playing left field.

Damon, who has pain in his left arch, said, “Sunday I couldn’t move. I had no chance to swing the bat or chase the ball.”

Billy Traber was optioned to make room for Christian, and Steven White was outrighted off the 40-man roster.

Christian, who started his professional career in the independent Frontier League in 2003, was elevated from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A) where he batted .309 (59-for-191) in 55 games.

The 28-year-old adds a pinch-runner to Joe Girardi’s bench, which has lacked that element all year. Christian was 18-for-21 in stolen base attempts at SWB.

Back in August of 2006, I shared some background on Christian. Click here to see it.

If he was five years younger, you might be able to consider Justin Christian to be a Chad Curtis type player. However, since he’s not five years younger, he’s more like a Bob Brower type player.

But, hey, even Bob Brower had a few moments in the sun for the Yankees.

Yes, it’s true. The Yankees have signed Sidney Ponson.

“Ponson” is Aruban for “Hit Me!” Via the Complete Baseball Encyclopedia, from Opening Day 2006 through June 17, 2008, the worst ratio of hits allowed per 9 IP, compared to the league average, minimum 25 starts and 170 IP:

Pitcher		DIFF	PLYR	LGE	GS	IP
Mike Maroth	-2.87	12.28	9.41	29	170.0
Jae Seo		-2.70	12.10	9.40	36	209.0
Sidney Ponson	-2.55	11.76	9.21	32	178.1
Zach Duke	         -2.31	11.50	9.19	67	407.2
Horacio Ramirez	-2.24	11.56	9.32	34	174.1
David Wells	-2.21	11.53	9.32	42	232.2
Odalis Perez	-2.20	11.51	9.31	59	334.0
Bartolo Colon	-2.09	11.45	9.36	34	188.2
Jeff Weaver	-1.99	11.38	9.39	58	318.2
Brian Moehler	-1.95	11.14	9.20	28	227.0

Some reports suggest that Ponson might get a start with the Yankees sooner rather than later.

Ah, Brian Cashman, the “Father of Exiles,” strikes again.

Smart move. With all these N.L. park games coming up, you’re going to need some useful bench players (for double-switches) and an occasional good pinch-runner.

Good-bye Morgan. I’m sure some on the team will miss him – as he managed to become close to some of the guys quickly. (He always seemed to be in the mix with Hughes, Kennedy and Mussina.) But, hey, you have to produce – at least something – and Morgan was not doing that for the Yankees.

How bad was Morgan Ensberg this season? Not as bad as Wil Nieves was last year – but close to it. Ensberg was just as bad as Dale Sveum in 1998 – and worse than guys like Josh Phelps in 2007 and Bubba Trammell in 2003. So, like them, it was time to go. Shelley Duncan could be next – because he’s been just as bad as Ensberg, so far, this season.

“Albaladejo Disabled Ala’ Elbow”

Go ahead, say that quickly and out-loud. It sounds like something you would hear on the T.V. when you’re clicking around channels, quickly, and landed on Univisión and then you stayed on it – not because you understand what they’re saying in Spanish…but because there’s some attractive girl on the screen wearing something eye-catching….

Albaladejo Disabled Ala’ Elbow…via Ed Price -

Reliever Jonathan Albaladejo will become the sixth Yankees player to go on the disabled list since the season began.

Albaladejo, who has a 3.95 ERA in seven appearances, left last night’s game with soreness in the back of his right elbow. He will fly to New York today for an examination and an MRI, although the MRI may not be performed today.

“He either has a strained muscle or a sprained ligament,” manager Joe Girardi said.

Chris Britton will be recalled to take the roster spot. Britton was sent down yesterday to make room on the roster for Kei Igawa, last night’s starter, and had just boarded a plane to his home in Nashville, Tenn., when Albaladejo got hurt.

Albaladejo felt the discomfort on two pitches to Placido Polanco in the sixth inning.

“It just felt like a needle going in my elbow,” said Albaladejo, acquired in December from Washington. “Kind of like a burn. It’s all in the back (of the elbow). Hopefully in a couple of weeks, I can be back.”

This may not be true – as it’s just my opinion. And, even if it’s true, we may never hear it told as being true. But, I think Albaladejo’s elbow can send Joe Girardi the bill for his medical treatment – as I think General Joe rushed the kid into action…leading to his injury.

Kei Igawa had allowed three singles on four pitches to start off the bottom of the 4th inning – which brought Dave Eiland to the mound for a visit. It was just about this time, if I recall correctly, that Albaladejo started warming up in the bullpen. But, even if Albaladejo was up to start the inning, he wasn’t up for long because Igawa only threw four pitches.

Two pitches later, Igawa allows another single (to Polanco) and then Girardi comes out to remove him and bring in Albaladejo.

So, somewhere between the time it took Igawa to throw two to six pitches was all the time that Girardi allowed Albaladejo to warm up before he came into the game. That doesn’t seem like much, does it? And, then, 36 pitches later, Albaladejo’s elbow explodes.

No good Joe. Not good at all.

Via Anthony McCarron:

The roster move to get Darrell Rasner active for Sunday’s start was … Ian Kennedy. Yep, the Yanks are asking Kennedy to get himself straightened out at Triple-A Scranton. As Joe Girardi said, it’s up to Kennedy how fast he returns to the majors.

Apparently, he told Kennedy, it could be a couple of starts or 15 starts, depending on how he does. As Kennedy put it, “If you want to pout or moan, that’s what will happen. A couple starts, I’d rather have that happen.”

The Yankees are concerned with Kennedy’s confidence, though he said he had plenty. At the same time, he admitted that he doesn’t have as much confidence as he did last September or during his meteoric rise through the minors. He also seemed to be uncomfortable with the idea that each of his starts here are magnified and “under a microscope.”

Right now, to be candid, there’s a part of me that thinks Kennedy could go Randy Keisler on us now and we never see him in a Yankees uniform again. O.K., it’s not a high percentage possibility. But, it’s within the realm of possibilities for him now.

In retrospect, the Yankees rushed him. Nine Double-A and six Triple-A starts were just not enough for him.

Well, it’s up to Ian now. He needs to pitch well in Triple-A, hope for a call-up, and then make the best of it when he gets that chance – just like every other failed prospect who finds himself back in the minors.

The Yankees have now announced that they have placed Phil Hughes on the 15-day disabled list this evening with a strained right oblique muscle.

While the Yankees will not confirm it, there’s a school of thought out there which offers that the delay of this announcement was required in order to buy time for the removal of an oblique muscle from Carl Pavano’s body, which was then surgically implanted into Hughes, since there was nothing actually wrong with Hughes, physically, that would support him being placed on the D.L.

Via the Post -

[Alex] Rodriguez had an MRI and last night the Yankees announced that the test revealed a Grade-2 strain of his right quad. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list, joining Jorge Posada (right shoulder strain) on the shelf.

It’s unknown whether Rodriguez will be able to return as soon his 15-day DL stint is up. The truth is, it could be longer. His injury is more severe than Derek Jeter’s strained quad earlier this season, which was a Grade-1 level. Jeter’s, though, did not force him to the DL.

“We’ve just got to make sure we get him right,” GM Brian Cashman said, “so we can get him going again.”

Rodriguez’s quad forced him to sit out three games last week, but he returned before having to leave Monday’s game in Cleveland when he aggravated it. The Yankees ordered the MRI yesterday.

When asked if A-Rod made the injury more severe by continuing to play, Cashman replied, “You’d have to ask him in fairness.”

What kind of answer is that from Cashman?

In any event, Morgan Ensberg, who has whiffed in 12 of this 43 ABs so far this season – while also posting an OBA of .267 and a SLG% of .302 – is your starting third baseman. If he’s going to hit like that, you might as well play Alberto Gonzalez at third and give him an extended look at big league pitching.

Via the Yankees site -

Tired of receiving flak for wearing a number last used by Paul O’Neill, the Yankees’ LaTroy Hawkins has decided to surrender his No. 21 before the club opens a two-game series against the Red Sox on Wednesday.

The right-hander declined comment after the Yankees’ 5-3 victory over the Rays at Tropicana Field on Tuesday, but Yankees director of media relations Jason Zillo confirmed the change. Hawkins’ decision was first reported by CBSSports.com.

According to CBSSports.com, Hawkins made the decision after discussions with Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and other Yankees veterans, who told Hawkins that the number is not worth the headache it’s causing.

“I figure if it’s important enough for Jeter and Mariano and some other veterans to ask me about it, it’s not worth it to keep wearing the number,” Hawkins told the Web site.

Hawkins will wear No. 22, last worn by Roger Clemens, when the Yankees take the field on Wednesday.

As many married men will tell you…”You can be happy, or, you can be right.” Whether or not Hawkins was within his rights to wear #21, based on the reaction from the fans, it seems like his life will be happier with the switch to #22.

There’s enough pressure playing in New York. No need to look to add to it if you can avoid it. Smart move La Troy.