Yankees Call Up Six

With the rosters expanding today, the Yankees have called up six minor leaguers. Francisco Cervelli, Eduardo Nunez, Chris Dickerson, Adam Warren, Cory Wade, and Justin Thomas are all with the team today. To make room for Dickerson on the 40-man, Ramiro Pena was designated for assignment.

I assume there will be more moves as the minor league season comes to a close.

Yankees Sign Two 16-Year-Old Nicaraguans

From Baseball America:

The Yankees have signed two Nicaraguan lefthanders, including Corby McCoy, one of the top pitchers from the country for this year's July 2 class.

McCoy, a 16-year-old who signed for $150,000, is 6-foot-3, 170 pounds with an athletic, projectable body. His velocity has been inconsistent, ranging from 85-88 mph for some teams, but more recently he has touched as high as 91. McCoy also throws a breaking ball that's in its nascent stages.

The Yankees also signed 16-year-old Luis Garcia, whose bonus is under $50,000 and will likely be used as one of the exemptions every team gets under its $2.9 million international bonus pool for six players of $50,000 or less. Garcia is a raw, projectable lefty with a 6-foot-4, 185-pounds frame and an 85-88 mph fastball.

The Yanks have been making a lot of international signings lately. Recenly they also signed Venezuelan catcher Luis Torrens ($1.3 million), Venezuelan outfielder Alexander Palma ($800,000) and Dominican shortstop Yancarlos Baez ($650,000).

Yankees Trade For Casey McGehee

From Joel Sherman:

The Yankees didn’t get Ryan Dempster at the trade deadline, but they did make a deal.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman obtained versatile infielder Casey McGehee from the Pirates for reliever Chad Qualls, sources told The Post. In the short term with Mark Teixeira out (wrist), McGehee can play some first base and he can also fill the third-base void left by Alex Rodriguez (broken hand) with a power bat.

The Yankees are getting $225,000 as part of the trade to cover some of about $1 million left on McGehee's deal.

McGehee hit .230/.297/.377 with 8 HR and 35 RBI in 92 games with the Pirates.

Yankees Trade For Ichiro (Updated)

(Update 8:33 PM) Ichiro will be wearing #31.

(Update 8:10 PM) To make room for Ichiro on the roster, the Yankees designated Dewayne Wise for assignment. Wise, who was a very solid bench player for this Yankees team, hit .262/.286/.492 in 63 ABs. You may have noticed that his numbers are actually better than Ichiro's (.261/.288/.353), but again, the hope has to be that he can get reenergized playing for a contender.

Nice move by Cashman. Ichiro may not be the player he once was, but I have to believe that a chance to play in The Pinstripes, with a chance to get a ring, may just be the thing he needs to get that spark back. Tonight should be pretty interesting.

But what number is he going to wear?

Yankees Sign Fukudome to Minor League Deal

Seems like this might be a little insurance in case Brett Gardner cannot make it back. Not sure how much it'll pay off. In 24 games (51 plate appearances) with the White Sox earlier this season, he hit just .171/.294/.195. Last year, while better than his pathetic start this year, Fukudome hit .262/.342/.370 with only 8 HR and a measly 35 RBI in over 600 plate appearances with the Cubs and Indians.

Yanks Sign 16-Year-Old Venezuelan Catcher

According to George A. King III, the Yankees have signed 16-year-old Venezuelan catcher Luis Torrens for $1.3 million.

Baseball Americas has Torrens as the No. 2 international prospect.

"He is the premier talent in Latin America," a talent evaluator said of Torrens.

If you want to check out a short video of Torrens, click here.

Yanks Acquire Chad Qualls

To make room for Quallls on the 40-man roster the Yankees have designated Matt Antonelli for assignment.

The 33-year-old was 1-1 with a 4.60 ERA in 35 games for the Phillies this season. In 31.1 innings, the right-hander allowed 16 ER on 39 hits, walked 9, and struck out 19.

Yanks Add Two Arms

MLB Trade Rumors is reporting that the Yankees have claimed 25-year-old pitcher Danny Farquhar off waivers after the right-hander was designated for assignment by the A's last weekend. Here's a little more fro MLBTR:

The pitcher posted a 2.97 ERA with 9.8 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 in 20 Double-A appearances for Toronto's affiliate and pitched eight innings for the A's Triple-A squad this year.

And even more from YES including some info on Jonathan Meloan, who was also signed:

To make room for Farquhar on the 40-man roster, outfielder Brett Gardner was transferred to the 60-day disabled list.

In addition to adding Farquhar, the Yankees officially announced the signing of pitcher Jonathan Meloan, who was inked late on Monday and also assigned to Double-A Trenton.

Meloan had been pitching for the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League, where he was 4-0 with a 0.99 ERA and 11 saves and 36 strikeouts in 23 appearances. The 27-year-old has 17.2 innings of Major League experience, and was most recently in the Majors with Oakland in 2009; he missed all of 2010 after having Tommy John surgery, and spent 2011 in the A’s system at Double-A Midland.

Yanks Sign Cuban Left-Hander

From MLB.com:

Left-handed pitcher Omar Luis Rodriguez, 19, and the Yankees have agreed on a Minor League deal worth an estimated $4-5 million, according to an industry source.

Rodriguez, who projects to be a starter, burst onto the international scene during the 2010 World Junior Baseball Championship when he struck out eight batters during a complete-game, 144-pitch outing to eliminate Team USA in the semifinals. He led Cuba to a bronze medal and was named to the competition's all-tournament team.

The southpaw has to sign with a Major League club before July 2, or he will be subject to new CBA guidelines that will limit spending on international prospects to $2.9 million per team before penalties kick in.

From the little I've read about the left-hander he has low-90's fastball, and a yet to be fully developed curve and changeup. Scouts apparently also love his poise.

Yanks Sign Ricky Orta

In 85 minor league games (all in Double-A or lower) the 27-year-old is 14-18 with a 4.37 ERA. In 267.2 innings he's allowed 152 runs on 254 hits, walked 102 and struck out 272.

Yanks Claim Igararshi Off Waivers

In 81 Major League games, Igarashi is 5-2, with a 6.17 ERA. In 70 innings pitched he's allowed 48 ER on 77 hits, walked 48 and struck out 69.

Yanks Sign Former Met, John Maine

From Andrew Marchand:

Looking to add depth to the organization's pitching, the Yankees have signed former Mets right-hander John Maine to a minor league contract, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman confirmed.

Maine, who hasn't pitched in the major leagues since 2010, is expected to be insurance if he can come close to the form that saw him win as many as 15 games with the Mets five years ago.

Since 2008, Maine has struggled with shoulder injuries. Last year, after posting a 7.43 ERA in 45 innings with the Colorado Rockies' Triple-A team, he left the organization in June. This spring, Maine was in camp with the Boston Red Sox.

"He's interested in trying to get back to the big leagues, so we will see," Cashman said Friday.

Maine, 31, will go to work for the Yankees in Tampa, Fla., at extended spring training. The Yankees have been a haven for such reclamation projects. Some pitchers have made it all the way back, like Bartolo Colon last year, and some have not, like former Cubs phenom Mark Prior.

The Yankees also recently looked at Armando Galarraga, formerly of the Detroit Tigers. Galarraga, who came up one out short of a perfect game two years ago with Detroit, ended up signing with the Houston Astros.

As the Yankees have already proven this year, you can't have enough pitching. That said, I wouldn't expect much from Maine.

Yanks Claim Infielder Matt Antonelli off Waivers

Via YES.com:

The Yankees announced Thursday afternoon that they have claimed infielder Matt Antonelli off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles, and he will report to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this weekend.

The 27-year-old Antonelli was batting .204 with one home run, seven RBI, and 19 walks in 29 games for Baltimore’s Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk. He has seen time all around the diamond this season, playing all four infield positions as well as left field.

His only big league experience came in 2008 with San Diego. In 21 games for the San Diego, he hit .193 (11-for-57) with a homer and 3 RBI.

Yanks Claim Justin Thomas

The left-handed reliever has a 4.14 ERA in eight seasons in the minors.

Yanks Sign Nelson Figueroa

Yanks Opening Day Roster

Catchers
Russell Martin
Chris Stewart

Infielders
Robinson Cano
Mark Teixeira
Derek Jeter
Alex Rodriguez
Eduardo Nunez
Eric Chavez

Outfielders
Brett Gardner
Curtis Granderson
Nick Swisher
Raul Ibanez
Andruw Jones

Starting Pitchers
CC Sabathia
Hiroki Kuroda
Ivan Nova
Phil Hughes
Freddy Garcia

Relievers
David Phelps
Boone Logan
Clay Rapada
Cory Wade
Rafael Soriano
David Robertson
Mariano Rivera

The Yankees also signed Ramon Ortiz to a minor-league deal and Justin Maxwell was designated for assignment.

Yanks Trade Kontos to Giants for Chris Stewart

In 183 at-bats with the Giants last season, the 29-year-old (http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stewach01.shtml) hit .204/.283/.309 with 3 HR and 10 RBI. He also threw out 39% of runners trying to steal. Cervelli threw out just 14% in each of the last two years.

Yankees Sign RHP Jason Bulger to Minor-League Deal

Here's more info via the Yankees press release:

"Today the Yankees signed RHP Jason Bulger to a minor league contract. He will report to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday.

Bulger appeared in five games for Los Angeles-AL in 2011, posting an 0-1 record with a 0.96 ERA (9.1IP, 6H, 4R, 1ER, 10BB, 7K, 2HR). He spent the majority of the season with Triple-A Salt Lake, appearing in 35 games with a 1-0 record and a 4.03 ERA (38.0IP, 31H, 17ER, 17BB, 49K, 7HR).

Originally drafted by Arizona in the first round (22nd pick) of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft, Bulger has compiled a 7-2 career Major League record with a 4.33 ERA (133.0IP, 112H, 64ER, 75BB, 16HR) in 125 games over seven seasons with Arizona (2005) and Los Angeles-AL (2006-11)."

Yanks Sign Jack Cust

Clearly the Yankees are a little concerned with Ibanez's struggles and bat speed and felt the need to pick up a little insurance at the DH spot.

It's another quality trash-heap signing by Cashman. Cust hit just .213/.344/.329 with 3 HR and 23 RBI in 225 at-bats for Seattle, but in 2010 he did have one of hit better overall offensive seasons. That season year he hit .272/.395/.438 with 13 HR and 52 RBI in 425 ABs.

Pettitte's Back!

Wow, this came out of nowhere.... Here's the story from Mark Feinsand:

Andy Pettitte ended his one-year retirement, agreeing to a minor-league deal with the Yankees worth $2.5 million plus incentives.

“He’s coming back,” a source said.

The deal was first reported by the YES Network.

Pettitte returned to camp earlier this spring, and though he indicated that he planned to remain retired, his three-day stint as a guest instructor “got his juices flowing,” a second source said, prompting him to put the pinstripes back on as a member of the team.

According to the source, Pettitte and the Yankees had been speaking about a possible reunion for weeks, but the trip to spring training cinched his decision.

“He got the itch,” the source said.

Naturally, I have my doubts about any 39-year old pitcher who just spent a year in his living room, but it's Pettitte so why not give him a chance. I assume he won't be ready by opening day, so I guess we're looking at a mid to later April return.