WHY THE YANKEES SIGNED RAPADA TO A MINOR LEAGUE DEAL

Just a quick note to keep you in the loop. Yanks made a move to help with stability out of the pen by signing Clay Rapada to a minor league deal. He also got an invite to spring training. Bryan Hoch as the story HERE.

The reason the Yankees went after Rapada, who's a lefty reliever, was to replace Hideki Okajima, the original lefty reliever they picked up this winter. Why you ask? Well, just a few short days ago, Okajima failed his physical, read HERE and read our piece titled WHY THE YANKS WILL HAVE TO DO IT WITHOUT OKAJIMA. At that point it was clear, he wouldn't be joining the New York Yankees.

Enter Rapada ...whom I like. He was released from the Baltimore Orioles just a few days ago and the timing was right... hopefully things work out for him and the Yankees. I've always wanted another lefty in the pen to help out Boone Logan, whom I'm not fond of but the more the merrier and I hope Rapada makes the team.

With the Orioles, Rapada had a 6.06 ERA and a 2-0 record in 32 games in 2011. His career numbers are 5-0 record, 5.13 ERA in 78 appearances. That record spans the Cubs, Orioles the Tigers and the Rangers.

Welcome Clay... now get to work.

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