IN YOUR CHRISTMAS HURRY, THE YANKS SIGNED FOLKS

Just a quick note about some Yankee minor league signings that you probably didn't even know about because with all the Christmas cheer and stuff... it wasn't bigger news.  Well, check it out...

The Yankees signed 5 players to minor league deals.  Baseball America has the info HERE, but this is who we got:

• Vinnie Pestano- Right handed pitcher.  It is said that Pestano has alot to offer to the Yankees and NJ.com considers Vinnie a dark horse for the Yankee pen:

"Pestano has played in parts of six major league seasons with the Indians and Angels. The 30-year-old, however, made just big league 19 appearances with Los Angeles last season.  Pestano will likely get a chance to crack the Yankees' big-league bullpen in spring training."

• Jose Rosario- Infielder and Outfielder. You know about Rosario already.  We wrote about him here on BYB last week.  Read THE RE-SIGNING OF JOSE ROSARIO.

• Richard Bleier- Lefty pitcher. Good signing in my opinion... gotta have the lefty.  According to CBS Sports: "Bleier split time between Double-A and Triple-A last season, working to a combined 2.57 ERA at the two levels. The 28-year-old has never appeared in the majors and will likely just serve as organizational depth."

• Juan Silva- Outfielder. Another decent signing for minor league depth.  He came from the Reds organization.  Here is what YESNetwork.com had to say about him: "Silva, 24, was the Reds' eighth-round pick in 2009 and spent seven years in their organization. He split 2015 between Double-A Pensacola and Triple-A Louisville, hitting .212 with two homers, 17 RBI and eight steals in 98 combined games."

• Sebastian Valle- Catcher. Valle came up through the Phillies and Pirates organization. Outsidepitchmlb.com writes of Valle: "In Valle, the Yankees now have a 25-year old catcher who was ranked as a top-10 prospect in the Philadelphia Phillies system for three straight seasons (2012-14). Although the Mexican product has been playing professionally since he was 16, Valle has seen a big drop in production once he was called up to Triple-A. In two seasons, he slashed .220/.237/.380 with 64 strikeouts as opposed to just eight walks. However, Valle seemed rejuvenated as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates Double-A affiliate in 2015. In 70 games, he hit .279 with a .754 OPS, while adding four home runs, 26 runs batted in and 21 doubles. While Valle doesn’t appear to be more than minor league depth, he will provide the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders with a potential starting catcher." 

Good stuff.  Enjoy your Saturday.  I know, I know... Returns right?



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YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE WHAT OLD FRIEND NICK SWISHER JUST DID!

There was an interesting piece by Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com. He writes of a very verbal confrontation that took place at Fan Fest at Progressive Field between Indians first baseman Nick Swisher and Indians Hall of Famer Kenny Lofton. 

According to the report, the two were nose to nose like an umpire and a manager heated over a bad call. Only the bad call was in part of Lofton's remarks a few months back of the Indians season and the "one and done" playoff game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Lofton had told reporters "A playoff is a series, not one game. It's not the Super Bowl." The words subsequently sent rumbles throughout the Indians ball club, so much, that other players like pitcher Vinnie Pestano expressed his angst over it on Twitter.

“@MLBastian: Lofton on Indians' Wild Card Game last year: "That's not a playoff game. A playoff is a series -- not one game."” #SitdownKenny
— Vinnie Pestano (@VinnieP52) January 25, 2014

Last year's team played past 162, thats Postseason. To see the atmosphere that was there that day, thats Postseason. No need to cheapen that
— Vinnie Pestano (@VinnieP52) January 25, 2014

Lofton chose to voice his thoughts poorly, and knock down a team that won 92 games finishing one game behind the Detroit Tigers who have been AL Central powerhouse for quite some time now. Furthermore, Lofton must not have gotten the memo of the new playoff format. It's 2 Wild Cards per league now, not one. 

Swisher confronting Kenny Lofton about this was the right thing to do, trust me. Now look, I'm surprised to see Nick get this worked up to stand up to a guy like Kenny Lofton who is loved by Tribe fans. We've known Swisher to be a guy who is all smiles around the clubhouse, someone who loves to joke and laugh everything off. 

This speaks volumes of his role in Cleveland as a team leader and his passion of being a guy who wants to be apart of helping the Indians be a contender.  He's not going to let anyone shoot down the efforts they put in last year.  This is a guy who has been around long enough in baseball and had a taste of a World Series Championship with New York and wants to get back there again, no doubt.  He's bringing a team together like a family, something to the effect of the Yankees. He knows what being close knit is about.

We at BYB love Nick Swisher and we miss him from time to time here.  We miss the Swisher Salute in right field. The energy he brought to the field.  You couldn't have a more eccentric guy like him. It was mutual, because Swisher loved us the fans right back.  Regardless of how it ended, I will continue to wish him all the best and his endeavors no matter where he is. 

I'm sure many can remember Lofton's brief stint here in the Bronx, and how sour it ended. Kenny had a few choice words about the Yankees and that didn't exactly fall on deaf ears. Lofton should do the math, a 92 win season in 2013 is definitely something to be proud of coming off a disappointing 2012 season with just 68 wins for the Indians.  Hell, the Yankees didn't even make the playoffs!

Swish, it's good to see you making headlines again, even though you're not in pinstripes, we still love ya.  And you did your Indians club proud. Way to go kid!

 You made the right call, you put Lofton in check. Atta boy.


 
Rudy Laurens
BYB Writer
Facebook: House of Champions


  
    


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