The Yankees stayed put at the trade deadline and overall the only real trade they made this year was when they traded Sergio Mitre for Chris Dickerson, only to reacquire Mitre in June and then put him on the 60-day DL after four appearances. Every other transaction the Yankees have made has been signing guys to minor league deals or claiming players off waivers.
With the injury to Pedro Feliciano in the spring most people thought that the Yankees would try and acquire a lefty reliever to supplement Boone Logan and they did sign J.C Romero and Randy Flores but neither has been particularly great in Scranton. Flores has been better against right handers than lefties, today he faced two lefties and gave up a hit and a home run and then retired the next three right handed batters. Romero had been better but he did just give up 3 runs in .2 innings on the 29th. If Romero doesn't get called up this week to face the Red Sox then I don't think he will play with the Yankees this year and definitely not if Marte can pitch in September. There is also the chance that Manny Banuelos could contribute in September
when Cashman didn't rule out the possibility.
(Update 10:01pm Randy Flores will be released)
Cashman also mentioned that he has confidence in Adam Warren and David Phelps to start if they have to. Banuelos and Betances are not likely options to start in the MLB this year because of that confidence and Betances isnt even officially in AAA yet.. We did not get a good look at Kevin Whelan when he was called up but we will probably get another look in September as well as Lance Pendelton both of whom have pitched well in Scranton this year. There is also a chance we could get to see University of Connecticut alumni Tim Norton who despite good numbers has been held back by injury, but we will likely not see Mark Prior pitch in pinstripes because he is nowhere near where he needs to be to be MLB ready again.
As I have said in previous posts the Yankees have a lot of depth in the outfield not just in AAA Scranton, but in Trenton Melky Mesa could probably be thrown into the MLB now because his defense is that good, but that would only be in case of an extreme emergency. Weve seen Golson and Dickerson this year, even with injuries to Colin Curtis and Justin Maxwell the Yankees still have another option in Jordan Parraz who is hitting very well and since Golson and Dickerson will both be out of options he will likely be added to the 40 man next year and make his debut in 2012. The Yankees also have Brandon Laird and Kevin Russo both of whom can play the outfield but are primarily infielders.
Speaking of infield the Yankees have good depth there with the aforementioned Russo and Laird with Ramiro Pena currently injured. The Scranton Yankees also have Mike Lamb and Jorge Vazquez both of whom can play 1st or 3rd, and aren't prospects. In Trenton the thunder have Robert Lyerly and Corban Joseph, but they are still a ways away and Joseph is likely trade bait due to Robinson Cano. In terms of catching the Yankees have Jesus Montero who will
likely make his MLB debut this week as well as Austin Romine who will likely be promoted to AAA with a Montero promotion. They also have J.R Murphey who has shown the Yankee brass that he can stay at catcher and they like his bat and of course Gary Sanchez, but those guys are a ways away from the MLB.
The Yankees have depth that other teams pray for right now and the Yankees know it which is why they felt that they didn't need to make a move this trade deadline. That depth also means that they can make a move for a starting pitcher this off season if a top of the rotation starter becomes available.
