Yankee Hotstove

LaTroy Hawkins


The Yankees signed LaTroy Hawkins to a 1 year deal. It was that or sign Luis Vizcaino for 3years. It's a better choice, and as the Viz has signed with the Rockies, the Yankees will get a draft pick for him. La Troy Hawkins on the other hand does not cost the Yankees a pick.

Here's an ERA comparison:
They're remarkably similar pitchers except Latroy is a couple of years older, but he also had higher peaks in his performance.

Here's a K/BB Comparison:
It's interesting to see that LaTroy had a fantastic peak period during his age 29-32 seasons. He sure had good command back then.

Here's a WHIP Comparison:
Stuff-wise we're taking about fairly similar pitchers.

I think it's a good signing if LaTroy can somehow find his command of years ago, once more.

Making Room On The 40Man Roster
The Yankees DFAed Andy Phillips. It's a bit sad but Andy Phillips has failed to stick as a 1B. He is quite a useful player, but he's just not a 1B bat.
Brian Bruney wasn't DFAed, and that was an interesting choice. Instead, the Yankees DFAed TJ Beam, Matt DeSalvo and Darrell Rasner. All these guys could be good back-end-of-rotation guys, but the Yankee depth essentially washed over them. It's a weird way for the TINSTAAP principle to shake out, but it's hard to believe the Yankees had Beam, DeSalvo, and Tyler Clippard as their front-line pitching prospect not so long ago.

Rasner is another case entirely. Picked up as a RuleV draft pick, he stuck, and saved the Yankees from a couple of tough spots. Hopefully, he signs a minor league contract with the Yankees. He's actually a useful guy to have on the roster, if only they could fit him back on. He may out-pitch Moose this year if Moose declines any further.

Mark Prior

Now there's a name. Prior has been injured for the better part of 3 seasons after his epic 2003 where he and Kerry Wood carried the Cubs to the post-season. Since then, he's been injured about as often as the amazing Carl Pavano. Yet, the Yankees are kicking the tires on Mark Prior.

The possibility of the Yankees and Mets competing for a big-name pitcher always puts sizzle into a free-agent chase, but it remains to be seen how deep the two teams get into discussions over rehabbing righty Mark Prior, the ex-Cub.
Both have expressed "preliminary interest" in Prior, John Boggs, the pitcher's agent, said yesterday. "But it hasn't been anything more than that. Next week will probably be pretty busy."

Boggs says 11 teams have expressed interest in his client, who likely will be ready to pitch in the majors by the end of May.
Prior, whose promising career has been derailed by injuries, was non-tendered by Chicago last week. Prior had arthroscopic surgery last season on his shoulder in which noted orthopedist Dr. James Andrews did some repair work to his rotator cuff and labrum.

"He's playing catch right now and Dr. Andrews and his physical therapist feel like he's progressing nicely," Boggs said. "Mark is a guy who has no problem working hard. Barring anything unforeseen, he's going to be just fine. If we don't rush him, he could be very successful."

Prior, who is just 27, was ineffective in nine starts for the Cubs last season but he once seemed like one of the game's future aces. In 2003, he was 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA and had Cubs fans dreaming of an awesome 1-2 combination with Kerry Wood, who has also been slowed by injuries.

The Yankees drafted Prior in the supplemental round of the 1998 draft as a high schooler, but failed to sign him - he turned down a $1.5 million offer that the team made a few months after the draft, a signing strategy executives rued afterward. Prior went to college instead - Vanderbilt and Southern Cal - and later signed for $10.5 million.

The Yankees' potential interest is "always exciting," Boggs said. "But I want to caution you that we've only had preliminary talks. Things can change. They're back in (trade talks for Johan) Santana, aren't they?
"I don't know what the level or pace is going to be. We're looking at the interested teams and we'll explore a team if it's a good fit."

If there ever was a pitcher that taught the Yankees an important lesson about the amateur draft, it was Mark Prior. From the lesson learnt, the Yankees have been going above slot-money in the draft. That's how they got Hughes, IPK, Joba plus Horne, Betances, and Brackman. Prior, in a sense was the template of them all - the power RHP with Mid-90s FB, Plus Curve and Changeup. Had the Yankees signed him and had Prior in 2003, they might not have ridden him into the ground as Dusty Baker and the Cubs did, and maybe he might have been useful in 2004-5. Of course, that's just abject conjecture. However, a healthy Mark Prior is a spectacular pitcher.

Seriously, if Prior could come back to being his 2003 self, (gasp! an ERA+ of 178! in 211.3IP) it would be worth signing him over trading for Johan Santana. Even if he's 'only' good for ERA+ of 125 while pitching 180IP , it would be wunnerful. I'd say that is exactly the sort of punt the Yankee need to make. Please Brian Cashman, make this work.