The Yankees declined the $6 million option on Damaso Marte Thursday, but the lefthanded reliever may not be turning in his pinstripes so fast.The Yankees are in the process of negotiating a multiyear deal - likely for three years - with Marte, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
Marte, 33, was acquired by the Yankees in the Xavier Nady trade in July. Because lefthanded relief pitching is scarce, the Yankees would love to keep Marte in the Bronx, although apparently not for $6 million in 2009. Marte went 5-3 with a 4.02 ERA in 72 combined appearances with the Pirates and Yankees in 2008, the final year of his two-year, $4.7 million deal.
I'm very, very surprised the Yankees want to give him a three-year deal, but I also understand how hard it is to find good lefties for your bullpen so I'm not against it, he's a valuable arm to have in the pen.
2 Comments:
I agree 100% with giving Brett Gardner a chance. Kid can play.
I don't think a 3 year deal would be the worst thing in the world. Over the past 4 years he has a K:BB ratio of 2.2 and has 1.1 K/IP. He hasn't been injured in the past few years, in fact I don't think he has ever been on the DL. His career opposition OPS for lefties is .583. So I think be will he a good lefty out of the pen for the next 3 years. It depends on the kind of money he wants though.
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