Sayonara Darrell

ESPN's Jerry Crasnick is reporting that the Yankees have sold Darrell Rasner to a Japanese team for $1 million.

Rasner, 27, expects to sign a two-year deal with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Pacific League, agent Matt Sosnick said.

Sosnick said he and Rasner recently approached New York general manager Brian Cashman and told him that Rasner would like to pitch in Japan, and that Cashman and scout Hiroshi Abei helped facilitate the deal.

"Brian made a big effort to make it happen," Sosnick said.

"He really bent over backwards to make this work for Darrell and his family."

Rasner was 5-10 with a 5.40 ERA in 24 games - 20 starts - for the Yankees in 2008.

I guess he figures he can make more money in Japan. And being that Kei Igawa was a star out there he'll probably dominate. So this should be a good move for Rasner and his family.

This move also helps the Yankees. It will free up a spot on the 40-man roster which the Yankees can use to protect someone from the rule-5 draft. Rasner was also likely going to head to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to start the '09 season. Now with him gone that spot can be used on a pitcher with more talent and potential.

Aceves headed to the rotation

From Bryan Hoch:

Darrell Rasner was informed today that he'll be in the bullpen pitching long relief as Aceves takes his spot in the rotation. He's on line to make his first Major League start on Tuesday against the Angels.

This is a move that is about two weeks overdue, but at least they finally decided to do it.

So who starts instead of Rasner on Friday?

From Mike Puma:

Darrell Rasner's hold on the fifth spot in the Yankees New York Yankees ' starting rotation couldn't be more tenuous.

The right-hander allowed five earned runs over four innings in the Yanks' 14-9 victory over the Angels yesterday, and manager Joe Girardi hardly gave Rasner a ringing endorsement afterward.

"We'll continue to discuss things, and if we make a change, we make a change," Girardi said.

In other words, "We'll continue to discuss things, and when we make a change, we'll make a change."

It's time for a change, he's 2-7 with a 6.71 ERA in his last 11 starts, and the Yanks are in a pennant race, they cannot afford to keep running him out there.

So here are your candidates to replace him:

Ian Kennedy: 4-2, 2.14 ERA, 46.1 IP, 29 H, 13 BB, 38 K at AAA

Alfredo Aceves: 1-0, 4.15 ERA, 21.2 IP, 21 H, 6 BB, 21 K at AAA

Chase Wright: 1-0, with a 0.00 ERA in one start in AAA, he pitched 6 innings, and allowed just 1 hits, 3 walks, and struck out 4.

Dan Giese: 1-3, 2.51 ERA, 32.1 IP, 24 H, 10 BB, 20 K with the Yanks, but as a starter he's 0-2 with a 5.06 ERA, and as a reliever he's 1-1 with a 1.45 ERA so it may be better to keep him as the long man.

Phil Hughes and Carl Pavano, yes, Carl Pavano, are on their way back, but will not be ready by Friday.

I think Kennedy should get the start on Friday, but if it was up to you who would you start?

Rasner Hopes A Change In Mechanics Can Change His Fortunes

From David Singh:

Although Darrell Rasner has struggled to maintain his early-season success, the Yankees starter believes that he may have discovered the root of his recent problems on the mound.

Rasner said that playing catch in recent days, he learned that there was something wrong with his mechanics. Now, having made the proper adjustments -- shortening his pitching motion -- he believes he should have better command of his pitches.

"I was playing with it a little [on Thursday], and playing catch, [the ball] was coming out of my hand [the right way]," Rasner said. "It's been a while since it's come out of my hand right. I feel like I made some ground.

"The ball coming out of the hand is everything to me," Rasner continued. "It's not going to show up on the radar gun. It's not that, but when it comes out of my hand right, it has a little more life and a little more depth. That's what I'm looking for."

For some reason I think I've heard something like this from Rasner before. I remember him saying he worked on some things during the week and he made some adjustments. I think it was before the start in Pittsburgh when he got bombed. Whatever he claimed he fixed didn't help him on that day.

Anyway I hope this time he really has corrected his problems and can give the Yankees a good start.

Rasner Has Stunk, but Girardi Says He Will Get Another Start

From Peter Abraham:

The standards to remain a starting pitcher for the Yankees are not very high.

Darrell Rasner is 1-7 with a 6.28 ERA in his last eight starts. But manager Joe Girardi praised the right-hander's competitiveness and said he would remain in the rotation.

"We need big starts out of him. We've got to find a way to get him going and find a way to get him some runs," Girardi said yesterday after the Red Sox beat the Yankees 6-4. "The plan is for him to start."

Rasner (4-7) allowed six runs on 10 hits and three walks in five innings in his first appearance against Boston. After escaping a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, he had a quick second inning. But Boston scored three runs in the third and three more in the fifth.

With eight games in the next nine days, the Yankees will need all five of their starters before the All-Star break. If general manager Brian Cashman overrules Girardi, one option could be right-hander Jeff Karstens. He has given up three runs in his last three starts for Triple-A Scranton.

By the looks of the schedule it looks like Rasner will start against the Pirates, who crushed him the last time he faced them. I would start someone else, but this is the route the Yanks want to take.

This has to be Rasner's last chance. He's been bad for a little over a month now, and it's time to try someone else. The Yankees should be happy with the few wins they got from Rasner and move on.