Yanks Trade Juan Miranda To Arizona For Scott Allen

Allen, a 19-year-old right-hand pitcher, was drafted Arizona in the 11th round of the 2009 MLB June Amateur Draft. He spent the 2010 season Single-A South Bend for the Diamondbacks. In 16 starts Allen went 4-4 with a 4.73 ERA.

I guess this was the small move Brian Cashman was talking about a few days ago.

With Posada Returning Russo is Probably Headed Out the Door

Jorge Posad will likely be activated prior to tonight's game against the Orioles and this creates a little bit of a problem for the Yanks. Posada will only DH at first so Chad Moeller will likely have to stay on the roster as a third catcher in case something happened to Cervelli.

The only two real options the Yankees then have is sending Kevin Russo or Juan Miranda back to Triple-A. However, with Mark Teixeira fouling that ball off his foot last night the Yankees might have to keep Miranda just in case. If the Yankees feel Tex is healthy and can continue to play everyday that would obviously change things, but I doubt that's how they feel right now, and that leaves Russo as the odd man out.

He done a pretty good job filling in while some Yankees worked their way back from injury, but after 14 games he's hitting just .222/.250/.296 and could probably use some regular at-bats in the minors. When Jorge gets back to catching every day the Yanks will then designate Chad Moeller for assignment and then recall Russo.

We'll find out for sure later today, but I think this is the move the Yankees will make.

Rosenthal: Nick Johnson Will Have Surgery

This tweet comes from Ken Rosenthal:

Sources: Yankees' Nick Johnson to undergo surgery on right wrist Tuesday. Likely out until July.

Here's a little more from Ben Shpigel:

“This is not a quick fix,” Manager Joe Girardi said. “This is going to be a while.”

Johnson said he would have the surgery “probably tomorrow.” He has been told that he will need four to six weeks of rest before he can swing a bat again. Johnson elected to have surgery after an injection of anti-inflammatory medication did not help, and after he reported no improvement from the exercises and treatment he was doing with the training staff.

“I’d rather not keep waiting and take care of it,” Johnson said.

...

“We’ve done all the treatments we can do,” said Johnson...

This is obviously bad news for the Yankees, who now are without a DH for the next 6-8 weeks. Juan Miranda is probably not the long-term answer, although I'm sure the Yankees will see what they can get from him over the next few weeks when they face right-handed pitching. Expect to see a lot of Marcus Thames against lefties, and Randy Winn will also get some more at-bats while Johnson is out.

Like I've said a few times over the last few days, I'd like to see the Yankees give Jorge Posada a few more games at DH while Johnson is out. Mainly because it will give Francisco Cervelli more playing time. So that's another option.

Yanks Call Up Miranda (seriously this time)

Chad Jennings is reporting that Juan Miranda has been called up, is with the team, and "Has a locker and everything." No word on any corresponding moves, my guess is Russo heads back to SWB.

Golson Up, No Sign Of Miranda

There have been reports going around for two days now saying the Yankees were going to call up Juan Miranda. Today, Chad Jennings is reporting that Greg Golson, not Miranda, is with the team and is listed on the lineup card as a bench player.

Golson is likely going to take Alfredo Aceves' spot on the roster. Not sure if these means they've nixed their plans to call up Miranda, but as of now he's not with the team.

Yanks Call Up Juan Miranda

According to George A. King III, the Yankees have called up 27-year-old left-handed hitting first baseman Juan Miranda and he's expected to be at the ballpark in time for tonight's game. With right-hander Rick Porcello on the mound for Detroit, King speculates that Miranda could start tonight at DH. He also says it's likely that Kevin Russo will be sent down, which makes sense to me.

Miranda was hitting .260/.371/.438 with 5 HR and 15 RBI in 28 games for the SWB Yanks. In 19 major league at-bats Miranda is hitting .368/.435/.579 with a homer and 4 RBI.

Miranda On His Way

Chad Jennings is reporting that Juan Miranda has been recalled by the Yankees. If you're wondering about Austin Jackson and Zach Kroenke, Jennings said:

Austin Jackson said he hadn't heard anything definitive, but he's planning to simply go home to Texas. Zach Kroenke's not planning to go up either.

I would be very disappointed if neither got called up, but with no spots open on the 40-man roster I understand that it's difficult. We'll see what happens.

A Scout's Look at Some of the Yanks' Top Prospects

A lot of good stuff here from SNY.tv's Michael Salfino. He spoke with Baseball America's John Manuel, who is a National League scout who also covers the American League, to discuss some of the Yankees top prospects. (hat tip to Steve Lombardi from WasWatching.com)

Keep in mind that you're getting two different points of view; one from John Manuel, and another from SNY's scout, whoever that is.

Here's what he said about Phil Hughes:

"Fastball velocity and command will be the key for Hughes," says Manuel, busy putting the finishing touches on Baseball America's fine Prospect Handbook (slated to be released Dec. 19 and available at BaseballAmerica.com)."If he's 89-92, as he was most of the AFL, he's got to have better command. If he's 90-93, it can be just control, not necessarily command. It sounds to me like the scouting consensus is more mid-rotation than ace these days. The obvious first step is to just stay healthy; he's done that exactly once in his career, 2006."

But it's that disappointing injury history that gives our scout hope that Hughes can beat current market projections of a No. 3 starter.

"Hughes is sliding unfairly because he hasn't been healthy. When you're always rehabbing from injury, your velocity will suffer. What we have here is the expectation game. Calling him a No. 1-level ace was never fair. But to me he still looks like he can be a No. 2 guy to me on a championship-caliber team.

"If he is going to be stuck at 91, then he's a No. 3 guy," the scout continues. "But I think he'll get back to being a tick higher, 92-to-94 mph. That's the key to what he becomes. Again, a lot of this is expectations. We get silly published reports that guys like Hughes throw 95 or 97 when maybe they've done it a few times on someone's gun. People expect that and then keep asking, 'Where's the 97-mph fastball?'

Austin Jackson:

Our scout says Jackson is the Yanks' No. 1 prospect, a view shared by Manuel.

"The whole with Jackson is greater than the sum of the parts," says Manuel, Baseball America's editor. " And the parts are fine. His poor AFL performance shows he's not ready for 2009. But he will be a very solid everyday player down the line. I give him a good chance to be an above-average big league center fielder. Better than Bernie Williams on defense, not quite that good offensively at his peak."

The scout's comp is outfielder Reggie Sanders, who played with the Reds and then bounced around.

"Nice athlete. Nice bat speed. Similar to Mets outfielder Fernando Martinez in that he hasn't had that big Minor League year. Like Sanders, contact rate/plate recognition is his problem. He gets himself out. Prospect-wise, he's solid, not spectacular -- not untouchable by any means. I'd trade him as a main piece for a No. 2 pitcher without thinking twice."

Andrew Brackman:

"He had the best arm in Hawaii Winter Baseball," says Manuel, who rated him that league's No. 2 prospect. "He's inconsistent, showing lots of rust coming back from Tommy John surgery. But he hit 97 mph and consistently sat at 91-96. He has an inconsistent curveball, but a surprising, firm mid-80s changeup."

Our scout didn't seem as impressed.

"He needs one of his too curveballs -- a knuckle-curve that's harder and a loopy one that probably should be scrapped. He can't change speeds well because he's so tall and thus has trouble repeating his motion. And he's already 23. He's high risk, high reward and can't afford another injury."

Ian Kennedy:

On Ian Kennedy, or scout says, "His stuff is marginal but he's tough when everything is clicking. He'll have some good stretches in the majors as a starter, I'm convinced. The Yankees seemingly have turned the page because they put Hughes in the AFL, which is developmental, while Kennedy was awarded to the tougher Puerto Rico league because I think they're trying to establish some trade value -- hoping he'll pitch well against better competition [than there is in the AFL]."

Says Manuel about Kennedy: "He has to have premium command to be a four-pitch, four average pitches guy. His best pitch, the slider, was a 55 (on the 80 scouting scale). He is supposed to be a pitchability/command guy. But does he have the guts to throw his pitch?"

They also discuss infielder Kevin Russo, first baseman Juan Miranda, starting pitcher Jeremy Bleich, who Manuel called the best left-hander in the Hawaiian Winter league, catcher Austin Romine, and relief pitcher Jonathan Albaladejo. Check out the rest of the article here.

Miranda Called Up

According to Peter Abraham, Juan Miranda has be called up from AAA Scranton. This season in the minors Miranda hit .287/.384/.449 with 12 homers and 52 RBI.

Who's on First?

One position the Yankees do not have settled for 2008 is first base. Right now there are four main candidates for the position, Shelley Duncan, Jason Giambi, Wilson Betemit, and Juan Miranda, none of which are too impressive.

Shelley Duncan is a career minor leaguer who had a decent first three months in the big leagues. In only 74 at bats he hit .257, with 7 HR, and 17 RBI. The two major question marks regarding Duncan are can he hit major league pitching after they learn his weaknesses, and will his defense become a liability. In the Minors he was known as a player who could hit, but really didn’t have a position. To me he’s a better fit as a part-time outfielder, part-time DH, and part-time first baseman.

Jason Giambi is another name that has been thrown around as a potential candidate for first. Realistically I don’t think anyone within the Yankee organization actually believes that his body would hold up over a full season. Over the past few years every time he plays more than three days a week he injures himself in someway. He also has less range than my 90 year old grandma Ida, and can't throw the ball with any accuracy. Another strike against Giambi is that he has turned into a shell of his former self offensively. He would be best suited as the most expensive pinch-hitter in Major League history.

For a couple years I’ve been hearing about Wilson Betemit, how he could be a very good everyday player in the Majors, and rom what I’ve seen, I don’t agree. His stats aren't that impressive either; lifetime .260 hitter. He has a good glove and a OK bat. He's a switch-hitter, with a little power from the left-hand side, and is invisible from the right-hand side. The way to make the most of his talents is as a utility guy who would occasionally get a start to give players like A-Rod, Cano, and Jeter a day off.

This leads me to the most intriguing candidate of the group, Juan Miranda, a 24 year old left-handed Cuban defector. People who watched him in Cuba say he could eventually become a .280, 20+ HR type of hitter. In his first season in the Minors he hit .265, with 16 HR, and 96 RBI, in 446 at bat with Tampa (A+), and Trenton (AA). He also has the ability to draw a walk; his OBP was .350, almost 100 points higher than his batting average. In 22 games in the Arizona Fall League he hit .295, with 5 HR, and 17 RBI. He also racked up a gaudy .423 OBP and .974 OPS. He does have several weaknesses, he doesn't hit left handed pitching too well, and he's a below average fielder.

Unless the Yankees can trade for an established MLB first baseman, this is a problem that will not sort itself out until sometime in mid March, and most likely, even later. All these players could end up splitting time for the entire season. I really would like to see what Juan Miranda can do though; to me, out of this group, he may have the most potential.