Yankees Claim Todd from Indians, DFA Russo

As per Chad Jennings:

Here’s the announcement from the Yankees.

Earlier today, the Yankees claimed RHP Jess Todd off waivers from Cleveland. Todd previously spent 2011 with Triple-A Columbus, posting an 11.00 ERA in eight games without recording a decision (9.0IP, 18H, 11ER, 6BB, 6K, 2HR). He split 2010 between Cleveland (0-0, 7.50 ERA, 5G, 6.0IP, 9H, 5ER, 3BB, 9K) and Columbus (4-2, 3.31 ERA, 44G, 4SV, 49.0IP, 46H, 20R, 18ER, 18BB, 53K, 6HR). Todd was originally drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the second round of the 2007 First Year Player Draft.

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Yankees designated INF Kevin Russo for assignment.

Todd's numbers leave a bit to be desired, but there is a bit to be excited about here - especially when one considers that he's only 25. The small-ish righty features a 91 to 95 MPH fastball and a mid-80s slider that serves as a true swing-and-miss pitch - particularly against right-handed hitters. His strikeout, walk, and groundball numbers have been above-average throughout his minor league career, as well. He's struggled a bit with the longball recently, and his lack of a change-up may hinder his ability to be effective against lefties ... but there could be a fair bit of value here, for the low price of a waiver claim.

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.

Winn Designated For Assignment

According to Chad Jennings, to make room for Curtis Granderson on the roster, the Yankees have designated Randy Winn for assignment. Jennings says the Yankees stuck with Russo for his versatility. Earlier today I suggested that this would be the best move for the Yanks, and apparently they felt the same way.

With Granderson back is it time for Winn to go?

With Curtis Granderson ready to be activated later today it's now decision time for the Yanks as they decide what their corresponding roster move will be. As Ben over at RAB pointed out earlier today, the Yankees have three options: they can send Ramiro Pena or Kevin Russo back to Triple-A, or they can designate Randy Winn for assignment.

Obviously, the easiest move--although probably not the best--for the Yanks would be sending down one of the youngsters. If they designating Winn for assignment it would mean the end of his Yankee career and I'm not sure the Yankees want to go down that road this early in the season. So, by sending either Pena or Russo down it would allow them to keep all three and whoever went down could get regular at-bats in Triple-A.

If that's the road the Yankees decide to take, Kevin Russo would probably be the one to go. Which would be a shame since he's been such a nice addition to this team. He can play all over the field, and has also hit better than the other two. However, with five outfielders already on the roster, Pena, who's a better infielder, becomes more valuable.

But is that the best for this team?

To me, the answer is no. While Winn has been a good player in the past, he was mediocre last year and has been invisible for the Yanks this season. And with both Russo and Pena on the roster, the Yankees would have a ton of flexibility with two bench players that can play almost anywhere on the field, plus, they've both been better than Winn. It's probably not the decision the Yanks will make, but I'd like to see them stick with the kids.

What do you think the Yankees should do?

Russo Excited to Help the Yankees

Recent injuries have given some lesser known Yankee prospects an opportunity to shine. During this weekend Kevin Russo got his chance in the Subway Series against the Mets. His biggest hit so far was a game winning, opposite field double which drove in the only 2 runs the Yankees could muster Friday night in their 2-1 victory.

Russo's 5-11 and 180 pound frame doesn't standout in the Yankee dugout and neither does he seem to fit in with a team full of high priced superstars. Scott Cacciola provided some interesting insight about Russo and his reaction to his recent role as a hero Friday night in an article in the Wall Street Journal called An Atypical Yankee:

After the game, Mr. Russo, a recent minor-league call-up and 25-year-old rookie, appeared utterly shocked—and a little unnerved—to find 20 reporters huddled at his locker. Not long ago, he was playing against the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs. He kept using the word "exciting."

Cacciola also discussed the bond Russo had with Baylor coach Steve Smith and his family:

Mr. Smith said he feels a unique bond with Mr. Russo, in large part because he watched him cope with trauma while he was at Baylor. Mr. Russo's father, Steve, a lifelong Yankees fan who grew up in the Bronx, was succumbing to cancer. He died in 2007.

So this weekend was special and poignant for Mr. Russo, who said he plans to give the baseball from his first major-league hit to his mother, Colleen. In the meantime, he will quietly continue to go about his work.

"His fire," Mr. Smith said, "is burning inside."

A tough, all around athlete he was named one of two all-state running backs in high school by the Rocky Mountain News in Colorado. The other by the way was LenDale White, who went on to star at USC and now is with the Seattle Seahawks. Drafted by the Yankees in the 20th round of the 2006 draft out of Baylor, Russo helped his team reach the College World Series in 2005. Since 2006 he has progressed through the organization, improving offensively and defensively at every level. His production has actually improved against stronger competition—from the Gulf Coast League in 2006 (.273), to Tampa in 2007 (.281), to Trenton in 2008 (.307) and to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2009 (.326).

He earned FSL all star honors in 2007 and was sent to the AFL where he hit .309 after a good year at Trenton in 2008. He had a solid season in his first year at Triple-A last year, reaching career highs in many categories. A contact hitter, he batted mostly lead off, and finished his first Triple A season with a .326 batting average, 13 stolen bases and a .397 OBP. He improved throughout the year with the bat. He hit .343 after the all star break, with a .411 OBP and made the International League post season all star team, finishing 4th in the league in batting average. This year he started off slow in Triple-A, but was starting to heat up before this recent call up to the majors. So far with the Yankees this season he has 3 major league hits in 10 at bats.

What we could be seeing is the development of a solid utility player. Mainly an infielder so far in his professional career, Russo's best position is second base. In fact he was named the best defensive second baseman in the FSL by Baseball America in 2007. He has also played third base in the minors and a few games at shortstop. According to Brian Cashman, the Yankees' current plans are to make him into a "Jerry Hairston type" utility player. His development has included more playing time in Triple-A as an outfielder but he has not clocked much time at the position so far. Through this season, he has played the outfield a total of 13 times over 5 minor league seasons, but he did look comfortable in left field during the Mets series.

In 6 career major league games in the field so far, he has played 3 at third base, 2 in the outfield and 1 at second base. The Yankees have always known Russo could hit and their confidence in him as a versatile utility player is growing by the game. Russo's thoughts in the Wall Street Journal article about his most recent role:

"Wherever I can play, I don't care," said Mr. Russo, who was born in West Babylon on Long Island before moving to Colorado when he was 3. "As long as I'm playing baseball, it's fine with me."

You have to love his attitude and as Yankee fans watch him play more, they will love his aggressive, head first style of play. He is a competitor and has the talent to make a contribution. The organization seems to agree because they felt highly enough about him to protect him this off season by placing him on the 40 man roster. It will be interesting to see how he does against major league level talent as he gets more playing time.

(Photo credit to Reuters)

Some More Moves and News

Along with Chad Moeller, Kevin Russo was also called up earlier today. Mark Melancon will head to Scranton to make room for Russo on the roster.

Nick Swisher should be back in the lineup tonight, at least according to Chad Jennings, that seems to be the plan.

It may have been missed with Moeller being called up, but earlier I mentioned that the Yankees signed 27-year-old second baseman Jeff Natale.

Cashman's Thoughts on Key Players and Recent Moves

Yankees’ General Manager, Brian Cashman, made the trip to Scranton last Friday to watch Chan Ho Park pitch a rehab inning in Triple-A. While he was there he met with the local press and gave a quick evaluation on the performance of some the prospects at Scranton, and his thoughts on a couple of recent moves the Yankees have made. A nice summary of the interview was posted on the SWB Yankees website. Some of the key points in his interview were as follows:

On Romulo Sanchez and Ivan Nova, Cashman was more impressed with their poise rather than their performance. Called on to help eat up innings as Andy Pettitte needed to skip a start, the two did just that. Sanchez pitched 3.2 innings on Sunday against the Red Sox, allowing one hit, striking out 3 and walking 1. Nova followed that up with 2 scoreless innings against the Tigers in his first major league appearance. This helped give the Yankee bullpen a much needed rest. On the two pitching call ups, Cashman had this to say:

"In Romulo Sanchez's case, pitching in Fenway Park on an ESPN national television game, he had great tempo and threw strikes, so that didn't bother him." "In Nova's case, it was his first Major League outing, and he faced some pretty major hitters there," Cashman said. "He had great tempo, threw strikes, had good stuff and commanded the ball and he cruised."

"The sample size is tiny, but in terms of how they just carried themselves, it makes you feel good that if you're the manager and you have to give those guys the ball again, at least you know they're not afraid," Cashman said.

Regarding infielder Kevin Russo, who was recently sent back down to Scranton, Cashman said he would be seeing more time in the outfield. Sounds like the goal is to try and make him into a “Jerry Hairston type" utility player. Russo played Saturday’s game in centerfield, making a nice catch to rob Josh Kroeger of a double, crashing into the center field wall.

This was also Cashman’s first time seeing top prospect Jesus Montero since spring training. Montero has been showing signs of improving defensively but has been struggling offensively. Cashman had this assessment of the catching prospect:

"(Struggling at the plate) is probably good for him-he's a guy who has never really scuffled," Cashman said of Montero. "Like anything else, these are all good quality experiences for them to learn from and grow from and deal with adversity. You want them to deal with it down here rather than deal with it for the first time at the Major League-level."

Cashman also discussed the release of pitching prospect Christian Garcia to make room for the acquisition of Shane Lindsay.

"When he declared himself as having Tommy John surgery a month ago, I knew that at some point, if I got in a roster crunch, then he'd be released," Cashman said. "It's too bad because tool-wise, he's one of our better ability players, but physically, he just can't hold it together."

Lindsay is a 25-year-old, Australian-born flame thrower who utilizes a high-90s fastball and a sharp breaking ball. Cashman compared him to Brian Bruney in that he can throw hard but struggles with his control. In 14 Triple-A games this season, Lindsay has been averaging 12.5 strikeouts per nine innings but also 11.2 walks per nine. He hopes that the pitching coaches in the minors can fix him. But are we ready for another Brian Bruney?