Is Cashman content with just Russ Ortiz?

If you didn’t hear, the Yankees signed starting pitcher Russ Ortiz. Ortiz hit his peak in 2003 when he won 21 games for the Braves with a 3.81 ERA.

After leaving the Braves after the ‘04 season, he’s compiled a 10-28 record with a 6.56 ERA for the D’Backs, Orioles, Giants and Astros. If Brian Cashman is done looking for pitchers now, he needs to reconsider that decision immediately.

Ortiz might be a slightly better option than Kei Igawa as another fifth starter option, but I’d rather stick with Sergio Mitre at that point.

Anthony Claggett was just called up, but he isn’t likely to stay with the team too long. The only other viable option in the minors that seems ready for the majors is Zachary Kroenke.

I’ve been waiting for Cash to bring in a legitimate reliever each day of August, but he seems to be avoiding the idea. Maybe he’ll have time after he finishes signing the draft picks he wants to keep.

Claggett called up, Ransom sent down

If you wanted proof that the Yankees have no faith in Sergio Mitre, this is it. Anthony Claggett was recalled today, and will most likely be the first to relieve Mitre if he is shelled tonight (via Tyler Kepner’s Twitter).

Peter Abraham is reporting backup utility player Cody Ransom has been DFA’d to make room for Claggett. Good riddance.

Ransom had absolutely no purpose on the team, while Claggett can hopefully eat some innings out of the bullpen tonight in order to save the rest of the pen for the Red Sox series.

Oh by the way, Claggett has  made one appearance for the Yankees this year, and it wasn’t pretty. Against the Indians, he allowed eight runs in 1-2/3 innings of relief of Chien-Ming Wang.

Claggett has compiled a 3.02 ERA in 59-2/3 innings at Triple-A this season.

14 Runs in the second inning

After the Yankees scored two runs off Fausto Carmona in the bottom of the second, the Indians struck back in a big way against a struggling Chien-Ming Wang.  Wang gave up eight runs in the top of the third, and only recorded one out.  Then, recent call-up Anthony Clagget proceeded to allow six more runs.  The worst part, it's all on the pitchers; there were no errors.

The bright side is that the Yankees get to face Carl Pavano tomorrow.

Yanks cut six, including Hughes

This morning, Cashman released the next six players to be cut from big league camp.  Phil Hughes, along with Steven Jackson, Anthony Clagget, Humberto Sanchez, Jason Johnson and Sergio Mitre, got the boot.

You might ask, "why the heck did Hughes get cut?"  Here's what Brian Cashman had to say on the matter:

"I told him that he had a great camp and to keep working," Cashman said. "We told him about all the things that we saw and what he needs to continue to work on. He's in a great frame of mind. He knows he did great here, but he also knows that it's not in his best interest to now be held back."

Obviously, this decision has nothing to do with his performance so far this spring.  As I said last night, he has a 2.19 ERA and has the most innings recorded out of any Yankee pitcher in spring so far.  Since he did get cut, this means that the Yankees see him as a starter.  This is contrary to what I've been thinking all spring.  Although now that the move has been made, I think it makes sense.

Barring an injury, there is no room for Hughes to pitch every fifth day for the New York Yankees.  However, Andy Pettitte is only signed to a one-year deal.  I can see Hughes filling that hole next season.