The Yankees are looking for starters to fill holes in their pitching staff with C.C. Sabathia out until at least July and Brian Cashman will get a look a firsthand look at Jason Hammel and Jeff Samardzija over the next two days.
According to a report from Joel Sherman, Jason Hammel and Jeff Samardzija will be “auditioning” during the Yankees two-game series at Wrigley. Brian Cashman told Sherman that “no one is available currently” and Sherman added “the Yankees are very much in desperation mode with the rotation here and now.”
New York has lost Ivan Nova for the season, Sabathia will not be back before July and Michael Pineda could return in June. After Masahiro Tanaka, the Yankees rotation currently consists of Hiroki Kuroda, David Phelps, Vidal Nuno and Chase Whitely.
According to Sherman, Samardzija is “likely to be available in June” and is viewed as the best starter on the market, for now. The Yankees system has very little depth and might not have enough for Samardzija. The Yankees could offer the Cubs a suitable package of players for Jason Hammel. Sherman pointed out Hammel “is among the next-level of starters who could become available.” Sherman added Bronson Arroyo and Scott Feldman “have been mentioned by executives as potential trade candidates.”
As for what the Yankees may have to offer from their system for a starting pitcher, Sherman said they might have to include catchers John Ryan Murphy or Gary Sanchez “to front any meaningful deal.”
Alfonso Soriano and Those Darn Yankees
The Cubs open a two-game series with the Yankees on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field. The Bronx Bombers will actually be in Chicago for the entire week. Alfonso Soriano and company will spend four days on the South Side (Thursday-Sunday) after the two-game series at Wrigley Field.
The New York Daily News caught up with Alfonso Soriano and spoke with Soriano about his time in Chicago and one of his old teammates, Jeff Samardzija. Soriano understands Samardzija’s desire to win according to the report. Soriano said if the Cubs can build a good team then Samardzija would want to stay.
Alfonso Soriano told the Daily News he has no ill will toward the Cubs. He wanted to win and his focus is on the season at hand, not one down the road.
Several of the young players on the Cubs current roster will be glad to have Alfonso Soriano back at Wrigley for the next two days.
News and Notes
Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro are hitting like franchise cornerstones once again according to a report from the Daily Gammons. Excellent swing rate and spray charts are included in this report. And, Castro “is swinging at about the same percentage of pitches this season as he did in 2013, but he’s taking a cut at better offerings” and “swinging at more pitches thrown in the zone.”
Jon Paul Morosi pointed out another similarity between the Cubs and Dodgers … the Dodgers are tied with the Cubs for the most bullpen losses in baseball this year: 11 in only 45 games.
Mitch Williams has decided to take a leave of absence from his role at MLB Network in response to the reports about his behavior at youth baseball tournament according to a report from Yahoo Sports.
Ryan Dempster bought a new house a mile from Wrigley Field earlier this month according to Dennis Rodkin.
This Day In Cubstory
2006 – Michael Barrett punched A.J. Pierzynski at U.S. Cellular Field during the annual Crosstown Series. Rich Hill and the Cubs lost the game 7-0 after a bench clearing brawl delayed the game for 15 minutes. Barrett received a 10-game suspension the following week.
1967 – Cubs signed Joey Amalfitano
1962 – During a Cubs’ doubleheader sweep of the Phillies, Ken Hubbs hit eight singles in eight trips to the plate at Connie Mack Stadium. Hubbs won NL Rookie of the Year that season.
1958 – Cubs traded Jim Brosnan to the Cardinals for Alvin Dark
1951 – In front of 42,088 at Wrigley Field, Dutch Leonard won a pair of games in Cubs wins over the Braves of 4-3 and 5-4. Leonard threw two innings in each game.
1920 – The Chicago police, dressed as soldiers and farmers, raided the Wrigley Field bleachers, arrested two dozen Cub fans for gambling. Grover Cleveland Alexander won his eighth straight game that day.