Ensberg signed to minor-league deal
-
- January
- 31
Working on the story now, but the Yankees have signed Morgan Ensberg to a minor-league contract. He’s going to work primarily as a first baseman.
UPDATE, 9:52 p.m.: Ensberg would make $1.75 million if he makes the roster with an addition $2.25 million available in bonuses based on plate appearances.
Here’s who the Yankees will have at first base in camp:
Wilson Betemit
Shelley Duncan
Morgan Ensberg
Jason Giambi
Jason Lane
Juan Miranda
Betemit will be on the team because he can play a few positions. The Big G has to be on the team unless he’s on the DL. But who starts is up for grabs.
“I wouldn’t say anyone is a projected starter,” general manager Brian Cashman said. “There’s a job at first base that either someone is going to earn outright or it’s going to be an opportunity to mix a few different people in there.
“Basically, everybody’s got to earn their keep, whether you have a big contract or you’re competing for a spot on the club. Joe Girardi will look at everybody fairly and objectively and put the best team out on the field on any given day that he thinks can give us a chance to win, period, and he’s not looking at salary.”
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on Thursday, January 31st, 2008 at 9:01 pm by Peter Abraham.
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Peter Abraham
Number one, it’s a minor league deal. Number 2, with his ability to play third, it sounds like he’s competition for Betemit. What’s not to like?
Competition isn’t a bad thing.
Well, at least hes a righty!
Can’t go wrong with minor league contracts
Although some people still think those are signs of the end of the Yankee-verse, but eh
Doesn’t he play first as well?
I know a lot of people feel that the logjam at first base makes this signing seem like a waste, but in my opinion, this could be a great signing. Morgan Ensberg, a few years ago, was a very good right handed hitting 3rd baseman. I think he could be very good in the Yankee lineup (the key words being in the Yankee lineup). To me, this seems a lot like a Scotty Broscius type signing. I believe at the end of the season, your going to look back on this transaction fondly. I think Ensberg will end up being a semi-regular starter by midseason with Betemit as utility infielder, and Shelly as the big stick off the bench.
I, for one, like having Shelly being a big bat off the bench, who can occasionally start a game at first, right field, or DH.
no, he’s a third baseman by trade, they will try him out at 1b. shelley duncan’s hopes of plenty at-bats ride on how ensberg does in spring training.
better than Phelps
Can Betemit play middle infielder? If so, then Betemit can be the backup infielder and Lane and Ensberg compete for right-handed 1b. If not, then Ensberg, Lane and Duncan are playing for 1 spot on the roster.
i’m with you gitmo, though i do miss minky.
It’s tough to imagine how enough at bats in March can be had by Giambi, Duncan, Miranda, Betemit, Lane, and now Ensberg.
I take this signing to mean that Betemit is out of shape and not working hard . . . Anyone know for sure?
I think he is just insurance. That being said, I’d rather have Doug here, he did pretty good and still had a good glove.
I think we’re overreacting to this signing. A minor league deal…it’s just insurance is something goes terribly wrong. Teams invite washed up veterans to ST all the time.
“I take this signing to mean that Betemit is out of shape and not working hard . . .”
Given that he’s slated to be the left-handed side of the platoon, and Ensberg is righty…I’m pretty sure that’s a totally unfounded supposition.
I dont care who we get right now because in 2009 We’ll have big TEX…
Go Giants !!!
This makes the pain of not getting Santana all but go away.
I’m 110% rooting for Morgan Ensberg to get the NYY 1B job. There is this amazing story of how he survived a dangerous & intense armed hotel robbery, just before he came up to the Astros. He’s a strong & personable guy who deserves a comeback. Hope he makes it.
This is a minor league signing for depth.Betemit can play ss/2b.Duncan will still get his at bats.Options are good esp if someone gets hurt.
Tex will be a bust I predict (if they sign him in 09.)
They have so many options, but that’s a good problem to have.
SP
1)Wang
2)Pettite
3)Joba
4)Hughes
5)IPK/Mussina
RP
Mo
Farnsworth
Hawkins
Bruney
IPK/Mussina
Veras?
LF Damon
CF Melky
RF Abreu
3B ARod
SS Jeter
2B Cano
1B Shelley/Betemit/Ensberg/Miranda/Giambi
C Posada
DH Matsui
Bench
Molina
Shelley/Betemit/Ensberg/Miranda/Giambi (I think 3 of these guys will make the team total, 2 on the bench)
Backup OF: ????
I see it as Giambi the starting 1st baseman, Betemit and Shelley on the bench. I don’t know this is a confusing roster. Can someone help me think?
I heard Tex is about to buy a house in ATL. With A.Jones gone and Chipper’s carrer drawing to a close, it makes sense that the braves will try to extend him. Ive read that he loves playing for the Braves.
Whoever’s performing at Spring training will get the spot, and the ones who don’t will be minor league insurance. Its a fair move, though I do miss Mientkiewicz.
Ensberg is the second former Astro that the Yankees have invited to camp in the competition for the first base job, with Jason Lane being signed before him. Since they seem to be going after former Astros to play first base, I expect for them to announce the signing of Jeff Bagwell any day now. And yes, I am being facetious.
BaBye Pats….get ready to choke !
January 31st, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Go Giants !!!
It will be very interesting what kind of excuses you have on Monday, maybe that it will be a moral victory if Giants bet the spread.
J-Dawg: Why stop at Bagwell? Why not Craig Biggio?
I saw Betemit at a Baseball Show last weekend …he looked in good shape. Unfortunately he was sitting next to Paul O’Neill who had a LOOOOOOOOOOOONG line of fans …poor Wilson …not one person was getting his auto. I did ask him for a pic and he seemed happy someone noticed him.
As for Paul …he was so nice and very fan friendly. He not only signed his book for me ..but ..as I was walking away and he saw I was wearing his jersey and he told me to come back and he signed it …FOR FREE !!! Should have cost me a $110 for a jersey signature. I just love Paulie …always have and always will …
Go Yankees 2008 !!!
That’s the most words you’ll ever hear someone spend in order to say “Giambi is not our first baseman.”
Does anyone know of a site where I can find how much each Yankee will make for the 08 season??
My concern is who in this bunch will be playing 1B in the 8th and 9th innings? This group doesn’t seem to have a gold glove among them which is why i’m a bit surprised they didn’t re-sign Doug M. Girardi is a defesive minded manager, so it will be interesting to see how this plays out.
It sounds as if cash is saying; It doesn’t matter how much money you make, play well or your done. Is he starting to speak publicly instead of privately? He talked to Joe about things last year and was rebuffed. Does this mean that even Giambi, Damon etc. is at risk? Or is he trying to get the attention of the players, so they will know that Joe G is in charge…on the field? I must say; I like this side of him, after all his neck is way out there.
Cots:
http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2005/01/new-york-yankees_111398168678860040.html
um… that was for Kj
Rebecca- That would give us a bit of a Killer Bees reunion, getting Lance Berkman would nearly complete it. Although I don’t believe that the Astros would oblige with that last one.
I realize that the list of first base candidates doesn’t exactly set the world on fire, but you don’t have to have superstars at every position. Just give me someone that plays hard, hits at the most opportune times, and plays adequate defense. See, it doesn’t take much to make this dog happy.
“Joe Girardi will look at everybody fairly and objectively and put the best team out on the field on any given day that he thinks can give us a chance to win, period, and he’s not looking at salary.”
Am I reading too much into it or was that a little swipe at Joe Torre?
Goldstein discusses the Yankees prospects:
http://web.yesnetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080129&content_id=1436535&oid=36019&vkey=6
If Ensberg shows he is productive again he and Giambi will make a fine platoon at first base. Duncan can take Abreu’s abs against lefty’s in right field.
I take this signing to mean that Betemit is out of shape and not working hard . . . Anyone know for sure?
OC,
I saw Betemit last weekend at a signing. He’s still a big boy. Didn’t look like he slimmed down at all.
Signing Ensberg is a good move, he’s a good complimentary player.
I wonder if Matsui’s health is playing into this at all. Without him in the equation, Giambi would spend more time at DH than at 1st base. That could leave an opening for a lefty/righty platoon at first.
“I wonder if Matsui’s health is playing into this at all. Without him in the equation, Giambi would spend more time at DH than at 1st base. That could leave an opening for a lefty/righty platoon at first.”
Sooo…them signing several right-handed veterans to compete with Duncan makes you think that a lefty-righty platoon at 1B is more likely than you did before?
Not more or less likely but it could change up who the platoon could be. If Matsui can’t go at all in April, Giambi is the full time DH. If Matsui can only DH, Giambi is the full time 1st baseman.
“Joe Girardi will look at everybody fairly and objectively and put the best team out on the field on any given day that he thinks can give us a chance to win, period, and he’s not looking at salary.”
that’s the best part of the whole thing…
roster guesses:
SP-5
1)Wang
2)Pettite
3)Joba (first 2 months as reliever?)
4)Hughes
5)IPK/Mussina
RP-7
Mo
Farnsworth
Hawkins
Veras/Ohlendorf/Albaladejo/Bruney (2 of 4)
IPK/Mussina
Henn/Igawa/Traber
Starters-9
LF Damon
CF Melky
RF Abreu
3B ARod
SS Jeter
2B Cano
1B Shelley
C Posada
DH Matsui
Bench: 4
Molina
Giambi (automatic DL if he plays in the field)
Betemit – play some 1B
Justin Christian?? Ensberg??
Jaewon:
you forgot to put Igawa on your roster…
Pete, I’m disappointed that you don’t have a Yankees logo anywhere on you in that picture to the right. I mean at least fake it.
HAPPY FEBRUARY!
Nice low risk potentially high reward signing.
Ensberg should be in his prime at 32, and he was 4th in the NL MVP voting in 2005 (.945 OPS). He’s mostly stunk since, but even last year his OPS vs. LHPs was .831 (only 105 ABs).
Certainly nothing we should count on, but who knows? Nice job by Cashman to bring him in with little risk.
Why not move Damon or Matsui to 1B. They are both good athletes who have problems with their legs (esp. Damon). If Damon/Matsui play 1B and LF, it leaves room for Giambi to DH. I dislike Giambi just as much as the rest of you, but he’s still a good bat and since we’re stuck with him for one more year we might as well use him.
That said, I’m still rooting for Betemit, Duncan and Giambi to kick some butt in SP and beyond.
root for whomever we want… bottom line:
it’s funny that the roster spot/ cum bench role / or cum starting first baseman’s role will all be due to whichever player has a hot streak for a week or two in march.
as a player, i, for one, would certainly put on my best mojo, attend the religious temple of choice and/or speak much to my guru come end of february.
No one wanted Wilsons auto
They should have planed better, why seat him next to a beloved Yankee. Poor guy.
Bye-bye Giambi? From the NY Times:
Cashman had been speaking with Ensberg’s representative for about two weeks. He wants new manager Joe Girardi to have options at first base.
‘’I wouldn’t say anyone is a projected starter,’’ Cashman said. ‘’There’s a job at first base that either someone is going to earn outright or it’s going to be an opportunity to mix a few different people in there. Basically, everybody’s got to earn their keep, whether you have a big contract or you’re competing for a spot on the club. Joe Girardi will look at everybody fairly and objectively and put the best team out on the field on any given day that he thinks can give us a chance to win, period, and he’s not looking at salary.’‘
another beard bites the dust…
i don’t even know who i’m going to root for here. i just hope one of them doesn’t have a great spring, and then that’s it… as long as whomever is consistent
What an idiotic signing.
$1.75M if he makes the team, $1.05M > 2007 Josh Phelps, up to $4M if he gets max at-bats based on the contract, $3.3M > ‘07 Phelps.
He obviously thinks a backup 1B is worth more than a good lefthanded reliever which the Yanks don’t have.
Boston signs veteran good glove 1B and career .300 hitter with good OBP Sean Casey for just a year and $700K.
Great job Theo, stupid move Cashman. Your “going with youth” strategy better pay off, Cashman, or happy job hunting if the Yanks get eliminated from making the postseason or in the A.L.D.S. again and let’s see your genius with a payroll under $100M which most teams have.
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