The LoHud Yankees Blog

The Yankees know Andruw Jones will be their fourth outfielder. They know their utility infielder will be one of two candidates. They know their backup catcher will be either Francisco Cervelli or one of the young guys. The spot that seems wide open is the fourth man on the bench, a spot that could go to either an infielder or an outfielder, a power bat or a pinch runner, a defensive replacement or a potential pinch hitter.

The possibilities
The Yankees could go almost any direction with this spot. If they want additional outfield depth, Greg Golson and Justin Maxwell are both speedy, right-handed hitters who could be defensive replacements or pinch runners, and Colin Curtis could be a left-handed balance to Jones. In the infield, the Yankees could choose to carry both Eduardo Nunez and Ramiro Pena, or they could carry one of those two as a backup shortstop, with either Eric Chavez or Ron Belliard — or Brandon Laird or Kevin Russo or Jorge Vazquez — available to fill in at the corners.

The easy choice
That’s what the Yankees are hoping for: An easy choice. If anyone steps up in spring training and puts himself clearly above the other candidates, the Yankees choice will be simple. It seems that in an ideal world, Chavez will prove he’s healthy and can still hit for power. He would be a left-handed hitter on a predominantly right-handed bench, and if he can step in as the guy to give Alex Rodriguez an occasional day off at third base, that might be the best use of the fourth bench spot. Any other choice — either a fifth outfielder or a light-hitting second utility man — would have no clear role other than late-inning defense and base-running.

The alternatives
If Chavez is finished, the Yankees could focus on late-inning defense and base-running. Carrying both Pena and Nunez would let the team use either one as a pinch runner without losing defensive flexibility. The same would be true for either Golson or Maxwell, each of whom has enough speed to steal a bag and could slide into right field for the last inning or two.

Normally, the fact Curtis is a left-handed hitter would be a negative in an already left-leaning outfield, but of the favorites for a bench job, Jones, Cervelli and Nunez are all right-handed, and switch-hitter Pena isn’t much of an offensive threat from either side of the plate. If Chavez doesn’t emerge as a legitimate option from the left side, Curtis could bring some left-right balance to the bench.

The Yankees could also prioritize flexibility, opening a spot for either Russo or Brandon Laird as a player capable of filling in at the infield and outfield corners.

A separate but related issue
Eleven players had at least 150 at-bats for the Yankees last season (a group that included Pena and the since-departed Marcus Thames). Of the group that had fewer than 150 ABs, no one had more home runs or RBI than Juan Miranda. Defensive versatility is crucial on the bench, but the Yankees might be on the lookout for a hitter who can bounce back and forth from Scranton and occasionally give the Yankees productive big league at-bats, regardless of defensive ability.

Associated Press photos of Curtis and Chavez

It should be a quiet weekend here in Tampa.

Yesterday, the media was told not to expect any sort of activity until Monday. When I drove by the Yankees minor league complex mid-morning, there were three cars in the Yankees parking lot, and the only activity on the fields seemed to be two groups of non-Yankees — looked like high school kids — going through drills and maybe preparing for a game.

This is the calm before … not the storm exactly, more like the gentle precipitation of light bullpen sessions and pitchers fielding practice. But at least it’s baseball.

Pitchers and catchers report in less than 48 hours.

That’s a picture I took two years ago at the minor league complex. I completely forgot I had it on this computer until a few minutes ago. It gives some idea of what the place looks like if you’re still curious.

The post-2000 Yankees were not quite the disappointments they’re often made out to be. They failed to achieve the near-impossible standards set by the late-90s dynasty, but consistently reaching the playoffs is all any team can ask for on a year-to-year basis. Too many things have to go right in the postseason to expect any sort of regularity there.

For proof, just look at all the wild card teams that have won the World Series. Through 162 games they weren’t the best teams in their divisions. For one month, they were the best teams in baseball.

Despite the positives, though, it’s clear that not everything went right during those eight years immediately following the Yankees run of championships. There were lessons to be learned, and this morning Ben needed only 11 words to sum up the biggest lesson of all: Moves made out of restlessness and desperation are not the answer.

Most likely, moves to acquire Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia are not the answer either, but at least those signings have no chance of haunting the franchise. At best, Garcia and Colon are place-holders. At worst, they’re a waste of spring training innings. Just because they’re part of a desperate situation doesn’t make them desperate signings.

“You can’t force it,” Brian Cashman said at Andy Pettitte’s retirement press conference. “If you want to force it, you’re going to make a mistake and maybe overpay.”

The Yankees are trying to learn from the high-dollar mistakes of the previous decade. There is a new focus on player development, and the Steinbrenners’ pocketbook is being used to eliminate those holes that the system can’t adequately fill. That’s why Brett Gardner and Phil Hughes were given second chances in 2011. That’s why — until the Rafael Soriano signing — the bullpen has been pieced together with internal options and low-risk, mid-season trade targets.

The Yankees haven’t stopped spending. Two years ago, Cashman pushed ownership to spend more, not less, and in a matter of weeks he radically transformed the rotation and the heart of the order. But the Yankees can’t make that kind of splash every offseason. They have to pick their free agent battles.

They chose not to engage in any big battles last year. They lost the only big battle worth fighting this year.

“When Cliff made his declaration of going to Philadelphia, all of the inventory that we liked came off the board,” Cashman said.

The Yankees have a rotation problem this season, but it seems one lesson they’ve learned is this: It does no good to take this year’s problem, and turn it into a problem that lasts four or five years down the line.

Associated Press photo

Ben Farber is next up in our Pinch Hitters series. He’s a 17-year-old high school junior who lives in New York City, and he said his favorite Yankees moment was, in his words, “Suzyn Waldman’s infamous Roger Clemens freakout.” Ben plays high school baseball and coaches Little Leaguers. He’s a bit of an island at home, living in a family of Mets fans.

For his guest post, Ben looked back to the post-2000 Yankees with hopes that the post-2009 Yankees aren’t following the same formula.

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It was Thursday, October 26, 2000. As the Shea Stadium clocks closed in on midnight, Mariano Rivera closed the door on the New York Mets. The defending world champion Yankees poured out of the dugout and amassed in the middle of the infield, whooping and leaping in the air like giddy children on Christmas morning. As if they hadn’t done this before.

For nearly a half-decade, baseball’s regular season proved trivial. No matter who won each division, or who piled up the most regular-season wins, fans of all teams could be assured of one thing: October belonged to the Bronx Bombers. Like death and paying taxes, another banner to hang in the House That Ruth Built seemed inevitable. While a champagne-soaked George Steinbrenner stood in the cramped Shea clubhouse accepting the Commissioner’s Trophy for what seemed to the rest of the world like the hundredth time in a row, I lay restless in bed, an exultant first grader, wondering how much longer my pinstriped idols could keep their streak of championships alive.

Let’s fast-forward a bit, say, eight years. After wading through all the Carl Pavanos and the Kevin Browns, the Yankees finally bottomed out (as much as any team with a $200-million payroll is capable of, anyway), and brought the unthinkable to fans: Failure to reach the postseason. For the first time in my life, there would be no October nights in the Bronx; no bunting strewn from any of the Stadium’s three levels; and the walls of the home clubhouse would be conspicuously free of any adult beverage. On Sunday, September 21, 2008, as Derek Jeter — the only Yankee captain I’ve ever known — bade the Yankee Stadium faithful farewell, I began to feel the familiar sinking feeling. Even though our season was not officially over, I knew that 2008 would be like all the rest — a year of premature conclusions.

Ever since that magical first year in 2000, the only Yankee teams I had experienced were teams of repetitive failure. Usually predicted to represent the American League in the Fall Classic, they consistently fell short, and the two times they did make it to the Series, the playoffs ended in heartbreak. First-round exits, World Series losses and 2004: These were not the dynasty teams of my infancy. No, instead these teams were sloppy menageries of high-priced, aging malcontents. These were teams that rolled through the regular season, only to have an inferior Angels or Tigers team clean their clocks in the first round.

For an organization with a “World Series or bust,” attitude, the Yankees embarrassed themselves. Year after year, they led themselves and their fans to the precipice of victory, only to snatch from it gut-wrenching, heart-numbing defeat. The Yankees needed an overhaul, and 2008 made that abundantly clear.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009. The Yankees were back on top where they belonged. As Mark Teixeira squeezed the final out in his glove, I lept off my couch and shouted for joy, thrusting a triumphant fist in the air. For I, as well as every other teenage Yankee fan coming of age in the aftermath of the Yankee dynasty, had been vindicated. Years of shortcomings and crushed expectations were washed away by the mixture of tears, sweat and champagne streaming down the faces of the 25 men clad in world champion t-shirts. Finally — and for the first time I could appreciate — we were on top again.

Friday, October 22, 2010 brought every Yankee fan still riding high from the previous year back to earth.

The Yankees had been overmatched in the ALCS by a tougher, scrappier Rangers team. Not only that, but their upcoming offseason was filled with more uncertainty than in years past. Although they quickly locked up Jeter and Rivera, the Yankees found themselves faced with similar challenges to the ones that presented themselves at the end of the last dynasty. The aging and eventual retirement of key veterans (David Cone and Paul O’Neill in 2000 and 2001, Andy Pettitte and possibly Jorge Posada now) has been an issue then and now. Ten years ago, the Yankees combated that issue by reeling in the offseason’s biggest fish: Mike Mussina and Jason Giambi. Brian Cashman tried a similar strategy this year, but Cliff Lee didn’t cooperate.

So now what? Can AJ Burnett be fixed? Can A-Rod and Posada stay healthy? Can this team please, for the love of Bubba Crosby, come up with some starting pitching depth? Those questions will resolve themselves eventually, but until then, let’s have some patience, okay?

Sure, it would have been exciting to snag Carl Crawford this winter, or trade Jesus Montero for Lee last summer, but if the last few years have taught us anything, moves made out of restlessness and desperation are not the answer. The latest generation of Yankees fans has grown up with teams built from those sort of moves, and as we’ve seen, teams don’t win with reactionary additions.

So Brian Cashman, I implore you: Stick to your guns. Stay patient. No need to splurge on guys who have bad attitudes, are past their prime, or provide only marginal upgrades. Keep focusing on the farm system. I know you want to see the Killer B’s on the mound in the Bronx as much as I do. If Lee doesn’t want to come here, let’s find someone who does. But most of all, don’t force it. Stay patient and good things will happen. Let’s have the post-2009 years go a little smoother than the post-2000 years, all right? We believe in you, and we believe in this organization. Now let’s be smart.

Associated Press photos

Following an earlier report that CC Sabathia lost 30 pounds during the offseason, Brian Cashman today told Wally Matthews that Sabathia might be smaller, but probably not that much smaller.

“I saw him (last week) at the B.A.T. dinner and he didn’t look like he lost 30 pounds to me,” Cashman said. “Maybe half that amount. We haven’t weighed him so I don’t now where that number comes from.”

Whatever the number, Cashman said Sabathia has worked hard to rehab his surgically repair knee, and in the process he’s lost some weight. We’ll just have to wait until Monday to know exactly how much.

My guess is Sabathia will find it kind of hilarious when we’re all asking him exactly how much he weighs now, and exactly how much he weighed in October.

Some other links and notes from today:

• Jon Heyman says the Yankees are still considering Kevin Millwood as a potential innings eater at the back of the rotation.

• Interesting note from Joel Sherman, who reports that the Yankees and Diamondbacks discussed a sign-and-trade that would have sent Grant Balfour to New York without the Yankees losing a draft pick. Sign-and-trade deals don’t happen often in baseball, and I suspect that’s largely because the signing team — the one losing a draft pick — doesn’t have a ton of confidence that the prospect(s) it’s about to acquire will actually be more valuable than the draft pick it’s about to lose. Kevin Towers’ familiarity with the Yankees system would have eliminated some of that concern.

• Nick Swisher has reportedly changed agents. Ken Rosenthal reported tonight that Swisher moved to Dan Lozano. There was a previous report today that Swisher moved to Scott Boras.

• Over at River Ave. Blues, check out Mike Axisa’s choices for the Yankees top 30 prospects.

• The two outfielders designated for assignment by the Rays — to make room for Manny and Johnny — both cleared waivers and were outrighted back into the minor league system.

Associated Press photo of Sabathia

This winter, the Yankees put the finishing touches on a deep and potentially overpowering bullpen. They signed the market’s best closer, and moved him into the eighth inning. They signed the market’s most durable lefty, and put him alongside Boone Logan. They moved incumbent setup men Joba Chamberlain and Dave Robertson into the sixth and seventh innings. If all goes to plan, six bullpen spots are accounted for, but a seventh remains up for grabs.

The possibilities
Robertson, Chamberlain and Logan don’t have to be limited to one inning apiece, but they’re much closer to one-inning relievers than three-innings relievers. The Yankees need a long man, and they no longer have Dustin Moseley, Alfredo Aceves or Chad Gaudin to consider for the job. Instead they’ll choose from a long list of candidates including two Rule 5 picks, two potential starters, and a long line of prospects trying to make an impression.

The easy choice
It’s hard to overlook his 2009 struggles, but the truth is, Sergio Mitre pitched pretty well last season. He had a 1.09 WHIP, a 3.33 ERA, and his ground ball rate was better than 50 percent. He doesn’t strikeout a lot of guys, but Mitre was good in this long relief role last season. The easy thing would be to put him back in that spot, assuming the Yankees don’t need him in the rotation.

The alternatives
Three of the alternatives have nowhere else to go in the Yankees organization. Rule 5 picks Robert Fish and Daniel Turpen must be offered back to their original teams — and passed through waivers — before they can be assigned to the minor leagues. Romulo Sanchez is out of options and would have to be traded or designated for assignment if he misses the cut. Turpen and Fish have each been more than one-inning relievers in the minor leagues, and Sanchez spent half of last season in the Triple-A rotation, so it’s not out of the question that one of those three could be a multiple-inning option. Sanchez — a hard-thrower with a better-than-you-might-expect changeup — might be especially interesting in that role.

It’s unclear what the Yankees expect out of Mark Prior, but it’s obviously an intriguing thought that the former prospect starter might impress in camp and be stretched out as a long man. The Yankees, though, have already ruled out the idea of Prior being a starter. Does that limitation extend to multiple innings out of the bullpen?

Of course, it seems like we’ve spent the entire winter hearing about the Yankees young pitching depth. Could a young arm like Hector Noesi or D.J. Mitchell make an impression in camp and sneak away with a big league bullpen job? Also, the assumption seems to be that Ivan Nova will win a rotation job — and I tend to think that’s true — but if he doesn’t win that contest, his consolation prize might be a long relief job in the big league bullpen.

A separate but related issue
Last year, the Yankees broke camp with Mitre, Aceves and Chan Ho Park available for multiple innings out of the bullpen. At one point or another, Gaudin, Nova, Sanchez and Moseley were also available for long relief. Point is, one multi-inning reliever almost certainly won’t be enough to get through the season and it might not be enough to get through April. The Yankees might need to get at least one or two of those late-inning arms stretched out at least a little bit. The time might come when one of them absolutely has to pitch two or more innings just to get through a game.

Associated Press photo of Mitre, picture of Sanchez taken by my buddy Jason Farmer at the Scranton Times-Tribune

The quickest way to post the non-roster list was to simply copy-paste the Yankees press release, but that’s a lot of text and it’s a little difficult to sort through. Feel free to scroll down for some stats and basic information about these guys, but if you’re just looking for names and positions, here’s an easy-to-digest list of all the Yankees non-roster invitations, including the guys who were announced earlier this winter.

Don’t forget, this is in addition to anyone on the 40-man, so guys like Melky Mesa and Hector Noesi are automatically invited to camp.

Also, Jordan Parraz — who was designated for assignment last week after the Justin Maxwell trade — cleared waivers today and was outrighted to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. That means he’s still in the organization, and that’s why he got an invitation to camp.

Starting pitchers
LHP Manny Banuelos, RHP D.J. Mitchell, RHP David Phelps, RHP Adam Warren, RHP Bartolo Colon, RHP Freddy Garcia

Andrew Brackman, Dellin Betances and Hector Noesi are on the 40-man and automatically invited to big league camp. There are no surprises in this group, especially given the fact that Phelps, Warren and Mitchell could make a run at a rotation spot. I thought Graham Stoneburner might get an invitation, but the Yankees have a ton of pitchers in camp as it is.

Relief pitchers
RHP Eric Wordekemper, RHP Luis Ayala, RHP Warner Madrigal, RHP Brian Anderson, RHP Buddy Carlyle, RHP Mark Prior, LHP Neal Cotts, LHP Andrew Sisco

The only organizational reliever to get a non-roster invitation is Wordekemper, who’s never been highly touted but has consistently put up impressive numbers. Ryan Pope and Steve Garrison are already on the 40-man, so they’ll be there as well. Craig Heyer, Josh Schmidt and Pat Venditte were left out, which isn’t all that surprising. I listed Carlyle among the relievers, but he could pitch in either role in the minor leagues.

Catchers
Jose Gil, Kyle Higashioka, Jesus Montero, Austin Romine, Gustavo Molina

Gil, Higashioka, Montero and Romine are all getting their second invitations to big league camp. Last year Gil was a late addition, and I suppose the Yankees could invite J.R. Murphy if they decide they need another guy behind the plate, but eight catchers is probably enough. Gil isn’t on any prospect lists, but he’s bounced around the organization and filled holes at different levels. Last year, Higashioka was the youngest player in camp. This year it will be Banuelos.

Infielders
3B Bradley Suttle, 1B/3B Jorge Vazquez, SS Doug Bernier, 2B/3B Ronnie Belliard, 3B Eric Chavez

This was the only real surprise for me: No Corban Joseph and no David Adams. Both are legitimate prospects in the organization, and both could be in Triple-A by the end of the year (or the middle of the summer). I thought they’d at least spend a few days with the big leaguers, but really, the Yankees already have a lot of second basemen and third basemen coming to camp. They need to see what Belliard and Chavez have left, they need to find out whether Vazquez and Brandon Laird can help this season, and they need to move Eduardo Nunez, Ramiro Pena and Kevin Russo all around the infield. There are only so many at-bats.

Outfielders
Daniel Brewer, Austin Krum, Jordan Parraz

Parraz was designated for assignment last week, but he cleared waivers today. Most of the Yankees upper-level outfielders are already on the 40-man. Justin Maxwell, Greg Golson, Colin Curtis and Melky Mesa will automatically be in camp. The guy I want to see is Brewer. In the past two years, he’s kind of pulled of a lighter version of what Laird has done: Going from vaguely on the radar to building some legitimate prospect buzz. He has a little bit of power and a little bit of speed and showed last year that he can play center field. He won’t make the big league club out of camp, but he’s one of the smaller-name guys who might be worth watching.

—

Another way to sort the non-roster guys…

Veterans signed to minor league contracts
RHP Luis Ayala, RHP Bartolo Colon, RHP Freddy Garcia, RHP Warner Madrigal, RHP Brian Anderson, RHP Buddy Carlyle, RHP Mark Prior, LHP Neal Cotts, LHP Andrew Sisco, INF Doug Bernier, INF Ronnie Belliard, INF Eric Chavez and C Gustavo Molina

Organizational prospects
LHP Manny Banuelos, OF Daniel Brewer, C Jose Gil, C Kyle Higashioka, OF Austin Krum, RHP D.J. Mitchell, C Jesus Montero, OF Jordan Parraz, RHP David Phelps, C Austin Romine, INF Bradley Suttle, INF Jorge Vazquez, RHP Adam Warren and RHP Eric Wordekemper

Here’s the press release

The New York Yankees today announced that they have signed right-handed pitchers Luis Ayala, Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia and Warner Madrigal and infielders Ronnie Belliard and Eric Chavez to minor league contracts with an invitation to Major League spring training. The club has also invited 14 additional players to 2011 Spring Training bringing the total number of invites to 27 (14 pitchers, five infielders, five catchers and three outfielders). The total number of players now scheduled to report is 67.

Ayala, 33, is 29-39 with 18 saves and a 3.67 ERA (390.1IP, 159ER) in 377 career games over parts of six seasons with Montreal (2003-04), Washington (2005-08), New York-NL (2008), Minnesota (2009) and Florida (2009). Since 2003, he is tied for fifth in the National League in wins as a reliever with 28, behind Ryan Madson (35), Guillermo Mota (31), Chad Qualls (30) and Scott Linebrink (29). In 2010, he combined to go 2-10 with a 6.42 ERA (47.2IP, 34ER) and four saves in 36 appearances out of the bullpen with Triple-A Albuquerque of the Dodgers organization, Triple-A Colorado Springs of the Rockies organization and Triple-A Reno of the Diamondbacks organization. Following the season, he helped lead Mexico to the Caribbean World Series title, tossing 5.0 scoreless innings over four relief appearances and recording two saves (0-0, 2H, 1K, 2BB). Ayala was originally signed as a free agent by the Rockies in 1999.

Belliard, 35, has batted .273 (1,377-for-5,045) with 328 doubles, 114 home runs and 601 RBI in 1,484 games over parts of 13 seasons with Milwaukee (1998-2002), Colorado (2003), Cleveland (2004-06), St. Louis (2006), Washington (2007-09) and Los Angeles-NL (2009-10). Among active second basemen, he ranks fourth in doubles, fifth in home runs and RBI and sixth in games played. He recorded 30 or more doubles in seven of eight seasons from 2000-07, including a career-best 48 doubles with the Indians in 2004. In 2010, he played in 82 games with the Dodgers and hit .216 (35-for-162) with 10 doubles, two home runs and 19 RBI, committing just three errors in 36 total chances combined at the first, second and third-base positions. Belliard was originally drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the eighth round of the 1994 First-Year Player Draft.

Chavez, 33, owns a .267 (1,276-for-4,783) career average with 282 doubles, 230 home runs and 787 RBI in 1,320 games over 13 seasons with the Athletics. He leaves the A’s organization ranking among the franchise’s top 10 in nearly every offensive category: second in doubles (282) and extra base hits (532), third in total bases (2,288), fourth in runs (730), home runs (230), RBI (787), games (1,320), at bats (4,783) and strikeouts (922), fifth in hits (1,276) and seventh in walks (565) and slugging percentage (.478). He won six consecutive AL Gold Glove awards at third base from 2001-06, tying Buddy Bell for the second-most awards by an American Leaguer at the position behind Brooks Robinson (16). In 2010, he was limited to just 33 games (.234, 1HR, 10RBI) after landing on the disabled list on 5/22 with neck spasms. Chavez was originally selected by Oakland in the first round (10th overall pick) of the 1996 First-Year Player Draft.

Colon, 37, is 153-103 with a 4.10 ERA (2,076.2IP, 945ER) in 328 career games (325 starts) over parts of 13 seasons with Cleveland (1997-2002), Montreal (2002), Chicago-AL (2003, ‘09), Los Angeles-AL (2004-07) and Boston (2008). He last appeared in the Major Leagues with the White Sox in 2009, where he went 3-6 with a 4.19 ERA in 12 starts. In 2005, Colon was voted to the American League All-Star team and was named the league’s Cy Young Award winner after going 21-8 with a 3.48 ERA in 33 starts with the Angels. Following the 2010 Major League season, he made seven starts for the Aguilas Cibaenas of the Dominican Winter League and went 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA (37.1IP, 8ER), recording 28 strikeouts with just six walks. Colon was originally signed as a free agent by the Indians in 1993.

Garcia, 34, owns a 133-87 career record with a 4.13 ERA (1,929.2IP, 885ER) in 303 games (302 starts) over parts of 12 seasons with Seattle (1999-2004), Chicago-AL (2004-06, ’09-10), Philadelphia (2007) and Detroit (2008). Among all Venezuelan-born pitchers, he ranks first in innings pitched, is tied for first in wins (also Johan Santana) and ranks third in strikeouts (1,390). Since 2001, he owns the fourth-most wins in the American League among active, right-handed pitchers (106), trailing Tim Wakefield (108), John Lackey (116) and Roy Halladay (135). In 2010, he went 12-6 with a 4.64 ERA (157.0IP, 81ER) in 28 starts with the White Sox, marking his most outings in a season since 2006 (33). Garcia was originally signed as a free agent by the Astros in 1993.

Madrigal, 26, went a combined 5-2 with a 3.73 ERA (50.2IP, 21ER) in 35 relief appearances with Triple-A Oklahoma City and Double-A Frisco in the Texas Rangers organization in 2010. He has made 44 Major League appearances (one start) over parts of two seasons (2008-09) with Texas, going 0-2 with a 6.10 ERA (48.2IP, 33ER). He began his professional career as an outfielder, before converting to a pitcher in 2006. Warner was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Angels in 2001.

LHP Manuel Banuelos, 19, combined to go 0-4 with a 2.51 ERA (64.2IP, 18ER) in 15 starts with the GCL Yankees, Single-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton in 2010. He spent the majority of the year with Tampa, where he went 0-3 with a 2.23 ERA (44.1IP, 11ER), recording 62 strikeouts in 10 starts. Following the season, he made seven starts with the Phoenix Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League, going 0-2 with a 3.60 ERA and started in the 2010 AFL Rising Stars Game (2.0IP, 1ER, 2K). Banuelos enters the 2011 season tabbed by Baseball America as the Yankees’ fourth-best prospect and top left-handed pitcher. He was signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent in 2008.

OF Daniel Brewer, 23, batted .270 (137-for-508) with 34 doubles, 10 home runs, 84 RBI and 29 stolen bases in 136 games with Double-A Trenton in 2010. He recorded the second-most RBI among all Yankees minor league hitters in 2010 and the fifth-most stolen bases. Brewer was selected by the Yankees in the eighth round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft.

C Jose Gil, 24, combined to hit .247 (61-for-247) with 10 doubles, 10 home runs and 44 RBI in 71 games with Single-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton in 2010. Following the season, played in 25 games with the Caribes de Anzoategui of the Venezuelan Winter League and hit .247 (19-for-77) with six doubles, two home runs and 12 RBI. Gil was signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent in 2003.

C Kyle Higashioka, 20, played the entire 2010 season with Single-A Charleston and batted. .225 (72-for-320) with 18 doubles, six home runs and 24 RBI in 90 games. He hit .192 (41-for-213) prior to the All-Star break, compared to .290 (31-for-107) during the second half of the season. He also committed just six errors in 479 total chances at the catcher position. Higashioka was the Yankees’ seventh round pick in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft.

OF Austin Krum, 25, played in 120 games with Double-A Trenton in 2010, batting .229 (105-for-459) with 17 doubles, five home runs and 44 RBI. He played in seven games for the Thunder during the 2010 playoffs and hit .296 (8-for-27) with three doubles, two RBI and three stolen bases, leading all Eastern League postseason players in both doubles and stolen bases. Krum was selected by the Yankees in the ninth round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.

RHP D.J. Mitchell, 23, spent the majority of the 2010 season with Double-A Trenton where he went 11-4 with a 4.06 ERA (133.0IP, 60ER) in 23 games (22 starts), holding batters to a .183 (26-for-142) batting average with runners in scoring position. A midseason All-Star in the Eastern League, Mitchell was promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on August 23 where he made one postseason start, but did not record a decision (5.0IP, 4R, 3ER, 8H, 2BB, 4K, 1HR). He was selected by the Yankees in the 10th round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft and is attending his second consecutive spring camp.

C Jesus Montero, 21, enters the 2011 season ranked by Baseball America as the Yankees’ top prospect and the fifth-best prospect in all of baseball (top catcher). He played in 123 games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2010 and batted .289 (131-for-453) with 34 doubles, three triples, 21 home runs and 75 RBI. An International League midseason and postseason All-Star, Montero ranked third in the league in extra-base hits (58), tied for third in doubles and ranked fifth in slugging percentage (.577) and total bases (.234). Among all Yankees minor league hitters in 2010, Montero ranked second in home runs, tied for second in batting average and ranked fourth in RBI. He was also tabbed by Baseball America as the organization’s “Best Hitter for Average” and “Best Power Hitter” and was named the organization’s top prospect by the Sporting News. Montero was signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent in 2006.

OF Jordan Parraz, 26, owns a .289 (672-for-2,324) career batting average with 147 doubles, 54 home runs and 325 RBI in 634 minor league games in the Houston Astros and Kansas City Royals organizations. In 2010, he played the entire season with Triple-A Omaha (KC), batting .266 (115-for-432) with 58 runs, 27 doubles, 11 home runs and 61 RBI in 123 games. Following the season, he played with La Guaira in the Venezuelan Winter League, batting .306 (22-for-72) in 25 games. Parraz was originally selected by Houston in the third round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft.

RHP David Phelps, 24, combined to go 10-2 with a 2.50 ERA (158.2IP, 44ER) in 26 games (25 starts) with Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2010. At the time of his promotion from Trenton to Scranton/WB on July 2, he led the Eastern League in strikeouts (84) and ranked second in ERA (2.04), earning a spot on the league’s midseason All-Star team. Among all Yankees farmhands in 2010, he ranked second in strikeouts (141) and third in ERA. Following the season, he was ranked by Baseball America as having the organization’s “Best Curveball.” Phelps was selected by the Yankees in the 14th round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft.

C Austin Romine, 22, enters the 2011 season ranked by Baseball America as the sixth-best prospect and the “Best Defensive Catcher” in the Yankees organization. He played the entire 2010 season with Double-A Trenton and batted .268 (122-for-455) with 31 doubles, 10 home runs and 69 RBI in 115 games, earning a spot on the Eastern League’s midseason All-Star team. He also committed just five errors in 853 total chances (99.4% fielding percentage). Following the season, Romine played in 16 games with the Phoenix Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League, batting .279 (17-for-61) with three doubles and seven RBI. He was selected by the Yankees in the second round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.

INF Bradley Suttle, 25, played the entire 2010 season with Single-A Tampa and batted .272 (140-for-514) with 33 doubles, four triples, 10 home runs and 80 RBI in 133 games. He ranked second in the league in RBI, fourth in hits and fifth in doubles and led all Florida State League third basemen with a .951 fielding percentage. Suttle hit .304 (7-for-23) with three home runs, nine RBI and two stolen bases for the FSL Champions during the postseason, leading all league postseason batters in home runs and RBI. Suttle was selected by the Yankees in the fourth round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.

INF Jorge Vazquez, 28, combined to hit .284 (95-for-334) with 25 doubles, 18 home runs and 68 RBI in 86 games with Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2010, ranking fourth among all Yankees minor league hitters in home runs. Following the season, he helped lead Mexico to the Caribbean World Series title, garnering MVP honors after hitting .310 (9-for-29) with two home runs and six RBI in six games. Vazquez was signed by the Yankees as a free agent in 2008 after spending the previous 10 years in the Mexican League.

RHP Adam Warren, 23, combined to go 11-7 with a 2.59 ERA (135.1IP, 39ER) in 25 starts with Single-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton in 2010, allowing three runs or less in 19 of his outings. He was named to the Florida State League midseason All-Star team and was tabbed as the Eastern League “Pitcher of the Week” for the period ending on 8/22, after recording a Trenton franchise-record 15 strikeouts in seven shutout innings on August 18 vs. Bowie. He has combined to go 15-9 with a 2.25 ERA (192.0IP, 48ER) with 176 strikeouts and only 43 walks over his first two professional seasons (2009-10). Warren was selected by the Yankees in the fourth round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.

RHP Eric Wordekemper, 27, went a combined 5-0 with nine saves and a 3.00 ERA (66.0IP, 22ER) in 47 appearances out of the bullpen with Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2010. Following the season, he appeared in 21 games for the Tomateros de Culiacan of the Mexican Pacific League and did not record a decision, recording 19 strikeouts in 19.1IP in relief (13ER). Wordekemper was selected by the Yankees in the 46th round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft.

Just arrived in Tampa, having discovering this morning that it’s now possible to buy bottles of Honest Tea in the Delta terminal of LaGuardia. That’s going to make my summer just a little bit better.

The bulk of the beat writers began arriving yesterday, and a few more will get to town this weekend. Meanwhile, more and more of the people you really care about — the actual Yankees themselves — have been arriving at the team’s minor league complex.

A few Twitter highlights from today…

• Eric Chavez was among the new arrivals. He said he’s been healthy all winter, and he has a “new heartbeat” with the Yankees. By the way, I blatantly stole this Chavez picture from Bryan Hoch. Let’s all say thank you by following him on Twitter.

• Worth mentioning that Chavez did some work at third base. Given his history as a Gold Glover, I doubt the Yankees are especially worried about his defense, but I guess you never know when a guy has missed as much time as Chavez missed the past three years. I’m sure he’s just taking grounders as a matter of course.

• Also new to the scene, and apparently healthy: Minor league signee Mark Prior.

• Prospects Dellin Betances and Adam Warren were among the pitchers throwing bullpen sessions this morning.

• Lefty Neal Cotts, signed to a minor league deal this winter, also threw a bullpen.

• Other position players at the complex today: Curtis Granderson, Russell Martin, Francisco Cervelli, Colin Curtis and Jesus Montero. I’m sure there were others, but those were mentioned by name on Twitter.

• Other pitchers at the complex: Andrew Brackman, Ivan Nova and Phil Hughes. Again, I’m sure there were plenty of others, but those were mentioned specifically by the reporters who beat me to Florida.

Leave it to the Yankees to have all-stars and a Hall of Famer among their unheralded players.

Whether a player is unheralded — or unappreciated, or underrated — is largely in the eye of the beholder. In the wake of his first rocky season, I would argue that Derek Jeter has become under-appreciated in certain corners. I think Andy Pettitte spent his career underrated outside of New York (and I’m basing that largely on my perception of him before I moved out east). Marcus Thames was almost certainly an unheralded player who had a larger-than-expected impact last season.

Which unheralded players might make an impact this season?

Curtis Granderson
When he was in Detroit, Granderson was a big name. Now that he’s in New York, he’s lost in the crowd. Although he’s seen as a complimentary player, Granderson’s combination of speed and power make him a potential difference maker at any spot in the lineup. Granderson is also responsible for covering a big center field, and he has a personality that extends beyond the field. Granderson might never standout in New York like he did in Detroit, but he could quietly become an elite player again.

Andruw Jones
The idea of what Jones is seems to suffer because of what he once was. He’s no longer one of the elite players in baseball, but Jones slugged .486 last season, and he’s still an impact, middle-of-the-order-type hitter against lefties. Jones is not going to be an everyday player for the Yankees — and he probably won’t be needed in center field — but he has legitimate power for a corner infielder, and he could hit his way into more playing time than expected.

Dave Robertson
Despite his numbers, Robertson has always seemed a little bit forgotten. As a relief prospect coming up in the Yankees system, he was occasionally overshadowed by Mark Melancon and J.B. Cox. In New York, he’s been the young right-handed reliever not named Joba Chamberlain. There’s not much hype around Robertson — and he certainly counts as unheralded — but he was terrific in the second half last season, and he could emerge as the reliever called on for those tight-spots in the middle innings.

Associated Press photo