Yankees load up for pennant run
MINNEAPOLIS » The New York Yankees have ignited their playoff drive despite a midseason tailspin with the acquisition of power-hitting infielder Todd Frazier and power-armed relievers Tommy Kahnle and David Robertson.
“We’re now in a sprint, and we want to be able to run the fastest, swiftest, most successful race we can,” general manager Brian Cashman said, “and hopefully these three new additions can, again, put ourselves in position to do that.”
The bold trade that sent reliever Tyler Clippard and three prospects, including 2016 first-round draft pick Blake Rutherford, to the Chicago White Sox was completed on Tuesday night.
“Obviously those are all guys who can come in here and help us accomplish what we want to accomplish,” left fielder Brett Gardner said. “I think it’s important to do what we can to make our team better.”
The Yankees were on their way to beating the Twins Tuesday night while the deal was being done. In the 30 games prior to Tuesday, they went just 9-21. But they entered Wednesday with control of the second AL wild-card spot, just 3½ games behind AL East leader Boston.
Before the Yankees wrapped up their series at Minnesota, they sent lefthanded reliever Chasen Shreve to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and designated first baseman Ji-Man Choi and utility man Rob Refsnyder for assignment.
Frazier, Kahnle and Robertson arrived at the ballpark right around game time and soon settled in the dugout with their new teammates. Frazier pinch hit in the seventh inning, striking out in his debut.
Girardi said he wasn’t sure yet whether Frazier would play third base or Chase Headley would stay there. The other one will play first base, which has been a problem position for the Yankees this season.
“When you do make the move, you’d like to leave them in the same spot,” Girardi said.
Having grown up in New Jersey as a Yankees fan, leading Toms River to the 1998 Little League World Series title at age 12 and later joining Derek Jeter on the field while his team was honored, Frazier posted to Twitter his excitement about coming home.
“Now it’s on to the concrete jungle,” the two-time All-Star said. “Can’t wait. Definitely a dream come true.”
The 20-year-old Rutherford was hitting .281 with 30 RBIs and 25 stolen bases at Class A Charleston to make the South Atlantic League All-Star team, and the 18th overall pick last year was the key piece for the White Sox to agree to the deal. The seeds were actually sewn, Cashman said on a conference call with reporters, in the previous weeks while the Yankees pursued starting pitcher Jose Quintana who went to the Chicago Cubs instead.
With Michael Pineda done for the season, Cashman will still try to trade for another starting pitcher, but this move at least shored up a bullpen that had been underperforming in recent weeks.
Though All-Star setup man Dellin Betances has struggled lately, adding Robertson and Kahnle to the mix with right-hander Adam Warren as bridges to closer Aroldis Chapman ought to be a big boost down the stretch for a team with a thin rotation.
“We hope it’s better, but I still pay homage to the baseball gods by recognizing this is a very difficult sport,” Cashman said. “We have a great bullpen on paper already, but for the last month it hasn’t been firing on all cylinders.”
Kahnle, a New York native who grew up outside of Albany, was drafted by the Yankees in 2010. Though Frazier, who hit a careerhigh 40 home runs last season, and Robertson, who was the closer for the Yankees in 2014 , are betterknown and more-experienced players, Kahnle could be the ultimate prize.
The 27-year-old, who is still four seasons away from free agency, has 60 strikeouts in 36 innings with a 2.50 ERA and only seven walks.