New York Yankees: Breaking Down the Non-Roster Invites

It's the most wonderful time of the year...well, almost.

With spring training almost upon us, teams and fans alike get a chance to see what they have to work with on the major league roster while seeing firsthand how some of their minor league prospects are developing.

For those prospects, this is a chance for them to make an impression on their future teammates and coaches.

Conversely, for some veteran players, this could be their last chance to prolong their playing careers as they hope to start the season in the majors.

Yesterday, the New York Yankees announced the 27 non-roster players who have been invited to join them at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa on February 19th.

Let's take a look at who they are.

Starting Pitchers

Manny Banuelos

The Yankees' most heralded pitching prospect, the 20-year-old left-hander split 2011 between Double-A and Triple-A, struggling to find his command at both levels. Banuelos likely has no chance of breaking camp with the Yankees, but a strong spring training could go a long way in restoring his confidence.

Brett Marshall

A 21-year-old right-handed starter drafted by the Yankees in the sixth round of the 2008 draft, Marshall spent 2011 in High-A for the Yankees, going 9-7 with a 3.78 ERA and 1.35 WHIP over 114 innings. Marshall has a two-seam and four-seam fastball that sit in low 90s to go along with a slider, changeup and curveball.

Like Marshall, all of his pitches are still far from being a finished product. He will likely start the year in Double-A.

Adam Miller

Drafted in the first round of the 2003 draft by the Cleveland Indians, the 27-year-old right-hander has battled injuries throughout his minor league career, having four surgeries on the middle finger of his pitching hand. Considered at one point to be a big-time prospect—Miller appeared on Baseball America's Top 100 Prospects list five times, making it as high as 16th entering the 2005 season—when at his peak, Miller's fastball sat in the mid-90s, touching 100 on a few occasions.

He likely is pitching for a minor league rotation spot.

Graham Stoneburner

Last June, I called the 24-year-old right-hander a prospect to get excited about. Stoneburner split 2011 between Rookie Ball, Single-A and Double-A, going a combined 1-5 with a 4.04 ERA and 1.40 WHIP over 91.1 innings pitched. While his numbers are less than impressive, Stoneburner remained relatively healthy, something he has struggled to do since high school.

Regardless of how he performs in the spring, he is likely slated to start the year back in Double-A.

Adam Warren

Like Stoneburner, I also called 24-year-old right-hander Adam Warren someone to get excited about. Warren spent 2011 in Triple-A, going 6-6 with a 3.60 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 152.1 innings pitched. With the Yankees rotation overflowing with pitchers at the moment, Warren will start 2012 back in Triple-A, but he likely would be one of the first to be called upon should a starting pitcher be needed in the Bronx.

Relief Pitchers

Dan Burawa

Drafted in the 12th round of the 2010 draft, this 20-year-old right-hander split 2011 between Single-A and High-A, going 5-4 with a 3.64 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over 84 innings pitched in relief. Burawa has a live fastball that sits in the mid-90s, but his secondary pitches which include a slurve and a changeup are still works in progress, Burawa has no chance of seeing the majors this year and will likely start the year either back in High-A or Double-A.

Juan Cedeno

A 28-year-old journeyman, Cedeno spent 2011 with the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings in the independent North American Baseball League, going 3-1 with a 6.49 ERA and 1.56 WHIP over 71 innings pitched. Cedeno has spent time in four different organizations—the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers—never making it past Double-A.

A strong spring could land him a spot in a minor league bullpen somewhere in the Yankees system.

Matt Daley

A local product from Garden City, this 29-year-old right-hander has spent his entire career with the Colorado Rockies. From 2009 through 2011, he appeared in 92 games for the Rockies, going 1-2 with a 4.71 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 80.1 innings of relief. Like Cedeno, he is likely pitching for a spot in a minor league bullpen.

Manny Delcarmen

Once thought to be an important piece of the bullpen for the Boston Red Sox, the 29-year-old right-hander split 2011 with the Triple-A clubs of the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers, going a combined 3-2 with a 5.59 ERA and 1.73 WHIP in 38.2 innings of relief. With nearly 300 major league innings under his belt, a strong spring could get him a spot in the Yankees bullpen, even if it's only temporary.

Mike O'Connor

A 31-year-old left-hander, O'Connor spent the past two seasons in the New York Mets system. In 2011, he spent the majority of his time at Triple-A, going 5-5 with a 5.22 ERA and 1.46 WHIP over 60.1 innings pitched. He did appear in nine games for the Mets in 2011, going 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over 6.2 innings of relief.

He is pitching for a spot in the Triple-A bullpen.

Hideki Okajima

We have looked at the 36-year-old Okajima before, and nothing has changed—a strong spring will find him alongside Boone Logan as a left-handed option out of the Yankees bullpen.

Ryan Pope

Once considered to be a big-time prospect for the Yankees, the 25-year-old Pope found himself designated for assignment early in September of last season when he cleared waivers. Converted from a starter to a reliever in 2010, Pope split 2011 between Single-A, Double-A and Triple-A, posting a 2-3 record with a 5.12 ERA and 1.38 WHIP over 45.2 innings pitched.

Pope is pitching to remain in the organization.

Kevin Whelan

Part of the 2007 trade that saw the Yankees send Gary Sheffield to the Detroit Tigers, the 28-year-old right-hander was designated for assignment by the Yankees last month to make room on the roster for Hiroki Kuroda. Whelan spent most of 2011 closing in Triple-A, going 2-3 with a 2.75 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 23 saves over 52.1 innings pitched.

In 1.2 innings for the Yankees in 2011, he walked five and struck out one. Whelan could find himself back in Triple-A with a strong spring.

Chase Whitley

A 15th-round pick by the Yankees in the 2010 draft, Whitley is a 22-year-old right-handed reliever who split 2011 between High-A and Double-A, going 3-5 with a 2.47 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and seven saves over 91 innings pitched. A converted third baseman, Whitley has a fastball that sits in the low 90s, an excellent changeup and a slider.

An imposing figure at 6'4", 220 pounds, Whitley is still learning to harness his strength and increase his velocity. He likely starts the year in Double-A.

Catchers

Jose Gil

Gil has been with the Yankees since 2005, and the 25-year-old right-hander is more of a defensive catcher than anything else. Gil spent most of 2011 in Double-A with a cameo in Triple-A, hitting .253 with six home runs and 35 RBI. Gil likely will start the season in Double-A.

Kyle Higashioka

Drafted by the Yankees in the seventh round of the 2008 draft, the 21-year-old split time between Single-A and High-A in 2011. Like Gil, he is a defensive catcher who does not offer much with the bat, hitting a combined .231 with eight home runs and 29 RBI. He will likely return to High-A in 2012.

Gustavo Molina

Believe it or not, this 29-year-old is not related to the trio of Molina catchers in the majors. Molina spent most of 2011 in Triple-A though he did appear in three games for the Yankees. A defensive catcher with nothing to offer offensively, Molina will likely back up Austin Romine in Triple-A this season.

J.R. Murphy

Last month, I ranked Murphy as the 11th-best prospect in the Yankees farm system, but with the trade of Jesus Montero, Murphy moves up a spot and cracks the top 10. Murphy has a sweet swing that generates gap-to-gap power.

He may yet switch positions, either to third base or a corner outfield spot, but he will probably return to High-A in 2012.

Gary Sanchez

Like Murphy, Sanchez moves up a spot in my top 20 prospects rankings with the trade of Jesus Montero. Sanchez needs to mature and continue to develop his game, but make no mistake about it—Sanchez has big-time offensive force written all over him.

He belted 17 home runs in Low-A last year as an 18-year-old, and will probably return to Low-A for the 2012 season.

Infielders

Doug Bernier

A light-hitting infielder, 31-year-old Doug Bernier spent 2011 in Triple-A for the Yankees, hitting .237 with no home runs and 37 RBI. He has no chance of making the big club and could find himself as a backup in Triple-A.

Russell Branyan

Four times in his 14-year major league career, Branyan has hit at least 20 home runs. Other than a power bat from the left side of the plate, Branyan does not offer much aside from hitting for power, though he is a solid fielder at first base and could potentially back up Mark Teixeira.

Bill Hall

Now six years removed from his breakout 2006 season with the Milwaukee Brewers where he hit .270 with 35 home runs and 85 RBI, the 31-year-old is looking to latch on with a team after an underwhelming 2011 split between the Houston Astros and San Francisco Giants where he hit a combined .211 with two home runs and 14 RBI.

Hall is a utility player in the truest sense of the word, having played second base, third base, shortstop and all three outfield positions during his career. He will need a strong spring at the plate and in the field to get a spot on the Yankees bench.

Jayson Nix

A light-hitting middle infielder, the 31-year-old is an average defensive player who offers nothing with the bat, posting a career .207 average in nearly 800 at-bats over four seasons. Like Bernier, Nix could find himself in Triple-A.

Jorge Vazquez

Vazquez has legitimate power, belting 35 home runs and driving in 93 runs while in Triple-A for the Yankees in 2011. However, his age and penchant for striking out (161 last season) does not make him much of a prospect or give him much of a chance to break camp with the Yankees. Vazquez is probably headed back to Triple-A in 2012.

Outfielders

Colin Curtis

A 27-year-old right fielder, Curtis only played in the Venezuelan Winter League in 2011, hitting .261 with two home runs and 11 RBI. A non-roster invite to spring training by the Yankees in 2010, Curtis could wind up in Triple-A in 2012, or this could simply be a chance for him to show other teams that he still has something to offer as a fourth outfielder.

Cole Garner

Garner spent his entire career with the Colorado Rockies, the last two seasons in Triple-A. In 2011, he hit .330 with eight home runs and 35 RBI. A below-average fielder, the 27-year-old could find himself battling the aforementioned Colin Curtis for a spot in the minors.

DeWayne Wise

Best remembered for his amazing, juggling catch that robbed Ian Kinsler of the Texas Rangers of hitting a home run but more importantly, saving a perfect game for Mark Buehrle in 2008, the 33-year-old Wise spent 2011 bouncing between Triple-A and the majors with the Florida Marlins and the Toronto Blue Jays.

In 99 major league at-bats last year, Wise hit .202 with two home runs and seven RBI.

Closing Thoughts

Of the players we just looked at, only a handful truly have a legitimate shot at breaking camp with the Yankees at the end of March.

Youngsters such as Manny Banuelos, Adam Warren, J.R. Murphy and Gary Sanchez have no chance and are in camp so Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman can see how their development is coming along firsthand.

As for the veterans in camp, Hideki Okajima has the best chance to achieve that goal. The Yankees need a second left-hander out of the bullpen, and as long as he shows that he is still able to get batters out, he will have a spot on the roster.

Bill Hall's versatility helps his chances, but can he outperform youngsters like Ramiro Pena and Eduardo Nunez to make the Yankees seriously consider making him a utility infielder? Andruw Jones already has one half of the platoon at designated hitter locked up and serves as a capable fourth outfielder, so Hall's best chance is as a backup infielder.

Russell Branyan also faces stiff competition—can he beat out Brandon Laird, Jorge Vazquez, and possibly Eric Chavez (should he finally re-sign) for a backup corner infield spot? Personally, I doubt it, even with him being a left-handed bat.

But as we have seen in the past, anything can happen in spring training, and in 10 days, the fun begins.

Play ball!