Christian Garcia Released, Shane Lindsay Claimed

According to Chad Jennings of the Journal News, the Yankees have released minor league right handed pitcher Christian Garcia who recently underwent his second Tommy John sugery. The move was made in order to make room on the 40-man roster for RHP Shane Lindsay whom the Yankees claimed off waivers from the Colorado Rockies.

Garcia, 24, is an enormously talented pitcher who just cannot stay healthy. He’s had a long list of injuries and hasn’t pitched a full season since 2005. This doesn’t mean it is the end for Garcia’s career as a Yankee. They simply did this to remove him from the 40-man roster and they’ll probably end up resigning him.

They could have guaranteed that he stays in the organization by calling him up to the majors and putting him on the 60-day DL which also would have opened a spot on the 40-man roster, but it would have increased his service time. That means he would have the right to demand more money the next time his contract is up and would have made him a free agent sooner. The Yankees released and resigned Humberto Sanchez the same way a year ago to remove him from the 40-man.

Lindsay, 25, is a pretty talented relief pitcher with no control. In 255.2 innings in the minors he averages an amazing 12.5 strikeouts per nine innings, but he walks a ton with a 5.9 BB/9 ratio. He features a fastball that hits 98 mph on the gun and a quality knuckle-curve.

If he doesn’t improve his walk ratio he doesn’t do much for the Yankees, but sometimes players do develop control as they get older and learn to pitch better (i.e. Randy Johnson). I’m not saying that is what is necessarily going to happen in this situation, but you never know especially with relievers.

Lindsay is 0-1 with a 6.59 ERA, 19 strikeouts and 17 walks in 14 games and 13.2 innings in Triple-A this season.

Related Stories

• April 26, 2010 -- Christian Garcia Gets Tommy John (1)
• April 12, 2010 -- Sherman: Yanks Farm System Needs to Produce Pitchers (4)
• April 9, 2010 -- It’s Still Groundhog’s Day for Christian Garcia (2)
• April 7, 2010 -- Trenton Thunder Blogger Mike Ashmore is a Beast (0)