New York Yankees: Bombers Raid the Phillies Farm for Thursday's Starter

Originally drafted as an outfielder by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 1997, 32-year-old Brian Gordon is in line to make his Yankee debut on Thursday against the Texas Rangers.

Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Gordon opted out of his contract with the Phillies, signed with the Yankees and will start for them on Thursday.

Gordon has spent time in the Diamondbacks, Houston Astros, Anaheim Angels. Texas Rangers and Philadelphia Phillies organizations. He briefly appeared in three games for the Rangers in 2008, allowing four hits and an earned run over four innings, striking out one.

With New York roots (he is from West Point), Gordon was the best pitcher in the International League this season while pitching for the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, where his manager was former Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg.

In 12 games (nine starts), Gordon was 5-0 with a 1.14 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, seven BB and 55 K's over 55.1 innings.

After spending four years in the Pacific Coast League, one that is notorious for inflated offensive statistics, Gordon struggled to put up big numbers. His best offensive season came in 2005, when he went ..276 BA/.323 OBP/.524 SLG/.827 OPS with 22 HR and 70 RBI.

Upon making the switch to the mound after the 2006 season, he was mainly a spot starter and reliever—prior to this season, Gordon had made 12 starts in 168 games pitched.

Perhaps Gordon will turn into this year's version of Aaron Small, who Yankee fans might remember from his improbable 2005 season. 

Small seemingly came out of nowhere to become one of the Yankees most reliable pitchers that season, finishing with a perfect 10-0 record, 3.20 ERA and 1.25 WHIP.

Brian Cashman, Joe Girardi, the Yankees and their fans can only hope that Gordon is able to repeat Small's performance.