Yankees Still Have Sights on Mark Teixeira to Help Lineup

(Zell's Pinstripe Blog)

from the NY Daily News:

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The Yankees have made their desire for CC Sabathia well known. But when it comes to Mark Teixeira, could the Bombers be laying in the weeds?

GM Brian Cashman has been saying very little when it comes to this year’s free-agent market, but a source familiar with the team’s thinking said that while starting pitching is clearly the Yankees’ priority, adding another impact hitter is also one of the team’s goals this winter.

“The Yankees may be focused on pitching, but don’t think for a second that they wouldn’t still love to land a big bat,” the source said. “They need another RBI man in that lineup—and they’re going to get one.”

Cashman told the Daily News Wednesday that he hadn’t ruled out anybody on the free agent market—including Teixeira—but he stressed that he is concentrating primarily on the rotation right now.

“Our focus is on our pitching, but that doesn’t mean we’re closed-minded,” Cashman said. “If the pitching doesn’t go the way we want it, we’ll have to re-focus. We’re going to be engaged on the entire free agent market. How it plays out, I can’t predict.”

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rotoworld updates:

Christian Garcia

Yankees purchased the contracts of RHP Christian Garcia, RHP Anthony Claggett, RHP Steven Jackson and LHP Michael Dunn. Odd choices from the Bombers. If we were limited to four players, we would have gone with relief prospects Kevin Whelan and J.B. Cox over Jackson and Garcia. Jackson, a product of the Randy Johnson trade, couldn’t cut it as a starter and doesn’t have nearly Whelan’s upside as a reliever. Garcia has talent, but he’s battled arm problems and is still pretty far away. Also being left available is Alan Horne, who underwent rotator cuff surgery.

Kevin Whelan

Kevin Whelan pitched two scoreless innings Thursday to finish the AFL season with a 2.08 ERA in 17 1/3 innings. As usual, he battled command problems, walking 14 in 17 1/3 innings. However, he fanned 21 and limited hitters to a .175 average. We’d be surprised to see him go unpicked in the Rule Five draft after the Yankees chose to leave him unprotected.

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