The Yankees got solid work out of several players they signed to minor league contracts last season, including reliever Luis Ayala. Now, a pair of their division rivals have interest in the right-hander. Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter) that the Red Sox and Rays have checked in on Ayala this offseason.
Ayala, 34 in January, posted a 2.09 ERA in 56 innings for the Yankees last year, getting a ground ball 50% of the time. He struck out 6.27 batters for every nine innings pitched and walked 3.21 per nine. Ayala did not appear in the big leagues at all in 2010, and in 2009 he pitched to an ugly 5.63 ERA in 40 innings for the Twins and Marlins. His performance in New York figures to land him a guaranteed Major League contract this winter.
I’m a tad worried about that walk rate, and the k/9 isn’t sexy. Although he’d be a 6th or 7th inning guy anyways so depending on the contract..
“Red Sox, Rays Have Checked In On Luis Ayala”
… they reported hes doing good.
………….Wow this offseason seems slow.
He’s back again closing games in the Mexican Pacific League, though i don’t think the Yanks value him as high as any other non-mexican player (Karim, Osuna, Acevedo, Aceves, Jorge Vázquez are previous players who have been overlooked by the NYY organization in the past, it HAS to be something with how the Mexican teams manage the mexican players’ contracts, quite a bit like a monopoly approved by the MLB, which we as writers in México have opposed it to no avail):Ayala this winter with the current Mexican Winter League champions Yaquis from Ciudad Obregón, Sonora (also current caribbean series champion):6 Games, 5 IP, 2 Hits, 4 for 4 in Saves, 0.00 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 2 Walks, 3 K’s
9th mariano, 8th robertson, 7th soriano, 6th joba, not many innings left for him
I’d like to have him back. Wade too.
I’m reasonably sure Wade will be back the 2012 season is his last Pre-Arb year. He’ll likely only make about $500K at or just over the new league minimum. Still a bargain.
Sorry, I forgot to mention that Wade is also on the Yankees 40 man roster. While that’s not a guarantee it’s a pretty good indication the Yankees plan on bringing him back. That they thought enough to protect him from the Rule 5 draft coming up.
I forgot he’s pre-arb. Still nice though.
I miss Cory Wade. He was dominant for the Dodgers in 2008. Typical Joe Torre reliever abuse seemed to cost him, though…
Good for Ayala. He did a very good job for the Yankees he deserves a guaranteed deal.
I hope the Yankees replace him with a lefthander. That’s one area they were lacking last year. There maybe some good non-tender opportunities available.
Hmm, I keep remembering Longoria’s 3 run bomb in game 162 when I think of Ayala but overall, he was quite solid, wouldn’t be a bad addition, especially when you consider some of the guys we gave a legit chances to. *cough* Sonnanstine *cough* *cough* Howell *cough* I can keep going but I’ll spare you.
Thanks, I didn’t want to get sick.
As a Yankee fan, I was pretty glad when Ayala surrendered that shot to Longoria. NO RED SOX IN THE PLAYOFFS, HURRAY!!!!
LOL when asked about it, Ayala actually smiled… as if it was on purpose LMAO! Of course it wasn’t but they were acting like it was, just to psych the boston chokers LOL! it was frigging brilliant.
Curious as to how Ayala will perform next year. I would rather see Noesi promoted to Ayala’s role and Colon assigned to the long relief duties. There is also the possibility of bringing back Cory Wade who had a phenomenal season.
C’mon Cashman, bring him back ….. he got the job done, more often than not.
It’s uncanny how Cashman picked his pitchers last year. Unfortunately these pitchers are hard to predict year in and year out. Just check 3 years back with your team, and see how many pitchers have been successful over that time period.
Colón showed the same speed during the winter, Ayala was the star of both the Mexican Winter League in 2010 and won the Caribbean Series (Caribbean Series MVP. Jorge ”El Chato” Vázquez, a Yankees Minor Leaguer, gave his MVP trophy to Ayala, acknowledging him as the primordial force from the bullpen that stopped rivals and gave Vázquez to kill opposing relievers with HUGE bombs in the 9th inning).
So.. surprise? hardly, he knew what he had in them.
Luis Ayala is a trap, he allowed so many inherited runners to score last year. Red Sox, Rays you can have him.
Kind of like Acieves?
Aceves’ career looked to be over. He’s not going to be very good at starting, and his back is STILL a big concern. I hope they don’t put much stock in him preforming as a starter.
he nothing more than a guy who can do a great job mopping up. No way hes back with the Yankees next year, and I dont see him getting a major league deal either. Had a nice year, but lets not get carried away here.