The Yankees have signed lefty reliever Clay Rapada to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training, reports David Waldstein of The New York Times (Twitter links). MLB.com's Zack Meisel first reported that the two sides were nearing a deal. The Meister Sports Management client was released by the Orioles a few days ago.
Rapada, 30, posted a 6.06 ERA with 9.9 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 in 16 1/3 innings for the Orioles last year. He had pitched 52 2/3 MLB innings over the course of five seasons for the Tigers, Rangers, Cubs and Orioles and is not yet arbitration eligible. The Yankees are likely trying to replenish some left-handed relief depth after Hideki Okajima failed his physical.
thats why they clear up space by trading Burnett …its all clear now
as if they couldnt spend 700,000 dollars on a RP. they sent burnett packing so they can sign Ibanez.
pretty sure he was joking.
“Iron Mike” Torrez? There was the classic innings eater for teams now… That guy could have started every 3rd day and gone 7IP.. he was a work horse extraordinaire..
Nice username btw….
Whatever, man. I’ll take the superior Torres. Salomon Torres, who else? Best baseball name going until Antonio Bastardo came along. Also, he will always be the best right-handed spot starter in the history of baseball. Why right-handed? Because the best spot starter is actually left-handed. That would be Ron Villone. How do I know Ron was the best? Scott Boras said so.
Isn’t this the guy they slapped around when he was with texas during the 2010 ALCS?
indeed they did, i dont see this guy pitching for the yankees, he will be released after spring training if not during.
Given the fact that he’s been death on lefties, why do you say that?
Stockpiling some lefty arms. He’s solid competition in camp for Cabral and Logan.
Except for the solid part.
Apparently, he held lefthanded hitters to a .104 average last year (5-48), and a .153 average his career (18-118) . Not bad. At worst, like Daniel said, he’d be solid competition, but if those numbers stick, he could be a viable lefty specialist
Arthur Rhodes has been the centerpiece of nearly every big Yankees rally of the last 15 years. They need to keep in the game just not on the team.
Yep same guy. People forget though, I won a ring with the Yankees in ’77 too.
And won 20 for the Orioles in 1975, after coming over with the mighty Kenny Singleton from Les Expos in one of the great Baltimore trades of all time(Dave McNally and Richie Coggins went the other way, and right into baseball obscurity).