The Yankees have declined the 2015 club option that came with their last minor league deal for Andrew Bailey and re-signed the former All-Star closer to a new minor league pact, reports Chad Jennings of LoHud.com (Twitter link). Bailey is a client of Excel Sports Management’s Jim Murray.
The 30-year-old Bailey hasn’t taken a Major League mound since July 2013 due to an injury to the labrum in his right shoulder that ultimately required surgery. He last appeared with the Red Sox after joining Boston as the key piece in the trade that sent Josh Reddick to the Athletics.
Bailey was the American League Rookie of the Year in 2009 and earned All-Star nods in his first two Major League seasons. In three full seasons with the A’s from 2009-11, he posted a brilliant 2.07 ERA with 9.0 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 in 174 innings. Injuries were a problem for Bailey even prior to his pro career, as he underwent Tommy John surgery in college and microfracture surgery on his left knee in the 2009-10 offseason. He also an intercostal strain in 2010 and a forearm strain in 2011.
There’s no doubting Bailey’s talent, but he’s gone under the knife five times since 2005. He inked a minor league deal with the Yankees last offseason but underwent setbacks in his recovery that prevented him from reaching the big league club or even pitching in the minors. He’ll hope for better results this time around as he seeks to get back to the Majors for the first time in nearly two years.
I like it. Very low risk move.
I love these moves too. They should sign Andrew Bailey, Ryan Madson, and Joel Hanrahan. Throw enough “stuff” against the wall and something’s bound to stick, right?
Even if none of it “sticks”, you’re out $1-2MM total. No big deal.
Hopefully, it pays off.
No real harm if it doesn’t. Seems like the Grady Sizemore signing last year, only with less expectations from the player. Best case is a quality reliever, worst case is the Yankees lose a couple hundred grand?
“Cashman failed”.
This guy will bounce back, he’s to good not to.
THE HOT STOVE IS ON FIRE!!! About time Yankees made their 1st move. I was getting antsy for a minute. Next up: Headley and McCarthy.
Glad the domino of Andrew Bailey fell to make room for the lesser commodities…
Yep. The market was just waiting on Bailey to sign. Now the rest of the off-season can start.
Awesome, Yankees spending more on the minors side. Keeping him without dinging the luxury tax.
I read today that other teams were actually upset at how big NY spends on the MiLB market, I expect a ton more this winter too.