Astros Sign Kevin Cash To Minor League Deal
The Astros have signed catcher Kevin Cash to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training, according to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart.
The 32-year-old was once Tim Wakefield's personal catcher, though he spent last season with the Yankees. Cash is a career .186/.248/.287 hitter in close to 600 big league plate appearances, though his minor league numbers are much more respectable. With only two catchers on the 40-man roster (J.R. Towles and Humberto Quintero), all it takes is an injury for Cash to make the Opening Day roster.
Odds & Ends: Chapman, Bradley, Rays, Twins
Links for Monday…
- Offers have begun rolling in for Aroldis Chapman, says ESPN's Keith Law. Also, MLB.com's Carrie Muskat says the Cubs talked to Chapman's agent but he "doesn't fit in their budget."
- ESPN's Peter Gammons tweets that Red Sox Director of Player Development Mike Hazen declined Jed Hoyer's offer to become the Padres' assistant GM.
- MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan says the Rangers "refused to rule out the possibility of Milton Bradley coming back to Texas." Sullivan wasn't willing to allow the possibility a month ago, when he wrote, "The Rangers are not interested in Bradley. Sources have made that clear. He is not coming back. So stop it." Back in September, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram said Bradley "pushed himself way down the wish list with his comments, and probably pushed himself off it completely."
- R.J. Anderson of DRays Bay reflects on the Matt Garza–Delmon Young trade.
- Aaron Gleeman runs through free agent second baseman options for the Twins. Also check out our free agent and trade candidates posts for second base.
- Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times talked to former Rays GM Chuck LaMar about the trade that sent Chad Gaudin to the Blue Jays for Kevin Cash.
Yankees Release Kevin Cash
According to Peter Abraham of The Journal News, the Yankees have released catcher Kevin Cash. The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for Josh Towers, who was recalled today.
Cash, 32, hit .250/.308/.558 in 28 plate appearances for the Bombers this year. He's spent most of the year with Triple-A Scranton, and is currently out with a shoulder injury.
The Yankees’ Catching Predicament
MLBTR hosted a discussion on the Yankees' catching situation yesterday that drew a nice response. With Jorge Posada and Jose Molina sidelined, the Bronx Bombers are stuck with a real lack of depth behind the plate. As Ben Nicholson-Smith explained, the club could either decide to let Francisco Cervelli and Kevin Cash man the position until Posada returns, sign a veteran free agent, or make a trade.
Peter Abraham of The Journal News asked Yankees GM Brian Cashman which course of action he'll take on Friday night, and it appears the Yanks have decided to wait out the storm. "A trade would be difficult at this point," admitted the general manager.