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Friday, March 15, 2013

Yankees sign Brennan Boesch to one-year, $1.5M deal

Wrong, filibuster Olney!

Just two days after being released by the Tigers, Brennan Boesch has landed with another 2012 playoff team. He has signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal—plus possible incentives—with the New York Yankees, reports CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman.

Boesch, 27, finished fifth in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2010 and then hit .283/.341/.458 with 16 homers in just 115 games in 2011. But last season, he hit just .240/.286/.372 with 12 homers in 503 plate appearances. He struck out 104 times while walking just 26.

Worth mention here is that Boesch is left-handed and Yankee Stadium plays very favorable for left-handed power hitters. In 32 career plate appearances in Yankee Stadium, Boesch has hit .367/.375/.533 with a homer and six RBI.

Boesch has never played first base as a professional, but he gives the Yankees the chance to put Juan Rivera at first. The Yankees desperately need corner infield help with third baseman Alex Rodriguez likely on the shelf for the majority of the season and first baseman Mark Teixeira out for the first four to six weeks. They have Kevin Youkilis to play either corner, so another corner man is needed.

Repoz Posted: March 15, 2013 at 05:04 PM | 19 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: yankees

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1. Robert in Manhattan Beach Posted: March 15, 2013 at 05:20 PM (#4389105)

He could do some damage with that little league fence they have. Since it's the Yankees, I'm sure it will work out better than anyone could reasonably expect.

2. The District Attorney Posted: March 15, 2013 at 05:25 PM (#4389109)

He gives the Yankees the chance to not play Juan Rivera at all, is how I would put it.

3. Jim (jimmuscomp) Posted: March 15, 2013 at 05:34 PM (#4389120)

He will hit 30 HR's in NYS. That park is so lame.

Good for Boesch, still hope the Yanks COLLAPSE onto St. Jeter's weak ankle.

4. Bruce Markusen Posted: March 15, 2013 at 05:34 PM (#4389121)

Good move for the Yankees, based on his being a lefty power hitter at the Stadium and his tendency to hit well in the first half of the season. I'd like to see the Yanks platoon Boesch with either Mustelier or Melky Mesa in left.

5. AJMcCringleberry Posted: March 15, 2013 at 06:21 PM (#4389143)

Things I just found out: his name is not Brendan and he is not Ryan Raburn.

6. Arbitol Dijaler Posted: March 15, 2013 at 06:51 PM (#4389158)

Despite Boesch's recent struggles, he seems very likely to outperform Derek Lee.

7. bobm Posted: March 15, 2013 at 06:55 PM (#4389161)

Brennan Boesch has landed with another 2012 playoff team. He has signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal—plus possible incentives—with the New York Yankees, reports CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman.

Checks Baseball Reference...

Agents: Boras Corporation, previously: CAA Sports (Van Wagenen)

Shocker.

8. frannyzoo Posted: March 15, 2013 at 07:05 PM (#4389168)

Quite literally the final piece in the puzzle. Bwhaa..haaa.haaa (cough, cough, cough). You can wait here in the sitting room, or you can sit here in the waiting room....

9. Tim D Posted: March 15, 2013 at 07:38 PM (#4389190)

OPS first half of 2010 = .990, career OPS = .729. He hit like Hank Greenberg for three months, then finished 2010 hitting like Hank Aguirre. Since then pretty bad for a corner OF without defensive chops. He has a huge swing, long arms, hits the bejeezus out of low fastballs in the zone. Once pitchers learned not to throw him their favorite low fastball he started to hit like a mediocre middle infielder. There is a reason the Tigers cut him even though he had an option left. Good luck.

10. madvillain Posted: March 15, 2013 at 07:46 PM (#4389193)

There is a reason the Tigers cut him even though he had an option left. Good luck.

And I believe he has a reverse split, it's not like he mashes righties and is mop-water against lefties. He's...replacement level. That they threw 1.5 million at him suggests a level of desperation that I take great joy in.

11. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: March 15, 2013 at 08:03 PM (#4389211)

12. Howie Menckel Posted: March 15, 2013 at 08:09 PM (#4389218)

The Mets have announced that they aggressively bid... $1.4 million, and are determined to spend that money somewhere.

13. madvillain Posted: March 15, 2013 at 08:26 PM (#4389229)

He may well suck, but the $1.5M is chump change in MLB today.

Sure, but there is also the opportunity cost. That's 1.5 million closer to the tax (or further into it, I'm not up on the particulars of the Yanks much since leaving NYC) and it's a roster spot taken.

That they didn't just bring him in as a non-roster invite on a minor league deal, with a chance to break spring with the big club speaks volumes about how shitty their OF is.

edit: ooh, I beat the nanny.

14. GregD Posted: March 15, 2013 at 09:42 PM (#4389296)

Sure, but there is also the opportunity cost. That's 1.5 million closer to the tax (or further into it, I'm not up on the particulars of the Yanks much since leaving NYC) and it's a roster spot taken.

They aren't worried about the tax this year. They are trying to get under the threshold for next year, which would allow them to hit reset. Going under this year wouldn't reset their rate (and is impossible anyway.)

15. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: March 15, 2013 at 10:37 PM (#4389328)

any relation to Hieronymus?

16. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: March 15, 2013 at 11:13 PM (#4389340)

He does play with Brett Gardner "of Earthly Delights."

17. Walt Davis Posted: March 15, 2013 at 11:38 PM (#4389342)

Replacement level players aren't actually freely available in mid-March. They're all in camp with somebody. Now they may not take much to get and over the next two weeks you might have quite a few options, but getting a decent emergency option in when you can is a smart move. As noted -- the Yanks had an open roster spot AND Juan Rivera already in a roster spot. They could use several bodies so it's not like they're locked out of the waiver wire options that will be there in the next couple of weeks.

And I'm guessing this contract has the standard "if they cut him by Mar 29 (or whenever), they only have to pay a portion."

As to Boesch, he was signed for $2.3 by the Tigers who had to eat $400 of that to cut him, now he gets $1.5 with incentives ... so he's out no more than $400 K if he makes the roster.

18. Russlan is fond of Dillon Gee Posted: March 15, 2013 at 11:40 PM (#4389343)

The Mets have announced that they aggressively bid... $1.4 million, and are determined to spend that money somewhere.

This is funny.

19. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: March 15, 2013 at 11:41 PM (#4389344)

touche GB

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Friday, March 15, 2013

Yankees sign Brennan Boesch to one-year, $1.5M deal

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