S.T. Game 24. Yanks outslug Pirates, 11-9

Melky Mesa had a grand slam, and Kevin Youklis homered while going went 2-3 with 3 RBI as the Yanks outslugged the Pirates today, 11-9.

Eduardo Nunez had 2 hits and 2 SB, Brennan Boesch 2 hits, a SB and an RBI, and Mesa also had a SB as did Thomas Neal.

Ivan Nova tossed 3 scoreless innings before losing his effectiveness. He went 5, 4 R, 6 H, 1 walk and 4 K. David Robertson pitched a scoreless inning.

Branden Pinder gave up 1 r in 1 IP, Matt Tracy 4 R in an inning of work and Chase Whitley pitched a scoreless inning.

Earlier in the day, the Yanks released Matt Diaz. It’s looking like Clay Rapada may not make the Opening Day Roster (shoulder bursitis) but that doesn’t mean (per LOHUD) that Girardi would automatically take a lefty like Nuno. Instead it could be another righty like Jim Miller, Chase Whitley or Shawn Kelley.

The way Dan Johnson is going, I wouldn’t be surprised if he is released soon.

Yanks split squad, but lose both games

The Yanks split the squad today, but lost both games, dropping their spring record to 1-6. It’s worth noting that we haven’t seen CC, Kuroda, Hughes, Nova, Pettitte, Jeter or Rivera yet.

In the road game, the Yanks lost to Houston 7-6. Some good points about the game came from a couple of minor leaguers eager to win the Granderson job while he is out. Zoilo Almonte went 2 for 3 with an RBI. Melky Mesa was 2 for 3 with a 3-run HR. Top prospect Tyler Austin had a triple and scored a run. Matt Diaz went 1 for 3 and drove in a run. In this, and the other game, every candidate for that LF job that Granderson vacated with his injury did well. Even Adonis Garcia had a hit and an RBI in this game.

Brett Marshall started this game. He is probably AAA bound but did a good job, impressing if he needs to be a mid-season call-up. The 22 year old righty was 13-7, 3.52 in AA last year. He pitched 3 scoreless innings, giving up 1 hit and striking out 3. Dellin Betances, the former top prospect who slipped badly last year, had a scoreless inning and K’d 2, but also showed the wildness that has set him back, walking two. Mikey O’Brien gave up 3 R in 1 1/3 and Shane Greene gave up 4 in only 1/3 IP which led to the loss. Shaeffer Hall and Kelvin Perez each pitched a scoreless inning.

In the home part of the split squad, the Yanks lost 1-0 to Toronto. Dave Phelps, bidding for a starter’s job (esp. since Hughes may not be ready come Opening Day), pitched 3 scoreless innings. David Aardsma pitched a scoreless inning. The Yanks are counting on him, as well as Joba, to fill the 6/7 inning role. Branden Pinder pitched a scoreless inning as did Clay Rapada. Chase Whitley gave up the game’s only run in his inning and a third. Juan Cedeno 2/3 scoreless. Jim Miller a scoreless inning.

The Yanks didn’t score in this game, but Brett Gardner and Ichiro Suzuki continued their hot springs so far by each going 1 for 3. Ronnier Mustelier, in the battle for Granderson’s position, went 1 for 1. Juan Rivera, also fighting for an OF spot, was 2 for 2.

Overall, today was a better day than yesterday, which featured sloppy play. There was some impressive pitching, and the OF candidates all did well.

Now (1-6) to start winning some of these games.

S.T. Game 1. Cano, Almonte HRs spark 8-3 Yankees win.

Robinson Cano and Zoilo Almonte each homered, and David Phelps pitched two scoreless innings as the Yankees beat the Braves 8-3 in their spring training opener.

Almonte is a 23 year old switch-hitter who had a good camp last year. He is expected to begin this season at AAA. In AA last year he hit .277-21-70 in 106 games, stealing 15 bases in the process. His BB/K ratio needs some work, 25/103.

Almonte also had an outfield assist in the game.

2B Jose Pirela, who replaced Cano, went 2 for 2 with an RBI. Pirela, a 23 yr. old, righty-hitting 2B, hit .293-8-33, 9 SB in 82 games at AA Trenton last year.

In the competition for righty-hitting OF (and we can’t count out the switch-hitting Almonte), Juan Rivera DH’d today, going 1 for 2 with a walk, while Matt Diaz went 0 for 3 as the left fielder.

In the catching competition, Francisco Cervelli started and went 0 for 2 with a walk while Austin Romine went 1 for 2 and drove in 2 runs. Cervelli did throw out a runner attempting to steal.

Phelps, battling Ivan Nova for the 5 spot in the rotation, pitched 2 innings, giving up 0 runs on 3 hits. He didn’t walk or strike out anyone.

Brett Marshall gave up a run in 2 IP, Nik Turley pitched a scoreless inning, Mikey O’Brien gave up 2 runs in his inning of work, and Kelvin Perez, Brandon Pinder and Chase Whitley each pitched a scoreless inning.

The Yanks will open the home part of their exhibition season tomorrow. YES will have the game, and it’ll be broadcast on WCBS 880 AM radio as well.

Yankees sign Diaz to minor league deal

The Yankees signed Matt Diaz to a minor league deal. If he makes the big league squad, it’s worth $1.2 MM + incentives. As of now, it looks like Diaz will be the righty-hitting OF.

Diaz will be 35 next spring. He is a .291 career hitter, OPS+ 104. Last season he hit .222-2-13 in just 108 AB. He is a .324 hitter vs. lefties. He’s mostly a corner OF (mostly LF). His 162 g. average is .291-10-50.

It appears that he’d be strictly a corner OF vs. lefty pitching.

On a sad note, ex-Yankees OF Andruw Jones (434 career HR, ex-Brave and Dodger as well), was arrested for domestic battery yesterday. A few weeks ago, Jones signed on to play in Japan.

D.J. Mitchell, who the Yanks lost in the Ichiro deal, was DFA’d by Seattle.

Pena going to Cubs; Konerko back with White Sox

MLB.com is reporting that it appears as if Carlos Pena may have a one-year $10M deal with the Cubs, while Paul Konerko’s chances of staying in Chicago (with the White Sox) may be dwindling.

I guess the Orioles are still in on Konerko?

You wonder if Carl Crawford is a bit ticked at how slowly the Lee deal is progressing. It seems to many that Lee is 1A and Carl 1B. Are the Angels now in on Lee? You wonder if there actually is a mystery team or if it’s a bunch of B.S. from Lee’s agent trying to drive up the price. 

Forget about Matt Diaz to the Yankees. He’s going to Pittsburgh.

Dennis Reyes to Phils soon, Wil Nieves to Milw. (per MLBTR). Mets get Ronny Paulino and D.J. Carrasco.

Update: White Sox and Konerko work it out. 3 yr. 37.5M. 

Update II: Jack Cust to Mariners, Francoeur to KC.