Yankees hope Moseley can fill Aceves' role
New York Yankees' relief pitcher Alfredo Aceves delivers to the Chicago White Sox in the seventh inning. (April 30, 2010) Credit: AP
Brian Cashman said the opt-out date in Dustin Moseley's contract played a role in the Yankees' decision to promote the righthander from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday, but it wasn't the only factor.
"He was throwing the best down there," the general manager said, "but the clause in the contract obviously gave us an urgency." The Yankees had to tell Moseley by July 1 that he was coming to the majors or he could become a free agent. Lefty Boone Logan, 0-0 with a 3.93 ERA in 17 appearances this season, was optioned to Scranton.
Moseley, 28,who spent 2006-09 with the Angels, was 4-4 with a 4.21 ERA in 12 starts with Scranton. The Yankees see him as possibly filling Alfredo Aceves' still-unfilled role, meaning someone capable of retiring one batter or going multiple innings.
Cashman said other teams called him regarding Moseley and that the Yankees definitely would have lost him if they hadn't promoted him. "I knew he had major-league opportunities waiting," he said.
But Moseley said this was the one he wanted. "I ended up where I wanted to be, that's for sure," he said.
Cashman said Sergio Mitre (oblique), scheduled to appear in an extended spring game Friday, is closer to returning than Aceves (back), but Aceves threw off a full mound Friday and a rehab appearance could be forthcoming. "Clearly he's getting close,'' Cashman said, "because he's doing everything he needs to do."
Nick Johnson (wrist) hit off the batting tee before the game. "We're hopeful sometime toward the end of July we'll have a player," said Cashman, who said Marcus Thames (hamstring) could be ready to come off the DL during the upcoming trip to Oakland and Seattle.
Saving Rivera
Joe Girardi said he didn't consider bringing in Mariano Rivera, who threw 13 pitches Thursday, at any point in Friday's eighth inning - and said that after he pitched a scoreless ninth, there was no chance he would pitch the 10th. "That's not something that I'm going to push the envelope on," he said. "We can't afford to hurt him."
