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River Ave. Blues ยป Brian Anderson

Minors Notes: Anderson, Sanchez, Injuries, More

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Got a bunch of minor league notes today, so let’s round them all up in one post. Everything comes from Mike Ashmore or Chad Jennings…

  • Right-hander Brian Anderson has been released. He had been on the Double-A Trenton disabled list with a biceps issue, though his performance when he did pitch was pretty good: nine strikeouts and just one walk in 7.1 IP.
  • Mark Newman again said that Gary Sanchez is out with a “stiff lower back,” though he’s playing in Extended Spring Training. He is on the Low-A Charleston disabled list at the moment, and he’ll return there when healthy.
  • Both Slade Heathcott (.376 wOBA) and J.R. Murphy (.385) will “probably” move up to High-A Tampa this summer. That’s a yes, though I was wondering if Heathcott’s brawl would slow down his schedule somewhat.
  • Mark Prior is not throwing off a mound and is dealing with some kind of oblique/hip issue. Alan Horne (remember him?) is throwing in ExST, as is Brad Halsey. Graham Stoneburner, Jeremy Bleich, and Steve Garrison aren’t close to returning yet.
  • David Adams is still having leg issues. It might be related to last year’s broken ankle, but the leg started bothering him after his one game played this year.
  • When asked about who’s impressed in ExST, Newman responded with personal fave Bryan Mitchell. “He’s got electric stuff,” said Newman. “He’s got the stuff to be the next Banuelos, Betances. The high-end guy. That’s Mitchell.”
  • Carlos Silva can opt out of his minor league deal in mid-June, so he could probably make another two or three or maybe even four starts for Triple-A Scranton before the Yankees have to make a decision about whether or not to call him up.

Yanks ink a pair of pitchers to minor league deals

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Brian Cashman is all about the small moves so far this winter. Today he continued adding bit pieces. Ken Rosenthal reports that the Yankees have signed RHP Brian Anderson and LHP Andy Sisco to minor league deals with spring training invites. Both could be bullpen options for the 2011 team.

Anderson was a 2003 first rounder, selected by the White Sox with the 15th overall pick. He put up impressive numbers in the minors, but never stuck in the majors. He actually did make 21 high-quality appearances for Boston in 2009. After the season he converted to a pitcher and signed with the Royals. I’m assuming that the conversion process took a while, as Anderson threw just 17.1 innings on the season, and only seven at AAA. He’ll turn 29 in Match. Here’s a quick and dirty scouting report:

“He’s definitely throwing Major League stuff,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “He’s got his fastball up to 97 miles an hour and his comfort zone is 95.”

Yost also said Anderson’s slider rates as Major League average quality and his pitch command just a tick below average.

Sisco was taken in the second round of the 2001 draft, and then selected by the Royals in the 2004 Rule 5 draft. His 2005 debut went well, but he was never able to replicate that success. After bouncing around for a bit he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2008, but made his return only in 2010. With the Giants AA team he again flashed his strikeout stuff, but he still walks a ton of guys. Still, a 6’10” lefty is going to get plenty of shots. Rosenthal reports that he’s back to throwing 95 in winter ball.

While these moves won’t make huge waves, they are solid long shots. Anderson has always had the talent, but couldn’t put it together as a hitter. Sisco was also highly regarded — he was the No. 53 prospect in baseball before the 2003 season and No. 77 before 2004 — but command issues have held him back. If one of these guys can come through, it will be a huge score. Even if neither of them do, there’s little risk here. Good on the Yanks for bringing a few more high upside relievers to camp.