Kyle Farnsworth's back spasms on Friday forced the Yankees to evaluate their bullpen, and they decided it's time to make a move. So today they designated Aaron Small to make room for young righthander T.J. Beam, who impressed Ron Guidry in spring training and has pitched well at Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Columbus.
Such is life for Small, who one year ago saved the Yankees with an incredible 10-0 run. Who can forget Yankee fans chanting his name in Game 3 of the ALDS while Randy Johnson was getting hit hard? One of his many memorable moments. "That year is going to be special when I'm 70 years old telling my grandkids," Small said. "But I still feel like there’s another comeback in me."
Small, 34, called this "the hardest demotion I've ever had," and that's saying something given he's been a part of so many organizations during his career, and he even contemplated retiring before he was called him up from Columbus last July.
If Small passes through waivers, he said he will accept his assignment to Columbus. But you got to figure the chances are decent a National League team in need of a starter will pick him up. He is cheap (he makes $1.2 million), and the Yankees believe he is better suited to be a starter, something they couldn't offer him.
Comments (4)
The Yankees were lucky last year when they caught "lightning in a bottle" with both Aaron Small and Shawn Chacon. Both have "come up small" this year and reverted back to the pitchers that got them traded in the first place .
I think the Yankees need to rethink Meyers position with the team. He's good at what he does but the team has a need for pitchers with the ability above lefty specialists. Also, Chacon and Wright need to pick it up with the less then 5 inning outings or find them out of the Yankee picture. Wright maybe more protected then Chacon with being injury prone and size of his contract. Yankees need to keep whatever young minor league pitching that they have. Those of us who want the youngsters to be elevated to bigs when appropriate instead of reaching out via the trade may get their wish this year.
Don't take this the wrong way, because I think the world of Ron Guidry. But maybe some of this can be attributed to the absence of Mel Stottlemyre this year?
Your article is very informative and helped me further.
Thanks, David