Yankees GM Cashman: We're Better With Drew And Prado, 'But Talk Is Cheap'
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — The New York Yankees have acquired infielder Stephen Drew and infielder-outfielder Martin Prado in two deals meant to help boost a floundering offense for a playoff run.
Drew was acquired from the Boston Red Sox with $500,000 for Kelly Johnson on Thursday and Prado came from the Arizona Diamondbacks for minor league slugger Pete O'Brien and either cash or a player to be named.
"We're obviously trying to improve our offensive output and give Joe (Girardi) flexible options," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said of his manager. "We're going to be asking some guys to move around."
Cashman said Drew would start at second base, a position he's never played at the major league level. Struggling second baseman Brian Roberts will be designated for assignment to make room for Drew.
"I can't tell you how things are going to play out," Cashman said. "Do I think our club is better right now? The answer is yes. I think we have improved over time, but talk is cheap. We have to actually go out there and prove that, and I'm hopeful that will happen for our fans."
The moves will allow the Yankees to keep prospect Rob Refsnyder in Triple-A, where Cashman said he will "focus solely on second base the rest of the way."
The arrival of two more infielders comes about a week after New York dealt for third baseman Chase Headley. The Yankees also obtained pitchers Brandon McCarthy and Chris Capuano in the past few weeks.
Drew hit .253 for the World Series champion Red Sox last year but did not accept a $14.1 million qualifying offer. He re-signed with Boston on May 22 and has hit .176 with four homers and 11 RBIs in 39 games.
"We believe in Stephen's abilities, and we certainly have a great deal of respect for his athleticism," Cashman said after making the Yankees' first trade with Boston since 1997. "We are asking him to accept a new challenge."
Prado was hitting .270 with five homers and 42 RBIs in 106 games with the Diamondbacks this season.
"I think everybody dreams to play for the Yankees, and I never expected that in my career," Prado said, according to MLB.com. "I'm just looking forward to trying to find myself in a good position to play baseball. I felt like I've been up and down all this year, so now in a new place, we'll see how things are going to go."
He should share time in right field with Ichiro Suzuki as Carlos Beltran tries to return to the outfield from a bone spur in his elbow. Prado, who has two years left on a four-year, $40 million deal, has just two innings of experience in right field and has not seen time in the outfield this season.
"I think one of his value points is his ability to play multiple positions," Cashman said.
While neither player provides the Yankees with a big power bat to help the offense which is 11th in batting at .252, 10th in runs (429), and ninth in home runs (97), Cashman thinks the recent moves improve a club that trailed AL East-leading Baltimore by 5 1/2 games entering Thursday and was 3 games back in the wild card.
"I think we're going to compete. I think we're improved," Cashman said. "We're going to find out if it's enough or not."
NOTE: The Yankees claimed right-hander Esmil Rogers off waivers from the Blue Jays. Rogers had a 6.97 ERA in 16 games for Toronto. ... INF Scott Sizemore was given his unconditional release from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
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