Yankees 2013 – Five Lesser Known Names Who Can Help

Yankees NewsThe Yankees have a knack for making something out of nothing to fulfill role player obligations.

Brian Cashman doesn’t like to spend much on other team’s relievers (remember: Rafael Soriano was a Steinbrenner signing.)

He doesn’t go for the expensive role player and he likes known value.

When Andruw Jones and Eric Chavez filled in at a low salary off the bench in 2011 and played well, Cashman brought them both back in 2012.

When New York needed depth in the bullpen, it turned to guys like: Cody Eppley, Clay Rapada and David Phelps to step up rather than making a big move or signing a big name.

The core of the Yankees is very costly and linked to large salaries, but positions like: bench roles, depth and bullpen pitchers are very much developed or purchased at a discount in the Bronx.

Last season we saw: Eppley, Rapada, Phelps, Dewayne Wise and Raul Ibanez play key roles throughout the year.

They didn’t make or break the season, they didn’t excite the fan base, but they were the necessary filler in part of a 162 game recipe.

None of those players cost more than 1.1 million dollars, but Eppley and Rapada were key middle inning relievers, Phelps was an invaluable spot-starter, Wise provided outfield depth when Gardner missed most of the season and Ibanez added an impact bat and postseason lore.

Two players came off the scrap heap, two were low profile offseason signings and one came up through the system as a middle to high prospect.

Here are five names who can make a similar impact in 2013:

1. Cesar Cabral

Yankees NewsCabral should have been Rapada last season. In fact, by the end of spring training, Cabral had out-pitched Rapada and proven he should be the second lefty Joe Girardi values so much out of the bullpen.

Cabral, who was a rule five signing from the Red Sox, ended up hurting himself and missing the season, but is fully recovered and poised to make the team as the second lefty in 2013 instead.

2. Brett Marshall

Yankees NewsJust like Phelps last year, Marshall is a highly regarded Yankees’ prospect without being a top prospect. The righty starter cracked the Yankees’ top 10 prospects by the end of 2012 for the first time and could be a back-end rotation arm out of Spring Training for most teams.

With the Yankees, there are already five starters under contract for 2013 not counting Michael Pineda and likely another veteran by the end of the spring, but Marshall provides necessary depth which usually finds a way onto the big league team by the end of a season.

Finishing 2012 with a respectable 13-7 and 3.52 ERA  for AA Trenton, Marshall was recently added to the 40 man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.

3. Melky Mesa

Baseball NewsAssuming the Yankees sign or trade for a starting right fielder, it’s safe to say Chris Dickerson may make the team as the fourth outfielder.

Dickerson has floated around on the major league roster for a couple of years and is considered a journeyman and not a prospect at this point, but it was Mesa who made his Major League debut this past September.

Mesa became infamous quickly when he missed third base and failed to score a run in an important game the Yankees would eventually win against the Oakland Athletics.

Mesa had his first hit and RBI in just two at bats during his callup and though not one of the higher Yankees’ outfield prospects, he’s likely the closest to Major League ready.

While guys like Ramon Flores, Zoilo Almonte, Tyler Austin, Slade Heathcott and Mason Williams continue to grow as legitimate outfielders of the future, it’s someone like Mesa with speed (22 SB in AA and AAA in 2012) and power (23 HR) who can fill in for awhile in case of injury or ineffectiveness.

4. David Adams

Yankees NewsThere are two pretty well known names in the middle of the diamond who will be on the Yankees in 2013.

While Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano are not in danger of losing their starting jobs, Cano’s contract is up after next season and Jeter’s after 2014, so it would be convenient if the Yankees had some middle infield depth in the minor league system.

Guys like Eduardo Nunez and Corban Joseph are probably the more known names based on experience and potential, but that has never stopped David Adams before. Adams played a full season for AA Trenton last season and continued to rake.

The second baseman hit .306 with a .385 OBP, eight long balls and 48 RBI in just 327 at bats. Likely to start in AAA in 2013, Adams struck out just 53 times last year.

The one place the name may sound familiar was back when the Yankees were close to obtaining Cliff Lee in a deal with the Seattle Mariners in 2010.

A then 23 year old Adams (who will be 26 in May) was the sticking point and though injured, the Yankees refused to include him in the deal, effectively killing it.

This could be the year a smart player with a great offensive approach makes the final leap to the majors, likely in the event of an injury to Jeter or Alex Rodriguez, or a 20th error from Nunez.

5. Jim Miller

Yankees NewsMiller made news recently when the Yankees signed him from the Athletics off waivers. We know if there is anything Brian Cashman has a knack for, it’s finding cheap bullpen talent.

In 2013, with the departure of Soriano, expect the duo of Joba Chamberlain and David Aardsma (completely recovered from surgery) to step up to relieve David Robertson and Mariano Rivera in late inning relief.

Don’t be surprised if a name like Miller’s creeps up into important middle relief innings as well. Miller was great for the A’s last season, posting a 2.59 ERA in almost 49 innings.

With the Yankees projected to have another elite bullpen, Miller still has an opportunity to be the next Cody Eppley, who was the next Luis Ayala, who was the next David Robertson.