GaryMrMets
12-22-2001, 12:05 AM
http://yankees.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/nyy/news/nyy_news_story.jsp?article_id=nyy_20011221_general _news&team_id=nyy
News
12/21/2001 3:00 pm ET
Yankees add two more players
Castillo, Santangelo signed; Torre talks Yankees
By Mark Feinsand
Yankees.com
NEW YORK -- Looking to strengthen the bench for the 2002 season, the Yankees signed free-agent catcher Alberto Castillo to a one-year Major-League contract and outfielder F.P. Santangelo to a one-year minor-league contract.
"We'll talk to everybody out there that's still on the board. If it makes sense and somehow things work out, then something may take place," said General Manager Brian Cashman. "It depends on the desires on the players' side. In Santangelo and Castillo's case, it worked out and they're Yankees now. I'm not going to say that I have spots -- and money -- for everyone."
Castillo, 31, will battle Todd Greene and Bobby Estalella for the job of backing up starter Jorge Posada. Castillo spent the 2001 season with the Toronto Blue Jays, batting .198 with one home run and four RBIs. In his seven-year career, he has a .223 average with eight home runs and 65 RBIs in 317 games with the Blue Jays, St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets. He established a career year with the Cardinals in 1999, hitting .263 with four homers and 31 RBIs. He will be added to the Yankees' 40-man roster.
Santangelo, 34, split the 2001 season between the Oakland A's and their Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento. He hit .197 with eight RBIs in 32 games with the A's and batted .202 with one home run and 17 RBIs with Sacramento. Santangelo's best season came in 1996 when he batted .277 with seven home runs and 56 RBIs.
Cashman said Friday that any moves left to be made will likely be non-roster invitees, and that the team will continue to explore all players on the free-agent market.
"It could be extra outfield help, extra infield help, maybe Joe would want a character-type of a guy," Cashman said. "It depends on the makeup of the club and the health of the club. What you see now is mostly what you're going to get."
DEPENDING ON DUQUE: Cashman said that he expects Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez to be the team's fifth starter next season. Hernandez would follow Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina and Sterling Hitchcock in the starting rotation.
"I expect him to be a solid guy in our rotation, and it's his job to lose," Cashman said. "Orlando Hernandez is at worst a third starter on most Major League clubs. He's been a mainstay for us since 1998."
As for the rumors that the Yankees were pursuing David Wells, Cashman said that anything can happen between now and Spring Training.
"I am not afraid to go into Spring Training with a competition for the five spots in the rotation with the five that you see," Cashman said. "If someone else wants to try to come in and take it, that's fine."
Hernandez is one of six Yankees eligible for arbitration, joining Jorge Posada, Ramiro Mendoza, Shane Spencer, Todd Greene and Enrique Wilson. While Cashman said that the team would explore long-term contracts with some of those players, he said that Hernandez will not be offered a long-term deal.
"Depending on how Duque and Hitchcock compete against each other, he's either a fourth or fifth guy," Cashman said, giving Hernandez his vote of confidence. "The last start you saw him, he was matching goose eggs with Curt Schilling in the World Series."
FIRST THINGS FIRST: While Joe Torre has not made any official decisions on his 2002 lineup, the Yankees' manager said he envisions Derek Jeter's name on top of the batting order.
"I guess Jeter would be the leadoff man right now," Torre said. "The good thing is that I don't have to make that decision until we play games. Jeter has been as good a player as I've ever had in regards to not caring where he hits. You always sense people are more comfortable hitting in a certain spot, but not Jeter."
Torre also said that Alfonso Soriano could be a leadoff candidate, as his speed and aggressiveness on the basepaths would be ideal for a leadoff hitter.
"A lot of it is concern with him swinging and missing," Torre said. "If it's just about being on base, you'd like to have him up top. He's probably the most intimidating runner of anyone on our club now. I look at the real legitimate baserunners of the past, and he has that in mind as soon as he gets on base. That's something that's tough to teach."
TICKETS ON SALE WEDNESDAY: Tickets for the 2002 home season -- the Yankees' 100th home season -- will go on sale on Wednesday, December 26th at the Advance Ticket Windows at 10:00 a.m.
The Stadium ticket windows will then be open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tickets may also be purchased at select area TicketMaster outlets; by phone-through TicketMaster at (212)307-1212, (212) 307-7200 (automated line); via the Internet at www.ticketmaster.com and at all Yankee Clubhouse Stores.
The defending American League Champion Yankees are scheduled to open their 2002 home schedule on Friday, April 5th at 1:05 p.m. vs. the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The Yankees will open their 100th season on Monday, April 1 vs. the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards at 3:05 p.m.
In the Yankees' 81-game home schedule, AL East rivals Baltimore, Boston, Tampa Bay and Toronto will each make three visits to Yankee Stadium. The Yankees will also host the New York Mets as well as two NL West opponents, the San Francisco Giants and the World Champion Arizona Diamondbacks.
There will be a limit of four tickets per fan to Opening Day and to each of the three "Subway-Series" games against the Mets.
Mark Feinsand is the site reporter for Yankees.com. He can be reached at mfeinsand@yankees.com.
News
12/21/2001 3:00 pm ET
Yankees add two more players
Castillo, Santangelo signed; Torre talks Yankees
By Mark Feinsand
Yankees.com
NEW YORK -- Looking to strengthen the bench for the 2002 season, the Yankees signed free-agent catcher Alberto Castillo to a one-year Major-League contract and outfielder F.P. Santangelo to a one-year minor-league contract.
"We'll talk to everybody out there that's still on the board. If it makes sense and somehow things work out, then something may take place," said General Manager Brian Cashman. "It depends on the desires on the players' side. In Santangelo and Castillo's case, it worked out and they're Yankees now. I'm not going to say that I have spots -- and money -- for everyone."
Castillo, 31, will battle Todd Greene and Bobby Estalella for the job of backing up starter Jorge Posada. Castillo spent the 2001 season with the Toronto Blue Jays, batting .198 with one home run and four RBIs. In his seven-year career, he has a .223 average with eight home runs and 65 RBIs in 317 games with the Blue Jays, St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets. He established a career year with the Cardinals in 1999, hitting .263 with four homers and 31 RBIs. He will be added to the Yankees' 40-man roster.
Santangelo, 34, split the 2001 season between the Oakland A's and their Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento. He hit .197 with eight RBIs in 32 games with the A's and batted .202 with one home run and 17 RBIs with Sacramento. Santangelo's best season came in 1996 when he batted .277 with seven home runs and 56 RBIs.
Cashman said Friday that any moves left to be made will likely be non-roster invitees, and that the team will continue to explore all players on the free-agent market.
"It could be extra outfield help, extra infield help, maybe Joe would want a character-type of a guy," Cashman said. "It depends on the makeup of the club and the health of the club. What you see now is mostly what you're going to get."
DEPENDING ON DUQUE: Cashman said that he expects Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez to be the team's fifth starter next season. Hernandez would follow Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina and Sterling Hitchcock in the starting rotation.
"I expect him to be a solid guy in our rotation, and it's his job to lose," Cashman said. "Orlando Hernandez is at worst a third starter on most Major League clubs. He's been a mainstay for us since 1998."
As for the rumors that the Yankees were pursuing David Wells, Cashman said that anything can happen between now and Spring Training.
"I am not afraid to go into Spring Training with a competition for the five spots in the rotation with the five that you see," Cashman said. "If someone else wants to try to come in and take it, that's fine."
Hernandez is one of six Yankees eligible for arbitration, joining Jorge Posada, Ramiro Mendoza, Shane Spencer, Todd Greene and Enrique Wilson. While Cashman said that the team would explore long-term contracts with some of those players, he said that Hernandez will not be offered a long-term deal.
"Depending on how Duque and Hitchcock compete against each other, he's either a fourth or fifth guy," Cashman said, giving Hernandez his vote of confidence. "The last start you saw him, he was matching goose eggs with Curt Schilling in the World Series."
FIRST THINGS FIRST: While Joe Torre has not made any official decisions on his 2002 lineup, the Yankees' manager said he envisions Derek Jeter's name on top of the batting order.
"I guess Jeter would be the leadoff man right now," Torre said. "The good thing is that I don't have to make that decision until we play games. Jeter has been as good a player as I've ever had in regards to not caring where he hits. You always sense people are more comfortable hitting in a certain spot, but not Jeter."
Torre also said that Alfonso Soriano could be a leadoff candidate, as his speed and aggressiveness on the basepaths would be ideal for a leadoff hitter.
"A lot of it is concern with him swinging and missing," Torre said. "If it's just about being on base, you'd like to have him up top. He's probably the most intimidating runner of anyone on our club now. I look at the real legitimate baserunners of the past, and he has that in mind as soon as he gets on base. That's something that's tough to teach."
TICKETS ON SALE WEDNESDAY: Tickets for the 2002 home season -- the Yankees' 100th home season -- will go on sale on Wednesday, December 26th at the Advance Ticket Windows at 10:00 a.m.
The Stadium ticket windows will then be open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tickets may also be purchased at select area TicketMaster outlets; by phone-through TicketMaster at (212)307-1212, (212) 307-7200 (automated line); via the Internet at www.ticketmaster.com and at all Yankee Clubhouse Stores.
The defending American League Champion Yankees are scheduled to open their 2002 home schedule on Friday, April 5th at 1:05 p.m. vs. the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The Yankees will open their 100th season on Monday, April 1 vs. the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards at 3:05 p.m.
In the Yankees' 81-game home schedule, AL East rivals Baltimore, Boston, Tampa Bay and Toronto will each make three visits to Yankee Stadium. The Yankees will also host the New York Mets as well as two NL West opponents, the San Francisco Giants and the World Champion Arizona Diamondbacks.
There will be a limit of four tickets per fan to Opening Day and to each of the three "Subway-Series" games against the Mets.
Mark Feinsand is the site reporter for Yankees.com. He can be reached at mfeinsand@yankees.com.