BOSTON – A long time ago, Al Leiter was a bright light in the Yankees’ future. Today, Leiter is a symbol of their bleak present.
The 39-year-old antique lefty will take the Fenway Park mound today for the Yankees against the Red Sox.
Officially acquired yesterday from the Marlins for a player to be named and $400,000, Leiter will make his first start for the Yankees since 1989.
A 1984 second-round pick of the Yankees out of Central Regional H.S. in Bayville, N.J., Leiter left The Bronx for Toronto in 1989. His career was revived when he landed in Florida in 1996. Two years later he was dealt to the Mets, for whom he went 95-74 in seven seasons.
Considered expendable by new Mets GM Omar Minaya, Leiter was allowed to leave Queens last winter and signed a one-year deal with the Marlins for $8 million.
The Yankees sent the Marlins $400,000 toward the $4 million remaining on the contract signed last December. Leiter signed for a base of $4 million ($2 million deferred), received a $3 million signing bonus (all deferred), and $1 million to Leiter’s Landing, the pitcher’s charity.
For their $8 million, the Marlins received a 3-7 record and a 6.64 ERA. They designated Leiter for assignment Thursday and were prepared to put him on waivers tomorrow because they didn’t believe they had a chance to trade a pitcher with a 158-127 big-league ledger.
Prior to Friday night’s 17-1 Yankees loss, in which Tim Redding and Darrell May were punished by the Red Sox, GM Brian Cashman said he hadn’t discussed Leiter with the Marlins. However, by the time the embarrassing defeat was halfway complete, Cashman and the Marlins had a deal in place.
Talking before yesterday’s game and prior to the deal being officially announced, Torre never mentioned Leiter by name. But he did talk about what having a hurler with New York experience means in the Yankees’ universe, compared to Redding and May.
“He is a competitor,” Torre said. “Just go back to Game 5 of the [2000] World Series. Bobby Valentine, a good baseball man, trusted him. There was some question about the pitch count but you get into that situation and you go with the people that you trust.”
Valentine let Leiter start the top of the ninth against the Yankees with the score tied, 2-2, and he rewarded Valentine’s confidence by fanning Tino Martinez and Paul O’Neill to start the inning. Jorge Posada walked and scored from second on Luis Sojo’s 12-hop single up the middle in a 4-2 Yankees win.
Asked what Leiter’s problems were this year, Torre shrugged.
“Evidently he struggled or he wouldn’t be in this situation,” Torre said.
The Yankees are banking on Leiter’s vast experience to make up for diminishing skills.
“You don’t have to be your old self to help the team win,” Torre said.
Today, the Yankees will begin to find out if that’s true. They don’t need Leiter to be what they once thought he would become. But they need him to be better than he, Redding and May have been lately.
Welcome back
Al Leiter was reacquired by the Yankees in a trade with the Marlins for a minor leaguer and cash yesterday.
Here’s a look at Leiter’s history with the Yankees:
1984: Drafted in second round, signed June 23, made pro debut with Oneonta.
1987: At 21 years old, became youngest Yankee since Jose Rijo (1984), and youngest to win a game for team since Gene Nelson (1981). Went 2-2 with 6.35 ERA in four starts.
1988: Went 4-4 with 3.92 ERA in 14 starts.
1989: Traded to Toronto for Jesse Barfield (April 30).
2005: Acquired from Marlins. Will start today at Fenway Park.
Career record at Yankee Stadium: 7-9, 4.59 ERA in 20 games.