ARLINGTON – The Yankees know enough not to fall in love long term after one pitching performance by anybody. But what they saw out of Al Leiter Monday night in Boston has slowed their pursuit of adding a starter to a suspect rotation for the time being.
Prior to Leiter beating the Red Sox, 5-3, in Fenway Park by allowing one run and three hits through 6 1/3 innings, the Yankees had been holding talks with the Rockies about right-hander Shawn Chacon.
Even after acquiring Leiter for $400,000 Saturday, the Yankees were still interested in Chacon. And while they never rule anything out and understand Leiter could have been a one-night stand, his excellent outing has caused the Yankees to back off on Chacon a bit. That and the Rockies asking for pitching prospect Sean Henn, a promising lefty the Yankees are reluctant to give up despite an 0-3 big league ledger.
“It has actually decreased their interest because of how well Leiter pitched,” a major league executive said yesterday.
Leiter gets a second chance to prove his first impression wasn’t a fluke Friday night in Anaheim, where he faces the Angels, a different type of lineup than the Red Sox but a formidable one.
“I hope I do as well as I did (Sunday night),” Leiter said before last night’s Yankees-Rangers game at Ameriquest Field.
By no means are the Yankees backing out of the pitching market. With the July 31 trading deadline less than two weeks away, the Yankees’ rotation remains a mystery after Randy Johnson and Mike Mussina. And there are voices who believe improving the bullpen would be a way to go if a starter isn’t brought in.
Kevin Brown, 40, returned from his second stint on the DL last night to fight the Texas heat and muscular Rangers. Ideally, the Yankees would have liked Brown to make at least one rehab start since his last outing was on June 15. However, the Yankees don’t have that luxury because Aaron Small, a journeyman right-hander, is slated to start tomorrow night. It will be the 33-year-old Small’s first big league start since 1996 when he was with the A’s.
Carl Pavano, signed to a $40 million deal for four years this past off-season, is on the shelf and working out in Tampa. He is expected back within two weeks but he wasn’t very good before going on the DL. Jaret Wright has avoided shoulder surgery so far but it would be a major upset if he returned this year. Chien-Ming Wang was examined by Dr. James Andrews yesterday and surgery wasn’t immediately recommended to repair a strained shoulder. However, if a two-week throwing program doesn’t go well, the impressive rookie is headed for the knife.
Unwilling to give up Melky Cabrera, Phillip Hughes and Robinson Cano and having doubts about A.J. Burnett’s health, the Yankees never got into serious discussions with the Marlins, who are expected to deal the right-hander to Baltimore for pitchers Heyden Penn and Jorge Julio and outfielder Larry Bigbie.
The Giants are backing off on their efforts to deal Jason Schmidt, another righty the Yankees had health concerns about. The Rockies may listen to offers for Jason Jennings, but would have to be knocked over.
So, for now the Yankees have their fingers crossed they can duplicate the lightning they caught in the bottle with Leiter on Sunday night. In the Yankees’ universe, that could change. But for now, that’s the way it is.