Phil Hughes and Carl Pavano are rehabbing in the minors and the Yanks could use them both. With Joba Chamberlain and Dan Giese likely both down for the count the Yanks might recall both Pavano and Hughes soon. One would essentially replace Chamberlain while the other would likely bump Darrell Rasner out of the rotation. Rasner has pitched in 17 games (16 starts) for the Yankees this season and he is 5-9 with a 5.18 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP so he deserves to be replaced in the rotation. Phil Hughes started the season with the Yanks but he was horrid before getting injured. Hughes started 6 games for the Yanks so far this season and he was 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA and a 2.14 WHIP. Hughes has been much better on his rehab assignment than he was with the Yankees so they have some hope that he’ll do decent for them. Hughes has pitched in 5 games (3 starts) in A+AAA ball this season and he is 2-0 with a 3.54 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. Carl Pavano has looked sharp on his rehab assignment as he has started 5 games in A+AAA ball this season and he is 1-1 with a 3.32 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Pavano has whiffed 19 batters in 19 innings in the minors which shows that his stuff is starting to come back. Before the 2005 season the Yankees gave Pavano a shiny new 4-year, $39.95 million dollar contract and he hasn’t given them much of a return for the investment. Pavano has started 19 games in his career for the Yankees and he’s 5-6 with a 4.77 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. It will be interesting to see how Pavano and Hughes pitch for the Yanks as they would need them to be lights out to make a playoff run.

The Yankees’ new acquisitions have helped in some cases (Xavier Nady) and hurt them in others (Damaso Marte). The Yankees’ biggest weakness coming into August was starting pitching and the front office did nothing to help rectify that situation. Still, Xavier Nady has been ripping the cover off of the baseball for the Yanks. Nady has played in 19 games for the Yankees this season and he is 22 for 68 (.324 avg, 1.057 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 6 homers and 17 RBIs. He has done a fantastic job for the Yanks who hopes he can keep it up. Ivan Rodriguez has been so-so since coming over from the Tigers. He has played in 11 games for the Yankees and he is 7 for 27 (.259 avg, .693 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 1 homer and 1 RBI. Lefty reliever Damaso Marte has been awful so far for the Yankees. He has pitched in 9 games out of the bullpen for the Yankees and he is 0-2 with a 11.05 ERA and a 1.91 WHIP. If he keeps pitching like that Marte will turn into a glorified mop up man.

The Yankees have designated Richie Sexson for assignment as they think the holes in his swing make him an easy out. Sexson played in 22 games for the Yankees this season and he was 7 for 28 (.250 avg, .764 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 1 homer and 6 RBIs. The Yankees have recalled 32-year old righty swinging Cody Ransom to replace Sexson on the roster. Ransom has played in 116 games in AAA-ball this season and he is 108 for 423 (.255 avg, .820 OPS) with 69 runs scored, 22 homers, 71 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. Ransom will be the utility infielder on the Yanks so that they can use Wilson Betemit as the DH. Ransom has played in 133 games in his major league career and he is 33 for 140 (.236 avg, .695 OPS) with 32 runs scored, 3 homers and 16 RBIs.

The Yankees have demoted Melky Cabrera to AAA ball and they have recalled 24-year old lefty swinging Brett Gardner to replace him. Cabrera played in 117 games for the Yankees this season and he was 97 for 401 (.242 avg, .633 OPS) with 39 runs scored, 8 homers, 36 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. Cabrera’s poor performance just couldn’t be tolerated anymore by the Yankees’ front office and they will likely play Johnny Damon in CF the rest of the season. Gardner will likely be a pinch running option and get a start once in a while for the Yanks. He played in 17 games for the Yankees earlier this season and he was 9 for 58 (.153 avg, .396 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 7 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. The Yankees hope Gardner hits like he has in AAA this season. He has played in 94 games in AAA-ball this season and he is 101 for 341 (.296 avg, .836 OPS) with 68 runs scored, 3 homers, 32 RBIs and 37 stolen bases.

The New York Yankees are sending Joba Chamberlain to see noted surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Alabama to check out his right shoulder. This is not good news for the Yanks as Chamberlain has adjusted well to being a starting pitcher. Chamberlain has pitched in 32 games (12 starts) this season and he is 4-3 with a 2.63 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. He also has whiffed 104 batters in only 89 innings this season which is outstanding. The Yankees will likely call up Ian Kennedy to replace Chamberlain in the starting rotation. The 23-year old righty has pitched well in the minors since the Yanks demoted him early in the season. Kennedy has pitched in 11 games (9 starts) at three levels of the minors this season and he is 5-2 with a 1.99 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP. He has also tightened his control back up as he has only allowed 14 walks and 34 hits in 54.1 innings in the minors. Kennedy was awful for the Yanks earlier this season and his stay will be a short one if he doesn’t improve this time around. Kennedy has pitched in 9 games (8 starts) for the Yankees this season and he is 0-3 with a 7.41 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP. Kennedy has walked 25 batters in only 37.2 innings for the Yankees often looking nervous on the mound. The Yanks resisted a lot of trade offers for Kennedy this offseason that could have netted them a difference maker so they need him to show up this time around.

The Yankees have signed 32-year old righty pitcher Victor Zambrano to a minor league contract. Zambrano has pitched in 13 games (4 starts) for the Blue Jays and Orioles this season and he is 0-6 with a 9.45 ERA and a 2.30 WHIP. He also pitched in 14 games (6 starts) in AAA ball this season and he was 0-6 with a 9.45 ERA and a 2.30 WHIP. The Yankees signed him to give them depth in the minor leagues. Zambrano has pitched in 187 games (100 starts) in his major league career and he is 45-44 with 3 saves, a 4.64 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. He likely won’t help the Yankees much even if they give him an opportunity later in the season.