Coming into this season, 29-year old righty Sergio Mitre had pitched in 90 games (61 starts) in his major league career in which he was 13-26 with a 5.56 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. He had pretty much failed as both a starting pitcher and a long reliever. It looks as if the Yankees are going to convert him into a short reliever and he has the stuff to succeed in that role. He has pitched in 10 games (2 starts) for the Yankees this year and he is 0-1 with a 2.74 ERA and a 0..96 WHIP. Mitre has only allowed 15 hits in 23 innings this season for the Yankees. With Chad Gaudin on board now to handle the long relief role it will be interesting to see if Mitre continues to adapt well to his new role.

The Yankees have designated 36-year old switch hitting outfielder Randy Winn for assignment. Winn played in 29 games for the Yankees this season and he was 13 of 61 (.213 avg, .595 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 1 homer, 8 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Winn was let go to make room on the active roster for Curtis Granderson who has come off the D.L. Granderson has played in 23 games this season for the Yankees and he is 18 of 80 (.225 avg, .686 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 2 homers, 7 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. There should be some interest in Winn so maybe the Yankees will be able to pull of a trade and get something for him.

UPDATE: (6/5/2010) - Winn has signed with the St. Louis Cardinals ending his time with the Yankees.

The Yankees have signed 27-year old righty reliever/starter Chad Gaudin. Gaudin pitched in 12 games (0 starts) for the A’s earlier this season before he was released and he was 0-2 with a 8.83 ERA and a 1.85 WHIP. Gaudin was one of the Yankees’ last cuts this spring and he pitched decent for them last year. Last season Gaudin pitched in 11 games (6 starts) in which he was 2-0 with a 3.43 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. Gaudin has now pitched in 228 games (75 starts) in his major league career and he is 34-37 with 2 saves, a 4.62 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. This was a good move for the Yankees as Gaudin can help them in long relief and make some spot starts if needed.

The Yankees have a few needs and they will likely get involved in the trade market to fill them. The Yankees have needs at DH and in the bullpen. The perfect matchup to fill both needs would be a trade with the Orioles. Luke Scott has the perfect swing for Yankee Stadium and they could use either Mark Hendrickson or Will Ohman. I think the Yankees could definitely get that for Juan Miranda and either Mark Melcanon or Ivan Nova. I think the other team that matches up very well with the Yankees is the Astros. Lance Berkman would definitely help out the Yankees. I think the Yankees could definitely get their hands on Lance Berkman and either Brandon Lyon or Matt Lindstrom. The Astros would probably prefer to move Lyon because of his contract. For Lyon and Berkman I could see the Yankees trading Juan Miranda, Mark Melcanon, David Robertson and Ivan Nova. That would give the Yankees what they need while giving the Astros some nice chips to rebuild with. The Yankees could also give the Royals or Indians a call. Jose Guillen and Kyle Farnsworth could likely be had for Mark Melcanon and Ivan Nova. The Indians would likely trade DH Travis Hafner for Nova, David Robertson or Mark Melcanon. The Yankees look like they are going to have to add some pieces to catch up to the Tampa Bay Rays who look pretty darn good.

27-year old lefty swinging 1B Juan Miranda is getting some P.T. at DH for the Yankees since he has been called up and he is looking good so far as his swing was built for Yankee Stadium. He has played in 8 games for the Yankees this season and he is 5 of 21 (.238 avg, 1.027 OPS) with 5 runs scored, a double, triple, 2 homers and 4 RBIs. Miranda has played in 21 games in parts of three seasons for the Yankees and he is 12 of 40 (.300 avg, 1.021 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 3 homers and 8 RBIs. Miranda is not one of the Yankees’ top prospects but it’s hard for them not to give him at bats based on the way he is hitting right now. Maybe he can play well enough that the Yankees can move him as part of a package for whatever they need at the All-Star break.

The Yankees will be without 38-year old switch hitting catcher Jorge Posada for a month with a hairline fracture on the bottom of his right foot. Posada has played in 26 games for the Yankees this season and he is 29 of 89 (.326 avg, 1.024 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 6 homers and 14 RBIs. This opens the door for 24-year old righty swinging Francisco Cervelli to get a lot of P.T. for the Yankees while Posada is out of action. Cervelli has played in 22 games for the Yankees this season and he is 25 of 67 (.373 avg, .934 OPS) with 9 runs scored and 17 RBIs. The Yanks defense will certainly be better with Cervelli behind the plate.

UPDATE: (5/20/2010) - The Yankees have placed Jorge Posada on the 15-day disabled list and they have recalled 35-year old righty swinging catcher Chad Moeller. Moeller will back up Francisco Cervelli while Posada is out of action. Moeller has played in 9 games in AAA-ball this year and he was 6 for 29 (.207 avg, .544 OPS) with 4 runs scored and 3 RBIs. He has also played in 492 games (10 years) in the majors in which he is 312 of 1,378 (.226 avg, .639 OPS) with 144 runs scored, 29 homers and 132 RBIs. Moeller should do a decent job while Posada is out of action.

31-year old lefty swinging DH/1B Nick Johnson has recently had surgery on his right wrist which will likely keep him out of action until mid-July. Johnson won’t even be able to pick up a bat for the next 4-6 weeks. Johnson has played in 24 games for the Yankees so far this season and he is 12 of 72 (.167 avg, .693 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 2 homers and 8 RBIs. He has walked 24 times already this season so even though he wasn’t hitting he was still getting on base. The Yankees won’t likely miss Johnson too much as they have a very deep and talented roster.

The Yankees were foolish trying to make Chamberlain a starting pitcher again as his best role is as a short reliever. Chamberlain has pitched in 16 games (0 starts) for the Yankees this season and he is 0-1 with 2 saves, a 2.30 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. He is not nibbling like he did as a starter as he is coming right after hitters and the results have been outstanding once again. The 24-year old Chamberlain has whiffed 18 batters while only walking 5 this season in 15 2/3 innings as his control has improved pitching out of the pen. Chamberlain will eventually replace Mariano Rivera as the Yankees’ closer but until then you better beat the Yankees in the first 7 innings if you want a real chance to beat them.

The Yankees have claimed 25-year old righty reliever/starter Shane Lindsay off waivers from the Rockies. Lindsay was the Rockies’ #23 rated prospect coming into this season according to Baseball America. He pitched in 14 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Rockies this season and he was 0-1 with a 6.59 ERA and a 2.34 WHIP. He whiffed 19 batters in only 13 2/3 innings in AAA this season but he walked 17 batters which is a big reason the Rockies gave up on him. Lindsay has pitched in 100 games (41 starts) in his six years in the minors and he is 18-13 with 1 save, a 3.48 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Lindsay has a nice upside so it was a good move for the Yankees to pick him up.

UPDATE: (5/27/2010) - The Yankees have designated Shane Lindsay for assignment to make room for Chad Gaudin on the roster. If Lindsay clears waivers the Yanks would probably want to keep him around.

UPDATE: (6/1/2010) - The Indians have claimed Lindsay off waivers from the Yankees.

The Yankees have released 24-year old righty starting picher Christian Garcia. Garcia started 1 game in AA-ball this year and he was 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 0.53 WHIP. He pitched in 68 games (56 starts) in his six years with the Yankees and he is 17-18 with a 3.67 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. It will be interesting to see if the Yankees re-sign Garcia to a minor league deal as he is recovering from his second Tommy John Surgery.