Dodgers Manager Joe Torre has worked with Yankees GM Brian Cashman so long that he should know what Cashman is thinking before Cashman thinks it. But if Torre was expecting Cashman to release corner infielder Morgan Ensberg, he was wrong.
With the Journal News reporting from Poughkeepsie that Ensberg has been named to the Yankees 40-man roster, Torre has been sent back to the drawing board to find a stopgap third baseman to replace veteran Nomar Garciaparra and prospect Andy LaRoche, both out with injuries.
Torre's disinterest in overpaying for Chicago's Joe Crede or Detroit's Brandon Inge leaves him with relatively few choices, and a decision on whether to use untested, 23-year-old former Dodgers first-round pick Blake DeWitt. DeWitt has never hit higher than Double A except for a brief stint in last year's Arizona Fall League in which he batted .281.
It hardly can be expected that the Dodgers would pay the price for Crede and Inge, both of whom are a poor fit in Los Angeles. But it remains a curiosity whether talks might heat up to acquire the mediocre economy model Wes Helms, believed to be available from Philadelphia.
Showing posts with label Morgan Ensberg. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Morgan Ensberg. Show all posts
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Morgan Ensberg Enters Yankees Crowded Infield
A little competion in camp is always healthy, but this is rediculous.
New York GM Brian Cashman's signing of former Astros third baseman Morgan Ensberg to a potential $4 million contract brings to four the number of players expected to vie for playing time at first base for the Yankees in 2008, the others being Jason Giambi, Wilson Betemit, Shelly Duncan and maybe even Jason Lane.
Of the four, Ensberg is likely the weakest sister, as he has suffered from a loss of confidence and linger injuries since putting up big numbers for Houston three years ago. Still, there's nothing wrong with his fielding, so why not take a chance?
At 33 Ensberg will have to prove he has something left if he expects to come north with the team in April. It will be quite a comedown, but don't be surprised if Ensberg opens the season at Scranton.
New York GM Brian Cashman's signing of former Astros third baseman Morgan Ensberg to a potential $4 million contract brings to four the number of players expected to vie for playing time at first base for the Yankees in 2008, the others being Jason Giambi, Wilson Betemit, Shelly Duncan and maybe even Jason Lane.
Of the four, Ensberg is likely the weakest sister, as he has suffered from a loss of confidence and linger injuries since putting up big numbers for Houston three years ago. Still, there's nothing wrong with his fielding, so why not take a chance?
At 33 Ensberg will have to prove he has something left if he expects to come north with the team in April. It will be quite a comedown, but don't be surprised if Ensberg opens the season at Scranton.
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Doctor X -- the 'Baseball Medic' -- is an anonymous U.S. government trauma specialist with a Duke University sports medicine background and more than 20 years experience in emergency medicine. From time to time he considers MLB rumors, events and news reports as they pertain to baseball players' injuries, illnesses and various other disabilities, both on the field and off.
MLB Rumors editor Greg Fieg is a former sports news editor and award-winning writer whose bylines have appeared on the wires of the Associated Press and in numerous publications, including San Antonio Express-News, San Antonio Light, Houston Chronicle and Philadelphia Bulletin. He formerly was posted in various positions on the U.S.-Mexican border with Freedom Newspapers, and was a regular, independent contributor to United Press International.