TAMPA — One day after Curtis Granderson said he did not want anybody to predict he would hit a ridiculous amount of homers, CC Sabathia said he hopes the biggest offseason addition to the world champions adds muscle to the lineup.
“He is going to be a great ballplayer for us,” Sabathia predicted. “Hopefully, he will hit like 50 home runs in our stadium.”
Because Granderson clubbed a career-high 30 homers last year for the Tigers — 10 of which went out of spacious Comerica Park — and is taking his left-handed swing to hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium, some believe he will improve that home run total.
Granderson said power comes from good swings, not from trying to go deep. Hitting coach Kevin Long said he won’t mention power to Granderson.
Sabathia said Granderson’s speed — he was 20-for-26 in steals last season — will also help offensively.
“Him getting on base and able to steal bags is definitely a threat,” Sabathia said. “Hopefully, he can do the same things for us.”
***
MLB clubs are allowed to talk to Cuban defector Adeinis Hechavarria, but they are not permitted to sign the 21-year-old shortstop until the Office of Foreign Assets Control is done investigating him. That could be this week.
Many in the international scouting community believe Hechavarria, who defected last summer in Mexico, will sign with the Yankees.
Because Hechavarria hasn’t totally been cleared, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman yesterday refused to say if the Yankees have been talking to the player or his agent, Bart Hernandez.
However, the Yankees have scouted Hechavarria multiple times and like what they have seen from a player whose body type reminds them of Alfonso Soriano‘s.
***
Designated hitter Nick Johnson arrived at the minor league complex yesterday but did not work out. A.J. Burnett threw a brief bullpen session. Derek Jeter took a ground ball off his shin but was not affected.
***
The Yankees added five more players to their spring training camp roster, upping the total of non-roster players to 25. Sixty-five are expect to report. Infielders Brandon Laird and Jorge Vazquez and right-handers D.J. Mitchell and Ryan Pope come from within the organization. Right-hander Dustin Moseley, 28, made three starts with the Angels last year, going 1-0 with a 4.30 ERA, before being placed on the disabled list in April with right forearm tightness. He underwent left hip arthroscopic surgery in August.
