Dan Miceli is an upgrade for the struggling Yankees’ bullpen. By no means is the journeyman right-hander considered the final answer.
“I am still looking to add to the pen,” GM Brian Cashman said yesterday when the Yankees acquired Miceli and left-handed-hitting outfielder Karim Garcia from the Indians for a player to be named or a small cash amount. The teams have until Nov. 1 to complete the trade. “If a big deal makes sense, I will do it.”
Miceli, 32, and Garcia, 27, will join the Yankees in time for today’s matinee against the Devil Rays. The Yankees designated pitcher Mike Thurman and outfielder Charles Gipson for assignment, which forced Joe Torre to manage last night’s 8-5 victory two players short of the 25-man limit.
Cashman’s words mean he is still talking to the Rangers about Ugueth Urbina. But the Rangers have asked for Brandon Claussen or Nick Johnson for Urbina and that doesn’t make sense for Cashman.
“I prefer not to rape the farm system or take on a big salary,” Cashman said. “At least that’s the thought process. We will see what we got.”
While Garcia, who played in two games last year for the Yankees and was released when Raul Mondesi surfaced, gives Torre flexibility off the bench, Torre viewed adding Miceli to the pen as a big plus.
“I know Mel [Stottlemyre] and I love Miceli’s arm. I like his aggressiveness and stuff. I know he has a nasty fastball,” Torre said. “He is a plus for sure, especially since that has been our glaring weakness as far as experience coming out of the bullpen with the injuries we had.”
Cashman and Indian counterpart Mark Shapiro had been talking for a while about Miceli and the deal developed into adding Garcia. Miceli, who is owed $182,000 of his $350,000 salary, started the season with Colorado, where he was 0-2 with a 5.66 ERA. Released by the Rockies on May 11, Miceli signed with the Indians on May 15. In 13 relief appearances for the Tribe, Miceli was 1-1 with a 1.20 ERA and fanned 19 batters in 15 innings.
Garcia, who clubbed 16 homers and drove in 52 runs in 197 at-bats for the Indians after being let go by the Yankees last year, was hitting .194 (18-for-93) with five homers and 14 RBIs in 24 games before going on the DL on May 8 with a strained left wrist. He recently completed a six-game rehab assignment. Torre said he could work his way into a left-field platoon situation with Juan Rivera, who may be part of a deal to land Urbina.
So, what did the Yankees get?
“He is a big-time gamer and competitor,” an Indians’ executive said of Miceli, a 10-year veteran who has pitched for the Pirates, Tigers, Padres, Marlins, Rockies, Rangers and Indians. “I don’t think he will be afraid to pitch in New York.”
As for Garcia, the same executive wasn’t sure.
“Is he the guy who led the world in home runs during the second half of last season or the guy who got off to a slow start this year?” the executive asked.
Miceli drew attention as a Marlin when he severely criticized John Boles’ ability to manage and Boles was fired shortly after the stinging remarks.
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NEW FACES IN THE BRONX
A look at the 2003 and career numbers for reliever Dan Miceli and outfielder Karim Garcia, who were dealt from the Indians to the Yankees yesterday for player to be named or cash:
DAN MICELI
2003 — CAREER
IP: 32.2 — 538
W: 1 — 34
L: 3 — 41
SV: 0 — 32
ERA: 3.79 — 4.72
H: 33 — 540
BB: 15 — 240
K: 37 — 491
KARIM GARCIA
2003 — CAREER
AB: 93 — 1054
R: 8 — 130
H: 18 — 247
2B: 1 — 32
3B: 0 — 11
HR: 5 — 50
RBI: 14 — 158
AVG.: .194 — .239
