Baseball Miscellaneous

A couple of things that cannot make a big article on their own. So why not merge them into a bigger one?

The Yankees signed Jared Burton to a minor league with an invitation to Spring Training. Burton could make $2 million if he makes the roster and can stay on it all season. There is one is one exceptional thing about this contract (well, maybe it is not exceptional, but it is the first time that I read about it), the contract has four dates on which Burton can opt out when he is in the minor leagues: March 30, June 1, August 1 and August 31.
Burton is a journey man who spent the last three seasons with the Minnesota Twins. Previously he had stints in the majors with the Cincinnati Reds. In (parts of) eight MLB seasons he pitched 361 innings in which he posted an ERA of 3.44, struck out 305, walked 136 and kept his opponent on a batting average of .230. He could be a valuable addition to the bullpen.

Dutch catcher Rodney Daal, who was released by the Padres in October 2014, has found a new club. He will join the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League (Independent). Daal had a long stint on the DL after Tommy John surgery.
Next to this stint on the DL, Daal was caught twice for the use of forbidden substances. He served a penalty of fifty games in May and will have to sit out another hundred if he signs with another MLB organization.

One thing is sure, Daal will play in one of the oldest and most characteristic stadiums in the US, Bosse Field in Evansville, where the baseball movie “A League Of Their Own” was filmed.

Bosse FIeld in Evansville (photo by Charliesballparks.com)

And then the most important thing of all, the pitchers and catchers have reported at the Yankees’ ST complex in Tampa FL. Masahiro Tanaka threw some long toss the other day and threw 21 pitches from the mound in a bullpen session. Tanaka himself declares his elbow healthy. But as far as I am concerned it takes more than one swallow to make a summer. So in that context it may be weird to say but spring has officially begun. 😉 Let the good times roll.Masa