With the news that the Yanks have sent Brian Bruney to the District of Columbia, it’s very clear that the Yankees have revamped their bullpen-building philosophy in recent years. With the execption of a very weird (and stupid) contract to Damaso Marte, the Yanks have opted for low-cost, homegrown arms to fill up the relief core. Considering how volatile relievers tend to be, it makes very little sense to stack up a bunch of millionaires out there. A bullpen should be fluid and interchangeable. It’s a great area to restrain costs.
With making $1.25 mil last season and arbitration-eligible, Bruney became, as Rambo once remarked about himself, “expendable.”
24 Comments
Trev December 7, 2009 13:59
Marte deal may have been bad, but it sure seemed worth it in the WS. Shut down Philly’s lefties! Go Yankees!! 27!!
Ben December 7, 2009 14:05
marte was awful except for 2 rds of the playoffs. its good he picked that time to actually pitch well
JimHopkins December 7, 2009 14:49
SLIDE!!!
Kevin December 7, 2009 15:04
Marte came up huge. Even though he didnt pitch all year, he helped win the most important games, he may not have earned that contract, but I would take that trade anyday.
Chris December 7, 2009 15:57
What Marte did in the World Series was worth his contract to me. Without him Number 27 would have been tough (only in the World Series). Dominating the Phillies was huge for him and us. Not sure if the outcome is the same without him.
andrew33 December 7, 2009 16:11
Very true on Marte’s contract and the new philosophy, but as a few others have noted … 6 pitches in Game 6 to Utley/Howard and his overall utter dominance in October … stupid and weird … but worth getting #27 !!!
immy18 December 7, 2009 16:48
Does anyone else attribute the release of Bruney to the game 6 post-game interview in which he walked over to Hal on national television and poured Dom all over the owners head? The look that Hal gave Bruney following that was priceless.
Kevin S. December 7, 2009 17:50
According to Mark Feinsand’s tweet, the Yanks get the Nats’ (read: first) Rule 5 pick: http://twitter.com/BloggingBombers/status/6443470064
I like that. Rule 5 picks are best for relief pitchers, because it’s the easiest role for a guy to break into the majors in and they come cheap, and now the Yanks have first choice of unprotected players. In all likelihood, they can get someone better than Bruney and spend $1 million less on him. Win.
Butcher December 7, 2009 18:07
Marte deal was bad, but I’m with everyone else above…thankfully we had the guy in the WS. He was shut down in the clutch.
Who knows what he’ll be going forward, but it was worth it just for those few games.
Swish December 7, 2009 18:08
I honestly DO NOT THINK the Yankees have any plans to keep whoever they might get from the Rule 5 draft….BUT…instead it would seem to make the most sense that they have a trade lined up to trade the drafted player in a larger 3rd party trade.
Thoughts?
From the top of my keyboard….
Swish
wanger December 7, 2009 18:51
can spend more quality time with KROD in the NL East
AndrewYF December 7, 2009 19:12
If there were someone that was actually better than Bruney in the Rule 5 draft, why the hell would Washington trade that away for the privilege of paying Brian Bruney multiple millions of dollars?
Chaz December 7, 2009 19:20
Because they’re the Nationals
Kevin S. December 7, 2009 19:50
^This.
Jim Leyritz's Cellmate December 7, 2009 19:57
Bruney was kind of like our own version of Brad Lidge – except not nearly as high profile, talented, or trustworthy. The guy was either absolutely unhittable or absolutely worthless. No in between whatsoever.
This just means there’s an even chance he becomes Pavano-like and comes back on another team to baffle us, or he becomes Farnsworthian and completes his sorry career as a wash-out with a third-tier club.
adam December 7, 2009 20:59
i think this is a steal personally, i mean rule v picks aren’t exactly a slam dunk, but when you consider such talented guys like josh hamilton and johan santana have been acquired through it, you have to figure there’s at least an opportunity to potentially get a valuable player with the first pick. im suprised the nats gave that up for a guy who frankly has been garbage since his initial start to the season and in truth has never been consistently good despite his great fastball. wish him all the best, but he’s not exactly been great for us.
Rob A from BBD December 7, 2009 22:28
For a website that hates Coke so much, you’d think you might like Marte. I’m sure glad Howard didn’t have to face Coke more often. Without Marte I’m not sure the Yankees could beat the Angels or the Phillies.
Samples December 7, 2009 22:31
Immy18 – I thought I was the only one who noticed that.
Steve December 7, 2009 23:06
Bruney’s final Yankee career:
144 IP, 136 ERA+
Not bad for a waiver claim.
Ron December 8, 2009 10:31
marte struck out chase utley in a big spot. it was worth it !
CarltonB December 9, 2009 13:47
I liked the Marte trade. I have loved Marte over the years. Damaso had an injury-plagued, short season. His numbers got better as the season progressed. Marte is a legitimate LH relief stud. I look forward to a full year of Marte.
CC December 9, 2009 14:27
Marte turned out to be worth every penny. Once again nomaas is WRONG!
Brendan December 10, 2009 11:09
You know who’s available and probably for cheap (just coming off elbow surgery)?
This guy:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/otsukak01.shtml
David December 11, 2009 00:23
I was sorry to see Bruney go. What we learned last year is that it’s impossible to tell which relief pitchers will do well (except for Mo!) It’s quite possible that the Yanks wouldn’t need Bruney in 2010, but the more relievers they have the better their chance to find some good ones.