07/16: Yankees Acquire Al Leiter From Marlins; Leiter to Start Sunday
Posted by: Seamus
The Yankees acquired left-handed starter Al Leiter from the Florida Marlins this afternoon for a player to be named. Leiter will start tomorrow's game against the Red Sox. Before the deal was made the Yankees did not have a pitcher on the roster available to start tomorrow's game. The Yankees will pay the rest of Leiter's 2005 salary.
Leiter struggled with the Marlins this season, going 3-7 with a 6.64 E.R.A. in 17 games in his second stint with Florida. His disappointing performance led the Marlins to designate him for assignment on Thursday. Speculation began that the Yankees would look to acquire him as soon as they were forced to place Chien-Ming Wang on the disabled list with a shoulder injury.
We didn't exactly pick up an ace here, but it will do. The Yankees are just looking for someone who can fill the back of the rotation with all these injuries. He's not the pitcher he was in his first stint with the Marlins or with the Mets, but I don't think he's quite as bad as the numbers he's put up so far this year, either. It also helps for us to have another lefty on the staff, which is something we've lacked the last two years aside from Randy Johnson. Better Leiter than Tim Redding, I guess.
Leiter began his career with the Yankees in 1987 where he pitched until '89 when he was dealt to Toronto. His career stops include 7 years with the Blue Jays ('89 to '95), 7 years with the Mets ('98 to 2004), and two short stints with the Florida Marlins ('96 to '97 and 2005).
Leiter struggled with the Marlins this season, going 3-7 with a 6.64 E.R.A. in 17 games in his second stint with Florida. His disappointing performance led the Marlins to designate him for assignment on Thursday. Speculation began that the Yankees would look to acquire him as soon as they were forced to place Chien-Ming Wang on the disabled list with a shoulder injury.
We didn't exactly pick up an ace here, but it will do. The Yankees are just looking for someone who can fill the back of the rotation with all these injuries. He's not the pitcher he was in his first stint with the Marlins or with the Mets, but I don't think he's quite as bad as the numbers he's put up so far this year, either. It also helps for us to have another lefty on the staff, which is something we've lacked the last two years aside from Randy Johnson. Better Leiter than Tim Redding, I guess.
Leiter began his career with the Yankees in 1987 where he pitched until '89 when he was dealt to Toronto. His career stops include 7 years with the Blue Jays ('89 to '95), 7 years with the Mets ('98 to 2004), and two short stints with the Florida Marlins ('96 to '97 and 2005).
