The Yankees signed Carlos Silva yesterday to a minor league contract. Silva who was cut by the Cubs during spring training is a veteran righty pitcher picked up by Cashman to add a little extra depth. Silva made some headlines this spring after getting into a fight with Aramiz Ramirez (his own teammate), in the dugout. He eventually was cut by the Cubbies after Andrew Cashner beat him out in the 5th pitcher competition. Last year, Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild worked with Silva and claims that Silva pounds the strike zone. Let's wait and see.
Silva is going to pitch down in Tampa, along with another couple veterans, Kevin Millwood & Mark Prior. All these guys were picked up as insurance. Fortunately, Silva is being paid 11.5 million from Chicago for this season. Neither Silva nor Millwood is being paid more than minor league contract numbers, so there is very little risk involved. Both provide depth presumably in the dog days of summer when other players get injured or Girardi needs to rest the bullpen. Silva and Millwood seem to fit the Yankees, Plan B, from the offseason. Plan A was to get Cliff Lee, and Plan B is to fill up the bullpen with big names and sign veterans to minor league contracts.
Plan B seems to be working for now, but I still have a funny feeling that Cashman is going to sign or trade for a big name, before the all-star break
Silva's numbers
2010: 10-6 with a 4.22 ERA. His first half was better though with only a 3.45 ERA. He went on the disabled list for a heart problem, which does not seem to be an issue any longer.
Career: 70-70 with a 4.68 ERA in 180 starts.
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