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Yanks Close to Adding Farnsworth & Mike Myers to Pen
From today's NY Post:
YANKS EYE KYLE
By GEORGE KING
November 29, 2005 -- While the Mets made back-page news again yesterday by landing Billy Wagner, the Yankees took steps toward rebuilding their bullpen.
According to several industry sources, the Yankees are engaged in serious negotiations with flame-throwing, right-handed setup man Kyle Farnsworth and are very close to inking lefty specialist Mike Myers.
Having done a background on Farnsworth by calling the Tigers, one of the two teams the 29-year-old pitched for last year, and receiving positive reports, the Yankees have talked with agent Barry Meister in parameters but as of late last night no offer had been made.
The Braves, who acquired Farnsworth from the Tigers and used him in 26 games, wanted Farnsworth back to close but were wary of paying him in the $5 million range. He made $1.97 million last year.
The Yankees, who desperately need a reliable arm in front of Mariano Rivera, could be willing to do a four-year deal for $19 million or a three-year pact for $15 million to secure Farnsworth's 97 mph fastball, filthy slider and competitive nature.
According to a Tigers source, questions about Farnsworth's makeup weren't an issue with the Tigers.
"He is an individual who thinks differently at times but he wasn't a problem for us," the source said. "He is very quiet. You hardly know he is around."
Farnsworth did get into a fight with former Tiger reliever Ugueth Urbina but that didn't stand out because, according to the source, "Urbina fought with everybody."
Farnsworth appeared in 46 games for the Tigers and was used as the closer when Troy Percival went down. In 432/3 innings Farnsworth allowed 29 hits, fanned 55, walked 20 and converted six of eight save chances. With the Braves he allowed 15 hits in 27 innings, fanned 32, walked seven and was 10-for-10 in save situations.
His nuclear fastball is death on lefties and righties since the former batted .197 (23-for-117) and the latter .165 (21-for-127) against Farnsworth.
The Yankees, who crave power arms, aren't as leery as other organizations about pitchers the Braves don't bring back. Even after Steve Karsay and Chris Hammond didn't pan out in The Bronx.
As for Myers, the 36-year-old appeared in 65 games for the Red Sox last year, posting a 3-1 record and 3.13 ERA.
Not since Mike Stanton's first tour of duty have the Yankees had a reliable lefty that handled left-handed hitters. That's Myers specialty and he did it well last year when lefties batted .158 (15-for-95). In the last three seasons lefties hit .208 (57-for-247) against Myers, who has pitched for the Tigers, Marlins, Brewers, Diamondbacks, Red Sox and Mariners.
He made $600,000 last year.
*
Yankees asked the Mariners if they were going to trade Ichiro Suzuki and were left with the impression they weren't.
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Originally Posted by General
