Jerry Crasnick reports that the Yankees avoided arbitration with Sergio Mitre, signing him to a one-year, $900,000 contract. Mitre had 3.33 ERA and 29/16 K/BB ratio over 54 innings in 24 relief outings and three spot starts last year.
Sometimes you see guys like Mitre referred to as “insurance.” As in, he could be used to start if there are injuries and can cover middle relief and stuff. I like to think of him as life insurance. As in, if he is being utilized, it pretty much means you’re dead.
Oh, and in other marginal Yankee pitcher news, Alfredo Aceves broke his left collar bone in a bicycle accident down in Mexico. He’ll likely miss the start of spring training because of it. I broke my left collar bone in a bike wreck once too. I don’t want to alarm Yankees fans, but I never pitched again after that. Never pitched before either, but that’s neither here nor there.