The New York Yankees acquired left-hander Al Leiter – and most of the money to pay him – from the Florida Marlins and scheduled him to start today's series finale against the Red Sox in Boston.
The Yankees will be responsible for about $400,000 of the $2.8 million remaining on Leiter's 2005 salary, General Manager Brian Cashman said yesterday. There were no other players involved in the deal.
"We'll take a chance," he said. "It wasn't going to hurt us in terms of player talent, and it wasn't going to cost us a lot."
The Yankees are desperate for pitching help with four starters on the disabled list. Kevin Brown, who has been on the DL since June 16 with a back strain, will return to start tomorrow.
"It's a very thin market," Cashman said. "In the next two weeks, we need to hold serve, or tread water . . . until our reinforcements can come back."
Cashman conceded that Leiter was no longer a front-line starter but held out hope that he would be an improvement in the back of the rotation. Tim Redding was called up from Triple-A to make an emergency start Friday, and the Yankees lost 17-1; he was designated for assignment to make room for Leiter.
The Yankees have used 11 starters this season – most in the AL.
"If you compare him (Leiter) to our fifth-starter sample his numbers look a lot better," Cashman said.
The Marlins designated Leiter for assignment on Thursday after he went 3-7 with a 6.64 ERA this season. He is due to make $8 million this year despite struggling to pitch as he did in his first stint with the team, when he won 27 games in two years and helped the Marlins win the 1997 World Series.
Devil Rays drop Nomo
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays have designated struggling right-hander Hideo Nomo for assignment.
Nomo lasted just 2 2/3 innings in Friday's 11-6 loss to Toronto, allowing seven runs and nine hits with three walks. It was the third time in the past five starts that Nomo allowed at least six runs and dropped him to 1-7 with a 10.32 ERA in road games this season.
Nomo, who will turn 37 next month, said he won't pitch in Japan if he doesn't get signed by another major league team.
Overall, Nomo went 5-8 with a 7.24 ERA in 19 starts this season. The first Japanese-born player to play in the majors after playing professionally in Japan has a record of 123-109 in a career that began when he was the 1995 NL Rookie of the Year for the Dodgers.
Around the league
ASTROS: Activated former Padres catcher Humberto Quintero from the 15-day disabled list.
TWINS: Optioned second baseman Luis Rivas to Triple-A Rochester. It's the first time Rivas has been in the minors since 2000.
RED SOX: Signed outfielder Gabe Kapler, who was released by the Yomiuri Giants, and placed him on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back strain.
