The Yankees have acquired 30-year old righty reliever/starter Sergio Mitre from the Brewers for cash considerations. Mitre pitched in 22 games (0 starts) for the Brewers this year and he was 0-1 with a 3.27 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. Mitre was just dealt to the Brewers before the season started for outfielder Chris Dickerson. Mitre pitched in 39 games (12 starts) for the Yankees in 2009 and 2010 and he was 3-6 with 1 save, a 5.03 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Mitre has now pitched in 139 games (64 starts) in his 8 years in the majors and he is 13-30 with 1 save, a 5.13 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. This was a good move for the Yankees as Mitre has pitched pretty well the last couple of years and the team really needed bullpen help due to all of the injuries.

The Yankees have designated 33-year old righty reliever Buddy Carlyle for assignment. Carlyle pitched in 8 games (0 starts) for the Yankees this year and he was 0-1 with a 4.70 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. Carlyle has now pitched in 112 games (27 starts) in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 11-12 with a 5.58 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. The Yankees would likely want to keep Carlyle in the organization if he clears waivers (which is likely) and will accept an outright assignment to AAA.

The Yankees have signed 28-year old righty reliever Logan Kensing to a minor league deal. He missed all of last season due to two elbow surgeries. He last pitched in the majors in 2009 with the Nationals and Marlins. Kensing has pitched in 134 games (3 starts) in parts of six years in the majors and he is 8-9 with 2 saves, a 5.81 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP. Kensing has always had a good arm so it doesn’t hurt to take a chance with a guy like him.

If the Yankees start to tire of Brian Gordon, they could give 23-year old righty starting pitcher Adam Warren a try as the #5 starter. Warren came into this season as the Yankees’ #12 prospect and he has been showing why this year. Warren has started 15 games in AAA-ball this year for the Yankees and he is 6-2 with a 2.87 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Warren has only allowed 83 hits in 94 innings this year as he pitches to contact (he has 63 whiffs). Warren has now pitched in 52 games (all starts) in his first three years in the minors and he is 21-11 with a 2.45 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. Teams are going to be asking about him at the trade deadline, but the Yankees would be smart to just say no.

30-year old lefty swinging CF Curtis Granderson is having the type of season the Yankees thought he would have in 2010. Granderson has played in 76 games this year for the Yankees and he is 80 for 290 (.276 avg, .933 OPS) with 68 runs scored, 21 homers, 55 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. He’s hasn’t been near as good in June, but the Yankees aren’t worried one bit about him. Granderson has played in 23 games so far in June and he is 22 of 86 (.256 avg, .813 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 4 homers and 14 RBIs. Granderson is also only 4 of 9 stealing bases this month. Granderson is one of the big reasons that the Yankees are in first place, so they need him to keep up the good work.