The Yankees have refused to part with 22-year old outfielder Austin Jackson in trades for a couple of years now. He was the Yankees’ #1 rated prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America. He showed why this season in AAA-ball playing in 132 games in which he was 151 for 504 (.300 avg, .759 OPS) with 67 runs scored, 4 homers, 65 RBIs and 24 stolen bases. It will be interesting to see if the Yankees bring back Johnny Damon as that could effect how much of a chance Jackson gets next year.

27-year old righty swinging Jorge Alberto Vazquez was not considered a legit major league prospect coming into this season but he has been opening some eyes in AA ball this year. Vazquez has played in 57 games in AA-ball this season and he is 74 for 225 (.329 avg, .935 OPS) with 30 runs scored, 13 homers and 56 RBIs. It’s doubtful that Vazquez can keep up that batting average as he has only walked 8 times this season. It will be interesting to see if the Yanks call him up when rosters expand on September 1st if he continues to hit the ball like he is right now.

Phil Hughes and Carl Pavano are rehabbing in the minors and the Yanks could use them both. With Joba Chamberlain and Dan Giese likely both down for the count the Yanks might recall both Pavano and Hughes soon. One would essentially replace Chamberlain while the other would likely bump Darrell Rasner out of the rotation. Rasner has pitched in 17 games (16 starts) for the Yankees this season and he is 5-9 with a 5.18 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP so he deserves to be replaced in the rotation. Phil Hughes started the season with the Yanks but he was horrid before getting injured. Hughes started 6 games for the Yanks so far this season and he was 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA and a 2.14 WHIP. Hughes has been much better on his rehab assignment than he was with the Yankees so they have some hope that he’ll do decent for them. Hughes has pitched in 5 games (3 starts) in A+AAA ball this season and he is 2-0 with a 3.54 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. Carl Pavano has looked sharp on his rehab assignment as he has started 5 games in A+AAA ball this season and he is 1-1 with a 3.32 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Pavano has whiffed 19 batters in 19 innings in the minors which shows that his stuff is starting to come back. Before the 2005 season the Yankees gave Pavano a shiny new 4-year, $39.95 million dollar contract and he hasn’t given them much of a return for the investment. Pavano has started 19 games in his career for the Yankees and he’s 5-6 with a 4.77 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. It will be interesting to see how Pavano and Hughes pitch for the Yanks as they would need them to be lights out to make a playoff run.

The Yankees have designated Richie Sexson for assignment as they think the holes in his swing make him an easy out. Sexson played in 22 games for the Yankees this season and he was 7 for 28 (.250 avg, .764 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 1 homer and 6 RBIs. The Yankees have recalled 32-year old righty swinging Cody Ransom to replace Sexson on the roster. Ransom has played in 116 games in AAA-ball this season and he is 108 for 423 (.255 avg, .820 OPS) with 69 runs scored, 22 homers, 71 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. Ransom will be the utility infielder on the Yanks so that they can use Wilson Betemit as the DH. Ransom has played in 133 games in his major league career and he is 33 for 140 (.236 avg, .695 OPS) with 32 runs scored, 3 homers and 16 RBIs.

The Yankees have demoted Melky Cabrera to AAA ball and they have recalled 24-year old lefty swinging Brett Gardner to replace him. Cabrera played in 117 games for the Yankees this season and he was 97 for 401 (.242 avg, .633 OPS) with 39 runs scored, 8 homers, 36 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. Cabrera’s poor performance just couldn’t be tolerated anymore by the Yankees’ front office and they will likely play Johnny Damon in CF the rest of the season. Gardner will likely be a pinch running option and get a start once in a while for the Yanks. He played in 17 games for the Yankees earlier this season and he was 9 for 58 (.153 avg, .396 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 7 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. The Yankees hope Gardner hits like he has in AAA this season. He has played in 94 games in AAA-ball this season and he is 101 for 341 (.296 avg, .836 OPS) with 68 runs scored, 3 homers, 32 RBIs and 37 stolen bases.