Forget the trade market, how about some in-house possibilities

I know with the trade deadline coming up people are talking about the different players available for the Yanks to go after, hence our last post regarding the topic. However, I have to argue that the trade market does not have many quality players and the guys that are quality are gonna be wayyyy overpriced. I think we might have some guys in the minors who deserve a look if not soon then definitely at the September call-up...

Batters

Cody Ransom - Ransom was named to the International League All-Star team to replace recent call-up Justin Christian. Now Ransom is not a young hot-shot prospect (he is 32), but he is producing at the AAA level with a line of .261 .326 .474 with 15 hrs and 53 rbi in 88 games. I think the team needs a bit of a shake up and I wouldn't mind bringing Ransom up and letting him get a few games as the back-up infielder rather then Betemit, who in my opinion brings nothing to the table.

Juan Miranda - Miranda has been great this season in the minors when healthy. For AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre he has a line of .301 .390 .445 with 5 hrs and 30 rbi in 57 games. He has battled some injuries this season including injuries to his shoulder, so his power numbers should improve when he is 100%. The power is there as all of us who paid attention in the preseason know. Miranda was signed out of Cuba and is listed at 25 yrs old, but we all know that may not be true, but of course it very well could be (I hope it is). The Yanks may not want to rush Miranda with his injury history and I understand that, but again, we are not getting production out of first base with Betemit when he plays and Miranda may be able to give the team a lift.

Jason Lane - This is an interesting case. Lane was signed to a minor league deal in the off-season because he is coming off an injury and the Yanks wanted to have some depth in the system and if Lane approached what he has done in the majors in the past they could have struck gold. In 2005 Lane hit .267 .316 .499 with 26 hrs and 78 rbi. With AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Lane is hitting a paltry .232, but has a .337 OBP and a .433 SLG with 14 hrs and 46 rbi in 89 games. Lane could also play first base and he is a right-handed bat, something the Yanks can definitely use.

Pitchers

Chris Britton - Britton has been up and down from the big leagues this season and has been a bit of a head-scratching case. Britton has been successful in the majors and he is always successful in the minors when he is sent down. He has lacked consistent work in the big leagues which may have contributed to his being sent down due to erratic performance. When you bring a guy up to pitch and don't pitch his for weeks at a time that kind of work can be expected. Needless to say, I am a Chris Britton guy and would like to see him get back with the big club and be a successful reliever.

Ross Ohlendorf - Ross was erratic at best in the majors out of the bullpen, but it was clear he had dominating stuff. Now that he has been sent down the Yanks have been working him out as a starter and he has had success in his return to the starting role. In 3 starts at AAA Ohlendorf has 12.1 IP, 2.92 era, 1.3 WHIP, and 15 Ks to just 3 BBs. With the state of the starting rotation in the majors (read: Sidney Ponson and Darrell Rasner) it is clear that the rotation could use a lift. Ohlendorf was originally a starter when the Yanks got him in the deal that sent the Big Unit to Arizona so he is familiar with the role and I think he would succeed using his variety of pitches of the course of multiple innings. He may need some more work before getting the call, but I think that before the year is out we may see Ohlendorf make a few starts with the big league club.

Daniel McCutchen - McCutchen is another option to bring up as a starter/long reliever. McCutchen has had success at AAA posting 65 IP, a 3.32 era, 1.22 WHIP, and 51 Ks to 10 BBs. McCutchen may be ready to come up and start before Ohlendorf, and if we see Ponson and Rasner struggle more McCutchen may get the call. McCutchen is 26 yrs old and is seasoned enough to most likely not be intimidated and overwhelmed by the call to the big leagues.

Alan Horne - Horne is another player who has had some injury problems this season. In 2007, Horne won the Eastern League Pitcher of the Year award. Horne has taken a bit of a step back in his development due to the injury problems, but he is still just 25 yrs old and does have very good stuff. He may be the least ready of the pitchers discussed here due to time missed, but has made progress this season at AAA should get a look around the time of the September call-ups.

These players all come from AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and in my opinion are the players that would best be able to contribute to the big league club this season. It's important to keep in mine though that a lot of the top Yankee prospects (Austin Jackson, Jose Tabata, Jesus Montero, Dellin Betances, etc..) are in the lower levels of the minor league system and could definitly see a bump up in level this season and if not should definitely continue thier development this off-season....