by Marc Carig
TAMPA, Fla. -- After missing the postseason for the first time since 1993, the Yankees this offseason followed a franchise tradition as old as free agency itself, splurging on CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira, the priciest items on this season's swanky free-agent menu.
The final tab came to $423.5 million, an astonishing figure likely to be quoted ad nauseam as the pressure builds for the Yankees to make a triumphant playoff return.
Yet, despite the enormity of the spending spree, the Yankees did well to pull off low-risk, low-profile moves that could prove key: adding pitcher Brett Tomko and infielder Angel Berroa via minor-league deals.
"You bring them in knowing that they've been successful players in the big leagues," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Never knowing what can happen to your club, you always have to have options."
Even if neither one warranted a roster spot, as is the case with most such signings, the Yankees at the very least stood to gain two easily-disposable veterans capable of pushing position battles in spring training: Tomko for the team's open long relief job and Berroa for the utility spot.
Instead, both are close to defying the odds. Recent castoffs from one of the game's most cash-strapped teams -- the Kansas City Royals -- Berroa and Tomko have played well enough this spring to merit consideration for the final spots on the Opening Day roster of the game's wealthiest franchise.
Tomko, a 35-year-old right-hander, had a brutal 2008 season that began in a failed attempt to stick in Kansas City's rotation and ended on an operating table, where he underwent the first surgery of any kind in his 12-year big-league career. But despite being a last-minute signing by the Yankees, Tomko's 1.59 ERA in 11 1/3 spring innings through Friday is one of the lowest in camp.
Berroa's precipitous drop in production after his 2003 Rookie of the Year campaign eventually led the Royals to maroon him to the obscurity of Triple-A Omaha. He would have likely played out what was left of an ill-advised four-year, $11 million contract had the Los Angeles Dodgers not traded for him. Through Friday, Berroa, 32, is hitting .415 with a Yankees-best 17 hits this spring.
"Our club is aggressive and knows that it takes more than 25 people to win," Girardi said. "And they go out and get quality people."
General manager Brian Cashman said the Yankees had an eye on Berroa last season after trading shortstop Alberto Gonzalez to the Washington Nationals. The Yankees needed insurance at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Cashman took note as Berroa helped solidify the Dodgers infield until Rafael Furcal's return.
Berroa's name surfaced for the Yankees again -- as a potential utility man to compete with Cody Ransom -- after the Dodgers cut ties with him this offseason.
"We stayed on it, and Berroa was the one who agreed to come to us," Cashman said of Berroa, whose versatility will be needed with Ransom expected to fill in for Rodriguez at third base.
Girardi said Berroa has convinced him he can play different positions in the infield.
"I just feel good." Berroa said. "As soon as I got here, everything changed. I started working in January, and you can see how it's going. For me, it's a big thing to play for New York. Everyone wants to play here."
Berroa said the adjustment has been made easier by a pair of familiar faces: Yankees bench coach Tony Pena managed Berroa in Kansas City while hitting coach Kevin Long worked in the Royals' minor-league system.
"He has done a great job," Pena said. "He continues to work. I felt that Berroa stopped working after I left Kansas City. But now I feel he's getting back to the way he was playing. He's swinging the bat. We like what we have seen."
A FLUID SITUATION
Meanwhile, Cashman said Tomko has been on the Yankees' radar for even longer, though he wanted the pitcher as a starter, not a reliever. It was a concession Tomko wasn't ready to make.
As late as last spring, Tomko still viewed himself as a starter, signing a one-year, $3 million contract with the Royals mostly because they had rotation spots up for grabs. The Royals released him in June after he posted a 6.97 ERA in 16 games. The San Diego Padres picked him up, but Tomko's season ended with a right elbow strain. So much fluid had accumulated in his elbow that Tomko had trouble buttoning his shirts. He underwent surgery in September, the first of his career.
"It was a long haul," he said. "There's days I would pick up the ball and I felt that the longest I could throw the ball was 30 feet."
Tomko was aware of the slow free-agent market, and was even hesitant to audition for teams too early for fear that his elbow wasn't healed enough to pitch effectively. But when Tomko put himself out as a reliever, Cashman came calling.
"There were other places where I could have had a bigger safety net if I had a bad outing," Tomko said. "I kind of figured I should put it out there and put it on the line, and if I pitch good, I'm playing for the Yankees. There are some points in life when you say 'I've got to try this. Go big or go home.'"
Source: nj.com
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