Sergio Mitre is a member of the New York Yankees again. Who did not see that coming? I warned you the other day that this was going to happen.
At LoHud, Chad Jennings called the deal the 'most predictable move ever." That is right on target.
If you follow the Yankees you had to know as soon as the Milwaukee Brewers designated Mitre for assignment earlier this week that he would be headed back to the Bronx. Now, that is a reality as the Yankees have re-acquired for nothing more than some good old-fashioned cash.
The Yankees did not have room for Mitre on their staff when the season opened, so they shipped him to Milwaukee for Chris Dickerson, a useful spare outfielder.
Mitre actually pitched well with the Brewers, compiling a 3.27 ERA and 1.212 WHIP in 22 relief appearances. When the Brewers decided to dump the 30-year-old journeyman is was only natural that the Yankees, whose bullpen has been ravaged by injuries and who have used a collection of guys like Buddy Carlyle (who just got released), Lance Pendleton and Amuari Sanit in relief would grab him.
Mitre has long been a favorite of Yankees manager Joe Girardi. Mitre pitched for Florida when Girardi was the Marlins' skipper, and Girardi was influential in bringing him to the Yankees, where he pitched in 39 games -- starting 12 -- in 2009 and 2010.
SB Nation's Jeff Sullivan scoffed as the move, writing "Mitre isn't much of a pitcher" and pointing to his 5.03 ERA over those two seasons. Mitre, though, did pitch to a 3.33 ERA in 2010 and was pitching well this season before Milwaukee DFA'd him.
Considering the collection of guys the Yankees have used this season who really don't belong in the big leagues this is a good move for New York. And one everyone should have seen coming from a mile away.
