Yankees Add a Plethora to 40-Man Roster, Or: How America's Favorite AAAA Slugger Left the Yankees

The Yankees finalized the players that they would protect from the Rule V draft in December by adding 7 minor leaguers to the roster, as well as outrighting 1 player.

From Anthony DiComo of MLB.com:

Among the Minor Leaguers the Yankees did protect was outfielder Austin Jackson, widely considered the top prospect in the organization and the heir apparent to Melky Cabrera in center field.

The Yankees also added right-handed pitchers Hector Noesi, Ivan Nova and Romulo Sanchez, and infielders Reegie Corona, Eduardo Nunez and Kevin Russo to the 40-man roster, thus protecting them.

The Yankees also outrighted Shelley Duncan to the Minors, removing him from the 40-man roster. Doing so kept the roster at 39, giving the Yankees the opportunity to make one selection in the Rule 5 Draft if they desire.

To make my job easier, rather than giving a mini-bio on each of the players, I'll point you over to a press release posted by Chad Jennings of the LoHud Yankees Blog:

Noesi, 22, appeared in 26 combined games (20 starts) with Single-A Charleston and Single-A Tampa in 2009, going 6-4 with a 2.92 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 117.0 IP. He also combined to hold opponents to a .220 batting average (96-for-436) with only 15 walks and was named a midseason All-Star with Charleston. Noesi was originally signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on December 3, 2004, out of the Dominican Republic.

Nova, 22, made 24 combined starts with Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2009, going 6-8 with a 3.68 ERA (139.1IP, 57ER). He also made two postseason starts for Scranton/WB, going 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA, allowing just three earned runs in 14.0 IP and striking out 10 batters. Originally signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on July 15, 2004, Nova was selected by San Diego in the 2008 Rule 5 Draft before being returned to the Yankees.

Sanchez, 25, was acquired by the Yankees on May 16, 2009, from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for RHP Eric Hacker. He spent the year at the Triple-A level, combining to go 6-5 with a 4.09 ERA (77.0 IP, 35 ER) and 79 strikeouts in 29 games (13 starts) with Indianapolis (PIT) and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (NYY). Sanchez was originally signed by the Dodgers as a non-drafted free agent on March 8, 2002, out of Lara, Venezuela.

Corona, 23, combined to bat .257 (120-for-467) with 69 runs, 28 doubles, six home runs, 40 RBI and 16 stolen bases in 129 games with Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, earning midseason All-Star honors with Trenton. The Caracas, Venezuela, native was originally signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on July 2, 2003. A switch-hitting infielder, he was selected by Seattle in the 2008 Rule 5 Draft, and was returned to the Yankees on April 3, 2009.

Nunez, 22, batted .322 (160-for-497) with nine home runs, 55 RBI and 19 stolen bases in 123 games with Double-A Trenton in 2009, making 120 starts at shortstop. In his first season at the Double-A level, he ranked second in the Eastern League in hits and third in batting average, and was the lone Thunder player to earn both midseason and postseason All-Star honors. Originally signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on February 25, 2004, Nunez was a non-roster spring training invitee in 2009.

Russo, 25, was named to the International League’s 2009 postseason All-Star team after batting .326 (115-for-353) with 51 runs, 18 doubles, five home runs, 31 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 90 games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He also walked 42 times, ranking fourth in the IL with a team-high .397 on-base percentage. Russo was selected by the Yankees in the 20th round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.

Jackson, 22, was selected as the 2009 International League “Rookie of the Year” after batting .300 (151-for-504) with 67 runs, 23 doubles, nine triples, four home runs, 65 RBI and 24 stolen bases in 132 games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. In his first full season at the Triple-A level, he led the IL in triples and ranked second in hits. Originally selected by the Yankees in the eighth round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Jackson entered 2009 rated as the organization’s top prospect as well as its “Best Athlete” and “Best Defensive Outfielder” by Baseball America. He attended 2009 spring training as a non-roster invitee, batting .333 (12-for-36) with three home runs in 23 games.

So there you go.  Furthermore, this would be Shelley Duncan's second time being taken off of the 40-man roster.  Therefore, he has the option of becoming a free agent should be clear waivers.  Shelley Duncan apparently has stated that he will opt to become a free agent.

DiComo mentioned that the Yankees have one spot left on the 40-man roster in case they want to take someone in the Rule V draft.  As of now it is the case, but will not necessarily be come draft time.  They have to re-add guys like Pettitte, Damon, etc. once/if they are re-signed.  However, they do have guys that could be easily taken off of it like Christian Garcia, Edwar Ramirez, and Sergio Mitre. 

Expect a post soon about the guys that were left off by the Yankees.