Yanks “stepping up”

According to Jerry Crasnick, the Yankees are “stepping up their pursuit” of pitcher Justin Duchscherer. It is unclear whether the 33-year-old righty would be a starter or reliever with the Yanks, but he has made the All-Star team as both (2005 RP, 2008 SP) over the course of his career.

He has tossed only 28 innings over the past two seasons due to a number of injuries, though, and hip surgery sidelined his 2010 campaign on April 30. He also suffered from clinical depression while with the A’s…then again if I was on the A’s I’d be depressed too.

He was filthy as a starter in 2008, but a hip injury ended that season in mid August and elbow surgery the following February (presumably from switching over to a starter in ’08) wiped out his 2009.

The guy put up solid numbers as a reliever from 2004-2006 (237.2 IP) but has been on the 60-day DL thrice and the 15-day DL as many times since ’04. He’s an injury concern. However, he “only” made $1.75 million last year, so if the Yanks can get him cheap on a minor league deal — and hope for a bounce-back season — it might be worth it.

They took a shot with Mark Prior, why not with this guy?