th internal and external options. General Manager Brian Cashman watched Alfredo Aceves pitch for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barres Tuesday night, and the team has expressed an interest in Seattle left-hander Jarrod Washburn. Aceves, limited to 65 pitches (as reported by the Times-Tribune in Scranton), pitched three innings against Richmond, allowing two runs, three hits and two walks and striking out six. A 25-year-old right-hander, Aceves has surged through the Yankees' minor-league system this year, putting up a 1.92 ERA in 108 innings, striking out 87 and walking just 16.
He began the season at Class A Tampa and has now pitched four games for Scranton, the first two as a reliever. His low pitch count reflected that he is being stretched back out into a starter's role.
Meanwhile, the Yankees didn't make serious bids for elite starting pitchers such as CC Sabathia (who went from Cleveland to Milwaukee) and Rich Harden (who went from Oakland to the Cubs), but they do have some interest in Washburn, a left-hander who will turn 34 next month. ESPN first reported the Yankees' pursuit of Washburn.
In his third year with the Mariners, Washburn has a 4-9 record and 4.75 ERA, with 32 walks and 65 strikeouts in 110 innings. Washburn is signed through 2009, with a $10.35-million salary, so Seattle is not in a position to ask the Yankees for a strong package of talent.
