"He's a lefthanded bat with a little pop," general manager Brian Cashman said.
Before claiming Guiel, Cashman spoke with Tony Pena, who managed him in Kansas City. And Billy Eppler, the team's director of professional scouting, spoke with Triple-A Columbus hitting coach Kevin Long, who coached Guiel in the minor leagues.
Torre recalled being impressed by Guiel's constant hustle and power. Guiel, 33, had a strong 2003 season, hitting .277 with 15 home runs and 52 RBIs in 99 games, but he has struggled ever since. Cashman said he has one more year of options left.
ESPN says that the Yanks are looking at Huff:
Bound for the Bronx?
Jul 5 - According to a report in Newsday, the Yankees have had highly regarded scout Jim Benedict in St. Petersburg the last two days scouting the Devil Rays. And the player Benedict is believed to be looking closely at is Aubrey Huff.
Huff, in the final season of a three-year deal with the Rays, would fit into a corner outfield spot if the Yankees are able to acquire him.
"It doesn't have to be a knocker," Yankees manager Joe Torre told the paper about the kind of hitter his team needs. "Just somebody who can help our offense overall ... somebody who can help this team. I don't know who this player is."
I always liked Huff.