Yanks reportedly sign Pestano to Minors deal
The Yankees have signed reliever Vinnie Pestano and four other players to Minor League contracts, according to Baseball America. The club has not confirmed the deals.
Pestano, who will turn 31 in February, has split each of the past three seasons between Triple-A and the Majors. He made 19 appearances for the Angels in 2015, allowing seven earned runs over 11 2/3 innings. The right-hander's best years came in Cleveland from 2011-12, when he produced a 2.45 ERA over 137 games.
The Yankees also signed left-hander Richard Bleier, utility man Jose Rosario, outfielder Juan Silva and catcher Sebastian Valle.
Bleier, 28, spent last season in Double-A and Triple-A for the Nationals, posting a 2.94 ERA over 28 games (26 starts), walking only 16 in 171 2/3 innings. Rosario is a familiar name, having spent his seven pro seasons in the Yankees' system while playing every position except pitcher, catcher and first base. He spent most of 2015 at Double-A Trenton, where he hit .249/.276/.326.
Silva had played seven Minor League seasons for the Reds, making it as far as Triple-A last year at age 24 and batting .244/.354/.341 with two homers in 43 games there. Valle, a 25-year-old former Phillies prospect, spent this year with the Pirates' Double-A Altoona affiliate, posting a .754 OPS over 70 games.