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Yankees win Abreu sweepstakes


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'A very volatile situation'
July 30: Yankees general manager Brian Cashman discusses the trade for Bobby Abreu.

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Henry, 20, was the 17th overall selection in the 2005 amateur draft. He was hitting .232 with two homers and 33 RBIs in 76 games for Charleston in the South Atlantic League. He’ll be assigned to Class-A Lakewood.

Sanchez, 18, and Monasterios, 20, both were signed in 2004 and played for the Gulf Coast Yankees. Sanchez was hitting .264 in 23 games, and Monasterios was 1-2 with a 2.97 ERA in seven games. Both will be assigned to Philadelphia’s Gulf Coast League team in Clearwater, Fla.

The trade reunites the 32-year-old Abreu with his former manager, Larry Bowa, who is the Yankees’ third-base coach.

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“There might be less pressure here than in Philadelphia,” Bowa said. “He felt if he didn’t do it, no one was going to do it.”

One of the most underrated players in the league for years, Abreu made his first trip to the All-Star game in 2004 and thrust himself into the national spotlight with a tremendous power display in the Home Run Derby during All-Star week last year, hitting a record 41 homers.

But the left-handed hitting Abreu left his power stroke in Detroit, site of the 2005 Midsummer Classic. He has just 14 homers since, and hasn’t gone deep since June 13, a span of 132 at-bats.

“We are not looking for him to do anything other than what he has been doing,” Cashman said.

A fan favorite early in his career, Abreu was sometimes vilified in Philadelphia in recent years. Though he won his first Gold Glove last season, Abreu’s defense was heavily criticized, especially because it often appeared he shied away from contact with the wall.

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Some critics say he takes too many pitches, particularly in clutch situations with runners on base. And, Abreu’s preference to bat third when he might have been a perfect fit as a leadoff hitter in Philadelphia’s lineup made him appear selfish.

Abreu has batted at least .300 six times, including a career-best .335 in 1999. He had 30-homer seasons in 2001 and 2004, and stole more than 30 bases in each of those years.

The Yankees have been without Matsui since he broke his left wrist in May, and Sheffield hasn’t played since May 29 because of a wrist injury.

Sheffield is targeting a return in September, while Matsui is hoping to come back next month — though that might be a bit optimistic.

“If we get those guys back, it’s gravy,” Cashman said.

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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