Second chance in NY for Bellhorn
Mark Bellhorn could be fitted for Yankee pinstripes within 24 hours if he clears waivers as expected at 1 p.m. today. If he winds up signing with the Bombers, the man who hit three big postseason home runs for the Sox in 2004 could face them six times in the season's final month in an attempt to deny them a return trip to the playoffs.
Bellhorn, designated for assignment Aug. 19, then placed on release waivers last Friday, has been targeted by the Yankees as a backup infielder, according to major league sources.
He would become the second member of the 2004 World Series champions to play for New York if the deal goes through, joining reliever Alan Embree, who signed with the Yankees after clearing waivers.
Bellhorn reportedly flew last night from his home in Phoenix to Seattle, where the Yankees are playing the Mariners.
Bellhorn's agent, Mark Rodgers, said, ''I will have no comment. Mark doesn't clear waivers until tomorrow, and I will respect the process."
Bellhorn, who hit .216 with 7 home runs and 28 RBIs for the Sox, would give the Yankees insurance behind rookie second baseman Robinson Cano and third baseman Alex Rodriguez. And with Cano batting just .190 in 25 games in August, dropping his overall average to .271, it's not a stretch to imagine the switch-hitting Bellhorn getting significant playing time down the stretch. The Yankees also have Tony Womack, but after using him in the outfield, they are said to be reluctant to put him back at second base. Womack also has struggled this month, batting .218.
Bellhorn, who sprained his left thumb in July, was on a rehab assignment with Triple A Pawtucket when he was designated for assignment. While he was gone, the Sox acquired Tony Graffanino from the Royals, and Graffanino quickly established himself as the team's everyday second baseman.
In Pawtucket, Bellhorn hit just .176 (12 for 68) in 16 games, and struck out 24 times. He whiffed 109 times in 283 at-bats for the Sox this season, and had a dreadful July, batting just .116 (5 for 43) before being injured.
Sox captain Jason Varitek suggested Sunday that Bellhorn's performance was tied in part to the way he was booed this season. Speaking in regard to another target of fan discontent, Kevin Millar, Varitek said, ''It doesn't matter who's playing, you see what happened with Bellhorn, you got him booed out of here."
Bellhorn hit .191 during the postseason for the Sox, but with critics calling for manager Terry Francona to bench him, he delivered three big home runs: a two-out, three-run homer off Jon Lieber in Game 6 of the ALCS, carrying the Sox to a 4-2 win; another home run in a 10-3 win in Game 7; and a game-winning, two-run home run off Julian Tavarez of the Cardinals in a 11-9 win in Game 1 of the World Series. ''Bellhorn is a close friend of a lot of guys in here," outfielder Gabe Kapler said in an interview shortly after Bellhorn was designated. ''We all think really highly of him, both as a player and a person. Obviously it goes without saying he had some enormous hits for us last year. We would not have won the World Series without him."
