NEW YORK ? (AP) ? Sidney Ponson is about to get another chance, this time with the New York Yankees.

 

Ponson was cut by the St. Louis Cardinals last week and the Yankees, desperate to find a fifth starter, expect to sign the talented-but-troubled pitcher on Friday.

 

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Thursday the deal "made sense, compared to everything else that was available to us.''

 

Once among baseball's more promising pitchers, Ponson's career has been derailed by alcohol problems. Baltimore released him last September, saying his behavior gave them grounds to terminate his contract.

 

Ponson is set to make his first start for the Yankees on Tuesday night at home against Seattle. The Yankees will pay between $150,000 and $175,000 to sign Ponson for the rest of the season.

 

The Yankees were three games behind Boston in the AL East at the All-Star break. Ponson would join Mike Mussina, Randy Johnson, Chien-Ming Wang and Jaret Wright in the rotation. Starter Shawn Chacon is still on the roster, too, but there's been speculation the Yankees will soon make a move with him.

 

Released by Baltimore in the offseason, Ponson signed a $1 million deal with St. Louis. The 29-year-old righty started the season 3-0, but slumped and was 4-4 overall with a 5.24 ERA when the Cardinals designated him for assignment last Friday.

 

"He's still got a great arm,'' Cashman said.

 

Ponson won 17 games in 2003 when he pitched for Baltimore and San Francisco, but has struggled on and off the field since then.

 

Ponson was convicted last December of driving while impaired and sentenced to five days in jail ? his arrest in August marked his third drunk driving offense. The pitcher also spent 11 days in jail in his native Aruba after fighting on a beach.

 

Cashman said the Yankees believe Ponson is worth the risk because he's made changes to his life. Ponson is expected to fly into New York on Friday.

 

"It's hard to upgrade your pitching, it really is,'' Cashman said. "Hopefully, this is something that will work

out for us. It's low risk and hopefully we'll get some upside out of this.''

i love watching the yankees vulturing over other team's garbage. what ever happened to their great pitching staff..i remember an SI cover in 2003..it read: You Can't Have Enough Pitching: Just ask George!". those days are over. ponson is a so-so pickup i dont' think he'll make an impact, his attitude will need a makeover.

it's pretty sad when you have to sign a starting pitcher cut from a team in desperate need of starting pitching . . . in the NL

The Yanks sure do love mediocre veteran pitchers.

 

Thats what happen when you trade the farm, leaving only a few good players left, and sign every big money player and losing your draft picks meaning your left with even less to trade...

 

you get the Shawn Chacons, Aaron Smalls, and Sidney Ponsons of the world inserted into your rotation.

I think the Yankees run into trouble because they rely almost solely on the free agent market to get pitching. They really have no decent prospects to use in a trade to net solid pitching.

 

Sure they often sign the biggest FA pitchers out there but they are usually the ones expected not to pan out (Pavano, Vazquez).

 

 

Correction:

They have no prospects of the tradeable commodity that could net them any decent starting pitchers.

 

Hughes and Tabata could get them anyone they wanted, they just aren't going anywhere.

Future News Alert: (Oct 1st, 2006):

 

Yankees Miss Playoffs.

 

:lol

I like this move.....

 

 

.....as a Red Sox fan.

The Yankees do this every year, and every year it works.

 

Aaron Small, John Olerud, Al Leiter, Shawn Chacon...just some names from the past 2 seasons that they picked off the scrap heap and turned into reasonable players.

 

I see no reason to ridicule this move, the Yanks don't think this is the answer, just a step towards addressing the #5 starter, since it seems Pavano is never coming back.

Shawn Chacon wasn't washed up. That was a smart/good move.

 

For each that you mentioned above there is a Matt Lawton, Mark Bellhorn, Alan Embree, Todd Zeile.

Shawn Chacon wasn't washed up. That was a smart/good move.

 

For each that you mentioned above there is a Matt Lawton, Mark Bellhorn, Alan Embree, Todd Zeile.

 

 

Lawton Bellhorn and Embree were desperation moves last season, and they never were intended (well, Lawton maybe) to play exceptional roles on the team, just add depth.

 

I'm talking more about the Yankees ability to take a decent or formerly good player and plug him into a contributing role.

 

The Sports Guy said it best (and I'm paraphrasing): The Yankees could pick up a hooker from 8th avenue, plug her in at second, and she'd somehow hit .270.

 

That's not to say everyone rejuvinates their career in the Bronx (for those with high expectations, it's usually the opposite), but decent players do have a tendency to become solid role-players there.

I hate to say it but this move points to....

Well, that's more money for Ponson, and a couple losses for the Yankees until they finally cut Ponson.