YANKEES
Triple-A first baseman Juan Miranda, who went from general manager’s Brian Cashman’s bluff DH to Nick Johnson’s backup this offseason, added more consistent offensive production to his resume for the Dominican League’s Licey Tigers, in the news last weekend when manager Jose Offerman took a swing at an umpire. The 26-year-old Cuban hit .409 (18-for-44) with two homers and 11 RBIs in 13 regular-season games and batted .273 for the postseason.
Fleet outfielder Freddy Guzman, who joined the Yankees for September and appeared the ALDS against the Angels, was sidelined from Dominican League action last week after taking a 97- mph Ubaldo Jimenez fastball to the head, but he was cleared to return to Escogido’s starting lineup on Wednesday.
Josh Schmidt led Double-A Trenton in ERA in 2009, but the 27-year-old, 6-foot-4 Californian is about as anonymous as standout, upper-level Bombers minor leaguers get. Schmidt can start or relieve, is known for a devastating slider and racked up a respectable 3.58 ERA in the Venezuelan League, including a seven-inning, one-hit, 10-strikeout gem.
METS
Game 3 of the best-of-nine Dominican Championship Series had a blue-and-orange tint — outfield prize Fernando Martinez flashed all of his potential in going 6-for-6 with five RBIs, and old hand Nelson Figueroa got the win for Escogido with 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball.
First baseman Michel Abreu, who was not re-signed by the Mets after a step-back age-30 season with Triple-A Buffalo last year (.228 BA), was named MVP of the Puerto Rican Winter League after hitting .351 with 12 homers and 42 RBIs in 36 games for Arecibo.
Outfielder Jesus Feliciano — another Triple-A 30-year-old long since graduated from prospect status — earned All-Star honors in Puerto Rico after batting .352 for Arecibo.