Mark Bellhorn isn't the only former Yankee now playing in Double-A. Bronson Sardinha is, too. He's still with the Akron Aeros, the Indians' AA team.
Sardinha was the Yankees' first round draft pick a few years ago, and they wanted to keep him. Cruel roster math meant they had to DFA him, even though he had options left. It was the only way to get him off the 40-man roster to make room for Andy Pettitte.
This meant Sardinha became a free agent. He could sign with any team, and even though the Yankees made him a good offer, he turned them down, deciding to seek his fortune elsewhere.
He ended up with the Seattle Mariners...but not for long. He was assigned to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers and was hitting well, but only a few weeks into the season, he was put on the suspended list, then released. The suspended list usually means you did something wrong, and sure enough, he admitted that it was an off the field mistake that got him released. The Rainiers were on the road, in Fresno, and just left Sardinha there when they moved on.
Sardinha wouldn't say what his mistake was. CriminalSearches.com to the rescue. Putting in his first name, last name, and birth date reveals a misdemeanor, code VC23152(B). Googling VC23152(B) reveals that it's this section of the law:
VC 23152: Alcohol and or Drugs: (b) It is unlawful for any person who has a .08 percent or more by weight to drive a vehicle.
In other words, DWI.
(Yes, the conviction was in California. And no, the California police couldn't fit his middle name on the form.)
I can't really blame him for wanting to leave the Yankees. He was pretty much blocked there. But it sure hasn't turned out all that well for him.
