Here’s a quick nightcap for you:

BA GIVES A-JAX PROPS

Baseball America has named Austin Jackson the 7th best International League prospect in the game (the list features the top-20 IL prospects). The only other position players listed before him were Matt Wieters and Andrew McCutchen, which speaks volumes about Jackson’s talent (he’s rated higher than Cleveland’s Matt LaPorta, as well). That’s another big honor for the Yankees’ young outfielder.

BRONX BOUND: TOWERS AND PETERSON?

Kevin Towers was released by the San Diego Padres earlier this month. Prior to the release, Towers had been the Padres’ GM for 14 years. While there are many organizations that have expressed an interest in Towers since his firing, Buster Olney notes that the Yankees may be the best destination for him. Cashman and Towers are longtime friends and Towers could serve as a talent “evaluator” for Cashman, assisting him with pitching decisions, trade deadline ideas, etc. Olney claims that the odds are “excellent” for Towers to end up working with the Yankees, which would be a good thing for the organization. His expertise would certainly strengthen the team’s scouting system by a significant margin.

Also, while we’re addressing matters of team personnel, according to Jon Heyman, pitching aficionado Rick Peterson, who was fired by the Mets along with Willie Randolph last June, “might have a chance” to become a “pitching coordinator” for the Yankees. Peterson lives in New Jersey and recently offered his take, via video, on the Yankees’ postseason pitching staff for 3P Sports.

RED SOX FAN WITH ALS

Stan Grossfeld of the Boston Globe provides us with this gem about 50-year old Paul Szantyr, a lifelong Red Sox fan who suffers from Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Definitely check it out. It’s a great read.

(props to RAB)