Vanderbilt pitcher beats deadline, signs pro contract

Former Vanderbilt pitcher Caleb Cotham signed with the New York Yankees on Monday, the last day for Major League teams to sign players they drafted in June. He agreed to a $675,000 contract, according to the Yankees.

Cotham, from Mt. Juliet, was selected in the fifth round (165th overall).

A starter for most of the 2009 season, he had a team-high seven wins in addition to a 4.10 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 79 innings pitched. In three seasons with the Commodores he was 14-11.

Several other VU players signed professional contracts prior to Monday. They were: pitcher Mike Minor (Atlanta), outfielder Steven Liddle (Minnesota) and Jonathan White (San Francisco).

Also on Monday, former Vanderbilt pitcher Brett Jacobson, a fourth-round choice by Detroit in 2008, was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for Major League infielder-outfielder Aubrey Huff.

Jacobson is 1-3 with a 3.75 ERA in Class A ball this season.