tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26765910170188654082024-03-19T04:46:55.061-04:00The Greedy PinstripesDaniel Burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04212584396848733519noreply@blogger.comBlogger17547125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2676591017018865408.post-23615713437506885512024-03-16T06:10:00.005-04:002024-03-16T06:12:12.466-04:00Opening Day Loses Some Luster...<p> </p><p><b style="text-align: justify;"></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3THsDNQR3nYAB2wWFaSfgYCvzUPTn7K7v5VqHAUI0eTfiWrKmUH1of4u0ebUtbJHww18lRNII30GNiIXkazOwUZonVt-m0Ii3ryTe_FXlKX_IAyNNkDbS__90DCVARa9LhST9bX08YAuUeY0OYVDoI7q4vgg2uetWA7U29ii_9KUTKCSbpwkpW7-DkDsV/s916/Screenshot%202024-03-16%20023903.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="916" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3THsDNQR3nYAB2wWFaSfgYCvzUPTn7K7v5VqHAUI0eTfiWrKmUH1of4u0ebUtbJHww18lRNII30GNiIXkazOwUZonVt-m0Ii3ryTe_FXlKX_IAyNNkDbS__90DCVARa9LhST9bX08YAuUeY0OYVDoI7q4vgg2uetWA7U29ii_9KUTKCSbpwkpW7-DkDsV/w640-h402/Screenshot%202024-03-16%20023903.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Gerrit Cole (Photo Credit: Getty Images)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><h2><b style="text-align: justify;">Gerrit Cole is sidelined with a right elbow injury…</b></h2><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Some sports weeks are good; some sports weeks are bad. I will place this past week in the latter category even if neither my favorite MLB nor NFL team played a meaningful game this week. “Loss” was the common denominator despite the lack of competition.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">In the NFL, the start of free agency means rapid-fire signings for a couple of days. It did not take long for my beloved Minnesota Vikings to lose starting quarterback Kirk Cousins to the Atlanta Falcons.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OLdaEmGcqIKFIv5EtjPMBv00VzXsEdaqnEy-fgofDqgLIEac7Itce3Qcs-y-4Tiyh7WM9M3RnFsg7-l1gkmQLQ8IBqSWWPny7b9ch0EBbfwYde2cQmFREwx5oYV2BsOALo9UhXVooh4u2t8i9wevY8cE6YuZn8vewI8UZ6KXuqXNVVAEQ58OxIOV7ISX/s626/Screenshot%202024-03-16%20024144.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="626" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OLdaEmGcqIKFIv5EtjPMBv00VzXsEdaqnEy-fgofDqgLIEac7Itce3Qcs-y-4Tiyh7WM9M3RnFsg7-l1gkmQLQ8IBqSWWPny7b9ch0EBbfwYde2cQmFREwx5oYV2BsOALo9UhXVooh4u2t8i9wevY8cE6YuZn8vewI8UZ6KXuqXNVVAEQ58OxIOV7ISX/w640-h354/Screenshot%202024-03-16%20024144.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Kirk Cousins (Photo Credit: Mike Stewart/AP)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Say what you will about Cousins. He is not an elite quarterback, but he is a good one. At the end of the day, he did not take the Vikings to the promised land, and he has that dang aging thing following him with a hurried pace (Cousins will be thirty-six this season). The Vikings did not want to go more than year to year with Cousins, while the Falcons were willing to give Cousins $180 million over four years, including a $50 million signing bonus. Let the Falcons pay him. I do not blame the Vikings for passing (no pun intended). The salt in the wound is the Vikings’ signing of former Jets, Panthers, and 49ers quarterback Sam Darnold. If the Vikings expect Darnold to play like a former third pick in the NFL Draft, they will be as disappointed as the Jets were. Maybe a better cast around him will help (Justin Jefferson is one of the best in the business at wide receiver). Maybe not. I hope the Vikings are not finished looking for veteran help at the position while they attempt to move up in this year’s draft to grab a future franchise QB.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">But this is not a Vikings blog so enough about the misery of the purple and gold. The harder news to take was the loss of Yankees Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole. Granted, the loss is only time, and he is still a Yankee...and, most importantly, the time will not be as long as it could have been, but Cole will be absent for the first two months of the season. There is no question it is a huge blow to the team.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Following an MRI on Cole’s right elbow, he met with noted Tommy John surgeon and Los Angeles Dodgers team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache. I was bracing for the worst when I heard about the visit with Dr. ElAttrache, but, fortunately, surgery is not needed (as one beat reporter put it, “for now”). Rest for 1-2 months means that, realistically, we will not see Cole for at least two months. Even if Cole recovers ahead of schedule, the Yankees move notoriously slow when it comes to player injuries especially when it happens to one of the team’s most valued assets. If Cole can make a few starts before the All-Star break, it is likely the best-case scenario. I cannot see Cole pitching before Memorial Day Weekend.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">This was not the news we wanted to hear during the one-season run of Juan Soto as a Yankee. I thought Cole’s injury might spur the Yankees to acquire another starting pitcher, but it truly appears they plan to go with the hand they have been dealt. In other words, all 2024 MLB starters for the Yankees, at least on Opening Day, are presently in-house. With Dylan Cease off the board following his trade from the Chicago White Sox to the San Diego Padres, there are fewer options. There will be no late pillow contracts for Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery. Even if they were signed, they would not be ready for Opening Day. With reports today that the Houston Astros are interested in Snell, it made me wonder if it is just agent Scott Boras trying to put more pressure on the Yankees to pay his client. It would be disappointing if the Astros do sign Snell and he becomes responsible for ending the Yankees’ season this year. Although there is some talk the Yankees may be interested in free agent RHP Michael Lorenzen, he is hardly a needle-mover. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwkNfleBzDTzT4ImMPxtT-FDJTT1r96Jk5gphr9g8O-NSyKbVwx0D7jdznJiy6eXkKogGbZ6BHa9LR-JCPRZe4ZZo7FChscs2Dq1lloqHfia1pK16asvz9pz_pRGYUTY-Je6kTniPWk1H0fYPyr5PQUkhR87SVgZgcyaI6cNxpPOEWvaR7TPNXIwunUUx/s807/Screenshot%202024-03-16%20024542.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="807" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwkNfleBzDTzT4ImMPxtT-FDJTT1r96Jk5gphr9g8O-NSyKbVwx0D7jdznJiy6eXkKogGbZ6BHa9LR-JCPRZe4ZZo7FChscs2Dq1lloqHfia1pK16asvz9pz_pRGYUTY-Je6kTniPWk1H0fYPyr5PQUkhR87SVgZgcyaI6cNxpPOEWvaR7TPNXIwunUUx/w640-h426/Screenshot%202024-03-16%20024542.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Michael Lorenzen (Photo Credit: Mark J Terrill/AP)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Cleveland’s Shane Bieber is probably the best option, and he will not cost the organization a top prospect like Spencer Jones or Roderick Arias. It feels like the Yankees will not do anything about the rotation until the trade deadline later this summer. It will be a long summer if Carlos Rodón continues to pitch like the second coming of Javier Vazquez in Pinstripes, or Nestor Cortes cannot pitch like he did in 2022.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I am excited to see what Clayton Beeter and Will Warren can do at the Major League Level. The downside with rookie pitchers is the inevitable bumps in the road. Very few rookie pitchers take the MLB by storm, and I cannot remember too many Yankee pitchers that did. For the most part, it takes a year or two to ease into the nuances of the game’s highest level. Patience is necessary when it comes to young pitchers. I wish the Yankees had time to be patient. Regardless, we have no choice. So, I guess we must be impatiently patient. I am hoping for the best, yet it must fall on the Front Office if the season falls apart because of starting pitching. The team’s offense should be the best we have seen in a few years. That is why most Yankee fans wanted the team to push their starting pitching staff from particularly good to elite with the addition of another arm. Now, trying to reach ‘very good’ will be a challenge. The bats have a lot of ground to make up.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I am cautiously optimistic it works out for the Yankees. There is no scenario where I would root for them to fail. I want guys to step up. To take advantage of opportunities. Every great player took another player’s job at one point in their respective careers.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Although Michael Lorenzen does not excite me, I would be in favor of his signing in the light that there will be no major moves or signings in the immediate non-greedy Pinstripes' future (pun intended). He could be a placeholder until Cole returns or if/when reinforcements arrive at the trade deadline. If he pitches well, his role could have a longer duration. He would offer some insurance in case of a total Rodón flameout. He is certainly not the same caliber of pitcher as Rodón is/was, but he can win games with Juan Soto and Aaron Judge in the lineup. If the Yankees must use a rookie pitcher, I would rather see it limited to one and not multiple rookies.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">With Cole sidelined, the Opening Day gig was up for grabs. The first report surfaced that Marcus Stroman would not alter his current schedule to make the Opening Day start. Honestly, I do not care. I saw negative comments from the fan base, but realistically, none of us were part of the conversations between Stroman and team management. Stroman has the right to decide what works best for him, mentally and physically. It is not our place to decide what is best for him. I thought it was cool that Stroman was scheduled to start the Yankee Stadium opener against his former team, the Toronto Blue Jays. I hope that the schedule does not change. Whether Stroman starts the first game of the season in Houston, or the second or third is inconsequential. The Yankees need wins, and they will need a win on the day Stroman pitches, whatever day that may be.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Friday, it was announced that the Opening Day starter in Houston on March 28 will be Nestor Cortes, Jr. Admittedly, it is surprising, but Rodón certainly has not earned the right. I thought maybe Clarke Schmidt might be the best option, but I have no qualms about Nestor so long as he stays healthy.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZEtTKw3hg9hbvTWcSReb63PXdOli9jvN752L-g8qbRZf-Rps4F4hK6UwPN4YwoGjhEE7AQzHcXaZeIHYp-MT-sW6W4BSjN8WuOjNot_LODXMjOdaGSDiEebyrYI10I0qNZf5soPQ3zxDwk1vcvl-lSxlnWcIWA_zsTxzdi5K0eDwtp39YXlQvI_Qo230/s871/Screenshot%202024-03-16%20024849.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="871" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZEtTKw3hg9hbvTWcSReb63PXdOli9jvN752L-g8qbRZf-Rps4F4hK6UwPN4YwoGjhEE7AQzHcXaZeIHYp-MT-sW6W4BSjN8WuOjNot_LODXMjOdaGSDiEebyrYI10I0qNZf5soPQ3zxDwk1vcvl-lSxlnWcIWA_zsTxzdi5K0eDwtp39YXlQvI_Qo230/w640-h354/Screenshot%202024-03-16%20024849.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Nestor Cortes, Jr (Photo Credit: New York Yankees/Getty Images)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Juan, I know you are a man among boys, but we will need you to step up your game. Seriously, I hope the team’s offense can carry the team until Gerrit Cole can return to help ease the load. This is why they pay Brian Cashman the big bucks, and why he should be held accountable for the results, whatever they may be.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>Germán signs with the Pittsburgh Pirates</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Domingo Germán has finally found his new home. Well, it is a minor-league contract with a couple of weeks to show he belongs in the Majors, but it is better than nothing at all.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Germán will head to Bradenton, Florida to work out with Aroldis Chapman and the Pittsburgh Pirates. He can make $1.25 million this season if he makes the Major League roster, and there is a club option for $2.25 million in 2025, with performance bonuses mixed in. Honestly, I think all Major League contracts should have lower base salaries, and higher performance-related bonuses, but that is beside the point.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfYOYV5KD8aI-HRZwH6FyyklJzMJeU_Yg8VU2Ztl2_y33Sq7NzD4yRSGi2cFuPOAld-01tUlyAKO6C_K0n12hSHwfJ6DuM5qb77WuBjzW0ZX0drkZH7m30dWWC5CIpR3FdJcOcuQm98nK_acsXawt1hShaiLqxPxEqADqy_GGQlejunpNhzosXS5s-3tQ/s793/Screenshot%202024-03-16%20025145.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="793" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfYOYV5KD8aI-HRZwH6FyyklJzMJeU_Yg8VU2Ztl2_y33Sq7NzD4yRSGi2cFuPOAld-01tUlyAKO6C_K0n12hSHwfJ6DuM5qb77WuBjzW0ZX0drkZH7m30dWWC5CIpR3FdJcOcuQm98nK_acsXawt1hShaiLqxPxEqADqy_GGQlejunpNhzosXS5s-3tQ/w640-h464/Screenshot%202024-03-16%20025145.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Domingo German (Photo Credit: Noah K Murray/AP)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Good for Germán to find a new opportunity. I am glad he is no longer a Yankee, but I would certainly prefer to see him earn the right to play in the Major Leagues again than to fail. This might be his third chance, but hopefully, this one sticks for his sake. His family deserves better.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">As always, Go Yankees!</p>Scott Fiedlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05598662581036778337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2676591017018865408.post-53673234585215661102024-03-10T06:52:00.005-04:002024-03-10T06:52:55.096-04:00Trust the Cashman Process...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnk3Z7mSTMyGFS7LgxoccYZFRs8k4SF0vPVpOa5yZEAasPh6cc0-bMt9mdSxgPiaYOBWEWhSS_gYHu78VNSPW1yK9harjIvEf75fSs1flC5gATwBNYKsDvhwqQMnOU6u1EIDrNNZvHjAWnaTtOWerAyDDVP5G1aTAnB2SZxLiHMKChWLvP6AH7C4t-1rXy/s866/Screenshot%202024-03-10%20031845.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="866" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnk3Z7mSTMyGFS7LgxoccYZFRs8k4SF0vPVpOa5yZEAasPh6cc0-bMt9mdSxgPiaYOBWEWhSS_gYHu78VNSPW1yK9harjIvEf75fSs1flC5gATwBNYKsDvhwqQMnOU6u1EIDrNNZvHjAWnaTtOWerAyDDVP5G1aTAnB2SZxLiHMKChWLvP6AH7C4t-1rXy/w640-h424/Screenshot%202024-03-10%20031845.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Brian Cashman (Photo Credit: Andrew Mills/NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b style="text-align: justify;">Yankees GM continues to target role players for the Opening Day Roster…</b></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Trust Brian Cashman sounds like an oxymoron. Yet, I hope Cashman is looking at upgrades in earnest as Spring Training continues to slog its way through March.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I realize the regular season starts this month, but Thursday, March 28 at 4:10 EDT in Houston, Texas seems so far away. It is funny how excited we are when Spring Training opens in February, but after a few weeks of exhibition games, it becomes a grind. It is always good to see the Yankees on the field playing baseball, but the yearning for games that matter becomes insatiable.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Patience…<b><i>dang it</i></b> (that last part is for me, not you).</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">With the reports that the Yankees were finalists for free agents Kiké Hernandez and Amed Rosario, the Yankees’ front office is trying hard to find infield bench support. With Hernandez re-signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers (no surprise) and Rosario taking less money for greater potential playing time with the Tampa Bay Rays, the Yankees luck for finding a strong number two starter and a solid utility infielder rank up there with their ability (or should I say inability) to find a left fielder last year. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8FPu1OJSxQeScYc94KMtgVz3NHGTIjWjVjG4SLoRRQHl3T4C6kUKx3j6fXvYrtO7ghBSmb2NC9VPD2n95ize22wIfFa_s0A4wiXDKS1qo-O0aVxzXbE9qAPRKq0flHxb88SJFbN3S3XuqxqpR55U2vCy95ziWZb-BSlSi1BauFi6L96OGnLratjTnDAEj/s483/Screenshot%202024-03-10%20032115.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="483" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8FPu1OJSxQeScYc94KMtgVz3NHGTIjWjVjG4SLoRRQHl3T4C6kUKx3j6fXvYrtO7ghBSmb2NC9VPD2n95ize22wIfFa_s0A4wiXDKS1qo-O0aVxzXbE9qAPRKq0flHxb88SJFbN3S3XuqxqpR55U2vCy95ziWZb-BSlSi1BauFi6L96OGnLratjTnDAEj/w640-h564/Screenshot%202024-03-10%20032115.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Yankees have no choice but to find a utility infielder with the news that Oswald Peraza has been removed from baseball activity for six to eight weeks after he was diagnosed with a subscapularis strain in his right shoulder. It is not like Peraza will be ready to go in two months. The best-case scenario, assuming he does not need surgery, would be greater than two months. Once he resumes baseball activity and plays in minor-league rehab games, two months easily becomes three or more. Most likely, we will not see Peraza until sometime this summer at the earliest. Hopefully, this does not fall into a worst-case scenario for the talented young infielder. I had hoped that Peraza would be able to prove his worth at the Major League level this year. Either get a legitimate shot with the big-league club or receive a much-deserved trade to another team that can provide the necessary Major League playing time. For now, both opportunities are on hold.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Peraza’s absence is cause for concern at third base, let alone shortstop. While DJ LeMahieu can be the everyday third baseman, good health has not been his friend. I am not entirely confident of LeMahieu’s ability to hold up to the rigors of a full season playing nearly every day. With questions about backup support for third base and shortstop, the Yankees must hope Anthony Rizzo stays healthy. The Yankees are better prepared to manage injuries in the outfield than any of the infield spots outside of catching. As such, it seems like a trade is imminent since the Yankees have not been able to find what they are looking for in free agency.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Unfortunately, Jeter Downs is not the player he once profiled to be. Then again, if he had become that guy, the Yankees would have never gotten their hands on him. The guys rounding out the bench seem to be players on other teams now, subject to change…not the guys in camp on minor league deals. Time will tell and since the regular season is so far away (at least to me), there is time for Brian Cashman and Company to find the necessary reinforcements. But of course, we have said that before and nothing happened.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I have been pleasantly surprised and quite pleased about how well Marcus Stroman has fit in with the Yankees. Throwing four no-hit innings against his former team, the Toronto Blue Jays, the other day was nice. Granted, he is not going to pitch like that every time out, but he is showing that he can be a trusted third starter for a contending team. The Yankees desperately need some reliability behind Gerrit Cole with the questions surrounding Carlos Rodón and perhaps Nestor Cortes. Stroman is the needed source of consistency.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvU1RdDd3-z0a3QUl3YcyxikOnISESa7xk7GJoGPOXJWpMk6dHBNg74KkAK5uIHisyQ0bHFvVhM1JGcaKkiYqZz_vNoXpxGwXIZq4Xtvs49Lsz34cTrU8b-0VDffODAaEUVQRyH3-1maRJ9_1bJjYbVkd_CxKHxtREBfaDygQLZbSa1grlTwQYy8RD1a7/s754/Screenshot%202024-03-10%20032324.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="754" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvU1RdDd3-z0a3QUl3YcyxikOnISESa7xk7GJoGPOXJWpMk6dHBNg74KkAK5uIHisyQ0bHFvVhM1JGcaKkiYqZz_vNoXpxGwXIZq4Xtvs49Lsz34cTrU8b-0VDffODAaEUVQRyH3-1maRJ9_1bJjYbVkd_CxKHxtREBfaDygQLZbSa1grlTwQYy8RD1a7/w640-h424/Screenshot%202024-03-10%20032324.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Marcus Stroman (Photo Credit: Gerald Herbert/AP)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I think Clarke Schmidt is positioning himself to be a strong back-end starter, with the potential to rise in the ranking. Reaching the third spot in the rotation may be his ceiling but those guys can help win championships. I loved Andy Pettitte as a Yankee, but he was never the ace of the staff. Yet, he was the guy you wanted on the mound in October. Schmidt can be that kind of guy. He seems to be the wild card for the Yankees’ inability to add another top starter. No doubt Clayton Beeter and Will Warren will get a chance to prove themselves, so Schmidt must continue to improve as he did last season. My expectation is he will. I like Schmidt, and I want him to succeed. If the Yankees had been successful in finding a pitcher to place behind Cole, I would have preferred to see Cortes lose his starting role over Schmidt. Cortes could be a valuable swingman out of the pen.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">If I had to rate the starting pitchers by order of my confidence, it would be 1) Gerrit Cole, 2) Marcus Stroman, 3) Clarke Schmidt, 4) Nestor Cortes, and 5) Carlos Rodón. That certainly does not mean I believe Rodón is a fifth starter, or that Stroman is a number two…it is just the confidence level I have in each to perform their expected level of play. I am not ready to say that Rodón is the latest version of Sonny Gray (in Pinstripes), Carl Pavano, Javier Vasquez, or some other random pitcher who failed miserably for the Yankees, but he is on the fast track. Rodón needs to be the pitcher he was for the San Francisco Giants two seasons ago. If he is, he will shut up the naysayers like me. If he does, the Yankees will be playing in October.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">It seems like a foregone conclusion that the catching tandem will be Austin Wells and Jose Trevino. Not sure what becomes of Ben Rortvedt, but that is the least of our concerns. Wells has shown this Spring that he can be more than a platoon partner with Trevino. I love Trevi, and I enjoy him as a Yankee, but I would love to see Wells take command of the catching position to become the undisputed starter. His offensive potential alone sets him apart, but his improvement on the defensive side cuts the gap between him and the more defensively talented Trevino. Wells and Trevino might be the most confident I have felt about the catching position since the days of Jorge Posada and Joe Girardi.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I hate to give kudos to an AL East Rival, but the Toronto Blue Jays did a wonderful job with signing former Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto to a minor league deal. On one hand, it is sad that Votto will not be a Red for the entirety of his career, but on the other hand, he is a player with something to prove. If the Reds thought he had nothing left in the tank, the Blue Jays could be the beneficiary if he does. I would have liked Votto on the Yankees in a backup role, but the way the team is constructed, he is not a fit for the roster. Giancarlo Stanton clogs the DH role for the Yankees (which is why I would be willing to move Big G if I could). I will pull for Votto to succeed so long as it does not come at the cost of a Yankees loss. I am not a huge fan of Toronto players, and my admiration for Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly is on ice until he leaves the Blue Jays, yet Votto is a player I can pull for. Of course, his first home run against the Yankees may change my perspective.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I am starting to buy into the Henry Lalane hype train. The 19-year-old 6’7” lefty looks like he was born to be a Yankee (beyond the fact that he was born in the Bronx). I hope he does become the pitcher many are expecting him to be.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PsnEc6xmOwlbqDC5zm2gmIaBoZqsOgBSZLH9_VtUFKeBHBuTVaKaA4d-BJBIt5Dm9q7WwVoXFz0kRK6eAu0pgFTrqFA7XHiAj8MnrifxYKU1w5R4JQJ52TK4D2VXh55FPpZZyZqGKcV4roha6TBVoMV3QHRdbza1sMwXES5IOfNhavfZCQ8nDCGooiG6/s662/Screenshot%202024-03-10%20032710.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="368" data-original-width="662" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PsnEc6xmOwlbqDC5zm2gmIaBoZqsOgBSZLH9_VtUFKeBHBuTVaKaA4d-BJBIt5Dm9q7WwVoXFz0kRK6eAu0pgFTrqFA7XHiAj8MnrifxYKU1w5R4JQJ52TK4D2VXh55FPpZZyZqGKcV4roha6TBVoMV3QHRdbza1sMwXES5IOfNhavfZCQ8nDCGooiG6/w640-h356/Screenshot%202024-03-10%20032710.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Henry Lalane</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I do not follow the minor leagues closely, but even as casual observers, we (fans of baseball’s greatest franchise) become aware of the major talents in the farm system as they progress through the ranks. Lalane will have the eyes of the Yankees Universe watching him. Hopefully, he does not wilt under the pressure. There is an extensive list of prospects who were highly (overly?) hyped, yet never fulfilled the promise. I know part of it is organizational strategy…<i>boost the perceived value of your prospects</i>, but part is real, and that is the case with Lalane.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I just hope he does not become trade fodder for one of those Joey Gallo-type deals.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">As always, Go Yankees!</p>Scott Fiedlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05598662581036778337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2676591017018865408.post-50014680857729970892024-03-02T22:03:00.002-05:002024-03-02T22:03:26.504-05:00End the Snell-to-the-Yanks Talk...<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINw6IhWdwhO0TyKQiKXWsbXVl4apn20-clfKffr56tv6ESwZGqzf9jf68iSbGKa4yubj0p7dawaexetidS7FDABK4ql2E-74NkwtflA9H5f1VXL6h0K50Dv8lMNAzzY_zsR5F-ORq4VQLJUT3_Oms6els2tLVw90oj-tUaKCVJrLF-6qB2N-u85bYaH_U/s608/Screenshot%202024-03-02%20183359.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="608" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINw6IhWdwhO0TyKQiKXWsbXVl4apn20-clfKffr56tv6ESwZGqzf9jf68iSbGKa4yubj0p7dawaexetidS7FDABK4ql2E-74NkwtflA9H5f1VXL6h0K50Dv8lMNAzzY_zsR5F-ORq4VQLJUT3_Oms6els2tLVw90oj-tUaKCVJrLF-6qB2N-u85bYaH_U/w640-h482/Screenshot%202024-03-02%20183359.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Blake Snell (Photo Credit: Mark J Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><h2><b style="text-align: justify;">Yanks-Snell talk---Much ado about nuthin’…</b></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I am ready for the Blake Snell rumors to die. He will not be a Yankee.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Yankees have not indicated they are willing to spend what it would take to sign Snell, even on a short-term deal with a high AAV. Three-year contracts, with annual opt-outs, appear to be the rage this late into free agency, yet Snell, even on a short-term deal, seems beyond the Yankees’ appetite with the associated 110% luxury penalties on any additional payroll this season. The Yankees could trade money to add money, but dealing away a player like second baseman Gleyber Torres does not make sense when he is one of the best hitters on the team, regardless of Oswald Peraza’s readiness. If the Yankees could find a way to offload Giancarlo Stanton and his contract, sign me up. While it is great Stanton showed up to Spring Training looking much slimmer (showing his commitment to recapturing past success), I would move Stanton in a New York minute if I could. It would open the designated hitter slot for player rotation, and there is value in getting fourth outfielder Trent Grisham’s glove into games. But I doubt the Yankees can move Stanton and certainly not without paying much of the freight cost. The bottom line, the Yankees are done spending money for now.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">With so much talk this offseason about adding another starting pitcher, I am ready to go into the regular season with the pitchers currently in-house (as if we have any other choice). It makes more sense to me to spend the money to add a reliable arm to the rotation than to deal away top prospects, but it is not my money, and the Yankees know their prospects better than we do. Clayton Beeter and Will Warren are emerging as the rotation depth, and everyone must start a big-league career at some point. I prefer a proven, veteran arm, but given the Yankees’ apparent unwillingness to pay the cost, the future rests with the top pitching prospects. I like Nestor Cortes; however, his best use may be as the long man in the pen. If his injury struggles continue this season, moving Cortes to the bullpen is something the Yankees need to consider.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">It seems odd that the Yankees are most frequently mentioned with Snell, with much less talk of other teams. The San Francisco Giants, despite signing free-agent third baseman Matt Chapman last night, appear to be the best fit. They have room in payroll and need to continue adding quality players for new manager Bob Melvin in the highly competitive National League West. Snell’s best chance to join the Yankees was before they signed Marcus Stroman. We may never know the inner details of negotiations, at least not until someone authors a book about it. It does seem like Agent Extraordinaire Scott Boras overplayed his hand and did his client a disservice. Snell is not a $300 million pitcher, and at the end of the day, he could be calling the Los Angeles Angels home with Octobers free to pursue other interests when he could have been thick in the highly competitive American League East again with the greedy Pinstripes (pun intended). The Baltimore Orioles should sign Snell to use in tandem with Corbin Burnes. They have the money and the room in their payroll to do it. I guess it would be <i>un</i>poetic justice if Snell ended the Yankees’ 2024 season in the playoffs wearing Birdland gear.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I have felt all off-season that Jordan Montgomery would be the best solution to provide stability and consistency for the rotation. Yet, unlike Snell, his name is never mentioned with the Yankees despite their history together. Either they or Montgomery (or both) have chosen to move on. Monty’s trade to St Louis for centerfielder Harrison Bader will never make sense to me. Bader had a few fine postseason games in his first year, but he has been largely forgettable as a Yankee. A good guy, fun to have the native-born New Yorker from Bronxville on the roster, and a brilliant defender when healthy, but Monty’s continued presence in the rotation would have given the Yankees more than Bader’s limited contribution. My best memory of Bader as a Yankee was seeing a pic of him with Nestor Cortes at a Knicks game.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmN1pCG2whYpb2ApkVXq55MTRw6yJOgLojqF-YrMVFwa0NqcA6XLFvBdGxy-HMuAjRehGcbE_aWScX8Y5tVD8SBXNY0aQo0sj4BrZAjiTTv5kuLgJQTqwRCJVpEYHx-kLTV3dNmditFUyREwagZ32Rahyphenhyphenw9SivWcc_jREws9-T-c09ecTJ_XDb2YvVy9c5/s584/Screenshot%202024-03-02%20183842.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="469" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmN1pCG2whYpb2ApkVXq55MTRw6yJOgLojqF-YrMVFwa0NqcA6XLFvBdGxy-HMuAjRehGcbE_aWScX8Y5tVD8SBXNY0aQo0sj4BrZAjiTTv5kuLgJQTqwRCJVpEYHx-kLTV3dNmditFUyREwagZ32Rahyphenhyphenw9SivWcc_jREws9-T-c09ecTJ_XDb2YvVy9c5/w514-h640/Screenshot%202024-03-02%20183842.png" width="514" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Harrison Bader and Nestor Cortes, Jr.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Montgomery seems destined for the Boston Red Sox. If the Texas Rangers do not have the additional money it would take to bring Montgomery back to their championship roster, Boston has the clear advantage. His wife is working in Boston, and it gives him personal motivation to make the city his permanent home. I always hate when former Yankees take up residence in Beantown even though I love the city of Boston. It is the stain of the Red Sox uniform that bothers me. I was glad when James Paxton signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency for no other reason than he was no longer a Red Sock, just like I was when Nathan Eovaldi left the Sox. I love David Cone and I always enjoy his presence on YES Network game broadcasts, but it still bugs me that he wore a Red Sox cap after his tenure with the Yankees. Not that I feel the Yankees should sign Montgomery solely to keep him out of Boston, but it would be a nice side benefit. The Yankees know Montgomery well, and he has proven he can win in New York. His time away from the Yankees has only made him better, yet there is something that puts the Yankees off. Maybe it is just the cost…whatever. I am sorry it did not work out for Monty in Pinstripes.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Regardless of what the Yankees ultimately decide to do to bolster the starting pitching staff, neither Snell nor Montgomery will be the names called. Time to move on and be grateful for the guys currently on the roster. The potential of the lineup is better than last year’s 82-80 team. Time will tell if it is better than AL East opponents, and specifically, the Baltimore Orioles, but a half-month into Spring Training is generating much fan excitement about the team, unlike anything we have seen in the past couple of years.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">It would be foolish to say World Series or bust, but the Yankees have a team, as currently structured, that can position itself to play in October. Once the team is in the playoffs, anything can happen. Nobody expected the Texas Rangers to win the World Series last year. The champion is the last team soaked in champagne, not the best collection of player names on a roster.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Los Angeles Dodgers may have had the best offseason of any team in Major League Baseball, but they should probably play the games on the field before collecting their championship pay. I have a feeling some team is going to disappoint Dodger fans (like they do every year).</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I hope it is the Yankees in 2024.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>The Revolving Waiver Door...</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">It is tough to keep up with the Yankees’ waiver claims since the end of last season. I thought the Yankees' claim of former Toronto Blue Jays top prospect Jordan Groshans was a nice move. Granted, Groshans has not fulfilled his potential and he has now gone through several organizations without success, but I was optimistic the Yankees saw something in the player they felt they could help unlock. Groshans’s stay on the 40-man roster lasted fifteen days. He was designated for assignment this week when the Yankees claimed outfielder Jahmai Jones off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers. There is a chance Groshans will stay in the organization if he goes unclaimed, but he did not have much chance to show anything…assuming he had anything, of course.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpE2aefy-BZkvbEetVdvQW7-GOGkhwXCIfCFTC1p1DN2C9xgAEIzBRvtm589z0HOT2McBwwJM_WyQJFTEtR-ZHfIRNrJsUYknLfT8P-6TmRomZ_hdzjaLDrEgg8wNtEBtB_51loAcub5DJ1k0zOpkqjkk2zI6MukmR2E5eqHZ-gzMWvC9lzOCRrwwb8opT/s707/Screenshot%202024-03-02%20184237.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="707" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpE2aefy-BZkvbEetVdvQW7-GOGkhwXCIfCFTC1p1DN2C9xgAEIzBRvtm589z0HOT2McBwwJM_WyQJFTEtR-ZHfIRNrJsUYknLfT8P-6TmRomZ_hdzjaLDrEgg8wNtEBtB_51loAcub5DJ1k0zOpkqjkk2zI6MukmR2E5eqHZ-gzMWvC9lzOCRrwwb8opT/w640-h358/Screenshot%202024-03-02%20184237.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Jordan Groshans (Photo Credit: Megan Briggs/Getty Images)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I am not entirely sold on DJ LeMahieu as the team’s everyday third baseman. Not that I thought Groshans could suddenly blossom into a reliable and productive Major League baseball player, but for as strong as the organization is with shortstop/second baseman prospect types, third base is not as deep. I had thought former Yankees prospect Trey Sweeney would be the eventual third baseman even if he had been drafted as a shortstop. Sweeney was dealt to the Dodgers in the offseason for second baseman Jorbit Vivas, so he is no longer in the conversation.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Yankees lost another third base prospect this offseason when Andres Chapparo left the organization through minor league free agency to sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks. I was a little surprised the Yankees never gave Chapparo any look at the Major League level late last year. I thought he had earned at least a little taste for a team that was not going anywhere last September. Yet, he was ignored and allowed to leave. There is no Roderick Arias or George Lombard, Jr developing at third base like there is at shortstop. The future at third base, as it stands today, will come from outside the organization if Oswald Peraza is not the future.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">To clarify, my reservations about LeMahieu do not relate to his ability. He is a great defensive player with a productive bat. The concern is health. LeMahieu has missed time the last couple of seasons, and there have been times when nagging injuries have affected on-the-field play. After playing 150 games in 2021, his totals dropped to 125 and 136 games in the most recent two seasons. LeMahieu will be 36 years old in July. He is no longer a Spring Chicken. I doubt he will reach 136 games this season. He has entered the stage of his career where his highest and best use is playing with moderation.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The hope is Oswald Peraza can be the designated fill-in at third base for LeMahieu. Given how much the Yankees have tried to find infield depth this offseason makes me wonder how committed they are to Peraza. It was surprising to hear utility player Kiké Hernandez say his choices were down to the Yankees and the Dodgers before he ultimately signed a contract to return to LA. Peraza has nothing left to prove in Triple-A so I wonder what Peraza’s fate would have been if Hernandez had signed with the Yankees. Although Hernandez can play the outfield, the Yankees have Trent Grisham as the key outfield reserve off the bench, so clearly Hernandez was viewed for his infield versatility. Either Peraza is going to succeed at the Major League level, or he is not, but he deserves a chance. With no clear third basemen behind LeMahieu, Peraza must be the guy ready to stand in.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">As for Jahmai Jones, I guess we will save the ‘Welcome to the Yankees family’ since there is no guarantee he will be around in a couple of weeks. When a better player comes knocking at the 40-man roster, Jones will lose his seat at the table like the waiver claims before him.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YPOIJ6LasdBJRSoGwjos6YlyA2Wp34O_Lmu0wibaJXfppyxOpW4jkTTqVTEgxSKssCIdIG0f-iEzvADrVIgDOyzvWaOiVI8Sq4Smsx4v4Z9ZFzNn8b6uXkbylCMmCGR7uGNQyFFXqsXMgTvthybaduWRzJWShmos55g7Y9whx-1Of-kko-DOdQIG104y/s813/Screenshot%202024-03-02%20184729.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="813" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YPOIJ6LasdBJRSoGwjos6YlyA2Wp34O_Lmu0wibaJXfppyxOpW4jkTTqVTEgxSKssCIdIG0f-iEzvADrVIgDOyzvWaOiVI8Sq4Smsx4v4Z9ZFzNn8b6uXkbylCMmCGR7uGNQyFFXqsXMgTvthybaduWRzJWShmos55g7Y9whx-1Of-kko-DOdQIG104y/w640-h352/Screenshot%202024-03-02%20184729.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Jahmai Jones (Photo Credit: AP)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>Last word…</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I liked Marcus Stroman’s performance against the Baltimore Orioles today. Yankees insider Bryan Hoch tweeted today that Stroman told him he would be starting the Yankee Stadium home opener on April 5 against his old team, the Toronto Blue Jays. I am pleased that Stroman’s assimilation to the Yankees has gone so smoothly. I was wrong when I once said that I did not want Stroman on the Yankees. I am glad he is here.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_93Y8sIktOPT7SHOR8hPQIcoOKD4DT137mkiOFcSk2SFA7OGJWygEprmZuwn_rNeVllXc8_V26x4881Qzo1fHGdcwNsy9bTa98CIoQHGot0XthBUeBp9uUz4Lnjyk1QOj8aSTsgaOdyJkthFq9Izk1mJXxVKbQQ4kjsKfRrsgjQncPCNCKQjV53jVNzMh/s589/Screenshot%202024-03-02%20184911.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="589" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_93Y8sIktOPT7SHOR8hPQIcoOKD4DT137mkiOFcSk2SFA7OGJWygEprmZuwn_rNeVllXc8_V26x4881Qzo1fHGdcwNsy9bTa98CIoQHGot0XthBUeBp9uUz4Lnjyk1QOj8aSTsgaOdyJkthFq9Izk1mJXxVKbQQ4kjsKfRrsgjQncPCNCKQjV53jVNzMh/w640-h460/Screenshot%202024-03-02%20184911.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Marcus Stroman (Photo Credit: AP)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">As always, Go Yankees!</p>Scott Fiedlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05598662581036778337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2676591017018865408.post-32006482282441594852024-02-17T06:58:00.004-05:002024-02-17T06:58:31.764-05:00Hell-Bent for a Championship...<p> </p><p><b style="text-align: justify;"></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonVLkNhIgLHVmSSKN0zzfu-eczdWLkb6dqdyEnV8LSRYq0NHQzcVOh3IqJU3WXGJNgVBbRb_8JXOLxXukf6zTvc_eNgNW2ovX_djTZexZ1ANniEzGA6WfWCqp0qOl7lPaH33kZtS_AH5_MvSHSVAeoFrNq4-V2B6vPZ4O8bEN7CeLOsJfApWIOLCaefQ0/s941/Screenshot%202024-02-17%20034345.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="941" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonVLkNhIgLHVmSSKN0zzfu-eczdWLkb6dqdyEnV8LSRYq0NHQzcVOh3IqJU3WXGJNgVBbRb_8JXOLxXukf6zTvc_eNgNW2ovX_djTZexZ1ANniEzGA6WfWCqp0qOl7lPaH33kZtS_AH5_MvSHSVAeoFrNq4-V2B6vPZ4O8bEN7CeLOsJfApWIOLCaefQ0/w640-h424/Screenshot%202024-02-17%20034345.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Yankees Manager Aaron Boone (Photo Credit: Reid Hoffman/AP)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><h2><b style="text-align: justify;">Wishful Thinking by Yankees Manager…</b></h2><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I desperately want to experience another Yankees World Series Championship in the not-so-distant future (like any true Yankees fan), but I had to chuckle when Aaron Boone remarked<i> “We’re hell-bent on being a champion. We understand very well that last year was not anything anyone in this organization wants, demands, or expects.” </i>Granted, I believe that acquiring outfielder Juan Soto was a HUGE move in the offseason, but I remain skeptical they have done enough to shorten the gap between them and the game’s best teams. ‘Hell-bent’ would be acquiring a strong number two starting pitcher to pair with ace Gerrit Cole. Marcus Stroman is nice, but if he is the definition of ‘hell-bent,’ then the Yankees <i>clearly</i> love taking Octobers off. Stroman will be a good pitcher for the Yankees, but whether he will be the difference-maker come playoff time remains to be seen if the Yankees make it that far.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Lately, it seems every post I write revolves around the Yankees' inability to pull out all the stops to bring championship baseball back to the Bronx. T. It is the product, or the hazard, of not winning since 2009. For as many World Series championships as we have experienced in our lifetimes (some more than others), there are fourteen-year-old Yankee fans who have never experienced a Pinstriped championship. I would be quite surprised if any fifteen- or sixteen-year-olds had a recollection of the 2009 World Series Champions. It saddens me that they live in a world where the Boston Red Sox have won championships and the Yankees have not.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I will let it go. I am happy and excited that baseball is back. It is quite enjoyable to see the players return to George Steinbrenner Field this week, participating in group training activities and giving on-camera interviews. I am looking forward to the first Spring game which is a week away.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">It is impressive to see position players who have arrived early with the pitchers and catchers although I am still trying to get used to Alex Verdugo with no facial hair or the fact that he is even a Yankee. That should change once he takes the field in Pinstripes and when he delivers his first home run or game-winning hit. Regardless of who I wanted for the outfield when the offseason started, Verdugo is an upgrade over the players who patrolled left field last season. Like Juan Soto, I am not convinced Verdugo’s stay will be long. Verdugo will be a free agent after the season and if there are any missteps by Verdugo during the season, it seems like he will be allowed to walk away. I was recently talking with a Red Sox fan who seemed relieved that Verdugo was no longer with the Sox not because of on-the-field play but rather the challenges he represented in the clubhouse and the stormy relationship with Red Sox manager Alex Cora.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVbJsEmBE2PJXsE_Pz3tyeVSHutU5Awa7oOjwwxII8twL0nPDg6lwO70v0E_VMsQ_uMQGcAzQ_8osaHSPhzmqhLpZdhB-V8hJFeDCFboyOJrlj4imPF23irvDBeB_yiCHrJZ4NhUnyGFgOmmVFxTzcEVs_P5cQx5Akih3fTimPg3QSW_FSf3J6rFeQjQ5/s748/Screenshot%202024-02-17%20034547.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="748" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVbJsEmBE2PJXsE_Pz3tyeVSHutU5Awa7oOjwwxII8twL0nPDg6lwO70v0E_VMsQ_uMQGcAzQ_8osaHSPhzmqhLpZdhB-V8hJFeDCFboyOJrlj4imPF23irvDBeB_yiCHrJZ4NhUnyGFgOmmVFxTzcEVs_P5cQx5Akih3fTimPg3QSW_FSf3J6rFeQjQ5/w640-h494/Screenshot%202024-02-17%20034547.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Alex Verdugo (Photo Credit: New York Post)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Despite my concerns, Verdugo deserves a second chance. The problems in Boston do not automatically mean there will be problems in New York. There is a greater <i>potential</i> for problems than with your average player, but I am convinced that Verdugo learned from the Boston experience, and he will be a better man for it or at least I hope that is the case. Incredibly, the Yankees could lose two-thirds of their current outfield to free agency after the season even if Jasson Dominguez will be 100% healthy entering next season (hopefully). Man, I want to fully embrace both Soto and Verdugo, but the potential ‘one-and-done’ aspect holds me back a little. I guess a World Series championship would cure any hesitation.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I am cautiously optimistic about Carlos Rodón who reported to camp with no moustache and is throwing much harder than he did this time last year. He seems focused on proving who he is and showing us that last year was simply a bad aberration. Given the failure to sign Yoshinobu Yamamoto, pursue a top free-agent pitching target, or trade for an upper-end starter, the Yankees need Rodón to be the pitcher they thought he was, the guy who dominated in San Francisco. As a fan, I want to have the same elevated level of confidence when Rodón takes the ball as I do when Gerrit Cole is on the mound. Rodón is not Cole, but he can shove if he pitches like we think he can and he knows he can. If Nestor Cortes suffers any setbacks, the Yankees need all they can get from the front-end starters. So, as it stands, Rodón is the key to the rotation. Cole will be dominant, Stroman will be consistent, and Schmidt will continue to blossom. Rodón can make this a great starting rotation rather than a good one.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I keep hoping the Yankees sign one of the top free agents, Jordan Montgomery, or Blake Snell, but I recognize it is a pipe dream. The Yankees will not add that amount of money to the already high payroll. I am a little surprised they remain on the market, but the cost remains high. Not trying to prospect-hug, but I would rather see the Yankees spend money to upgrade the rotation over parting with elite prospects to bring in a strong young controllable starter. I know the latter option represents the best financial decision for the organization, but spending the money keeps elite young talent in-house better. With no further additions, it seems inevitable that Luke Weaver will be thrust into the starting rotation at some point. If not Weaver, then Clayton Beeter or Cody Poteet.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">There are lesser free agents available, such as Hyun-Jin Ryu and Mike Clevinger. Neither of those names excites me even if we are starting to hear Ryu’s name more closely linked to the Yankees. I have liked Ryu over the years, but good health has never been his friend. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2022 and did not return until last August. He turns thirty-seven before Opening Day, and the thought of an older pitcher with an inability to stay healthy (the health concerns date back to his days with the Los Angeles Dodgers) seems like a poor investment choice regardless of how good he is. Mike Clevinger is not the pitcher he once was for the Cleveland Guardians. He is three months younger than Gerrit Cole, but Clevinger gets a ‘meh’ from me. I barely remembered that he pitched for the Chicago White Sox last year after a couple of years in San Diego. He was 9-9 with a 3.77 ERA for the White Sox, making twenty-four starts. I want to see better upside from any pitching additions if there are any.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">With so many questions remaining, ‘hell-bent’ is not exactly the right word for the Yankees. I think the Los Angeles Dodgers have purchased the rights to ‘hell-bent’ although they probably deferred the dollars for the purchase. Juan Soto, with the limited other upgrades, seems like a Hail Mary Pass with the hope that all other Yankees can play to the back of their baseball cards.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I remain hopeful the Yankees can prove me wrong.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>This Week’s Transactions<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The Yankees have certainly been quite busy this offseason with waiver claims. I cannot remember the last time they were this active. On a side note, I saw that the Baltimore Orioles claimed brief off-season Yankee Diego Castillo on waivers. After he was designated for assignment by the Yankees, the Philadelphia Phillies claimed him. However, his stay in the City of Brotherly Love was brief and he hit the waiver wire again this week. I hope for his sake he has better luck in Baltimore. He has certainly landed with a good young team.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Earlier this week, the Yankees claimed infielder Jordan Groshans off waivers from the Miami Marlins. Recognizing that Groshans has failed to fulfill his potential as the twelfth player taken in the 2018 MLB Draft (by the Toronto Blue Jays), there is always cautious optimism that the Yankees see something they feel they can fix. I am not optimistic, but there is hope. At worst, he is depth for Triple-A. At best, he is the latest iteration of Gio Urshela who found new life as a Yankee. Groshans is only twenty-four, so he still has some time on his side.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MUtstw3fHW0I4thkLD7lJpKXO5sXX2pDN3yiAbsCLgAzewE_V3C48HcLNHWtwxXiH3bRrg7-BE4-9dATJZdHdUClEll2nsqS0ey_vbpNlsmhUGnVrgDRUz0BSsr69ALWBJo_qGuq329kenji8DVqKGs7OUc8p5Zql04_AY29yc2A53urAkgbDR9KiGPq/s461/Screenshot%202024-02-17%20034815.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="461" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MUtstw3fHW0I4thkLD7lJpKXO5sXX2pDN3yiAbsCLgAzewE_V3C48HcLNHWtwxXiH3bRrg7-BE4-9dATJZdHdUClEll2nsqS0ey_vbpNlsmhUGnVrgDRUz0BSsr69ALWBJo_qGuq329kenji8DVqKGs7OUc8p5Zql04_AY29yc2A53urAkgbDR9KiGPq/w640-h420/Screenshot%202024-02-17%20034815.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Jordan Groshans</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I am worried about DJ LeMahieu’s ability to stay healthy, which is magnified since he has been designated as the team’s starting third baseman, after the nagging injuries he has had for the last couple of seasons. Groshans can play third base so <u>if</u> he defies the odds to become Brian Cashman’s latest ‘lightning in a bottle’ acquisition, he offers some insurance although you would expect Oswald Peraza to be the first call for help at third base. If Groshans is starting third base for the big-league club, you know that either he blossomed beyond expectations or things have gone horribly wrong—nothing in between.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The cost for Groshans was a roster spot for LHP Matt Krook who finally lost his seat at the table when he was designated for assignment. I am surprised Krook made it this long. It must be a bummer to be within days of reporting to Spring Training, only to get a call to tell you to postpone your travel plans.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Seeking more pieces for bullpen consideration, the Yankees swapped a lower-level pitching prospect (RHP Joshua Quezada) for Milwaukee Brewers reliever LHP Clayton Andrews. Andrews, 27, only made four MLB appearances for the Brewers last season, spending most of the season in the minors. Like Groshans, maybe the Yankees see something that can be corrected. Looking at Andrews, there is one thing that stands out to me. He is Jose Altuve-small (5’6”). I get this image of him standing next to Aaron Judge and his head barely reaching the Captain’s waist. If he can get outs, I guess it does not matter how tall (or in this case, short) he is but he is certainly not going to have an imposing presence on the mound. Heck, that would be like me standing on the mound.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The Yankees also re-signed reliever RHP Lou Trivino who continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery. He should be ready to join the team later this summer. Once Trivino was firmly secured on the 40-man roster, the Yankees claimed reliever RHP McKinley Moore on waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies. In the corresponding move, Trivino was moved to the 60-day Injured List to open the spot for Mount McKinley (6’6”, 225 lbs.). Now <b><i>that </i></b>is the size of the relievers I want to see on the mound! <b><i>Booyah!</i></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">As always, Go Yankees!</p>Scott Fiedlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05598662581036778337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2676591017018865408.post-4345756923214596692024-02-12T06:33:00.002-05:002024-02-12T06:33:15.547-05:00Yankees Pitchers & Catchers, You're Up! ...<p> <span style="text-align: justify;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFQrZn-K9uBOOdNBiTvWazSIrm1smsR5FiVKD8FHToPNdjptn1jCHqMZr5I8LqF0blWXtGT1jZvsFUDDMilowb_ys63SYZqI3dknZxN-1Z82aLZ1ifikB1vEUdmGjqFZdSGVKkUGJ7yM4VjLxg6-dE4sATETqpovzyd63ORVzbNmgTExAZXGkAZ8M4-nN/s556/Screenshot%202024-02-12%20030927.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="556" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFQrZn-K9uBOOdNBiTvWazSIrm1smsR5FiVKD8FHToPNdjptn1jCHqMZr5I8LqF0blWXtGT1jZvsFUDDMilowb_ys63SYZqI3dknZxN-1Z82aLZ1ifikB1vEUdmGjqFZdSGVKkUGJ7yM4VjLxg6-dE4sATETqpovzyd63ORVzbNmgTExAZXGkAZ8M4-nN/w640-h408/Screenshot%202024-02-12%20030927.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, Florida</span></td></tr></tbody></table><h2><b style="text-align: justify;">Steinbrenner Field is ready for the start of Spring Training…</b></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The NFL season has ended. Time for the return of America’s Favorite Pastime.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">After a few months of no baseball and a nice <i>but not-as-great-as-it-could-have-been</i> offseason for the New York Yankees, pitchers and catchers report on Wednesday, February 15. The forecast for Tampa, Florida on Thursday, February 16, for the first workout, will be a high of 78 with partly cloudy skies. In other words, fantastic weather for baseball. The first full-squad workout will be on Tuesday, February 20.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">There are reports the Yankees could still acquire the additional starting pitching they have been seeking during Spring Training. I guess the Dylan Cease rumors will be never-ending until the Chicago White Sox finally pull the trigger, if/when that ever happens. If the Yankees have resisted Chicago's efforts to include outfielder Spencer Jones in a potential trade, I cannot fault the Yankees. I know prospects are suspects until proven otherwise and ‘flags fly forever.’ However, the Yankees have traded away multiple prospects in recent years. For the most part, they have not been hurt by any of the trades. Yet, it is a depletion of the farm system. The best way to combat high payroll is through young, cost-controlled players who can play better than the league average on the field. In other words, you need to maintain a good mix of young and veteran players to keep the salary level from skyrocketing.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTl2aJfuspy46VGDjNSDH3WzQzjXivPlF0k8O2JDYU68LpmsoJU1VC5rHjEuACr3jokogBKH_spYjoLXOFt8HT3qD64KV8nBdv2cZ3aECGwQoU4l1nbKdbAm-FHej-k6iRVfxzqxIHifWLwAL4eh40oOi5GEyYCEq_1QZrafvljMhSM8Av8-GNgKP7L2po/s498/Screenshot%202024-02-12%20031156.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="498" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTl2aJfuspy46VGDjNSDH3WzQzjXivPlF0k8O2JDYU68LpmsoJU1VC5rHjEuACr3jokogBKH_spYjoLXOFt8HT3qD64KV8nBdv2cZ3aECGwQoU4l1nbKdbAm-FHej-k6iRVfxzqxIHifWLwAL4eh40oOi5GEyYCEq_1QZrafvljMhSM8Av8-GNgKP7L2po/w640-h358/Screenshot%202024-02-12%20031156.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Spencer Jones (Photo Credit: New York Yankees)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I get the Yankees have gotten smarter and their system is one of the higher-ranked systems in MLB. I did not want to see pitching prospect Drew Thorpe traded, but it was the necessary cost to acquire Juan Soto. I would have loved it if the Yankees had acquired Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes before the Baltimore Orioles did, but I cannot say that including Jones in a potential trade would have been worth it even if Thorpe for Soto was. As it stands, the Yankees lost Thorpe and others for a potential one-year rental of Soto. Losing other top-ranked prospects for Burnes, who, like Soto, can also walk after the season, is too much unless the Yankees genuinely believed that he was the difference-maker for winning the World Series. The Yankees are not the odds-on favorite to win it all, and Burnes would not have cinched it for them. Sure, the Yankees can win the World Series this year, but they are not the prohibitive favorites and Burnes would not have changed it.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I know the Yankees have held onto certain prospects too long (past their peak values), yet I support the Yankees if they believe Jones can be a special player. I have seen some people say that Jones will never be as good as Aaron Judge. Funny because people once said that Judge would never be as good as Mike Trout. Jones does not have to be Judge to be a valuable player for the Yankees. The Yankees know their players better than we do. I will give them the benefit of the doubt for players they believe they should hold versus those they are willing to package in the right deals. So, I am certainly not going to try and crucify them for losing out on Burnes because of an unwillingness to part with Jones. Again, I would have loved to see the Yankees acquire Burnes, but it needed to be at the right price that made the most long-term sense for the organization.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">If the Yankees end up with Cease, I know that he is not on the same level as Burnes. As such, the cost should not be as high as the package the Orioles put together for Burnes. It should not cost the absolute best prospects in the organization, a group headed by Jones and Jasson Dominguez.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Maybe the Yankees will do nothing, and head into the season with a starting rotation consisting of Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Marcus Stroman, Nestor Cortes, Jr, and Clarke Schmidt. It is not like the Yankees are trying to do patchwork with unproven starters. All five guys have proven they can win Major League games. Health concerns aside, it is a formidable group. No doubt we will see starting performances by Cody Poteet, Clayton Beeter, Luis Gil, and others. The question becomes whether this group can get the Yankees to the trade deadline when a potential deal for another starting pitcher brings the needed reinforcement. Barring a Spring Training trade (or signing), this seems to be the current path.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">For most of the winter, I had some hope the Yankees would turn to Jordan Montgomery as a potential rotation solution. You keep hearing that he wants to return to Texas, but with the calendar having turned to February and Montgomery still accepting offers, there is always a chance. The Yankees must have decided it was not an option for them as they finally gave away Montgomery’s number 47. If they harbored any hopes of signing Montgomery, they would have withheld the number. According to the Yankees’ website, the number has been assigned to one of the relievers acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Victor González. Thanks for the memories, Monty…the Yankees should have never traded you.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUyVuTKy9x0yHK9TbZsJLh3QnflQNTasrIi8cHyqxabuckOc0N9lSeRGQ9jdqbJyg32GrWoBHW1a3HHpPMRFcvFgOr9FwPwaYmmi9GCKNNy-bsAGj4eP5b9m-kkohf3X67fIoBb0VXrRYy5TDf0599kg-AzIHRmojJgh4tnkJVhqlNXEwsXU6L3ffGGet/s911/Screenshot%202024-02-12%20031459.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="911" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUyVuTKy9x0yHK9TbZsJLh3QnflQNTasrIi8cHyqxabuckOc0N9lSeRGQ9jdqbJyg32GrWoBHW1a3HHpPMRFcvFgOr9FwPwaYmmi9GCKNNy-bsAGj4eP5b9m-kkohf3X67fIoBb0VXrRYy5TDf0599kg-AzIHRmojJgh4tnkJVhqlNXEwsXU6L3ffGGet/w640-h356/Screenshot%202024-02-12%20031459.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Jordan Montgomery</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Speaking of numbers, I was surprised the Yankees gave a low jersey number (29) to non-roster catcher Luis Torrens. If the Yankees trade Ben Rortvedt, Torrens stands a good chance to be the emergency catcher in Triple-A (assuming Austin Wells joins Jose Trevino on the Major League roster as expected). I have low expectations that Torrens will make the Yankees; however, I am pulling for him.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Looking forward to the first sights of Spring Training. The pictures of players working out in Tampa were enjoyable, but it is not the same as organized team activities. The first surreal moment will be when Juan Soto arrives. The other new guys will seem like afterthoughts. Sorry Stro & Dugie, New York loves its stars.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Welcome back, Yankees!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>Exhibition Games in Mexico</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">It was exciting to see the addition of two exhibition games in Mexico City on March 24 and 25.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Yankees will play the Diablos Rojos del México at Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium. They will be split-squad games since the Yankees will also be in Bradenton, FL to play the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 24 and at Steinbrenner Field on March 25 against the New York Mets.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnZ8eq2qDUbcseNMX_dtRp04EAnsxb_ie3SgaswOvrR-vvY67sdrJ5mDzapcfcPuZZul7xqHg0RmBfQSQv_SaYiQDj1vqitJKPx5CkZV4JjDmCHGP691yQgHTwZ7fmCoptFNE1aMCdYuSK__Y0MPZW0zsRbQBRBCfBA3U88CiAwEZ-DVX4JCSO_Qt-UhC/s773/Screenshot%202024-02-12%20031657.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="773" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnZ8eq2qDUbcseNMX_dtRp04EAnsxb_ie3SgaswOvrR-vvY67sdrJ5mDzapcfcPuZZul7xqHg0RmBfQSQv_SaYiQDj1vqitJKPx5CkZV4JjDmCHGP691yQgHTwZ7fmCoptFNE1aMCdYuSK__Y0MPZW0zsRbQBRBCfBA3U88CiAwEZ-DVX4JCSO_Qt-UhC/w640-h476/Screenshot%202024-02-12%20031657.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">It will be interesting to see which players are chosen to make the trip to Mexico City. I am hopeful that Jose Trevino makes the trip for no other reason than how excited he is about it. Spring Training usually becomes a grind by late March so the infusion of excitement for the Mexico City games will be a bonus in advance of Opening Day.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Yankees last played in Mexico City in 1968 which was Mickey Mantle’s final season. A couple of the new guys, Victor González, and Alex Verdugo, have roots in Mexico like Trevino. They should certainly be on the travel squad, but I would like to see some of the regulars make the trip.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>Adding Another Dodgers Reliever</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Victor González will certainly see a few familiar faces at Steinbrenner Field this week. Alex Verdugo was a prospect in the Dodgers organization a few years ago and spent some time with the big-league club before he was traded to Boston in the Mookie Betts deal. Last week, the Yankees acquired Dodgers reliever, Caleb Ferguson, a lefty, for the left-handed reliever the Yankees had claimed on waivers from the Houston Astros, Matt Gage, and a low-level prospect, RHP Christian Zazueta.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuMNU2fl1oxtV3H9dEV4APmi6MvKhWUG6dTkZrfqUVlfQnHNww5Ox8lmN7YqxC8hZ37etHEYDQn6bT0Ox-KF3kw8Hr58TBLB7M6ErGUM_Bc9R0nXBXYPgwhLaDGX5muCYzMvvFll8rZBL0k9GUfI6fuPWUg-QeJkVTP1BpYvwF5tE_6vSu2UbsrHX9Ib2/s809/Screenshot%202024-02-12%20031906.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="809" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuMNU2fl1oxtV3H9dEV4APmi6MvKhWUG6dTkZrfqUVlfQnHNww5Ox8lmN7YqxC8hZ37etHEYDQn6bT0Ox-KF3kw8Hr58TBLB7M6ErGUM_Bc9R0nXBXYPgwhLaDGX5muCYzMvvFll8rZBL0k9GUfI6fuPWUg-QeJkVTP1BpYvwF5tE_6vSu2UbsrHX9Ib2/w640-h356/Screenshot%202024-02-12%20031906.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Caleb Ferguson (Photo Credit: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Gage may have had a chance to make the Opening Day Roster, but Ferguson is the better reliever. Not exactly Josh Hader, but the Yankees have proven an ability to put together an effective bullpen.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">How long until Manager Aaron Boone starts calling the new lefty “Fergie”?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I like both González and Ferguson, but there is part of me that wonders why the Dodgers were so willing to part ways with them. I know they needed the roster space, but still. Oh well, it does not matter how they got here, and it does not mean that the two relievers cannot become part of Boone’s trusted inner circle in the bullpen.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Welcome to the Yankees Family, Caleb!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">On an unrelated note, former Yankees reliever Lucas Luetge signed with the Boston Red Sox. Regardless of the player, I hate it when ex-Yankees join the Red Sox. At least the Yankees squeezed the best years out of Luetge. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">As always, Go Yankees!</p>Scott Fiedlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05598662581036778337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2676591017018865408.post-15986256598292372024-02-03T22:45:00.003-05:002024-02-03T22:45:28.615-05:00Did the Yankees Stop Short? ...<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidy_2avFfLxSd-qBq0zf7gne5T31A6Ycxvbfuafk65wr_3mjJze9GIH9NULqLoxWXpn3ZNhAeMlNYhsC_IhYUS-Ec9Ug3OmMB_xx79_iAnrYge2EmgSL9Bia6Jo-XpfPpQOGbX_G3O9CQVDqLuqmukIWNCi06sNdyib3XLDe-zodvNGZWtTAZXF0wO6Plr/s1146/Screenshot%202024-02-03%20192521.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="1146" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidy_2avFfLxSd-qBq0zf7gne5T31A6Ycxvbfuafk65wr_3mjJze9GIH9NULqLoxWXpn3ZNhAeMlNYhsC_IhYUS-Ec9Ug3OmMB_xx79_iAnrYge2EmgSL9Bia6Jo-XpfPpQOGbX_G3O9CQVDqLuqmukIWNCi06sNdyib3XLDe-zodvNGZWtTAZXF0wO6Plr/w640-h250/Screenshot%202024-02-03%20192521.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Juan Soto</span></td></tr></tbody></table><h2><b style="text-align: justify;">Yankees Offseason Shopping is seemingly over…</b></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Before I criticize the Yankees for not doing enough to strengthen an 82-80 team, I acknowledge and credit GM Brian Cashman for acquiring one of the greatest young talents in the game…outfielder Juan Soto. His addition to the offensive lineup is a huge boost and he will help those around him. <b><i>But</i></b>…. If Soto is a one-year rental, I am going to temper my excitement and enthusiasm. I will be excited when he has his signature moment in Pinstripes, and we will cheer for every home run. Yet, he is only here for one year until proven otherwise. There is a real possibility that we get excited about Soto, only to watch him play for the New York Mets or Los Angeles Dodgers in 2025. So, I will hold any high praise for Cashman until if/when he can sign Soto to a long-term extension.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Early in the offseason, we had dreams of getting both Juan Soto and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. We know how that story ended. After Yamamoto signed with the Dodgers, there was hope the Yankees would sign one of the top available free-agent starting pitchers, notably Jordan Montgomery or Blake Snell. Although the team allegedly made an offer to Snell, it was short of the pitcher’s expectations (or rather those of his agent, Scott Boras), and the Yankees quickly pivoted to Marcus Stroman. While I recognize Stroman is a good pitcher, going from Yamamoto to Montgomery/Snell to Stroman is a drop-off any way you slice it.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Recent social media posts had me believing the Yankees would make a run at Corbin Burnes in July at the Trade Deadline. Then, this week (and out of nowhere), the Baltimore Orioles seized Burnes from the Milwaukee Brewers without sacrificing elite prospect talent. I am not trying to minimize shortstop Joey Ortiz or pitcher DL Hall, they are good, young players, but they were not the best of the best in the Orioles farm system. If memory serves correctly, <b>The Greedy Pinstripes’</b> Daniel Burch wanted the Yankees to take Hall in the 2017 MLB Draft, when he was a top left-handed pitcher from Valdosta High School in Valdosta, GA. With the sixteenth pick of the first round in the 2017 Draft, the Yankees chose Clarke Schmidt. Hall slid to the Baltimore Orioles five picks later. At least Schmidt has not been a flame-out, but Hall, in combo with Ortiz, fetched an elite starting pitcher for the O’s. Like Soto, Burnes is a one-year rental, but I would be surprised if the Orioles do not sign him to a lucrative deal, especially if he proves to be a difference-maker for them this year. With the potential addition of new billionaire owners, the Orioles should be ready to compete with the big boys for a long time and they certainly have lots of room in the payroll for a few big contracts without breaking the bank.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Despite their unsigned status in February, I am not expecting Montgomery or Snell to fall into the Yankees’ lap. I would be highly surprised if the team signed either one given the luxury tax ramifications which would double the cost of the player’s contract. I am also not optimistic about a trade for Dylan Cease of the Chicago White Sox, but even then, he is not Corbin Burnes.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Yankees are, apparently, ready to go to war with Gerrit Cole and question marks. Carlos Rodón and Nestor Cortes, Jr must prove they can stay healthy and can be the pitchers they were in 2022. There are questions about Stroman’s health given his bout with injuries last August. He is healthy now, but of course, that is what we thought about Rodón and Cortes this time last year. I probably have the most confidence, aside from Cole, in Clarke Schmidt. Although his early season starts last year were concerning, he showed growth and improvement, and his upward progression should continue as expected.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSaP1tUTGChwMZrS59E_AcwK-K5Lc8T6sOoRNEs3a4_K_ofVqmnyjlRdZlcA_KmavnLftzAHvBK2_O349-I_EM6Z3qgPbXWbCt1HdPrvCuqXBHweCF_CmRX2lc39cKjka17o6G_uNH7RNTBd8Il35yHH0XxiJfQVz11zFPMW4TQvyE8IGJ0TshcNL23GDP/s734/Screenshot%202024-02-03%20192845.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="734" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSaP1tUTGChwMZrS59E_AcwK-K5Lc8T6sOoRNEs3a4_K_ofVqmnyjlRdZlcA_KmavnLftzAHvBK2_O349-I_EM6Z3qgPbXWbCt1HdPrvCuqXBHweCF_CmRX2lc39cKjka17o6G_uNH7RNTBd8Il35yHH0XxiJfQVz11zFPMW4TQvyE8IGJ0TshcNL23GDP/w640-h422/Screenshot%202024-02-03%20192845.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Clarke Schmidt (Photo Credit: @clarkeschmidt via Instagram)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Honestly, I wish I felt better about the starting rotation. If all the pitchers perform to their respective abilities and avoid injuries, the pitching staff will be a strength. Yet, Murphy’s Law always prevails. If anything can go wrong, it will. If the Yankees are forced to depend on starts by unproven minor-league pitchers, all of us will take our lumps. Not an effective way to play catch-up with the stacked Orioles, the always annoying Rays, and the ‘one of these years they will put it all together’ Blue Jays.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I like the feeling of confidence on days when Gerrit Cole is pitching. Win or lose, you know it will be a competitive game, and the opposing pitcher must bring his “A” game if he expects to beat the Yankees ace. I wish there were more guys on the starting staff who inspire the same or close to similar confidence for the fan base. Yamamoto would have been one of those guys, even though he has never thrown a pitch in a Major League regular season. Jordan Montgomery is not the same pitcher he was in Pinstripes. He is better. Not “ace-like” better, but still. Snell certainly falls into the ace category regardless of your feelings about how he pitches. As good as Stroman is, I was never concerned when he was the opposing pitcher with the Toronto Blue Jays. I remember when it seemed like Baltimore’s Mike Mussina was always shutting down the Yanks until he became one. Stroman does not bring that same aura…at least not for me.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">When the starting pitching door closed, it seemed like the Yankees might bolster the pen. But one by one, the available free-agent names have fallen off the board. The best reliever, Josh Hader, is now a Houston Astro. Former Yank Wandy Peralta joined Michael King, Kyle Higashioka, Jhony Brito, Randy Vasquez, and Drew Thorpe in San Diego. I thought the Yankees would re-sign Keynan Middleton, but he went to the St Louis Cardinals. Phil Maton is close to signing with the Tampa Bay Rays. Not much left. It appears the Yankees will look in-house to help round out the pen, barring any last-minute signings or trades. I do not blame the Yankees for passing on Wandy. He was a good Yankee, but the Yankees got the best years of his career. Let the Padres tie up the years and dollars for the declining asset.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">While Spring Training is still several weeks away and the Yankees may make some moves, they are finished. They will look to the farm system for help (Luis Gil, Clayton Beeter, Will Warren, and others) and will reassess in the days leading up to the trade deadline later this summer. I hope they have done enough even if I do not believe they have.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Yankees, PLEASE prove me wrong.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>Binder Joe is Back</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I was surprised to see the YES Network has added former Yankees manager Joe Girardi as a TV analyst for the 2024 season. Not that I do not believe Joe brings value but being placed in a role that can potentially criticize current Yankees manager Aaron Boone seems like an odd twist of fate. I do not pine for the return of Girardi as Yankees manager. He served his time. I would have graciously accepted his return in 2018, but it was not to be and just like the team has moved on, so have I. If Boone is replaced in the next few years, Girardi will not be the chosen one. If Girardi were such a great manager, he would still be the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, or other teams would have been burning up the phone lines trying to get a hold of him.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGfuzIAaav6cbD48DegAjTj7pk6qPcDo3FKA514wIpiISeI47ntHw6cAOBaobRJ3QhPFHfhLkp6FZSpQuQI_edviTJqvi2waGZja5YNm9D_IRQU_S0lAbgIV17_oQ1FAD4bWayX8WRlpmtrG6jBnXhPPSRuf3Zljkdw0jm48-piF0L1k_TSvOlsU217n2/s988/Screenshot%202024-02-03%20193414.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="688" data-original-width="988" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGfuzIAaav6cbD48DegAjTj7pk6qPcDo3FKA514wIpiISeI47ntHw6cAOBaobRJ3QhPFHfhLkp6FZSpQuQI_edviTJqvi2waGZja5YNm9D_IRQU_S0lAbgIV17_oQ1FAD4bWayX8WRlpmtrG6jBnXhPPSRuf3Zljkdw0jm48-piF0L1k_TSvOlsU217n2/w640-h446/Screenshot%202024-02-03%20193414.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Joe Girardi (Photo Credit: Getty Images)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Aside from the odd pairing of the former Yankees manager with the YES Network, I look forward to his in-season contributions. I think he can easily qualify himself as a lifetime Yankee with seventeen seasons in the organization as a player or coach. He brought good insight into his past role with the MLB Network. I was not aware that he is part of the Chicago Cubs broadcast crew, but it makes sense given his history with the Cubs. Multiple paychecks are a blessing.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I will break with one of Girardi’s favored phrases (“It’s not what you want”) and say Girardi on the YES Network team IS what you want. I think he will do well for the YES Network until such a time when/if he is presented with another management opportunity (elsewhere). Welcome back to the Yankees family, Joe!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQRmnXBwT9Q13FfwT3nApS6gQJeMyee3NqmZ62TK6uMf6iHWPHHOuz5yrMpiJjS6QZuFHcflxv4gwxHsKW6LGsPbnHB92h_PJTJ7ky19CdGxP-CsYuJfyS-pnIbQgbvb20n0yDuUF6vP-swtTE5t2-JKBWKZvZOUAzPTEPpQxKtVCOjReGoxZT8reb_Z4/s966/Screenshot%202024-02-03%20193345.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="966" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQRmnXBwT9Q13FfwT3nApS6gQJeMyee3NqmZ62TK6uMf6iHWPHHOuz5yrMpiJjS6QZuFHcflxv4gwxHsKW6LGsPbnHB92h_PJTJ7ky19CdGxP-CsYuJfyS-pnIbQgbvb20n0yDuUF6vP-swtTE5t2-JKBWKZvZOUAzPTEPpQxKtVCOjReGoxZT8reb_Z4/w640-h450/Screenshot%202024-02-03%20193345.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Joe Girardi (Photo Credit: Getty Images)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The YES Network’s TV analyst team paired with play-by-play announcer Michael Kay suffered from the loss of Ken Singleton to retirement and David Cone’s reduced games caused by his work with ESPN and Sunday Night Baseball. Girardi will help make up for those losses. It is wild to think Aaron Judge is the only current Yankee on the roster when Girardi last managed the Yankees in 2017. I am sure Yankee fans will be waiting for him to question Boone’s managerial decisions. I suspect he will take the high road, but time will tell.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I would not mind it if the Yankees hired Buck Showalter again now that he is free of his Mets-obligation. I liked Showalter’s in-studio work before he got the Mets job.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">As always, Go Yankees!</p>Scott Fiedlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05598662581036778337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2676591017018865408.post-23595823325063743282024-01-27T05:53:00.004-05:002024-01-27T05:53:50.488-05:00The Call of Spring Awaits...<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFRK64RZgBt2hZuieOSSlhVCd36GJdCH6xerQOTaNrKjxCdYsmiHTXBhgeN_rxjmgia-aemP-qvX6URrznIrdLH4eVuZU-v73GfVCQ7XJnUqfk1CRe0B_R-0F4174NmYR8WmuB6cjaYU1Kcq9Aeh5dV-tJl1hJi7EnLTstzywz-bW8FhmjzFYDHmrOo-b/s876/Screenshot%202024-01-27%20022835.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="876" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFRK64RZgBt2hZuieOSSlhVCd36GJdCH6xerQOTaNrKjxCdYsmiHTXBhgeN_rxjmgia-aemP-qvX6URrznIrdLH4eVuZU-v73GfVCQ7XJnUqfk1CRe0B_R-0F4174NmYR8WmuB6cjaYU1Kcq9Aeh5dV-tJl1hJi7EnLTstzywz-bW8FhmjzFYDHmrOo-b/w640-h424/Screenshot%202024-01-27%20022835.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, Florida</span></td></tr></tbody></table><h2><b style="text-align: justify;">Spring Training Less Than 3 Weeks Away…</b></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The New York Yankees are finished with the off-season’s heavy lifting, and we will only see minor roster tweaks, if anything, between now and the Valentine’s Day reporting date for pitchers and catchers.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">It is hard to say that a team with a payroll of $300 million has not done enough to close the gap between them and the AL contenders, but I guess we will find out. I am appreciative of Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner’s willingness to spend. The only complaint would be how those dollars have been allocated. This is certainly not an indictment of Gerrit Cole or Aaron Judge as both men perform to the expectations of their respective contracts. For every solid deal, there is a Josh Donaldson type of decision that befuddles the mind (the original decision to add him and his hefty contract; not the later decision to part ways despite the cost).</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I get frustrated when the Yankees take on a bad contract and then use it as an excuse not to pursue elite younger players. It is always as if there is a Jacoby Ellsbury on the roster blocking the addition of good to great players.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">There is also a concern with the guys who are now on the ugly side of their contracts like Giancarlo Stanton where age has deteriorated the player below his compensation level. Sure, Stanton looks great this offseason and I hope it equates to a bounce-back year for him. Yet, time is not his friend. Stanton is thirty-four and while that age is not “over-the-hill,” he is closer to the end of his career than the start of it. A good year or two can still be in the cards, and maybe this year will prove fruitful for him after his offseason focus to improve his performance. If the Yankees could find a way of offloading Stanton, they should do it. I would prefer to keep the designated hitter slot open for Aaron Judge or other players on a rotation basis. So long as Stanton is a Yankee, I will pull for him and I honestly hope for a strong season, but I would absolutely have no problem if the Yankees decided it was time to move on. You know that day is coming. Eventually, the team will decide the player is not worth it when the remaining balance of the contract becomes a sum that they can knowingly absorb without any further contribution from said player. It will not be 2024, but I think the Stanton ‘Designated for Assignment’ Watch can begin in earnest next year, particularly if his 2024 season mirrors last season.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTtx2myDFRdL6iQ3phV8IENzXchyW294CfxJuW0020D_0aXM1ZM-44yBxz-Xq27KXFOm73FBjcogos7tOA9ZMjuCqKflK9QslaQqmYW4g-3I1c23aUyE-M6kJTA6nTxkCJ-2hKPctQZBfiaIFgMhgqPA6zXJTNoS1DorljL0CSBaQ2MyUtqGQivSYMlXv/s794/Screenshot%202024-01-27%20023256.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="763" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTtx2myDFRdL6iQ3phV8IENzXchyW294CfxJuW0020D_0aXM1ZM-44yBxz-Xq27KXFOm73FBjcogos7tOA9ZMjuCqKflK9QslaQqmYW4g-3I1c23aUyE-M6kJTA6nTxkCJ-2hKPctQZBfiaIFgMhgqPA6zXJTNoS1DorljL0CSBaQ2MyUtqGQivSYMlXv/w616-h640/Screenshot%202024-01-27%20023256.png" width="616" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Giancarlo Stanton (Photo Credit: @giancarlo818 via Instagram)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The other player that concerns me is DJ LeMahieu. I have always liked DJ. I lived in Denver, Colorado during his final years as a Rockie, and he was one of my favorite “local” players. He has performed well as a Yankee, but like Stanton, Father Time has caught up with him. LeMahieu will be thirty-six in mid-July. His best years have passed. He can be an admirable player, a complimentary player, on a playoff team, sure, but he will not be one of its driving stars. I am not sure what I think about LeMahieu as the starting third baseman. I suppose it is a better situation than first base so long as Gleyber Torres is the second baseman. LeMahieu will become the de facto first baseman should anything happen to Anthony Rizzo, however, if Rizzo stays healthy, I do like the consistency of one primary position for DJ, instead of bouncing around the infield.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I have seen the talk that the Yankees are interested in free agent third baseman Matt Chapman which seems more like ‘agent-speak’ than genuine interest from the team. I like Matt Chapman, but he is not the answer. Maybe not the player so much as the dollars it would take to sign him. The Yankees have made it obvious that long-term plans at third base will not feature Oswald Peraza. If not Peraza, then LeMahieu does seem to be the most logical candidate for the position. I wish there were a better contingency plan in place. It is possible that Peraza comes to camp and makes a statement that he is ready to ascend to the game’s highest level. Anthony Volpe was the golden child during last year’s camp. This year it can be Peraza since Jasson Dominguez will not participate while he recovers from offseason surgery, although Austin Wells is the player that I want to see in Tampa on a mission. With no other options, I begrudgingly accept LeMahieu as the third baseman, but it is a position that bears watching should LeMahieu suffer any setbacks. I am hopeful Anthony Rizzo stays healthy this year to minimize the need for LeMahieu to play first base. Plus, the Yankees need Rizzo and more specifically, the player at the level of play before he suffered the head injury last season.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I am confident in most of the other position players. Austin Wells and Jose Trevino should form a strong catching tandem, with Wells having the potential to take most of the playing time if he takes his game to the next level. I am glad the Yankees did not trade Gleyber Torres and he is my second baseman until he is not. Last year at this time, I wanted Oswald Peraza as the starting shortstop, but the Yankees have made the commitment to Anthony Volpe…as they should. I expect offensive improvement from Volpe for his second year in the big leagues. He has the talent and ability to succeed. Manager Aaron Boone must figure out the correct outfield alignment with Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Alex Verdugo, and Trent Grisham (not to mention Giancarlo Stanton occasionally). It appears Judge will be the centerfielder, Soto will take right field, and Verdugo, a right fielder in Boston, will move to spacious left field. Trent Grisham will see plenty of time as the Yankees will look at ways to bring his defensive prowess into tight games. I am sure that Boone, with help from new bench coach Brad Ausmus, will fit the pieces of the puzzle together.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">If Stanton and LeMahieu are my primary concerns among the position players, Carlos Rodón and Nestor Cortes, Jr. probably give me the most consternation among the pitchers. Both can be excellent pitchers. We saw it in 2022. Conversely, both pitchers were unable to stay healthy last season and there is no guarantee that 2024 will not be more of the same. When both pitchers arrived at training camp last season, they were healthy and ready to go, yet both missed considerable time with subsequent injuries. We should probably be thankful that Luis Severino is no longer a Yankee given his health concerns (I say that despite how much I enjoyed Sevy as a Yankee, at least the healthy version). Gerrit Cole is not a concern, nor is newly signed Marcus Stroman despite his bout with injuries last August when he was first diagnosed with inflammation in his right hip and subsequently a rib cage cartilage fracture. Clarke Schmidt showed continued improvement, and there is no reason to believe that his progression to a middle-of-the-rotation starter will not continue. It seems like a near certainty that we will see Major League starts by Clayton Beeter, Cody Poteet, Cody Morris, and perhaps Luis Gil if all does not go according to plan. I wish the Yankees were bringing Jordan Montgomery or Blake Snell to Spring Training along with Stroman, but it is crazy to think how much a pitcher like Montgomery would cost when you factor in the luxury tax penalties for exceeding the highest tax tier (basically he would cost double the face amount of his annual contract). I am anxious to see the ascension of Chase Hampton, but he will not be ready for his Major League debut until late in the season at the earliest. He needs time at Triple-A to finish off his development.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJa9b12CL3QUmajNInd4jw4sE2JcIf4HnDNpQEISyjlJ7QEARTVHBsmKypegpUEjvP6YKC8pJbg8kJet0dkPRUMoDu5rvgQZ7fQsfB7N9nDHoYyvwRtZMQZmHLRKUZA-oz9m7u0SG-dRx3GSNaI_nj46wjCM5qwIBM4UtDQLho8jJNzIpZGRKencMDn3H/s1164/Screenshot%202024-01-27%20023534.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="1164" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJa9b12CL3QUmajNInd4jw4sE2JcIf4HnDNpQEISyjlJ7QEARTVHBsmKypegpUEjvP6YKC8pJbg8kJet0dkPRUMoDu5rvgQZ7fQsfB7N9nDHoYyvwRtZMQZmHLRKUZA-oz9m7u0SG-dRx3GSNaI_nj46wjCM5qwIBM4UtDQLho8jJNzIpZGRKencMDn3H/w640-h318/Screenshot%202024-01-27%20023534.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Chase Hampton</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">While the bullpen still needs work, I am confident the Yankees will piece together another strong bullpen unit based on their history of successfully doing so. Call it the Tampa Bay Rays approach. Relievers can be so volatile from year to year. The next Ian Hamilton is just waiting for an opportunity. No need to spend top dollars for a guy like Josh Hader. I would like to see the return of Keynan Middleton, even more so than Wandy Peralta, although I would gladly accept both back. Although there has been some talk of Hector Neris, it seems like that ship has sailed even if Neris has not yet signed anywhere. The Rays are good at throwing a bunch of no-names together to form a strong bullpen unit, starting over from scratch every year.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I wish I had no concerns about the 2024 Yankees…that every position is filled with an elite All-Star player, carrying no question marks. Sadly, that is not a world that anyone lives in. Even the Los Angeles Dodgers have questions despite the huge financial outlay to bring in several of the game’s brightest young talents and featuring an abundant farm system that continually churns out above-average talent.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I guess this is why they play the games.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Bring it on. The Yankees may not win the 2024 World Series, but they will be better than the most recent team that posted eighty-two wins. So long as we have a competitive Yankees team that wants to play in October this year, it will be a better season for all of us. The Yankees are our team. As much as I would like to say Championship or Bust, and I know that has been the Bronx mindset, I think any of us would sign up for the intensity of the 2017 or 2019 Yankees even though those teams did not win the ultimate prize. If the Yankees leave everything on the field in terms of effort, missing a championship is more palatable than a team that simply gave up. No question a championship would reignite the excitement we had when the Yankees won the World Series under Manager Joe Torre in 1996 after an eighteen-year championship drought. It has been far too long since 2009.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I am ready for the 2024 MLB Season.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>This Week’s Transactions</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">To make room for the recent signings of Marcus Stroman and Luke Weaver, and the waiver claim of Diego Castillo, the Yankees had designated three players for assignment. Infielder Jeter Downs and outfielders Oscar Gonzalez and Bubba Thompson. All three players were claimed off waivers by the Yankees earlier this off-season. Downs and Gonzalez went unclaimed after their placement on waivers by the Yankees and will remain in the organization. They have been sent outright to Triple-A.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The speedy Thompson departed the organization as the Minnesota Twins claimed him. I know Thompson would have been an asset late in the season and potentially in the playoffs with his speed, however, the Yankees have greater concerns and needs to fill. I wish Thompson the best in Minnesota. It does seem like he will have a stronger path to Major League playing time with the Twins. It would not be fun to spend the off-season as a thirty-ninth or fortieth player on a 40-man roster.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Yankees also signed catcher Luis Torrens, a former Yankees prospect, to a minor-league contract.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbklpw3p1ifoz-po8Pe73_OHLy2BbFdPjdi0uFaiRV6y0lNbrHrtBVyi0Bs996XXDb9ktnPGsxb0KsLwLuGzL-YAZSvsCbfLQdK6PJ64VCuqkERl24qxO92xZsfbDHalFanxkAX-shIV_NpvhX06ZIejly2zGOoTD-i5ELraJ1VlpP1knf3x8dPzLq3lP5/s834/Screenshot%202024-01-27%20023815.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="834" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbklpw3p1ifoz-po8Pe73_OHLy2BbFdPjdi0uFaiRV6y0lNbrHrtBVyi0Bs996XXDb9ktnPGsxb0KsLwLuGzL-YAZSvsCbfLQdK6PJ64VCuqkERl24qxO92xZsfbDHalFanxkAX-shIV_NpvhX06ZIejly2zGOoTD-i5ELraJ1VlpP1knf3x8dPzLq3lP5/w640-h416/Screenshot%202024-01-27%20023815.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Luis Torrens (Photo Credit: Steph Chambers/Getty Images)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Yankees signed Torrens as an international free agent in 2012. He was taken in the 2016 Rule 5 Draft by the Cincinnati Reds, who immediately traded Torrens to the San Diego Padres for a player to be named later. The player-to-be-named turned out to be infielder/outfielder Josh VanMeter who also signed a minor league contract with the Yankees this offseason. The Padres kept Torrens on the Major League roster for the entirety of the 2017 season which kept him in their organization. A bad Padres team that was able to bury a not-ready-for-the-Majors player on the bench. After a few years in San Diego, he subsequently spent time with the Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, and Washington Nationals organizations. Torrens was robbed of valuable developmental time, and it prevented him from becoming the player he could have been if he had been able to stay in the Yankees organization. He is now 27 (will be 28 in May). There is no question I will be rooting for him. He is not going to make the Yankees’ Opening Day Roster but regardless of whether it is with the Yankees or another team, I hope he finds a home in the Major Leagues again.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">As always, Go Yankees!</p>Scott Fiedlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05598662581036778337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2676591017018865408.post-9099518328346170752024-01-19T19:27:00.002-05:002024-01-19T19:27:16.794-05:00The End of Yankees Christmas...<p> </p><p><b style="text-align: justify;"></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tATr9Wxzpg4AoACOv446rttu16FiHKX6n6NGyFfbiQFSCSoHhoE5O2OkQm6EHgRfQknQImyKOE0fQ9RHlHqX4z5UEiz127Ihz2izmt4ldxA8048EwzRPRooc6WHgvbjquQvFp15ILjzNCpcY_trbaA18XiCqdkk4hyweLBS2Q86MBxCD545WzCBB-_c9/s947/Screenshot%202024-01-19%20160017.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="609" data-original-width="947" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tATr9Wxzpg4AoACOv446rttu16FiHKX6n6NGyFfbiQFSCSoHhoE5O2OkQm6EHgRfQknQImyKOE0fQ9RHlHqX4z5UEiz127Ihz2izmt4ldxA8048EwzRPRooc6WHgvbjquQvFp15ILjzNCpcY_trbaA18XiCqdkk4hyweLBS2Q86MBxCD545WzCBB-_c9/w640-h412/Screenshot%202024-01-19%20160017.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Marcus Stroman</span></td></tr></tbody></table><h2><b style="text-align: justify;">No more gifts for Yankees fans…</b></h2><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Are the Yankees done with their off-season shopping for us?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I know, when your team acquires one of the youngest and greatest superstars in the game, you should be ecstatic. Trust me, I am excited that Juan Soto is a New York Yankee, and I look forward to his presence at Yankee Stadium, wearing the famed Pinstripes. Yet, I felt like the Yankees needed to do more to overcome the disappointment of 2023. Plus, there is the concern that Soto calls the Bronx home for only one season before he departs for much greener ($$$$) pastures. If the Yankees had signed or if they could sign Soto to an extension before the season starts, my enthusiasm for Soto in Pinstripes would be much greater. He seems destined to be a Yankee, so I am hopeful that it becomes a long-term relationship.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I will give the Yankees credit. They did bring in a legitimate outfielder to cover left field in Alex Verdugo after ignoring the position last season. Granted, Verdugo is a right fielder who must learn the nuances of the vast Yankee Stadium left field but throwing him out there is better than trying to convert infielders like last season. I wanted Cody Bellinger who could cover center field and provide backup at first base, but it was not meant to be, so Verdugo is fine as an alternative albeit in left. I have gotten over the addition of a hated Red Sock. Now, it is up to Verdugo to prove he belongs.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Marcus Stroman is not exactly the frontline starting pitcher I had been hoping for after our dreams of Yoshinobu Yamamoto were destroyed by the Los Angeles Dodgers. After Yamamoto chose to play with Shohei Ohtani, I legitimately thought the Yankees would pivot to either Jordan Montgomery or Blake Snell. If reports are correct, Monty is pining for a return to Texas and Snell simply wants too much money. The Yankees allegedly made an offer of 5-years for $150 million although I heard today it was for six years. Either way, Scott Boras rejected the offer, and the Yankees subsequently pivoted to Stroman. As good as Stroman is, it is not exactly an apples-to-apples comparison since Snell is the much better pitcher. If the rumors are true that Snell’s camp wants more than $200 million for the two-time Cy Young winner, I have no problem with the Yankees deciding not to play. Yet, by signing Stroman, I thought the Yankees would still aggressively pursue a second starting pitcher. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">On a side note, as a blocked account on Stroman's X (Twitter) account, I do believe he is a talented pitcher who is an upgrade for the Yankees. Even though I think Snell is the better pitcher, it is not like Stroman is a slouch (he is not). I will gladly accept Stroman over Luis Severino, a pitcher I loved during his time as a Yankee. Stroman will be a solid piece for the starting rotation. I regret telling him that I did not want him as a Yankee (the reason for the block) but those were my feelings at the time. Things change; we change.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjh4xB6TQkLZXvUG-6PNfFGPPOF5bjSyw2bGLBwgjbCdcHuXMrxn-VhhYw83SpJ5uoru9z2hH7kICO3pxMT9HAoIRIZRErCU370jCUMOa6F4CVuTxYAmySOazofBJwo5cNb2tZcHeNkri02HCI8sY8Wx9JmMbEy9MrUyl2oSvz3dLzc5CBf8we1ZRGM2s/s366/Screenshot%202024-01-19%20161657.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="366" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjh4xB6TQkLZXvUG-6PNfFGPPOF5bjSyw2bGLBwgjbCdcHuXMrxn-VhhYw83SpJ5uoru9z2hH7kICO3pxMT9HAoIRIZRErCU370jCUMOa6F4CVuTxYAmySOazofBJwo5cNb2tZcHeNkri02HCI8sY8Wx9JmMbEy9MrUyl2oSvz3dLzc5CBf8we1ZRGM2s/s320/Screenshot%202024-01-19%20161657.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Now, it seems like they are finished, although they will re-evaluate later this summer at the trade deadline. I am not sure Stroman is a difference-maker, but one thing is for sure, the Yankees are heavily relying on comebacks by Carlos Rodón and Nestor Cortes, Jr. I am not sure those are bets that I would place. It seems possible that the best-case scenario might be only one of the two emerging in 2022 form. I would love to be wrong with both players pitching to their respective ceilings. However, it seems like a long shot at best. It also places greater importance that Clarke Schmidt continues his upward progression. No doubt we will be watching Cody Poteet and/or Cody Morris starting games this year when the inevitable injury bug strikes. I would prefer going into Spring Training with six or seven guys having a legitimate shot at the starting rotation instead of just five, but it is what it is. May good health be with us.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I keep hoping the Yankees acquire Shane Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians before the start of Spring Training despite the inherent injury risks with the pitcher. I have given up on the possibility of Dylan Cease since the White Sox do not appear motivated to move him now and if they are, the prospect ask is untenable. Realistically, we need to be prepared that all 2024 starting pitchers are already in-house.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">When it became obvious the Yankees had slowed their search for starting pitching after the Stroman signing, there was hope the Yankees would redirect their attention to the bullpen. Josh Hader has been a dream of the Yankees fan base forever, dating back to his days in Milwaukee. As much as I would have liked the Yankees to sign him, there was not any indication to show they had an elevated level of interest. Hader is now off the board, having signed a 5-year, $95 million contract today with the Houston Astros. The Astros have a scary bullpen with Hader, Bryan Abreu, and Ryan Pressly. There has been some talk of former Astros reliever Hector Neris, a free agent, but it seems unlikely to me that the Yankees will meet his asking price. There has been chatter about bringing back Wandy Peralta although it is tough to look at that as a major upgrade. There were some warning signs with Peralta last year, and I would always prefer to move on from a player a year too early than a year too late. The Yankees may be finished with any further major moves. It might not be as much as we had hoped when the offseason started, but the Yankees are a better team today than the one who lost the season’s final game on the first of October last year.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Yankees should always be greedy, so I am feeling underwhelmed even if I am trying to put a positive spin on it. Sorry, I just miss October baseball and want to be a part of it again.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>Designated for Assignment</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Because I am so conditioned to what the word “designated” means in Major League Baseball, I must admit that my heart always stops when I see my favorite NFL team has “designated” a star player for return. I know it is a positive in the NFL as an injured player is returning to active status, but the word carries such a negative connotation for the finality it means in the MLB that I cannot overcome that feeling when I hear the word in the NFL.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">With that being said, the Yankees have designated two players for assignment this week (so far). They still need to make room for pitcher Luke Weaver so another one is forthcoming. The two players designated for assignment are outfielder Oscar Gonzalez and infielder Jeter Downs. I was looking forward to both players in Spring Training, but they always were the most logical players to lose their seats at the table. There is always a chance both clear waivers and are sent outright to Triple-A, but they have enough promise that other teams may or should bite. When Downs was designated earlier today, Boston Globe beat reporter Pete Abraham was quick to tweet “Yankees DFA’d Jeter today.” I am sure he loved typing those words. Downs had been claimed off waivers from the Washington Nationals in December. Gonzalez was DFA’d to clear space for Marcus Stroman, while Downs met his fate when the Yankees claimed infielder Diego Castillo, a former Yankees prospect, off waivers from the New York Mets. Castillo, along with infielder Hoy Park, was traded by the Yankees to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2021 for Clay Holmes.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFux7DiZ7QLt6SQz6Wrc8mmPTsatMSVCfjJiUIFFRkbjCl7X3daFNrQmXqjVMahRFN5mrk831RGp9JjiTai7kH20u_WRte_ryqM9ARcX52-uqE37ORvW-Zjm_pMBDfD7McY-Bh2pqZ0uGSe6BWcFvZQKk_Jnk-3gIKguKKOZ_Q7S-Zz0Y0Q6J_JwMkvglY/s463/Screenshot%202024-01-19%20160953.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="463" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFux7DiZ7QLt6SQz6Wrc8mmPTsatMSVCfjJiUIFFRkbjCl7X3daFNrQmXqjVMahRFN5mrk831RGp9JjiTai7kH20u_WRte_ryqM9ARcX52-uqE37ORvW-Zjm_pMBDfD7McY-Bh2pqZ0uGSe6BWcFvZQKk_Jnk-3gIKguKKOZ_Q7S-Zz0Y0Q6J_JwMkvglY/w640-h558/Screenshot%202024-01-19%20160953.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Diego Castillo (Photo Credit: Matt York/AP)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">It does seem funny the Yankees are loading up on infielders. It seems like a prelude to a potential trade of Oswald Peraza or Oswaldo Cabrera. Or it might be nothing.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I am surprised the Yankees continue to carry five catchers on the 40-man roster. It seems like trading at least one of them (Ben Rortvedt or Carlos Narvaez?) would be a better option if you genuinely believe there is potential with Gonzalez or Downs. Maybe a catcher is moved to make way for Luke Weaver. If not, outfielder Bubba Thompson or reliever Matt Krook seem like the most logical DFA candidates.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Update: Bubba Thompson is the loser. He has been DFA’d to add Weaver to the 40-man roster.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>International Signings</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Yankees made multiple international signings this week, as the new signing period opened on January 15. The big acquisition is Francisco Vilorio from the Dominican Republic. Vilorio, 17, is rated as the fifteenth-best international prospect according to MLB.com. The 6’4” right-handed outfielder received an overall scouting grade of 55.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBSkRCwQ1ptfHQXXyxTgvwDuLUu9wpy4NCfCSV_2DGrxiSEBi32hyPr7vNp8Zy4fBfYWsZ_DG4CgACrOtvHh0xpfRHm-axLERAcMIXMYRUTE0FvhAK4QOlxD4McMKCKTc0xMc14x930YBz_lg9Y6IQtvmwmU_7ZERA14wcQ5kNzvUL-KUVZftTLvjSlRo/s466/Screenshot%202024-01-19%20161145.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="466" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBSkRCwQ1ptfHQXXyxTgvwDuLUu9wpy4NCfCSV_2DGrxiSEBi32hyPr7vNp8Zy4fBfYWsZ_DG4CgACrOtvHh0xpfRHm-axLERAcMIXMYRUTE0FvhAK4QOlxD4McMKCKTc0xMc14x930YBz_lg9Y6IQtvmwmU_7ZERA14wcQ5kNzvUL-KUVZftTLvjSlRo/w640-h384/Screenshot%202024-01-19%20161145.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Francisco Vilorio</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Here is MLB.com’s Scouting Report for the prized prospect.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Vilorio is a tall, projectable outfielder with power potential and the ability to impact the game in various ways. The athletic teen has a solid bat tool and has a chance to hit for average and power in the future. He already shows emerging raw power, and more strength should come as his body matures.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Overall, he projects to be a middle-of-the-order bat and an offensive threat if he continues to develop at the expected pace. His offensive potential makes him valuable, but he’s also improving on the other side of the ball. On defense, Vilorio is toolsy enough to start in center field and just might stay there. There’s also a chance he outgrows the position and moves to a corner spot.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Currently, he shows the arm strength and the bat tool to profile as a right fielder, which bodes well for the team that signs him.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Yankees paid close to $1.7 million to sign Vilorio. Their total international bonus pool allotment for the current signing period is $4,652,200.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Here is a list of the signings according to Baseball America:</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p>Francisco Vilorio, OF, Dominican Republic</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Richard Matic, 3B, Dominican Republic<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Dexter Peralta, SS, Dominican Republic<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Queni Pineda, C, Dominican Republic<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Alexander Almonte, RHP, Dominican Republic<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Browm Martinez, OF, Dominican Republic<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Angel Ventura, OF, Dominican Republic<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Edgar Jimenez, C, Dominican Republic<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Carlos Villaroel, C, Venezuela<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Dylan Medina, OF, Dominican Republic<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Carlos Rondon, C, Venezuela<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Estivenson Montero, OF, Dominican Republic<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Remy Veldhuisen, OF, Dominican Republic<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Marco Manzano, LHP, Venezuela<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Cristofer Reyes, SS, Dominican Republic<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Jesus Marquez, C, Venezuela<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Luis Ilarraza, RHP, Venezuela<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Diego Gonzalez, OF, Dominican Republic<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Diego Flores, C, Venezuela<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Juan Araujo, SS, Venezuela<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Junior Tavera, LHP, Dominican Republic<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Enixon Sanchez, RHP, Venezuela<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">None of these guys may make it to the Show, but you never know. One or more of these names might be celebrating World Series championships down the Canyon of Heroes in the next decade or two. Vilorio and possibly Matic will get the most immediate attention, yet it is fun to watch the names that emerge as the players work their way through the farm system.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Congratulations to all the players who signed and to the Yankees for making them part of our family.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">As always, Go Yankees! </p>Scott Fiedlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05598662581036778337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2676591017018865408.post-71586033659255236112024-01-12T19:28:00.000-05:002024-01-12T19:28:00.552-05:00Marcus Stroman is a Yankee? ...<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHS1okB5qvc-DNyZpr1OMI5as148bVMVXV-Iih7IM2Qd9Nu7CUk2Wqn2Hf3y4fSA6p7K5PH9qpXuRkY2qzvqDC7YFuTm3sfK8ihqFw_QruRAoUJRRbKTKNkWNeTJ8YRRJa42jkN9UnuLFKJ4xXFMTw_tZaEC3SisLAP-A3NPYXepKH0RAwG3SQus0X8uhI/s303/Screenshot%202024-01-12%20160344.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="302" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHS1okB5qvc-DNyZpr1OMI5as148bVMVXV-Iih7IM2Qd9Nu7CUk2Wqn2Hf3y4fSA6p7K5PH9qpXuRkY2qzvqDC7YFuTm3sfK8ihqFw_QruRAoUJRRbKTKNkWNeTJ8YRRJa42jkN9UnuLFKJ4xXFMTw_tZaEC3SisLAP-A3NPYXepKH0RAwG3SQus0X8uhI/w638-h640/Screenshot%202024-01-12%20160344.png" width="638" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Marcus Stroman (Credit: @stroman via Instagram)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><h2><b style="text-align: justify;">Stroman unexpectedly dons the Pinstripes…</b></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Assuming the New York Yankees have chosen to move on from Blake Snell after he rejected the team’s 5-year, $150 million offer, I hope the pivot to Marcus Stroman, pending his physical, does not represent the end game. The Yankees need an upper-rotation starter to potentially place behind Gerrit Cole if Carlos Rodón is unable to pitch like the dude he was in San Francisco in 2022. The 32-year-old Stroman is not that guy.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I have mixed emotions about Stroman. I do not like the player, and I thought his war of words in recent years was childish along with the now-overplayed video of Stroman mocking the Soto Shuffle after striking out Juan Soto during a Cubs-Padres game. I am a little surprised the Yankees forgave Stroman for the shots he took at the organization and GM Brian Cashman a few years ago, but I get it, thick skin is a necessity in the Wide World of Sports. If the player has something to offer, the reward becomes more valuable than the risk in the eyes of the team (sometimes to a fault). Granted, acquiring Juan Soto was a popular move among the Yankees fanbase but the Yankees do not make moves designed solely to get fans excited as we have seen far too often. They want to win regardless of who we feel should be on the team. It is funny that Cashman has plucked two of the most despised competitors after the fan base had to painfully endure the hated Josh Donaldson. The social media posts saying the Yankees should go all out for Jose Altuve since they are collecting hated players are funny but hopefully, Cashman never takes it that far.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I am one of many Yankee fans who have been blocked on X (Twitter) by Stroman. My crime was saying that I did not want to see him play for the Yankees despite his talent. Now that he is a Yankee, I have no choice but to accept it (obviously). I am willing to give him a chance. It is on Stroman to prove he can be a capable Yankee. If he succeeds, everybody will be happy. If he fails, it is going to be a long two years for him.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Stroman effectively replaces Luis Severino who has joined the crosstown Mets. I know, Sevy left the bar quite low on his way out the door, so Stroman immediately became the better pitcher when he signed with the Yankees. As much as I loved Sevy as a Yankee, I feel better about the state of the starting rotation with Stroman. Honestly, I hope Severino can recapture the potential he once held, even if he is pitching for the Mets. But switching Severino out for Stroman was a move the Yankees had to make.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQzwqY7SUzhEAtX71410uo02qqnToN6NhMwvhGP8pVQqlu0J0qjAoUuM38eP_GAilUUzC6zyClFb59g6HMjrDVfw6WFe713kQU753WKbUZZosmU1q2VGHMpGZ25OigJXCX_rpoaiLC50gyvJs4Z6tR-9QgWU1npZtTp54KPNRxowYIXf1sk62Q_voAZ2T/s710/Screenshot%202024-01-12%20160711.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="710" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQzwqY7SUzhEAtX71410uo02qqnToN6NhMwvhGP8pVQqlu0J0qjAoUuM38eP_GAilUUzC6zyClFb59g6HMjrDVfw6WFe713kQU753WKbUZZosmU1q2VGHMpGZ25OigJXCX_rpoaiLC50gyvJs4Z6tR-9QgWU1npZtTp54KPNRxowYIXf1sk62Q_voAZ2T/w640-h356/Screenshot%202024-01-12%20160711.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Marcus Stroman (Photo Credit: Michael Reaves/Getty Images)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">They cannot stop here. Another…<i>a better</i>…starter is needed. If Snell is out, do the Yankees pivot to Jordan Montgomery? It does not seem like there has been much fire between Monty and the Yankees. The Miami Marlins do not seem overly motivated to trade Jesus Luzardo and there is some talk the Chicago White Sox may hold onto Dylan Cease. Regardless, the price tags on Luzardo and Cease are astronomical. The best current option is Cleveland’s Shane Bieber who can be acquired without forking over multiple elite prospects. Bieber’s recent injury history is a concern, but when healthy, he can be one of the game’s best. I would love to see a reunion between Bieber and Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYM0OaAvOPCYjhkm-AGzfQCrxoY3QkB5r5xtpNoEABFHXPyjNSqHlsDGKArfOqhBotjnaadxfSkjIE1gcxB-wSrM_HGbbixYhq4XmQsS_MGWXvfDBL_hjHFK3lE9kcq7lnBKtzGPUIWzByr9JnLBIuKK7U1KwVPBQ9jHAqsIpY25nZNDtGsekMrQZjKT11/s695/Screenshot%202024-01-12%20161121.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="695" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYM0OaAvOPCYjhkm-AGzfQCrxoY3QkB5r5xtpNoEABFHXPyjNSqHlsDGKArfOqhBotjnaadxfSkjIE1gcxB-wSrM_HGbbixYhq4XmQsS_MGWXvfDBL_hjHFK3lE9kcq7lnBKtzGPUIWzByr9JnLBIuKK7U1KwVPBQ9jHAqsIpY25nZNDtGsekMrQZjKT11/w640-h422/Screenshot%202024-01-12%20161121.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Shane Bieber (Photo Credit: Dave Richard/USA TODAY Sports)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Regardless of what happens, it seems a given that pitchers will get hurt, and we will be looking at starts by Triple-A pitching depth at some point this summer. If Bieber is the prime pitching acquisition, so be it. There are flaws with every available pitcher. The Yankees would be charged with placing Bieber in the best possible position to succeed if they are successful in acquiring him. He would not carry the burden of being the staff ace like he does in Cleveland. Sure, I would prefer Montgomery or Snell…or Cease or Luzardo…but the Yankees with Juan Soto, Trent Grisham, Alex Verdugo, Marcus Stroman, and potentially Shane Bieber are a much better team than the 82-80 squad of last year. The Yankees need to retain their current pitching depth (the organization guys like Clayton Beeter and Luis Gil, the returning Luke Weaver, and the new acquisitions such as Cody Poteet and Cody Morris) to help fill in for potential injuries. Top pitching prospect Chase Hampton should be available to help later in the season so keeping him is important. I am feeling better about the Yankees than I did a few months ago. It will be those final decisions (adding another starter and bullpen help) that will determine if this has been a good off-season for the Yankees or a great one. I will add a caveat that if the Yankees sign Juan Soto to an extension before Spring Training, that alone would convert this to a great off-season regardless of what the team does going forward. The one-year “rental” of Soto is the only reason I can go no stronger than “good” right now. The excitement about Soto in 2024 Pinstripes is tempered by the fact he could be in a different uniform in 2025.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Back to Stroman, I should take back that I dislike the player. It was more I did not appreciate his words and actions. I do not know the man personally, and I have always recognized that he is a talented pitcher. If you told me that I had to take one of Stroman, Trevor Bauer, or Domingo German, I would take Stroman every day of the week. Now that he is a Yankee, I do believe he deserves the opportunity for redemption. I was not so forgiving of Josh Donaldson, but I also do not believe that Stroman is washed up like Donaldson was when he joined the Yankees. I was not happy when I heard the Yankees had signed Stroman, but after a day, I felt better about the team’s decision to improve the starting rotation. I will not boo Marcus Stroman unless he gives us reason to as we move forward. The slate is cleared. When he takes the mound at Yankee Stadium, our interests will be aligned. I wish him the best as he embarks on his Pinstriped career.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">There had been some talk the Yankees were interested in free agent pitcher Jordan Hicks as a piece for the bullpen, however, he has signed with the San Francisco Giants and will be converted from a reliever to a starter. With Hicks off the board, it makes Robert Stephenson the reliever to add. I seriously doubt the Yankees will pay top dollars for Josh Hader, so he does not appear to be an option unless his price falls.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I am glad to see Major League transactions are happening now that we have made it through the holiday season. There are talented players available who can help return the Yankees to championship contention. I am cautiously confident that Brian Cashman is not finished. At the end of the day, we will root for the team that takes the field on Opening Day 2024 so regardless of what happens or who is acquired (or not acquired), 2024 is a new season. We have hope. Selfishly, I want to be given reasons to heighten expectations, yet I will stand with the team we are given. Not trying to let Cashman off the hook, but rather trying to be a realist. The payroll is busting $300 million, and we have some of the game’s best players on the team. We have more than the average team. Maybe not as much as the Los Angeles Dodgers and their wealth of salary deferments, but the game is played on the field. I will take the Yankees for the win every time until the last game is played.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>Yankees Settle All Pre-Arb Cases</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The painful memory of Dellin Betances losing his salary arbitration case to the Yankees, worsened by the gloating of Yankees Team President Randy Levine, has not been forgotten. It happened seven years ago next month, however, it is the last time the Yankees failed to settle one of their pre-arbitration cases. The Yankees had a potential obstacle this year with Juan Soto, so I was extremely pleased when I heard the Yankees had settled all their cases.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">For Soto, his 2024 salary of $31 million sets a new arbitration record, besting the Los Angeles Angels’ final year of Shohei Ohtani by $1 million. I was hoping the Yankees and Soto would negotiate a longer-term extension as opposed to the one-year salary, but it is Scott Boras’s world, and we only live in it. I still think the revelation and announcement of a contract extension during Spring Training would be a beautiful thing so I will keep believing it until it does not happen. The realist knows that Scott Boras will want to pit the game’s biggest spenders against each other before Soto’s next contract is determined.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDZ4uBsU5dJ9gTxkTsMen03LDwnGkgdqTl_JONRVblyJLASvyy_pdXwYIZ5E4-xxXIRLiO8pFTfpI3Kksu4BV7vjMBOUF_K53QlaRRXcUSaWFyfPa5aYstFNy1OMgirXUD5ritpqQJSPF8CfhgX-F2d-BYviEnSOSHzxUnB-be1eEHTaPCFqDd4ikUv-n/s860/Screenshot%202024-01-12%20161400.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="689" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDZ4uBsU5dJ9gTxkTsMen03LDwnGkgdqTl_JONRVblyJLASvyy_pdXwYIZ5E4-xxXIRLiO8pFTfpI3Kksu4BV7vjMBOUF_K53QlaRRXcUSaWFyfPa5aYstFNy1OMgirXUD5ritpqQJSPF8CfhgX-F2d-BYviEnSOSHzxUnB-be1eEHTaPCFqDd4ikUv-n/w512-h640/Screenshot%202024-01-12%20161400.png" width="512" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Juan Soto (Credit: @juansoto_25 via Instagram)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Here are the agreements reached with the following players:</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">OF Juan Soto, $31 million</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">2B Gleyber Torres, $14.2 million<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">OF Alex Verdugo, $8.7 million<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">RHP Clay Holmes, $6.0 million<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">OF Trent Grisham, $5.5 million<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">LHP Nestor Cortes, Jr, $3.95 million<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">C Jose Trevino, $2.73 million<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">RHP Jonathan Loaisiga, $2.5 million<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">RHP Clarke Schmidt, $2.025 million<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">LHP Victor Gonzalez, $860,000<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I am glad there will be no arbitration hearings this year. It is always best to keep Randy Levine muzzled.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">As always, Go Yankees!</p>Scott Fiedlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05598662581036778337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2676591017018865408.post-74607778614771146042024-01-05T18:34:00.005-05:002024-01-05T18:34:52.751-05:00The Yankees Are Moving at (a) Snell's Pace...<p> </p><p><b style="text-align: justify;"></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwR1DeUx6_U8Nl405cY0KDfHvjdEZRjBgyKFvO6UftM9vRAbNQBvEuoPaPxt05j5Ty1mnWM-5iAYZ0Dp-kH9Ob-guVA2YkqUIuhVFpgPId2kmlVQQXxy08vJooakxy_ocY6ETP0lAr0yonDagWK6IV0ZXYRNeZN9MtgK7e6tfuOM1m7GDrYFhC0uOobfa/s1036/Screenshot%202024-01-05%20145532.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="1036" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwR1DeUx6_U8Nl405cY0KDfHvjdEZRjBgyKFvO6UftM9vRAbNQBvEuoPaPxt05j5Ty1mnWM-5iAYZ0Dp-kH9Ob-guVA2YkqUIuhVFpgPId2kmlVQQXxy08vJooakxy_ocY6ETP0lAr0yonDagWK6IV0ZXYRNeZN9MtgK7e6tfuOM1m7GDrYFhC0uOobfa/w640-h358/Screenshot%202024-01-05%20145532.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Blake Snell (Photo Credit: Mark J Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><h2><b style="text-align: justify;">Trying to decide the best route to Rotation Help…</b></h2><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">2024, the year of Juan Soto. Spring Training reporting dates are a little more than a month away, and the Yankees, despite the acquisition of one of the greatest young baseball players in the game, are still a work in progress.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The swing and miss on Yoshinobu Yamamoto has led to endless discussions among the fan base about whether the Yankees should sign a free agent (Jordan Montgomery or Blake Snell), or trade for a starter (Dylan Cease of the Chicago White Sox or one of the Miami Marlins’ young arms, Jesus Luzardo or Edward Cabrera). Of the free agents, while I think it would be cool to feature the reigning AL and NL Cy Young Award winners in the same rotation, I prefer a reunion with Montgomery. I know he can be a workhorse and he is not intimated by New York. There is no loss of draft picks for signing the former Yank like there is with Snell, who declined San Diego’s qualifying offer.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">If the Yankees did sign Snell, I certainly would not be disappointed. I understand the pros and cons but at the end of the day, there is no perfect pitcher. Every pitcher has flaws. Some more than others. Whether Snell is not a fun pitcher to watch, or he walks too many guys (by design), he is successful and he will help a starting rotation. Yet, for me, Jordan Montgomery is more appealing. Snell may be the flashier signing but Monty’s reliability, consistency, and evident growth since he left Pinstripes are traits much needed by the Yankees’ current starting rotation.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbU3vEMjcrBMq0LZACbeXb-_qonzwbt0UXuJJI7R_3no_MAF_ZadYgRIE2Sq-14JH2HodRUzZFF6Vc75j9T_D218MhZqzFke4m_LENOulZczx5QeTaJOuREVAwXs0i9ELDDT0tBnLqb3n2pSYwoWUCLlS3RpJNli0hXuk2Sk1xQMP9ILCwLed_xXelCXmA/s632/Screenshot%202024-01-05%20150339.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="632" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbU3vEMjcrBMq0LZACbeXb-_qonzwbt0UXuJJI7R_3no_MAF_ZadYgRIE2Sq-14JH2HodRUzZFF6Vc75j9T_D218MhZqzFke4m_LENOulZczx5QeTaJOuREVAwXs0i9ELDDT0tBnLqb3n2pSYwoWUCLlS3RpJNli0hXuk2Sk1xQMP9ILCwLed_xXelCXmA/w640-h422/Screenshot%202024-01-05%20150339.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Jordan Montgomery</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Yesterday, there was some talk that Snell is interested in the Yankees, and Montgomery’s preference is to return to the World Champion Texas Rangers. Scott Boras represents both pitchers, and he is an expert in press manipulation to benefit his clients. So, until somebody signs the dotted line, talk and rumors are baseless and often not factual. If memory serves correctly, the Yankees were the clear frontrunner for Yamamoto’s services, and we see how that one turned out. Too many people like to use the press to sway opinions to their benefit, so I tend to look at baseball talk and rumors as fiction material.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Chicago’s Dylan Cease or Miami’s Jesus Luzardo (specifically among the two Marlins pitchers) seem like excellent options, but I do not see the Yankees trading multiple elite prospects. ‘Should they?’ and ‘Will they?’ invoke two vastly different responses. In terms of prospects, a talented team deep in superior prospect wealth like the Baltimore Orioles seems more capable of providing the White Sox or Marlins with the necessary ingredients for a trade than the Yankees. I am not trying to minimize Spencer Jones or Chase Hampton, but the Yankees have thinned the farm through trades in recent years whereas the Orioles are flush with young, overflowing talent. Everybody knows the Yankees need pitching, and no team is going to make it easy for them. Ultimately, Cash is King (money; not the Yankees' GM) and it is the Yankees’ greatest capital resource so they may have to take a bad contract to get a talented starter through trade along with the necessary highly-ranked prospects. These scenarios make signing Jordan Montgomery more attractive despite the inflated cost it will take. This offseason has shown teams are willing to break the bank for pitching. When the Cincinnati Reds are willing to pay an injury risk (Frankie Montas) $16 million or the New York Mets taking a similar gamble at $13 million with Luis Severino, you know that proven commodities like Montgomery and Snell are going to get paid for generations to come.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I know there is lots of time between now and Spring Training. Adding Juan Soto alone will not convert an 82-win team into a World Series contender. The Yankees would need so many ‘what ifs’ to go right. Hopefully, with the time remaining between now and Spring Training, the Yankees can add the necessary additional starting pitching to ensure the Yankees can compete with the league’s best.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I would place myself in the cautiously optimistic category. I want to believe the Yankees will add the necessary reinforcements…I am just not confident they will. I hope for better clarity in the coming days and weeks before the team starts arriving at Steinbrenner Field next month.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Several New Additions<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The Yankees made two surprising moves yesterday even if neither one registers on the Richter Scale. It was first reported the Yankees had signed former Marlins pitcher Cody Poteet to a Major League contract. It is the second Cody obtained this offseason. Pitcher Cody Morris was previously acquired from the Cleveland Guardians for outfielder Estevan Florial. I guess when I said that I hoped the Yankees would acquire Cody (thinking Bellinger), I should have been more specific.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Poteet underwent Tommy John surgery in August 2022. He refused an outright assignment by the Marlins after the 2022 season and became a free agent. He subsequently signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals and was able to make a two-inning start for the Royals’ Triple-A affiliate in September. Poteet’s minor league contract with the Royals contained an opt-out (in the event he was not selected in the Rule 5 Draft or subsequently added to the Royals’ 40-man roster).<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhffgzwu4F9gm8cZ6Bhq2f1ur2D2ND_oj0fo9cP3KY-BQQ73lErZqvyjZ0Ap4eL9KYlM2q0WrZcwFIGe-uP6i0WCqdz-ps2FC1N0J_qlJZ_HyKL9xH0DHU44WfV99NBSvIDXnYhHkfjneN-Ebd4p1qFRgfEebsZvMNzCzbLrjq9Cu2OceQ-36KaPt3YZqy/s880/Screenshot%202024-01-05%20150552.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="487" data-original-width="880" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhffgzwu4F9gm8cZ6Bhq2f1ur2D2ND_oj0fo9cP3KY-BQQ73lErZqvyjZ0Ap4eL9KYlM2q0WrZcwFIGe-uP6i0WCqdz-ps2FC1N0J_qlJZ_HyKL9xH0DHU44WfV99NBSvIDXnYhHkfjneN-Ebd4p1qFRgfEebsZvMNzCzbLrjq9Cu2OceQ-36KaPt3YZqy/w640-h354/Screenshot%202024-01-05%20150552.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Cody Poteet (Photo Credit: FOX News)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">His contract with the Yankees is for one year, and it will pay $750,000 if Poteet is in the Majors or $200,000 if he stays in the Minors. He has options so he becomes the latest up-and-down starter to help fill the roles vacated by Jhony Brito and Randy Vasquez (both of whom were dealt to San Diego in the Soto trade).</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The Yankees officially announced the trade today, and Poteet has been added to the 40-man roster, filling the last open spot.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The Yankees also acquired outfielder Bubba Thompson through a waiver claim when he was designated for assignment by the Cincinnati Reds. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTxibiiuUgpsHaklWbXr8rxUfKzzouHOu-UIHYTLxlW68PtDjDnHBrZk33xE54k9jMMl-c7oJZ5uvZJLGqJz_O0cmt3XLQ1K3NULXtIo9F_5Y2Jxy4mqdJLKGLCcJQ0qJklYWh55pscjkXWfffFYzA78GIvSuvNcTg73NP6UXDNLBWsckISm955d1tykz-/s732/Screenshot%202024-01-05%20150848.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="484" data-original-width="732" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTxibiiuUgpsHaklWbXr8rxUfKzzouHOu-UIHYTLxlW68PtDjDnHBrZk33xE54k9jMMl-c7oJZ5uvZJLGqJz_O0cmt3XLQ1K3NULXtIo9F_5Y2Jxy4mqdJLKGLCcJQ0qJklYWh55pscjkXWfffFYzA78GIvSuvNcTg73NP6UXDNLBWsckISm955d1tykz-/w640-h424/Screenshot%202024-01-05%20150848.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bubba Thompson (Photo Credit: Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The former Texas Rangers prospect, a 2017 first-round MLB draft selection, is only twenty-five and possesses elite speed. Unfortunately, his hit tool has not developed at the Major League level. He was designated by the Rangers in August, and claimed by the Kansas City Royals, finishing the season with their Triple-A affiliate. After the season was over, Thompson was claimed on waivers by the Reds. The Reds have been one of the more active teams this offseason, and they needed to clear a roster spot for reliever Buck Farmer, hence the waiver of Thompson.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">When/if the Yankees add starting pitching and/or relief help, they will need to clear roster space. Thompson will be among those at risk of losing their seat at the Yankees table. He will join Jeter Downs and Matt Krook as guys who should not purchase homes in the New York City area.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>MLB Yankees Roster<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I wish the Yankees roster would be updated in real-time on the MLB/Yankees website. The site continues to show Alex Verdugo with the number 99. Blank (no number) would be a better option until the new number is revealed. Same with Trent Grisham who sports the retired number 2 on the website. I am confident he does not have Derek Jeter’s permission to wear the number.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6w-02bJy_gd00ULiOCv-k4WOjpEgwxKKmvhjn7RMQiogzxRjR94jtQNFVTX2s6nwWHzA_npyZA5X0UWd_yqku4pNCQBGTG8XPX5wmwPG5-PyxePlMU8gv7RAhc5RB2adXzSARYSBQLeAZS9Vwz6fRwnI1Z8RyKrhyQnQvSWqlpWRos6DfkP4dTJyjXy9P/s1270/Screenshot%202024-01-05%20151041.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="1270" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6w-02bJy_gd00ULiOCv-k4WOjpEgwxKKmvhjn7RMQiogzxRjR94jtQNFVTX2s6nwWHzA_npyZA5X0UWd_yqku4pNCQBGTG8XPX5wmwPG5-PyxePlMU8gv7RAhc5RB2adXzSARYSBQLeAZS9Vwz6fRwnI1Z8RyKrhyQnQvSWqlpWRos6DfkP4dTJyjXy9P/w640-h301/Screenshot%202024-01-05%20151041.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Credit: MLB/Yankees.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The Yankees also continue to show Sean Casey, who is not returning, as Hitting Coach along with new Hitting Coach James Rowson.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45lCbrRtsZaLkgJgtdisEnuSDNZNJ0INRr-uqGfVCtfXHTfRHnohTIEvMhXULkJYRV6-tVKupFkdU2grwXejS2qNyn10HXx7nPIw8pNPs03Uw6f-NyXd6KYMYuK8u7t7FceWsDvHLVBaHFN5TaVoskhsEGMwN1kKOSEg3gwyvkWUS4PD1F7wSLfETjZR8/s1269/Screenshot%202024-01-05%20151239.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="1269" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45lCbrRtsZaLkgJgtdisEnuSDNZNJ0INRr-uqGfVCtfXHTfRHnohTIEvMhXULkJYRV6-tVKupFkdU2grwXejS2qNyn10HXx7nPIw8pNPs03Uw6f-NyXd6KYMYuK8u7t7FceWsDvHLVBaHFN5TaVoskhsEGMwN1kKOSEg3gwyvkWUS4PD1F7wSLfETjZR8/w640-h384/Screenshot%202024-01-05%20151239.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Credit: MLB/Yankees.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I have also seen reports that Casey Dykes will return as assistant hitting coach but nothing about Brad Wilkerson.<br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Details matter and I wish the Yankees would clean up their website. They are quick to add and delete players. I just wish they paid as much attention to the content as possible. Sometimes it feels like they show the same disregard for the real roster.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>A Bargain Sale<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The Boston Red Sox front office, even if the names and faces have changed, has the luck of the Irish when it comes to unloading bad contracts. I was amazed they were able to trade former ace Chris Sale to the Atlanta Braves for a legitimate player (talented young infielder Vaughn Grissom who was blocked in Atlanta by Ozzie Albies). The Red Sox sent $17 million in cash to Atlanta as a partial offset to the $27.5 million that was owed to Sale, but it is still a net savings for Boston.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">While I believe Sale can help the Braves, Boston was able to pull another money-saving deal like they once did with Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford, and Nick Punto when they shipped those contracts to the Los Angeles Dodgers more than a decade ago. Punto did not make much, but the inclusion of his contract, along with the other three, allowed Boston to get under the 2012 tax threshold and reset their luxury tax penalties. The Yankees never make these kinds of deals, sticking with players until the point that eating the remaining money owed becomes more tolerable than the player’s presence on the roster.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The chances Sale stays healthy are better in Atlanta since Sale is no longer the focal point of the starting rotation. They can afford to take it slower with him and put him in the best position to stay healthy. I have seen writers say new Red Sox General Manager Craig Breslow was fleeced by Alex Anthopoulos, but I do not see it that way. Boston is not going to contend next season, or if they do, they will not go far. Sale will be 35 this season and he did not figure into Boston’s long-term plans. They save money and get a new starting second baseman with Sale’s departure. Grissom is a piece to the puzzle in Boston’s attempt to rebuild a World Series contender. The money savings helped Boston sign free agent Lucas Giolito who will replace Sale in the starting rotation. While you can argue whether Giolito is a worthwhile addition (he was a hard pass for me as a Yankees option given his struggles last year), there is a chance that Giolito could find success in Boston. If he can rediscover the potential he once showed for the White Sox, the Sale trade will be a huge win for Breslow and the Red Sox.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Some trades are win/win for both teams, and that is how I view the Chris Sale trade for Boston and Atlanta…not that I want to say anything good about the Red Sox.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>2024 Trade Deadline<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Joel Sherman of The New York Post has reported that this season’s MLB trade deadline will be Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at 6 pm Eastern/5 pm Central. Last season’s deadline fell on August 1. Historically, the trade deadline had fallen at the end of July, but the latest collective bargaining agreement had empowered the commissioner to choose a date between July 28 and August 3 to give flexibility for scheduling purposes (avoiding afternoon games on deadline day when possible).<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I preferred the simple July 31 deadline, but I get it. You do not want to impact players actively on the field (or withheld from play) in the hours and minutes leading up to the deadline.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">So long as the Yankees are buyers on July 30, life is good.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">As always, Go Yankees!</p>Scott Fiedlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05598662581036778337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2676591017018865408.post-86593313389790441502023-12-30T20:42:00.000-05:002023-12-30T20:42:02.837-05:00A Lump of Cole Only Goes So Far...<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6gEkEzsugdcLIpa7jiwQkSVF51ZBRQt8AUCfWIDUbYynl5hFSlYi40Cxc6rd-pR6gZ9MJPls6t087Y9f7dWJVgho6Pou8a0uhpncvf4F1LAapGDkBCwUO4raj21Z1GD3zAWJO-rWFm7fVfIUdZtNdC9kp2xckSUMrGKldpCdKqQe8jEEGRihUpNMImjTx/s834/Screenshot%202023-12-30%20171922.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="822" data-original-width="834" height="630" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6gEkEzsugdcLIpa7jiwQkSVF51ZBRQt8AUCfWIDUbYynl5hFSlYi40Cxc6rd-pR6gZ9MJPls6t087Y9f7dWJVgho6Pou8a0uhpncvf4F1LAapGDkBCwUO4raj21Z1GD3zAWJO-rWFm7fVfIUdZtNdC9kp2xckSUMrGKldpCdKqQe8jEEGRihUpNMImjTx/w640-h630/Screenshot%202023-12-30%20171922.png" width="640" /></a></p><br /><h2><b style="text-align: justify;">Wanted: Elite Starting Pitching…</b></h2><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I seriously doubt the New York Yankees took an ‘all or nothing’ approach with their failed pursuit of Japanese RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but as the calendar prepares to turn to 2024, we have yet to see Plan B unfold. Most Yankees fans, at least those on X (formerly known as Twitter), seem to prefer a trade for Dylan Cease or Corbin Burnes. No trades appear imminent so the fanbase continues to wait.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The Yankees are a better team today than they were when the 2023 regular season ended for no other reason than they have added one of the greatest young offensive talents in the game to their roster. But for as great as Juan Soto is and can be, he alone does not convert an 82-win team into a World Series championship contender. Soto helped his 2023 teammates, the San Diego Padres, to the exact same record as the Yankees, 82-80. Granted, there were many reasons why the Padres failed, and Soto was not a reason, but the point is the Yankees need to do more than add Soto to the roster. The Yankees are weaker in other areas because of the Soto trade. They lost a valuable bullpen member who had the potential to be an upper-end rotation starter and a dependable, proven backup catcher with elite framing skills and some occasional pop. While you would trade Michael King for Juan Soto any day of the week, King will be missed. The best replacement, today, is faith that Luis Gil can be a trusted reliever after missing several years due to injury or hope pitching prospects Will Warren, Chase Hampton, or Clayton Beeter can emerge.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2cOLaFl8cCXjiyzb34U42rio1mHjdoCHhp4vEVnHRwatoNYxnVIyEJVlvjQbGsxxPxTQH2wbS1g7ZV8Lk9YPtA2zmHLnYA60bNxMbEAUQZxOXr0nGOE75AYfa7rwRNqV2y_ttZycOAFAlpvjpd-RG8U8mxmdpqnkd0WcXwO0Qx-ImRfYj-7_1lJKI166/s876/Screenshot%202023-12-30%20172325.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="876" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2cOLaFl8cCXjiyzb34U42rio1mHjdoCHhp4vEVnHRwatoNYxnVIyEJVlvjQbGsxxPxTQH2wbS1g7ZV8Lk9YPtA2zmHLnYA60bNxMbEAUQZxOXr0nGOE75AYfa7rwRNqV2y_ttZycOAFAlpvjpd-RG8U8mxmdpqnkd0WcXwO0Qx-ImRfYj-7_1lJKI166/w640-h424/Screenshot%202023-12-30%20172325.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Will Warren (Photo Credit: Somerset Patriots)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">My fear is the Yankees enter the 2024 season with the same hope as 2023, that Carlos Rodón can be an elite starter behind the great Gerrit Cole. After his miserable 2023 season, expectations for Rodón should be lowered. With the questions surrounding Nestor Cortes, Jr, there is too much uncertainty wrapped up into two spots in the starting rotation. The Yankees need certainty, consistency, and strength in the other three rotation spots. Cole nails the top spot without question. Clarke Schmidt can be a dependable fifth starter as he continues his growth curve. This leaves a clear need for a strong second starter behind Cole.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I am not losing any sleep over missing out on free agent RHP Lucas Giolito who has signed with the Boston Red Sox. It was not that long ago when Yankees fans were salivating at the thought of acquiring Giolito, but the homer-prone pitcher was dreadful after his trade deadline acquisition by the Los Angeles Angels last year which led to his release, and he continued the downfall in Cleveland to end the season. Maybe Giolito can rediscover his touch, he is only twenty-nine after all, but that is a risk I would rather see the Red Sox take than the Yankees.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Frankie Montas, who many thought would re-sign with the Yankees, is no longer an option. He has signed a one-year, $16 million contract with the Reds, taking the Sonny Gray path to redemption via the road through Cincinnati. Sonny has a nice contract with the St Louis Cardinals by taking that route. Maybe it will work out for Montas too. The Montas trade will forever rank as one of Brian Cashman’s worst, although he continues to add to the worst collection every chance he gets.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I am not convinced the Milwaukee Brewers will trade Corbin Burnes. Some reports indicate they intend to contend in 2024 under new manager Pat Murphy and will be looking to build rather than sell. The team needs to instill confidence in its fanbase after the disruptive departures of former President of Baseball Operations David Stearns, who took the same position with the New York Mets, and former manager Craig Counsell, a hometown favorite, who has moved on to the Chicago Cubs. Trading the best-starting pitcher on the team would not help restore the fans’ confidence in the team.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Free agent Jordan Montgomery continues to rate as the best possible pickup through free agency. James Paxton is still a free agent, but health-challenged pitchers are not a smart bet when you are currently carrying too many as it is. I would like to see the return of Montgomery but how much of an overpay is too much? This much is certain…Monty will get more money than he is worth. The pitching contracts handed out this winter have ensured it will happen. Monty brings the necessary stability the starting rotation sorely lacks. Two years ago, we debated whether he deserved a start in the playoffs and now he would be asked to shoulder the load behind Cole. Montgomery does feel a little like “been there, done that” but I was disappointed when he was traded. I did not want to see him go then even if the Yankees filled a need by acquiring centerfielder Harrison Bader. He has shown growth since his departure from Pinstripes, and it would be nice to capture the new and improved version of the tall lefthander. He loved his time as a Yankee so if the two parties can agree on the money, I am sure any old rifts between the organization and the player will be cured.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wcMSuO4TRc1_iWLJJ7yVn36KfskYIkzFo9pqvtItflsSKr1hwI-MOlZQLo9xd1cMkyJdJxBLbXPurluinOVdfPgLsHhtk7yOrJlXwXEehhmNHt8Oasct-bLfVA9j7_Fjq7eBRz0OiTsybIEHLkpifLcNL6qjs8SBc_QWweTB0Xo5Y1bIAF-2G6jnJ7e0/s740/Screenshot%202023-12-30%20172607.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="740" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wcMSuO4TRc1_iWLJJ7yVn36KfskYIkzFo9pqvtItflsSKr1hwI-MOlZQLo9xd1cMkyJdJxBLbXPurluinOVdfPgLsHhtk7yOrJlXwXEehhmNHt8Oasct-bLfVA9j7_Fjq7eBRz0OiTsybIEHLkpifLcNL6qjs8SBc_QWweTB0Xo5Y1bIAF-2G6jnJ7e0/w640-h422/Screenshot%202023-12-30%20172607.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Jordan Montgomery</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">There was a surprising pitching trade today. The Boston Red Sox, a day after signing Luis Giolito, have traded their former ace, Chris Sale, to the Atlanta Braves for infielder Vaughn Grissom. As much as I always wanted to beat Sale, I am sorry that injuries have derailed him in the last few years. I always subscribe to the belief that to be the best, you must beat the best, so a healthy Chris Sale was always better than the alternative. At least he goes to Atlanta where he no longer must be “the guy.” Spencer Strider has that title. I would like to see Sale return to prominence. I have no desire to see the Braves win a championship, however, it would be good for baseball if Sale became a feared competitor again.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Even though other teams are taking chances with starting pitching, the Yankees can ill afford to go that route. They need certainty and strength if they intend to show they can be one of the American League’s best teams in 2024. I know, playoffs are a crap shoot. But it helps when you have pitchers who can deal. When October rolls around, good pitching beats good hitting. Bad pitching paves the way for early exits, assuming you can even get that far.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The Yankees still have time to upgrade their rotation. It may be less than two months before the team arrives at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, yet there is time. The worst thing the Yankees can do is to do nothing. Hopefully, they will be better than that.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Yankees on the Move<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The Isiah Kiner-Falefa Era has ended. I feel bad for him. There was too much pressure placed on him as the starting shortstop in 2022. The Yankees' decision to pass on elite free agent shortstops, particularly Corey Seager who seemed like such a great fit for Yankee Stadium, was a mistake regardless of how you feel about Anthony Volpe. The Yankees fanbase turned hard on IKF and it was not fair. It was not his fault the Yankees chose to make him the starting shortstop. The Yankees knew the flaws like we did. IKF rebounded in 2023 to show that he could be a reliable super-sub, even toiling time in the outfield which had previously been foreign territory for him. He handled his various roles with grace and helped to build support within the fanbase. I would have liked it if the Yankees had signed him to a new deal to continue his super-sub role. Instead, IKF will head north of the border to play for the Toronto Blue Jays where he will most likely see more time at third base which seems more like his natural position even if he does not have the necessary bat for a corner infielder.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Good for him. I would have preferred it if he had left the division (or the league). However, I have no ill will toward the player, and I would never boo him at Yankee Stadium. I will always remember IKF as being placed in an impossible situation by the Yankees, and his perseverance to make the best of a challenging predicament. He never deserved the wrath of the Yankees fans. He loved the Yankees as a kid, and he was thrilled to put on the Pinstripes. He never wanted to fail. He just needed to be placed in the best position to win.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGviHL1C_EuGEaVVjUVw4lmsYjLL4Jcysu-MdKw6StNajUUBXVxduiH2wxVt_x93V0QOWRNIRiK_TFeHq4VVvqpPvD_DwycZlposUGgDvJZ6iczHtlJMq6qpgKT4RCeH6qq4eIxV-pVhjLCNPwLolIVsXsNeb3pXR6o8gOazmZe7DjrLOgFHzOLJzfsH4/s460/Screenshot%202023-12-30%20172842.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="460" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGviHL1C_EuGEaVVjUVw4lmsYjLL4Jcysu-MdKw6StNajUUBXVxduiH2wxVt_x93V0QOWRNIRiK_TFeHq4VVvqpPvD_DwycZlposUGgDvJZ6iczHtlJMq6qpgKT4RCeH6qq4eIxV-pVhjLCNPwLolIVsXsNeb3pXR6o8gOazmZe7DjrLOgFHzOLJzfsH4/w400-h379/Screenshot%202023-12-30%20172842.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Isiah Kiner-Falefa</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The Estevan Florial Story finally ended for the Yankees when they traded him to Cleveland for RHP Cody Morris. It is funny that both players carry the label “once-promising” but it is a good opportunity for both to start over with new organizations. The fact the Yankees got <i>anything</i> of value for Florial is a plus since any team could have had him for a simple waiver claim last year. Morris made six relief appearances for the Guardians last season, posting a 6.75 ERA after yielding six earned runs in eight innings of work, but spent most of the season in the minors. There is hope Morris, 27, might see a rebound under the tutelage of Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake. The two are familiar with each other from their days together in the Guardians organization. Morris has the potential to either be a fifth starter or a reliever. Who knows, maybe he can be 2024’s Ian Hamilton.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I hope Florial gets a legitimate opportunity in Cleveland. I have no love for Myles Straw, and it would be tremendous to see Straw get supplanted in center field by Florial. If Florial cannot wrest a starting position among the outfielders, he will hopefully contribute off the bench. While I am generally not too fond of ex-Yankees, there are some I root for and Florial will be among them. At least he did not go to another AL East team.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Lame Duck Manager<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Aaron Boone will enter the 2024 season in the last year of his contract. There is a club option for 2025 but to the best of my knowledge, it has not (yet) been picked up. Normally, I would prefer to see the team’s manager receive a new contract to avoid the lame duck status, but Boone warrants special consideration as a lame duck.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIA17a-YV6Q73gmeOy9SqUqRwGjQ8z0DQB892KzWZcFJDDpX3AxqBEGAAGYhh0Jp5GPVqAVx5pMLeIscC67W1y9WOY0GJ4KTHgc4j8MAccqeLqq9BzKBrlOvc02Lwt8K1K_S0Fh6J99LHRUIzLQ8qj0KXt2Q_vtdVt5j169Us84lciCHyf4Q7dsYaTumG/s880/Screenshot%202023-12-30%20173132.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="880" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIA17a-YV6Q73gmeOy9SqUqRwGjQ8z0DQB892KzWZcFJDDpX3AxqBEGAAGYhh0Jp5GPVqAVx5pMLeIscC67W1y9WOY0GJ4KTHgc4j8MAccqeLqq9BzKBrlOvc02Lwt8K1K_S0Fh6J99LHRUIzLQ8qj0KXt2Q_vtdVt5j169Us84lciCHyf4Q7dsYaTumG/w640-h422/Screenshot%202023-12-30%20173132.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Aaron Boone (Photo Credit: Carlos Osorio/AP)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">If the Yankees underperform in 2024, there is no reason the club should exercise its option for 2025. It will be time to find a new skipper. 2024 will be a critical year for the organization. As it sits today, Juan Soto is a one-year Yankee who will be moving on to greener pastures in 2025 unless the Yankees can convince him to stay. Boone has a solid rep as a player’s manager so his relationship with Soto could go a long way toward determining the Yankees' fate for both. Money will obviously be the key determinant for Soto as he is expected to break the $500 million barrier (void of the 98% deferrals contained in Shohei Ohtani’s contract). Yet, his relationship with the Yankees, the front office, the players, the manager, and the fans, will play a role. If Soto is convinced that he wants to be a Yankee and the money is close, the advantage will go to the Yankees.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">If the Yankees run out another 82-80 season and Boone is dismissed after the season, it seems more likely that Soto will move on. So, I have to say that I have mixed feelings about Boone. I like the guy personally, and I do appreciate the support of his players. His decision-making skills are questionable at times, but I am hopeful that new bench coach Brad Ausmus can help. I have always wanted an experienced Major League manager to sit next to Boone, and this is the first time in his Yankees managerial career that it has happened.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Nevertheless, the Yankees should wait to make any decisions about the future of Aaron Boone as manager until AFTER the season has ended. I am totally in favor of an extension for Soto in advance of the season, if agent Scott Boras will allow it, but Boone is clearly in the hot seat and must prove that he deserves his next extension. Two years into the current extension has not yielded that determination.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">It is about time to close the book in 2023 and start the new story of 2024. Happy New Year to the Yankees, its players, and all the fans! It is time to bring in a championship year!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">As always, Go Yankees!</p>Scott Fiedlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05598662581036778337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2676591017018865408.post-82889514938989053912023-12-23T20:05:00.004-05:002023-12-23T20:05:37.920-05:00The Yankees Miss Their Target...<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_PgdOnK78jGFgsO_eQJzH34HBM3a3Wrtsn_KwNMuZBd7ifGBCY5N-877vTkRqFZFOWdZtf8k0rdYBFUAAuSPGcITCEXNr7EE9XkxdSPup9rMEhMajSZwnkEVDP1zJ4JqX5YDyp39UUPBOVEWHGNUkBGcvClfPzYBpCdNJ4BS0zgdVVK8yYr8mmREhte7/s756/Screenshot%202023-12-23%20164510.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="756" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_PgdOnK78jGFgsO_eQJzH34HBM3a3Wrtsn_KwNMuZBd7ifGBCY5N-877vTkRqFZFOWdZtf8k0rdYBFUAAuSPGcITCEXNr7EE9XkxdSPup9rMEhMajSZwnkEVDP1zJ4JqX5YDyp39UUPBOVEWHGNUkBGcvClfPzYBpCdNJ4BS0zgdVVK8yYr8mmREhte7/w640-h358/Screenshot%202023-12-23%20164510.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto</span></td></tr></tbody></table><h2><b style="text-align: justify;">Yamamoto decides to join Shohei in LaLa Land…</b></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">When it was announced that Shohei Ohtani had deferred all but $2 million annually of his record $700 million contract for the next ten years, it seemed inevitable the Los Angeles Dodgers would do what it takes to sign Shohei’s fellow countryman Yoshinobu Yamamoto despite speculation the Yankees were the frontrunners to sign the talented free agent Japanese pitcher.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I never bought into the belief the Yankees would get their man. I wanted it to be true, and I would have loved to have seen Yamamoto wearing number 18 in Pinstripes, but sadly, the Dodgers had the advantage, and they knew it. My only hope was that Yamamoto would want to be “the” Japanese star on his new team despite knowing there is comfort in playing with a teammate without the need for an interpreter. Shohei Ohtani will be THE STAR in Los Angeles. Whatever Yamamoto can do, Ohtani’s star will shine brighter. But Yamamoto has a chance to celebrate championships with one of the greatest players to ever play the game. I do not blame him for his choice. I wish the outcome would have been different, but I wish no ill will to the pitcher, and I hope he has a spectacular Major League career.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Yankees made a fair offer to Yamamoto. According to multiple sources, the Yankees offered a 9-year contract worth $300 million. The Dodgers offered 12-years at $325 million which is the same figure presented by the New York Mets. The Yankees’ deal offered a greater average annual value, but it was clear that Yamamoto wanted to play in Los Angeles.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">There is no doubt it would have been a spectacular offseason if the Yankees had been able to acquire both Juan Soto and Yamamoto. It certainly would have heightened the optimism for the 2024 season. As it stands, the Yankees will need to pivot to find another starting pitcher. It will be hard to replicate the potential Yamamoto would have provided, but a front two of Gerrit Cole and say Corbin Burnes (currently with the Milwaukee Brewers) would be exciting. The downside is the talented prospects it will take to acquire another frontline player. The Yankees could sign Jordan Montgomery or Blake Snell for only money, but neither of those pitchers will significantly upgrade the starting rotation. Burnes or Dylan Cease of the Chicago White Sox seem to be the best options to slide behind Cole in the starting rotation. It is a hard pass on Cleveland’s Shane Bieber for me given his injury history in recent years. Miami’s Jesus Luzardo is also an option.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Yankees do need help for the starting rotation. If 2024 success is dependent upon good health for Carlos Rodón and Nestor Cortes, Jr., the Yankees are doomed. They need a dependable top starter that they can pair with Cole. I wanted the Yankees to sign Rodón last year, and I still hope that he can be the pitcher he was in San Francisco, but it is not a bet I would want to make. The Yankees must lessen the “need” for Rodón so that anything we get can just be icing on the cake.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I am hopeful that someone emerges from the Yankees’ top pitching prospects to claim a spot in the rotation. An earned claim, not just giving a spot to a pitcher to see what he can do. Chase Hampton, Will Warren, and Clayton Beeter come to mind, along with a healthy Luis Gil. Most might be destined for the bullpen, but it would be nice if one emerged as a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter or even as a strong fifth starter.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Pitching aside, the next order of business should be signing Juan Soto to a long-term extension. I know that his agent, Scott Boras, is not known for extensions but under the right circumstances, he has done it. The Yankees need to put their best foot forward to secure Soto so that he is not a one-and-done rental player for the Yankees. The announcement of a huge contract extension during Spring Training would be incredible. It would set the tone for the season and would bring the certainty Soto will remain an integral part of the lineup moving forward. It would be great to see Soto on the grounds of Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, surrounded by teammates, friends, and family, celebrating a long-term deal to keep him in the famed Pinstripes for the next decade. The Yankees were willing to give Yamamoto $300 million, knowing they would have to pay Soto. There is no reason the organization cannot pony up the money it will take to keep Soto and entice him to forego the free agent market. It will be a $500 million plus contract, for sure, and without the “Dodger” deferrals. The Yankees can afford to keep one of baseball’s greatest players in New York, and more specifically, in the Bronx.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7genSy58D-jrWTmsbNbvRR-TCIV1f1QvSPWccS3hBAthM2PZQmQPLgNME2JSIMOQejpibGolU4Gekgnl2stfTFKR9htlMu1ulVhav_WvZxEl-6cXY8z5mmRp1LrqUcIBITf8fxhAldH7jmczxZm9GBojQOv23hNTOuJBAjM0XSMjl1M82B-K41iSmYN2/s474/OIP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="189" data-original-width="474" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7genSy58D-jrWTmsbNbvRR-TCIV1f1QvSPWccS3hBAthM2PZQmQPLgNME2JSIMOQejpibGolU4Gekgnl2stfTFKR9htlMu1ulVhav_WvZxEl-6cXY8z5mmRp1LrqUcIBITf8fxhAldH7jmczxZm9GBojQOv23hNTOuJBAjM0XSMjl1M82B-K41iSmYN2/w640-h256/OIP.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Juan Soto</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">As much as Soto may enjoy New York during the upcoming season, I think it would be a mistake to let him hit the open market next offseason. He does not have long-time ties with the organization like Aaron Judge did. Being a Yankee is special, but money is better. If Soto is a free agent, it is a certainty Steve Cohen and the New York Mets will go hard after him. Every winter, there seems to be at least one Major League owner with stupid money. The potential to lose Soto in free agency is far greater than it was with Judge. Even if the Yankees must pay more, the talent of the player has proven his worth. With escalating salaries, the Cole and Judge contracts are beginning to look like bargains. If the Los Angeles Dodgers can afford to pay over a billion dollars for two Japanese players, including one who has never thrown a pitch for a Major League baseball team, the Yankees can afford to pay Juan Soto.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">As awful as it felt to lose out on Yamamoto to the Dodgers, the pain of losing Juan Soto to free agency next Winter would be far worse, particularly if Soto has the type of season that we expect him to have in 2024. His style of play, and the results, are certain to endear him to the Yankees fan base. He will become a fan favorite in one of the safest 2024 season predictions you can make. <b><u>It will rip our hearts out if he leaves</u></b>.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Good thing Spring Training is still two months away. The Yankees have a lot of work to do.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>Alex Verdugo, the Yankee…</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I had wondered when the Yankees would hold a press conference for Alex Verdugo. I guess the days of the big press conferences at Yankee Stadium are over, but the Zoom calls with the press are nice. It helps to get insight into the players and to get their thoughts about joining the organization.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">When Verdugo held his press conference this week, his comment about being mad when he heard that he had been traded from the Red Sox to the Yankees is the type of intensity I wanted to see from him. We always want the players to despise the enemy as much as we do, but honestly, they do not. They will go to whichever team is willing to show them the money. We saw David Wells and David Cone join the Red Sox. It happens. I would rather see a player dislike the Red Sox like we do. Granted, Verdugo had no love for the Yankees, but it is the passion, the intensity I respect, and I know that when he does pull on the Pinstripes, he will be ready for war. Maybe he will bring the energy the Yankees lineup has been missing. I wanted Cody Bellinger because of Bellinger’s ability to play centerfield while Jasson Dominguez recovers from offseason surgery, and first base as a hedge for Anthony Rizzo’s health. Nevertheless, if Verdugo is a Yankee when the team heads north next March, I will support him. I was not excited about his acquisition when it was first announced, but given time, I can see his value in getting on base for Judge and Soto. Whether he is in left field or center, I would have preferred elite defense, but Trent Grisham will get plenty of opportunities and will provide an excellent glove late in games.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Verdugo has chosen a Yankees number, but he did not reveal it during the press conference. He wore 27 with the Dodgers, and 99 with the Red Sox so neither of those numbers are options. Weirdly, the Yankees website continues to show Verdugo with 99 on the 40-man roster. I think that number is already taken. For that matter, they show outfielder Trent Grisham with number 2. We know that number will never be handed out again. Regardless of the number Verdugo wears, I look forward to the passion and energy he will bring to the Yankees next season. I know he has learned from his past mistakes, and he will continue to get better as a Major League player. So, I do not care what happened between him and Red Sox manager Alex Cora so long as the past mistakes are not repeated.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfR314tcl9BsNzxhEq_g2vOTiCTDcLc1XzUBk5MAXCGyQV00boA25RmSRTx5GZe7esGq7S1EwYf-KpVwIdEYoIJwJpxDTcL3PtmL8-rWOAgvMZ46EmQ_K5SJ9mahmiZ9yAyGMJ3hvTRUTTLVbhQOfMHW_OyqAqOGXvKe5SDJ8XjnJ4td2NXwg_dXBKLSKs/s474/th%20(6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="474" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfR314tcl9BsNzxhEq_g2vOTiCTDcLc1XzUBk5MAXCGyQV00boA25RmSRTx5GZe7esGq7S1EwYf-KpVwIdEYoIJwJpxDTcL3PtmL8-rWOAgvMZ46EmQ_K5SJ9mahmiZ9yAyGMJ3hvTRUTTLVbhQOfMHW_OyqAqOGXvKe5SDJ8XjnJ4td2NXwg_dXBKLSKs/w640-h360/th%20(6).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Alex Verdugo</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>Several Minor League signings…</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Yankees signed a couple of players to minor league deals this week with invitations to Spring Training. One is a former Pirates pitcher who spent 2023 in the Chicago Cubs organization, 30-year-old right-hander Nick Burdi. The Yankees enjoy reclamation projects from the Pirates, having found success with Clay Holmes, and their signing earlier this offseason of Yerry De Los Santos. Burdi has not found Major League success and has had trouble staying healthy, but he gets a clean slate with the Yankees and hopefully he can be the pitcher he has always wanted to be with his new team.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Yankees also signed former Chicago White Sox and San Francisco Giants outfielder Luis González, 28. It is hard not to think of a painful bloop hit by Arizona’s Luis Gonzalez off Mariano Rivera to give the Arizona Diamondbacks the 2001 World Series Championship. “That” Gonzalez is unrelated to the player the Yankees signed, but the name (with or without the accent) will always be a painful reminder of 2001. I was in a bar outside of Arizona’s ballpark (now known as Chase Field) when the older Gonzalez forever placed his name among historical World Series achievements.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">González was limited to only thirty-one minor league games last year after back surgery so he will be looking to rebound in 2024. If not with the Yankees, he can hopefully open eyes for some team to capture the continuation of his MLB dream.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ptRgDVdBpbuqSyYgPHxO9HqIWQGJGiiFqanbPTmBPdmf8Qt3KX_5n7lezVEEhj58Fp7ugv9Dinu4GGsQxYyhQ7mtsczfipGwVYSSe1jMIVxvmXj-xYg39NwkwYXnutEgRr5N14nRczgPjtyJw02L9_Fh_S9jCfsS1GAjtF2H8Xw1HutQ8QyPGa257dJ_/s474/th%20(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="474" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ptRgDVdBpbuqSyYgPHxO9HqIWQGJGiiFqanbPTmBPdmf8Qt3KX_5n7lezVEEhj58Fp7ugv9Dinu4GGsQxYyhQ7mtsczfipGwVYSSe1jMIVxvmXj-xYg39NwkwYXnutEgRr5N14nRczgPjtyJw02L9_Fh_S9jCfsS1GAjtF2H8Xw1HutQ8QyPGa257dJ_/w640-h334/th%20(7).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Luis Gonz</span><span style="text-align: justify;">á</span><span style="text-align: justify;">lez</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">It was not a signing, but the Yankees claimed infielder Jeter Downs on waivers from the Washington Nationals. Downs was once a top prospect for the Cincinnati Reds. The right-handed shortstop, second baseman, and third baseman was traded, with pitcher Josiah Gray, in December 2018 to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the deal that sent Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig, Kyle Farmer and Alex Wood to the Reds. The Dodgers sent Downs, Alex Verdugo, and Connor Wong to the Boston Red Sox in a February 2020 trade that brought Mookie Betts (and David Price) to LA. The Washington Nationals had claimed Downs on waivers in December 2022 from the Red Sox, and a year later, Downs became a Yankee after his placement on waivers again. I'm not expecting much for the player with the impressive first name after he failed in Boston and Washington, but he is a former top prospect, so he has the pedigree. Maybe Jeter and the Yankees were always meant to be together. I wish him luck with his continued journey, and I do hope he finds success. It is kind of funny the Yankees have two of the three players the Red Sox acquired for Betts.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Merry Christmas to everyone!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3nf-xDSPPvE93TzFD-pFSEnnzAk2WxG9j3RcSLHyNCRk6Oy8fSECmwZAlbcaE5tIMyu5pP4pg5fCAJyOdGLEaApXZgwlw9Tr7EdWZY0wKRbgJojOhd9JjsmGWvL9pkUGfcokusMucKRSe9olQxTnHPlHTVQ_Z7U9xHbC3u97XU1iwEKrE2oA7eG5oF9l/s720/79b3c78f67430fc8ba04121ccfd07d0c--baseball-xmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="720" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3nf-xDSPPvE93TzFD-pFSEnnzAk2WxG9j3RcSLHyNCRk6Oy8fSECmwZAlbcaE5tIMyu5pP4pg5fCAJyOdGLEaApXZgwlw9Tr7EdWZY0wKRbgJojOhd9JjsmGWvL9pkUGfcokusMucKRSe9olQxTnHPlHTVQ_Z7U9xHbC3u97XU1iwEKrE2oA7eG5oF9l/w640-h440/79b3c78f67430fc8ba04121ccfd07d0c--baseball-xmas.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">As always, Go Yankees!</p>Scott Fiedlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05598662581036778337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2676591017018865408.post-34649333867784773542023-12-07T22:41:00.004-05:002023-12-07T22:41:44.571-05:00Juan Soto: Dreams Come True...<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0UDYFSvhvFwQOwJejj3bHOk9_3uHIHCtLb5JLvqPXkVBcecoKLNR4_wGdzGq5E66_cpWvZxSTPIrLFr0KqMK0Q3letrNoS0gTsvTV-iCj57VSnh5IXsovSBS_KHMAOZPjComBIKU2u33LJa6cgiPy_YRJb6UMLNj7L_4r05TrYoxnIS4JSY_qOEpQ_-Qy/s869/Screenshot%202023-12-07%20192636.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="868" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0UDYFSvhvFwQOwJejj3bHOk9_3uHIHCtLb5JLvqPXkVBcecoKLNR4_wGdzGq5E66_cpWvZxSTPIrLFr0KqMK0Q3letrNoS0gTsvTV-iCj57VSnh5IXsovSBS_KHMAOZPjComBIKU2u33LJa6cgiPy_YRJb6UMLNj7L_4r05TrYoxnIS4JSY_qOEpQ_-Qy/w640-h640/Screenshot%202023-12-07%20192636.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Credit: @Yankees via X</span></td></tr></tbody></table><h2><b style="text-align: justify;">Juan Soto is a Yankee.</b></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The New York Yankees successfully acquired young superstar outfielder Juan Soto; a player coveted by the Yankees fan base for years. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Despite the acquisition of one of baseball’s brightest young talents, the 2023 Baseball Winter Meetings were largely a bore. I am excited that the Yankees acquired Soto, but the process was tiring. I guess I would have liked it better if we had received a Jeff Passan tweet that simply said, “Yankees acquire Juan Soto”. All the tweets and reports from the various team beat writers saying a deal was close to the finish line was too long and drawn out. After hearing the Yankees and Padres were trying to complete the deal all day on Wednesday, the final day of the Winter Meetings, the official word was finally announced at nearly 11 p.m. Eastern time. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Wednesday evening there were reports that medical records (review on the San Diego side) were holding up the deal. Then, there were reports the Padres executives were attending a social event. I was not sure what to think, but the reports from the trustworthy beat writers did not express any concern that the deal was falling apart. Finally, Joel Sherman broke the news that the deal was done. <i>Whew!</i> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I thought the Yankees might give Jack Curry an exclusive to break the news. The Yankees Hot Stove show was scheduled to air at 10:30 p.m. Eastern (around the time the news started breaking about the finalization of the trade). Unfortunately, the Brooklyn Nets postgame show ran over so Yankee fans had to patiently (or rather impatiently) wait through the Nets postgame show to finally hear Jack Curry confirm the Soto trade.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">It was a long, difficult road with so many rumors. Granted, much of it was trade posturing. In the days leading up to the trade, it felt like the Padres might wait to see the market develop after Shohei Ohtani signs, thinking the jilted suitors might flip their attention to Soto. Fortunately, it was all smoke. The Yankees had the best offer on the table, and it gave the Padres the pitching and financial relief they needed to make the deal. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Losing Michael King hurts. I appreciated and valued Michael King, the reliever, and then I got even more excited when he excelled during his brief audition as a starter late last season. I was looking forward to King’s future in the starting rotation. I know he has dealt with his share of injuries in recent years, but I did not want to see him go. Obviously, losing him for Juan Soto is a deal you would make every day of the week, but it does not mean that there cannot be sadness to see King go. I truly wish him the best in San Diego. I was hopeful the Yankees would not lose both King and Drew Thorpe, yet they did. I would have preferred to see Clarke Schmidt accompany Thorpe to the West Coast over King, but it was not meant to be. The Yankees paid a healthy price for Soto and center fielder Trent Grisham…four pitchers…King, Thorpe, Jhony Brito, and Randy Vasquez…along with catcher Kyle Higashioka. I refuse to call it an “overpay” even though the Yankees are guaranteed only one year with Soto. Soto is exactly what the Yankees need, and he is worth the cost regardless of how much it hurts. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9iQ4zq9OJXXtUNyW8TexKycmoaSk4pGyU2XuKunAjfCyhes1Hm_gW_BkTELxk1qHVA6bvAOenZt-_f0opCNImB50EPx3OeOfmOKWI7JYpvyfrvRmXgbZIhGq0b2GqDtyqnqk7cgn6N4dFMEdeZTII95SitwYXD5-1iNmSOO3zZ-iKJBSW4I19BxZULo2/s671/Screenshot%202023-12-07%20192938.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="671" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9iQ4zq9OJXXtUNyW8TexKycmoaSk4pGyU2XuKunAjfCyhes1Hm_gW_BkTELxk1qHVA6bvAOenZt-_f0opCNImB50EPx3OeOfmOKWI7JYpvyfrvRmXgbZIhGq0b2GqDtyqnqk7cgn6N4dFMEdeZTII95SitwYXD5-1iNmSOO3zZ-iKJBSW4I19BxZULo2/w640-h356/Screenshot%202023-12-07%20192938.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Credit: FriarWire, Official Blog of the San Diego Padres</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Higgy leaves as the longest-tenured Yankee. I am proud of his time in the Yankees organization, and I am glad he has been part of the team. I recognized that his salary and age were working against him, and it made him the most likely departee among the multiple catchers on the 40-man roster. Like Austin Romine before him, there comes a time when the Yankees and a player must part ways. Sadly, for Higgy, the day was December 6, 2023. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Brito and Vasquez did a good job providing rotation depth last year, but I am hopeful the pitchers remaining in the organization will step up. Will Warren, Chase Hampton, and Clayton Beeter are the pitchers who immediately come to mind. Luis Gil will also be back after distancing himself from Tommy John surgery. Nevertheless, the pitching losses reinforce the need to bolster the pitching staff between now and Spring Training. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Congratulations to General Manager Brian Cashman and his team for closing the deal to bring the 25-year-old superstar Juan Soto to New York. I was not sure they would do it. After ignoring most elite free agent talent in recent years, it seemed implausible the Yankees would pay for a potential future Hall of Famer with prospects and proven Major League talent when they could have had the best of the best for only cash and passed. I am glad they did. Soto alone is not enough, but Cashman seems to understand there is more work to do…or at least I hope he does.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Although the Yankees acquired outfielder Alex Verdugo earlier in the week from the Boston Red Sox, I am not convinced the 2024 Opening Day outfield will feature Judge, Soto, and Verdugo. The early speculation has Verdugo in left and Soto in right, pushing Judge to center. Cashman made an interesting comment during today’s press conference he held with beat writers when he said that if the season opened today, Judge would be in center. It leaves open the possibility there may be changes. In other words, there is no guarantee Verdugo will be on the opening-day roster. He could be moved for pitching if the Yankees come up with a better outfield solution that would keep Judge in right. Of course, the question would then become where you put Soto who seems better suited to play right field over left field. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I had been hopeful the Yankees would sign Cody Bellinger as the second move behind the Soto acquisition. Bellinger, if you believe he found himself last year in Chicago, offers both offense and defense and could cover center field until Jasson Dominguez is ready to return late next season and he could back up Anthony Rizzo at first base. Verdugo is simply a corner outfielder who has not played center field in a few years. He is not known for his defense and is obviously far less versatile than a player like Bellinger. I think the Bellinger dream is gone, but I am hopeful the Yankees can find the best outfield mix. If it ends up with Soto, Judge, and Verdugo, so be it. I am glad Trent Grisham is around as the fourth outfielder over the various options we had last year. It seems like Grisham will get plenty of playing time. I certainly like Grisham better than Verdugo even if Verdugo is the better everyday player. I do feel badly for Estevan Florial who will probably never get a genuine opportunity in Pinstripes. As much as I like Everson Pereira, I fully expect his name to be part of any trade acquisitions for pitching. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Since Manager Aaron Boone stated this week that DJ LeMahieu will be the starting third baseman in 2024, the Yankees have much riding on the health of their older corner infielders. There has been no speculation about Oswald Peraza, but I did find it odd that Peraza was not even given a chance to compete for the starting role in Spring Training. Both Peraza and Oswaldo Cabrera can still find their way on the 26-man roster as part of the bench strength, yet if Peraza is included in a trade for pitching, it would not surprise me. Peraza and the Miami Marlins make total sense to me.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Yankees will now turn their attention to Yoshinobu Yamamoto. They plan to meet with the free-agent Japanese pitcher on Monday. The competition for Yamamoto is steep. The Mets, backed by Steve Cohen’s huge wallet, are interested. If the Dodgers lose out on Shohei Ohtani, they may enter the bidding for Yamamoto if they are not there already. It seems like the Yankees are one of the favorites to sign Yamamoto, but it is far from a certainty, and if the bidding gets excessive (hearing reports of $300 million plus the $46 million posting fee), it does seem like Hal Steinbrenner may tap out. If the Yankees find Yamamoto too expensive, they might look at a reunion with Jordan Montgomery. I would like to see Gumby return, but I wish it was not predicated on whether they get Yamamoto. I would prefer to see Montgomery return as a stand-alone move. With the questions surrounding Carlos Rodón and Nestor Cortes, Jr, the rotation needs greater dependability in the other spots behind Gerrit Cole and for depth purposes. If the Yankees do not sign Montgomery, I hope he returns to the Texas Rangers. It would be tough to see him pitch for the Red Sox, Blue Jays, or Orioles. There is room for Montgomery in the Yankees rotation regardless of whether they sign Yamamoto. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Given the time the Yankees have spent following Yamamoto in Japan including Brian Cashman’s trip last summer when Yamamoto threw a no-hitter, the Yankees are clearly all-in on the talented righthander. There is no doubt Yamamoto has felt the Yankees’ presence for a long time which helps. I am glad the team is pulling in Hideki Matsui as part of the recruitment team. Unfortunately, I am less optimistic about Yamamoto than I was with Soto. I tried hard to temper my excitement for Soto under the belief the Yankees might (would) fall short. It worked out with Soto, however, there are no guarantees with Yamamoto and perhaps more adversity given the steeper competition in play for Yamamoto’s services. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">We keep saying the Yankees need to protect the best years of Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge. If the Yankees sign Yamamoto and can re-sign Soto after next season, they could represent the core of the team in the years beyond 2024. We will be talking about protecting their best years. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I have seen fans already grading the Yankees’ offseason. I prefer to wait for the finished product or at least until we see the guys who show up in Tampa for Spring Training in February. There is work to be done and it will determine how much better the Yankees can be in 2024.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Suffice it to say that I feel better about the Yankees with Juan Soto and Trent Grisham than without. Nevertheless, other teams are not going to sleep on the Yankees. They are working to get better, and it is possible the best player in the game, Shohei Ohtani, may sign with Toronto, a key division rival. The Orioles have a wealth of young talent, and if they made a financial commitment to invest in starting pitching, they could be a dominant force for years to come. Never underestimate the Rays or the Red Sox. If Brian Cashman wants to be up for the challenge in the American League to compete with the league’s best, there will be no rest between now and Spring Training.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Thanks for bringing Juan Soto to us, Brian Cashman, <i>now get to work!</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>Loss of Pitching</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Yankees took a huge hit with their pitching depth this week because of the Verdugo and Soto trades, and the Rule 5 Draft. RHP Mitch Spence and RHP Matt Sauer were the first two Rule 5 Draft selections made. <i>Ouch!</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The list is long:</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">RHP Greg Weissert, RHP Richard Fitts, and RHP Nicholas Judice to Boston. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">RHP Michael King, RHP Randy Vasquez, RHP Jhony Brito, and RHP Drew Thorpe to San Diego.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">RHP Mitch Spence, selected by Oakland in Rule 5 Draft.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">RHP Matt Sauer, selected by Kansas City in Rule 5 Draft.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">RHP Carson Coleman, selected by Texas in Rule 5 Draft.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Although most Rule 5 picks are generally returned, it seems like a certainty Spence will stick with the lowly A’s and there is a strong chance Sauer stays with the Royals all season long. Carson Coleman had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last spring, but the Rangers feel he has upside for the bullpen after he completes his rehab. It is possible and maybe probable that all three of the Rule 5 losses stick with their new teams for the duration of the upcoming season. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Credit to the Yankees for how they have drafted and developed pitching in recent years. Hopefully, the trend continues as they will need to make up for the losses. I was dreading the Rule 5 Draft as I do every year since the Yankees are always one of the most targeted teams. It was as painful as I expected. Even when I see a former Yankees prospect lost in the Rule 5 Draft bounce from team to team like catcher Luis Torrens, I wonder what could have been if the player had been allowed to continue his development in the Yankees organization. Spence, Sauer, and Coleman appear to be more Major League-ready than Torrens did, but new organizations represent change, for better or worse, and the players will need to adapt. I wish them luck with the slight hope they are offered back to the Yankees.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">As always, Go Yankees!</p>Scott Fiedlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05598662581036778337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2676591017018865408.post-51013318482510720552023-12-01T22:45:00.001-05:002023-12-01T22:45:04.611-05:00Looking for Mister Good Bat...<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqvbO9f1UsiihuXUCHj1KUi6rDnnhij7vJohyphenhyphenTlQ7GL2Y5xrULkoqCi1yEhkPoOsj11mqFpxFY4YKUr1AT3hOqvxVsYTeoxZ9NzO84nMoIC72PcRLPyCdrGjHZr2u84rzER_BMeg8KaQVK5azZEHZcYZZX3Zt1JgsLvVsI7nDoEuLlKix7G4MxbxAy7ls/s667/Screenshot%202023-12-01%20185917.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="667" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqvbO9f1UsiihuXUCHj1KUi6rDnnhij7vJohyphenhyphenTlQ7GL2Y5xrULkoqCi1yEhkPoOsj11mqFpxFY4YKUr1AT3hOqvxVsYTeoxZ9NzO84nMoIC72PcRLPyCdrGjHZr2u84rzER_BMeg8KaQVK5azZEHZcYZZX3Zt1JgsLvVsI7nDoEuLlKix7G4MxbxAy7ls/w640-h426/Screenshot%202023-12-01%20185917.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Juan Soto (Photo Credit: Getty Images)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><h2><b style="text-align: justify;">The Juan Soto Rumors grip the Yankees Universe…</b></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I get it. Juan Soto is a generational <b><i>left-handed</i></b> talent and any team that acquires him will be a better team (well, better in all aspects except liquid assets if they intend to sign Soto to a long-term contract after he hits free agency next offseason). For a team that failed miserably in 2023 despite higher expectations, the New York Yankees need a true superstar to pair with Aaron Judge, particularly given the downward trend of the team’s older veteran players. Giancarlo Stanton has the potential for a rebound, but he will never be 2016 NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton again. Soto would help protect Aaron Judge who is the team’s ‘ride or die’ player. To win a championship, the Yankees must put quality pieces around the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole and 2022 AL MVP Judge. Soto would give them a player who can turn the awesome duo into an outstanding trio to build around. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I have never been one to propose potential trades because General Manager Brian Cashman and his team have a far better understanding of what it would take to acquire a player like Soto. Throwing names around serves no purpose, at least not to me, since we, as fans, are not experts or key decision-makers in MLB organizations. However, I can say I believe the Yankees should pay the cost for Soto if they feel they can sign him to an extension. The latter point may be an unknown until the 2024-25 offseason, but the Yankees should have an idea if they intend to be one of the last teams standing when Soto decides where to sign his next behemoth contract. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Michael King and/or Drew Thorpe should not be dealbreakers. I like both of those pitchers. King’s audition as a starter was much stronger than I had anticipated even though I already knew he had the right mental approach as a starter. He left us wanting more, and I hope he stays with the Yankees. But if King is the cost to get Soto, so be it. San Diego is a lovely city for King to call home. I would wish him well before running out to buy my Juan Soto jersey. Thorpe might be as excited as I have been for a Yankees pitching prospect in a long time. Yet, Thorpe should not be the reason to lose out on Soto. The Yankees have gotten so much better at developing strong pitching within the organization. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I believe today’s events with reports stating the Yankees and San Diego Padres are far apart, and other teams like the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays have entered trade discussions, are all part of the larger Yankees-Padres negotiation. They are trying to see who will blink first. Maybe the Red Sox or Blue Jays put together a package that the Padres bite on. The Yankees must ensure they are competitive until the end, regardless of where Soto ultimately ends up. As much as I want Soto, the Yankees should not roll over and give the Padres whatever they want. Soto may be a young elite player, but he has only one year of control and that fact does need to factor into the equation. Yet, it is understood the Yankees will need to give up quality to get quality. This is clearly a double-edged sword. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">If the Yankees ultimately fail to land Soto, I will be disappointed like most of the Yankees Universe. If Brian Cashman and his team of nerds and lieutenants show us that they did everything possible, it will be hard to fault the Front Office despite our frustrations with them over the past few years. If they refuse to trade this player or that player without justification or give other lame excuses, then they will deserve the full wrath of the fans’ fury. In other words, there is a limit to how far the Yankees should go in terms of players and prospects, but they need to go as far as they can to acquire a game-changer. Only the Yankees truly know how far they can go without causing irreparable harm to other areas. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">It is amazing to think that when the Yankees defeated the San Diego Padres, 3-0, in Game 4 of the 1998 World Series behind the pitching of Andy Pettitte, Jeff Nelson, and Mariano Rivera, winning the World Series championship with 114 regular season wins and 125 wins overall on October 21, 1998, Juan Soto’s mother, Belkis, was four days away from giving birth to Juan José Soto Pacheco. Hard to believe it has been 25 years since the greatest Yankees championship in our lifetime. Seems appropriate that Soto should spend his twenty-fifth year in Pinstripes. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_IUS7rVuv-ZVaXo-7Zx_CF9EpaE3k0qgePtvbTn20i1fQ1HdlZRyWklV9eM8Wr5zlSemOHmtAKl4e3jUGC6P7ms5DX9l93-28FJwoCz3l2hwAuJVUPcE5AHDo4pfu8uECWdRHtXAhbXB4hYr3luEFnrPDFkwQSpxQ7JS2ZPeAFl0Bvm-YZsnLYNEVh4x/s651/Screenshot%202023-12-01%20192456.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="407" data-original-width="651" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_IUS7rVuv-ZVaXo-7Zx_CF9EpaE3k0qgePtvbTn20i1fQ1HdlZRyWklV9eM8Wr5zlSemOHmtAKl4e3jUGC6P7ms5DX9l93-28FJwoCz3l2hwAuJVUPcE5AHDo4pfu8uECWdRHtXAhbXB4hYr3luEFnrPDFkwQSpxQ7JS2ZPeAFl0Bvm-YZsnLYNEVh4x/w640-h400/Screenshot%202023-12-01%20192456.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1998 World Series Champions (Photo Credit: AP)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Juan Soto will get paid. There is no doubt. The Yankees can afford it, but the question is will they? In 2023, Soto played 162 games. He hit 35 home runs, 32 doubles, and had 109 RBIs. His batting line was .275/.410/.519 (.930 OPS), which was better than any Yankee. He walked 132 times which led Major League Baseball. Soto, by himself, does not convert the Yankees to a legitimate World Series threat, however, he is clearly a cornerstone player who would help set the table. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I hope this turns out in the Yankees’ favor. It is hard not to get caught up in the excitement of potentially adding such a truly great young player. It would be heartbreaking to see him go to a key rival. While I continue to temper my expectations because there is no certainty until a deal is done, there is some hope for a positive resolution. Santa, all I want for Christmas is Juan Soto calling Yankee Stadium home. Please, make it happen. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Perhaps good news awaits us next week. If not, life goes on. I will still be a Yankee fan regardless of where Juan Soto plays next season. I would just be a happier one if he was a Yankee.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Baseball Winter Meetings next week...I cannot wait. My favorite time of the off-season. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>Farewell Luis Severino</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">When the season ended, I think it was apparent to all fans that Luis Severino had pitched his last game in Pinstripes. This is not how we wanted it to end, but as hard as it was to see Sevy leave, it was really the only viable outcome. The Yankees were not going to bring him back after the lost years to injury and the horrific ineffectiveness of the 2023 season. Sevy has been one of my favorite Yankees and I want to see him succeed. I still do. I dislike that he went to the Mets, but I respect his decision to stay in New York City for his family. I am a little surprised the Mets gave him $13 million on a one-year deal although they need help in their starting rotation. It seems like they would have used the money for safer bets. Yet, I am not going to worry about Uncle Stevie’s money. He can afford many mistakes. If Sevy delivers a healthy, productive 2024 season, it will be great for the Mets and tremendous for Sevy when he hits the open market again next Fall. I hope the best-case scenario works out for him. I will never cheer for the Mets, but I will cheer for Luis Severino when he is not pitching against the Yankees. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Sevy posted a strong, heartfelt goodbye message for the Yankees Universe on Instagram today. It is hard not to read this without wishing things with the Yankees could have been different. Yet, I have no regrets. It is what it is. When healthy, Sevy was an excellent pitcher. Even hoping he rebounds in 2024, the Yankees were correct in moving on. Sevy had so many chances but simply could not stay on the field. He was no longer a chance the Yankees could afford to take. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Here is Sevy's message to the Yankees Universe (via @severino40 on Instagram):</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for your love and support over these last 12 unforgettable years. As a young boy growing up in the Dominican Republic as a Yankee fan, I could only dream of what it would be like to play the game that I love professionally at the MLB level and earn the opportunity to don the famous pinstripes In 2011, my dreams became a reality when the New York Yankees organization took a chance on me and gave me and my family the opportunity of a lifetime by signing me as an international free agent. From the time I put on that special uniform and completed the journey of making my MLB debut in 2015, the Yankees organization and the city of New York welcomed my family and me into their hearts, which we are forever grateful! Together, we have all shared amazing memories that I will always cherish and it has truly been an honor and a privilege to have played for one of the greatest organizations in the world.</b></span></i></div><i><b><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To the Yankees organization, I want to take a moment to thank you all for giving my family and me the opportunity to become members of your family. A big thank you to the Steinbrenner family along with Brian Cashman for believing in me and affording me the opportunity to be a member of the Yankees organization for my entire career thus far. Also, thank you to every member of this first class organization whom will always hold a special place in my heart! And I want to personally thank the medical and training staff for always having my best interest at heart. Despite having to overcome unfortunate injuries, I always knew that I was in the best of hands due to their care.</span></i></div></span></b></i><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">To my teammates, you will always be family and there is no one else whom I would have rather competed with all these years. We will always have our memories and I will cherish the time we had together complete with the blood, sweat and tears we shared by working to make the city of New York proud of their Yankees. Despite not achieving our ultimate collective goal, I could not be more proud to have been your teammate and forever your brother! While there are no guarantees in the future, I will always be proud to compete with you</span> </b></i></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank the greatest fans in the world. From the time I arrived in New York, my family and I felt as if this was our home and we are so proud to have spent so much time here. You all played a huge part in my career as well as my family’s and I would like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for making my experience unforgettable and for playing a huge role in having my dreams come true. It was truly an honor of a lifetime to compete every 5th day in front of a special fan base where I will forever be grateful to have been a proud member of your organization. This is not goodbye, it is simply I wish you all the best and hope to see you soon as I prepare for the next chapter of my career across town as a proud member of the New York Mets organization. I am thankful for this opportunity to remain a New Yorker and compete in the city I love!</b></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxIcvMwOJbjhuopU9_RbPraRSCJJ-Ay5WkHZUD9ic9XF2hCDHLyI7KQenGIk7O3USkJPDd0LhLVL7osmngqTDDwmpbCWEmXlbNhIZMqLh9d7SKa6GEXTKPTHfcykt0USDGLMVTg72BkWx0XSAvVOIhRSY27vhNo0RmiGYYQxHoZossZHAbc7PNPTYTPazT/s826/Screenshot%202023-12-01%20191605.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="826" data-original-width="802" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxIcvMwOJbjhuopU9_RbPraRSCJJ-Ay5WkHZUD9ic9XF2hCDHLyI7KQenGIk7O3USkJPDd0LhLVL7osmngqTDDwmpbCWEmXlbNhIZMqLh9d7SKa6GEXTKPTHfcykt0USDGLMVTg72BkWx0XSAvVOIhRSY27vhNo0RmiGYYQxHoZossZHAbc7PNPTYTPazT/w622-h640/Screenshot%202023-12-01%20191605.png" width="622" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Luis Severino (Photo Credit: @severino40 via Instagram)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Sevy, thanks for the memories. We wish you the best in Queens and hope you are among the Cy Young contenders in 2024. You wore the Pinstripes proudly and it will never be forgotten.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>Oscar G. is a Yankee </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">In a bit of a surprise, the Yankees announced today that they had claimed outfielder Oscar Gonzalez off waivers from the Cleveland Guardians today. Many were unaware that he had even been exposed to waivers. Perhaps the Guardians were trying to slip him through waivers to outright him to Triple-A if no one claimed him. Unfortunately for them and maybe fortunately for us, the Yankees made the claim.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The 25-year-old Gonzalez had a key hit for the Guardians in Game 3 of the 2022 American League Division Series against the Yankees when he hit a game-winning two-run single off at Progressive Field in Cleveland off Clarke Schmidt with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Yankees, 6-5.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyF2exZ1rr4D5G3zzZERXLHCb3ItOAlHP5XomlO1iZwSZ3PbHKP0l5K0r9wpAvCNDKMdglBQqazSt0rmIxwkEy39Y_P2ZhRsZf-JsY40ANvejviuOvS77C6kSvzYJpjkJ1mrgnwjfy_aMGmX7RdSAGuVmAWfUsI7vgfj6Z-FuKChGTjzEV7IuRu6itl-97/s653/Screenshot%202023-12-01%20192741.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="653" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyF2exZ1rr4D5G3zzZERXLHCb3ItOAlHP5XomlO1iZwSZ3PbHKP0l5K0r9wpAvCNDKMdglBQqazSt0rmIxwkEy39Y_P2ZhRsZf-JsY40ANvejviuOvS77C6kSvzYJpjkJ1mrgnwjfy_aMGmX7RdSAGuVmAWfUsI7vgfj6Z-FuKChGTjzEV7IuRu6itl-97/w640-h422/Screenshot%202023-12-01%20192741.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Oscar Gonzalez (Photo Credit: Phil Long/AP)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Gonzalez only played in 54 games for the Guardians in 2023, batting .214/.239/.312 (.551 OPS). He had 2 homers and 12 RBIs. For Cleveland’s Triple-A affiliate in Columbus, Gonzalez played 83 games, and hit .287/.323/.496 (.819 OPS), with 13 home runs and 64 RBIs. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">As a fourth/fifth outfielder, Gonzalez makes sense. Gonzalez is an improvement over the departed Franchy Cordero and Billy McKinney, and with Jake Bauers in Milwaukee, the Yankees need outfield help, especially if any outfield prospects like Everson Pereira are dealt this winter. At worst, Gonzalez is depth for Triple-A. According to Roster Resource, he has options remaining so, assuming he does not get cut this winter, he should have a chance to show the Yankees what he can do in Spring Training and will probably head for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre when camp breaks unless he has a Greg Bird-like Spring Training. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Gonzalez was popular among Guardians fans, and he gained some notoriety for using the “SpongeBob SquarePants” theme song as his walk-up music. He is best remembered for his success in the 2022 post-season. In addition to his walk-off against Clarke Schmidt, he bounced the Tampa Bay Rays from the playoffs a series earlier with a 15th-inning homer off former Yankee Corey Kluber, He also had a tiebreaking single in the 10th inning of Game 2 of the 2022 ALDS against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium, with Clay Holmes on the mound. Gonzalez subsequently scored on a double by Josh Naylor in the 4-2 win over New York. I remember thinking, who is this Oscar Gonzalez dude?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I have no issue with Brian Cashman’s latest dumpster dive. Teams always need good supporting players, either at the back end of the roster or with the top farm club. We certainly know the Yankees generally have more than their fair share of injuries throughout a long season. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Welcome to the Yankees family, Oscar Gonzalez!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">On a side note, “Oscar G” reminds me of the great Oscar Gamble. Totally unrelated to Oscar Gonzalez, but it is always nice to remember the late former Yankees outfielder. I met Oscar Gamble one time in early 1981 (before the season), and it remains one of the best interactions I have ever had with a professional athlete in my lifetime. He was so kind and considerate. I remember telling him how excited I was about the Yankees signing free agent Dave Winfield earlier that winter and Oscar was equally excited about it. In retrospect, I wish I had talked more about Oscar Gamble and not Dave Winfield with him. Oscar Gamble will forever be one of my all-time favorite Yankees. He may not have been a legendary player, but he was a legendary man.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJeJXmzkA4XKdb3K54482bGOrIE3f0ftpXJfNrhI0XGQ-3clSizu-SAzbNb1ZO8VKQUO0JaWgyqNVieeuV5UpiA4TDGMSD1AJrx590mklzyDiU7-54HTu_vciHb4nfxhDSwLapEe9DsmkxaugG45o8Pqlh3mN8Ida7ygD8F5Lc92fovbrLgLPv9PYHx7DD/s943/Screenshot%202023-12-01%20192958.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="943" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJeJXmzkA4XKdb3K54482bGOrIE3f0ftpXJfNrhI0XGQ-3clSizu-SAzbNb1ZO8VKQUO0JaWgyqNVieeuV5UpiA4TDGMSD1AJrx590mklzyDiU7-54HTu_vciHb4nfxhDSwLapEe9DsmkxaugG45o8Pqlh3mN8Ida7ygD8F5Lc92fovbrLgLPv9PYHx7DD/w640-h460/Screenshot%202023-12-01%20192958.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The late Oscar Gamble (Photo Credit: Martin/New York Daily News)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">As always, Go Yankees! </p></div>Scott Fiedlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05598662581036778337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2676591017018865408.post-40271841873072077472023-11-24T22:48:00.001-05:002023-11-24T22:48:10.541-05:0031 Years Later, Brad Ausmus Comes Home...<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVqME61TLXhx_LQ7NMRHNylfWcBgWB87Q0qo_sSVH5YMMhadPulDmguxSP1txXc_cwwLvdxgndqfa4YlMc2z4JtY688U9A3-JGQJLld5pQeU5PhN33FGnCQMohCPERpYZ_Dge_i70QcY87g0ZWSXpULeaWpZxGinx-gD28Zv8cNRNit4EZIuv2u9VQZE5H/s651/Screenshot%202023-11-24%20192547.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="651" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVqME61TLXhx_LQ7NMRHNylfWcBgWB87Q0qo_sSVH5YMMhadPulDmguxSP1txXc_cwwLvdxgndqfa4YlMc2z4JtY688U9A3-JGQJLld5pQeU5PhN33FGnCQMohCPERpYZ_Dge_i70QcY87g0ZWSXpULeaWpZxGinx-gD28Zv8cNRNit4EZIuv2u9VQZE5H/w640-h422/Screenshot%202023-11-24%20192547.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Brad Ausmus (Photo Credit: Paul Sancya/AP)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><h2><b style="text-align: justify;">Ausmus joins Yanks as new Bench Coach…</b></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I hope everybody had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! As much as I love Thanksgiving, it is always exciting to get past the Turkey Day Weekend so that the MLB Hot Stove League can start boiling over. Soon, the Baseball Winter Meetings will be upon us, and…<i>perhaps</i>…Juan Soto will be a Yankee. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">With no major player acquisitions so far into November, the Yankees did hire a new bench coach this month when they announced veteran manager (and former Yankees prospect) Brad Ausmus had accepted the position.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Be careful what you ask for without being more specific. I have wanted, <i>literally for years</i>, a veteran manager to sit next to Yankees manager Aaron Boone as his bench coach. I always envisioned a guy like Buck Showalter or Willie Randolph, but the Yankees had other plans. They finally avoided hiring one of Boone’s buddies to sit next to him on the bench <i>(Yay!)</i> and went the route of an ex-manager. They just happened to choose a two-time loser. I know Showalter has been fired multiple times and Willie has received the managerial pink slip, but I cannot say that Brad Ausmus ever crossed my mind as a good, viable candidate. Yet, I am willing to give him a chance. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I have been as frustrated with Aaron Boone as any Yankees fan, but conversely, I feel there is potential for improvement. I do not place the failure of the 2023 season on Boone. He played the hand he was dealt by General Manager Brian Cashman. The blame for the ‘almost a losing season’ sits squarely at the feet of Cashman and his Front Office staff. Even if I had wanted the Yankees to fire Boone after the season, there are not too many great options available. The Texas Rangers struck gold by hiring acclaimed championship manager Bruce Bochy, but sadly, there are not too many Bochy’s idly sitting by waiting for the phone to ring. I did think the San Francisco Giants snagging Bob Melvin from the San Diego Padres was a solid move, but it is hard to get enthused about any of this off-season’s new managers, such as Carlos Mendoza, Pat Murphy, Stephen Vogt, or Mike Shildt. Houston’s Joe Espada is probably the most deserving of the new managers, but even with Espada’s history with the Yankees, I would not want an Astro as the Yankees manager. Obviously, Aaron Boone is not going anywhere, so complaining about it serves no useful purpose. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I do think Brad Ausmus, with his experience, can help Boone make better decisions. No doubt Boone is the final decision maker, but better information leads to better choices which leads to better decisions. Ausmus has sat in Boone’s seat, and he can offer insight that the prior bench coaches before him (Mendoza and Josh Bard) could not. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Ausmus managed the Detroit Tigers from 2014 through 2017 and was 314-332 (.486 winning percentage) during his time in Motown. He managed the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2019, leading the Halos to a 72-90 record and a fourth-place finish in the AL West. His overall managerial record is 386-422 (.478 winning percentage). He had replaced a popular Angels manager, Mike Scioscia, and upon Brad’s firing following the 2019 season, the Angels hired Joe Maddon. History showed that Maddon fared no better than Ausmus before his departure from the Angels. The Chicago Cubs’ World Series-winning manager was only 130-148 for the Angels from 2020 until he was fired in 2022. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Ausmus served as bench coach for the Oakland (soon-to-be Las Vegas) A’s in 2022. He only spent one season in the role before he decided to pursue a front-office position. A year later, with no front office position in hand, Ausmus must have rethought his career strategy when Aaron Boone and Brian Cashman came calling. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The New York Mets hired former Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons as bench coach for their new manager, Carlos Mendoza, and I saw people posting on social media that the Mets were just copying the Yankees. The Mets are just doing what the Yankees should have done when they first hired Boone. They recognized that a first-time manager would benefit from a voice of experience on the bench. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Ausmus is an intelligent guy, and I think he will help Boone. I do not believe he will be a ‘yes’ person for the Front Office or Boone. No doubt I would have preferred Willie Randolph, but it is what it is. I will never choose negativity over positive outcomes, so I want Ausmus to succeed, and I hope he has the support of the Yankees Universe to help him thrive in the Bronx. Years ago, he was a young prospect in the Yankees organization seeking the path to Yankee Stadium. The Colorado Rockies nixed those dreams when they chose him in the November 1992 MLB Expansion Draft, but life is about second chances. Ausmus gets a second chance to realize his dreams in Pinstripes. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I am excited to see what Brad and new hitting coach James Rowson can bring to the team next Spring. They are here to make Aaron Boone and the Yankees better. They are here to help rebuild our faith and trust in the organization. I have nothing against Carlos Mendoza, who is highly respected in the Yankees organization, but I feel the Yankees are better with Ausmus as the bench coach. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>Yankees interested in Jordan Montgomery</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Recent reports show the Yankees, among other teams, are interested in free-agent left-hander Jordan Montgomery. While I believe the team that offers the most money will be the victor in signing Gumby, I wonder if he has any hurt feelings over his trade to the St Louis Cardinals at the deadline a couple of years ago. He has always taken the high road, and even if he has hurt feelings, it is nothing that money cannot cure. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I would love to see the Yankees re-sign Montgomery, but I am not optimistic. I think the Texas Rangers, where Monty just won a World Series ring, hold the inside track. The Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex offers great advantages for housing and quality of life, and those factors will certainly come into play. If the Yankees do not re-sign Montgomery, my preference would be for him to stay in Texas or go to a National League club. I do not want to see him sign with the Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros, or Toronto Blue Jays (or the Baltimore Orioles, for that matter). </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAWpNQ1RaRZbIaE8nOGCaXTVoZNI8jjWxxpuiA4bcds3-YpDB5OQ_yMGmfcE0d5cb1JGG_4lcNqBk51DUUpechKI7YE0Q2TpHVDl9G3OvYsXaOKaWOsCeCgYoNaD5JXMA0aFC2EzLMeIM5kpmnVXs0B1gx9L7yhdvhePCt8kDruTv0mev9jv8gTQPlUHJ/s1288/Screenshot%202023-11-24%20193347.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="1288" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAWpNQ1RaRZbIaE8nOGCaXTVoZNI8jjWxxpuiA4bcds3-YpDB5OQ_yMGmfcE0d5cb1JGG_4lcNqBk51DUUpechKI7YE0Q2TpHVDl9G3OvYsXaOKaWOsCeCgYoNaD5JXMA0aFC2EzLMeIM5kpmnVXs0B1gx9L7yhdvhePCt8kDruTv0mev9jv8gTQPlUHJ/w640-h424/Screenshot%202023-11-24%20193347.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Jordan Montgomery (Photo Credit: Julio Cortez/AP)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Monty has grown as a pitcher since his departure, and I think he can help the starting rotation. Barring any major moves this offseason, Carlos Rodón will once again attempt to become the rotation’s second-best starter after a failed try during his first season. I am unsure what the Yankees will get with Nestor Cortes, Jr. Clarke Schmidt showed improvement, but he seems to be on everybody’s mock trade list for Juan Soto. Michael King will be looking to build upon his early success as a starter. The only sure thing in the Yankees’ rotation is Gerrit Cole. Jordan Montgomery would be the starting rotation’s great stabilizer. The Yankees have good, young pitching coming up, and the talent is beginning to surface at Triple-A, which is a short phone call away from New York. I am excited about Drew Thorpe, Chase Hampton, Clayton Better, a healthy Luis Gil, and others, but I love the certainty that a good veteran like Montgomery would bring to the rotation. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I hope the Yankees can entice Monty to return. I am not optimistic, but I am in favor of his return. As they say, you can never have too much pitching. If the Yankees are successful in trading for San Diego’s Juan Soto, they WILL lose pitching. It is a foregone conclusion. I want Yoshinobu Yamamoto as well, but my confidence about the Yankees signing him has weakened considerably in the past few weeks. Too much competition, and there is always at least one random MLB owner each offseason who foolishly throws excessive cash at superstar players and potential stars. Hal Steinbrenner will never be anybody’s fool, and he will keep his pennies neatly accounted for. So, if I had my choice, I would take Yamamoto over Montgomery, but realistically, I think Montgomery over Yamamoto is the more likely successful outcome. To walk away with neither would be a loss. I am not interested in Blake Snell, despite his NL Cy Young Award, and I want no part of Marcus Stroman. Maybe Brian Cashman surprises us, or maybe he does not. I recognize the Yankees are in severe need of roster reconstruction on the playing field, but good pitching is always needed. It cannot be Gerrit Cole and a bunch of question marks if the Yankees expect to contend in 2024. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>Yankees sign Yerry De Los Santos</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Even if it is a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training, I thought the signing of former Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Yerry De Los Santos was a move worth making. De Los Santos turns 26 next month. The 6’2” righty pitched in 22 games for the Pirates in 2023. He totaled 24 1/3 innings, with 18 strikeouts. He gave up 9 earned runs while facing 104 batters. He allowed only 1 home run but surrendered 17 total hits and 13 walks. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwPsP-FQhCgbtt93FOMtXzlyXAXUB3pzxYtjVGJ3Rn1i_bwNxMl9EZuHC8NWzF8Ve2nTbTbV7MV0hJlAymaw6BS8BK3YQrW4dbks0IhPl4JUnRBPftVvQsQDKw2RcAJhojUjhB_nwKpBE4U5RqoSMi9Lunh_rasVF4p3p3w5CzcXbsQHOJybJbHmeIJq3/s689/Screenshot%202023-11-24%20193632.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="689" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwPsP-FQhCgbtt93FOMtXzlyXAXUB3pzxYtjVGJ3Rn1i_bwNxMl9EZuHC8NWzF8Ve2nTbTbV7MV0hJlAymaw6BS8BK3YQrW4dbks0IhPl4JUnRBPftVvQsQDKw2RcAJhojUjhB_nwKpBE4U5RqoSMi9Lunh_rasVF4p3p3w5CzcXbsQHOJybJbHmeIJq3/w640-h384/Screenshot%202023-11-24%20193632.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Yerry De Los Santos (Photo Credit: Pirates Prospects)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">If the Yankees see something they can fix, I trust them. Granted, it is hard to have any trust in the Yankees Front Office, but to their credit, they have shown proficiency for uncovering talented pitchers. If De Los Santos is part of the 2024 Yankees Bullpen, this signing will be viewed as a sneaky good move. If he falters, oh well. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">De Los Santos does not solve the problem of needing more left-handed relief pitching. There will be more moves, and hopefully, the next great lefty reliever will be a Yankee soon (whoever that may be). So many needs, so little time. De Los Santos is a start. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Welcome to the Yankees Family, Yerry!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">As always, Go Yankees!</p>Scott Fiedlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05598662581036778337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2676591017018865408.post-55940911379486134022023-11-18T08:28:00.004-05:002023-11-18T08:28:43.557-05:00Yankees Clearing Roster Space...<p> </p><p><b style="text-align: justify;"></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tqNY77mZdeT66HKSce2SBFJ4U0q0bywPGf6AGIX02nazIwbUwOr0y9VYj2Sqjz5c-zloj8AeGG6dJ3gkQqOVWKbPpQscSWsjOGhgkirfx614enCgcafxRmO6vnbeWorIlaI3EFaFzaQ1MdUz3tBtfJnbzim9MfZYZiv7hFZaRGGEw8Hb8fVSCTTbb4ZE/s611/Screenshot%202023-11-18%20050846.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="611" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tqNY77mZdeT66HKSce2SBFJ4U0q0bywPGf6AGIX02nazIwbUwOr0y9VYj2Sqjz5c-zloj8AeGG6dJ3gkQqOVWKbPpQscSWsjOGhgkirfx614enCgcafxRmO6vnbeWorIlaI3EFaFzaQ1MdUz3tBtfJnbzim9MfZYZiv7hFZaRGGEw8Hb8fVSCTTbb4ZE/w640-h426/Screenshot%202023-11-18%20050846.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Jake Bauers (Photo Credit: Corey Sipkin/NY Post)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><h2><b style="text-align: justify;">Wanted: Quality Major League Players…</b></h2><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Yankees made a trade on Friday even if it was not the one everyone had been waiting for.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">First baseman/outfielder Jake Bauers, who was not expected to be part of next year’s club (at least not by the fans), was dealt to the Milwaukee Brewers for two prospects. <i>Something </i>is better than nothing. The two prospects are minor league outfielders Jace Avina and Brian Sánchez. Avina, 20, is the higher-rated prospect (appearing twenty-ninth on the Brewers’ top 30 prospects according to MLB.com). He was drafted by the Brewers in the 14<sup>th</sup> round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQzYRSFnqC4V8H9X00UxyNKkMNuPCrQ7s_h1xTFILmuhLDPCCjM0yjPVCBGo7FITf_H5jHIGD6pgfwXO0YZmp0zzJe3H6kivjmQ8rE6tRA0z2_rKKIIEuNQgWIVY4SCxeVkF87JjvIfw9KuTfkGwFiVuC6wItco4ZFRl0fIbsE3uX8vpa-uqckJ0gn_aL/s715/Screenshot%202023-11-18%20051116.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="715" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQzYRSFnqC4V8H9X00UxyNKkMNuPCrQ7s_h1xTFILmuhLDPCCjM0yjPVCBGo7FITf_H5jHIGD6pgfwXO0YZmp0zzJe3H6kivjmQ8rE6tRA0z2_rKKIIEuNQgWIVY4SCxeVkF87JjvIfw9KuTfkGwFiVuC6wItco4ZFRl0fIbsE3uX8vpa-uqckJ0gn_aL/w640-h358/Screenshot%202023-11-18%20051116.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Jace Avina (Photo Credit: Carolina Mudcats)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">A left-fielder, Avina is 5’11” and 180 lbs. The Nevada native is right-handed and spent 2023 in Single-A. He had 22 doubles, 14 home runs, 50 runs batted in, 56 walks, and 10 stolen bases but he also had 118 strikeouts in 326 at-bats (399 plate appearances). He hit .233/.373/.442, with .815 OPS. Despite his slow start in Single-A, he was named the Brewers Minor League Player of the Month in August. If he is unable to cut down the strikeouts, he will not advance far in the Yankees organization, but if he can, he might be a diamond in the rough. I am okay with lottery tickets for players like Bauers. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The nineteen-year-old Sánchez, also a left-fielder, signed with the Brewers as an undrafted free agent in February 2023. The Venezuelan native is 6’3”, 170 lbs. He is a lefty bat and throws right-handed. Playing 33 games for the DSL Brewers 1 (Rookie League), Sánchez batted .297/.414/.446 (.860 OPS). He was 30-for-101, with 7 doubles, 19 RBIs, and 20 walks. He stole 8 bags. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Bauers had some nice moments as a Yankee, but he is who he is…replaceable. I had expected the Yankees to release him at some point, so getting a couple of lower-level prospects was a better-than-expected outcome. I wish Bauers the best in Milwaukee. He will get to play for a respected veteran professional/collegiate manager with the new Brewers’ manager Pat Murphy. The team and city are adjusting to being jilted by former manager Craig Counsell, who departed for the “greener” pastures with the Chicago Cubs, and a chunk out of Cubs owner Tom Ricketts’ wallet. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">With the Bauers trade, the Yankees’ 40-man roster was reduced to 39 players. On Friday, the Yankees made several other moves that further reduced the roster to 36 players when they non-tendered RHP Albert Abreu, RHP Lou Trivino, and LHP Anthony Misiewicz. No surprises here. For Abreu, his departure has been overdue. Abreu, Trivino, and Misiewicz are now free agents. Goodbye, and please do not let the door hit you on the way out.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The players who were tendered contracts are 2B Gleyber Torres, RHP Clay Holmes, RHP Jonathan Loáisiga, RHP Michael King, RHP Clarke Schmidt, LHP Nestor Cortes Jr, C Jose Trevino, and C Kyle Higashioka. If there is one of these players that I thought could be non-tendered, it is Higgy. With six catchers currently on the 40-man roster, it seems a given that a few catchers will be moved. I expect Higgy to be one. The early forecast shows Trevino and Austin Wells as the catching tandem for the upcoming season. The Yankees will need to choose who will represent the minor league depth. The other catchers on the 40-man roster, besides Higgy, are Carlos Narvaez, Agustin Ramirez, and Ben Rortvedt. It seems like at least two of these four catchers will find themselves in new homes by next season. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>Other Moves</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I was surprised to see the Milwaukee Brewers non-tendered RHP Brandon Woodruff. Woodruff is expected to miss the 2024 season after shoulder surgery. Woodruff only made two starts in 2023 before he was shut down with shoulder tightness. He ended up missing the rest of the season and had surgery last month to repair a sub-scapular strain in his throwing shoulder. I get Milwaukee’s financial constraints and if he had been healthy, Woodruff was expected to make $11.6 million in salary arbitration. Woodruff made $10.8 million this past season. As much as I would like to see the Yankees offer him a two-year contract with an eye toward his return in 2025, there will be competition. Honestly, it would not surprise me if the Chicago Cubs and Woodruff’s former manager were successful in snagging him. Woodruff will be 32 when the 2025 season opens. He is a chance worth taking even if there are durability concerns. Signing Woodruff seems like a better option (higher potential reward) than re-signing Frankie Montas even if the latter will be ready to pitch in 2024.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjKOIToDHeRMQMPyeR_3WEQWzT4iny0CNPgejwa0Xy1Kf_1qzuO64Q2QE6VsY-0qOpBvlsS7gaA9ZrTG0NS9yaU4fRYfBqJQzd4kjHfwxgkHYZyqzINqqJQh7xH0THx_1DJE1ZcmhIWYFH8CEsRvaUzl0Rc-EOQkpr2ZedU4agTcBkP4hmyP-B6MeUkvj/s651/Screenshot%202023-11-18%20051434.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="651" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjKOIToDHeRMQMPyeR_3WEQWzT4iny0CNPgejwa0Xy1Kf_1qzuO64Q2QE6VsY-0qOpBvlsS7gaA9ZrTG0NS9yaU4fRYfBqJQzd4kjHfwxgkHYZyqzINqqJQh7xH0THx_1DJE1ZcmhIWYFH8CEsRvaUzl0Rc-EOQkpr2ZedU4agTcBkP4hmyP-B6MeUkvj/w640-h356/Screenshot%202023-11-18%20051434.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Brandon Woodruff (Photo Credit: Stacy Revere/Getty Images)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Colorado Rockies were the successful team in acquiring RHP Cal Quantrill from the Cleveland Guardians (who had designated the pitcher for assignment earlier in the week). A talented but struggling pitcher going to the Mile High City…<i>what could go wrong?</i> I did think the Yankees might try to make a play for Quantrill. It would have been interesting to see if Matt Blake and Sam Briend could help Quantrill recapture his potential. Given the Rockies were able to grab Quantrill for a low-level minor-league catcher, it seems like the Yankees could have done better without much effort.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Among former Yankees, Mike Ford was non-tendered by the Seattle Mariners. His departure from Seattle was expected when he was designated for assignment earlier this week, but the non-tender cuts the veteran first baseman free. Best of luck to him with his next opportunity. He keeps bouncing to and from the Mariners so it would not surprise me to see him sign a minor league contract with Seattle. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Miguel Andujar signed a one-year deal with the Oakland/Las Vegas A’s. The A’s had claimed Andujar on waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier this month. Good for Miggy. He gets $1.7 million for 2024 and will head to the Arizona desert for Spring Training for the first time in his career. Hopefully, Miggy has better luck with the A’s than the City of Oakland has in recent years. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Cincinnati Reds have non-tendered reliever Reiver Sanmartin. The 27-year-old lefty appeared in only 14 games for the Reds this season, pitching to an unsightly 7.07 ERA by giving up 11 earned runs in 14 innings of work (13 runs overall). Originally drafted by the Texas Rangers, Sanmartin was in the Yankees organization from November 2017 to January 2019. The only reason I mention his name is he was the other player sent to the Reds in the Sonny Gray trade. I guess his post-Yankees career has not gone as successful as Sonny, the runner-up for the AL Cy Young Award this season. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">For moves NOT made, I have no interest in Boston’s Alex Verdugo or Tampa’s Manuel Margot, the most recent rumored trade targets. Even if Verdugo could help the Yankees, it is not worth helping the Red Sox improve. Sending Gleyber Torres to Boston for Verdugo makes no sense to me as Gleyber is the better player. Margot may be talented, but he seems to be a regular on his team’s Injured List and the Yankees have had too many of those kinds of guys in recent years. I am not sure where these rumors come from. The Yankees tend to be a tight-lipped organization, and there is no benefit to the team by spreading those rumors. For a team looking to reinvigorate the fan base and restore their confidence in the team’s direction, leaking the potential for unpopular trades is not exactly a recipe for success.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">MLB insider Hector Gómez is reporting the Los Angeles Dodgers will not only be very aggressive in their pursuit of 2023 AL Most Valuable Player, free agent Shohei Ohtani, but they will also be pursuing a trade for Angels outfielder Mike Trout. Trout scares me a little with his recent injury history, but when healthy, he remains one of the best in the game. No doubt the Dodgers would have more success with Ohtani and Trout in their lineup than the Angels did with their ability to surround the duo with much better players. I am old enough to remember when the Yankees were the most aggressive big-market team. They have been supplanted by the Dodgers and the New York Mets. Whatever it takes to distract the Dodgers from signing Japanese RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Speaking of Yamamoto, he is expected to be posted on Monday, and his 45-day negotiating period will begin on Tuesday. With so many teams interested in Yamamoto, it will be interesting to see how aggressive the Yankees will be in their pursuit. I guess we will soon find out if Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner is ‘in it to win it’. Signing Yamamoto and acquiring Juan Soto in the same offseason would be <b><i>huge</i></b> for the Yankees. The additions would go a long way toward protecting the best years of Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge and reopening the team’s championship window. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>American League Cy Young Award Winner</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Congratulations to Gerrit Cole for his unanimous selection as the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner. Not sure why Sonny Gray’s name kept popping up as a potential surprise winner given Cole had the more dominant season, but in the end, it was Cole as it should have been. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdRyVirjXLu6lvJyhId3NGLj7LWyilsXHasIRtkhKBlSM7cM_ydohs6ZKODlXwwMUwIgWwbernVzvO_GANNmB-ec0ZJFgx64vAP7n34G_i6ClTaiTtWfYjeApyEwRHQ-Aue-WYDCAFhAXAiL4WTrqNWluQsiXxbMFWFPe07rSm5L6Wt2WONBia66Q8FAJ/s618/Screenshot%202023-11-18%20051843.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="618" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdRyVirjXLu6lvJyhId3NGLj7LWyilsXHasIRtkhKBlSM7cM_ydohs6ZKODlXwwMUwIgWwbernVzvO_GANNmB-ec0ZJFgx64vAP7n34G_i6ClTaiTtWfYjeApyEwRHQ-Aue-WYDCAFhAXAiL4WTrqNWluQsiXxbMFWFPe07rSm5L6Wt2WONBia66Q8FAJ/w640-h420/Screenshot%202023-11-18%20051843.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Gerrit Cole (Photo/Text Credit: NY Post)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Cole becomes the sixth Yankees pitcher to win the award and the first Yankee since Roger Clemens in 2001. The other winners are Bob Turley (1958), Whitey “The Chairman of the Board” Ford (1961), Sparky Lyle (1977), and Ron “Gator” Guidry (1978).</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Cole, 32, was 15-4 with a 2.63 ERA. In 209 innings pitched, he struck out 222 batters while walking only 48 batters. After giving up 33 home runs in 2022, Cole reduced the total to 20 homers this season. Admittedly, it is hard to get excited about individual awards in a team-oriented sport, but I am happy for Cole. He met fans’ expectations this season and proved Hal Steinbrenner was right in his decision to sign Cole. Hopefully, the next award Cole wins is a World Series trophy. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>He Said, She Said</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">There was too much drama with General Manager Brian Cashman and Giancarlo Stanton’s agent, Joel Wolfe this week.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Cashman recently said that injuries seem to be part of Stanton’s game. He is 100% correct, but the words triggered a response from Stanton’s agent. In a released statement, Wolfe said:<i> “I read the context of the entire interview. I think it’s a good reminder for all free agents considering signing in New York both foreign and domestic that to play for that team you’ve got to be made of Teflon, both mentally and physically because you can never let your guard down even in the offseason.” </i>The words had implied ramifications since Wolfe also represents impending Japanese free agent Yoshinobu Yamamoto. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Wolfe has not retracted his statement, but Cashman subsequently stated that he and Wolfe have spoken to clear the air. Anyone who believes it will adversely affect the Yankees’ ability to sign Wolfe clients is mistaken. Wolfe needs Cashman as much as Cashman needs Wolfe. In the end, Wolfe clients will sign for the most money wherever that may be. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I like Giancarlo Stanton, and I am impressed at how he has handled playing in baseball’s largest market after spending years in low-pressure Miami. Yet, if the Yankees could convince Stanton to waive his no-trade clause, I would be in favor of moving the player to another team. If he remains a Yankee, I am hopeful that new hitting coach James Rowson can help G rebound from his disastrous 2023 season. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Is Juan Soto a Yankee yet?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">As always, Go Yankees! </p>Scott Fiedlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05598662581036778337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2676591017018865408.post-86577341172618232032023-11-11T08:14:00.004-05:002023-11-11T08:14:49.971-05:00Yankees: Hiding in Plain Sight...<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjcUmbl-aaUaD8M5S4P3qD5EYZuSTyXjO7Lc8IKFqtGBu75W78FVFC_1kxCCcOQZDstvJNtSQvB6bRzmD8yWIR5E6YPRR0Y5t3Wl636cr-TsWdv9YSCsjHLoDUhkjeApZ0FMFIrnvicOwbe1l71IuYxa6v-qFPCul4Suj7Aa56IneFsjMz_eMGEcttbYD/s944/Screenshot%202023-11-11%20050148.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="944" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjcUmbl-aaUaD8M5S4P3qD5EYZuSTyXjO7Lc8IKFqtGBu75W78FVFC_1kxCCcOQZDstvJNtSQvB6bRzmD8yWIR5E6YPRR0Y5t3Wl636cr-TsWdv9YSCsjHLoDUhkjeApZ0FMFIrnvicOwbe1l71IuYxa6v-qFPCul4Suj7Aa56IneFsjMz_eMGEcttbYD/w640-h422/Screenshot%202023-11-11%20050148.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Brian Cashman (Photo Credit: Matt York/AP)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><h2><b style="text-align: justify;">Steinbrenner and Cashman hold forgettable pressers…</b></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">My expectations for the year-ending press conference by Yankees ownership and leadership representatives were apparently too lofty. I thought the Yankees would open the doors of Yankee Stadium for a formal, professional post-season press conference under the scrutiny of New York and national baseball media. Standing on the front lines in the Bronx and answering the hard-hitting questions about what went wrong in 2023. Leadership taking accountability for the vast mistakes that were made in constructing the 2023 Major League Roster. Instead, Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner tucked behind his Zoom camera and General Manager Brian Cashman gave a profanity-laced huddle with a few media representatives in faraway Arizona while attending this week’s annual GM Meetings.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFhZXJduWm6YG21TH0FYHN7TLFANhHnq5pXEyrJigdWNV1TeoLokuEllcZJ2FNa8wqm72ZZo36NwRhHmX79CHb8AizIuEhAF1sxYUKonzeSl_SYO4yclyhw67zzt_8dGddrqcXWkUfiYlb0fNqZrExG6oor4eODc7Tifkdncargd7NAt4NRAk8XT7q6SfJ/s578/Screenshot%202023-11-11%20050418.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="578" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFhZXJduWm6YG21TH0FYHN7TLFANhHnq5pXEyrJigdWNV1TeoLokuEllcZJ2FNa8wqm72ZZo36NwRhHmX79CHb8AizIuEhAF1sxYUKonzeSl_SYO4yclyhw67zzt_8dGddrqcXWkUfiYlb0fNqZrExG6oor4eODc7Tifkdncargd7NAt4NRAk8XT7q6SfJ/w640-h580/Screenshot%202023-11-11%20050418.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Hal Steinbrenner (Photo Credit: SNY)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Neither man was willing to stand in the fire to answer the questions that needed to be addressed. Neither man gave a clear vision of what the organization can do to get better. As usual, the organization’s disregard for its fan base was evident. I should correct that, the organization loves the fans’ money, they just do not really care about the individuals holding the wallets or bank accounts that formerly housed said currency so long as the money stream is alive. I am certain the corporate sponsors get far more love from the organization than any of its individual fans. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I am disappointed. I am sure I am not alone. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">To fail so miserably while holding baseball’s best pitcher, soon to be AL Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole, and 2022 AL Most Valuable Player, Aaron Judge, is so pathetic.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">This did not need to be a losing season and I do not buy that it was just one of those years. Cashman’s bad decisions (I will lump all the organization’s decisions on Cashman because he is the team’s lead representative) turned what could have been a promising year into a Red Sox-like disaster. The team’s play in September, after the team finally gave up on Josh Donaldson and other scrap-heap players to bring up the kids, brought winning back for the team. A day late and a dollar short, but it was a step in the right direction. We may never know what motivated Cashman to stand with his flawed cards, waiting until it was too late to make the necessary changes. I guess when he writes his memoir after his Yankees career is over, maybe we will get a peak into the inner-workings of the organization over the last quarter-century and Cashman’s thought process throughout his tenure. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">One of Hal’s best attributes is that unlike his father, he is loyal and supportive of his employees. Hal’s worst attribute is that he is loyal and supportive of his employees when he should not be. These can be mutually exclusive because not all employees are worthy of the support. Sports is results-oriented, and when the results fall below expectations, there are times when new voices, new visions are needed. Watching the Yankees in recent years shows that something needs to change. When most of the decisions are poor, it is time to relook at the decision-making process and the people making the decisions. There is no room for ifs and buts. I feel bad that Aaron Judge suffered a toe injury that derailed what could have been an exceptionally strong follow-up year to his MVP campaign, but the deficient fence at Dodger Stadium is not the reason the Yankees failed in 2023. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The Yankees have much work to do if they plan to restore the faith and confidence of the fan base. Sure, we are spoiled. The Yankees have a long history of tradition and success, and they have revenues that dwarf most franchises. The team can be limited by payroll when trying to avoid luxury tax thresholds and penalties, but resources can be redirected to other areas to help the team. There is no reason the Yankees cannot have the best analytic group in baseball, yet they have been lapped by a few organizations. It is mind-blowing to think how successful the Tampa Bay Rays and their analytic group could be if they had the Yankees’ vast resources. No question that their group of nerds is “smarter” than Michael Fishman and his cast of cohorts. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Over the last few years, I have wanted Hal Steinbrenner to <b><i>“excite the fan base”.</i></b> He can do it in so many ways. It is not just a huge superstar free agent signing or a trade for a generational talent. He can do the things that show he is as passionate about winning as his father was. He will never be as demonstrative or as quick-tempered as the Boss, but in his own way, he can deliver a message that is equally effective. I want Hal to take full accountability for the team’s failures and do the things necessary to ensure the Yankees can successfully compete while their window is open. Put the team in the best possible position to win. Give the fan base a product that they can rally around. I will never go down the ‘I wish Joe Girardi was manager’ road but 2017 was the last time I can think of when we loved the players on the team individually and together as an entire group. The Yankees can have fun winning again if they make the right moves, the right decisions, and commit to settling for nothing less than the best they can possibly do. These are easy words to say, but not so easy to put into practice. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I want to feel good about the Yankees again. I miss that feeling. I am happy that Cole and Judge are Yankees, but it is tough to go much deeper than that. This is not a diss on Anthony Volpe. I think he did a fine job as a rookie shortstop, and I expect him to continue his growth and improvement. The main point is recapturing the confidence in the team collectively, and knowing that if one man goes down, a capable replacement is waiting. The Yankees may not have won it all in 2017 but we loved the team to the end. It can happen again (except maybe win the last game of the post-season next time). It is cliché, but the team cannot continue to do what they have always done, expecting different results. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Can Hal and Brian change? They must if the Yankees want to succeed. Other organizations are getting better, smarter, and more adaptive to our changing times. It is weird that the Yankees need to play catch-up but that is where we are at. How Hal Steinbrenner navigates the waters in the coming seasons will define his legacy as Yankees owner. Hal does not strike me as an owner who will hold team control until he expires. In my uninformed opinion, it seems like he has another good ten years before he decides to cede control to younger Steinbrenner blood. I could be wrong, but I have always questioned Hal’s passion for the Yankees since he did not display it when he was younger. He always seemed like he would rather be doing something else. I am sure his legacy is important to him and hopefully he makes the hard decisions…<i>the right decisions</i>…that need to be made in the coming days, weeks, and months.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The Yankees Universe is waiting.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Gleyber Torres is a Yankee<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Until he is not. I am not a proponent of trading Gleyber but it does seem to be the flavor of the month. I get that he is entering his final year of control and will be a free agent after the 2024 season. The Yankees have a glut of infield talent in the organization, and they can trade Gleyber to help fill other areas of need. With that said, why trade the team’s second-best hitter? Gleyber has his faults, but he is a good player. There is no such thing as a perfect player although some are more perfect than others. I would prefer to keep Gleyber, and potentially trade Oswald Peraza. Peraza is talented and perhaps he will be a great shortstop or second baseman one day. But we know that Gleyber is a good Major League second baseman now. Why rock the boat? I would stay with the proven commodity. There is the argument that Peraza is cheaper and under more years of control, allowing the Yankees to spend higher elsewhere on the roster. I get the financial aspect, but if all decisions are made in a vacuum for the cheapest options, the product will suffer. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Trading Gleyber would put pressure on the Yankees to make a trade to bring elite talent to other spots on the roster to compensate for the loss of Gleyber’s production. If you told me that we can get Juan Soto, but we must move Gleyber first, I would totally get it. But as a move by itself, trading Gleyber does not seem to be the best solution. Other moves will change the light but as it stands today, yet, right now, I want to see Gleyber remain in Pinstripes.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The latest Gleyber trade rumors involve the Boston Red Sox and outfielder Alex Verdugo. <u>I want no part of Verdugo</u>. I do not care that he fits the Yankees roster. I am not a fan of the player, and helping the Red Sox improve to fill a need is counter-productive in my opinion. I did not like Josh Donaldson when he was a Yankee, and I would feel the same way about Verdugo. Maybe Verdugo is one of those guys you love when he is on your team, but all things considered, I would rather not find out. The Yankees can find other guys who can fit the Yankees roster equally or better than Verdugo. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Carlos Mendoza to the Mets<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">With no disrespect to former Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza, I was surprised when the New York Mets announced him as their new manager. Like many people, I had expected new Mets President of Baseball Operations to sign his former Brewers manager Craig Counsell as Buck Showalter’s replacement. Even with the surprise announcement that Counsell had decided to join the Chicago Cubs, I thought the Mets would go bigger than a coach off Aaron Boone’s staff. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Nevertheless, I am happy for Mendoza, and I am glad he was able to secure one of the few available MLB managerial gigs after interviewing with multiple teams. I thought the San Diego Padres would have been a better fit for him, but now he gets the backing of the wealthiest MLB owner for his first stop as a Major League skipper. I wish him well, but never when the Mets play the Yankees.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">For the Cubs to hire Counsell while still employing David Ross as manager was an awful way to treat Ross after he had done a respectable job for the Cubbies. Then again, the Cubs have a history of hiring new managers before ousting the current ones. Former Cubs manager Rick Renteria was actively holding the job when the Cubs hired Joe Maddon a few years ago.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">If Ross does not get another managerial job, I would like to see him as Mendy’s replacement on the Yankees bench next to Boone. The Yankees have a chance to hire someone who can help make Aaron Boone better. I am tired of Boone hiring his buddies. He needs someone who will push him to be better, to make stronger choices, and to get better consistency with lineups. I want a bench coach who is not afraid of second-guessing Boone’s choices and offering potentially more successful options even if Boone is the final decision maker. I am not Ross or bust, but someone like him would be invaluable. The Yankees are not going to fire Boone so the next best option is to get a bench coach like Ross or Willie Randolph who can help Boone become a better manager.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>New Hitting Coach?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">No word on a new hitting coach yet, but there were rumors that the Yankees had offered the job to James Rowson, currently an assistant hitting coach for the Detroit Tigers. Rowson has history with the Yankees, serving six years as the minor league hitting coordinator. He served as MLB hitting coach for the Minnesota Twins and Miami Marlins following his departure from the Yankees organization. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Nothing against Rowson, but it seems like an uninspired choice if true. I guess I was (am) expecting more as the replacement for interim hitting coach Sean Casey who elected not to return for family reasons. If Rowson is hired, I will support him. Maybe he can do the job that former hitting coach Dillon Lawson could not. It just seems like the Yankees can get a better option. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Like bench coach, the Yankees need to make a strong choice for their new hitting coach. These are critical coaching positions that need much improvement over recent seasons. Coaches who can place the players in the best possible position to win. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Hiring Rowson because Aaron Judge likes him is not a reason for his hire. Hiring him because he is the best hitting instructor available is. If that is the Yankees’ determination, so be it. The Yankees cannot go into 2024 hitting like the Oakland A’s again. Improvement is expected, improvement is demanded. Yankees, please do not blow this opportunity to get a GREAT hitting coach, whomever that may be.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">As always, Go Yankees!</p>Scott Fiedlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05598662581036778337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2676591017018865408.post-2832719491765633462023-11-04T07:56:00.000-04:002023-11-04T07:56:00.462-04:00Moving On from the 2023 MLB Season...<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLguoZj1oOZewiPk0PEQOCiSjSCvXI839CGgxDkan8A7QfFLllKr0FKXLTPikV_K2kH1kN-ucTOdTY0VU9fNRiw1mWw8ScH1l5z-RfFWllXYy91v3BaqUvv9e7H2c9Da-v9iLdYGvux9V59ELmsME-mbbJjYhwF1qEOtdLt1hYLoVvEtRmZTj2rISA3Ny/s618/Screenshot%202023-11-04%20042203.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="618" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLguoZj1oOZewiPk0PEQOCiSjSCvXI839CGgxDkan8A7QfFLllKr0FKXLTPikV_K2kH1kN-ucTOdTY0VU9fNRiw1mWw8ScH1l5z-RfFWllXYy91v3BaqUvv9e7H2c9Da-v9iLdYGvux9V59ELmsME-mbbJjYhwF1qEOtdLt1hYLoVvEtRmZTj2rISA3Ny/w640-h516/Screenshot%202023-11-04%20042203.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Aaron Judge and wife, Samantha Bracksiek (Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg/NY Post)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><h2><b style="text-align: justify;">The Offseason is now open…</b></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Texas Rangers did not end the World Series in four games as I had hoped. It was not that I wanted the Rangers to win so much as I wanted closure for the 2023 season so that we can begin looking ahead to 2024. The Rangers were kind enough to end Arizona’s hopes after a brief one-game uprising and closed out the Series in five games so I will forgive them. I am happy for Jordan Montgomery and Nathan Eovaldi for being part of the championship club. Aroldis Chapman, not so much. There were other guys with Yankee connections, but those three were the main ones. Tough to consider Andrew Heaney a (former) Yankee given how putrid he was in Pinstripes. Former Yank prospects Josh Smith and Ezequiel Duran were non-factors this post-season. Jon Gray had a nice moment in relief after Max Scherzer’s injury so congrats to him (Gray was once a Yankees draft pick although he never signed and was later drafted by the Colorado Rockies). </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfp9laSVf1cl6y5TCqSk5BOknXUqGxhkQRtAW8PiJZCvjB3MTzflZjdsvGqsHmQL-GFo5bmu2ngnOZFx5bBGyKWV0Oya-Sfvc9vOVE9Hw4lysgOAhgQssGMOaUYh958wzmQxRQycbMiGvJBUzcAzThRRPkLZwFYka_6goIKAFGvwVr1aT11Mckv0EXcmv/s813/Screenshot%202023-11-04%20042627.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="656" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfp9laSVf1cl6y5TCqSk5BOknXUqGxhkQRtAW8PiJZCvjB3MTzflZjdsvGqsHmQL-GFo5bmu2ngnOZFx5bBGyKWV0Oya-Sfvc9vOVE9Hw4lysgOAhgQssGMOaUYh958wzmQxRQycbMiGvJBUzcAzThRRPkLZwFYka_6goIKAFGvwVr1aT11Mckv0EXcmv/w516-h640/Screenshot%202023-11-04%20042627.png" width="516" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Jordan Montgomery and wfie, Kinzie Dirr Montgomery (Photo Credit: @gumbynation34 via Instagram)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I am sure it was bittersweet for Jose Trevino and Isiah Kiner-Falefa to watch their buddies taking the champagne bath to end the season. They probably thought their chances of winning a World Series championship were better in New York than in Arlington, Texas when they first arrived. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I was glad the Arizona Diamondbacks did not win. I know younger Yankees fans were pulling for the D-Backs, but I will never forget the experience of walking out of Chase Field after Game 6 of the 2001 World Series after the Diamondbacks had trashed Andy Pettitte and the Yankees. I believe it was called Bank One Ballpark back then. I did nothing to provoke D-Back fans, yet the excessively rude behavior of the D-Back fans and how they were taunting Yankee fans will never be forgotten. There will never be a day that I will root for the Diamondbacks.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">At any rate, the season is over. The Yankees' record of 82-80, 19 games behind the AL Eastern Division-winning Baltimore Orioles, is in the rear-view mirror. Onward and upward. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>The Truth Shall Set You Free</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Or expiring contracts. Seven Yankees players became free agents on Thursday (by rule, one day after the conclusion of the World Series). It is tough to look at the list of names and feel strongly that any of them should return. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Zach McAllister, Keynan Middleton, Frankie Montas, Wandy Peralta, Luis Severino, and Luke Weaver. I would not be disappointed if the Yankees re-signed IKF and/or Middleton. I thought both played well enough to be a part of the solution in 2024. A one-year, make-good deal for Montas would certainly be acceptable. Yet, if none of the three returns, they can be easily replaced. I do not see any of the other names returning. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I am sad to see Luis Severino go. I had high hopes for him, and he was one of my favorites when healthy and strong. It is unfortunate the injuries have persisted and have prevented him from reaching his full potential. Maybe he finds the fountain of health at his next stop. I will cheer for him to do well, but his time in New York (unless he goes to the Mets) is over. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmJv5kAGGJoGPbegriK7Z_BZXh2EFBRMq9-e_yx_gsAgGuTM0Rtx3hU6qbER5kvTW-bkjp-_gFKPPKeNe0FRBvSqCvdTJ9-bMWKDYKpddeq7mnHB2KGSfXqI4IuVyTRpFIpkiyaUyUtmzP_shlElNVAccTfHNQJvQjI5hWDC0T_EZsnJIqmvAr9Fz_7JX/s856/Screenshot%202023-11-04%20043238.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="856" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmJv5kAGGJoGPbegriK7Z_BZXh2EFBRMq9-e_yx_gsAgGuTM0Rtx3hU6qbER5kvTW-bkjp-_gFKPPKeNe0FRBvSqCvdTJ9-bMWKDYKpddeq7mnHB2KGSfXqI4IuVyTRpFIpkiyaUyUtmzP_shlElNVAccTfHNQJvQjI5hWDC0T_EZsnJIqmvAr9Fz_7JX/w640-h638/Screenshot%202023-11-04%20043238.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Luis Severino and wife, Rosmaly Severino (Photo Credit: @severino40 via Instagram)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Wandy Peralta was a good Yankee, but replaceable. The money it will take to sign Peralta is not prohibitive, but for the Yankees, it is best spent elsewhere to correct the deficient roster construction. Despite their flaws, the Yankees have shown an expert ability to build an effective bullpen, and I expect this offseason to be no different. The other names (McAllister and Weaver) get a collective ‘meh’. Weaver was a nice short-term project, but the starters in the upper farm system are nearing readiness for the ‘next call up’. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>Don’t Let the Door Hit You</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Yankees cleared some of the dead weight off their roster this week too. They placed six players on outright waivers, who are expected to become free agents if they go unclaimed. Domingo German, Ryan Weber, Jimmy Cordero, Matt Bowman, Franchy Cordero, and Billy McKinney. German is the most notable name, but I doubt anyone expected him to be a Yankee in 2024. His perfect game will generate interest among other teams to take a flyer, so his career is not over, but thankfully, his Yankees career is. I truly hope he has gotten the help he needs through rehab, and I hope he can find his way. His family deserves better. <b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">None of the other names warrant any mention, although I was amazed that Franchy Cordero stayed in the organization for the entire season. Once the Yankees determined he would never be a serviceable Major League player, they should have cut bait. The fact the Yankees had to rely so much on McKinney is a testament to how bad the season was. I am hoping for better, legitimate left-field options in 2024. Of course, that was last year’s hope and we saw how that one fared. As for Ryan Weber, he will make his way back in some form, I am sure. It would not surprise me to see him get a minor league contract with a camp invite. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I saw the Pittsburgh Pirates have placed Miguel Andujar on outright waivers, and the Chicago Cubs did the same thing with Clint Frazier. The Yankees’ two “best” trade candidates of a few years ago got the pink slip on the same day. I thought both were headed for the Hall of Fame based on the talent fans were constantly trading them for. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>Gaining Interview Experience</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Yankees Bench Coach Carlos Mendoza is making the rounds. He has interviewed for the managerial openings in Cleveland and Flushing Meadow, and there was interest from the Giants before they snagged Padres manager Bob Melvin as their new manager. Now comes word he will interview in San Diego this weekend. I think the Padres would be the best fit for him, even if the Padres must go into seller mode to cut payroll. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmvNsK6-Or2_BFkwH-lg2VMz2kB2-km4RvH8M9n3nWwJS8C4kP3ca9Ez0gYE8DG0sfQwc2v46sw3D6S3KVsfhXCKrV4WKG308pP0S4qo3NwC-4Cze02RcrcPITvAivrgXDrroFfK4IVtgyoTJSh4QPQ_TzMX_AZT1hMWuZBlr5LHTdg6HzitVGTsH7Fu3/s463/Screenshot%202023-11-04%20043632.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="306" data-original-width="463" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmvNsK6-Or2_BFkwH-lg2VMz2kB2-km4RvH8M9n3nWwJS8C4kP3ca9Ez0gYE8DG0sfQwc2v46sw3D6S3KVsfhXCKrV4WKG308pP0S4qo3NwC-4Cze02RcrcPITvAivrgXDrroFfK4IVtgyoTJSh4QPQ_TzMX_AZT1hMWuZBlr5LHTdg6HzitVGTsH7Fu3/w640-h422/Screenshot%202023-11-04%20043632.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Carlos Mendoza</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I hope Mendoza gets the job. Both for him and for us. It would be a tremendous promotional opportunity for him and life in San Diego is sweet when you have the income to afford it. For the Yankees, it would give them a chance to select the right bench coach for Manager Aaron Boone. I have been saying it for years, but the Yankees need a bench coach whose strengths are Boone’s weaknesses. I want Boone to be challenged when making decisions so that he will hopefully make better decisions. Mendy is too much like Boone, and the Yankees desperately need a stronger voice on the bench next to Boone. In other words, he needs to find his Don Zimmer and quit hiring buddies for the job. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>Waiting for Soto</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I write that title with a lack of total sincerity. I am not convinced that Juan Soto will be a Yankee until he is. I would love for the Yankees to pull the trigger despite the high cost, yet it remains to be seen if they will. Considering Soto has only one year left until he hits free agency, I am not a proponent of trading multiple high-value prospects for him unless an extension is a certainty. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I want Cody Bellinger. I think his resurgence in Chicago this year can be sustainable, and he has great diversity with his ability to play all outfield positions and first base. The Yankees must have a strong backup plan at first base as a hedge for the health of Anthony Rizzo, and Cody would ensure that strength. He has the bloodline as the son of a former Yankee, and he has long been one of my favorite players in the game. The struggles in Los Angeles were tough to watch, but the optimist in me was always hopeful he would figure it out. In Chicago, he showed the player he could be moving forward.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqrYFhTKmQnhtStX6h5-swaKz8yUG-J3PrKbNin71KktozoSDFx3dgxiuZg56KFRjQSCq7DcHFlRH8fPGTO09GRTccx0U1sZ24mGvPLjZ7sy2_5QScAutFOjUZZg3JP0BWJHjD9NvnW6H-coo3Yp0KcAIooZLKQZAyxMifTsET4nn9OChoNBv7vXxJBJw/s997/Screenshot%202023-11-04%20043906.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="997" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqrYFhTKmQnhtStX6h5-swaKz8yUG-J3PrKbNin71KktozoSDFx3dgxiuZg56KFRjQSCq7DcHFlRH8fPGTO09GRTccx0U1sZ24mGvPLjZ7sy2_5QScAutFOjUZZg3JP0BWJHjD9NvnW6H-coo3Yp0KcAIooZLKQZAyxMifTsET4nn9OChoNBv7vXxJBJw/w640-h368/Screenshot%202023-11-04%20043906.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Cody Bellinger (Photo Credit: FoxSports.com)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I was happy to see the news today that Bellinger has declined his mutual option with the Chicago Cubs and has become a free agent. This is the first step on a path that could lead him to Pinstripes. If the decision comes down to Bellinger or Soto, I would be foolish to say go with Cody. Realistically, I think he is a more palatable choice for the conservative Hal Steinbrenner. Cody’s presence would not/should not block any move for Soto. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Soto would be a huge “get” for the Yankees. Former hitting coach Sean Casey is on record saying, “So for me, when I look at it, man, it would be such a grand slam for them to get a guy like Juan Soto.” As much as I would love to envision Soto in the Yankees lineup, it is hard to get excited about something that may never happen. I guess it is nice that there are strong legs to the ‘Soto to the Yankees’ talk, but on the other hand, it seems the more it is talked about, the less likely it will come to fruition. The Yankees should grab the more easily attainable Bellinger to start the offseason, and then build from there. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">There has not been much to write about with the Yankees. Now that the Hot Stove League 2023-24 has opened, things should change. I want a team that we can get excited about in 2024. They will be led by the soon-to-be-named AL Cy Young Award winner, and the 2022 AL MVP will be back and fully healthy. Put the right guys around them, and the Yankees could reclaim their rightful throne as World Series champions. If the Rangers can go from over a hundred losses to champagne in two years, the Yankees can rebound from this season. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Yankees can do better. They must do better. The fans are waiting. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">As always, Go Yankees!</p>Scott Fiedlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05598662581036778337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2676591017018865408.post-23956950812327601352023-10-26T22:22:00.002-04:002023-10-26T22:22:22.495-04:00Is the World Series Over Yet? ...<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievEqR6Y88Ck-ugZpYo6EWp82Tn5Hepy-2PQp27pfKUs1ihhbiyhi1wIzxVE_3f_udXyWb_bOVCcqgPy5DQqm8Its7DCY7orQBExHwxDm_oH8wZvkbDA3clHJX3HFkr7gKbDGhyphenhyphenGfzxLSRGkO8LYx_3peAFqG8xszk7E7c02j5NFX7qjG6VKuNc30osRXR/s1600/27kepner-yankees-web-1-videoSixteenByNineJumbo1600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievEqR6Y88Ck-ugZpYo6EWp82Tn5Hepy-2PQp27pfKUs1ihhbiyhi1wIzxVE_3f_udXyWb_bOVCcqgPy5DQqm8Its7DCY7orQBExHwxDm_oH8wZvkbDA3clHJX3HFkr7gKbDGhyphenhyphenGfzxLSRGkO8LYx_3peAFqG8xszk7E7c02j5NFX7qjG6VKuNc30osRXR/w640-h360/27kepner-yankees-web-1-videoSixteenByNineJumbo1600.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Gerrit Cole (Photo Credit: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><h2><b style="text-align: justify;">Ready for the Hot Stove League…</b></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Hopefully, the Texas Rangers eliminate the Arizona Diamondbacks in four games so that we can get on to more important matters like the 2023-24 Hot Stove League. As much as I want to see the D-Backs lose, it is hard to get motivated to watch this year’s World Series even if there are a few ex-Yankees on the Rangers roster. Give one of the teams the trophy and let’s move on. I am ready for the start of free agency, finalization of the 40-man rosters in advance of December’s Rule 5 Draft, preparation for the Winter Meetings, etc. The only headlines I want to see are <b>“Yankees acquire…”</b>, <b>“Yankees to sign…”</b>, or <b>“Yankees fire…”</b>. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I am assuming this will be the Winter of Discontent as Yankees fans will heighten their expectations for a Juan Soto trade in the coming days and weeks (as if they have not already been elevated to unrealistic proportions), only to have the hopes dashed when the San Diego Padres either decide to retain Soto or trade him to a Yankees rival. I will add the usual caveat that I hope the Yankees prove me wrong and grab one of baseball’s brightest talents. Nevertheless, I must take the <i>‘see it to believe it’</i> approach with Juan Soto and the Yankees. I refuse to go down that path of disappointment.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKVq-fosxZm_j8tp3u7bzRG9h_xrWWo_zKmAO1fmtjtC2TQMJwj-7GMsOb574rGDi4HSCLpseVwDr06p8RymQ5gr9Xz1m-n2LfZvRUdoUI8j2rcq-sxDrUZHHF9ak5vJYn0ja9Z4_LDds7f4tjdl6mLN-sIZZWNKPJ8AO5ENSu84Z7af45hVJ5Bx5Fa9L/s1200/Juan-Soto-Yankees-Padres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="673" data-original-width="1200" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKVq-fosxZm_j8tp3u7bzRG9h_xrWWo_zKmAO1fmtjtC2TQMJwj-7GMsOb574rGDi4HSCLpseVwDr06p8RymQ5gr9Xz1m-n2LfZvRUdoUI8j2rcq-sxDrUZHHF9ak5vJYn0ja9Z4_LDds7f4tjdl6mLN-sIZZWNKPJ8AO5ENSu84Z7af45hVJ5Bx5Fa9L/w640-h358/Juan-Soto-Yankees-Padres.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Juan Soto (Credit: ClutchPoints)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">With speculation that the Yankees will have to trade Kyle Higashioka or Ben Rortvedt now that Austin Wells has proven he is Major League-ready, I do wonder about Jose Trevino. While Trevi was outstanding in 2022, his 2023 season was forgettable. Sure, he played hurt, but so far, he is just a one-season wonder. I am not so sure the decision of whether to keep Trevi or Higashioka should be an easy one. There is an argument to make that Higgy should stay. Rortvedt, even without the hit tool, earned raves for his work with Gerrit Cole. I think Higgy will be the one to go, either through trade in November or he will be non-tendered, but if the Yankees offloaded Trevino instead, it should not catch anyone by surprise. I have greater hopes and expectations for Wells as the everyday catcher. The Yankees have a strong history of great offensive catchers, and Wells did nothing to show that he is Gary Sanchez behind the plate. In other words, he surprised people with his defensive play (better than expected). The remaining catcher that serves as backup should be the player most capable of being a backup. As simplistic as it sounds, if Trevino believes he should be the starting catcher, does he let it affect his attitude or does he fully embrace his reduced role, recognizing Wells is the better offensive player? The best place for Trevino could end up being elsewhere depending on how this turns out. Trevi does not strike me as an egotistical player, but the decision of who to keep should not be considered lightly. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Hopefully, the catching tandem will be decided in short order so that the Yankees can move on to the bigger issues and challenges confronting the team.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>Help Wanted: Hitting Coach</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I was disappointed to hear the news that Yankees hitting coach Sean Casey has decided he will not return in 2024. I liked his work with the veteran players and thought he brought great energy to the dugout. I totally respect his reasons for leaving. He has two teenage daughters in Pittsburgh and holds joint custody with his ex-wife. He did not want to be away from his girls for eight months out of the year. Casey is not the first, nor will he be the last player or coach to decide family is more important. I respect his work in replacing the fired Dillon Lawson, and I hope the Yankees can find someone who is as passionate about hitting as Casey is. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDTGg9qQlyHWhOqgBHRQ-LRBS92VaLtVH_kuIrQsdjsscUSEsS_hTdAR0_sJnt2nPAKfbzjWWXqZg2xa9JIko0W3T11WgZRK0ZiICLacvvbQ7ivT9UKnaEaTyNWUz5EEYeL7AeLjcdIZUESiA-CRrdJeaNfGE9ToXCNG961S5OIr-4APtgv0AsMnk63CRB/s474/th%20(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="474" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDTGg9qQlyHWhOqgBHRQ-LRBS92VaLtVH_kuIrQsdjsscUSEsS_hTdAR0_sJnt2nPAKfbzjWWXqZg2xa9JIko0W3T11WgZRK0ZiICLacvvbQ7ivT9UKnaEaTyNWUz5EEYeL7AeLjcdIZUESiA-CRrdJeaNfGE9ToXCNG961S5OIr-4APtgv0AsMnk63CRB/w640-h360/th%20(5).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Sean Casey (Photo Credit: USATSI)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I have seen some fans suggest Tino Martinez. I like Tino and he was one of my favorite players when he played, but I have mixed feelings about his return as a coach. He resigned as the hitting coach for the Miami Marlins in 2013 after rumors of physical and verbal abuse of players and coaches. I have no idea if there is truth to those rumors, and at this point, I do not really care, but Tino has not received a Major League job since his departure from the Marlins. I would rather see someone who has been consistently connected with the game at the big-league level in the recent past, given how much the game has changed over the last decade. I hope the Yankees do not take the easy road and promote one of the hitting coach assistants, Casey Dykes, or Brad Wilkerson. I would prefer an outsider. Like Casey, the new hitting coach does not need to have ties with the Yankees. I want anyone who can get the MOST out of Giancarlo Stanton and the other Yankees hitters. While 2023 proved that you cannot be solely dependent upon analytics, it does remain an important skill along with the re-discovered old-school baseball acumen. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I often see fans wanting former Yankees greats as the new hitting coach, like Paul O’Neill. Being a great player does not automatically equate to greatness as a coach. I want a great coach without regard to how successful his playing career was. The Yankees need someone who can effectively communicate with the young players as well as the veterans. Someone who can marry analytics into strong professional baseball knowledge, and help the players be the best they can be. I truly hope the Yankees take a patient approach to find the best option for the role. The Yankees cannot afford another season of hitting like the Oakland Athletics. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">We are literally wasting the best years of Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I would like to see Don Mattingly come back, but I doubt he would give up his gig as the bench coach for the Toronto Blue Jays. After managing the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Miami Marlins, hitting coach seems like too much of a step back. I know he is a beloved Yankee, and you would think the Pinstripes would hold special appeal for him, but it would have to be the right job for his return. I do not feel hitting coach, as much as I would like to see him do it, is the right job for him at this stage of his career. There is also the concern in the back of my mind, justified or not, that I do not want to see a Yankee legend fail in a coaching role. Even though he never won a World Series, I have great memories of Mattingly’s time as a Yankee. I never want those fond memories to fade. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76wk8Q3ihgtjSuyHo4fb_lytjRJySkkotNBoqWIOJ_j4y6tmCaG7dJ673sFIy56CsIN5-IxDyx0q_GC667EGZz47ZZ9VMLnIMJH7p_zP5RJB9EjET3xSoYZ9ipMTjsUOV53r9tYD75vkVDh6UZewRmd5Knf_SChNEkwIGWSxfahRqEtzF0RfsZU4imKgP/s921/Screenshot%202023-10-26%20191102.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="921" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76wk8Q3ihgtjSuyHo4fb_lytjRJySkkotNBoqWIOJ_j4y6tmCaG7dJ673sFIy56CsIN5-IxDyx0q_GC667EGZz47ZZ9VMLnIMJH7p_zP5RJB9EjET3xSoYZ9ipMTjsUOV53r9tYD75vkVDh6UZewRmd5Knf_SChNEkwIGWSxfahRqEtzF0RfsZU4imKgP/w640-h396/Screenshot%202023-10-26%20191102.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Don Mattingly</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">General Manager Brian Cashman and his suspect Front Office have tough decisions ahead. Time to drop the ‘smartest guy in the room’ approach and roll up the sleeves. Winning should be the theme of the 2023-24 offseason. Building a winning team for 2024 AND winning back the alienated Yankees fan base. Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner needs to stand up, take his lumps, and tell us how he is going to improve the New York Yankees. Every move this offseason will be under a microscope. As much as the Yankees like to control the narrative, it is going to write itself based on what the Yankees do or do not accomplish this offseason.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Grab some popcorn.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">As always, Go Yankees! </p>Scott Fiedlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05598662581036778337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2676591017018865408.post-86159601280628603722023-10-21T20:02:00.003-04:002023-10-21T20:02:31.316-04:00The Long Wait for Yankees News...<p> <b style="text-align: justify;"> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAQzeZxXKTt24ZElfk4hlFB4WAsBgz33FI1Dnh1A2gLlNjZBVBLwGxBBVKqVqtHd5PCySs0gvJUnUVFYvTEjnJ0Dr8nmMSeO3C4i8HGfdiNLMD6jtmj_O0e5GV5LqSFIwZNkkj-UmCRPSwQjElyXV__V0Leow_lcBrnjTil_gJfsNpoIfLoQLzW7TTXw1/s640/long-wait.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAQzeZxXKTt24ZElfk4hlFB4WAsBgz33FI1Dnh1A2gLlNjZBVBLwGxBBVKqVqtHd5PCySs0gvJUnUVFYvTEjnJ0Dr8nmMSeO3C4i8HGfdiNLMD6jtmj_O0e5GV5LqSFIwZNkkj-UmCRPSwQjElyXV__V0Leow_lcBrnjTil_gJfsNpoIfLoQLzW7TTXw1/w640-h480/long-wait.jpeg" width="640" /></a></b></div><p></p><h2><b style="text-align: justify;">The Quiet Pinstripes…</b></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I got excited when Jeff Passan tweeted the other day that the Phillies’ Ryan Thompson “yanks a slider” (that Arizona catcher Gabriel Moreno could not handle which allowed Bryce Harper to score) because it was the first time that I got to hear the word “Yanks” in a postseason game this season. Okay, I know, he was not referring to the greatest franchise in MLB history, but it just shows how much I miss the Yankees. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Since the end of the regular season, the New York Yankees have been extremely quiet. I know, they are waiting for the end of the postseason before making any public comments or moves. I guess we can call this season THE BIG VOID. A void filled only by ex-Yankees playing in the postseason. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I would like to think Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner is effectively using this time to take his deep dive into the organization although there are reports the self-conducted internal audit will not occur until after the World Series champion is crowned. Who knows what Hal is doing other than counting his money.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOukJW8_kNNG3kJ8NQ9rB0wIrvYcxo-eZQbBS5ltuRX5MBr1GZ_a8MHM4NVQrw9KWUTYaQC8-t3IuK3PCuo_FOBgb6U3om8Kv3uNEOlHzXP24uS2yS-F-TIO3aBRXwp7y4LemsC0fzfC2JILkdif1Hhgr92UWZ00hgdPswTTtRo6W6UERCCkBZo4SfoA0/s256/29onb3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="256" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOukJW8_kNNG3kJ8NQ9rB0wIrvYcxo-eZQbBS5ltuRX5MBr1GZ_a8MHM4NVQrw9KWUTYaQC8-t3IuK3PCuo_FOBgb6U3om8Kv3uNEOlHzXP24uS2yS-F-TIO3aBRXwp7y4LemsC0fzfC2JILkdif1Hhgr92UWZ00hgdPswTTtRo6W6UERCCkBZo4SfoA0/w400-h300/29onb3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Moves we know for sure will NOT happen. Manager Aaron Boone and General Manager Brian Cashman will <u>not</u> be fired. Whatever scenario we craft for the offseason in our speculative moves we feel the Yankees should make, the chances Hal removes his key leaders is about as good as George Steinbrenner rising from the grave to take control of his beloved franchise. It remains to be seen if the Yankees make any adjustments to their analytics division. If there is anyone who should be fired, it is Assistant GM Michael Fishman. I do not care that he has been in the organization for years. Results are more important than tenure. The Yankees have screwed the pooch in how they have analyzed players for the last decade. They may uncover an occasional gem, but the duds are far more frequent.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">As far as players, we will have to wait until the Hot Stove League starts next month before we start hearing any real rumors. Although there is no certainty the San Diego Padres will trade Juan Soto, he is clearly the latest number-one target for Yankees fans. I try not to get too wrapped up in Soto speculation. I would be excited if it happened, but why think about it if it may never happen. I wanted Manny Machado and Bryce Harper, and they were there for the Yankees to grab for only money, and Team Steinbrenner let us down by not even joining the chase. Soto will cost quality prospects, in addition to money if they want to retain him. There is nothing about Hal Steinbrenner that leads me to believe he will be an aggressive pursuer of Soto. He should, but will he? I do not like the odds. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I am even trying to temper any expectations the Yankees will sign Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Although the Yankees have shown public interest in the pitcher, it is not like the Yankees are the only MLB team in search of quality pitching. Hal Steinbrenner may have authorized big money for baseball’s greatest starting pitcher, but I am sure the Carlos Rodón contract is enough to give anyone heartburn about handing out a Brink’s truck to another pitcher. I may be more optimistic about Yamamoto than Soto, but with either one, I am trying to keep expectations low. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4Sr18Se9ci2eYhjz58JC7Yv_ZQkqv_orFE91DuYd1YDp3cwCJjmiZLWF6hPMJgZiafBDd3AVc1KSHYGp1rTrvSmRneE_AuC9N6TmTbuT7SGetrfDHkGA9qPGa0twcc7RoW9Ik-cQk3923FzJzINT9lpL2V4NINF5NZY_5qZmyaW9p8BcUoyDUkw1xN9c/s800/mszdz38p6zktg8pijn9c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4Sr18Se9ci2eYhjz58JC7Yv_ZQkqv_orFE91DuYd1YDp3cwCJjmiZLWF6hPMJgZiafBDd3AVc1KSHYGp1rTrvSmRneE_AuC9N6TmTbuT7SGetrfDHkGA9qPGa0twcc7RoW9Ik-cQk3923FzJzINT9lpL2V4NINF5NZY_5qZmyaW9p8BcUoyDUkw1xN9c/w640-h426/mszdz38p6zktg8pijn9c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Photo Credit: Eric Espada/Getty Images)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I am not in favor of bringing Jordan Montgomery back. He has done well since he left the Yankees, but honestly, I would be surprised if Monty wanted to come back to the Yankees after being dealt at the trade deadline a couple of years ago amidst speculation that he did not figure into the Yankees’ postseason plans. He has proven the Yankees were wrong and perhaps he would not have discovered who he could be if he had stayed in New York. Monty will be 31 before the 2024 season. It may not mean that he is over the hill yet, but I think there are better, younger options. I would not be disappointed if Monty returned, but I just do not think it will happen. So, saying I am not in favor of it is probably not accurate, however, I am not going to push for something I think will never happen. Monty should enjoy his post-Yankees renaissance and grab the life-changing money from another team for his next contract. The Texas Rangers would be foolish to let him get away. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Although the Houston Astros seem to have momentum in the ALCS, I am ready to get the World Series over regardless of which teams are in it or who wins it. 2023 will always be a lost year in my mind. The year the Yankees could have been contenders if Brian Cashman’s moves had not thwarted it. It's time to move on to the 2024 MLB season or at least the preparation for it. Hal Steinbrenner gets to show if his heart is really in it. We shall see. Until then, there is just talk with no action. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>Retiring A-Rod’s Number</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The short answer…NO. I am not a fan of Alex Rodriguez. While I appreciate his accomplishments in helping bring a World Series championship to New York in 2009, his desecration of the game far outweighed any positives he made. He is a cheater. He is a liar. He crossed an ethical line of his own volition. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">While I recognize Rodriguez has recaptured some fans with his post-playing career on TV, it does not atone for the damage he did to the game or to the Yankees. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I think the Yankees have too many retired numbers as it is. There are players with retired numbers who should not be there. Reggie Jackson is one. He may have had big moments as a Yankee, but his stay was brief. He only played five of his twenty-one seasons in New York. Billy Martin is another one. I was not born during his playing days, but I loved every minute of his time(s) as the Yankees manager. I was so excited with every hiring and devastated with every firing. As much as I loved Billy, I do not consider his time worthy of a retired number. He will always remain one of my favorite Yankees managers. On the other side of the coin, Roy White is more deserving of a retired “Yankees” number than A-Rod. His number (6) is retired for Hall of Fame manager Joe Torre. It should be co-retired with White, much like how number 8 is retired for Bill Dickey and Yogi Berra.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCxRmYi-6yMmbZyClYFrT2bMGqiYBMONPivkPPuVLcWUo0agjbZ1yJQMa9b1YnJ_JUvAzOgu_vGbV98IAd7wkBsomvZDFLkRpq6Eb1LSalQKmL03f5ZI8tqGnPJwU9xSTTRfJ8mTTJiGZ-jeNnvK8-dWd6BaBadJdxuIPiSqbTn_bnP0o1YfLwqymPH_H/s583/Screenshot%202023-10-21%20165148.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="458" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCxRmYi-6yMmbZyClYFrT2bMGqiYBMONPivkPPuVLcWUo0agjbZ1yJQMa9b1YnJ_JUvAzOgu_vGbV98IAd7wkBsomvZDFLkRpq6Eb1LSalQKmL03f5ZI8tqGnPJwU9xSTTRfJ8mTTJiGZ-jeNnvK8-dWd6BaBadJdxuIPiSqbTn_bnP0o1YfLwqymPH_H/w502-h640/Screenshot%202023-10-21%20165148.png" width="502" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Roy White</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I do not feel A-Rod should be in the Hall of Fame, and I do not believe his Yankees number should be retired. You may not agree but that is okay. This is not something we need to agree on. You have your opinion and I have mine. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Speaking of retired numbers, Fresno State will retire Aaron Judge’s number 29 on November 18. A worthy retired number while we wait for the future enshrinement of number 99 in Monument Park. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9MvfB4mXUDp_veZVaGapPz_4rCiUtLkKgwiBpn6bD_aj9850jOkuvSCWPuEtCt_kU5_glZThZ7XIINzUuRiMUMRWGroVY0kBATh1JE7g7EhDnCXblb7d6QhspRAuVWD-0BjrMCfUacc5PK4SkGCUJcqea1emb3tzZw3ZFzKaI59BVBqApaPZbAJQQHZB/s474/th%20(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="237" data-original-width="474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9MvfB4mXUDp_veZVaGapPz_4rCiUtLkKgwiBpn6bD_aj9850jOkuvSCWPuEtCt_kU5_glZThZ7XIINzUuRiMUMRWGroVY0kBATh1JE7g7EhDnCXblb7d6QhspRAuVWD-0BjrMCfUacc5PK4SkGCUJcqea1emb3tzZw3ZFzKaI59BVBqApaPZbAJQQHZB/w640-h320/th%20(4).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Aaron Judge</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Looking forward to when we have real Yankees news again.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">As always, Go Yankees!</p>Scott Fiedlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05598662581036778337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2676591017018865408.post-50259107435533991472023-10-13T22:50:00.001-04:002023-10-13T22:50:34.259-04:00The Yankees Are on The Clock...<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZuM1u_k4t4hQZGoOU8bgF7GfS74K3ZwkzPW-oz2POLA5E5Y7yfzlZfGlhfGXqczF7j778P_alziOhiPeul2sBhDOUq2OOk-i1MqW5iNUNIKxygsFOBbfJjpPy-l0tBryXw1tBc7aO282VwHM8SqqkKeY39EYNeAbX3VAQM91m8Hew3cxnIYU7BK92CV1D/s863/Screenshot%202023-10-13%20193336.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="863" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZuM1u_k4t4hQZGoOU8bgF7GfS74K3ZwkzPW-oz2POLA5E5Y7yfzlZfGlhfGXqczF7j778P_alziOhiPeul2sBhDOUq2OOk-i1MqW5iNUNIKxygsFOBbfJjpPy-l0tBryXw1tBc7aO282VwHM8SqqkKeY39EYNeAbX3VAQM91m8Hew3cxnIYU7BK92CV1D/w640-h430/Screenshot%202023-10-13%20193336.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Hal Steinbrenner (Photo Credit: New York Post)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><h2><b style="text-align: justify;">Hal Steinbrenner’s Moment to Shine…</b></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>At least your team made the playoffs.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I have heard countless Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers fans complaining about the extended days off for MLB teams with the best records (from the end of the regular season to the start of the AL/NL Division Series), delays that the fans feel contributed to their teams’ lackluster play. Considering Major League Baseball, for the most part, has been over since the first of October for Yankees fans, there is no sympathy or pity for their ousters. The cries of the Braves and Dodgers fans are simply an attempt to find excuses. At least their teams made the playoffs. How they performed…poorly… is on the teams, but not by how much rest they were able to get between games. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I legitimately thought the Braves, armed with this year’s NL MVP (to be), would steamroll the NL contenders and the AL champion en route to a well-earned and deserved World Series championship. It felt like 2023 was their year. Alas, the Philadelphia Phillies thought otherwise and brought their A-game to October. It helps to have one of the best players in the game, Bryce Harper, but the Phillies showed they wanted to win more than the Braves did. Not sure if the Braves fell into the trap of thinking they just had to show up to win, I know it is more complicated than that, however, they go down as just another great team with an early exit. A team that history will soon forget. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Credit the Los Angeles Dodgers for contending every year, but their lack of October success (setting aside the COVID-shortened year of 2020) is startling. The Dodgers have a strong farm system, but letting quality players walk like Corey Seager, Trea Turner, Cody Bellinger, and Justin Turner was eventually going to catch up with them. I get the need to plug in younger, cheaper talent, but as Bryce Harper showed this week, some guys know how to win. Corey Seager has it and so does Trea Turner. You need a strong mix of veterans and youth. The Dodgers' problem was pitching so maybe letting hitters leave in their primes (well, Justin Turner might be outside of that range) was not the cause for their demise. For all his flaws, Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski showed he knows how to build a team for October. Meanwhile, Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman showed that while he is better at analytics than the Yankees, his efforts prove futile when the calendar turns to October. Old School Baseball 1, Analytics 0. I know that is not an accurate statement, but it is a general perception of Dombrowski versus Friedman. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">For all the changes fans want the Yankees to make, they will have hard competition from other teams trying to figure out how to do better. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">As for the Yankees making changes, I will have to see it to believe it. I am not convinced they will make a concerted effort to build a team capable of challenging the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East. Everyone likes to say just make it in the playoffs, and worry about the rest later, but the Yankees, at least over the past decade have not shown an ability to create October excitement outside of Joe Girardi’s final ride in 2017 that shortened by banging trash cans. I always want to win the division first and foremost. A Wild Card spot is a nice consolation prize if Plan A does not work out, but I will never look at a Wild Card as a goal.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">There has been much talk about firing General Manager Brian Cashman or canning Manager Aaron Boone, but the man on the spot is Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Mike Axisa included this paragraph in his RAB Thoughts post today on Patreon:</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="background: white;">“Hal’s priority is keeping his investors happy and his loyalty is to his 29 business partners. As long as the Yankees are making money and reasonably competitive, he’s happy. Winning a World Series would be icing on the cake, but clearly, it’s not the No. 1 priority. It hasn’t been in some time. I think Cashman has lost his fastball, but I also think he’s gone along with Hal because hey, if the boss wants to lower expectations and make my life easier, who am I to argue?</span>”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Note: If you do not subscribe to RAB Thoughts (for only $3 per month), you are missing out. Mike Axisa is absolutely one of the best. His work is consistently elite. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.patreon.com/RABthoughts/posts" target="_blank">RAB Thoughts | IndependentYankees analysis (formerly: riveraveblues.com) | Patreon</a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Getting back to Hal Steinbrenner, I have always questioned Hal’s commitment to the Yankees. It was so obvious when he was younger, that he was not interested in the Yankees (at least from an outside observation from afar). Hearing people complain today about George Steinbrenner’s grandchildren getting into the family business, most notably, Steve Swindal, Jr., I am excited the younger Steinbrenner relatives have interests in the team. They are the organization's future assuming the Steinbrenner Family never sells the team. I do not see Hal Steinbrenner wanting to deal with the Yankees when he is in his 60s or 70s. He will be ready to turn the team over to more interested, younger hands at some point. I want the younger Steinbrenner’s to get as much experience as they can, and if they can bring along their grandfather’s competitive spirit, all the better. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Axisa’s comment about Hal’s desire to keep his business partners happy rings so true. Profitability is the goal, not the World Series championships. Championships are a nice byproduct, and one would think championships would create greater profitability, but in Hal’s view, you start with the money first. Controlled results. Hal has shown a willingness to spend (see Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge) but conversely, he has allowed poor contracts that prevent the team from making better moves. The most recent example was Brian Cashman’s acquisition of the downward-trending Josh Donaldson and his excessive contract under the belief there was something still in the tank. I would be upset if I paid California gas prices only to find the tank empty. Hal’s strength is his loyalty to his workers. His weakness is his loyalty to his workers. Both can be true. He needs to find the right balance and make hard decisions when appropriate. The Yankees Front Office must be held accountable. Why is it that every Cashman move lately seems like they backfire? He has had his successes, but the failures clearly outweigh them. Something is broken in the Yankees organization, and Hal Steinbrenner needs to fix it. It goes back to General George S Patton's quote: “Lead me, follow me, or get the hell out of my way.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">There have been calls for Manager Aaron Boone to get tougher. That’s wrong. Hal Steinbrenner needs to get tougher. It starts at the top, and the effective changes must originate from Hal’s office. Grabbing a free-agent Japanese pitcher or a free-agent outfielder who spent a year in Chicago is not the effective change the team needs. Those players can be part of the plan, but the Yankees need to change how they view players and how those players collectively fit into the larger puzzle. The 2023 Phillies, much like the 2017 Yankees, show a team camaraderie that was made possible by bringing in the right mix of personalities and talent. Donaldson evidenced the Yankees have not valued character as part of their decision-making process. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">So, this winter is about more than acquiring a few players that you think can push the Yankees to a few more wins. There needs to be a philosophical change in the organization and how they determine a player’s worth. Fire Brian Cashman…do not fire Brian Cashman. That is not really the point. I am not happy with Cashman, but the Yankees’ problems go deeper than Cashman. Fix the root causes of what led to the downward spiral.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Realistically, the Yankees should be as successful in the regular season as the Dodgers. They have the resources. I get that you do not need a $300 million payroll to win a World Series, but why is it so wrong for fans to question the dollars spent? The Yankees have made bad financial decisions. They need to own those decisions and ensure they do not happen again. If Hal is unable to control his business partners, he will never win. So, his first step would be to unite the ownership group to move the franchise forward. Identify the flaws in the organization and create a master plan for success. Hal should evaluate everyone, including himself. Who is part of the future and who is holding it back?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I am not convinced the Yankees will contend in 2024 but I want Hal Steinbrenner to make me, to make us, believe in the Yankees again. On its current path, the team will be an AL East bottom feeder for the foreseeable future. Nothing like wasting the best years of Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge. I want to be excited about the Yankees again. Hal, your move.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">As always, Go Yankees!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">P.S. Please be sure to check out Bryan Van Dusen's <a href="https://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/2023/10/2024-offseason-plan.html" target="_blank">2024 Offseason Plan!</a></p>Scott Fiedlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05598662581036778337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2676591017018865408.post-32723499561951928462023-10-12T19:45:00.008-04:002023-10-13T12:28:04.384-04:002024 Offseason Plan<div style="text-align: left;">I put together my offseason plan and I didn't think it was different enough. I mean, we've heard a lot about the Yankees re-evaluating things this offseason and looking different next year. Well, I just don't believe it. Sure, they may make some internal changes, but when it comes to roster construction I don't see anything crazy happening. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br>That doesn't mean they will have another boring offseason, though. I do expect a couple of big things to happen. I mean, after looking at the 2023 Yankees "big" things have to happen. The Yankees offense was 20th in MLB in fWAR, Yankees starters ranked 20th in fWAR, and Yankees relievers ranked 16th in MLB in fWAR. The only part of the team you could call "good" was their defense, where the team ranked 10th in defensive runs saved*.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br>*Other than LF and RF, the team was one of the better defensive teams in baseball. Giancarlo Stanton and Jake Bauers are really bad defenders, and they accounted for 459 innings in RF. Furthermore, Franchy Cordero... merely a bad defender... accounted for another 127 innings in right. That's 42% of the total innings played out there by bad to really bad defenders. As far as LF, the only player I have on the team for 2024 to play there last season is on the bench (Oswaldo Cabrera and I'm not counting Stanton as I have him... elsewhere).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Let's start with the major transactions I would do...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br><b>1. Trade Clarke Schmidt, Everson Pereira, and another minor leaguer for Juan Soto and Matt Carpenter</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br>I just talked about defense and now I'm talking about bringing in Juan Soto, who was 31st in outs of average among qualified LFers last season. I guess I'm overlooking Soto's horrible range in LF, and counting on a much stronger performance in RF, to bring the Yankees' overall defense firmly within the top 10 of MLB. I should note that I specifically called out Juan's range in LF, as he has a very good arm. And that doesn't get into how huge an upgrade his bat is over anyone that the Yankees had in LF in 2023.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br>That "another minor leaguer" might have to be someone of substance, rather than a "toss-in", but that's perfectly okay with me to get a generational talent like Soto.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br>By the way, having Carpenter (a beloved Yankee) and that perfect swing for Yankee Stadium would be great as a weapon off the bench. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br>I should note that it's been reported that the Padres very much want to get payroll done next year, and this move would clear up nearly $40 million. It would be impossible to improve after losing Soto, but his availability is certainly possible. <br> <br><b>2. Sign Yoshinobu Yamamoto for 8 years $200 million</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br>I took care of the offense with Soto, now it's time to address the starting rotation. What better way than to bring in the best non-Ohtani starter available this offseason (ignoring the fact that Shohei is unlikely to pitch in 2024)? I'd like someone with a track record in MLB, but from everything I read on Yoshinobu he should at least be a very good #3 starter, and probably better than that. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br><b>3. Sign Kevin Kiermaier for two years and $25 million </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br>I've seen a lot about the Yankees signing Cody Bellinger, but with a likely extension coming Soto's way (and a very expensive one at that), along with Jasson Dominguez returning around the All Star break, I see no way Hal okays spending big on Cody. Not that I think Cashman would be fine with handing centerfield over to someone like Everson Pereira (assuming Cashman would have found someone else to add to that Soto trade), as Everson was awful with the bat in 2023. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br>I saw a couple of people call Keirmaier a left-handed version of Harrison Bader, and that's fine for a guy that I see playing all over the outfield in the second half of the season in order to make sure guys like Judge and Soto are 100% for the postseason.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br><b>4. Trade Ben Rice and Jerad Serna for Tanner Scott</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br>I thought about bringing back Wandy Peralta, as I'd want two good to really good lefties in the bullpen, but the cost of bringing Wandy back just didn't make sense. Not when the Yankees could deal for another reliever, along with their ability to build good ones. Now, do I think the bullpen could be good without making this trade? Yes. But it's past time to say "good enough". Go get another good reliever.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br>I should also mention that Miami has a good pitching squad... starting and relieving, and since Scott is entering his last year of arbitration (MLB Trade Rumors projects a salary in 2024 of $5.8 million) I think Miami would be perfectly fine moving him.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br>That may be a bit much for Scott (Serna is #20 and Rice is #23 in MLB's list of Yankees prospects), as Tanner broke out in 2023 rather than built on any other very good season. But if he can keep that home run rate down (it's gone down in each of the past two years), while also keeping up the better control he showed last year, then I think this could be a very good way to get another strong arm in the bullpen.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br>Here is a list of the players that could either be involved in smaller deals to help the Yankees create depth in the minor leagues, or simply be non-tendered, as they are eligible for arbitration next season...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br><i>Kyle Higashioka </i>- With Austin Wells, Jose Trevino, and Ben Rortvedt (who I see in AAA to at least start 2024) around I see zero reason to possibly offer Kyle a MLB contract.<br><i>Albert Abreu</i> - Although he'll only make a little more than the league minimum in arbitration, I think it would be better to save a couple hundred thousand dollars and give that roster spot to someone else.<br><i>Matt Bowman</i> - he didn't "kill it" in AAA, and was not good in MLB, last season. No thanks.<br><i>Ryan Weber</i> - he can't throw the ball past hitters and got hit around in AAA. Pass</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Billy McKinney</i> - I thought about McKinney for the bench, but I like the acquisition of Carpenter that leaves no room for Billy.<br><i>Jake Bauers</i> - while he does bat lefty, corner outfielders are too easy to find.<br><i>Jimmy Cordero</i> - He's not bad, but not good enough to bother with. Especially when he's about to turn 32. But hey... we do share a birthday.<br><i>Lou Trivino</i> - he killed it when the Yankees acquired him during the 2022 season, but a 32-year-old returning from Tommy John surgery sometime DURING the 2024 season? Nah.<br><i>Domingo German</i> - maybe if he'd shown something as a reliever (only 54 innings out of the bullpen in his MLB career), but as a starter there's no way.<br><i>Franchy Cordero</i> - a corner outfielder who can't hit? LOL... nope.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br>Take the approximate $19 million those players will make in 2024 and say "thank you, but goodbye".</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br>I wanted to discuss a few players that we've heard others talk about trading, or have discussed doing that ourselves....</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br>I don't like the idea of leaning on Oswald Peraza on Opening Day, therefore I'm not trading away Gleyber Torres or DJ LeMahieu. I believe Oswald will end up a solid to better Major League player, which is why I want to keep him around as he could very well be the starting second or third baseman in 2025. However, for a team with championship aspirations going into 2024, I want someone who hit better than .191/.267/.272 last season. Plus, you don't know how Anthony Rizzo will be after his concussion, so I'd rather keep DJ around since he plays a good 1B.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br>I don't see the point in paying Giancarlo Stanton to play elsewhere by DFAing him, and I can't imagine anyone trading for him and taking on much money without a good prospect attached (that's a hard "no" from me). Oh, and that's assuming he'd waive his no-trade clause, which he doesn't seem keen on doing as he loves being a Yankee.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br>So finally, we come to my active roster for the 2024 New York Yankees, which includes each player's salary per the Luxury Tax (arbitration salary estimates come from <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/10/projected-arbitration-salaries-for-2024.html">MLB Trade Rumors</a>). By the way, I put the position players in order I'd bat them, but feel free to disagree with that... I don't really care.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br>• - bats or throws left-handed<br># - switch-hitter</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br>2B Gleyber Torres $15.3m<br>RF Aaron Judge $40m<br>LF Juan Soto* $33m (assuming no extension)<br>3B DJ LeMahieu $15m<br>1B Anthony Rizzo* $20m<br>DH Giancarlo Stanton $22m (includes $3m from MIA)<br>CF Kevin Kiermaier* $12.5m<br>SS Anthony Volpe $.8m<br>C Austin Wells* $.75m</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br>BE Jose Trevino C $2.7m<br>BE Oswaldo Cabrera# UT $.8m<br>BE Oswald Peraza IF $.8m<br>BE Matt Carpenter* 1B $5.5m</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br>SP1 Gerrit Cole $36m<br>SP2 Carlos Rodon* $27m<br>SP3 Yoshinobu Yamamoto $25m<br>SP4 Nestor Cortes* $3.9m<br>SP5 Michael King $2.6m</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br>RP Clay Holmes $6m<br>RP Tanner Scott* $5.8m<br>RP Jonathan Loaisiga $2.5m<br>RP Tommy Kahnle $5.75m<br>RP Nick Ramirez* $.8m<br>RP Ian Hamilton $.9m<br>RP Scott Effross $.8m<br>RP Ron Marinaccio $.8m</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br><u>Miscellaneous Expenses</u><br>Aaron Hicks - $10m (assuming he doesn't play anywhere in 2024, but if so you can take $.74m away from the Yankees obligation)<br>0-3 yr bonus - $1.667m<br>40-man players in minors - $2.25m<br>Estimated Player Benefits - $17m</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br>Total Opening Day Payroll - $317.817 million (2023 year-end payroll was $298,518,065 vs. $376,420,466 for the Mets)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br>Note, I see Jasson Dominguez taking over CF when he returns from the injured list sometime after the All Star break, making Kiermaier a great way to give everyone in the outfield enough rest to be as fresh as possible going into the postseason.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">There it is... another offseason plan on the books. Let me know what you think either here or on TWITTER (screw Elon). </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Have a good one!</div>Bryan Van Dusenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02868262676393608086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2676591017018865408.post-79329739615091524032023-10-06T22:27:00.002-04:002023-10-06T22:27:27.357-04:00Impatiently Waiting for the Offseason Rebuild...<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicduTwPv-uCTX81_5rFoWREObAwgeLDgUc0vFCmF6dYyKnXv9Q2J3b556ieft6v5HVQwN4QTi3BeWrMP3Jq_9YGdbbOMGs4oCpeHnbSMAcMZHr2DG-g1GLg-p7-kj7a7OWB5c0wS02rJjuoLlUmN76W2Kg-GhDsNIDYDr8HLRBQn9B6XGOgyyQ_lb1Kdsi/s944/Screenshot%202023-10-06%20190636.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="944" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicduTwPv-uCTX81_5rFoWREObAwgeLDgUc0vFCmF6dYyKnXv9Q2J3b556ieft6v5HVQwN4QTi3BeWrMP3Jq_9YGdbbOMGs4oCpeHnbSMAcMZHr2DG-g1GLg-p7-kj7a7OWB5c0wS02rJjuoLlUmN76W2Kg-GhDsNIDYDr8HLRBQn9B6XGOgyyQ_lb1Kdsi/w640-h426/Screenshot%202023-10-06%20190636.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">DJ LeMahieu & Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: Chris Young)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><h2><b style="text-align: justify;">I miss the words, “The Yankees”…</b></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Major League Playoff Season is exciting for many fans, particularly those in Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, Minneapolis, Baltimore, Phoenix, and Philadelphia. The fans in Houston and Los Angeles are just waiting for the later rounds before they get excited since they do this every year. Meanwhile, the playoffs are a roadblock for the improvement of baseball’s greatest team, the New York Yankees. No step toward the betterment of the Pinstriped Product will happen until the Atlanta Braves walk off the field with the World Series Championship.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I am ready for changes.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Other teams have already jumpstarted their offseason game plans. The New York Mets, proving they might no longer be the New York Mess, quickly made the decision to jettison respected, experienced manager Buck Showalter after hiring David Stearns as the team’s new President of Baseball Operations. I kept wondering when GM Billy Eppler would get his walking papers, so it was no surprise when he stepped down this week. Credit Eppler. He may not be a great general manager, but he does know how to read writing on the wall. There was a time I thought the Yankees should have promoted Eppler to GM when he was Brian Cashman’s assistant general manager, but Eppler proved me wrong. Sometimes the best moves are the moves never made although I would never apply that to my desire to see Cashman replaced. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I expect the Mets to be better in 2024 which of course places the pressure on the Yankees to improve, or at least it should. I have no desire to see Buck Showalter as the Yankees manager. I saw many of those posts on social media after Showalter announced his departure from the Mets. Like Joe Girardi, we have been there, and done that, and I have no wish to travel down either of those roads again. I want to see Buck return to studio work for the YES Network. He offers great insight, and he is a valuable resource. The Yankees need a stronger bench coach, but I wonder if Buck would be interested in that type of role.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">In the last couple of days, I have seen posts that say the Yankees expect Aaron Boone to be “tougher” in 2024. Boone is who he is. He is not going to change. If he starts acting like Mister Tough Guy in the clubhouse, players are just going to laugh at him. When I saw that the Cleveland Guardians were interested in talking with Bench Coach Carlos Mendoza about their vacant managerial seat (due to Terry Francona’s retirement), I was excited and hopeful that he would get the job. Mendy is a trusted coach who has the respect of the players, but the Yankees can do so much better for the vital bench coach role. I keep saying it, but Boone needs someone who is not afraid to question him, to challenge him. Boone may be the decision-maker, but he needs to make better decisions. A strong bench coach can improve him if Boone fully commits to the chosen individual. Boone seems like a fair, open-minded guy. I am sure he wants to improve. All of us like to be surrounded by people who make us better. Boone is no different. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPA-IIh15KPVF9DUxyvi3BVTQTN8IU94Az9im_l1V7nPJETppxGm2dynHqa-GkWMTKbZhZeFlV_YLc2acRIiQO7wSkGvCMUCuebdGuC-Vtv-ROXE7Mwk3Ey0jcjpVZyDyv_s_1RBGSPLPZVERCrKpiI0qL3DDpjSA1BYaP_-70hmQl07fX04TE85piD_H3/s591/Screenshot%202023-10-06%20191213.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="379" data-original-width="591" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPA-IIh15KPVF9DUxyvi3BVTQTN8IU94Az9im_l1V7nPJETppxGm2dynHqa-GkWMTKbZhZeFlV_YLc2acRIiQO7wSkGvCMUCuebdGuC-Vtv-ROXE7Mwk3Ey0jcjpVZyDyv_s_1RBGSPLPZVERCrKpiI0qL3DDpjSA1BYaP_-70hmQl07fX04TE85piD_H3/w640-h410/Screenshot%202023-10-06%20191213.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Aaron Boone (Photo Credit: Gene J Puskar/AP)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I have accepted that Aaron Boone will be the Yankees manager in 2024. There are no indications that he will be fired. I blame most, if not all, of last season’s disaster (technically, it is still this season, but I have already moved on) on Brian Cashman and the Front Office. The roster construction was horrific, and they failed to adapt to the elimination of the shift. Everything that went wrong, outside of the players injuring themselves, can be traced to the Front Office. If the Yankees roll out the same bodies in the same front-office positions in 2024, I fully expect more of the same disappointing results. If the Yankees cannot improve, they should expect to be a doormat for the Orioles for the next few years. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Brian Cashman is not going to be fired either although I think it is a mistake. Inevitably, there is nothing we can do about it short of not buying tickets and merchandise. We may be frustrated but we are still Yankee fans, and we will support our team. Brian Cashman is the Yankees' General Manager until he is not.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">So, for now, we will wait. We hope the disastrous results of the 2023 season are weighing heavily on Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner’s mind, and it will spur him to act. Hal will never have his father’s passion for the Yankees' success. Their definitions of success are vastly different. Yet, even Hal’s conservative, analytical mind can recognize success on the field drives the profits off it. Give the Braves their damn trophy so that we can get started on the offseason rebuild.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>The Gang of 17</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">MLB Trade Rumors posted projected arbitration salaries for 2024 for all MLB teams today. The MLBTR projections were created by Matt Swartz. The MLBTR post is titled <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/10/projected-arbitration-salaries-for-2024.html" target="_blank">Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2024</a>. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Yankees have 17 arbitration-eligible players. Here are the projections with names and estimated salaries for 2024. Further information about service time and various implications can be found in the MLBTR post.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><o:p> </o:p>Lou Trivino, $4.1 million</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><i>Gleyber Torres, $15.3 million<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><i>Clay Holmes, $6.0 million<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><i>Jonathan Loaisiga, $2.5 million<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><i>Kyle Higashioka, $2.3 million<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><i>Franchy Cordero, $1.6 million<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><i>Domingo German, $4.4 million<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><i>Nestor Cortes, Jr, $3.9 million<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><i>Jose Trevino, $2.7 million<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><i>Matt Bowman, $1.0 million<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><i>Michael King, $2.6 million<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><i>Ryan Weber, $990K<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><i>Billy McKinney, $1.2 million<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><i>Jake Bauers, $1.7 million<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><i>Jimmy Cordero, $900K<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><i>Clarke Schmidt, $2.6 million<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><i>Albert Abreu, $900K</i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I look at this list and see a whole lot of future ex-Yankees. Realistically, the only players who should return in 2024, barring any trades, are Gleyber Torres, Clay Holmes, Jonathan Loaisiga, Nestor Cortes, Jose Trevino, Michael King, and Clarke Schmidt. You can make an argument against Loaisiga based on his injury history. Otherwise, I have no trouble moving on from the other players. Kyle Higashioka may be the longest-tenured Yankee, but it is a numbers game, and the future has arrived for Austin Wells. Brian Cashman will always be dumpster diving and I am sure he will have new fringe players in camp on non-roster invitations next Spring. Players equal to or better than the fringe players above can be found.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I have not been in favor of trading Gleyber Torres, however, an expected salary of $15.3 million does give one reason to ponder. It seems clear Torres is not in the Yankees’ long-term plans. They would be fine with Anthony Volpe at second base next year, with Oswald Peraza and his better arm taking shortstop. I expect the Yankees to make up for the offense in other areas. Or at least, I hope. If the Yankees can use Torres as a trade chip to help improve the roster, go for it. I was tired of how much Josh Donaldson’s season salary prevented the Yankees from making smart moves. Torres offers production, which Donaldson did not, but building a team is about putting your dollars in the right places. The Yankees are deep in middle infield talent in the minor league system, and the high dollars for Torres are better used in building a diverse, adaptable, resilient roster capable of sustained success. We have seen what happens when holes in the roster are left unattended. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Clarke Schmidt did exactly what I had hoped he would do this season. He learned, he adjusted, and he got better. Granted, he may have positioned himself as trade bait, especially with the terrific starting performances by Michael King late in the season, but he was a joy to watch after a frustrating start. I would like to see Schmidt’s return unless his departure means the arrival of a guy like Juan Soto. Any deal involving Schmidt needs to be a significant acquisition, otherwise, I would rather see the Yankees hang onto him. There should be no Jordan Montgomery for Harrison Bader type of trades for Schmidt.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hYywIBFOsKzUsYhgGx0EDbm-LrE5eW6Ohw0QPBL4ELiDh8vdoeGyFVBMyPyNH8WeE-oXyGbm5dRcl953wx4D1e3oyoE5G6-6yel_Zyc4HfdvweK1l-u7tJplInHU9m2IOf3jolVg5hM_l9mEYs_nHTs9ITKFd89HGajymWKUHthyHrU-58AWMy5R8CuW/s643/Screenshot%202023-10-06%20191701.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="643" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hYywIBFOsKzUsYhgGx0EDbm-LrE5eW6Ohw0QPBL4ELiDh8vdoeGyFVBMyPyNH8WeE-oXyGbm5dRcl953wx4D1e3oyoE5G6-6yel_Zyc4HfdvweK1l-u7tJplInHU9m2IOf3jolVg5hM_l9mEYs_nHTs9ITKFd89HGajymWKUHthyHrU-58AWMy5R8CuW/w640-h460/Screenshot%202023-10-06%20191701.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Clarke Schmidt (Photo Credit: Getty Images)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I included Holmes as a guy to keep although I would prefer to see him replaced as the team’s closer. He is a good reliever, just not the guy I want at the back end of games. Nestor Cortes has much to prove next year. He needs to show that 2022 was not an aberration and, just as importantly, he can stay healthy. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I am anxious for the offseason to start. The next few weeks are going to be a sludge. When the final out of the World Series is recorded, we can turn the page on 2023 and go all-in for 2024. Braves, go ahead and run the table. Just get this thing over. The Yankees have work to do.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">As always, Go Yankees!</p>Scott Fiedlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05598662581036778337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2676591017018865408.post-87072053790823534492023-09-29T22:39:00.002-04:002023-09-29T22:39:27.188-04:00The End of the Season is Near...<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZ0_gi4w6e5hQqEK1h7okfRWfUlK3L5GwRLIl0NffLnLjGlJXtntTMYoLn0vNob0cVb2qMd8gYa6RM_HHj146wdgjZrFZ8mKqfKRvdA4s06NzfgJuZuO36WSLbm2fPbDA78sVWovLNUB3StgSHL_9_b5mKSY83iIGjqQE5vPrUOUzItOqDeX3c8mbeWen/s946/Screenshot%202023-09-29%20192127.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="624" data-original-width="946" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZ0_gi4w6e5hQqEK1h7okfRWfUlK3L5GwRLIl0NffLnLjGlJXtntTMYoLn0vNob0cVb2qMd8gYa6RM_HHj146wdgjZrFZ8mKqfKRvdA4s06NzfgJuZuO36WSLbm2fPbDA78sVWovLNUB3StgSHL_9_b5mKSY83iIGjqQE5vPrUOUzItOqDeX3c8mbeWen/w640-h422/Screenshot%202023-09-29%20192127.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Oswaldo Cabrera, Greg Weissert, DJ LeMahieu & Austin Wells (Photo Credit: Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><h2><b style="text-align: justify;">The Yankees conclude the season in KC…</b></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">As I type this post, the Yankees have begun playing on Friday night against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Not much point in waiting until the end of the game to start writing this week’s entry. The Yankees, by taking two of three from the Toronto Blue Jays this week, assured themselves of not less than a .500 season. By winning at least one game in the next three from the 105-loss Royals, the Yankees will keep the winning season streak alive even if you cannot exactly call this a “winning” season. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Boston’s tailspin this week (they have lost five consecutive games entering play this evening) clinched the AL East Cellar for the Red Sox. Not much to shoot for goals this season, but finishing ahead of Boston was one. Small wins. We need something to keep us warm over a long winter. Finishing with more wins than losses is another yet-to-be-achieved goal. The Yankees were 81-78 after concluding their trip to Toronto, Canada. They can finish anywhere from 81-81 to 84-78. If I can dissect a goal from the possibilities, it would be to avoid 80 losses. If the Yankees can take 2 of 3 from the Royals like they did the Blue Jays, they will finish 83-79. Sounds better than 82-80 or 81-81. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I am ready for the season to end. The downside is that we must wait until the playoffs are over before there will be any meaningful activity for the Yankees in their efforts to bounce back next season. There are reports the outside company brought for an audit of team processes throughout the organization will start in October. Well, the halls of Yankee Stadium will be empty next week. No time to start like the present.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The managerial firings began today when the San Francisco Giants announced they had parted ways with Manager Gabe Kapler who won 107 games and the NL West Division crown in 2021. I have no interest in Kapler as Yankees manager although I have already seen numerous social media posts to that effect. I would rather have Joe Girardi as the manager than Kapler, and believe me, I have no desire to see Girardi return to Pinstripes. He had his time. I am sure it was a hard decision for Farhan Zaidi, the Giants’ President of Baseball Operations, but like the Yankees, I think the Giants front office holds more responsibility for 2023 on-the-field disappointment than the manager. Zaidi is probably seeing his own mortality as a team executive, and he was not going to fire himself. Does Yankees GM Brian Cashman serve up Aaron Boone as the sacrificial lamb? At the end of the day, the buck stops with Zaidi and Cashman. They are responsible for the men in the clubhouse and the players on the field. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">My speculation is the Yankees retain both Cashman and Boone. Another GM was promoted to President of Baseball Operations today (Nick Krall of the Cincinnati Reds). With so many GMs making this transition, it seems inevitable the Yankees will do the same for Cashman one day or at least they should if they are not going to fire him. It is time for a new Yankees GM regardless of how Cashman is moved out of the position (firing or promotion). Promoting a failure seems counterproductive, but I will not believe that Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner has the stones to fire Cashman unless he ACTUALLY does it. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VynoNpl267OiD6n-I6PYyAt0FTDHkmNpZRJhIUTT2hLMVTGRd2VL48qLYxV_x8jlBTr6cmN0Rg8hNYV1_ZU9JNIbsq5FJu_FD8eK9QTQivqAm12F9cVN8BLPRgulGpzWR_lVYWI2_NxGFew3eh2UFKtd96Hw-lZWdLtUmsWJbUx9mgFb0otICzjwx8pm/s664/Screenshot%202023-09-29%20192449.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="664" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VynoNpl267OiD6n-I6PYyAt0FTDHkmNpZRJhIUTT2hLMVTGRd2VL48qLYxV_x8jlBTr6cmN0Rg8hNYV1_ZU9JNIbsq5FJu_FD8eK9QTQivqAm12F9cVN8BLPRgulGpzWR_lVYWI2_NxGFew3eh2UFKtd96Hw-lZWdLtUmsWJbUx9mgFb0otICzjwx8pm/w640-h424/Screenshot%202023-09-29%20192449.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Hal Steinbrenner (Photo Credit: Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Yankees game went from 0-0 first pitch to 8-0 Royals in the bottom of the first inning with no outs and Carlos Rodón already out of the game. As David Cone just said, when it rains, it pours. You would think the Yankees would enter the season’s final series with some pride, and at least have some success against one of baseball’s worst teams. Yet, the Yankees are getting bludgeoned to death. It seems par for the course this season. The first inning ended 9-0 in favor of the Royals. One of the worst innings I have ever seen in my life. Well, my little league team, George’s Pizza, did have a few bad ones if memory serves correctly. But the Yankees made it <i>professionally</i> bad. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Frankie Montas is expected to pitch a few innings this weekend. There seems to be some interest on both sides for a reunion next season. The Yankees should only do it on a short-term, “make-good” contract to see if they can discover the pitcher that they thought they were getting from the Oakland A’s. If another team wants to offer Montas a three- or four-year deal, call it a sunk loss and move on. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I doubt the Yankees can eliminate Giancarlo Stanton or DJ LeMahieu this offseason, but the team would be better in the long run if they could. Even if they must pay the bulk of the contract, the Yankees should try to find a way to move Stanton. Of course, any move would take Stanton’s blessing, but a change of scenery could be good for him, as he might find greater success elsewhere. The Giants or the Dodgers seem like the most logical landing spots if either team is interested in Stanton at a discounted price. I like LeMahieu, but his best days are behind him and, sadly, they are not coming back. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I have already accepted that Kyle Higashioka will not be part of the 2024 Yankees. Austin Wells has proven he belongs, and he will be half of the catching tandem with Jose Trevino, if not more. Ben Rortvedt in reserve, with promising young catchers on the way. There is simply no room for Higgy. He is a good clubhouse guy aside from his defensive prowess and occasional pop, but it has become a numbers game for him and there is simply no room for moving forward.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I am hopeful and optimistic that first baseman Anthony Rizzo will have a bounce-back year next season, but the Yankees need to ensure that they have strong first base support. I know many people do not want the Cubs’ Cody Bellinger, but he makes too much sense to me. He would give us a strong outfielder who can play first base if needed (and play it well). He can play center for most of next season, and then possibly move to left, if/when Jasson Dominguez is ready to return. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs39gY5lkZHu37Atq32LphnfEa_jkRhX85PcrzDhVU_WJg81oDTFx26M2nwVfuPVQKcUlM7UrKeRvYFUIP8TnrRPGDFhsfq7sZ3PZCyDE6Fr6VCbnGPlWeShpZX-KMtUNRVnEGLtdjqDqym1Z_ZcOsortjz62lKGPEjQbobyxZRFF8FoGozCVzupPq5tlq/s568/Screenshot%202023-09-29%20192749.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="379" data-original-width="568" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs39gY5lkZHu37Atq32LphnfEa_jkRhX85PcrzDhVU_WJg81oDTFx26M2nwVfuPVQKcUlM7UrKeRvYFUIP8TnrRPGDFhsfq7sZ3PZCyDE6Fr6VCbnGPlWeShpZX-KMtUNRVnEGLtdjqDqym1Z_ZcOsortjz62lKGPEjQbobyxZRFF8FoGozCVzupPq5tlq/w640-h428/Screenshot%202023-09-29%20192749.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Cody Bellinger (Photo Credit: MLB Photos via Getty Images)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">If not Bellinger, it needs to be someone capable of multiple positions in addition to first base. It would be nice if LeMahieu could be that guy, but I am fearful that Father Time is no longer his friend. We become more injury-prone as we get older, and LeMahieu is trending in the wrong direction.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I have no desire to trade Gleyber Torres, but I do believe the Yankees would be stronger with Anthony Volpe at second base and Oswald Peraza at shortstop. I felt that way before Volpe made the Major League club in Spring Training, and I continue to feel that way. Keeping Volpe at shortstop just because that is the position that he grabbed in Spring Training does not make sense if the team is better defensively with Volpe at second and Peraza at short. But of course, if Volpe is the second baseman, where does Gleyber Torres play? Under that scenario, it might be necessary to trade one of the team’s best hitters. Or trade Peraza if it helps to acquire a starting pitcher capable of performing well under pressure. So, I will say that I prefer to keep Torres, but I am not opposed to moving him if it helps make the team better. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">If Peraza is at short or is traded, the question then becomes who is the third baseman? I would have liked to have seen Andrés Chaparro in the Bronx in September but there was no room for him. He will have a chance to make his case for third base next season, along with prospect Tyler Hardman. It will be interesting to see if the Yankees address third base from within or if they go externally through free agency or trade. With so many other pressing needs, it kind of feels like third base will get lost in the shuffle. Peraza is capable of being the third baseman which would allow the Yankees to keep Torres, but it seems like Peraza’s highest and best value is either shortstop or second base. The Yankees need to figure this out.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I have liked Everson Pereira, the prospect, but as a Major Leaguer, I am not sure he is the answer for left field. He will continue to grow; however, I am not sure if he can fix the ‘swing and miss’. Unlike this season, the Yankees need to ensure they have a strong left-field solution entering Opening Day 2024. As much as I want to see Pereira succeed, I think they can do better.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">As for center field, I am not sure what the Yankees will do if they are not successful in acquiring a guy like Cody Bellinger. Estevan Florial deserves more time, but honestly, the Yankees can ill afford both Florial and Pereira in the same lineup. One or the other. If Pereira is included in a trade, then take the chance on Florial in center at least until Dominguez is ready. Doing this, the Yankees cannot take any chances in the other areas of need. They need certainty…they need consistency…they need players who can play to the back of their baseball cards. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I have not dived into pitching. There is Gerrit Cole, the soon-to-be AL Cy Young Award Winner, and then there is everybody else. I did mention Montas earlier, but the one guy who must find it this offseason is Carlos Rodón. His final 2023 start, with an inability to record an out after 35 pitches, allowing six hits, eight earned runs, and two walks, will leave a bad taste in the fanbase. Well, it puts an exclamation point on his horrific season. Rodón enters 2024 as the player with the most to prove on a team with a bunch of guys needing to prove themselves again. After this season’s pathetic performance (aside from his extended time on the Injury List), I am not sure that you can automatically pencil in Rodón’s name for next year’s starting rotation. For the money and years that the Yankees owe him, it seems inevitable he will be, but with all honesty, he should not be given anything. He needs to earn it. My guess is the Yankees will move on from Luis Severino given so much other uncertainty in the rotation. They cannot afford for Rodón to crap the bed again.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Michael King, as of this writing, is the Yankees’ second-best starter and he spent most of the season as a reliever, albeit a very good one. I am in favor of retaining King in the rotation. I would like to see the Yankees sign Japanese starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He seems like a special player, and if the Yankees are truly in the running for him, they need to pull out all the stops to get him. The Yankees have strong starting pitching coming up through the farm system. Drew Thorpe seems to be on the fast track, and he has already proven he is the best young arm in the organization. With Rodón’s uncertainty, the Yankees cannot take too many chances with the other starting spots. They need to be RIGHT about the pitchers they choose, not something that has been a good front-office attribute in recent years. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">There are plenty of strong arms for relief in the bullpen and in the farm system. I am not too worried about the Yankees’ ability to rebuild the pen. However, they do need a legitimate closer. Clay Holmes is not that guy. Holmes is good for the pen, just not at the back end of meaningful games. I hope the Yankees can figure this one out over the coming months. I have no idea who the Yankees could or should get, but I trust they can find an elite arm. They have the resources. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Yankees desperately need to rebuild the Analytics division, starting with the ouster of Assistant GM Michael Fishman. I recognize that wanting Cashman and Boone fired does not mean they will be, but clearly, the Yankees must see the poor decisions that have been formed on information provided by the Analytics team, led by Fishman. If the Yankees do nothing else with the Front Office this offseason, getting newer, smarter nerds is an absolute must. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I am hopeful this is finally the offseason of change with the infusion of hope. I have literally waited years for Hal Steinbrenner to excite the fan base. Is this finally the year he acts like a true Steinbrenner? If not now, he probably never will. This is his moment to put his stamp on the New York Yankees. Hal was in charge when the Yankees won in 2009, however, his father, in health decline, was still in the background. Will history remember Hal as an owner committed to winning like his father, or is he just another also-ran in it for the profit? He needs to make his mark as the stand-alone ownership leader of the Yankees, no longer in the shadows of his legendary larger-than-life father or opinionated late brother. The Yankees organization created the culture of winning in the 1920s. Hal has a chance to redefine success one hundred years later. Is he up for the challenge? We shall soon see.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">As always, Go Yankees!</p>Scott Fiedlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05598662581036778337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2676591017018865408.post-85208987585266654422023-09-23T09:13:00.002-04:002023-09-23T09:13:18.737-04:00Listen to the Fans: Fire Cashman Night...<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zxSL7ljhqwObE75fEf7KDUXCyF5CMY7e6ZonpJlEgmJKAreYKwhNG0RbcT3BsqYYq2Ucz597DnYe2POptxW0d4faiAKG47MXICSQvrh-Jp2POQAvJJ-0DU5ZTJEQSxUSoURZ8ogq0Xo2Ir8ni5uxkiS1srhSxhT8vCX9fBPir8tqXs3Uzht1ivwnFeFK/s779/Screenshot%202023-09-23%20054916.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="779" data-original-width="671" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zxSL7ljhqwObE75fEf7KDUXCyF5CMY7e6ZonpJlEgmJKAreYKwhNG0RbcT3BsqYYq2Ucz597DnYe2POptxW0d4faiAKG47MXICSQvrh-Jp2POQAvJJ-0DU5ZTJEQSxUSoURZ8ogq0Xo2Ir8ni5uxkiS1srhSxhT8vCX9fBPir8tqXs3Uzht1ivwnFeFK/w552-h640/Screenshot%202023-09-23%20054916.png" width="552" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Fire Cashman Night, 9/22/2023 (Photo Credit: Robert Sabo/NY Post)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><h2><b style="text-align: justify;">Fans show up in support of Cashman’s dismissal…</b></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Friday night was <b>“Fire Cashman Night”</b> and of course, the Yankees won with a reclamation project off the scrap heap (Luke Weaver), a common and consistent Cashman attempt to find ‘lightning in a bottle’. To Cashman’s credit, Weaver was once a promising young pitcher for the Cardinals and Diamondbacks, and perhaps the Yankees see something they can fix. Yet, it was funny that a Cashman ploy succeeded on a night when fans were calling for his ouster. Weaver was backed by Aaron Judge’s second three-homer game of the season, but the first home run, a three-run shot in the third inning would have been sufficient to back the tremendous outings by Weaver and reliever Jhony Brito. Gerrit Cole, not Matt Blake, is growing a reputation as the team’s Pitching Whisperer.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QPo7yasjdWwGMiJvqgw78-XlCx2p_B-qAVYf_ezdszNBuYb2dvxpn-8lcmcLkOSE6dzhujfR7xMvYJp4w3g2U0mVuLR8gQprTkjmZfott-U4Wxg5tiuGntiCtG-VZuQrp8Wl5SbEbhGm1z-z97s77ReaceAYoQGGOgKD23dzWrVfy9U527-JWeC24M02/s979/attachment-gettyimages-1468567937-594x594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="979" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QPo7yasjdWwGMiJvqgw78-XlCx2p_B-qAVYf_ezdszNBuYb2dvxpn-8lcmcLkOSE6dzhujfR7xMvYJp4w3g2U0mVuLR8gQprTkjmZfott-U4Wxg5tiuGntiCtG-VZuQrp8Wl5SbEbhGm1z-z97s77ReaceAYoQGGOgKD23dzWrVfy9U527-JWeC24M02/w640-h402/attachment-gettyimages-1468567937-594x594.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Gerrit Cole (Photo Credit: Getty Images)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Despite Aaron Judge’s words after the game saying the players take the most responsibility for this season’s failure, the primary problem was the players who were on the field and that buck stops with Cashman. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Yankees (78-76) won Friday night’s game, 7-1 over the Arizona Diamondbacks, the opening game of a three-game weekend series. The Yankees have eight games remaining. The series in Toronto next week will be tough but hopefully, the Yankees can win the series against Arizona this weekend with victories today and/or tomorrow and take next weekend’s series in Kansas City to ensure a winning season and help to stay a step ahead of the Boston Red Sox to avoid being the AL East Cellar Dweller. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">While I get the players need to perform better on the field, I do not feel that Brian Cashman should continue his role as the team’s general manager. It is <b>TIME</b> for a new voice and vision. Cashman’s years of complacency, the failures to make necessary supportive moves to help the huge free agent signings of Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge (signings driven by Hal Steinbrenner and not Cashma), and the disastrous trades and bypass of young generational free agent talent (most notably, Bryce Harper) over the past few seasons have helped the Yankees become the “mid” team they currently are. The Yankees spend money, it is the allocation of those dollars that has been the problem. Whether it is Giancarlo Stanton’s contract that grows uglier with each passing year or taking on the money owed to Josh Donaldson that largely helped the Minnesota Twins win this year’s AL Central crown, those are dollars that could have gone to elite players. As wide open as the American League is this year, it is too bad the Yankees were not prepared to participate. <b>THAT</b> is on Cashman. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">For every bad trade, people like to say the Yankees acquired Anthony Rizzo. The truth is the Yankees went for Rizzo when they could have had Matt Olson. Olson currently has 53 home runs and 132 RBIs and is batting .278/.386/.605 with .991 OPS. Maybe the Yankees never could have matched the package that the Atlanta Braves gave the Oakland A’s to get Olson but there is no real evidence they ever tried. Fans like Anthony Rizzo. He has a fun personality, is supportive of his t,eammates and is one of Aaron Judge’s best friends, he has a cute dog, and his defense at first base is light years ahead of the metal glove that preceded him (Luke Voit). In reality, Rizzo is an aging ballplayer with a bad back. Don Mattingly showed that a bad back can prematurely end a first baseman’s great career. Sorry, I will not give Cashman credit for Rizzo even if I like the player. The Yankees could have and should have done better. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Brian Cashman was the right man at the right time when he was promoted to succeed Bob Watson as the Yankees’ General Manager in 1998. He will always be associated with the 1990s Dynasty Years even though he was not the chief architect, and he has 2009 when he expertly used Hal Steinbrenner’s money to supplement a talented roster, bringing the championship back home. Cashman is a legitimate future Hall of Famer, however, his days as the Yankees general manager have reached the end of their useful life.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><u>It is time to fire Brian Cashman</u>.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Sadly, with each passing day as we near season’s end, the probability of Cashman’s firing lMostnce most teams, like Boston did in firing GM Chaim Bloom this month, make changes in August or September to ensure the new GM is in place before the start of the critical offseason. So, I guess I continue to hope Steinbrenner promotes Cashman to President of Baseball Operations (or a similar title) and makes room for a new showrunner. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Regardless of what happens, the fans of the New York Yankees are united in the belief that Cashman must go (as general manager).</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Wake up, Hal Steinbrenner, and listen to the fans. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>Thank you, Wandy Peralta</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Wandy Peralta, one of the few successful trades in recent memory, has been a good Yankee. He pitched in 63 games this year, which spanned 54 innings. He has a 2.83 ERA with four saves. Yesterday, a right triceps strain caused the Yankees to place Peralta on the 15-day Injured List which ended his 2023 season and most likely his Yankees career. Peralta, a free agent after the season, is not expected to return.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hIpQu5bK9EjQl4lDBTTVDqi2mBg82s87I8J_mwlDoFbHAq1SUaSeJOqhQolEGipj1MoVmoylhMHeXI-rDL19HfA_mvCMpTCyQ7V7VBFDqrFNfldbli2LeT-f-zXKM-afSXflJWefeR-rhMOPwky_3qIsookTOldyT6Oxq_fEqYKAf1pK3YcHAe19t7P5/s434/Screenshot%202023-09-23%20055556.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="434" data-original-width="433" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hIpQu5bK9EjQl4lDBTTVDqi2mBg82s87I8J_mwlDoFbHAq1SUaSeJOqhQolEGipj1MoVmoylhMHeXI-rDL19HfA_mvCMpTCyQ7V7VBFDqrFNfldbli2LeT-f-zXKM-afSXflJWefeR-rhMOPwky_3qIsookTOldyT6Oxq_fEqYKAf1pK3YcHAe19t7P5/w638-h640/Screenshot%202023-09-23%20055556.png" width="638" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Wandy Peralta (Photo Credit: @Yankees via X)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I am proud of the effort Peralta delivered for the Yankees during his time in Pinstripes. He was not always successful, but he was certainly trying to succeed every time he took the mound. Not to say other players do not try, but Peralta always seemed unflappable in any situation. The Yankees could re-sign Peralta in the offseason, but I feel the odds are against it. With so many talented young pitchers moving up in the farm system, the Yankees have younger, cheaper options on the immediate horizon. Another team will most likely offer Peralta a multi-year deal that would be foolish for the Yankees to match. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">It sucks when a good Yankee leaves. I understand it, but it still carries a sense of loss. We appreciate your time in Pinstripes, Wandy. The team would have been better with more guys like you. Good luck with your continued MLB journey. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">To replace Peralta, the Yankees promoted pitching prospect Yoendrys Gómez. I am happy for Gómez. He gets a chance to prove if he can help in 2024 or at the very least, he can showcase his talents for other teams in the event he is traded in the offseason. I had expected Gómez to make his Major League debut last night, particularly when the Yanks had a pulled away from the D-Backs (although Clay Holmes tried his best to make it close), but it did not happen. Maybe today will be the start of his successful Major League career. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>Final Words</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Michael King has made me a believer. He should be in the Yankees’ starting rotation next season. His early success in the rotation frees the Yankees to consider moving Clarke Schmidt in the offseason to help improve other areas of the roster. I like Schmidt, but I like King better. As for pitching, I know many fans would like to move on from Frankie Montas, but I would like to see the Yankees bring him back on a short-term deal to prove himself. For as much as the Yankees paid for him and as talented as we thought he was at the time, it would be disappointing to get absolutely nothing from him in his Yankees career. As such, I am supportive of a one-year ‘prove it’ type of deal for his return. We have never seen Montas pitch when healthy and I would like for him to show Yankees fans why he was originally acquired. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgpki8Xiecniuv_iE6h4WEblGlQQBZeAjvYFEU7SRM44gb0rjMkkjIw8v7LlIf65KpuKoOjfyX7vd19ZxlS2P6TmlHPL5y9GqRLpv8e65nJiZ9Waj7LpOsbgkaONEgD0wGembySFRiC3IBLzpOC0LayKJg0mSvGqS7n89SO76fVjcOYVIof1M9vWuQSYb/s1280/RXQF42MIEBGQXGQBRETA5UPK2U.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="1280" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgpki8Xiecniuv_iE6h4WEblGlQQBZeAjvYFEU7SRM44gb0rjMkkjIw8v7LlIf65KpuKoOjfyX7vd19ZxlS2P6TmlHPL5y9GqRLpv8e65nJiZ9Waj7LpOsbgkaONEgD0wGembySFRiC3IBLzpOC0LayKJg0mSvGqS7n89SO76fVjcOYVIof1M9vWuQSYb/w640-h430/RXQF42MIEBGQXGQBRETA5UPK2U.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Frankie Montas (Photo Credit: AP)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">I have mixed feelings about the potential interest in centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier. His tremendous glove was on display at Yankee Stadium this week when the Blue Jays were in town and he would be a nice “stopgap” for centerfield until Jasson Dominguez can return late next season, but the days of signing older players past their prime should be over if the team seriously wants to contend sooner than later. Maybe Kiermaier can prove otherwise if signed. I would not be disappointed if he showed up at Yankee Stadium this winter, pulling a Yankees jersey over his dress shirt, but conversely, I would not be disappointed if the Yankees simply passed. I am hoping Estevan Florial proves he can be a temporary solution in center next season despite the flaws in his bat. I am not convinced he can be, but he has time to prove it. Maybe not this year, but next Spring at the latest. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">Gerrit Cole should easily be the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner, beating out former Yankees starter Sonny Gray. Cole is 14-4 with a 2.75 ERA. He has started 32 games, with one to go. He has pitched 200 innings and has 217 strikeouts. The gap between Cole and Gray is substantial enough that it does not matter what happens in the final starts for either pitcher. <b>Cole is the AL’s best.</b> It is too bad the Yankees (i.e., Brian Cashman) did not give him a better-supporting cast for his greatest year in Pinstripes.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">As always, Go Yankees!</p>Scott Fiedlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05598662581036778337noreply@blogger.com0