Thursday, December 19, 2013

Yankees Minor League Note: Yankees DFA Brett Marshall

With the signing of Carlos Beltran being made official today, the Yankees cleared a spot on their 40-man roster by designating 23-year old right-handed pitcher Brett Marshall for assignment.

A once-promising prospect, Marshall struggled mightily in 2013, compiling a 5.13 ERA in 138.2 innings for Scranton with a 120/68 K/BB ratio.     He also made his big-league debut, giving up six runs in 12 innings with a 7/7 K/BB ratio.

I don't know what the odds are on Marshall getting claimed.  This is the time of year when teams are trying to find spots on their roster for their own free agent signings, which could prevent someone from claiming him.  By the same token, we have seen many players get treated like hot potatoes this time of year as well, getting claimed by organizations, only to be DFA'd when that organization needs to open up their own 40-man slot.

The Yankees lack some pitching depth at the moment, which could make this type of move a surprise.  But Marshall was still far down the list of pitchers competing for a spot on the 2014 Yankees.  His best bet would have been the Adam Warren role, but they can give that to whoever loses the competition for a starting slot out of spring training.



Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Yankees Sign Matt Thornton

After Boone Logan left to go to Colorado on a ridiculous 3-year deal, it left the Yankees with a void in the bullpen for a left-handed reliever.

Enter Matt Thornton, who signed a 2-year, $7M contract this afternoon.

We will get this out of the way first:  If you are expecting the Matt Thornton from years ago in Chicago, you are going to be greatly disappointed.     This should be obvious, as that version of Matt Thornton gets a contract that is much bigger than the one the Yankees gave out here.

Thornton doesn't throw as hard as he used to, but he still does throw hard.  In 2013, his average fastball was still averaging an impressive 94.3 MPH, down from his peak performance of 96.1 in 2010.  With the reduction in velocity has come a reduction in usage.  Thornton used his fastball 51.7% of the time in 2013.  As recently as 2011, he used it 85.1% of the time.

Thornton is more of a LOOGY nowadays than a shutdown reliever.  He is not competition for David Robertson.  He is not someone you are going to use as "the 8th inning guy".    Last year, he held left-handed batters to a .224/.267/.370 line with 20 K in 22.1 innings.   Right-handed hitters had much more success, hitting .329/.423/.405, walking 12 times while only striking out 10 times in 21 innings.  It is possible that some of those walks can be attributed to pitching around a right-handed batter to get to a left-handed one.  It is also possible that right-handed batters saw the ball so well that they weren't even thinking about swinging at anything that wasn't in the zone.

This is the type of contract you should hand out to a veteran LOOGY.  He is a piece to the bullpen, but should not be viewed as a significant part.  They simply filled a void and will now move on to more pressing needs.

Overall, I like the signing for what it is.  It doesn't really take pitchers like Cesar Cabral out of the competition for a 2014 slot, though it will obviously make his journey more difficult.      Other left-handers in the organization (Nik Turley, for example) likely aren't ready for big league action, and Turley should start in the minors right now, not be a reliever in the majors.   

Re: Yankees "Close" on Brian Roberts



On Tuesday, December 17, 2013 6:57:58 AM UTC-5, Vinnie S. wrote:


On Tuesday, December 17, 2013 12:39:12 AM UTC-5, Tom K wrote:
This comes from a report from Ken Rosenthal on Twitter.

We all should know the Brian Roberts story - a very good major league second baseman for many years before succumbing to a lot of injuries.    Roberts has played a total of 192 games in the last four years, 77 of which came in 2013, when he put up a .249/.312/.392 line.  

I will assume he is going to come cheaply. However, it is hard to fathom that he will last more than 75 or so games in 2014.  (If he did that, the Yankees may consider themselves fortunate).

I will assume the Yankees are not done shopping - this is a bit of blah signing.  I don't see much overall upside, even if he does miraculously stay healthy.

They may be just buying 2 years for Refsnyder.

https://twitter.com/erikjblair/status/412941291555946497

Erik Blair ‏@erikjblair

@nomaas Yankee management is like the guy who shows up late to your fantasy draft hammered and uses a five year old magazine.

Re: Yankees "Close" on Brian Roberts



On Tuesday, December 17, 2013 12:39:12 AM UTC-5, Tom K wrote:
This comes from a report from Ken Rosenthal on Twitter.

We all should know the Brian Roberts story - a very good major league second baseman for many years before succumbing to a lot of injuries.    Roberts has played a total of 192 games in the last four years, 77 of which came in 2013, when he put up a .249/.312/.392 line.  

I will assume he is going to come cheaply. However, it is hard to fathom that he will last more than 75 or so games in 2014.  (If he did that, the Yankees may consider themselves fortunate).

I will assume the Yankees are not done shopping - this is a bit of blah signing.  I don't see much overall upside, even if he does miraculously stay healthy.

They may be just buying 2 years for Refsnyder.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Yankees "Close" on Brian Roberts

This comes from a report from Ken Rosenthal on Twitter.

We all should know the Brian Roberts story - a very good major league second baseman for many years before succumbing to a lot of injuries.    Roberts has played a total of 192 games in the last four years, 77 of which came in 2013, when he put up a .249/.312/.392 line.  

I will assume he is going to come cheaply. However, it is hard to fathom that he will last more than 75 or so games in 2014.  (If he did that, the Yankees may consider themselves fortunate).

I will assume the Yankees are not done shopping - this is a bit of blah signing.  I don't see much overall upside, even if he does miraculously stay healthy.




Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Yankees Acquire Kyle Haynes to Complete Chris Stewart Trade

Haynes hasn't pitched above Low-A ball yet in his career.   The right-hander will be 23 at the start of the 2014 season.  He was a 20th round pick in the 2012 draft.

The Pirates converted him from a reliever to a starter late last season.  Compiled a 2.38 ERA in 83.1 innings with a 85/36 K/BB ratio overall.   He is not ranked in any of the Pirates' Top Prospects lists, nor should he be.  He is "just a guy" for now.

This is obviously not a major haul.   But for Chris Stewart, anything above a lawn mower would be considered a decent return.



Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Yankees Interested in Joaquin Benoit

Pros:   Over the past four seasons, you aren't going to find many relievers who have pitched better.   In 268 games over that span, he has posted a 2.53 ERA (164 ERA+), 0.983 WHIP, and a 4.1 K/BB ratio.    After tearing his rotator cuff (causing him to miss the entire 2009 season), Benoit has been surprisingly durable.

Cons:  Benoit will be 36 at the start of the 2014 season, so his expiration date is not far away.  The rotator cuff has held up, but you always will have his past shoulder injuries in the back of your mind.  Also, and this is always important for the Yankees:  He doesn't generate a lot of ground balls.  That is not typically a good thing for a right-handed pitcher in Yankee Stadium, especially one you are asking to protect leads late in games. 

Bottom Line:    I would have to pass here.   He is a bit of a ticking time bomb, and I don't like right-handed pitchers who put balls into the air in this ballpark.  His home run rate is above average as is.

Cross Brett Anderson Off the List

Anderson was traded to the Rockies for Drew Pomeranz and Chris Jensen.

Pomeranz is the better of the two, but he has yet to pan out in the big leagues.  Of course, a move from Colorado to Oakland can help that.

The Yankees probably couldn't quite match the offer - they can find a Jensen in their system - everyone has that - but even if they had a pitcher like Pomeranz (high upside, yet to succeed in the majors), it would be hard for them to trade him.

Anderson himself is a bit of a lottery ticket.  He is only 25 years old and has already pitched in parts of five big league seasons.  However, he has thrown only 163 total innings the last three seasons, compiling a 4.25 ERA (92 ERA +) 

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Projected WAR: Where We Stand

The only systems I have in front of me at the moment are OLIVER and STEAMER.  I don't know if Zips projections have been finalized yet, as Fangraphs does not have them on their player cards (they typically do when the system is ready)

Below is the average WAR between OLIVER and STEAMER.

Players Acquired (Projected WAR)
Carlos Beltran - 2.0 
Brian McCann - 4.3
Jacoby Ellsbury - 3.6
Kelly Johnson - 1.2

Players Lost (Projected WAR)
Robinson Cano - 4.8
Curtis Granderson - 2.3
Phil Hughes - 1.3


So, they have gained a projected 11.1 WAR, while losing a projected 8.4 to date.  Of course, this can be met with a "Duhhhh!", given that we have acquired four and lost three.  Also, mixing a pitcher among the hitters is probably not an ideal way of looking at this.

And, there is the fact that the winter is not over and the Yankees are still looking to add more to their spending spree.  They still need a second baseman, a third baseman, and at least one more starter.  These positions are not likely to be filled from within.   As for players lost, there really isn't anyone else that they will be losing, except those who went into retirement (Pettitte/Rivera)

Of course, projection systems are not guarantees - OLIVER, for example, had McCann at the same projected WAR as Cano.  You have to remember that systems don't know names - they don't put Cano side-by-side with McCann, then decide "Oh, that's Robinson Freakin Cano - let's add an additional 2 WAR to his projection!"  

This is far from an exact science, and I don't want it to be interpreted that way.  It is just merely showing a snapshot of the players earned vs. the players lost.  Obviously, losing a premium second baseman (Cano) puts a lot more stress on the team than losing a player like Granderson - Granderson's production is nearly instantly replaced by Beltran (though they get there in different ways).   Cano's production at his position is not going to be instantly replaced by anybody. It needs to be spread around - the Yankees upgraded significantly a tough position to find offense (catcher), while downgrading significantly at a tough position to find offense (second base). 

In the end, thus far, this has been one of the most interesting offseasons in Yankees history.  And the winter meetings have yet to even start.   




Friday, December 6, 2013

My Take: Carlos Beltran Has His Flaws, But Should Help

The Yankees signed Carlos Beltran to a 3-year, $45M deal tonight, a deal that is probably one year too many.  But sometimes I wonder why we still criticize such a thing in today's baseball landscape.  It may not be the best way to do business, but free agents are always looking for extra years, and if you aren't willing to give them up, somebody else most likely will.

In the end, whether you sign Beltran for two years or three makes very little difference.  There isn't a magical age where he will decline to the point of no longer being productive.  It could be 2014, it could be 2016, it could be after that.  The odds aren't in his favor to be a great ballplayer for the duration of this deal, but the Yankees already know that.

Beltran is coming off yet another solid season.    He hit .296/.339/.491 (128 OPS+) in 600 plate appearances for St. Louis.  The 128 OPS+ matched his 2012 number, though it is fair to say he got there in different ways.  In 2012, he walked more - in 2013, he relied more on batting average.  Obviously, you would rather have the walks over the batting average, but the power was still quite evident and should continue to be a strength in his game.   Beltran was once a 30/30 threat every season, and did reach that goal once in his career.  He no longer steals bases (only stole 2 in 3 attempts in 2013), so that part of his game is essentially gone.

Defensively, Beltran has slowed through the years, but he has been able to remain durable in St. Louis, playing 296 games the last two seasons.   He has been plagued with knee injuries in the past, so the Yankees are probably best served keeping him off of the turf in Toronto and Tampa as much as possible through the duration of this deal.

A switch-hitter, Beltran hit right-handers much better than left-handers in 2013, posting a .871 OPS vs. RHP vs. a .729 number vs. LHP.   The number vs. left-handed pitchers isn't bad, and he should be able to help the Yankees lineup vs. southpaws.  This is an area of need right now, because the Yankees have been singling out left-handed bats this winter.

This is not to say this is a slam-dunk, no-brainer contract.  Even with his recent durability, Beltran is an injury risk.  And even though he has remained productive throughout his career, every player eventually declines until they are no longer useful.  Beltran is very close to that point.  The Yankees are just hoping it doesn't happen in the next few seasons.  

As for others on the roster, it depends on how the Yankees wish to play this out.   Since they do not have a primary designated hitter, they can rotate the outfielders - using Gardner in left, Ellsbury in right, and Soriano/Beltran in a RF/DH situation (where Derek Jeter will also factor in).   If no other moves are made in this area, it could be the end of Ichiro's career in pinstripes.  It should definitely put the last nail in the Vernon Wells coffin.

The other avenue the Yankees could explore is Gardner in a trade to help fill other needs on the roster.  I am still generally opposed to this idea, because I like the current four outfielder setup.  Yes, they can do this and allow Ichiro into the 4-man rotation, but that does weaken the team.

In the end, I doubt anyone would call Cano for McCann, Beltran, and Ellsbury the perfect solution - but the offesason is still not over.  Once they add a second baseman and a pitcher or two, things could start looking much better for them.    

The Yankees' offseason to date is worthy of its own post.  It may seem a bit reckless and random, but I also think there was a "Cano Plan" vs. a "Non-Cano Plan" drawn up - and now they are going with the non-Cano plan.  They need to find offense somewhere, and OF/DH offered the best offensive options remaining on the market. 

For now, this is a solid thumbs-in-the-middle for me.  I don't think signing Beltran was necessary, but I can't fault the move very much either.   Looking at the immediate horizon, he should help them get where they want to be in 2014.

Yankees' Second Base Options

With Robinson Cano surprisingly out of the picture, the Yankees now have one of the biggest holes in all of baseball to fill.  Not only do you have to replace a position where it is tough to find talent, you have to replace the best hitter in your lineup.  There isn't a way to sugarcoat the fact that the Yankees are in bad shape at second base, whether you think it would be a good idea to hand him ten years or not.  

So, where do the Yankees turn?  The options aren't unlimited, but they do exist:

Omar Infante (Free Agent)  - There is nothing easier for the Yankees to do at this point than to just give Infante the deal he wants and put him right at second base.    Infante hit .318/.345/.450 (113 OPS+) in 476 plate appearances for the Tigers in 2013, which represents the highest OPS+ of his career.   Of course, he has been around for a while and it is at least a little scary to go after a 31-year old coming off of his career year.    Infante never walks, never strikes out, and can pop a few home runs.   Defensively, he grades above average at second base.  

Nick Franklin (Seattle) - Naturally, the first instinct you may have when you lose a player is to see who the starter was on the team he is going to.  In this case, the starter is actually worth looking at.  Franklin will be 23 heading into 2014, and is coming off of a poor rookie campaign (.225/.303/.382).  That said, he came up through the Seattle organization as a top prospect, and may flourish a bit if out of Seattle.  However, Seattle will probably use him as a big trading chip to further improve their roster (as part of a package for David Price, perhaps?), so it would be hard for the Yankees to match up.

Brandon Phillips (Cincinnati) - Overpaid and a bit overrated.  Phillips is certainly not a poor offensive player for a second baseman, but he is due $50M over the next four seasons, and he will be 33 years old when 2014 begins.    He is primed for a steep decline, and has already been in a steady decline recently.   Major pass.

Stephen Drew (Free Agent) -  The Yankees could try to be a bit creative by bringing in Drew, who is coming off of a .253/.333/.443 (111 OPS+) season in Boston.  There would be a few obvious problems with this approach:  Like Kelly Johnson, Drew hits left-handed.    Oh, and there is that minor fact that Drew has never played anywhere other than shortstop in his career.

Howie Kendrick (Angels) -  Kendrick is a fine offensive player for a second baseman (career OPS+ of 107).  As is the case with Infante, he never walks - though he does strike out a lot.    He will be entering his Age-30 season with a reasonable contract ($18.85M owed to him over the next two seasons).    Like Infante, his defense has been solid.  The bottom line here is that Kendrick may be a bit better overall than Infante, but is it worth giving up prospects for him instead of just giving money to Infante? Probably not.

David Adams/Corban Joseph/Jose Pirela, etc.  - Adams is no longer with the franchise, but can still be resigned.  Joseph and Pirela are not exactly the types of players you want to see starting in 2014.  Pirela is stuck at Double-A, while Joseph was already removed from the 40-man roster.    There is a 0% chance that the 2014 second baseman comes from within.

Danny Espinosa (Washington) - In conversations with other Yankees fans on the internet, I have downplayed Espinosa tremendously.  However, when you are in a desperate situation, all options need to be considered.  Espinosa hit .158/.193/.272 in 167 PA for the Nationals last year, which is borderline criminal.  However, he did pop 17 home runs as recently as 2012 and is still only 26 years old.     The Yankees would probably also like the appeal of his switch-hitting ability (he is better historically from the right side of the plate) and his ability to steal bases (You already have Ellsbury and Gardner on the roster - why not another?)    Espinosa would probably come cheap in terms of prospects being involved, but I would assume he is not currently high on the Yankees list.  

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

How the Ellsbury Signing Affects the Yankees Minor League System

A list of the three top center field prospects in the organization currently, and how the Ellsbury signing potentially affects them:

Slade Heathcott (Double-A Trenton):  The Yankees had extremely high hopes for Heathcott entering the 2013 season, but he struggled a bit out of the gate.  He started the season 13-for-68 (.191) with four extra-base hits.   Eventually, however, Heathcott did turn it around and ended the season on a high note, with 42 hits in 137 at-bats in July and August before being shut down with an injury.  The injury bug has been a problem for Heathcott in the past, and perhaps he will need to be moved off of center field eventually because of it.    A big, healthy 2013 season out of Heathcott, however, probably keeps Jacoby Ellsbury off of the 2014 Yankees.  

Mason Williams (Tampa/Trenton):  Do a search online for "Top Yankees Prospects Entering 2013", and Mason Williams will come up first on many of those lists (not quite as many as Gary Sanchez, but the fact was that there was a legitimate debate)    Fast forward to now, and the debate no longer exists.    However, it is way too soon to discount Williams, who put up a .245/.304/.337 line in 117 games between Tampa and Trenton (mostly Tampa) last year.   Those numbers aren't particularly impressive, obviously - but at this point in time, the feeling is that he can stick in center, and that is where is going to have his most value as he is not likely to develop quite enough power to be your ideal corner.     In the end, Williams is the one most hurt by this signing - and the Yankees are probably very willing to offer him up in a package.  Coming off of his 2013, his value is too low in my opinion to even consider dealing him - but that's not the way the Yankees will likely work this.

Jake Cave (Charleston):    With all of the hype surrounding Greg Bird's astronomical season in Charleston, it is easy to overlook Cave a bit.   But you really shouldn't.  Cave, who had one professional at-bat to his credit (back in 2011) entering 2013, put up an impressive .282/.347/.401 line in Charleston while stealing 18 bases (in 27 tries, so not a great percentage).   Cave only hit two home runs, but also provided 37 doubles, which could be an indicator of future power.  If that power develops, he could conceivably move to a corner, where many pegged him to land in the first place (one of the reasons why you may draft center fielders is because they have the ability to move elsewhere if the need presents itself).    Cave was a 6th round pick out of high school in 2011, and was given a nice signing bonus ($800K).   Oh, and if all else fails, he was an elite high school pitcher. 

All of these players are legitimate major league prospects - but none of them have broken out to date.   From a pure perspective of "Should we sign a free agent, or do we have enough confidence in one of these kids?", I may personally lean towards the free agent - as Heathcott's immense potential is being slowed by nagging injuries.    That said, the Yankees are not completely barren in center field prospects, and a reasonable argument could have been made to keep Gardner in center for another year to see if any of these players blossoms.  If not, well - there are much worse things than giving Gardner a contract extension - one of which is signing Ellsbury in the first place.

Yankees Sign Kelly Johnson

Over the past several years, I (and others) have made the argument that it is very tough for the Yankees to find a capable bench bat because of the durability of their regulars.  Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter, and Alex Rodriguez hardly ever took days off, and when Mark Teixiera joined the fray, it added another durable player to the infield mix.   Why would any utility player with legitimate talent want to sign with a team that would offer them very little playing time?   In 2010, Ramiro Pena spent the entire season with the Yankees and ended up with only 167 plate appearances over 80 games. He was pretty much nothing more than a pinch-runner who would come in for late-game defense during blowouts.

Fast forward to 2014, and this is no longer an issue.  Teixiera and Jeter are bouncing back from injuries.  Nobody knows where Cano will be playing in 2014, and third base is a giant black hole looking for someone to fill it.   Suddenly, utility players probably look at the Yankees as an opportunity to get significant playing time, rather than a way to collect a paycheck.   

This is where Kelly Johnson comes into play.  Johnson is a perfect fit for the Yankees - a left-handed batter who can cover second, third, and left field while providing a little pop in the lineup whenever he does play.   As a replacement for Robinson Cano, he would not be ideal - as a player who can get 350 at-bats playing different positions, it could just work out fine.    

There are a few wrinkles to work out - ideally, you would see Johnson as someone who can spell Soriano vs. tough right-handed pitching.   However, like Soriano, Johnson has never played right field.  Both may be learning it on the fly in spring training.  On top of that, his career at third base spans 16 games - all of which occurred in 2013.

But the Yankees likely didn't make this signing looking for a defensive wizard at those positions..   They signed him because he doesn't kill the offense whenever he does play.     In eight seasons in the big leagues, he has hit double-digit home runs six times.    He also has shown the ability to steal a few bases here and there.

Johnson strikes out a ton, but also is good at drawing walks.  His career walk rate of 10.5% is higher than the MLB average during his time in the game (8.4%). He also hits a lot of fly balls, which is a nice thing when you play half of your games in a home run paradise for left-handed bats.

In the end, this is a very solid signing for the Yankees - the under-the-radar type of signing that we could look back on as a key to their 2014 success.   Of course, this all changes if he is forced to play second base in the absence of Cano.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

My Take: Yankees Take Major Risk With Jacoby Ellsbury

In 2011, Jacoby Ellsbury had a season that was worthy of an MVP award, playing in 158 games while compiling a .321/.376/.552 (146 OPS+) season.  On top of that, he played stellar defense in center field.   The home run spike was the most eye-popping statistic of them all, as he hit 32 of them that season.  He hasn't reached double digits in any other season in his career.

Expect that to change - at least somewhat.   Ellsbury will definitely benefit from the dimensions in Yankee Stadium, and should be able to hit 12-15 home runs going forward, as long as he stays healthy.   However, Yankee Stadium also suppresses other extra base hits, meaning that Ellsbury's spike in home runs could correspond with a decline in doubles and triples.    In 2013, Yankee Stadium ranked 19th in baseball in doubles output, and 20th in triples, according to ESPN's Park Factors.  Fenway Park, in comparison, was second in doubles and 10th in triples.    It doesn't take a statistics genius to recognize that a spike in home runs has the potential to override any kind of decline in doubles and triples, but it comes down to just how much of a spike the Yankees will get.

There are a few major risks in signing a player like Ellsbury (30 years old) to a 7-year deal:  For one, he relies a lot on speed and defense for his value.   Ellsbury is an outstanding basestealer, as evidenced by his 52-for-56 line in 2013.   Defensively, he remains one of the best defensive center fielders in the game, tied for 5th in overall center field defense according to Fangraphs.    His strength is in his range and speed.  Arm wise, we will just say that it may be time to pull out the old Johnny Damon tapes to get ourselves ready for 2014.   However, players who rely on these two attributes for a large portion of their value tend to fade relatively quickly.  As soon as Ellsbury's legs start to go, he will lose a lot of what makes him a great baseball player at the moment, unless he permanently finds the power that has eluded him in every year except for one.  You are not going to find many center fielders historically who were still effective defensively at the position in their late-30s.  Even superstars like Andruw Jones lost it, and lost it relatively quickly.

Another risk is Ellsbury's injury history.  In 2010, he only played in 18 games due to a rib injury suffered after colliding with Adrian Beltre.  He attempted a few futile comebacks that year.  In 2012, he suffered an injured shoulder when Reid Brignac (You probably thought you would never see that name again) landed on him after Ellsbury broke up a double play.  Obviously, these injuries can be looked at as mere flukes more than a player who is simply prone to injury, but they need to be factored into his future as well.   Overall, I am not as concerned by his injuries as I am the type of player he is.

The Yankees of course had other options on the table, but apparently decided they weren't going to come to fruition.  Carlos Beltran, supposedly their top target, wanted one year too many.  Curtis Granderson, a player who obviously benefits from the ballpark, could be looking at a longer deal than many envisioned this winter.  

As for how this impacts the rest of the roster, there are a few players we will need to watch closely.  Brett Gardner has played left field in the past, and can easily shift back over there, with Alfonso Soriano taking over in right field.    Of course, that is easier said than done, as Soriano has never played a game in right field in his major league career.  This would have an impact on Ichiro, Vernon Wells, and young players like Zoilo Almonte.  It seems that the writing is on the wall for Wells, though the Yankees apparently love the luxury tax price ($0).   Ichiro could slide into a 4th OF role, with Almonte taking residence in Scranton as an insurance policy.   There could also be trades on the horizon that we just don't know about yet.  The Yankees won't be able to deal Wells, but Ichiro could bring back something.   Gardner would bring back an even bigger haul, but then you are again looking for another starting outfielder.

The other major impact of course is Robinson Cano.  The Yankees seemingly do not have unlimited funds this winter, so it seems very difficult to envision them giving a massive amount of money to Cano at this point.  That said, I doubt the Yankees would turn him away if he came knocking on the door.

In the end, Ellsbury is likely going to be a star-quality player for 2014 and 2015.  Beyond that, I can see major roadblocks.  He will not likely be able to handle center field for the duration of the deal, and unless he gets his power back, he will not be ideal at a corner.  (Of course, they are shifting Gardner to a corner if he isn't traded).   The Yankees may be a fun team to watch in the near-term with these two speedsters in the lineup, but the long-term implications can be much more dicey.

Saturday, November 23, 2013

My Take: Yankees Make Smart Move with McCann

As is usually the case, I am going to post my opinion without really reading any other opinions online - a bit of an "initial reaction" type of thing.

When I first heard on the radio tonight that the Yankees had signed Brian McCann, my first thought was the natural one:  How long, and for how much?

When I heard the parameters (5 years, $85M), I immediately went into acceptable mode.  This is one of the smartest moves the Yankees could possibly make this offseason.

Let us not even attempt to sugarcoat it:  The 2013 Yankees were terrible behind the plate in just about every regard, other than the ever elusive pitch framing category.    The position became an obvious hole they needed to fill, and catchers come at a huge premium.  There really is no such thing as a "bargain" catcher on the trade or free agent market nowadays.  If you trade next to nothing to get a catcher, you are likely not getting much of a catcher.  

In McCann, the Yankees are getting a premium free agent at a fair market price.    In the last eight seasons, he has failed to hit 20 home runs only once, and you would expect a healthy McCann to continue that trend going forward, given the ballpark he is moving to.    Over the last three seasons, McCann has hit 52 home runs to right field, which represents the 7th highest total in the majors.  Others on the list include Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano - and we know where they play their home games.   He has also pulled the ball 50% of the time in the last two seasons, which should have Joe Maddon licking his chops at least.   A left-handed pure power hitter in Yankee Stadium is gold for the franchise - and they should be willing to pay a premium to get it.  

Overall, in his career, he has put up a .277/.350/.473 (117 OPS+) line, with a bit of a bad hiccup in 2012 that he rebounded from in 2013.   He did only play in 102 games in 2013, but has been durable for a catcher overall, and he has the type of bat that can carry at the designated hitter position, which will allow the Yankees to rest him while (presumably) giving Austin Romine or Francisco Cervelli playing time behind the plate.     This is also a net win - as it likely means that Chris Stewart has absolutely no role on the 2014 team.   One could see him potentially making the team as a "veteran presence" for a young starting catcher.  That isn't happening anymore, obviously.

Are there potential downsides to this deal?  Of course.  Just like there is for any major free agent that is signed.  Giving 5 years to a catcher entering his age 30 season carries risk - especially on the back side of the deal, as many catchers will start breaking down by their mid-30s.    However, with his left-handed pull power, he should remain useful for the Yankees for the duration of the deal, even if he can not remain full-time behind the plate.    

Of course, being someone who types up a lot of stuff about the minor leagues, you may think I am a bit insane thinking that signing a catcher for five years is a good idea when JR Murphy may be close to contributing, and Gary Sanchez getting ready to try out Double-A for a full season.   First off, you can't rely on a prospect - even if he is your best prospect - to automatically break through at a level where some prospects just as good as Sanchez have failed in the past.    Sanchez is an advanced catching prospect - but is also still a bit of a lottery ticket.  Perhaps one with much better odds than a typical lottery ticket comes with.    The Yankees appear to be quite high on Murphy, but there is a possibility that they can attempt to shift him to another position, if they think his bat has the potential to carry at a different position.  There was a lot of talk when Murphy was drafted that a move would eventually need to be made - that move never happened.  But perhaps that is the plan going forward.   We will see what they do there - they will tip their hand this spring, when they either let him stay behind the plate or allow him to take ground balls at third base.   The Yankees would welcome Sanchez giving them something to think about in 2014, but let us let him prove that first.  You never know what the future free agent/trade market is going to look like.  You have to strike when the right type of player hits that market, and McCann represents that.   If Sanchez were to explode, he would give the Yankees an extremely valuable trade chip, or someone they can try to fit into their lineup elsewhere.    The Yankees would be ecstatic if Sanchez put them in that type of position.

When you are searching for talent on the trade or free agent market, you really should have a few objectives in mind:  Identify major holes on the big league roster, and filling them with players who should flourish on your team.  McCann represents both - the Yankees don't have a catcher for 2014.   And, left-handed power (which is a requirement if they are going to take advantage of their home field), was non-existent, especially with Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson in limbo, and Mark Teixiera coming off of wrist surgery.     McCann represented the best free agent for them to sign (beyond Cano), and they were able to pull that off.  He doesn't make them an instant contender for the World Series, but they are a lot closer now than they were a day ago.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Yankees Add Players to 40-Man Roster; Acquire Dean Anna

C Gary Sanchez
OF Slade Heathcott
P Bryan Mitchell
P Shane Greene
P Jose Campos

Corban Joseph was removed from the 40-man roster.  Makes sense, given his injuries last year.  Those left unprotected (and hence are eligible for the Rule 5) are relievers Tommy Kahnle, Dan Burawa, and Chase Whitley.  Given how developed Whitley is, I expect him to be chosen.  Kahnle and Burawa have talent, but their control is erratic, to put it mildly.

The Yankees also acquired infielder Dean Anna from the Padres for reliever Ben Paullus.  Anna has played all over the field (including some OF) in the minors, and had a big season in the PCL (where everyone has a big season).  Left-handed bench bats who can play anywhere are always nice to acquire.  Anna was also placed on the 40-man roster.

Paullus was nothing much to write home about - lost in the sea of relief pitchers throughout the organization.  He had a 3.01 ERA in 71.2 innings this year, but struggled when promoted to Tampa and will be 24 years old in 2014.


Thursday, November 14, 2013

Yankees Winter Outlook: Starting Pitching

Heading into the 2013 season, the one area where hardly anyone saw any true weakness was with the starting pitching.   CC Sabathia may have declined slightly in 2012, but most attributed that to an injury.  Hiroki Kuroda and Andy Pettitte were steady middle-of-the-rotation pieces, and it appeared that Phil Hughes may be on a bit of an upswing, coming off of a 16-win season with a 100 ERA+.  Add in the competition between Ivan Nova and David Phelps with Adam Warren ready to assume a role on the major league staff, depth was suddenly not an issue.  Oh, and of course, there was Michael Pineda looking to make a comeback as a mid-season reinforcement.   

Of course, Sabathia ended up having the worst season of his career while Hughes completely imploded.   Phelps dealt with his own injury issues, and Pineda remains nothing more than a curiosity, as one has to wonder if he is going to head into Britt Burns territory.    Kuroda and Pettitte certainly held up their ends of the bargain, and Nova came back from a trip to the minors looking like a brand new pitcher.

Now, as we head into 2014, the Yankees are loaded with a lot more questions than answers.  Pettitte has retired.  Kuroda may follow him, or go back to Japan.  Hughes will not be back, and we really didn't find out all that much about Phelps, who ended his season with a 4.98 ERA (81 ERA+).  Was that due to pitching through an injury, or the league figuring him out a bit?  

The only guarantees the Yankees have at the moment heading into next year are Sabathia and Nova.  Where are the other starts going to come from?   

Free Agents:

The list may be short on overall quality, but it certainly doesn't lack for quantity.  A few of the pitchers in the mix of free agents will end up being bargains, but trying to figure out who they are may be an exercise in futility.

Bronson Arroyo may be the most durable pitcher in the game.   He has made at least 32 starts in nine straight seasons.    Of course, only one of those seasons was stellar (142 ERA+ in 2006 with the Reds).  Arroyo is a good pitcher who will make every start.  There aren't many teams in baseball who can't use a pitcher like that.  However, like most pitchers, he will come at a cost.  And, being that he will be 37 next year, one has to wonder just how much of a commitment you should make.  For me, it just isn't worth it....Matt Garza has talent.  He has been successful in the American League East.    He also comes with his share of concerns, as he has made only 42 starts in the last two seasons, covering 259 innings.    He missed time in 2012 due to an elbow injury and missed the beginning of 2013 due to a lat injury.  Garza will likely command a big deal on the free agent market, and I don't think the Yankees should bother....The Yankees have often been linked to Ricky Nolasco.  Nolasco, who will be 31 years old in 2014, has been one of baseball's unluckiest pitchers if you look at advanced metrics.  His career ERA (4.37) is much higher than his FIP (3.76) and xFIP (3.75).   Year-to-year fluctuations in these metrics can, and does, happen.  But Nolasco has pretty much consistently underperformed his metrics for years now.  At some point, you have to chalk it up to more than just rotten luck....If Phil Hughes was anyone else's free agent, there may be more debate as to whether to sign him as a project.  Of course, he is the Yankees' free agent, and he was so bad in 2013 that there is no chance they are even discussing the possibility....In 2010, Scott Kazmir went 9-15 with a 5.94 ERA and 93/79 K/BB ratio over 150 innings.  He pitched in one game in 2011, and wasn't heard from again until surfacing with the Indians in 2013, where he put up a 4.04 ERA in 158 innings with a 162/47 K/BB ratio.    Never known for his durability (he has qualified for the ERA title twice in his career), Kazmir does possess a bit of youth (30 in 2014) and power from the left-handed side of the hill, two things the Yankees covet.  However, my personal opinion is that he is still more likely to fail in 2014 than succeed - his 2013 story is a nice one, but in the end, his ERA+ was still only 93....Ubaldo Jimenez got off to a huge start in 2010 (I believe he was on a 30-win pace for a good portion of the first half) before falling off of a cliff.   He never quite rebounded and his destiny appeared to be that of a colossal failure.  Fast-forward to 2013:  Jimenez put up a 3.30 ERA (114 ERA+) over 182.2 innings with a 194/80 K/BB ratio.   That will likely earn him a contract that he probably won't have much of a chance to live up to, and the Yankees don't appear interested.... Tim Hudson has been one of the most consistent pitchers in baseball over the course of his career, and he was throwing fairly well for the Braves in 2013 before going down with a gruesome ankle injury.   Most appealing to the Yankees?  He likely won't command more than 2 years.  Least appealing?  Yes, he is consistently good - but he doesn't strike anybody out.  I would pass...Josh Johnson offers a lot of upside, isn't that always the case?  He was terrible whenever he did pitch for the Blue Jays last year, and the odds you will ever get a full season out of him are nearly zero. That said, his 6.20 ERA last year won't likely earn him a huge deal - as a one year rental, you have to at least think about it...Colby Lewis misses bats.  But when bats connect, the ball goes over the fence.  Sound familiar?.....I agree with those who say Paul Maholm may be a bit underrated.  That said, when I think of pitchers like him, I just envision Chase Wright in his Fenway debut....As always, there is a fair share of veteran projects on the market who won't be looking for much:  Roy Halladay and Johan Santana are two such pitchers.  I could actually envision a scenario where the Yankees may take a chance on Santana, but his injury history has reached the severe category.   

Posting:

The biggest fish in the frying pan is Masahiro Tanaka, and for good reason:  He is young (25), coming off of a spectacular season in Japan, and the Yankees can get him without completely destroying their luxury tax threshold.  As with any foreign pitcher, there will always be risks involved.  Once you get past the fact that he isn't Yu Darvish, you may warm up to the type of pitcher he is.  His walk rate is strong (though it will likely go up in MLB), his K rate is good enough if he can maintain it, and it appears he has been durable in his Japanese career.  25-year old pitchers with his pedigree just don't hit the market very often, and he is a perfect fit for what the Yankees need:  Youth, innings, and talent.  Think of him as a major prospect that a Japenese team has already groomed for the Yankees.  It is similar to allowing Seattle to develop Pineda before trading for him - let us hope Tanaka would have a different outcome.

The Farm:

One of the most significant developments entering 2014 will be the status of Manny Banuelos, who could have easily made his MLB debut in 2013 if not for injuries.   There are a few ways to look at him:  On one hand, injuries have prevented him from throwing much in the minor leagues, making him an unknown quantity at this point.  On the other hand, if he can just maintain health (big IF), we have a situation where his arm should be fresh for years to come.  He is an interesting wild-card....Brett Marshall looked poised to make a push to the big leagues, and he did make it briefly in 2013.  But his season in Scranton was not very good (7-10, 5.13 ERA with 120/68 K/BB ratio over 138.2 innings).  Depending on what happens with the rest of the staff this winter, he may just get a shot to break camp - but I think another half season in Scranton may do him good...Vidal Nuno completed his fun story by making it to the Yankees in 2013, but an injury ended his season way too shortly.  Nuno should compete for a roster spot in 2014, but I would rather him start in Scranton than relieve in New York.  He just isn't your prototypical relief pitcher....Jose Ramirez threw well early on in Trenton last year, earning a promotion to Scranton, where he didn't fare quite as well.  Injuries limited him to 73.2 innings.  He has good stuff - some would even say great stuff - and could find himself heading to the bullpen....Bryan Mitchell is a bit annoying.  Every scouting report you read points to his well-above average pitches - yet, he never really shows it consistently in games.   That said, he did compile a 1.93 ERA in three late season starts in Trenton.  Now, we just need those 18.2 innings to be the true sign of what is to come...Heading into 2013, there was a feeling that Shane Greene was heading to the bullpen at some point.   That point never came.  Greene had one of the most encouraging seasons of anyone on the hill last year, compiling a 3.38 ERA in 154.1 innings with a solid 137/30 K/BB ratio.  The walks used to be his concern, and it seems he may have rectified that.  Don't be surprised if he finds his way to New York in 2014, provided he isn't dealt...Nik Turley definitely fits what the Yankees like in a pitcher:  He is left-handed.  He has enough power to put up a good K rate.  He is durable.   His 2013 campaign was a bit uneven, but he still ended up with a 3.79 ERA in 145 innings with a 141/76 K/BB ratio.  There are still things to iron out here, but Turley has the upside of a true #3 or #4 starter.....Rafael DePaula was flying last season in Charleston, but ultimately had a lot of issues in Tampa, putting up a 6.06 ERA in 49 innings after his promotion.  The polish isn't there yet, but if he were to put everything together, he can be a dynamite starter down the road.  Easier said than done....Dietrich Enns was turning some heads in 2013 - to the point where the Yankees converted him into a starter during the campaign.   He was shut down after 82.2 innings, and I have never really figured out why that happened.  In any case, he dominated in Charleston (0.61 ERA) before struggling in Tampa (5.63 ERA).  In any case, anytime the Yankees have a left-hander that shows any promise, they are going to jump out at you....The Yankees treated Jose Campos as if he had dynamite attached to his arm that would explode if he dared pitch deep into games.  Campos made 19 starts (26 games overall) but only threw 87 innings.  The results of those 87 innings were encouraging, however - and I expect the Yankees to let him pitch a bit more in 2014....Other pitchers to potentially watch include Evan Rutckyj, Cesar Vargas, 2012 draftee Ty Hensley (missed 2013), and 2013 draftee Ian Clarkin, who got his feet wet in three late season starts in the GCL (he only threw a total of five innings in those starts)

Bottom Line:

This is an area of great concern right now.  If CC Sabathia doesn't bounce back, this franchise in a bit of trouble when it comes to pitching.  Sabathia doesn't need to be a big ace. But he also cannot be what he was in 2013.  The Yankees acquired Pineda likely with the intent of him slowly, but surely, taking over for the big man as the ace of the staff - it hasn't worked due to injury.  Beyond that, the Yankees probably need to sign two free agent starters - with Kuroda being the most obvious choice to fill one of those voids.    Ivan Nova will be locked in to begin 2014, which would leave one spot open if all goes according to plan. (Sabathia, Two Free Agents, Nova, XXXXX)  That spot may just be given to David Phelps, but the more likely scenario is a competition between Phelps, Warren, Nuno,perhaps Marshall and maybe a free agent project or two.     The Yankees really need to hope that at least one of their high ceiling minor league arms bursts through - and Banuelos could be that guy.     He has not lost his overall ceiling - but you can't reach that ceiling if you can't get on the field.
 

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Yankees Winter Outlook: Outfield

Heading into the 2013 season, the Yankees seemed to have a good outfield in place.  Curtis Granderson was going to spring training to learn left field, while Brett Gardner was going to (finally) take over in center.  There was a question mark in right field with Ichiro, but most were hoping that his late surge in 2012 would carry over into 2013.   Of course, a freak injury to Granderson put the Yankees in a position where they, for whatever the reason, thought that acquiring Vernon Wells was a good idea.  It turned out to not be such a great idea, as Wells was terrible for most of the season.  His $0 price tag towards the 2014 luxury tax is hardly refreshing, given how bad he is as a player.

Traditionally, right field has been an offensive position for the Yankees, given that their ballpark does not require a stellar right fielder defensively.    Over the past several seasons, right fielders have included O'Neill, Sheffield, Abreu, and Swisher. (We will conveniently forget about the Raul Modesi experiment).  Now, they have a strong defensive player in Ichiro who has lost his ability to hit.  This is simply not ideal - it is nice to have good defense at any position, but for the Yankees, right field needs to be offensive.

Heading into 2014, as it stands right now, they will have Alfonso Soriano in left, Brett Gardner in center, and Ichiro/Wells in right field.    Obviously, I feel comfortable with 2/3 of that outfield, but right field really should be addressed.   Zoilo Almonte started strong when he was called up but faded.  I still hold out hope for him as a productive major leaguer (113 PA tell us nothing), and he could be an option to take over right field if the Yankees wish to give him a chance.  

Free Agents:

The market is littered with free agent options, but none of them are obvious fits beyond their own free agent, Curtis Granderson.   I think Granderson is serious when he says he is considering the qualifying offer, but I also don't think he will take it.  The Yankees will likely have to give him at least 3 years - perhaps with some sort of 4th year option - if they want to secure his services.  Granderson has his warts, but he is also a proven left-handed home run bat in a ballpark that requires left-handed home run bats....Whenever there is a high-priced free agent on the market, the Yankees will find a way to be linked to them.  That is the case with Jacoby Ellsbury and Shin-Soo Choo. On the surface, Choo may seem like a perfect fit - left-handed bat with power and a stellar OBP.  But he is looking for a deal over $100M.  Make no mistake about it:  Choo is a very good player, but I do not see the Yankees going in this direction.  Ellsbury is a strong defense center fielder with superb speed, but most of his OBP is tied into his batting average and he has lost the power he had a few seasons ago.  He is a very dangerous proposition for any team on a long-term deal....Name the last season the Yankees were not linked to Carlos Beltran. Beltran, who has always seemed destined to play for the Yankees at some point in his career, never has and it seems more and more likely he never will.  Beltran was still solid in 2013 (128 OPS+), but he will be 37 in April and no longer steals bases.  A sharp decline is always possible.  I wouldn't mind him for a year - but he has likely earned himself a multi-year deal, and that scares me....Nelson Cruz has power to burn, and I think that would be the case even without the PEDs.   That said, the Yankees already have a better version of Cruz in Alfonso Soriano, and I just don't have much of a desire for loading up the lineup with right-handed power bats.  That is not what the home ballpark has been designed for....David Murphy is certainly not a free agent you think about, but is probably one that should be on the radar.  Murphy cannot hit left-handed pitching, but was solid vs. RHP before 2013 came along.   He can handle the outfield corners and could probably do OK as a left-handed platoon designated hitter.   Given what the Yankees are striving to do, he could be a buy low candidate...

Trade Targets:

There really isn't anyone obvious on the trade market (that we know about) who seems to be all that enticing.  Please don't even bring up Giancarlo Stanton, as I have a better chance at manning the OF for the Yankees than he does in 2014....Matt Kemp makes a boatload of money and is coming off of an injury-plagued season.  Perfect fit, right?....Andre Ethier can still hit, but is due $69M over the next five seasons and is going to be 32 years old in 2014.  Do you even need to ask how that is going to turn out?...

The Farm:

Heading into 2013, the outfield situation looked strong for the Yankees organization.  By the time 2013 ended, we were left with a lot more questions than answers.

Ronnier Mustelier had a hard luck campaign in 2013.  Destined to make the team out of spring training, he injured himself not long before the team was heading north.  When he finally did come back, he didn't do the one thing that put him on the radar in the first place:  Hit.....
One of the most disappointing aspects of the 2013 season was what happened with the Trenton outfield.  For various reasons, Tyler Austin, Slade Heathcott, and Ramon Flores just didn't do anything near what the Yankees expected them to do.  We have to hope that Austin gets over his wrist injury, while also hoping that Heathcott can finally live up to some of his potential while avoiding injuries of his own.  When he was healthy, he wasn't terrible (.261/.327/.411), though he did strikeout 107 times..  Flores has the reputation for an advanced hitting approach, but was dreadful in 2013.....That said, Ben Gamel put himself somewhere on the map with a good campaign between Tampa and Trenton, hitting .267/.342/.387 in 495 PA as a 21-year old. That may not jump out at you, but it is pretty good for a player of his age at these levels.  However, he may never develop home run power and may not be ideally suited for center field.   Yes, like Flores, he may end up with the "tweener" level:  Not an ideal hitter for the corners, but may not quite be good enough to handle center full-time....Taylor Dugas needs to be mentioned, despite a skill-set that isn't exactly ideal.  Dugas is a smallish outfielder with no power potential, but who also continues to hit (.285/.405/.339 in 477 PA between Charleston/Tampa).  This is the type of player who would expect to fail as he moves up the chain, and we shall find out....Jake Cave's first taste of minor league ball (OK, he did have 1 AB in the GCL in 2011) was a solid one.  The Charleston center fielder hit .282/.347/.401 with 37 doubles and 6 triples, which could be an indicator of some future home run power.   He is high on my watch list for 2014 as he tries to conquer Tampa...2013 signees Brandon Thomas and Mike O'Neill were both dreadful in Staten Island.  It was their first taste of minor league ball, so we will give them a minor pass - but as college hitters entering the organization, you did expect more.  Thomas did show off a bit of plate discipline, but also struck out a ton....Of course, at least they played - Aaron Judge was drafted early, waited to sign, and never played in 2013.  That is a major problem....


Bottom Line:

The Yankees can certainly use an upgrade here - especially in right field - and can do that simply by resigning Granderson.  Of course, they may just decide to go with the status quo, which is dangerous.  OK, it isn't just dangerous:  It is ridiculous.  Having a massive black hole on offense in right field at Yankee Stadium is reckless.  The status quo will offer them no advantage over the opposition.  It would be like the Red Sox sticking Juan Pierre in left field full-time; a completely wasted opportunity to take advantage of what your ballpark gives you.


Saturday, November 9, 2013

Re: Yankees Winter Outlook: Third Base



On Saturday, November 9, 2013 11:58:54 AM UTC-5, Tom K wrote:
Of all of the positions up in the air for the Yankees in 2014, third base is likely the strangest and most complicated.  

Nix!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TOG

Yankees Winter Outlook: Third Base

Of all of the positions up in the air for the Yankees in 2014, third base is likely the strangest and most complicated.  The Yankees have to prepare for any scenario when it comes to Alex Rodriguez.  The scenarios run from A-Rod playing the full season all the way down to A-Rod missing the entire season.  Nobody knows at this point which way that will go, and it will be a while before it is all figured out.

We have to do this under the assumption that Rodriguez will miss a significant amount of time in 2014 (Even the lightest penalty (50 games) forces the Yankees to do something about the situation at third.

Whether one wants A-Rod back or not doesn't really matter - the writing is on the wall that if he can play, he will play.

But what if he can't?  Will the Yankees try to use Eduardo Nunez full-time at the position?  Will they attempt to resign Mark Reynolds, who has absolutely no defensive value but has enough hitting ability to warrant some playing time?   I have a feeling the Yankees are going to want to resign Reyonds since he can help at first, third, and designated hitter while providing a power bench bat.       David Adams is another possibility, but his offense was quite miserable in 2013.  This doesn't mean you should completely throw in the towel, but he isn't a young prospect and his approach upon coming up to the Yankees was terrible - after having a reputation for having an advanced offense approach in the minors.

Free Agents:

If I told you that Reynolds may just be the best free agent third baseman on the market, what would you think?  Most likely, you would think the market is terrible.  You would be right about that.  But Reynolds is near, if not at the top, of the list and is among the youngest free agents at the position (30 years old).....  Eric Chavez fits the profile for what the Yankees would want, and can also be passable as a designated hitter.   In 80 games for Arizona last year, Chavez hit .281/.332/.478, which was a slight decline from his productive 2012 season in pinstripes.  Chavez himself will the first to tell you that you cannot count on him for an everyday gig, and it seems that he wants to play in Arizona, and they want him back....The Yankees were one of a few suitors for the services of Michael Young late in the season.  Young was OK offensively in 2013 (.279/.335/.395; 102 OPS+) but doesn't come with much defensive value.  He should be on the radar for what the Yankees wanted out of Youkilis heading into the spring of 2013, but nothing more....Speaking of Youk, he is again on the open market, but the Yankees are not likely to touch him with a 5,000 foot pole.

Trade Targets:

When you think of third base and the trade market, the first name that will keep coming up is Chase Headley. Headley struggled a bit in 2013, but the end results was still good:  .257/.347/.400 (116 OPS+).    He will hit free agency after the 2014 season, which makes him a good get as a one-year rental.  Since they will be trading for him prior to the season, he can be tied to free agent compensation next winter, which is an added bonus.  Even with all that, he will come at a cost, as the Yankees would likely have to include at least one significant prospect to land him....Another player hitting free agency after 2014 is Pablo Sandoval, though the Giants are likely not going to actively look to dump him.    The huge third baseman hit .278/.341/.417 (119 OPS+) over 584 plate appearances.  Sandoval has dealt with nagging injuries, but his season low in plate appearances in 442 (in 2012).   This is just a name to throw out there because I think if the Giants made him available, the Yankees would definitely inquire.  He earns $8.5M in 2014....The most realistic trade option may be David Freese, who may actually be a non-tender candidate in St. Louis if they don't trade him.  Freese's defensive reputation is poor, to say the least, and he is coming off of a down offensive season (.721 OPS; 101 OPS+).  The Yankees could try to secure him rather than let him negotiate with all teams by offering something of middling value to the Cardinals, but remember one thing:  The Cardinals are near the top of best run organizations in all of baseball, and they are value their players appropriately.

The Farm:

The Yankees actually do have some up and coming talent at third base in their system - but the upper minors don't offer too much at the moment, unfortunately.   David Adams had a rough go in his first taste of the majors.  Ronnier Mustelier, if he has any future, is likely more of an outfielder who can play third in a pinch.  Addison Maruszak can play third in addition to shortstop, but his future is likely that of a bench-type player.

Poor Rob Segedin.  Drafted out of Tulane in 2010, Segedin made an impact in 2011 before stalling in 2012.  In 2013, the Yankees moved him back to third base in Trenton (partially due to need; partially due to the fact that Trenton's outfield was full) and he started off the season on fire,with 24 hits in 71 AB (13 for extra bases).  However, he succumbed to a hip injury and missed the rest of the season.  It remains to be seen how he will bounce back going forward, but if he would have stayed hot through the first few months in 2013, he may have found his way all the way up in the Bronx...I was debating where I was going to put Pete O'Brien in my reports, and decided on third base since that is where he ended the season.   O'Brien can flat out mash, hitting .291/.350/.544 in 506 PA between Charleston and Tampa.   He strikes out a lot (134) and doesn't walk often (41).   He can also catch and probably could be thrown into the outfield as well.  He has a chance to be a valuable piece to the future.  Now he just has to prove he can do it in the upper minors....When you read reports about the Yankees system, you will often see Dante Bichette lumped together with Cito Culver. To me, that is a disservice to Culver.   Bichette has been a nightmare since his breakout campaign in the GCL.   In his second year in the Sally League, his numbers actually declined, as he hit .214/.292/.331 with 119 K in 114 games.   There is obviously nothing to sugarcoat here:  Unless something clicks suddenly in 2014, this is a colossal bust....The Yankees had three early picks in the 2013 draft, and used one of them on Eric Jagielo.  He certainly did not disappoint, hitting .266/.376/.451 in 51 games for Staten Island after a brief appearance in the GCL to get his feet wet.    Perhaps most importantly for Jagielo is that he adjusted to the level quickly.  After hitting .267/.388/.360 in July, he put up a .272/.382/.576 August, showing off some of the power many thing he will be able to tap into.  Jagielo has the ability to move quickly, and the Yankees may just challenge him to do so.  Before we get too far ahead of ourselves though, let us see what he does in his first taste of full-season ball in 2014...In 2010, the Yankees signed Christopher Tamarez to a $650,000 signing bonus.    Signed as a shortstop, he spent 2013 (all 32 games!) at third base, hitting .235/.288/.304 as a 19-year old in the GCL.    Not yet a top prospect, and may never be - but someone to just watch closely.

The Bottom Line:

This position is another tricky one because the Yankees have no idea what is going to happen with Alex Rodriguez.   I think they may end up ultimately trading for a cheap alternative (ie, Freese) rather than try to make a big splash with a player like Headley.    As stated at shortstop, there are probably some who feel that Eduardo Nunez should be given another chance - I am increasingly becoming one who doesn't think that is such a great idea.  

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Yankees Winter Outlook: Shortstop

The last time the Yankees had any kind of question mark at shortstop was prior to 1996, when the organization debated between Derek Jeter and Proven Veteran Shortstop, whoever it would be.  Rumors have persisted through the years that the Yankees were discussing a potential trade for Felix Fermin, with Mariano Rivera or Bob Wickman among the targets for the Seattle Mariners.  Imagine that.

Of course, the Yankees stuck with their rookie shortstop and a legend was born.   Let us now fast forward to 2014, where the Yankees now face a bit of a dilemma at the position.

One of the issues the Yankees have is that it is still going to be hard to entice a veteran to come in to play the position.  Derek Jeter will likely be back, and what veteran with any kind of starting value is going to want to wait around to see if Derek can play shortstop or not?  The answer to that question is nobody.   

The farm system doesn't currently offer much hope in the immediate future - so where do they go?  It is a bit of a stretch to once again rely on Eduardo Nunez.  Even if you have faith that he can at least be average offensively, Nunez is showing to be a bit injury-prone.   

Let us take a look at some other potential candidate.

Free Agents:

If reports are accurate, the Yankees supposedly offer Stephen Drew more money than the Red Sox did prior to 2013, but he wanted to be guaranteed more playing time.  Go figure, as Drew would have been the Yankees shortstop for pretty much the entire 2013 season.   Drew ended up hitting .253/.333/.443 (111 OPS+) in 124 games for the Red Sox, making him a valuable offensive shortstop.  The Red Sox have a qualifying offer out for him (worth $14.1M), so if Drew turns that down, it is with the intention that he can get a better deal than that.  In other words, he won't be cheap and may once again worry about potential playing time issues...Towards the end of 2013, the Yankees made a trade for Brendan Ryan, an all-glove, no-bat-at-all type.  Ryan lived up to the no-bat reputation, hitting an abysmal .197/.255/.273 (51 OPS+) in 349 PA for Seattle and the Yankees.  Yes, glove work is important - but that is nearly an impossible bat to carry, even in this age of reduced offensive output at shortstop....Jhonny Peralta will forever have the PED tag label stamped on him.   The 31-year old had a strong offensive campaign in 2013 (119 OPS+) after a terrible 2012 season (84 OPS+).  There are a lot of question marks with Peralta, and I just hope he signs elsewhere before the Yankees get the final word on A-Rod (Peralta has third base experience, and could be a candidate to fill in at third if A-Rod gets a long-term suspension)....

Trade Targets:

There is already a rumor out there that the Rangers may be willing to trade Jurickson Profar, who would be a nice fit for the Yankees.  We will end it there, because there is no obvious match between the Rangers and the Yankees.  I don't think the Yankees actually have anything the Rangers would trade Profar for, to be honest...The White Sox are in full rebuild mode, which puts Alexai Ramirez on the trade market, in all likelihood.    Ramirez has a good glove, and his bat is passable in this day and age.  He adds an element of speed to his game, which gives his offense a bit more of a boost.    He comes with a $9.5M price tag for 2014, and a $10M price tag for 2015. Ramirez is far from spectacular, but he is priced right.  A lot would come down to what the White Sox want in return...

The Farm:

Let us forget about the immediate horizon - Addison Maruszak is the most ready minor league shortstop they have, and he is not someone you are going to use to replace Derek Jeter in the short or long term.   Down in Tampa, you have Cito Culver, a first-round pick who has not yet been able to click on all cylinders in the minors.  He performed well in 16 late-season games for Tampa, but that obviously does not tell us anything yet.  Culver does come with a good glove reputation, and completely gave up on left-handed hitting in 2013.  I still have faith in him for a few reasons:  He will be able to stick at short, he has speed, and has shown signs of good plate discipline.  At a shallow position like shortstop, you have to keep players like Culver on the radar...Down in the very low minors, the Yankees saw very encouraging signs from 18-year old Tyler Wade (.309/.429/.370), 18-year old Abiatal Avelino (.303/.381/.399 between the GCL and Staten Island with 28 steals in 32 attempts), and 17-year old Thairo Estrada (.278/.350/.432 in the GCL).   Every prospect has to start somewhere, but it is hard to get too excited over players excelling at the GCL level.  The Yankees have to just hope that one of them is able to break through going forward.

The Bottom Line:

This is an impossible situation for the Yankees right now, unless they can get lucky and find a player who is both passable and willing to concede the fact that Derek Jeter will have to play at least a part-time role at shortstop.  The only free agent that is very tempting is Drew, but that requires giving the Red Sox a draft pick AND convincing him that he will get the playing time he wants.  Never mind the fact that he will be costly.   Ramirez may be an intriguing trade target, but the White Sox have to view him as one of their best commodities on the market and will price him that way.    It is hard to use a "Let Us Pray" type of strategy, but in the end, the Yankees may have to hope for 90-95 games at the very least at shortstop for Jeter, while filling in the rest with a player who is adequate.  There are probably more trade targets than I mentioned above that I am sure they will explore.  For now, this remains a very confusing and extremely important position for 2014 and beyond.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Yankees Winter Outlook: Second Base

This article could be a few sentences long:  Sign Robinson Cano, and the Yankees won't have to worry about second base for the next five seasons or so.     Of course, it becomes more complicated if the Yankees do not sign Cano.

It would be impossible to replace Cano's overall production at second base if he were to walk.  We can talk all day about how the Yankees can reallocate the money to fill in holes elsewhere, but the end result would be the same:  We would lose a major advantage at second base.  No allocating would fix that problem.

Free Agents:

As noted a few times already, this is a poor free agent class overall.  And second base (beyond Cano) is not an exception.  Mark Ellis is a solid player who won't completely kill you at the plate (especially for a middle infielder) and likely wouldn't command much in years or money.   He hit .270/.323/.351 (92 OPS+) for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013.   He has a small place in Yankees history:  Hitting one of the most unexpected walk-off home runs off of Mariano Rivera in his illustrious career.   Kelly Johnson offers a left-handed bat with some versatility.  Last year, while playing the "four corners", Johnson hit .235/.305/.410 with 16 HR in 407 AB for Tampa.   He could be an intriguing player to sign as a utility player, but not as the everyday second baseman.  The Yankees supposedly have already talked to Omar Infante, who is coming off of a bit of a career year at the age of 31 for the Tigers (.795 OPS; 113 OPS+ is impressive for any middle infielder).   He makes contact, and has always been just barely good enough offensively to warrant significant playing time.  He may just be the top free agent choice on the Yankees radar if the unthinkable happens.

Trade Targets:

It is always hard to determine who may be available for trade; we have already heard that the Yankees have called on Brandon Phillips, who appears to be in a bit of a steep decline while playing in an offensively friendly ballpark.  (Don't let the 103 RBI fool you too much) Moving his right-handed bat to Yankee Stadium would not likely rejuvenate his career, and the Reds would likely price him as if he is the same player he was a few years ago.

On the Farm:

Second base is actually a bit of a strength for the Yankees at the moment, even with the uncertainty now surrounding Corban Joseph (shoulder surgery).  The Yankees have Jose Pirela currently manning the position in Trenton, with Robert Refsnyder right behind him in Tampa.  Refsnyder had an encouraging 2013 season, putting up a .293/.413/.413 line between Charleston and Tampa with more walks than strikeouts.  He also stole 23 bases in 29 attempts.  He will likely get a shot to break the Double-A barrier to start 2014. If he continues to show off good plate discipline with decent speed and a little bit of pop, his value will increase quickly.   Deep in the minors, 2013 draftee Gosuke Katoh was mightily impressive in the GCL, hitting .310/.402/.522 in 215 PA.  Of course, Dante Bichette once crushed the ball in the GCL as well, so we will temper our expectations somewhat.

Bottom Line:

Sign Cano, and there really isn't much more that needs to be worried about.  It really is the biggest no-brainer they have this winter.  It will cost them plenty, but it is an investment they almost have to make.  It will give them stability at a position where offense is getting harder and harder to find for many years to come.     

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Yankees Winter Outlook: First Base/DH

Unlike the catching position, first base is pretty much set in stone in 2014, assuming Mark Teixiera comes back healthy from his wrist injury.  There aren't any indications that he won't, and for now, he has to be penciled in as the everyday starter.

However, for the first time in his tenure as a Yankee, there is at least some hesitation about his future.  That is what happens when you are 33 years old and coming off of a season where you played in only 15 games (and probably should have played in none).

The designated hitter position has been filled in the last few years with players the Yankees dragged in off of the scrap heap.  The strategy worked reasonably well in 2012, when Raul Ibanez (who would end up playing more in the outfield than the Yankees ever wanted him to) hit .240/.308/.453 to go along with some postseason dramatics.  Eric Chavez also performed well in the role when he wasn't playing the field.

In 2013, it didn't work so well - Travis Hafner got off to a strong start, but faded miserably as the season went on.  There doesn't seem to be too much doubt that Hafner was likely playing with an injury.    When all was said and done, Hafner put up a .679 OPS at a position solely designed for offense.  

Looking ahead to 2014, there are still some questions to be answered.   The Yankees will, without much question, give a lot of designated hitter time to Derek Jeter, but it is highly unlikely he will take the gig full-time.  There is room for an extra bat, but where does it come from?

Free Agents:

There will be a few guys that may come up on the radar. Justin Morneau probably isn't looking for any kind of multi-year commitment at this point, and could be an interesting fit playing in Yankee Stadium.  Mark Reynolds can most certainly be brought back, and has the added bonus of being able to (butcher) third base.  I would think the Yankees want more of a left-handed bat for DH duties (assuming they will give Jeter the bulk of his DH time vs. southpaws).    Perhaps the biggest free agent fish in the water is Kendrys Morales, a 30-year old slugger who regained some of his value with a .277/.336/.449 (123 OPS+) season in Seattle in 2013.    The switch-hitter is better from the left side, but is passable from the right side.  Of course, Morales is probably too good of a hitter right now to accept a part-time designated hitter role, and will likely be too high priced anyway. (Note that I am definitely not endorsing him).

The Farm:

When it comes to first base/designated hitter, you typically don't think too much about the farm system.   Most players who become first basemen are players who failed elsewhere on the field - and once they become first basemen, they lose a lot of prospect value due to the need to be an elite hitter to be considered a top prospect.   On the immediate horizon, help could come from Kyle Roller, a left-handed hitter who calls first base his home, but is quite terrible in the field.    Roller hit .253/.347/.427 in 124 games for Trenton last season, but actually showed a reverse split - hitting lefties better than right-handed pitchers.  I am not high on Roller, but his ability to hit with left-handed power will keep him somewhere on the radar.   Deeper in the system you will find Greg Bird, a converted catcher who put up a dazzling season (.288/.428/.511 with 107 walks in 130 games) for Charleston in 2013.  Bird will need to prove he can continue to hit at this pace before he is considered a major hitting prospect, but he took an important first step this season.   

Bottom Line:

There isn't much to really think about here.   The Yankees have to go into 2014 with the idea that Derek Jeter cannot play the field everyday (and may spend more than half of his time off the field, potentially).  Because of that, they won't look to sign any big name (and none of the big names would likely want to sign).  They could try to bring in a player like Luke Scott as a platoon DH bat who can play first or the outfield in a (severe) pinch, but that is the extent of what I expect them to do.  There are just too many other holes they need to concentrate on.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Yankees Winter Outlook: Catcher

There is no way to sugarcoat the current catching situation with the Yankees.  After going years with penciling in the durable Jorge Posada, followed by a few years of penciling in the solid Russell Martin, the Yankees decided to go in a completely different direction in 2013, and it failed miserably.

It started off decently enough:  Francisco Cervelli got off to a hot start, though it only lasted 17 games before he found himself on the disabled list for the rest of the season.  After that, the bulk of the duty fell on career backup Chris Stewart, and as you may imagine, it ended up being a terrible experiment.  Stewart hit .211/.293/.272 in 340 PA in what was one of the worst offensive seasons for a catcher in franchise history (The incomparable Jake Gibbs hit .222/.280/.282 in 871 PA between 1967 and 1968.  If Stewart is given the catching duties again in 2014, he could challenge this rather easily)

This leads us to 2014 - the Yankees are in desperate need for a catcher now.  There isn't much of a scenario that would lead one to think that Stewart will be back as anything more than a non-roster invitee.  Cervelli may still have value, but his injury history is already extensive at the age of 27.  Austin Romine showed a few flashes here and there, but still ended up with an OPS of .551 in 148 PA.   

So, where do the Yankees turn?  Do they try to go with some combination of Cervelli, Romine, and J.R. Murphy?  Murphy made a brief appearance in the majors late in the season, but didn't play nearly enough to get much of a read on him.   

In a blah free agent market this year, there actually are a few good catchers, headlined by Brian McCann, who will turn 30 in February.   Coming off of a rough season in 2012 (.698 OPS; 87 OPS+), McCann returned to his usual offensive ways in 2013, hitting .256/.336/.461 in 402 PA.  McCann is virtually guaranteed to hit 20+ home runs (He has done it in 6 straight seasons and in 8 of his 9 full seasons in the majors), and you would think that is virtually guaranteed in Yankee Stadium.  The problem will be the price - McCann will not come cheaply - you are likely looking at 5+ years for a catcher hitting the age of 30.   This isn't necessarily a death sentence, but it is a bit scary.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia is the true definition of an offensive catcher.   He had his best overall season in 2013 (.273/.338/.466; 118 OPS+) and it may even get better if you put him in Yankee Stadium.  He has two big issues working against him:  He isn't much of a catcher and, although he is a switch-hitter, he cannot hit vs. LHP.   You may be able to setup a bit of a platoon with Romine, but are we willing to almost completely sacrifice defense to add some pop to the lineup?  He will come cheaper than McCann for that very reason.

You will once again hear the name AJ Pierzynski come up in rumors this year.  He is cheaper than McCann in both years and dollars and is still a fairly productive catcher (.272/.297/.425; 94 OPS+ in 2013).   As you can see, he is not going to take walks, but he does make decent contact and has good power.   The other strike is that he seems to be a very much unlikable guy from afar, but it seems that teammates typically don't mind him so much. 

Carlos Ruiz is oft-injured, is coming off a bad season, and will be 35 years old.   He would be a buy low candidate that won't cost a draft pick, but if you sign him, you better have a good backup plan.  Ruiz had a .688 OPS in 92 games in 2013.

There really aren't any "take a flyer" types of free agents on the market.   Switch-hitter Brayan Pena is probably the best of the "unheralded" bunch, but his skill set is limited.

THE FARM:
As you probably know, the best prospect in the Yankees system happens to be a catcher:  Gary Sanchez got his first taste of Double-A late in 2013, putting up a decent .744 OPS in 23 games.  Overall, he hit .253/.324/.412 in 509 PA in two ballparks that are pitcher-friendly.   Sanchez could conceivably be ready sometime in 2014 if he blossoms next spring, but the Yankees cannot currently go into next season planning on that to happen.   Once a player graduates to the majors, I don't think of them as being on the farm anymore - but J.R. Murphy still has the qualifications of a farmhand.   The Yankees have been aggressive with the 22-year old, and he hasn't disappointed.  In 468 PA between Trenton and Scranton last year, he hit .269/.347/.426.  It may be a bit of a leap to put him square into a competition to win the 2014 job, but the Yankees obviously love him.  The best case scenario is regular at-bats in Scranton until Sanchez knocks on the door.   Murphy may have the athleticism to move around the field a bit, which would obviously increase his value - especially if Sanchez reaches his ceiling.  

Bottom line?  I fully expect the Yankees to aggressively try to upgrade this position heading into 2014.  McCann is probably the most obvious free agent fit for them this offseason (other than Robinson Cano), but he will come at a high price.    It is a Catch-22 type of situation:  You see the obvious need, but beyond the highest priced free agent, it is hard to see a good overall fit.  This may lead the Yankees to overpay for McCann in the end.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Yankees Minor League Report 9/12/13: Trenton Takes Crown In Dominating Fashion

Crushed Harrisburg, 11-4.   Trenton didn't lose any games this postseason.  (6-0)

This will conclude my minor league game reports for 2013.  More coverage coming during the off-season.

Ben Gamel had a strong posteason.  He went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two walks tonight and batted .533 this posteason (8-for-15, as he didn't play every day)
Mason Williams:  2-for-5, RBI, 2 RS, BB - Off to the Arizona Fall League!
Gary Sanchez:  2-for-5, RBI, RS
Tyler Austin:  2-for-5, 3B, RBI, RS - Also off to the Arizona Fall League.
Ramon Flores:  3-for-6, 3B, RBI - Continued his hot late-season hitting right into the playoffs (.321)
Jose Pirela:  1-for-5, HR, RBI, 2 RS 

Shane Greene:  5.1 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K - Very impressive season.  If he can get off to a strong start in 2014, he is going to be right in line for a call up.  The biggest thing he proved this year is that he may just have the goods to stay in the rotation.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Yankees Minor League Report 9/11/13: Trenton Takes 2-0 Lead on Harrisburg

Tough night for Brian Mitchell,  He lasted 5.1 innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on three hits with seven (!) walks and two strikeouts.

Francisco Rondon, Danny Burawa, and Thomas Kahnle were unscored upon in 3.2 innings of work to lead the team to victory.

Ben Gamel had three hits and a run batted in, while Tyler Austin walked twice and scored a run.  

Gary Sanchez chipped in with a single, walk, and run scored while Mason Williams singled and scored a run.  Williams drove home three runs in the series opener on Tuesday.   Ramon Flores and Jose Pirela had a hit apiece.  Pirela also drove home a run.


Yankees Minor League Note: Vidal Nuno to Arizona Fall League; Full Roster Released

The Yankees have announced that Vidal Nuno will head to the Arizona Fall League.   Nuno has been out since June 7th with a groin injury.

Here is a list of players going to that league:

Vidal Nuno (LHP)
Brett Gerritse (RHP)
Fred Lewis (LHP)
James Pazos (LHP)

Pete O'Brien (C/3B)
Tyler Austin (1B/OF)
Mason Williams (OF)
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Obviously, the most significant prospects in the bunch are Williams and Austin, both of which can really use the extra playing time.  Austin is coming off of an injury, while Williams is coming off of a mediocre overall season.

Pete O'Brien is listed as a catcher on the roster, but I have to assume he will be given some time at third base as well.   

Lewis & Pazos are both left-handed relief pitchers.  There isn't another job in baseball that has a longer leash.  With a good showing, Lewis could get himself on the radar for some point in 2014.

Gerritse has been a bit of a tweener.   He has done the starting thing and the relief thing in the minors.  This year, he appeared in 30 games, 9 of which were starts.    This follows a trend, as he has never had a full season where he pitched exclusively in one role.  

Nuno is the only one on the list who made it to the big leagues, using an impressive assortment of slop to help the Yankees earlier in the season.  Without the groin injury, he is likely in the rotation right now, actually.

Friday, September 6, 2013

Yankees Minor League Report 9/6/13: Trenton Completes Sweep of Binghamton

Trenton: (Defeated Binghamton, 3-0, to advance to the championship series.   Winning the series is nice, but getting more at-bats for some of the prospects is even nicer.)

Zoilo Almonte:  3-for-4, RBI
Ramon Flores:  1-for-4, RS, BB
Gary Sanchez:  1-for-4
Tyler Austin:  1-for-4
Mason Williams:  0-for-4

Shane Greene:  5.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 5 K - Greene was very strong this year, reducing his walk rate drastically (though not tonight) while maintaining a strong strikeout rate.  A sleeper to look for in 2014.  Heading into this season, many questions about his future as a starter - I think, for now, he has answered them.
Danny Burawa:  1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Yankees Minor League Report 9/5/13: Trenton Goes Up 2-0

Trenton (Defeated Binghamton, 2-1, to go up 2-0 in the Best of 5.  In the Eastern League, they play a 2-3 format where the wild-card starts at home for the first two, then has to go on the road for the final 3.)

Ramon Flores:  2-for-4, 3B, RS
Mason Williams:  2-for-3, RS - Taken out of the leadoff spot.  He needed a bit of a confidence boost, and a 2-hit night can do that.
Zoilo Almonte:  0-for-2, SF, RBI 
Jose Pirela:  1-for-4
Gary Sanchez:  0-for-4
Tyler Austin:  0-for-3 - Breaks a string of three games where he had at least one double.
Ali Castillo: 1-for-3, 2B, RBI

Mikey O'Brien:  6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 4 K - This is what they call "effectively wild".
Zach Nuding:  2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K 
Tommy Kahnle:  1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Yankees Minor League Report 9/4/13: Thriller in Trenton as the Thunder Take Game 1

3-run bottom of the 10th after Binghamton scored two in the top of the inning.

Ben Gamel was the hero, with a 2-out, 2-run single to win the game.  Trenton had nobody on and two outs before the rally began.

Tyler Austin also had a nice game, doubling twice, driving in a pair, and scoring a pair.  Austin had both of his doubles off of Noah Syndergaard, a solid pitching prospect in the Mets' system.

Gary Sanchez had a 1-for-5 night, but the one was an RBI single in the 10th inning.

Jose Pirela chipped in three hits (including a double).  Mason Williams went 0-for-5.

Bryan Mitchell lasted five innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on seven hits with four walks and four strikeouts.  Francisco Rondon worked two scoreless frames, striking out five.
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Staten Island won a 5-inning game by the score of 5-2. 

Aviatal Avelino had three hits, including a double, while driving home three.  He is an 18-year old SS.


Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Yankees Minor League Report 9/3/13: Eric Jagielo Collects 3 Hits

Staten Island (Split DH with Vermont, winning 6-2 before losing 2-0)

Eric Jagielo: 3-for-6, 2 RS
Yeicok Calderon: 4-for-7, HR (10), 4 RBI, RS
Kale Sumner:  1-for-3, HR (3), RBI, 2 RS, BB
Tyler Wade: 1-for-4, RBI - First hit for Staten Island (1-for-13) after hitting .309/.429/.370 in 162 GCL AB.  18-year old SS.
Brandon Thomas:  2-for-7, 2B (8), BB
Michael O'Neill: 0-for-8, 5 K  - Not good.
Abiatal Avelino:  1-for-3

Conner Kendrick:  3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K (4.15 ERA; 43.1 IP, 39 H, 22 R, 20 ER, 3 HR, 18 BB, 27 K)
Chad Taylor (W, 1-0):  3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K - Staten Island debut for the 23-year old RHP   Undrafted free agent out of South Florida.  Pitched to a 1.32 ERA for the GCL squad with a 23/8 K/BB ratio over 27.1 innings.

Giovanny Gallegos:  4.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 2 HR (4.27 ERA; 65.1 IP, 71 H, 32 R, 31 ER, 9 HR, 14 BB, 43 K) - Obviously, an eye-popping number here is the home run total.  Gallegos started strong, then faded.    I think he is a solid, but far from spectacular, type of prospect.