Yankees Off Season 2017

[hampfan]

Yankees youngsters were never going to carry them all the way

Teams need youth in these times of tougher drug testing. The Baby Bombers played a huge role in getting the Yankees all the way to Game 7 of last year’s American League Championship Series. Yet you don’t want to overdo the youth movement when you’re trying to win it all, and in Walker and Drury, the Yankees found upgrades that simultaneously make them less dependent on the kids while not blocking their long-term chances to make it here.

“These aren’t easy conversations to have,” Cashman said, “but when you’re having them, especially after all the dialogue we’ve had, as you walk through it, you can’t be afraid to ask the next question. … If you don’t ask, you might not get the result we have today.”

That result increases the likelihood of the Yankees attaining their optimal result. Even if it’ll be less of a storybook tale.

My gut says neither Drury nor Walker will get us there, despite Davidoff's hot-to-trot attitude. And that we'll be really sorry if we ever trade Andujar, never mind Torres, at least before they've had a chance to show their stuff to Yankee fans. I'd wait for the off-season to make a move for a pitcher w/ the credentials of a Fullmer, say. I'm not a happy customer about any of this turnabout, but what else is new? I'm looking at another foot of snow to shovel off into oblivion.

[yank0428]

I take that to be exactly what it means. Hate this move. The obligatory annual lets block a prospect with a 30-something average veteran player. No upside here.

The annual block a prospect move is usually for a below average 30-something player.
Walker is at least still average.

Walker will be going down with his annual back injury...
...right about the time that Torres is ready to be brought up to the majors.

I certainly hope you're right about that. The guy can't even be in baseball shape right now though and he's got 2 weeks to get it together. Maybe he'll hurt himself trying to ramp up for the season. I was really hoping to see Drury/Wade at 2B and Andujar at 3B. Maybe it happens eventually but I'd bet much later than sooner barring injury. At least Torres doesn't look ready and could use some time at AAA. I don't think the same of Andujar- quite the opposite.

I'm actually more disappointed about Wade being put in this spot. Maybe he can get off to a hot start and make Walker just a RH option against lefties. I really like his speed. Gardner says he's faster then him. He's good a good glove and attitude. If he hits he's a different weapon in this lineup. He can also play the OF.
Torres is still so young. No need to rush him. When he's ready then a decision will have to be made. I think Andujar will at some point get his shot. Maybe not to start the season but soon.

[BigGuy]

The annual block a prospect move is usually for a below average 30-something player.
Walker is at least still average.

Walker will be going down with his annual back injury...
...right about the time that Torres is ready to be brought up to the majors.

I certainly hope you're right about that. The guy can't even be in baseball shape right now though and he's got 2 weeks to get it together. Maybe he'll hurt himself trying to ramp up for the season. I was really hoping to see Drury/Wade at 2B and Andujar at 3B. Maybe it happens eventually but I'd bet much later than sooner barring injury. At least Torres doesn't look ready and could use some time at AAA. I don't think the same of Andujar- quite the opposite.

I'm actually more disappointed about Wade being put in this spot. Maybe he can get off to a hot start and make Walker just a RH option against lefties. I really like his speed. Gardner says he's faster then him. He's good a good glove and attitude. If he hits he's a different weapon in this lineup. He can also play the OF.
Torres is still so young. No need to rush him. When he's ready then a decision will have to be made. I think Andujar will at some point get his shot. Maybe not to start the season but soon.

I agree. Wade deserves a shot now that Torres isn't going to be starting the year in NY. Give the kid a shot. This Walker deal smells like a Levine want. Jake Cave losing his roster spot in this deal kind of pisses me off too even though Cave never had much chance on this team. I hope he gets claimed and has a good career somewhere else.

[BigGuy]

Thoughts after the Yankees sign Neil Walker

March 13, 2018 by Mike Axisa 652 Comments


(Stacy Revere/Getty)

Turns out that, even after the Brandon Drury trade, Neil Walker’s asking price was too good to pass up. The Yankees signed Walker to a one-year deal worth $4M guaranteed yesterday. Can’t beat that price. The infield is presumably now set with Walker at second and Drury at third. I have some thoughts on the Walker signing and what it means, so let’s get to it.

1. Walker was my preferred infield target. I said it more times than I care to count during the offseason. I’m pretty thrilled with the signing, especially at that price. I was hoping two years and $20M would get it done back in November. One year and $4M? You can’t hate it. Walker switch-hits, he has a history of getting on base and limiting strikeouts — let’s face it, the Yankees are going to strike out a bunch this season, so it’ll be nice to have a little more contact to balance things out — and he provides protection at first and third in addition to his usual second base. Versatile hitter, versatile defender, versatile within the lineup. He’ll probably hit toward the bottom of the order, but Walker is good enough that if the Yankees need him to hit leadoff or second for some period of time, he can do it. Joel Sherman says the Yankees were internally debating Drury or Walker a few weeks ago. Now they have both. “It was something we couldn’t ignore when the opportunity still existed,” said Brian Cashman to Pete Caldera yesterday. Yup. A cheap but potentially significant addition.

2. The full contract details: $4M guaranteed with an additional $500,000 in incentives ($125,000 each for 450, 475, 500, and 525 plate appearances), plus Jon Heyman says Walker gets a suite on the road. That last part is one of those things the Yankees can include in a contract to entice a free agent without it counting against the luxury tax payroll. The days of flying commercial and sharing rooms on the road are long gone. Teams have charters and everyone gets their own room, and the Collective Bargaining Agreement has guidelines for hotel quality standards. That said, these guys are on the road more than 120 days a year when you include Spring Training. Getting a suite rather than a regular room is a nice little perk. Walker got hosed on his contract this offseason. The Yankees are playing him a fraction of his actual worth. At least they’re hooking him up with more comfortable accommodations on the road.

3. The Walker signing all but guarantees Miguel Andujar will open the season with Triple-A Scranton. Gleyber Torres has had a tough spring and, even if he raked, sending him down always made sense given the injury and long layoff. (Delaying his free agency is an added bonus.) There was still a chance the Yankees would open the season with Andujar at third and Drury at second — Drury has played zero second base this spring, of course — but that’s off the table with Walker aboard. I’m bummed, I was hoping to see Andujar in the Opening Day lineup, but more time in Triple-A isn’t the end of the world. He only played 58 games at the level last year and he does have some defensive stuff to work on. It’s not like he’s been in Scranton for a year and a half crushing the ball, you know? Signing Walker doesn’t block Andujar or Gleyber. It hedges against their inexperience and allows the Yankees to bring them along slowly, without thrusting them into a full-time big league role if they don’t feel either guy is ready. Both Andujar and Torres remain part of the long-term solution. I have no doubt about it. Walker’s one-year deal isn’t preventing anyone who deserves to be on the roster from being on the roster. Collect talent, sort it out later.

4. Does the Walker signing (and Drury trade) make Andujar or Torres more available in trades? Possibly. I don’t think the Yankees want to trade either guy, but no one is ever truly untouchable, and now the Yankees have the necessary veteran infield depth to consider such trades. What if the Yankees are neck-and-neck with the Red Sox in July, and they have a glaring need for another starting pitcher, and someone like Danny Duffy or Chris Archer is actually available? The Yankees have lots of breathing room under the $197M luxury tax threshold — even with the Walker signing, they still have about $18M to spend under the threshold — and plenty of prospects to trade, so when the time comes to make an addition during the summer, the Yankees are in great position to do so. Adding Walker (and Drury) could make Andujar and Torres more available. I don’t think the Yankees want to trade either guy. But if things get hot and heavy at the trade deadline, they can more seriously consider trading one of them now.

5. For what it’s worth, ZiPS projects Walker for a .262/.338/.456 (112 OPS+) batting line with +2 WAR at Yankee Stadium this year, which is a little light on OBP but otherwise right in line with his last few seasons. This would be my ideal Opening
Day lineup:

2B Jose Altuve
CF Mike Trout
1B Joey Votto
RF Aaron Judge
DH Giancarlo Stanton
LF Kris Bryant (he’s played it a bunch!)
SS Carlos Correa
3B Nolan Arenado
C Gary Sanchez

But since that lineup isn’t possible, this one will have to do:

LF Brett Gardner
RF Aaron Judge
DH Giancarlo Stanton
C Gary Sanchez
SS Didi Gregorius
1B Greg Bird
CF Aaron Hicks
2B Neil Walker
3B Brandon Drury

Given his on-base ability, would it make more sense to bat Walker ninth and let him serve as the proverbial second leadoff man? It’s worth considering. Point is, Walker is quite good and he’s going to bat in the lower third of the order because the Yankees are just that damn good. The bottom of the order wouldn’t look out of place as the middle of the order. “The middle’s kind of everywhere,” as Bird said to Mike Mazzeo. Yup. As long as Judge and Stanton bat in the first inning, and Sanchez also hits in the first inning if someone reaches base, pretty much any batting order works for me. The Yankees are going to score a frickin’ ton of runs this summer. Gonna be a blast.

6. Speaking of Bird, Walker can now take over as the backup first baseman, meaning Tyler Austin and Adam Lind may be without a roster spot. (The Yankees have to add Lind to the roster by next Thursday to nullify his opt-out.) Austin Romine, Ronald Torreyes, and Jacoby Ellsbury will be on the bench to start the season (assuming Ellsbury is healthy, which doesn’t seem like a safe assumption at this point). I keep seeing people say Torreyes won’t make the team, but I don’t get it. The Yankees have given zero indication Torreyes is in danger of losing his roster spot. They like him a lot as utility guy. Anyway, that fourth bench spot could still go to Austin or Lind, or the Yankees could opt for a more versatile piece, like Tyler Wade. Wade as a supersub who starts, say, four games a week and gets 400-something plate appearances this season could be a nice little player. He’s versatile enough to play the outfield and he’d give all the regulars a little rest. That supersub job is not easy — coming to park every day and not knowing where you’re going to play can’t be easy — and the Yankees might not want to put that on Wade this early in his career. Long story short, the Yankees don’t absolutely have to carry a backup first baseman on the bench. Walker can do it, potentially freeing up a bench spot for someone else.

7. Walker is a switch-hitter but he has historically been much more effective against right-handed pitchers. He hit .279/.376/.478 (127 wRC+) against righties and .214/.313/.298 (67 wRC+) against lefties last year. Over the last three seasons it’s .274/.348/.455 (117 wRC+) against righties and .264/.331/.408 (99 wRC+) against lefties. The good news: Walker’s good side is the heavy side of the platoon. He’s going to face way more righties than lefties because that’s baseball. It might not be a bad idea to platoon Walker against southpaws, however, especially with guys like Chris Sale and David Price in the division. Could that be a way to get Andujar or Torres into the lineup at some point? Maybe. My guess is it means more Torreyes at second base against lefties. Walker isn’t completely useless against left-handed pitchers, but ideally, the Yankees would use their organizational depth to shelter him against southpaws, and give those at-bats to a lefty masher.

8. The Yankees reportedly had a deal in place for Walker at the trade deadline, but they backed out over medical concerns. Whatever they were, those concerns do not exist now, but Walker does have an injury history. He’s played more than 140 games only twice in seven full big league seasons. Last year a partially torn hamstring limited him to 111 games, and two years ago back trouble limited him to 113 games. How are Andujar and Gleyber and Wade going to get in the lineup? Well, chances are Walker will miss time at some point, so that’s how. The Yankees are deep enough right now that Walker doesn’t have to play every single game. They can put him on the apparent Brett Gardner plan and treat him more like a 120-game player than a 150-game player, mostly by sitting him against lefties. That opens up playing time for the youngsters. Walker is a flawed player. No doubt. He’s a switch-hitter who struggles against lefties and he has an injury history. His pros far outweigh his cons, however.

9. Jake Cave was designated for assignment to clear a 40-man roster spot for Walker and he seemed like the obvious one to go. Cave had a nice season last year, a breakout season really, but he’s already 25 and he has a history of knee problems. The Yankees are loaded with outfielders and that made him expendable. Cave has been outrighted once before, meaning he can elect free agency if he clears waivers, which I imagine he would do given the lack of opportunity in New York. Chances are the Yankees will trade Cave for cash or a player to be named rather than lose him for nothing. Wherever he winds up, I hope he gets a chance to play. He’s been grinding it out for a long time in the minors and he worked hard to come back from a very serious kneecap injury early in his career. Anyway, with Cave gone, Triple-A center field duties figure to fall to Jace Peterson and Shane Robinson. (Why did the Yankees sign Robinson? Probably because they knew Cave was first up on the 40-man chopping block, and they wanted a depth outfielder.) Maybe the Yankees aggressively promote Rashad Crawford or Jeff Hendrix to Scranton. Either way, someone needed to go to clear roster space for Walker, and Cave was most expendable among the fringe 40-man roster players.

10. Good gravy are baseball’s economics broken. The Yankees traded Starlin Castro for Giancarlo Stanton because Stanton’s former team decided they couldn’t afford him, then the Yankees signed a comparable (or better) second baseman for less than half Castro’s salary. Baseball’s economics are broken and the Yankees took full advantage this offseason. Hard to believe they got Walker for $4M. A partial list of players who will make more than Walker in 2018: Erasmo Ramirez, Anthony Swarzak, Marc Rzepczynski, Tony Sipp, Daniel Hudson, Adeiny Hechavarria, Santiago Casilla, Jordy Mercer, and Erisbel Arruebarrena. Collusion or no collusion, all 30 teams simultaneously decided to not spend big on free agents this winter, and players are getting squeezed. Even at age 32 with an injury history, Walker is not a $4M player. His on-field value is considerably higher. I’m guessing more than a few teams are going to be kicking themselves for not beating this offer once the season gets underway.

[BigGuy]

The Neil Walker signing works out from every angle for the Yankees

Fans may grumble, but there is no way this isn’t a total steal for the Bombers.

By Matt Provenzano Mar 13, 2018, 11:00am EDT


Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images

It goes without saying that when one of the better free agents of the offseason signs for $4 million guaranteed, there is something deeply broken in baseball economics. If the market values a win at something like $8 million, Neil Walker’s projected 2.6 WAR means that the Yankees acquired him for 19% of his market value, which should be alarming for more than a few reasons (putting aside the fact that it was for a single year).

Yet, the Yankees took advantage. I literally just wrote about how the Yankees passed on Mike Moustakas for a similar price (draft picks and international money notwithstanding), and I argued that because the market has caused prices to drop so precipitously, the teams that would benefit the most are the ones with the most money to throw around. The Yankees aren’t technically one of those because of their luxury tax concerns, but this checks both boxes: they can easily be under the tax with this signing, and it is very much a drop in the bucket as far as their operating expenses go.

From a roster perspective, I can’t really complain. The line of thinking I’ve been seeing among Yankees fans over the past day tends towards the idea that because the team has “the kids,” then they should toss the starting jobs to Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar. For better or for worse, they are not a guaranteed bet. I would probably argue that Walker is stronger than either of them in the very immediate future, not even considering the fact the Yankees will hold down the former until after the Super Two deadline.

Because this is just a one-year deal, we shouldn’t be deluded into thinking that this will somehow preclude them from making their mark. Injuries happen, so if, for example, Greg Bird gets injured, Walker could play first while Torres takes second. Walker could be traded at the deadline for such a small price, opening the door for the kids. I could come up with a hundred scenarios where they still get playing time, and all of them end with Walker exiting the organization come October. By that point, Brian Cashman will have an even better idea of how these players fit, and they will also have had a competent second baseman for pocket change.

Now, about Walker himself. I’ve also noticed a lot of fans aren’t too hot on his actual performance, but let me tell you, you would probably have to go back a decade to find a player projected to be this good for such a price. Since 2011, here is where Walker ranks among second basemen:

fWAR: 11th
wRC+: 8th
HR: 4th
OBP: 12th

Even since 2014, that status has remained remarkably consistent:

fWAR: 9th
wRC+: 5th
HR: 6th
OBP: 10th

This is the equivalent of acquiring a single year of Ian Kinsler, Dustin Pedroia, or Joe Panik, all projected to put up about the same fWAR over 600 plate appearances. Kinsler and Pedroia will make triple that of Walker.

There are a lot of young players on this team, and adding a player like Walker isn’t going to suddenly stunt the growth of the farm. Great prospects always find their way on to the club. With a team as close as this one is to a World Championship, a team with Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton in their prime, you also can’t waste this prime opportunity. This acquisition is as simple as: adding good baseball players for small amounts of cash is a good thing, and it will pay dividends. The Yankees lineup just got scary-good, and now I can’t wait for Opening Day.

[BigGuy]

Yankees, Tigers lineups for Tuesday | Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton back-to-back


Aaron Judge,Giancarlo Stanton

Randy Miller | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The Yankees are home in Tampa on Tuesday for a Grapefruit League game against the Detroit Tigers.

First pitch is schedule for 1:05 p.m.

Here are the starting lineups:


1. Brett Gardner, LF
2018 spring stats: .263 average, 19 AB, 2 runs, 5 hits, 0 HR, 0 RBIs, 2 BB, 2 K, 7 games.

2. Aaron Judge, RF
2018 spring stats: .250 average, 16 AB, 4 runs, 4 hits, 1 double, 0 triples, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 3 BB, 6 K, 7 games.

3. Giancarlo Stanton, DH
2018 spring stats: .292 average, 24 AB, 4 runs, 7 hits, 4 doubles, 0 triples, 1 HR, 4 RBIs, 1 BB, 7 K, 0 SB, 0 CS, 9 games.

4. Gary Sanchez, C
2018 spring stats: .400 average, 20 AB, 5 runs, 8 hits, 1 double, 0 triples, 2 HR, 4 RBIs, 2 BB, 2 K, 0 SB, 0 CS, 8 games.

5. Didi Gregorius, SS
2018 spring stats: .280 average, 25 AB, 3 runs, 7 hits, 0 doubles, 0 triples, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 SB, 2 CS, 9 games.

6. Aaron Hicks, CF
2018 spring stats: .304 average, 23 AB, 4 runs, 7 hits, 1 double, 0 triples, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 7 BB, 4 K, 1 SB, 0 CS, 10 games.

7. Miguel Andujar, 3B
2018 spring stats: .281 average, 32 AB, 5 runs, 9 hits, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 1 BB, 7 K, 11 games.

8. Adam Lind, 1B
2018 spring stats: .154 average, 13 AB, 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 doubles, 0 triples, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 BB, 4 K, 4 games.

9. Gleyber Torres, 2B
2018 spring stats: .130 average, 23 AB, 3 runs, 3 hits, 2 doubles, 0 triples, 0 HR, 0 RBIs, 2 BB, 6 K, 0 SB, 0 CS, 10 games.

CC Sabathia, LHP
2018 spring stats: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 start, 2 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K.

Tigers lineup
1. Leonys Martin, CF; 2. Alexi Amarista, 2B; 3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B; 4. James McCann, C; 5. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, DH; 6. JaCoby Jones, LF; 7. Victor Reyes, RF; 8. Ronny Rodriguez, 3B; 9. Pete Kozma, SS; Jordan Zimmermann, RHP

Jordan Zimmermann, RHP
2018 spring stats: 1-0, 6.75 ERA, 3 starts, 8 IP, 10 hits, 6 runs, 6 ER, 3 HR, 2 BB, 8 K.


Wednesday's game
Yankees at Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota, Fla., 1:05 p.m. RHP Chance Adams vs. RHP Miguel Castro.

[BigGuy]

[hampfan]

The Neil Walker signing works out from every angle for the Yankees

Fans may grumble, but there is no way this isn’t a total steal for the Bombers.

By Matt Provenzano Mar 13, 2018, 11:00am EDT

There are a lot of young players on this team, and adding a player like Walker isn’t going to suddenly stunt the growth of the farm. Great prospects always find their way on to the club. With a team as close as this one is to a World Championship, a team with Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton in their prime, you also can’t waste this prime opportunity. This acquisition is as simple as: adding good baseball players for small amounts of cash is a good thing, and it will pay dividends. The Yankees lineup just got scary-good, and now I can’t wait for Opening Day.

Provenzano, man, I'm still grumbling. My response to adding Walker, Drury and who else is coming is Balls! And Balls! to thinking it otherwise.

[BigGuy]

Spring Training Game Thread: Sabathia’s Second Start

March 13, 2018 by Mike Axisa 2 Comments


(Presswire)

The Grapefruit League season continues this afternoon with a home game against the Tigers. The Yankees have lost four of their last five games, you know. That would be more annoying if it weren’t Spring Training. Still, winning is better than losing, a win would be cool this afternoon.

Anyway, CC Sabathia is on the mound today making his second straight of the spring. He did throw a simulated game last week, so it’s really his third outing. For whatever reason, Sabathia is the pitcher I least worry about in the spring, even with the knee and his age. I dunno. I’m running out of things to say for these game threads. Here is the Tigers’ lineup and here is the Yankees’ lineup:

LF Brett Gardner
RF Aaron Judge
DH Giancarlo Stanton
C Gary Sanchez
SS Didi Gregorius
CF Aaron Hicks
3B Miguel Andujar
1B Adam Lind
2B Gleyber Torres
LHP CC Sabathia

Available Pitchers: RHP Cody Carroll, LHP Aroldis Chapman, RHP Gio Gallegos, RHP Chad Green, RHP David Hale, RHP Brady Lail, RHP David Robertson, and RHP Adam Warren.

Available Position Players: C Francisco Diaz, C Kyle Higashioka, C Jorge Saez, 1B Tyler Austin, IF Abi Avelino, IF Diego Castillo, IF Tyler Wade, OF Estevan Florial, OF Jeff Hendrix, OF Billy McKinney, OF Shane Robinson, and UTIL Jace Peterson.

Nice and sunny in Tampa this afternoon. Great day for a ballgame. This afternoon’s game will begin a little after 1pm ET, and you can watch live on YES and MLB Network. Enjoy the game.

[yank0428]

I certainly hope you're right about that. The guy can't even be in baseball shape right now though and he's got 2 weeks to get it together. Maybe he'll hurt himself trying to ramp up for the season. I was really hoping to see Drury/Wade at 2B and Andujar at 3B. Maybe it happens eventually but I'd bet much later than sooner barring injury. At least Torres doesn't look ready and could use some time at AAA. I don't think the same of Andujar- quite the opposite.

I'm actually more disappointed about Wade being put in this spot. Maybe he can get off to a hot start and make Walker just a RH option against lefties. I really like his speed. Gardner says he's faster then him. He's good a good glove and attitude. If he hits he's a different weapon in this lineup. He can also play the OF.
Torres is still so young. No need to rush him. When he's ready then a decision will have to be made. I think Andujar will at some point get his shot. Maybe not to start the season but soon.

I agree. Wade deserves a shot now that Torres isn't going to be starting the year in NY. Give the kid a shot. This Walker deal smells like a Levine want. Jake Cave losing his roster spot in this deal kind of pisses me off too even though Cave never had much chance on this team. I hope he gets claimed and has a good career somewhere else.

You have seen him so I guess you thought he could play in the bigs. Better for him at 25 and no spot for him with the Yanks.
I'm curious to how Fowler is going to do. I really wanted to see him play last year. I wonder where Kaprillian is at in his rehab. That kid looked like he could be a stud if healthy.