Monday, February 2, 2015

Former Yankees OF Jones attempting MLB comeback

Former Yankees outfielder Andruw Jones didn't seem to leave the United States on a high note two years ago, but the veteran is nonetheless attempting a comeback.

Jones, 37, is currently trying to land a spot on an MLB club after spending a pair of seasons in Japan, the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo reports.

Jones played for NPB's Rakuten Golden Eagles following his departure from the Yankees after 2012, performing solidly in the new league. He hit .243/.391/.454 in 2013 and .221/.394/.426 in 2014, racking up a total of 50 home runs and 165 RBI.

According to Cafardo, Jones is presently drawing interest from two unknown teams, but it's unlikely either will offer him more than minor-league deal. Jones is looking for a job as a part-time outfielder/first baseman, his agent Scott Boras said.

Jones, who held a spot on the Yankees' bench from 2011-2012, struggled during his last year in the majors, batting just .197/.294/.408 in 94 games for New York. However, he was in fact better the season before, slashing a respectable .247/.356/.495.

His career average is .254, going along with 434 homers. Jones is a five-time All-Star and a 10-time Gold Glove winner, but the most recent of the those accolades came in 2007.

Most Popular Article of the Week" A Rod's 2nd Chance

Alex Rodriguez's relationship with former MLB Commissioner Bud Selig definitely had its issues, but his one with Selig's successor seems to be a little better. 

At least that's the tone new league administrator Rob Manfred appeared to set during a recent sit-down with ESPN's Karl Ravech, in which Manfred was questioned about his thoughts on the troubled slugger. Manfred, who took over for Selig Sunday, clarified in the conversation that the decision to suspend Rodriguez for all of last season was Selig's alone, and that from now on it will be him calling the shots. 

"I've had a nice dialogue with Alex Rodriguez since all the litigation was resolved," Manfred said. "We've spoken on a number of occasions and it has been a positive dialogue."

Rodriguez openly expressed his displeasure with Selig numerous times last year, and denied his alleged steroid use vehemently before privately admitting it in January. When his punishment was initially announced last winter, he sued MLB in an attempt to overturn it, ultimately to no avail. 

Nonetheless, Manfred has no problem with Rodriguez's return. 

"Once [a penalty for PED use] is over, that individual is entitled to try to resume his career, assuming he can still play," Manfred said. "If you approach it with that mindset, I think you can get past whatever rhetoric went on."

Rodriguez is expected to be the Yankees' starting DH this season, probably serving as the team's backup third baseman as well. It's presumable many throughout the Yankees' fanbase won't be fond of him when he takes the field this April, nor will some ever accept him back into the game.

Fortunately for the veteran, though, Manfred isn't one of those people.

"Yeah, I do," he said when asked if he has the ability to forgive Rodriguez. "I think that's part of what makes the bargain of severe penalties work."

ICYMI: Keith Law Talks Yankees Farm System


Keith Law had a lot to say about the New York Yankees farm system and their players but unfortunately it is all insider material. I personally do not have the subscription to be an insider, and I apologize for that, so I will try and do my best to recap what went down today.

First and foremost Law posted his Top 100 Prospects list and two members of the Yankees made the list in Aaron Judge and Greg Bird. Law is apparently very high on Judge as he was ranked #23 while Bird clocked in at the #80 slot. I am pretty surprised at least Luis Severino did not make the list and it makes me question Law's knowledge of the Yankees farm, especially when he ranked the farm.

Here is what Law had to say about these two Yankees prospects:

Judge:

“He showed outstanding plate discipline and ability to make contact in his first full year in pro ball while giving glimpses of the huge raw power you’d expect from someone of his build…
… He’s an above-average defender in right, faster than you’d expect, with the arm to profile there and the potential to post strong triple-slash numbers if he can make that one big adjustment.”

Bird:

“Bird’s swing is very short to the ball, and he accelerates his hands quickly for hard contact to all fields, rarely putting the ball on the ground because he squares it up so frequently. He’s a high-IQ hitter with outstanding plate discipline and understanding of how to work a pitcher, giving reason to think he’ll continue to post high OBPs even though he’ll probably hit only .250-260 with a lot of strikeouts.”

Remember Kylie McDaniel ranked the Yankees farm the 10th best in the league but Law had a much different opinion ranking the farm in the #20 slot.

Greedy Pinstripes Top 28 Prospects List: #27


Prospects Month is in full swing and yesterday we showcased our #28 prospect Johnny Barbato and today we continue those rankings. Today's prospect and #27 on the list is underrated outfielder Taylor Dugas.

Here is the write up from Kyle McDaniel on Dugas:

CF Taylor Dugas (Video 5’9/180 grinder is above average runner that can play all three outfield spots, has an advanced sense for contact at the plate and hit in Triple-A this year, so 4th/5th outfielder could be in his near future)

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28. Johnny Barbato

Meet a Prospect: Justin Wilson


Justin James Wilson was born on August 18, 1987 and spent his college years with the 2008 College World Series Champion Fresno State Bulldogs. Wilson spent parts of the 2012 to the 2014 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates before being traded to the New York Yankees for catcher Francisco Cervelli. Wilson is a member of the Yankees on paper but he wasn’t official until now so let’s meet a prospect, let’s meet Justin Wilson.

Wilson attended Buchanan High School in Clovis, California where he was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 37th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft. Wilson did not sign and opted to instead head to Fresno State University where he was named to the College World Series All-Tournament Team and won a College World Series in 2008 in his junior season. After his junior season the Pittsburgh Pirates drafted the lefty in the fifth round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft 144th overall.

Wilson spent the next three seasons in the Pirates organization before breaking out during the 2012 season when he pitched the first 7.1 IP of a combined no hitter against the Durham Bulls. Wilson would pitch another no hitter that season this time going the complete 8.0 IP against the Charlotte Knights. Rain ended the game in the eighth inning but it did not rain on his parade as 11 days later he was called up to the major leagues. Wilson pitched a scoreless inning with three strikeouts in his major league debut on that same day.


Wilson had a successful 2013 season pitching to a 6-1 record and a 2.08 ERA while regressing a tad in 2014 pitching to a 3-4 record with a 4.20 ERA. Now Wilson will spend the 2015 with the New York Yankees and we welcome him and him monster left arm with open arms.

Looking at the 2015 Draft: 27th Best Prospect



Continuing our look at the 2015 MLB First Year Players Draft we take a look at the #27 ranked prospect expected to enter the draft. As always we will include the mini scouting report from MLB.com as we introduce the #27 prospect, Kyle Tucker. Tucker is an outfielder from the Gulf Coast High School in Florida. Tucker is committed to the University of Florida but you know how those commitments can change with millions of dollars on the line.

Here is the write up from MLB.com:

Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50
Though Preston Tucker has slammed 49 homers with 197 RBIs in his two full seasons in the Astros' system, scouts say there's no doubt that his younger brother is a better prospect. Like Preston, Kyle committed to Florida out of Tampa's Plant High -- Hall of Famer Wade Boggs' alma mater -- but he's more likely to turn pro out of high school.
Tucker has one of the purest swings and best bats in the 2015 high school crop. He makes consistent hard contact, and once he fills out his lanky frame, he could be a plus hitter in both average and power.
He's a more well-rounded player than his older brother and should have average-or-better tools across the board. He'll likely move from center field to a corner in pro ball and has the arm strength needed in right.

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ICYMI: Yankees To Add Third Rookie Ball Affiliate


The New York Yankees have made an agreement with Pulaski County and the Appalachian League to field a third rookie ball affiliate in 2015. The Yankees will replace the Seattle Mariners affiliate in the league after the M's backed out of their agreement.

The Pulaski Yankees would be a more advanced league than your run of the mill rookie ball affiliates. In the GCL teams don't play in their own stadiums and fields like they will in this new league. Think of this league as a halfway point from the GCL to the short season Staten Island Yankees.

The Pulaski Yankees will play their home games in Virginia at Calfee Park in Pulaski. The stadium is a historic monument in Virginia and was built way back in 1935. The stadium is actually built in the middle of a residential neighborhood believe it or not. The Yankees are reportedly going to pump $3 million - $3.5 million into the stadium in renovations before the team moves in next season.

Here's the quote from Roanake.com about the renovations:

Calfee Park will get a $2 million facelift that will include adding new seating, upgrading parking and concession areas, and replacing clubhouses and the press box. The old shelter above the third-baseline seating, which dates to the park's 1935 construction and is designated as the family section, is to remain. The overall feel of the park should remain small-town and downhome, Hagan said last week.
Another $1 million to $1.5 million is to be spent building an extended stay facility so ballplayers can live in downtown Pulaski during the season. In recent years, Mariners players stayed in a motel in Wytheville.

This Day In New York Yankees History 2/2: Bud Selig is Rich!


On this day in 2009 the world learned just how much of a crook Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig really was. A report was released by the Sports Business Journal showing that Bud's salary for the 2007 season was $18.35 million. This would make him better paid than most of the superstars in the game at that time with the exception of Jason Giambi, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, and Roger Clemens. Conveniently those four were all on the Yankees at the time of the report.

Maybe that is why Bud hates the Yankees so much, the whole "I don't like things bigger than me" thing.