Pitchers and catchers are in full swing and full team
workouts are happening all around the league as we inch closer and closer to
Grapefruit League games and MLB games that actually count in the win/loss column.
All winter long teams have made a plan and seemingly stuck to it whether it be
acquiring the top free agent talent available like the Red Sox did with David
Price and Craig Kimbrel, selling off all their talent to jump start a rebuild
like the Atlanta Braves did or sign nobody at all, literally, like the New York
Yankees did. The Yankees did not sign a single major league free agent this
winter but they have not shied away from handing out the minor league deals for
depth down on the farm, is there anyone left on the free agent market worth
that gamble?
Well yeah, Dexter Fowler is still out there on the free
agent market but I strongly believe he isn’t going to settle for a minor league
deal. There’s almost 0% chance of it. He may sign a one-year pillow contract
with a team and test a no-so-stacked free agent market again in 2017 but
there’s absolutely no chance he signs a minor league deal. The same can likely
be said for starters Tim Lincecum, Cliff Lee and Alfredo Simon. Also Ian
Desmond is another one of those names to add to the “no way, no how” list when
it comes to signing a minor league free agent deal this winter. We know the
names of who won’t sign a minor league deal but who conceivably could or would?
David Freese is a solid third baseman with a track record of
hitting in the postseason but for whatever reason not many are knocking down
his door to sign him this winter. New York needs a capable third baseman and a
true third baseman, apologies to Starlin Castro, and if Freese is willing to sign
a MiLB deal, however unlikely, I think the Yankees should pounce. The longer
the winter drags on and the closer the spring comes closer the more likely
other players like Juan Uribe, Justin Morneau and Pedro Alvarez may be willing
to defy the odds and the doubters and sign a minor league deal as well with an
opt-out clause simply to get into a spring camp and show teams they are still
capable of playing at the Major League level. If the Yankees want to take
advantage of any of those three I would also be willing to sign off on those
deals.
Finally you have a laundry list of players including Rickie
Weeks, Jimmy Rollins, Tommy Hunter, Matt Thornton, and others who
would likely jump at the opportunity to sign a minor league deal in New York
but I just can’t see any of them being true fits for the Yankees. I have always
said there is no such thing as a bad minor league deal and I will stand behind
that today as well but there are some I’d be willing to write a “Meet a
Prospect” for and there are some I may just let slide and move on with, you
know what I’m saying?
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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)