The New York Yankees are in the midst of a youth movement so
wouldn’t it make sense to bring back one of the young guys they traded away not
too long ago? I mean, it makes sense to me as there is no such thing as a bad
minor league deal so what are the Yankees waiting for? Bring back Peter
O’Brien.
O’Brien was the Yankees second round pick back in the 2012
MLB First Year Players Draft and he toiled around in the Yankees farm system
until the 2014 season when Yankees GM Brian Cashman traded him to the Arizona
Diamondbacks in the Martin Prado deal. Prado was nice for the half-season he
was in the Bronx but O’Brien was full of potential with his heavy bat and
impressive batting average numbers in the minor leagues so losing a talent like
his hurt a bit.
O’Brien destroyed Triple-A pitching in 2015 which led to his
MLB debut with the Diamondbacks and continued to crush minor league pitching in
2016 but for whatever reason that never translated into much success at the MLB
level. Sure in eight games in 2015 he finished with a .400 batting average but
in 2016 the former catcher and third baseman managed just a .141 batting
average with a .571 OPS with five home runs in 64 at-bats leading to the team
designating him for assignment this winter.
O’Brien’s numbers at the MLB level are ugly, no one can deny
that, but he’s still just 26-years old and won’t be 27-years old until the heat
of the summer in 2017 leaving some upside for the former Yankees prospect. With
O’Brien having experience at the catcher position as well as first base, third
base, right field and left field the Yankees may want to keep him around at the
Triple-A level just in case an injury or three happens this coming season. The
Yankees, and specifically manager Joe Girardi, love flexibility and versatility
and O’Brien brings a ton of both with his heavy, power-hitting bat.
What’s the worst that could happen with a minor league deal
with an invite to spring training? He flops? So what? Now what’s the best thing
that could happen? Well he could beat out Tyler Austin for one of the final
Yankees bench spots and he could take advantage of the small dimensions inside
Yankee Stadium giving the Yankees a legitimate power hitting threat off the
bench. All for a minor league deal and potentially $507,500. Sounds like a
win-win to me. Get it done.
HALF EMPTIED trade rumors....in regards to Quintana & McCutchen,
ReplyDeleteboth of whom are kinda / sorta linked to the Yankees over the
past few days.
Why half-empty ? Because, and this is very odd. I can not find out
anywhere what the Yankees are offering. No place.
Is there one of you out there that has seen a valid verifying
report over the past three days ?
Now Robertson's name is being throw in, stating Yankee interest,
but does not name players going to Chicago.
Fake news ?
Peter O'Brien. Can not have enough good Irish players on a team,
ReplyDeleteor sitting on a bar stool next to you.
I agree, bring him back. Then trade Gardner, Ellsbury, and Headley.
Then wait 4 more months and deal away Tanaka, and Pineda.
If Pineda wears his hat straight, I'll reconsider.
AGAIN, back to Peter O'Brien.
ReplyDeleteThe Arizona GM state' that the reason for the release of O'Brien, was to
improve the teams defensive versatility.
To me that means he does not command a position. Too bad.
Turn the page.