Weekly Prospects Check In: Dillon Tate

Dillon Tate used to be the Texas Rangers top pitching prospects before a Carlos Beltran trade went down this summer and now he remains property of the New York Yankees. Many wondered and worried about his dip in velocity since joining the Rangers but since joining the Yankees organization the velocity has suddenly returned. Was he trying to do too much in Texas? Was he bored? Was it a mechanical adjustment? I can't say for sure but according to our friends at PinstripedProspects.com his velocity is sitting around 94-96 MPH again.

Welcome back to the flame throwers club Dillon and welcome to New York:

Year	Age	Tm	Aff	W	L	ERA	G	GS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	WHIP	H9	HR9	BB9	SO9
2016	22	2 Teams	TEX-NYY	3	3	4.79	22	16	77.0	96	47	41	5	31	64	1.649	11.2	0.6	3.6	7.5
2016	22	Hickory	TEX	3	3	5.12	17	16	65.0	78	39	37	5	27	55	1.615	10.8	0.7	3.7	7.6
2016	22	Charleston	NYY	0	0	3.00	5	0	12.0	18	8	4	0	4	9	1.833	13.5	0.0	3.0	6.8

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Nathan Eovaldi, Non-Tender Candidates & the Yankees

MLB Trade Rumors does an absolutely fantastic job on their site not only bringing you rumors, whispers and news but also they do a wonderful job at their original and unique content. One of those such articles I read over the weekend was an article titled "8 High-Priced Non-Tender Candidates" and it originally caught my eye because Nathan Eovaldi was one of the eight. What made me want to write this article was the other seven candidates and whether, assuming they are indeed non-tendered this offseason, any of them would make sense for the 2017 Yankees. 

The seven non-tender candidates according to the above linked article include the New York Mets first baseman Lucas Duda, Colorado Rockies RHP Jake McGee, Arizona Diamondbacks RHP Shelby Miller, Minnesota Twins RHP Tommy Milone, Minnesota Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe, Washington Nationals outfielder Ben Revere and St. Louis Cardinals RHP and closer Trevor Rosenthal. The names that obviously stand up off the page above the rest are Shelby Miller and Jake McGee (not because he is nearly as talented as Miller but because of his power arm, the fact that he is American League East tested and the fact that the Yankees could use another power arm or two in their bullpen).

If the Yankees could get Shelby Miller, and trust me I cannot see in a million years the Arizona Diamondbacks giving up the #1 overall draft pick for Miller only to non-tender him a season later, you have to jump on that every day of the week and twice on Sunday. He's struggled but he is healthy and so damn talented. Sign him up. Jake McGee is another I think the Yankees will look at after seeing so much of him with the Tampa Bay Rays. He was a great arm for them but he has struggled in Colorado and on the road as well. He has battled injuries this season and effectiveness as well but he would immediately slot in as the 6th inning guy for the Yankees if signed. No pressure, just flaming fastballs.

I can't see the Yankees signing any of these seven guys although I can see them working out a multi-year deal with Eovaldi essentially making his 2017 season a wash while they hope for his recovery in 2018. If not it may be bust for the Yankees as far as non-tenders go but that isn't exactly the worst thing in the world anyway, is it?


Oh and in case you were wondering here is what the crew at MLBTR had to say about Mr. Eovaldi:

Nathan Eovaldi, SP, Yankees (5+, $5.6MM): 

Despite his struggles, Eovaldi seemed for much of the year to be a fairly sure thing to be tendered a contract. He continued to show signs of promise in spite of the inconsistencies — a career-best 9.3% swinging strike rate, for instance — and at worst would appear to be a late-inning pen candidate with a fastball that sits at 97 even when he’s starting. But a devastating elbow injury means that Eovaldi won’t pitch next year. The Yankees aren’t likely to pay up just to prepare the righty for free agency, so the only way he stays in New York is through some kind of multi-year arrangement.

Early prediction: Non-tender, barring multi-year agreement

Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles 8/28

Here we go ladies and gentleman as the New York Yankees are set to play host to the Baltimore Orioles in the finale of their three game set this weekend. In the finale the Yankees will send Michael Pineda to the mound looking to harness some of his Big Mike special powers while the Orioles starter Kevin Gausman will look to solve some of his road woes this season. The game will be played at 1:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network locally and also on MLB TV wherever you are.

Follow along during the game with us by liking our page on Facebook or by giving us a follow on Twitter @GreedyStripes. Big Mike vs. Kevin Gausman. Let's go. Go Yankees!

Should the Yankees Take a Waiver on Desmond Jennings?

I know, I know but hear me out. The Yankees are absolutely stacked at the outfield position right now but talent is talent. Should the Yankees take a waiver on the soon-to-be free agent Desmond Jennings?

Jennings was once thought to be one of the future stars of the league for the Rays but now the 29-year old has succumbed to multiple leg injuries that have seemingly slowed down his development. Jennings has already fought a hamstring injury this season and is set to come off the disabled list with a knee injury when the Tampa Bay Rays are expected to release him.

Jennings was solid from 2011 - 2014 for Tampa Bay hitting .249/.327/.405 with 47 home runs and 86 stolen bases but since then the former Rays center fielder has slumped and slowed considerably. Jennings stopped hitting, stopped hitting for power and stopped stealing bases due to his injuries which caused Tampa to bench him.

So why would the Yankees want him? They have a plethora of outfield options heading into next season and many of them are younger, project higher and are flat out better on paper. In a word, they wouldn't. It depends on the deal though. Would Jennings be willing to sign a minor league deal while still on the Rays dime for the remainder of this season? Maybe. If so, sign him up. Rosters expand next week and he has talent that you don't tend to find on the free agent market these days. Especially on a minor league deal. If not, then you pass.

Jennings will sign with someone. He's still a quality defender in the outfield according to multiple defensive metrics, although not UZR 150, he's still young and he would make a great bounce back or fourth outfielder option for most teams. Unfortunately just not for this team. I have to pass unless it's on a minor league deal.

Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles 8/28

The New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles are back at it again in the Bronx this afternoon as these two teams complete their three-game weekend set. The Yankees bats came out in full force behind Luis Cessa last night and I wondered then if they saved some runs for the rest of the weekend. We're going to find out again this afternoon as the Yankees send Michael Pineda to the mound, the Big Mike version hopefully, to square off with Kevin Gausman.


Pineda took a bit of a step back in his last start as he gave up five earned runs in just 5.1 innings pitched against the Seattle Mariners. Pineda was not helped by his bullpen or Anthony Swarzak in specific in the 7-5 loss for New York but despite that Pineda has still racked up 10 losses in what has become a disappointing season.

Gausman has not pitched well on the road this season and thankfully for the Yankees this game comes inside Yankee Stadium. On the road this year Gausman has posted an 0-9 record with a 5.32 ERA on the road while he has gone 5-1 at home inside Oriole Park and Camden Yards.


The game will be played at 1:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV. The Yankees head to Kansas City after this contest to face off with the hottest team in the American League right now in the Kansas City Royals. Should be fun down the stretch for the players and the fans. Go Yankees!

Weekly Prospects Check In: Nick Solak

All quiet on the Nick Solak front since his drafting in the June Draft this season. We've checked in with him a few times but when the Yankees farm system got an injection of youth and talent at the top and the Yankees second round pick has gone by the wayside a little. That's not meant to be an insult towards Nick nor do I think it's disrespectful, we just went with the "flavor" of the week and now we're circling back. Welcome back to the rotation Nick.

Let's see what he has been up to:

Year	Age	Tm	G	PA	R	H	2B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2016	21	Staten Island	55	237	41	64	10	3	20	8	25	30	.315	.409	.419	.828

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

This Day In New York Yankees History 8/28: Yankees & Red Sox Play Final Game In The Old Yankee Stadium

The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox have played many historic and meaningful games in the old Yankee Stadium but the two teams played their final game in the House that Ruth Built on this day in 2008. These two teams fought tooth and nail against each other in this stadium for 85 years and it was fitting how the final game ended. The Yankees were losing 2-0 and came from behind thanks to a Jason Giambi seventh inning pinch hit two run home run to tie. Giambi would come up in the ninth inning and would get a walk off single to beat Boston 3-2 to avoid a sweep and keeps their playoff hopes alive.

Also on this day in 2007 the fans at Yankee Stadium were all entertained by a squirrel who stayed on the right field foul pole to watch the Yankees beat the Red Sox 5-3. The squirrel was quickly called a good luck charm and a fan favorite while receiving standing ovations and cheers every time he was shown on the scoreboard screen.