Wednesday, March 13, 2019

A Spring Training Trade Yankees Should Explore

Marlins pitcher Adam Conley is one left-handed reliever who could be of interest to teams around the league. In the last 4 years (with the exception of the 2015 season), Conley has seen himself bounce from the majors to the minors (AAA) on numerous occasions. Conley pitched as a SP in his first three seasons in the big leagues and did a very good job of it in his first two years…




Photo: Mitchell Layton/Getty Images North America
2015
  • IP: 67 (all stats per FanGraphs)
  • ERA: 3.76
  • K/9: 7.93
  • BB/9: 2.82
  • WHIP: 1.28
2016
  • IP: 133.1 
  • ERA: 3.85
  • K/9: 8.37
  • BB/9: 4.19
  • WHIP: 1.40
but in 2017, things started to fall apart (his strikeout rate regressed to 6.31 K/9 and his HR/9 ballooned to 1.67 [in his previous two seasons, his HR/9 was under 1.00] as his ERA rose to a startling 6.14. The following year (2018), the Marlins decided to convert Conley to a reliever. His numbers did improve by a quite bit…
2018
  • IP: 50.2
  • ERA: 4.09
  • K/9: 8.88
  • BB/9: 3.20
  • WHIP: 1.09 (lowest/best in his career)
  • HR/9: 0.89
  • SwStr%: 14.5 (up 4.9% from 2017)
  • Fastball velocity: 95.7 mph (up 5.8 mph from 2017)
The New York Yankees are one team that could potentially be interested in acquiring Adam Conley. The Marlins would presumably be open to parting ways with Conley. Here are a number of compelling reasons why:
  • He has no minor league options (might not want him to take up a 25-man-roster spot over a talented/raw player whom the Marlins want to see more from) remaining
  • They have two other LHPs who are likely to pitch out of their bullpen in 2019: Wei-Yin Chen and Jarlin Garcia
  • He’s already 28 years old

New York Yankees

The Yankees could really use another experienced southpaw reliever. Other than Aroldis Chapman, their probable closer, they don’t have much in terms of depth (of LHPs in the pen). Here’s what they could conceivably give up in return for Adam Conley…
New York Yankees trade RHP Luis Cessa and LHP Stephen Tarpley to the Miami Marlins for LHP Adam Conley
Luis Cessa, 26-years-old, struggled in 2018 with the Yankees (5.24 ERA in 44.2 IP), but his peripheral stats provide a glimpse of hope…
  • K/9: 7.86
  • BB/9: 2.62
  • FIP: 3.74
  • xFIP: 3.84
With Cessa being out of options, it makes sense for the Yankees to look to move him. He could pitch full time out of the Marlins’ pen. His AAA stats are also promising (2.73 ERA in just over 25 IP). 
26-year-old Stephen Tarpley has yet to be a given a chance to establish himself as an MLB caliber relief pitcher (only 9 major league IP on his resume); however, he performed exceptionally well in AAA and could take on a role similar to that of the one Conley had (with the Marlins)…
  • IP: 34
  • K/9: 10.06
  • BB/9: 2.91
  • ERA: 2.65

Predicting the 2019 Season: The Rookies of the Year



Honestly, as a self-professed Prospect Humper, I think this award is the most fun to watch for, and to predict. The American League and National League Rookie of the Year Awards! Who will be the next Miguel Andujar (because we know Shohei Ohtani did not deserve the award) or Ronald Acuna in 2019?


In the American League, I think it would be silly for anyone to pick against Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays. I know that’s the general consensus and the safe pick, but this kid is uber-talented and will get every opportunity to make it at the MLB level this season. Toronto may opt to start Vlad Jr. in the Minor Leagues to start the season, and to manipulate his service time, but once that deadline clock runs out you can guarantee that he will be with the big-league club. Vlad Jr., unlike Andujar last season, has the ability to learn the position on the fly as well given that he is on a losing team that can afford to take their time and be patient with their young stud. Andujar had to hit his way onto the team and into the spotlight, and he did just that in 2018. Vlad Jr. will do that very same thing here in 2019.


Now while I went with the safe pick in the American League, I cannot do the same in the National League. I think many are picking Victor Robles of the Washington Nationals, but I am going to go with Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres. Why is this a bold pick and not a safe pick? Well, Tatis has never played above Double-A ball during his professional career and may end up spending half the season in the minor leagues. You know what I say to that? So what? Tatis Jr. has destroyed Double-A pitching and destroyed Dominican Winter League pitching this season as well. His bat is ready, and the Padres are ready to call him up and let him learn at the MLB level alongside Manny Machado sooner rather than later. You don’t sign a guy like Machado for 10-years to take your time with guys like Tatis in Triple-A. If he produces, and history says that he will, he will be in San Diego by mid-to-late June in my opinion.

TGP Trivia and Fact of the Day for March 13th, 2019


Good morning Yankees family!

Two Yankees have joined the 30-30 club by slugging 30 home runs and stealing 30 bases in the same season. Name them.

Leave your guesses below in the comments section and then highlight below to reveal the answer. No cheating!!



Bobby Bonds (1975) 
Alfonso Soriano (2002 and 2003) 



Good morning my baby I love you!