And the Winner Is...

 

Anthony Volpe (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Anthony Volpe is the fan favorite for starting shortstop…

As Spring Training winds down, there is one thing that is quite clear. Anthony Volpe has made the Opening Day roster, or the New York Yankees have set up its fans for a huge letdown. No question Volpe has done everything possible to win a spot despite his age (21) and limited experience at the Triple-A level.

Volpe, who turns 22 in late April, continues to make a difference when he plays which seems lately to be nearly every day. I checked today’s lineup against the Philadelphia Phillies at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, FL, and sure enough, Volpe is the starting shortstop, atop the batting order. In sixteen Spring games, he is hitting .277/.393/.574 (.967 OPS). His home run during yesterday’s game against the Minnesota Twins was his third of the exhibition schedule. Oswaldo Cabrera and Andres Chaparro may have stronger Spring hitting statistics, but Volpe’s maturity beyond his years, the ability to adjust, and making consistent plays with his glove have set him apart in the shortstop race. Most importantly, he has proven he belongs in the Major Leagues. Some players have ‘baseball smarts’ and young Volpe is that guy. 

The Yankees have a difficult decision ahead. The glut of infielders remains an obstacle unless there is a trade. The more likely scenario, unfortunately, is the potential reassignment of expected starter Oswald Peraza to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to clear space on the Opening Day roster. I feel bad for Peraza. He has nothing left to prove in Triple-A, and he is the stronger defender at short. No question that Volpe has outplayed Peraza at the plate and has done more to shine in the field over the past few weeks. Regardless, Peraza is Major League-ready, and his further development needs to happen at the game’s highest level.  I am convinced he will hit if given the opportunity.

Oswald Peraza (Photo Credit: AP)

If Volpe has won the shortstop job, I am beginning to wonder if Peraza’s time as a Yankee may be ending. Gleyber Torres is the most frequently mentioned name in trade rumors, yet Peraza has value and could help bring in an experienced starting pitcher for depth purposes. I thought we would have seen a trade or two this week as teams begin to make decisions about their rosters. The days ahead could prove to be active. If Volpe makes the Opening Day roster, the Yankees must make room on the 40-man roster. It will not be hard with the pitchers who will be moved to the 60-day Injured List (Scott Effross, Luis Gil, and Frankie Montas). Once the Yankees commit a 40-man spot to Volpe, it will be his for years to come.

I do not sense the Yankees will trade Torres over the coming days. DJ LeMahieu most likely will be the Opening Day second baseman with Torres perhaps serving as the designated hitter and Giancarlo Stanton playing the field. But Torres will be the team’s regular second baseman until proven otherwise. The cost of Torre and Volpe on the Opening Day roster is apparently Peraza so I expect the minor league reassignment instead of a trade.

Injuries can change things in a hurry so Peraza, if he is demoted, should stay positive and be ready for the inevitable call-up. He will be on the Yankees’ active roster before we get too deep into the 162-game schedule. Unfortunately, there must be a winner and a loser in the Volpe/Peraza battle for shortstop and the Opening Day roster. The Yankees would be better to have both yet there is simply no room, especially if they legitimately believe Josh Donaldson has rediscovered the ability to hit and Isiah Kiner-Falefa can be their Six-Million-Dollar man in an infield utility role. 

Regardless of how things develop between now and Opening Day, there will be disappointment among the excitement for those who make the team versus those who do not. I am ready for the regular season. Spring Training games have run their course. The Yankees played split games yesterday, jumping out to leads in both games, only to lose in the late innings. I do not like to lose, even with meaningless exhibition games, yet the only thought yesterday was can these exhibition games just end so that we can get to games that matter? I am so done with exhibition games.

Are the Catchers Ready?

Kyle Higashioka has returned to the Yankees from the World Baseball Classic (WBC) after Team Japan’s thrilling championship victory over Team USA. The concern, for me, is whether he is behind schedule in his preparation for the season. Despite making the Team USA roster, Higgy only appeared in three games and never saw the plate except behind it with his glove. I understood why Higgy did not play; he backed up elite catchers JT Realmuto and Will Smith, yet it did not get him prepared for the grind of the long season ahead. Hopefully, he will get up to speed quickly now that he has rejoined the Yankees.

Miles Mikolas and Kyle Higashioka (Photo Credit: Mark J Repilas/USA TODAY Sports)

The Yankees signed another catcher for minor league depth this week when they inked José Godoy to a minor league contract. Godoy, 28, has yet to make his mark in the Major Leagues. He has played in the Mariners, Twins, and Pirates organizations, but has only appeared in twenty-six Major League games since making his debut on May 21, 2021. A noteworthy stat is he became MLB’s 20,000^th player when he made his debut. Most recently, he was in camp with the Los Angeles Angels on a non-roster invite until he received his release. I am not expecting much, if anything, with this signing but Godoy does provide needed depth in the farm system. 

Probably my only reason for mentioning Godoy is how close he could be to the Major League roster should anything happen to either Higashioka or Jose Trevino. The moral of the story is that Higgy and Trevi must stay healthy. Until Ben Rortvedt is healthy and ready to play, the Yankees are dangerously thin at the position. Rortvedt has started throwing and expects to ramp up baseball activities within the next couple of weeks.

Speaking of players away for the WBC, I feel bad for the Philadelphia Phillies and their first baseman Rhys Hoskins. Hoskins, returning from his time with Team USA, tore the ACL in his left knee in his first exhibition game back with the Phillies this week. He is expected to miss most, if not all, of the season. Hoskins is the latest reminder of how injuries can change plans in a hurry. Although I thought the WBC was a strong event, the knock is the timing of the competition during Spring Training. Players either had to play at a high level in a hurry like Hoskins…or do nothing like Higashioka.  Either way, it disrupted player preparedness for the upcoming regular season.    

Battle of Relievers

Last March, the Yankees made the memorable trade with the Texas Rangers for catcher Jose Trevino for reliever Albert Abreu and minor leaguer Robby Ahlstrom. Abreu was subsequently designated for assignment by the Rangers and then waived by the Kansas City Royals before finding his way back to Pinstripes. The Yankees obviously like him or they would not have brought him back. However, I think it is time to part ways.

Although one game should not be held against anybody, yesterday’s Twins game was a microcosm of the problem. Abreu was on the mound when Minnesota scored four runs in the ninth for their come-from-behind win over the Yankees. He gave up five runs in 1 1/3 innings of work. The Twins had four hits against him, including two home runs. Abreu also walked a batter. By comparison, Jimmy Cordero, earlier in the same game, pitched 1 2/3 innings, allowing no hits or walks, and struck out three batters.

 

Jimmy Cordero (Photo Credit: Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports)

Cordero has done enough to show me he should make the Yankees’ bullpen over Abreu. Or maybe Abreu has just shown me enough that he should not be given a spot in the bullpen. Out of options, Abreu will be traded or released soon unless the Yankees remain infatuated with him for whatever reasons.

Estevan Florial lives another day

I thought Estevan Florial’s time as a Yankee was coming to an end, but most likely, with Harrison Bader starting the season on the Injured List, he has kicked the can down the road. Once Bader returns, Florial’s roster status will become questionable, and I foresee his designation for assignment unless he somehow has an epiphany to become a legitimate Major League hitter (unlikely, in my opinion). 

To start the season, Florial should serve as the team’s fourth outfielder although I would expect Oswaldo Cabrera to see more time in left supplanting my not-so-favorite Yankee Aaron Hicks. I thought the Yankees might go with Willie Calhoun or Rafael Ortega for the reserve outfield role, but in the final days of training camp, Florial’s spot on the 40-man roster gives him the leg up on the competition. He can serve as a speedy pinch runner and is a good defensive replacement.

I was hoping for more Yankees news this week to give us something to talk about. There are five days until Opening Day. Although the Yankees’ transaction wire has been quiet since the start of camp (outside of minor league activity), there should be some turbulence in the next 72 to 96 hours. 

Get ready, Gerrit Cole will soon get the ball. Looking forward to seeing who joins him and Aaron Judge in the Bronx for the season opener against the San Francisco Giants. 

As always, Go Yankees!

Late June, Last of the Teen Losses...

  

Giancarlo Stanton / Photo Credit: EPA

Next loss is almost Legal Drinking Age…

Sadly, there was no ‘rally in their bones’ last night as the Yankees fell to the Houston Astros, 3-1. The loss dropped the Yankees to 52-19, still the best record in Major League Baseball. Every other team in the AL East won yesterday but the Yankees lead over the second-place Toronto Blue Jays is eleven ½ games so there is room in the waistband. I certainly did not expect the Yankees to sweep the Astros this series, as much as I would have liked them to. The Astros are clearly the best team in the American League that the Yankees will face this year. Depending upon how the final standings align, Yankees-Astros could be a preview of the American League Championship Series in October. So, reaping the soul of the Astros in October is far more important than a four-game set in late June.

I am hoping for at least a split of the four-game series although three of four would be quite beautiful. Gerrit Cole and Nasty Nestor Cortes Jr provide reason for optimism. Well, that is true of any of the Yankee starters this year, but now, the ageless dick, Justin Verlander, is out of the series having pitched last night.

Gerrit Cole / Photo Credit: AP

Keeping Aaron Judge a happy man is a good thing. I was glad the Yankees and Judge were able to avert yesterday’s arbitration hearing. While it was thought the hearing was originally scheduled for Wednesday and subsequently pushed to Friday, Mike Axisa wrote in his blog yesterday that the hearing was always scheduled for Friday. Regardless, I was fearful of the negative feelings that can be generated from an arbitration hearing when the team’s primary goal is to prove why the player is not good enough for their salary demand. I think Judge is such a professional, he would not have let it alter his strong emotional attachment to the 2022 Yankees, but it is better that we never find out how the bond would have been tested.

Aaron Judge

The Judge camp had asked for $21 million, while the Yankees countered with $17 million. Initially, there were reports yesterday morning that Judge had rejected the Yankees’ meet-in-the-middle counteroffer of $19 million. The tragic part of this is Judge is worth every penny of the $21 million he is asking for, but that is not how this game is played. Fortunately, it was not long before word came that Judge had accepted the Yankees’ revised offer, $19 million plus $250,000 for AL MVP and $250,000 for World Series MVP (both incentives strongly possible if Judge keeps playing at his current level). The best $19.5 million the Yankees will spend this year.

It was not fun reading Buster Olney’s words yesterday predicting that Aaron Judge will not be a Yankee in 2023. Under the premise of ‘all it takes is one inspired owner,’ he thinks the Yankees will be outbid in their clinical approach when Judge reaches free agency after the season. No doubt, if the Yankees let Judge walk, it will be one of the greatest travesties of the organization in my life as a Yankee fan. It was difficult to see Robinson Cano leave, and while I am not trying to discredit Cano, his loss was not a blip on the radar compared to how wrong it would be for Judge to pull on another jersey. I am hopeful that resigning Judge is as important to Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner as it was to snag Gerrit Cole a couple of years ago.

Sign Judge to a huge deal that makes sense for both sides and make him the next Captain of the New York Yankees. I hope this is the prime objective once we reach the off-season.

The disappointment of Reggie Jackson. I do not know the circumstances that caused Reggie Jackson to leave his role as a consultant for the Yankees to join the Houston Astros organization a few years ago (not sure that I really care), but it sucked to see Jackson show up at Yankee Stadium wearing an Astros cap this week. Compare Jackson to Yankees Hall of Famer Derek Jeter. When Jeter was CEO of the Miami Marlins, you did not see him show up at Yankee Stadium wearing a Marlins cap when his Marlins visited the Bronx. Jeter is respectful of his Yankees legacy, whereas Jackson proves once again, it is all about him. It always was, why should he change who he is now. Good riddance.

Reginald Martinez Jackson / Photo Credit: Twitter via @mroctober

Welcome back, Albert Abreu. Abreu, along with minor league LHP Robby Ahlstrom, helped to bring popular Yankees catcher Jose Trevino from the Texas Rangers to New York this past Spring. Abreu’s time in Texas was short. He was designated for assignment at the end of May and traded to the Kansas City Royals on June 3^rd for a minor league prospect. Abreu’s control problems led to a very brief stay in the Royals organization. He was designated for assignment a few weeks later and claimed on waivers by the Yankees on June 21^st.

Albert Abreu

I always liked Abreu and there was a time he was one of my favorite prospects. The Yankees had originally acquired him in the November 2016 deal that sent catcher Brian McCann to the Houston Cheaters. Now 26 years old, Abreu is no longer a prospect. I think if the Yankees thought they could fix his control challenges, it would have happened already. I view Abreu as a placeholder. His time on the 40-man roster, unless he suddenly becomes a revered part of the bullpen (unlikely), will be almost as short as his Royals career. When it comes time to add Aroldis Chapman, Jonathan Loaisiga, Domingo German, and later, Zack Britton, there will be no room for Abreu.

Many fans were upset when Clarke Schmidt was demoted to Triple A to make room for Abreu on the active roster. I am not sure that I ever saw the two moves related to one another other than Schmidt’s temporary trip to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is an opportunity to get him more work and more specifically, starting work. The pitching staff knows Abreu and he afforded the Yankees an opportunity to help strengthen Schmidt for the long haul of the season. The Yankees’ starting rotation has been wonderful this season, but injuries are part of the game. Schmidt and JP Sears represent the rotation depth. I like the job Sears did earlier this season, but between the two men, I would rather have Schmidt in the rotation if something were to happen to one of the fabulous five currently in the Yankees rotation.

Clarke Schmidt / Photo Credit: Bebeto Matthews, AP

So, fans should not fret about Schmidt. He will be back, and he will play a part in the road to the World Series. His trip to Eastern Pennsylvania will only make him stronger. I am all for it. When champagne is dripping on the clubhouse floor, Schmidt will be getting alcohol stains on his jersey while Abreu will be home watching the World Series on television. For the record, I would love to see Abreu succeed, suddenly overcoming his flaws, but I am not optimistic.

To make room for Abreu, the Yankees traded reliever David McKay back to the Tampa Bay Rays. Watch McKay go from nothing special to a trusted high leverage reliever. That is how it usually works for the Rays. Seriously, it was no loss. The same as it will be when Abreu’s jersey is taken from him by Yankees clubhouse personnel. Life in baseball. It is necessary to have some Gypsy blood, knowing that travel is not limited to games but to different teams when you are not quite as talented as a guy like Aaron Judge.

As always, Go Yankees!

 

Stretch Run to Opening Day...

 

Aaron Judge / Photo Credit: Mike Stobe, Getty Images

The dawn of 2022 Regular Season is upon us…

Winter is leaving. I know, it already left, but the upcoming week will feature the official return of the 2022 MLB regular season with Opening Day scheduled for Thursday. It has been a long, difficult road through the atypical and frustrating off-season that included 99 days of the owners’ lockout. I am glad it is over, and happy Spring Training is nearing an end. I know we had hoped for more notable upgrades, yet the 2022 Yankees as presently structured can and will compete hard in the AL East.

With rosters expanding to twenty-eight players until May 1^st, the Yankees are contemplating carrying 15 to 16 pitchers on the active roster until the May restoration of the maximum of thirteen pitchers (and thirteen non-pitchers). Between now and Opening Day, the Yankees will need to create room on the 40-man roster. I would like to see LHP Manny Banuelos make the team but then it becomes a question of who loses their spot on the 40-man to make it happen. Aaron Boone has given assurances that Albert Abreu and Mike King will be on the roster. Abreu is out of options. Boone’s assurance of a player’s spot, lately, has proven to be a precursor to a trade. I like Abreu but he seems to be a candidate to be moved if necessary.

Albert Abreu / Photo Credit: John Minchilli, AP

If I felt strongly about the other arms for the bullpen, I would consider trading Chad Green. He has been a good reliever for the Yankees, but if you could get a decent return, it would potentially be worth it. Considered one of the better relievers in the game, he is a good ‘sell high’ candidate if you feel he is replaceable. Not saying Banuelos is better than Green but looking at the composition of all the pitchers who could potentially step up, there are impact arms waiting for an opportunity. There are certainly plenty of internal options available and pitching coach Matt Blake has proven to be extraordinarily successful in his role, along with the other “new-thinking” pitching instructors in the organization. Plus, there are always guys like Clay Holmes who can be poached from other organizations.

I do not envy GM Brian Cashman for his upcoming roster decisions. The bench guarantees only one player…DJ LeMahieu. From there, it becomes a deeper shade of grey. Infielder/outfielder Marwin Gonzalez has seemingly done everything possible to make the Opening Day roster. As a non-roster minor league invitee, moves must be made a clear a spot for him. If the Yankees carry sixteen pitchers, then it seems Tim Locastro could be the odd man out. The Yankees need a backup catcher, expected to be Rob Brantly, until Ben Rortvedt is ready to play. It almost appears the Yankees must pick the worst of their available catchers for the backup role because whoever it is will most likely be designated for assignment when Rortvedt returns. Here is hoping Kyle Higashioka’s fabulous Spring carries over into the regular season. I have seen many fans projecting 20-23 homers and 70 RBIs for him. I am a little skeptical, but if he reaches those numbers with his excellent defense, it will be tremendous.

Kyle Higashioka & Gerrit Cole / Photo Credit: Tony Dejak, AP

Circling back to Locastro, it seems if the Yankees do carry an additional outfielder, besides Gonzalez, the choice will be between Locastro and NRI Ender Inciarte. I have to say it, the third option could be the return of Brett Gardner. Never rule out the Gardy Party until the party is over. Locastro seems to be favorite since he holds a spot on the 40-man. I have really liked Inciarte over the years and he might be my personal preference but either guy will be fine. Their Spring stats are oddly similar, slightly tilted toward Inciarte. Probably not enough to make a difference so I see Locastro retaining his spot. Speed plays.

Triple A games start on Tuesday so yesterday saw the following players re-assigned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre: RHPs Matt Bowman and Ryan Weber, INF/OF Phillip Evans, INF Jose Peraza, 1B Ronald Guzmán, and OF Ryan LaMarre. I liked what I saw from Guzmán. I would love to see him crush it in Triple A. The former Rangers farmhand may forever be one of those 4A type of players, but I am still pulling for him.

Ronald Guzmán / Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg, The New York Post

Hopefully, the next few days will bring an announcement the Yankees have signed Aaron Judge to an extension. The rumors circulate about $30 million average annual value, with the number of years being the point of contention. Judge turns thirty later this month and it seems his camp wants six or seven years. Judge is the face of the franchise. He is the most visible player since Derek Jeter. Pay the man. I get the rub of multiple guys with heavy contracts into their late thirties (Gerrit Cole and Giancarlo Stanton), but Judge is the franchise player. If there is a single player on the team that I could never see (or rather never want to see) playing for another team, it is Judge. Do the right thing, Hal.

Aaron Judge / Photo Credit: Adam Glanzman, MLB Photos

After Manager Aaron Boone had said Luis Severino was dealing with “general soreness” last week, thoughts of worst-case scenario began seeping in. It proved to be nothing as Sevy was able to throw a bullpen session the next day after a cancelled start.

I am ‘cautiously’ excited about Severino’s return this season. I know he was back late last year, but it was a limited relief role. It has been several years since he was a force in the rotation. Yet, any excitement is tempered when we hear words like ‘general soreness.’ I am hopeful it is nothing and the season represents a full return for Sevy. We need a strong #2 and he can be that guy. He is not today, but he CAN be if health proves to be his friend.

When I heard yesterday that Mets ace Jacob deGrom has been shut down for four weeks due to “a stress reaction on his scapula that has caused inflammation in the area,” it brings up fears we could get the same kind of news about Severino. Sevy is scheduled to make sixty pitches today in his last Spring start. I will be crossing my fingers that all goes well. As for deGrom, I am sorry the best pitcher in the game has suffered a setback. He will undergo another MRI in four weeks. Not that I care about the Mets, but I wish deGrom well in his recovery and hope he is back sooner than later.

Not sure why Brian Cashman mentioned 2017 again this week. Look, we were all wronged. It was a bad situation, but it is water under the bridge. There is nothing that can be done about it, and the Yankees are not going to be anointed a mythical World Series champion as a result. It seems like the Yankees are trying to deflect attention from the impending release of the “Yankees Letter” which the Yankees intend to appeal…again. I have no idea if the two are related but the timing of Cashman’s words is odd. If the Yankees Letter unfairly portrays the Yankees in bad light (singles them out for actions taken by other team as well), I can see the team’s resistance to its release. But if they singularly violated the rules, the letter should be released.

Final Word: I am incredibly happy and excited for the return of Derek Jeter. Jeter will be honored with Hall of Fame Induction Tribute Night on Friday, September 9^th at Yankee Stadium. 

If Jeter had still been the Miami Marlins CEO, this night might not have been possible. Selfishly, I am glad he is free from his loyalty to the Marlins and can make the high-profile appearance at Yankee Stadium. His long absence from Yankee Stadium has been difficult. He helped bring the twins, Mystique and Aura, from the old to the new Yankee Stadium. I will love seeing him back in the Bronx. Hopefully he brings the magic back home. 

As always, Go Yankees!

Meet the 2019 Yankees: Albert Abreu

One of the top pitching prospects in the New York Yankees system is Albert Abreu. Abreu was brought over to the Yankees from the Houston Astros in a trade for Brian McCann back in 2016. Abreu is slowly, due to injuries, working his way towards the Major Leagues, so let’s meet him and his uber-talented right arm.

Albert Abreu, 23-years old, is a right-handed starting pitcher inside the New York Yankees organization and a RHP that sits at or near the top of the Yankees top pitching prospects in their system. Abreu stands 6’2” and weighs 175 lbs. and possesses a 95-96 MPH fastball that tops out at 99 MPH, as well as a slider, curveball and changeup that he can throw consistently for strikes. Abreu’s changeup is probably his most consistent pitch in his repertoire with its steep drop late in its path.

Albert Enmanuel Abreu was born on September 26, 1995 in Guayubin, Dominican Republic where he was signed by the Houston Astros as an international free agent in 2013. Abreu was 17-years old at the time and signed with Houston for $185,000. Abreu spent time in the Astros organization until November 17, 2016 when he was traded along with Jorge Guzman for the Yankees starting catcher, Brian McCann.

Abreu made stops with three affiliates in 2017, starting with the GCL Yankees and ending in A-Ball with the Charleston Riverdogs, finishing the season with 53.1 innings pitched. New York saw enough in those 53 innings to add Abreu to their 40-man roster after the 2017 season.

Abreu pitched for the GCL Yankees again in 2018, as well as the Tampa Yankees and the Double-A Trenton Thunder before heading down to the Dominican Winter League following the season. Abreu was hampered by injuries once again in 2018 and was limited to just 17 games, plus another six games in the DOWL.

Abreu will look to continue his path towards the Major Leagues in 2019, likely starting the year with the Trenton Thunder. If healthy, it won’t be long before Abreu is in Triple-A with Scranton… and then eventually the Bronx.

The Yankees Plan B for Patrick Corbin May Include an Indians Starter and Jason Kipnis

The New York Yankees missed out on the top free agent starting pitcher this winter in Patrick Corbin after the left-hander agreed to a six-year deal worth $140 million with the Washington Nationals, but that does not mean that the Yankees will be without another frontline starter this winter. Instead of acquiring another arm off the free agent market the New York Yankees may be forced back into the trade market, and back to the Cleveland Indians. The New York Yankees have already tried to acquire one of Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco or Trevor Bauer this winter, but were unwilling to meet the high asking price for any of their starters, but with recent news being released that may have all changed.

The Cleveland Indians are seemingly in a bit of a rebuilt, much like the Seattle Mariners this winter, and are looking to unload some salary in these trades. According to MLB Trade Rumors and Buster Olney the Indians may ask a potential trade partner to take on Jason Kipnis and the remaining money on his deal ($14,666,667 in 2019 and a $16.5 million team option for 2020 including a $2.5 million buyout) in order to trade for one of the three aforementioned starters. Uh, yes please?

Now, don’t get me wrong. I am not a fan of Kipnis and I do not think he solves a lot of the Yankees problems, but he, nor his contract, are enough of an albatross to make hiding him on the roster for the 2019 season out of the realms of possibilities. Kipnis bats left-handed, something the Yankees need with the loss of Didi Gregorius, and he plays second base, which allows the Yankees to move Gleyber Torres to shortstop until Didi returns from his Tommy John surgery. Kipnis won’t hit for average (he hit .230 in 2018 and is a career .263 hitter), but he could hit for power in the Bronx (he hit 18 home runs in 2018 with Cleveland) and could benefit from the short porch in right field. Kipnis takes his walks, his OBP is almost 100 points higher than his batting average, and his defense is still considered, at the very least, average at second base. Kipnis has also dabbled in center field (14 appearances in 2018) which adds a bit of versatility and flexibility to his resume for the Yankees.

You would think that adding the contract of Kipnis would bring the asking price from the Cleveland Indians down, which may allow the Yankees to keep the “untouchable” Estevan Florial while still acquiring the ace that they so desperately need and want. Jonathan Loasiga/Albert Abreu, plus, plus, for Kluber/Carrasco/Bauer and Kipnis and his salary is definitely a possibility, assuming the accuracy of the report from Buster Olney.

Make it happen, Cashman.

MLB Pipeline's Top 10 Yankees Prospects

Luis Medina

Most notably... no Chance Adams. Ouch.

OF Estevan Florial RHP Jonathan Loaisiga RHP Albert Abreu RHP Domingo Acevedo C Anthony Seigler RHP Clarke Schmidt RHP Trevor Stephan RHP Luis Medina RHP Matt Sauer RHP Garrett Whitlock

Predicting the Yankees 2018 September Call Ups

Tomorrow marks the end of August and the August 31^st trade deadline, but it also marks the beginning of the month of September and the subsequent September call ups that we will see around Major League Baseball. Who will the Yankees call up on September 1^st and throughout the month of September? Let’s take a stab at predicting it.

Justus Sheffield will be in the Yankees bullpen in September. All signs point to it and Aaron Boone himself said it would happen, so you can count on it. Sheffield has posted a 2.55 ERA across Double-A and Triple-A this season in 112.2 innings pitched and he needs a 40-man roster spot anyway to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft after the 2018 season, may as well take the plunge now. Bye, AJ Cole.

The entire 40-man roster is eligible to be called up too which, assuming health, includes:

Tyler Wade, Clint Frazier, Jonathan Loaisiga, Luis Cessa, Ryan Bollinger, Domingo German, Chance Adams, Albert Abreu, and Thairo Estrada.

Remember that Gary Sanchez will likely be back in September as well as Aaron Judge, Didi Gregorius and Aroldis Chapman. Fingers crossed.

Top 20 Yankees Prospects Pre-August 31st Trade Deadline

Roansy Contreras - Photo credit Pinstriped Prospects

The countdown is on as the August 31^st trading deadline is now less than two weeks away. Will the Yankees make a significant move? Who will be this year’s Justin Verlander? Will the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners add more pieces? So many questions and not enough answers. Here is an even better question, will the Yankees trade any more notable prospects before the trading deadline? And if so, who are those notable prospects? Again, more unanswered questions, but I think I can help with the last question. Here are my Top 20 Yankees prospects before the August 31^st trading deadline. Enjoy.

(1)    Justus Sheffield

(2)    Estevan Florial

(3)    Jonathan Loaisiga

(4)    Albert Abreu

(5)    Domingo Acevedo

(6)    Anthony Seigler

(7)    Clarke Schmidt

(8)    Trevor Stephan

(9)    Luis Medina

(10) Matt Sauer

(11) Everson Pereira

(12) Thairo Estrada

(13) Garrett Whitlock

(14) Deivi Garcia

(15) Chance Adams

(16) Domingo German

(17) Josh Breaux

(18) Michael King (not a popular opinion, and I am okay with that)

(19) Ryder Green

(20) Roansy Contreras

Hey Cash, Omar's on Line 1...

‘Tis the Season to Make Trades…

I have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of July and the excitement of the non-waiver trading deadline at the end of the month. It’s my favorite time of the year except for when the Yankees are playing in the Fall Classic. We know that GM Brian Cashman has openly talked about adding starting pitching since last winter. Yet, admittedly, I am starting to feel like a bit of a prospect-hugger. 

I’ve seen the names of Cole Hamels and J.A. Happ and have dreamed what they might look like in Pinstripes, but the more I think about it, the more I think they are not worth the price of admission.

Here are the top ten Yankees prospects according to MLB.com:

Outfielder Estevan Florial

LHP Justus Sheffield

RHP Albert Abreu

RHP Chance Adams

RHP Luis Medina

RHP Freicer Perez

RHP Domingo Acevedo

SS/2B Thairo Estrada

RHP Dillon Tate

RHP Matt Sauer

Perez is out for the year after surgery last month to clean up bone spurs in his right shoulder, but I know the Yankees are very high on him.  There’s not a name that I would want to sacrifice for a “rental”. I would absolutely hate to see the Yankees send someone like Albert Abreu to Toronto for a couple of months of J.A. Happ. Happ is not going to be a difference-maker in October and Abreu has the potential to haunt the Yankees for years.  That’s not worth it to me. 

If the Yankees are going to send talented, high-ranked prospects out of the organization, it needs to be for frontline players. I know it’s unlikely the Yankees will pry Jacob deGrom from the New York Mets, but that’s how high the Yankees need to set their sights.  Otherwise, we’re just throwing talent away. 

I think the Yankees will have another starting pitcher by the end of the month, but I hope that it’s not an overpay situation. I would like to see an upgrade for Chasen Shreve’s spot in the bullpen even if the pitcher’s last couple of outings have been decent.  I am sure that Cashman is burning the midnight oil and is making daily phone calls to his buddies around both leagues. My hope is that he surprises us with a significant upgrade. He has done it before and there’s no reason he can’t do it again.  He has 26 days counting today. No pressure, Cash, the eyes of the Yankees Universe are upon you. 

The Boston Red Sox are rumored to be looking at Tampa Bay’s Nathan Eovaldi. I wouldn’t really want Nasty Nate back in Pinstripes but I can’t say that I’d be too excited to see him in Boston. I’d rather see him go someplace like Atlanta if he is moved as expected. 

It’s sounding increasingly like the Baltimore Orioles will trade Manny Machado. There’s no real chance the Yankees are in play nor should they be. He’s another player that I’d hate to see end up in Boston, although I don’t think the Red Sox have the prospects to entice the O’s to trade within the division (or least I hope hot).  For the sake of the Los Angeles Dodgers, I hope Machado does not go to Brandon Drury’s old team, the Arizona Diamondbacks. I’ve heard the Philadelphia Phillies mentioned but I think the Philly market is too close to Baltimore. It would be hard for the Angelos family to watch Manny thrive in the Delaware Valley. The St Louis Cardinals make perfect sense to me as a possible destination. Last off-season, it felt like Manny would be an eventual Yankee but now I am not so sure. There’s also a chance that Manny goes someplace that he really likes and decides to stay for his next contract (like the NBA’s Paul George just did in opting to stay with the Oklahoma City Thunder after it had been rumored for months, even years, that the Palmdale, CA native was destined to play for the Los Angeles Lakers). I am a little miffed about George although I have my new LeBron James shirt to pacify me. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers failure to sign their first round pick in the recent MLB Draft showed me how fortunate the Yankees were to lock up young high school catcher Anthony Seigler. Prior to the draft, Seigler had committed and signed to play for the University of Florida. He bypassed that opportunity when he signed with the Yankees, and admittedly, it was a huge sacrifice on his part despite the dollars he received from the Yankees. There are no guarantees that he’ll make the Major Leagues but a college education is forever. It’s always a wakeup call for how much these guys sacrifice to play the game we all love. So very few ever make the millions and millions that await guys like Machado and Bryce Harper. For the Dodgers, they lost J.T. Ginn, a hard-throwing high school pitcher from Mississippi who announced that he’ll attend Mississippi State instead of signing with the them. The Dodgers had taken Ginn with the 30^th pick in last month’s draft. They also lost another first-rounder four years ago when Louisville pitcher Kyle Funkhouser opted to stay in school for an additional year. You certainly cannot blame these young men for trying to better their lives as they see fit. But conversely, it underscores the risk of trying to sign young players. I wish everyone who tried could succeed but unfortunately life doesn’t work that way and there are not enough opportunities to go around. So, we make the best we can do, one day at a time. 

As expected, infielder Tyler Wade will be promoted to the active roster today to replace Gleyber Torres who was placed on the 10-day DL on Wednesday. I had been quietly hoping for the promotion of Clint Frazier but the presence of Wade makes more sense in terms of roster makeup. I’d really prefer to see Wade and Brandon Drury get the opportunities at second over Neil Walker. Walker remains my preferred DFA candidate. After it had been announced that Wade would be called up before today’s game in Toronto, all Clint Frazier did was hit two home runs and drive in four runs in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s 9-6 win over the Buffalo Bisons. Clint, we miss you.

Lastly, Jon Paul Morosi wrote on MLB.com earlier today that the Yankees have considered trading for Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas with the intent to play him at first base. Nothing against Moose Tacos. I like him well enough but he has less experience at first base than Brandon Drury. I remain hopeful that Greg Bird will start hitting like we know he can. If he does, Moustakas is better off going to Atlanta. If there is any truth to the rumor, I guess it at least shows that Brian Cashman is thinking outside the box.

After a day of no Yankees baseball, our team will soon take the field against at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario. It’s a wonderful day for a Yankees win. Oh crap, Sonny Gray is on the mound. On the bright side, at least the game is not being played at Yankee Stadium. Time for #55 to start showing us he is a reliable part of the rotation.

Go Yankees!

Yankees Top Prospects List Post 2018 MLB Draft

The New York Yankees added a ton of depth and pitching to an already budding farm system through the draft and the future is bright once again here in the Bronx. Even with the graduation from prospect’s status of both Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres the Yankees farm system is still loaded with young talent on the cusp of making an impact, many of which are listed here on my post-2018 MLB Draft top Yankees prospects list. Enjoy!

1.       Estevan Florial

2.       Justus Sheffield

3.       Albert Abreu

4.       Chance Adams

5.       Luis Medina

6.       Jonathan Loaisiga

7.       Domingo German

8.       Anthony Seigler

9.       Dillon Tate

10.   Freicer Perez

11.   Thairo Estrada

12.   Domingo Acevedo

13.   Billy McKinney

14.   Matt Sauer

15.   Trevor Stephan

This was genuinely hard to do, and that is the best problem to have. Having a top arm like Domingo Acevedo ranked 12^th, only because of how far away he is from the majors and having an MLB-ready outfielder like Billy McKinney 13^th is just a gluttony of talent. The team is still loaded, even after losing Gleyber and Andujar on their prospects list, and will be, if Yankees GM Brian Cashman can navigate the coming trade seasons and offseason well, for the foreseeable future.

Predicting the 2018 MLB Trade Deadline: Yankees Prospects

The New York Yankees have one of the best farm systems in all of Major League Baseball, which is a huge reason why the team has been so successful at the Major League level not only in 2018, but in 2017 as well. Rookies have burst onto the scene like Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Luis Severino, Gleyber Torres, Miguel Andujar and others, but the scariest part of the whole ordeal is for other teams is that there is another wave of Baby Bombers even behind this core of players. Some of these players may be trade bait at the July 31^st trade deadline and some may not, let’s decipher which prospects should be untouchable during this hot stove season and which the Yankees and Brian Cashman should explore trades with to bolster their potential World Series run.

The list of untouchables prospects should be obvious to any Yankees fan that follows their farm system. Torres and Andujar will not be moved, not for Jacob deGrom, not for Noah Syndergaard, and not for Madison Bumgarner. Not for anyone. Those are the obvious players, but if I were Brian Cashman I would also add RHP Albert Abreu, LHP Justus Sheffield and OF Clint Frazier to that list. I know many have clamored for Frazier to be traded for starting pitching but with the impending free agency of Brett Gardner and another prospect we will touch on later, Estevan Florial, so far away I would not feel comfortable moving Frazier unless the deal was just too good to pass up.

Florial is now the team’s top prospect with the promotion of Torres from prospects status, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t move him in the right deal. Would I trade Florial for a rental player? Absolutely not, no, but with no spot open in the foreseeable future in the outfield would I trade him for a young stud like Jacob deGrom? As much as it pains me to say, especially since I would have to watch Florial potentially flourish with that other New York team, I have to say that I would. I would include him in a deal for Noah Syndergaard also, but I may balk at the idea of acquiring Steven Matz using the team’s top and best prospect.

Thairo Estrada is another talented Yankees prospect that just has too many good, young options in front of him to really have a place to play here in New York at the Major League level. Estrada, currently in Triple-A Scranton, is 22-years old and has experience at second base (blocked by Torres), shortstop (blocked by Didi Gregorius) and third base (blocked by Andujar and Brandon Drury), and is ranked as the Yankees 8^th best prospect according to MLB.com. If a deal for a starter became available, I have to say I would feel very comfortable in moving him from a position of strength to fill a need.

If I will trade Florial because of no immediate openings in the Yankees outfield you have to think it would make sense to also trade Billy McKinney in the right deal, no? McKinney is Major League ready now and is simply in Triple-A due to the talent logjam that the Yankees are experiencing right now here in the Bronx. If the Yankees could acquire the missing piece they need for a deep October run, maybe a starting pitcher for example, and it came at the expense of McKinney, I would totally be okay with that.

Tyler Wade is a lot like Thairo Estrada in a way. He is young and versatile, but he is sitting in Triple-A because the Yankees simply have too many good options and not enough positions to play them all at. Wade has struggled in both his looks at the Major League level, but he could provide serviceable production to another MLB team, especially a National League team, due to his defensive versatility.

Pinstriped Prospects

The final prospect that I would be okay with moving is RHP Chance Adams. I know I have been beating the drum for Adams for what feels like forever now, and don’t get me wrong I am still high on the guy, but lately I have been accused of being loyal to a fault with the young right-hander. Adams has struggled with his command and control at the Triple-A level after tearing up the lower levels of the minor league system. At the time of this writing Adams had posted a 2-2 record with a 4.96 ERA in Triple-A which has left many scouts to wonder if he could handle pitching on such a huge stage like New York and Yankee Stadium. It has to show you something when Jonathan Loaisiga is making starts in the Bronx right now and not Adams, the team has lost their confidence in him and a trade may be what is best for not only the team, but for Adams as well.

I want to say that making such a post like this is hard for me. As a self-proclaimed “prospect humper” I want to personally hold onto all of the Yankees prospects. That mentality has gotten the Yankees into the situation they are in now, and don’t get me wrong it is a great position to be in, where they have too many great players and not enough positions to play them all in. The Yankees farm system is deep, and they can sustain trading away one or two big pieces for the missing piece to their World Series puzzle in 2018. With the farm system restocked once again with a nice draft and the international free agent signing period opening up in less than two weeks New York should strike while the iron is hot. I am not saying to make a deal just for the sake of making a deal, but I am saying if there is a piece out there that’s available and fits Brian Cashman’s idea of a fair price, I am saying to make the deal and figure out the rest later.

The Possibilities Are... Nearly... Endless.

This one goes out to Scott...

The Yankees should trade for Chris Archer.

He'd look great in pinstripes, wouldn't he?

With that said, I don't believe the Yankees will strike a deal with Tampa to acquire Archer. It's not that we wouldn't be able to put together a package of players good enough to do so, I just don't see a deal that big happening between division opponents.

I had the same thought when there was talk of Baltimore trading Manny Machado during the offseason.

Even though I highly doubt either the Rays nor Orioles will compete for the AL East crown this season, I'm sure there are teams outside of the division... heck, outside of the American League... that could put a package of players together impressive enough to deal for Archer.

So while I don't believe the Yankees and Rays will get together and make a deal involving Chris Archer, I'm 99.9% certain that before August roles around the Yankees will trade for a big-time starter.

You remember when the Yankees dealt for Sonny Gray last season? Yeah... what's to come will be bigger than that.

One name that's been throw out there a bunch of times is Cole Hamels. The club option on Hamels' contract could become guaranteed, however he'd not only have to avoid the disabled list with either shoulder or elbow trouble at the end of the season, Cole would also have to throw 252 innings as well. Yeah... that's not happening. So knowing that Texas is unlikely to be a contender in a division including the Astros and Angels, and Cole's contract ends after this season, dealing away Hamels is almost a certainty.

But if what we've seen from Brian Cashman recently holds true, he's not going to trade away good to great prospects to rent a player for half a season. Brian is going to trade for somebody as good as Cole, if not better, who is also under team control for at least another year.

Let's start by looking at a list of players that could be traded...

Gleyber Torres - Honestly, I find this unlikely. Neil Walker was only signed for one year, so Torres still has a path to MLB for next season. But keep in mind that the possibility isn't zero.

Justus Sheffield - Another unlikely option, but an option none-the-less. The guy the Yankees trade for may very well be the pitcher some envision Sheffield could become. The only difference is the guy the Yankees trade for would be a year or two ahead of Justus, and already getting it done in the big leagues.

Miguel Andujar - I can see the Yankees extending the 28 year-old Didi Gregorius for two to three more years, locking up shortstop through the 2021 season. Add Gregorius with Brandon Drury (not a free agent until after the 2021 season), Gleyber Torres, and Tyler Wade, and that doesn't leave a clear spot for Miguel to get promoted into. Plus there's another guy, but I'll talk about him in a moment.

Estevan Florial - Another player I don't believe Cashman wants to part with, as he could be the heir apparent to center field and the leadoff spot in the lineup, but a possibility still. After all, Estevan may only play part of this season above A ball. And being that far away from Major League Baseball means he's far from a sure bet.

Chance Adams and Dillon Tate - While they aren't as highly touted as Justus Sheffield, both of these guys have high value, especially thanks to them being ready to step into a MLB starting rotation this year or next. And with Sheffield and the next guy I'm going to list around, neither man seems to have a clear path to a starting gig with the Yankees.

Albert Abreu - Albert may be two to three years away from the Majors, possibly making his loss more palatable than pitchers like Adams, Sheffield, and Tate. But a team looking to compete in two to three years would love to have a pitching prospect the caliber of Abreu.

Tyler Wade - Wade has shown during Spring Training that he's ready to start at the MLB level right now. Unfortunately that is unlikely to happen, at least regularly, on Opening Day. And it may never happen with the Yankees thanks to Gregorius, Drury, Walker, and Torres. Even a spot on the bench isn't certain due to Ronald Torreyes.

Thairo Estrada - There are many people, both in the organization and it's fanbase, that would hate to see Estrada dealt away. But he's in a similar situation as Tyler Wade... he has no clear spot to be promoted into.

The only two players out of those I just listed that are likely to still be with the organization after the trade deadline are Torres and Sheffield. No... they won't be the only ones, it's just that the other six could be elsewhere.

And let's not forget that Brian Cashman may absolutely love Manny Machado (the guy I was referring to when speaking of Miguel Andujar), and has already put together a contract to offer Manny as soon as Game 7 of the World Series is over with.

The point is the Yankees can very easily put together a package of players that can't be matched. The Padres, White Sox, and Braves systems may be better, but they don't have a young core like the Yankees have with Judge, Sanchez, Bird, and Severino. Oh, and they don't have a Giancarlo Stanton, either. So, unlike the Yankees, those other teams need to keep some of the big prospects they have.

Oh... and money. Those other three teams don't have the ability to buy players like the Yankees do.

So you may be able to cross off great young pitchers from contenders like the Red Sox, Indians, Astros, Nationals, Cubs, and Dodgers. And you can probably cross off great young starters from the rest of the teams in the American League East. But it's likely that any other pitcher in Major League Baseball is in play.

Anyone.

So I'm not going to give you a list of targets, because the fact is that list is way too large. Just imagine a great young starter from any team not listed above, and smile because they could be on their way to the Bronx soon.