A Lump of Cole Only Goes So Far...

 

Wanted: Elite Starting Pitching…

I seriously doubt the New York Yankees took an ‘all or nothing’ approach with their failed pursuit of Japanese RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but as the calendar prepares to turn to 2024, we have yet to see Plan B unfold. Most Yankees fans, at least those on X (formerly known as Twitter), seem to prefer a trade for Dylan Cease or Corbin Burnes. No trades appear imminent so the fanbase continues to wait.

The Yankees are a better team today than they were when the 2023 regular season ended for no other reason than they have added one of the greatest young offensive talents in the game to their roster. But for as great as Juan Soto is and can be, he alone does not convert an 82-win team into a World Series championship contender. Soto helped his 2023 teammates, the San Diego Padres, to the exact same record as the Yankees, 82-80. Granted, there were many reasons why the Padres failed, and Soto was not a reason, but the point is the Yankees need to do more than add Soto to the roster. The Yankees are weaker in other areas because of the Soto trade. They lost a valuable bullpen member who had the potential to be an upper-end rotation starter and a dependable, proven backup catcher with elite framing skills and some occasional pop. While you would trade Michael King for Juan Soto any day of the week, King will be missed. The best replacement, today, is faith that Luis Gil can be a trusted reliever after missing several years due to injury or hope pitching prospects Will Warren, Chase Hampton, or Clayton Beeter can emerge.

Will Warren (Photo Credit: Somerset Patriots)

My fear is the Yankees enter the 2024 season with the same hope as 2023, that Carlos Rodón can be an elite starter behind the great Gerrit Cole. After his miserable 2023 season, expectations for Rodón should be lowered. With the questions surrounding Nestor Cortes, Jr, there is too much uncertainty wrapped up into two spots in the starting rotation. The Yankees need certainty, consistency, and strength in the other three rotation spots. Cole nails the top spot without question. Clarke Schmidt can be a dependable fifth starter as he continues his growth curve. This leaves a clear need for a strong second starter behind Cole.

I am not losing any sleep over missing out on free agent RHP Lucas Giolito who has signed with the Boston Red Sox. It was not that long ago when Yankees fans were salivating at the thought of acquiring Giolito, but the homer-prone pitcher was dreadful after his trade deadline acquisition by the Los Angeles Angels last year which led to his release, and he continued the downfall in Cleveland to end the season. Maybe Giolito can rediscover his touch, he is only twenty-nine after all, but that is a risk I would rather see the Red Sox take than the Yankees.

Frankie Montas, who many thought would re-sign with the Yankees, is no longer an option. He has signed a one-year, $16 million contract with the Reds, taking the Sonny Gray path to redemption via the road through Cincinnati. Sonny has a nice contract with the St Louis Cardinals by taking that route. Maybe it will work out for Montas too. The Montas trade will forever rank as one of Brian Cashman’s worst, although he continues to add to the worst collection every chance he gets.

I am not convinced the Milwaukee Brewers will trade Corbin Burnes. Some reports indicate they intend to contend in 2024 under new manager Pat Murphy and will be looking to build rather than sell. The team needs to instill confidence in its fanbase after the disruptive departures of former President of Baseball Operations David Stearns, who took the same position with the New York Mets, and former manager Craig Counsell, a hometown favorite, who has moved on to the Chicago Cubs. Trading the best-starting pitcher on the team would not help restore the fans’ confidence in the team.

Free agent Jordan Montgomery continues to rate as the best possible pickup through free agency. James Paxton is still a free agent, but health-challenged pitchers are not a smart bet when you are currently carrying too many as it is. I would like to see the return of Montgomery but how much of an overpay is too much? This much is certain…Monty will get more money than he is worth. The pitching contracts handed out this winter have ensured it will happen. Monty brings the necessary stability the starting rotation sorely lacks. Two years ago, we debated whether he deserved a start in the playoffs and now he would be asked to shoulder the load behind Cole. Montgomery does feel a little like “been there, done that” but I was disappointed when he was traded. I did not want to see him go then even if the Yankees filled a need by acquiring centerfielder Harrison Bader. He has shown growth since his departure from Pinstripes, and it would be nice to capture the new and improved version of the tall lefthander. He loved his time as a Yankee so if the two parties can agree on the money, I am sure any old rifts between the organization and the player will be cured.

Jordan Montgomery

There was a surprising pitching trade today. The Boston Red Sox, a day after signing Luis Giolito, have traded their former ace, Chris Sale, to the Atlanta Braves for infielder Vaughn Grissom. As much as I always wanted to beat Sale, I am sorry that injuries have derailed him in the last few years. I always subscribe to the belief that to be the best, you must beat the best, so a healthy Chris Sale was always better than the alternative. At least he goes to Atlanta where he no longer must be “the guy.”  Spencer Strider has that title. I would like to see Sale return to prominence. I have no desire to see the Braves win a championship, however, it would be good for baseball if Sale became a feared competitor again.

Even though other teams are taking chances with starting pitching, the Yankees can ill afford to go that route. They need certainty and strength if they intend to show they can be one of the American League’s best teams in 2024. I know, playoffs are a crap shoot. But it helps when you have pitchers who can deal. When October rolls around, good pitching beats good hitting. Bad pitching paves the way for early exits, assuming you can even get that far.

The Yankees still have time to upgrade their rotation. It may be less than two months before the team arrives at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, yet there is time. The worst thing the Yankees can do is to do nothing. Hopefully, they will be better than that.

Yankees on the Move

The Isiah Kiner-Falefa Era has ended. I feel bad for him. There was too much pressure placed on him as the starting shortstop in 2022. The Yankees' decision to pass on elite free agent shortstops, particularly Corey Seager who seemed like such a great fit for Yankee Stadium, was a mistake regardless of how you feel about Anthony Volpe. The Yankees fanbase turned hard on IKF and it was not fair. It was not his fault the Yankees chose to make him the starting shortstop. The Yankees knew the flaws like we did. IKF rebounded in 2023 to show that he could be a reliable super-sub, even toiling time in the outfield which had previously been foreign territory for him. He handled his various roles with grace and helped to build support within the fanbase. I would have liked it if the Yankees had signed him to a new deal to continue his super-sub role. Instead, IKF will head north of the border to play for the Toronto Blue Jays where he will most likely see more time at third base which seems more like his natural position even if he does not have the necessary bat for a corner infielder.

Good for him. I would have preferred it if he had left the division (or the league). However, I have no ill will toward the player, and I would never boo him at Yankee Stadium. I will always remember IKF as being placed in an impossible situation by the Yankees, and his perseverance to make the best of a challenging predicament. He never deserved the wrath of the Yankees fans. He loved the Yankees as a kid, and he was thrilled to put on the Pinstripes. He never wanted to fail. He just needed to be placed in the best position to win.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa

The Estevan Florial Story finally ended for the Yankees when they traded him to Cleveland for RHP Cody Morris. It is funny that both players carry the label “once-promising” but it is a good opportunity for both to start over with new organizations. The fact the Yankees got anything of value for Florial is a plus since any team could have had him for a simple waiver claim last year. Morris made six relief appearances for the Guardians last season, posting a 6.75 ERA after yielding six earned runs in eight innings of work, but spent most of the season in the minors. There is hope Morris, 27, might see a rebound under the tutelage of Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake. The two are familiar with each other from their days together in the Guardians organization. Morris has the potential to either be a fifth starter or a reliever. Who knows, maybe he can be 2024’s Ian Hamilton.

I hope Florial gets a legitimate opportunity in Cleveland. I have no love for Myles Straw, and it would be tremendous to see Straw get supplanted in center field by Florial. If Florial cannot wrest a starting position among the outfielders, he will hopefully contribute off the bench. While I am generally not too fond of ex-Yankees, there are some I root for and Florial will be among them. At least he did not go to another AL East team.

Lame Duck Manager

Aaron Boone will enter the 2024 season in the last year of his contract. There is a club option for 2025 but to the best of my knowledge, it has not (yet) been picked up. Normally, I would prefer to see the team’s manager receive a new contract to avoid the lame duck status, but Boone warrants special consideration as a lame duck.

Aaron Boone (Photo Credit: Carlos Osorio/AP)

If the Yankees underperform in 2024, there is no reason the club should exercise its option for 2025. It will be time to find a new skipper. 2024 will be a critical year for the organization. As it sits today, Juan Soto is a one-year Yankee who will be moving on to greener pastures in 2025 unless the Yankees can convince him to stay. Boone has a solid rep as a player’s manager so his relationship with Soto could go a long way toward determining the Yankees' fate for both. Money will obviously be the key determinant for Soto as he is expected to break the $500 million barrier (void of the 98% deferrals contained in Shohei Ohtani’s contract). Yet, his relationship with the Yankees, the front office, the players, the manager, and the fans, will play a role. If Soto is convinced that he wants to be a Yankee and the money is close, the advantage will go to the Yankees.

If the Yankees run out another 82-80 season and Boone is dismissed after the season, it seems more likely that Soto will move on. So, I have to say that I have mixed feelings about Boone. I like the guy personally, and I do appreciate the support of his players. His decision-making skills are questionable at times, but I am hopeful that new bench coach Brad Ausmus can help. I have always wanted an experienced Major League manager to sit next to Boone, and this is the first time in his Yankees managerial career that it has happened.

Nevertheless, the Yankees should wait to make any decisions about the future of Aaron Boone as manager until AFTER the season has ended. I am totally in favor of an extension for Soto in advance of the season, if agent Scott Boras will allow it, but Boone is clearly in the hot seat and must prove that he deserves his next extension. Two years into the current extension has not yielded that determination.

It is about time to close the book in 2023 and start the new story of 2024. Happy New Year to the Yankees, its players, and all the fans! It is time to bring in a championship year!

As always, Go Yankees!

The March to the End...

 

Oswald Peraza (Photo Credit: NY Daily News)

 The Yankees making Games fun again…

For as dismal as this season has been, the Yankees have been fun to watch again for the first time in a long time. ‘Let the kids play’ was a common rally cry by the fanbase earlier in the season, and now that it has happened, the team is surprisingly making winning look easy. 

I know, winning is never easy, but from perception, the team is far more competitive with the youthful core driving the team’s lackluster veterans (at least those healthy enough to play).

The youth movement suffered a blow when Jasson Dominguez was lost due to injury, but the energy the other prospects have helped to bring to the team has not slowed it down. The injury to Dominguez, a torn ulnar collateral ligament that will require surgery, alters the team’s plans for 2024 as it will keep him off the field for the next 9-10 months. Jasson is set to have the surgery on Wednesday, and the Yankees should have a better idea of the expected recovery period after the surgery, but it seems improbable that he will be back until late next season.

Jasson Dominguez (Photo Credit: Adam Hunger/AP)

From a planning strategy viewpoint, Dominguez should not factor into the decisions for next season. If anything, I hope the injury helps to make the Yankees more aggressive this offseason to ensure the team can carry its late-season success into next year. The Yankees (75-73) currently lead the Boston Red Sox by two games in the all-important race to see which team avoids the AL East cellar. With the Yankees only six games out of the Wild Card chase, some fans are hanging on to the belief that there is a chance for October play. On September 17, with just a handful of games left, the Yankees are not going to make up the ground on the two teams they need to pass, the Toronto Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners. Since ending the nine-game losing streak on August 23, the Yankees are 16-8. I know the Yankees have six games remaining against the Blue Jays, but the odds of sweeping the Blue Jays both at home and in Toronto are low and there are simply not enough games left to make up the necessary ground. I get that as a fan we must believe until the end but as a realist, the towel has been thrown. Even if Yogi Berra once said, “it ain’t over ‘til it’s over”, this season is over. 

My goals are modest. Stay out of the AL East cellar and keep the consecutive winning season streak intact. I certainly would not complain if the Blue Jays and Mariners stopped winning games, and the Yankees leaped them to grab the last Wild Card slot, but realistically, the deck is stacked against the Yankees. With fourteen games left in the season, there is simply not enough time. The Yankees would need to be unbeatable with the Jays and Mariners unable to muster any wins.

Dominguez was the most impressive of the prospects when the Yankees decided to go young, but since he has been out, Oswald Peraza is the one showing he should have a place on next year’s team. His bat is finally starting to come around, and no one is missing Josh Donaldson’s elite glove at third base. Peraza has quietly held his own and is doing the things to help the team win. I am not saying he should be handed the third base job next season. Those are decisions the Yankees must make this offseason, but Peraza has put himself in the conversation. 

Catcher Austin Wells may not be hitting (he is currently batting .118/.162/.176 with .339 OPS and, -7 OPS+…oof!), but he has played much better behind the plate than most people expected. I am not worried about the bat. It may not be this year, but Wells WILL hit Major League pitching. It is only a matter of time until he figures it out, and then he will be an offensive force. The state of catching is in good hands. The Yankees will have a tough decision to make with Kyle Higashioka, a well-liked player, who is strong defensively and shows occasional pop. Higgy is surprisingly 33 years old already, and he enters his final year of arbitration this Fall. He seems a likely non-tender candidate if the Yankees decide to go with Wells to pair with Jose Trevino, who is expected to be ready by Spring Training. With Ben Rortvedt in ready reserve, it seems Higgy is the most probable to go. Wells can help solidify the decision if his bat starts to show some life in the next couple of weeks. 

Austin Wells (Photo Credit: AP)

I think my excitement for Everson Pereira has cooled. He has stuck out 31 times in 70 at-bats, pouring cold water on the belief that he had been making progress in reducing his strikeout rate in the minors. Unlike Wells, I am not sure if Pereira’s bat can improve to become a Major League force. He seems like the prospect most likely to receive the Estevan Florial treatment next season (banishment to Triple-A until there are no other options for the team). Even though Florial is currently the starting centerfielder for the Yankees by default, I do not expect his return next season. I think the Yankees will be moving on from him. There are other prospects that need to be protected from Rule 5 Draft eligibility, and the Yankees have shown they do not have long-term confidence in Florial. I would be surprised if Pereira and/or Florial broke camp with the Yankees next Spring.

Like the seasons before it, the Yankees will enter the offseason in need of a legitimate answer for left field, in addition to other needs. 

Not really trying to dive into plans for next year’s rebuild, but the Yankees should not let the overall positive play of the younger players deter them from making hard decisions this offseason. The one note I will make for next season is the hope the Yankees can find a way to offload Giancarlo Stanton even if they must eat part of his contract. “If” is foolish to say, it is a certainty they will have to pay part of the contract to move him. The cost of doing business. The question is whether the Yankees can find a taker.  Stanton also has a say in whether he goes, so it becomes a matter of finding a willing trade partner that is also appealing to Stanton. Southern CA probably holds the most attraction for him. Yet, the Padres seem like an unlikely option with the hefty contracts on their books, and the Angels are a mess. Do the Dodgers need Stanton? They just won the NL West for the tenth time in the last eleven years and are probably not motivated to take a chance on an aging slugger, especially with their sights on Shohei Ohtani. San Francisco was once interested in Stanton, but he was a much younger player then. It seems like the Yankees are stuck with Stanton for the long haul, but I will hold out some sense of optimism that the Yankees can find a way to move on. I like Stanton and have long admired his ability to murder baseballs. However, at this stage of his career, he seems like a detriment to a rebuilding team. A team that needs a “quick” rebuild like the Yankees. Stanton could probably find better success on a smaller stage. Not to say he cannot handle the big stage. He has always been a stand-up guy and I do not feel New York has intimidated him. Yet, playing for a team with lesser expectations could help Stanton in the long run. 

I am not trying to pour cold water on the Yankees better play in recent weeks. My outlook or perception has improved considerably from where it stood in August. Next season was looking rather gloomy, but rays of sunlight are starting to appear thanks to the energy and excitement of the younger players. The big challenge will be the offseason. Whether Brian Cashman is the general manager or not, the Yankees face their biggest offseason challenge in years. Whatever they do, the Yankees need to trust their farm system which seems to be getting stronger by the day. The days of acquiring aging third basemen with behemoth contracts should be in the rear-view mirror. Building for today with an eye for tomorrow has served the Dodgers well.  The Yankees should take note. 

Misiewicz Injury

It was horrifying to see Yankees reliever Anthony Misiewicz take a line drive off his head during Friday night’s game against the Pirates. The ball, hit by Pittsburgh’s Ju Hwan Bae, was traveling at 100.6 mph. Thankfully, Misiewicz was able to get up on his own feet before being carted off the field. He has been released from the hospital after being treated for a concussion. Head injuries can never be taken lightly, but I am hopeful his positive attitude and determined drive help will lead him to a full recovery.

Anthony Misiewicz carted off the field (Photo Credit: Gene J Puskar/AP)

The Yankees placed Misiewicz on the 7-day concussion injured list. I am hopeful he can return to the field this season; however, his health is the paramount concern so I hope to see him again when he is ready regardless of when that may be. 

Shohei Ohtani Out

Earlier this season, it looked like Shohei Ohtani might make a run at Aaron Judge’s AL Home Run Record of 62 home runs. Now, it becomes a question of whether he has played his last game as a member of the Los Angeles Angels. A UCL tear in August had shut down Ohtani, the pitcher. However, he remained on the team as a batter. Unfortunately, less than two weeks later, Ohtani had injured his oblique during batting practice. Continued oblique irritation finally led to the decision for Ohtani to halt his 2023 campaign and begin the necessary work for 2024 which will start with the elbow procedure. He cleared out his locker on Friday which gave the first signal that his season was done. 

Ohtani finishes the year with 44 home runs and 95 RBIs. He hit .304/.412/.654 with 1.066 OPS. Despite the injuries, the free-agent-to-be figures to capture a near-record contract in the upcoming offseason. I would have said ‘record contract’ but the injuries lessened the expectation if only slightly. 

Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani (Photo Credit: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

I do not harbor any belief the Yankees will sign him. I have mixed feelings about it, and the latest injuries certainly give pause to the belief he can continue his path as an elite two-way player. The day will come when he needs to focus on one or the other. That day may have already passed. I like Ohtani and I think he is fantastic for baseball. I hope he finds the right team next season. Well, anywhere outside of Boston.  I would be excited to see him in Pinstripes, I just do not think the Yankees will spend the dollars and, with so many other needs, they probably should not.  Personally, I would like to see him stay in the greater Los Angeles area to play for the Dodgers. 

As always, Go Yankees!

The Yankees in the Land of Mediocrity...

 

Aaron Boone, Anthony Rizzo, and Domingo German (Photo Credit: Winslow Townson/AP)

The team continues to look for a spark…

In a perfect world, the Yankees would be the AL’s elite team, running away from the competition, in preparation for a deep charge into October. All the team’s players would be happy, healthy, and productive. And the Boston Red Sox would be winless. Sadly, we do not live in a perfect world. 

Losing is never fun but losing to the Boston Red Sox hits harder.  The Red Sox may be the AL East’s resident cellar dweller, however, they showed they were nobody’s fool with Friday night’s 15-5 thrashing of our beloved Yankees.  It was one of those games where I felt like joining with the Red Sox fans as they chanted ‘Yankees Suck!’. The sting of the loss lingered more than it should have with the weather-related postponement of Saturday’s game. If there is any consolation, the Los Angeles Dodgers lost last night, 15-to-zero, to their hated rival, the San Francisco Giants. At least the Yankees managed to score a few runs. Hey, misery loves company!

July is less than two weeks away and the Yankees find themselves ten full games behind the Tampa Bay Rays. The Baltimore Orioles are four games up on the Yankees, and the Red Sox only trail the Yankees by four games. The Yankees (39-31) are as close to the division floor as they are to second place. I know the 1978 Yankees overcame a mid-July fourteen-game deficit to force a one-game playoff for the division championship en route to the World Series crown, yet this team does not feel like it has that magic. 

The Los Angeles Angels have beaten the Yankees to forty wins. Granted, they have played three more games than the Yankees and have two more losses, but they are only a half-game behind the Yankees in the Wild Card chase. I guess it is Shohei Ohtani’s revenge.

Aaron Judge’s absence has proven how much the team has depended upon him. The other big bats in the lineup have been largely silent, putting added pressure on the pitching staff.  It is tough going into games thinking that the pitchers need to hold the opponents to no more than three or four runs to give the offense a chance. How did we get here? I thought the Yankees were smarter than this. When I say Yankees in this case, I am referring to Brian Cashman, his high-paid consultants, the team of nerds, and the others responsible for the players on the field or rather, should I say, not on the field. 

Brian Cashman (Photo Credit: Dustin Satloss/Getty Images)

Aaron Judge has gone from just needing a few days to rest to possibly returning before the All-Star Break as the best-case scenario. It was reported this week that he received a second platelet-rich plasma injection in his right big toe. The injection was targeted at a different ligament than the first one he received. Fans love to say the Yankees will be a different (better) team when Judge is back, along with Carlos Rodón and Harrison Bader. I am not so sure. It seems like the 2023 Yankees are snake-bit.  Something new continually comes up to derail team momentum.  The Yankees are playing like the average team they are. 

I wish I could look at the Trade Deadline with optimism. I am doubtful the Yankees can add impactful players. They cannot trade the elite prospects without sacrificing the future. It is not prospect-hugging, it is fact.  The Yankees are getting older, and keeping healthy players on the field is continually a problem.

Estevan Florial is tearing up Triple-A with homers seemingly every day without promotion to The Show. He is hitting .311/.403/.646 (1.049 OPS) with 18 home runs, 44 runs batted in, and 13 stolen bases. It seems obvious the Yankees do not believe his Triple-A numbers would translate to Major League success. Maybe the Yankees hope to get some value for him in a July trade, but realistically, it was not that long ago when every team in the Major Leagues had a chance to claim Florial on waivers and passed. Last year’s trade deadline acquisitions (or rather misfires) leave me a little doubtful to believe the Yankees can find gems who push them into second-half success.

St Louis Cardinals outfielder Tyler O'Neill is the most recent rumored trade candidate I have seen. I know there is some comfort in having a player named O’Neill in the Yankee outfield (even if he is not related to The Warrior), but he is another outfielder with durability problems. O’Neill is on the 60-day Injured List (back) and is not expected to return until next month. Even if his back is pain-free, the Yankees do not need another player who loves riding the Injured List. The O’Neill rumors are most likely ones created by Cardinals fans, yet I would not put anything ‘senseless’ past Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman. The Cardinals generally fare well in their trades with the Yankees.

I am hoping for the best but braced for the worst. It is the current state of the New York Yankees.

Harrison Bader’s Return

There was some disappointment among the Yankees fan base when outfielder Harrison Bader was not activated off the Injured List before Friday night’s game against the Red Sox. I get his desire to be 100% before he resumes his role as the team’s starting centerfielder, however, it is frustrating that it is so difficult to keep him on the field. It reinforces the belief the Yankees should find a new centerfielder in the offseason. I like Bader, and when he is healthy, he is a fun player to have on the team.  Unfortunately, those times are too infrequent. He is not worth the money it would take to sign him to a new contract if he cannot stay on the field. 

Bader was one-for-four for the Somerset Patriots on Saturday, with two strikeouts. Well, at least his bat is in line with a few of the hitters on the current active Major League roster.

Harrison Bader

Bader is expected to be at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday when the Yankees open a three-game set with the Seattle Mariners. Hopefully, he stays healthy and can help the Yankees find wins. 

Well Wishes to Tanner Houck

We wish an expedient and full recovery for Boston Red Sox starter Tanner Houck who suffered a facial fracture when he was hit with a line drive off Kyle Higashioka’s bat in Friday night’s game. He was able to walk off the field, and he never lost consciousness. He is resting at home and will have follow-up evaluations this week to determine the next steps.

Tanner Houck (Photo Credit: Winslow Townson/AP)

You never want to see anyone get hurt. A hard-hit ball to the face is one of the worst things imaginable on the playing field, and it certainly could have been far more devastating than it was.

I am glad Tanner is doing better, and I hope he is back soon. 

And Finally

The Yankees and Red Sox play a doubleheader today at Fenway Park in Boston. Clarke Schmidt and Luis Severino are the scheduled starters for the Yankees. A sweep would go a long way toward erasing the memory of the Friday night disaster.  Josh Donaldson, please feel free to hit a meaningful home run for a change.

As always, Go Yankees! 

With Volpe, Patience is a Virtue...

 

Anthony Volpe (Photo Credit: AP)

Despite Anthony Volpe’s slow start, keep the faith…

A little more than a week into the 2023 season, the doomsayers among the Yankees fan base are out in full force. The Yankees, a notoriously slow-starting team (last year was an exception), are 4-3 after seven games, and three games behind the undefeated Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East…a half-game behind the Toronto Blue Jays. Anthony Volpe has started slowly and is bringing calls for his demotion to Triple-A.

A few things are true. The Rays will lose. Despite their strong start, I am convinced the Blue Jays to remain the greater threat. The Yankees will win more games than they lose…sitting at or near the top of the division in the coming months, and Anthony Volpe will emerge as a strong, exciting Major League player. 

Volpe’s typical entry into a new level was started slowly, only to see him emerge as a force. I expect the same at the game’s highest level. Through seven games and twenty-five plate appearances, Volpe is hitting .143/.280/.143 (.220 wOBA and 31 wRC+). Entering Spring Training, I thought Volpe would be headed to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to finish his development. His amazing Spring tore up the playbook, and he became a Major Leaguer at age 21. The Yankees committed to Volpe as the future of the team’s shortstop, and I do not feel they should pull the plug after a handful of games.

Although I do not have the stats to back it, it seems most top prospects struggle at first. Rare is the player who bursts upon the scene to become his team’s superstar player. Adley Rutschman of the Baltimore Orioles is quickly gaining recognition as the game’s greatest current active catcher, and if memory serves correctly, he started at a turtle’s pace when he was promoted to the Majors last May. Through seven games and thirty-one plate appearances, Rutschman had five hits, only one of which went for extra bases (a triple in his debut game). Not trying to compare Volpe to Rutschman other than just saying to be patient with young players.

It would be easy to say demote Volpe to Triple-A until he “gets it” but I think the Yankees have made their decision and they need to stick to the plan. Despite the slow offensive performance, Volpe has given me more confidence in the shortstop position than I had last year through his strong defensive play. It is fun to see the easy plays, in addition to the hard ones, made once again. The game will start to slow down for Volpe, and he WILL hit. We need to be patient. His speed has already shown us that once he does start hitting, he will be a game disruptor on the base paths. 

If there is a Yankee that I am down on after only seven games, it is Clarke Schmidt. I had hoped this would be Schmidt’s breakout season. He is 27, healthy, and a talented pitcher. However, he is unable to put away hitters, especially left-handed hitters. Lefties are batting .421/.500/.895 against him through two games. Small sample size, but “piece of Schmidt” is not exactly inspiring confidence when he takes the mound.  The season is young and there is time for Schmidt to step up, but with Luis Severino and Carlos Rodón starting to throw again, Schmidt is running out of time.  Granted, Sevy and Rodón are probably six weeks away, but it brings heightened urgency to Schmidt’s every start if he intends to hold his spot beyond the return of the injured starters.

Clarke Schmidt (Photo Credit: Terrance Williams/AP)

I am more excited about the return of Jhony Brito, who is scheduled to be today’s starter. Given he was just optioned to Triple-A five days ago, it appears that a pitcher will be placed on the Injured List to allow for Brito’s early return. My expectation is Michael King after his uninspiring season debut with reduced velocity. King needs more work before he is ready to become a force again. Unlike Volpe, King would benefit from time away. I want a healthy and strong Mike King for the summer and into the fall.  If that means coddling him now, so be it. As for Jhony B. Good, it seems unlikely he will be as dominant as he was against the San Francisco Giants when he pitched five scoreless innings and struck out six batters, surrendering just two hits. Yet, it seems he will be more productive than Schmidt, or at least I hope so. Another strong start by Brito could allow him to leapfrog Schmidt in the pecking order. Consistent quality starts, that is all we want. 

I am ready for the Yankees to move on from Aaron Hicks. Some players overstay their welcome, and Hicks is that guy. I have been ready for his departure for quite a while. His lack of opportunities lately seemingly implies the end may be near. Franchy Cordero received the right field assignment in Friday night’s game against the Orioles. Cordero, who hit a three-run homer against his former teammates, was pulled for a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning. Manager Aaron Boone preferred to go with the hitless Isiah Kiner-Falefa (.000/.000/.000 in four games before last night’s appearance) over Hicks. I am not a great fan of Hicks, but he would have been my choice in that spot. Given that Oswaldo Cabrera has been the more frequent starting left fielder, Hicks’ days appear to be numbered. I am not convinced Cordero is good enough to justify cutting Hicks, but it seems moves are imminent. 

The Yankees also have another roster decision to make today with the expected placement of Josh Donaldson on the Injured List. Oswald Peraza is the first player I think of, but he should not be promoted to sit on the bench. I would rather see Peraza play every day. Although I wanted Peraza as the starting shortstop when Spring Training opened, I would not be in favor of starting him over Volpe. Andrés Chapparo, as a third baseman, seems like a good fit to replace Donaldson, but unfortunately, his bat in Triple-A has been quieter than Volpe’s. 

Peraza and Everson Pereira (currently in Double-A) are the only two minor league position players on the 40-man roster. Anyone else will require a move to open a spot on the 40-man. First baseman Jake Bauers, a left-handed hitter, is the hottest offensive star for the RailRiders so far this season. Jesús Bastidas, 24, opened eyes during Spring Training, and his ability to play second, third and shortstop makes him an attractive player for promotion. He is the second-best hitter for the RailRiders behind Bauers. 

No doubt GM Brian Cashman and his team of nerds are hard at work while I type this post in preparation for today’s transactions. 4:05 PM Eastern will be here soon. Time is money, Cash!

The Unwanted Man

I thought it was the end of Estevan Haniel Florial’s Yankees career when he was designated for assignment earlier this month. I am not sure of his future, but he remains in the organization after clearing waivers and was outrighted to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. I thought some team would be willing to take a shot at the young former top prospect to see if they could catch lightning in a bottle.

Estevan Florial (Photo Credit: USATSI)

I guess it shows how far Florial has regressed. I have seen so many fans criticize the Yankees for not giving Florial more opportunities, yet every other team in Major League Baseball was unwilling to give him a spot on their active rosters. Maybe this is not a Yankees thing and Florial is just not good. 

Florial is a player I have always liked, and I have wanted him to succeed. However, I have concluded that if he eventually finds his way to the Major Leagues, it will not be with the Yankees. I would love for him to have an epiphany with his batting eye. While I hope for the best regarding his Yankee future, I expect the worst. It was truly with mixed feelings to see him clear waivers. Glad he is still in the organization (for now) but saddened he does not get the opportunity for a clean start elsewhere…if that makes any sense.

Hopefully, he can still find his way.

As always, Go Yankees!

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!

Yankees & the All-Star Injury List...

 

Carlos Rodón (Photo Credit: David J Phillip/AP)

Yankees player (insert name) will miss time…

In the famous words of Mad Magazine’s Alfred E. Neuman: What, Me Worry?

The Yankee injury news this week felt like a gut punch.

So much for my excitement to see Carlos Rodón make his home debut at Yankee Stadium in the regular season’s second game against his former teammates, the San Francisco Giants. GM Brian Cashman gave the somber news this week that Rodón will not be ready for Opening Day due to a brachioradialis strain in his multi-million dollar left arm.

He will not pitch for seven to ten days and will have to restart his season’s preparation, a process that will take at least six weeks. He should be ready by late April. As cold as it can be during the season’s first few weeks, Rodón gets a pass on the fickle New York weather. This could have been worse news. Rodón had Tommy John surgery in 2019, but fortunately, his ulnar collateral ligament is strong. The fear, of course, is that the forearm strain could lead to further problems down the road.

Rodón commented if this had occurred later in the season, he may have pitched through it. He dealt with the same type of strain last season with the Giants and did not miss any time. Hopefully, the Yankees dodged a bullet and Rodón will be a force in the starting rotation in the not-so-distant future. 

Sadly, Rodón is not the only player who will see time on the Aaron Hicks Honorary Injured List. The Yankees have also announced Harrison Bader will miss time with a left oblique strain. The injury occurred during Wednesday’s game while swinging during an at-bat.  Core injuries are concerning given how difficult it can be to avoid re-injury.  Hopefully, Bader will miss the least amount of time and will be patrolling center field before Rodón returns.

When Spring Training opened, the worst injury news was Nestor Cortes, Jr’s hamstring strain and how it might delay his season. Now he is looking like one of the healthier players on the team. We already knew that Frankie Montas will miss most of the season after shoulder surgery. Now comes word that the other player received in the dreadful deal with the Oakland A’s at last year’s trade deadline, Lou Trivino, will miss time with an elbow sprain. The Yankees truly gave up their top pitching prospect, plus a few others, for guys who will provide nothing for the Yankees in the foreseeable future. Trivino is not expected back until May, but if he needs surgery, it could be longer. 

The bullpen has taken a hit with the temporary loss of two valuable veterans. In addition to Trivino, Tommy Kahnle is out with biceps tendinitis. Late March had appeared to be the possible end of the line for the latest Yankees chapter of Albert Abreu, but the injuries increase the likelihood he will make the Opening Day Roster. Jimmy Cordero is probably a beneficiary as well. The season has not yet started, but we are already playing the latest ‘Next Man Up’ round. 

Trying to run down the list of injured Yankee players is kind of like trying to keep up with all the 2023 celebrity deaths.

While Kyle Higashioka is away at the World Baseball Classic, catching has suddenly become a rare commodity in camp. Ben Rortvedt had a procedure for an aneurysm in the posterior artery of his left shoulder, Austin Wells has a fractured rib, and Josh Breaux will miss a few weeks with an elbow injury. When the injuries occurred, some fans feared the potential signing of former Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez, which is never going to happen. Instead, the Yankees pivoted to former Tampa Bay Rays catcher Nick Ciuffo. Ciuffo is a former first-round draft pick (chosen twenty-first overall by the Rays in the 2013 MLB Draft), but he has never developed into a Major League hitter. 

Nick Ciuffo (Photo Credit: Smiley N Pool/The Dallas Morning News)

I think Mike Axisa referred to Ciuffo as a ‘poor man’s Rob Brantly’. He is right (as usual). Ciuffo, only 28, has played for four other organizations since his release by the Rays in 2019. After making his Major League debut in 2018, Ciuffo has only played in 21 Major League games, batting .188/.259/.292 (.246 wOBA and 54 wRC+). Yet, with Higgy away and Rortvedt out, Ciuffo holds the valuable backup role behind Jose Trevino. At one point, I wanted the Yankees to trade Higgy and acquire a catcher like Sean Murphy before he was dealt to Atlanta. Now I cannot wait for Higgy to return. Ciuffo is only an injury away from seeing time in the Bronx. Yikes! Here is hoping that Yankees catching coach Tanner Swanson can work his magic with Ciuffo.

Last week, I was wondering if Domingo German or Clarke Schmidt would win the fifth spot in the starting rotation and now both will be in the rotation. It is an opportunity for Schmidt to prove he is the long-term answer. 

Opening Day is under three weeks away. Hopefully, the Yankees can keep the remaining healthy players on the field. Not sure I can take more injury news. 

Farewell Estevan Florial

Estevan Florial is a Yankee as of this post, but his time is coming to an end. While Spring stats are generally meaningless, Florial is a guy who needed to play like his career depended upon it because it does. Unfortunately, the former top prospect continues to hit like an outfielder’s version of Nick Ciuffo. In ten Spring games and twenty at-bats, Florial is hitting .150/.227/.200 (.427 OPS).  Sadly, those numbers point to his Yankees exit.

Whether it is a trade for a low-level prospect (if another team feels it can unlock Florial’s potential) or simply a release, Florial is not making the Opening Day Roster. Out of options, the Yankees have no room for him, and it is time to say goodbye. Rafael Ortega and Willie Calhoun are more capable options for the reserve outfielder role. 

I am disappointed with this one. I had high hopes for Florial. I once believed he was a long-term solution for center field, and then later, left field. In the end, he was not a solution at all. He has become the latest chapter of Jesus Montero. An overhyped Yankees prospect who fizzled out. 

For Florial’s sake, I hope he can find success at his next stop.

Anthony Volpe Time

With the disclaimer that I did not personally hear it, Michael Kay said on yesterday’s The Michael Kay Show that Anthony Volpe has a real shot to make the team.

I continue to believe he will open the season in Triple-A, but I certainly would not be disappointed if he heads north with the team later this month. My fear with Volpe is the hype and expectations. It seems if he is anything less than Derek Jeter, fans will be disappointed. I believe Volpe will be a good player in his own right, but I will never try to compare him to anybody other than to hope he is better than Isiah Kiner-Falefa. I will be happy if Volpe makes the team but conversely, I will not be disappointed if he gets sent down. When Volpe is ready, the Yankees will make room. I do firmly believe that Volpe will make his Major League debut in 2023 and I look forward to it. I want to see the player he can become. 

Anthony Volpe (Photo Credit: Gerald Herbert/AP)

Both Volpe and Jasson Dominguez have been major revelations this Spring. Sure, they are the top prospects in the organization, but they have shown they belong. I wish Dominguez was closer to the Major Leagues as he would look beautiful in left field. Patience, Young Grasshopper. Volpe first, and then Dominguez. Hopefully, the two men can win a few World Series together. 

I have seen a few articles calling for Volpe to choose a lower number. I have no problem at all with 77. I think there is magic in double-Mickey Mantle. Maybe it did not work for a red-haired flameout, but Volpe can make the number work to his advantage. I would like to see him keep it over dropping down to say 11, 14, or 18. 

I guess we will soon find out about his number choice. Sooner than I expected if Michael Kay is right.

Passing of Jesús Alou

I was saddened to hear former Major Leaguer Jesús Alou has died at age 80. Alou was part of the famed Alou brothers, which include Felipe and Matty. Felipe is the father of Yankees third base coach Luis Rojas and a former Yankee (1971-1973). Felipe is also the father of former Major Leaguer Moises Alou, half-brother of Luis.  

Left to right, Jesús, Matty, and Felipe Alou (Photo Credit: MLB.com)

Jesús Alou had been a scout for the Boston Red Sox since 2002. During his fifteen-year career, he played for the Houston Astros, Oakland Athletics, New York Mets, and San Francisco Giants. He won two World Series championships as a bench performer for the A’s. 

The Alou name is baseball royalty. Even if he was working for the wrong organization, Jesús Maria Rojas Alou will be missed. My condolences to Luis Rojas and his family for their loss. 

As always, Go Yankees!