The Yankees Are No Longer the Evil Empire...

 

Roki Sasaki

The Dodgers and, to a lesser extent, the Mets have overtaken the Yankees…

Friday’s news that Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki has signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers was expected, but it was still disappointing to hear. When Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani signed his heavily deferred contract with the Dodgers, it freed the team to use more money elsewhere. You hate to say it gave them a competitive advantage because it is true that any team could have structured a similar deal (well, maybe not for the total dollars involved). Outthinking the opposition is not a trait monopolized by the richest teams. The Dodgers are playing at a higher level, and it is up to the other Major League teams to catch up.

The Dodgers have the benefit of an extraordinarily rich and powerful ownership group, just like the billionaire who controls operations in Queens for the crosstown Mets. Other fans screamed about the Yankees when they flaunted their money years ago, but now many of those same fans are relishing their newfound prestigious financial edge. The Steinbrenner Family is wealthy because of their baseball team. The Dodgers and Mets ownership groups had the money, they just needed the toys. Enormous difference.

The caveat with Steve Cohen after he launched his guaranteed highest bidder campaign to snag former Yankees outfielder Juan Soto in free agency is the lack of other significant moves to put the Mets in the Dodgers’ stratosphere. I am sure Cohen will spend more money; it is only a matter of time. I thought they would be more aggressive in trying to re-sign their own free agent first baseman Pete Alonso, and maybe they still will despite this week’s word that they are not optimistic. If the Mets land Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero, Jr prior to Spring Training, then it would be hard to find fault with their approach. Vlad Jr will age better than Alonso or at least he should even if his mouth will not.

Ultimately, the Dodgers and the Mets have stolen the spotlight on the Yankees as the King of the Jungle, the big market behemoth, the team most willing to buy the best players in baseball and field All-Stars at every position. In other words, the Yankees are no longer the Evil Empire. They might just be the Jawa sand crawler at best these days. The Dodgers have taken the main stage of Baseball’s biggest villain, with Uncle Steve trying to nip at their heels. Meanwhile, Hal Steinbrenner and his sisters sit back and watch the show.

If the Yankees were ever placed on the market, the World’s biggest billionaires would line up to buy the team. Not that I want to see Elon Musk as the owner of the Yankees, but it would be nice to have an owner that is ultra-competitive with a burning desire to win at all costs like we once had with the late (and, admittedly, flawed) George Steinbrenner.  The shipbuilder made his money prior to buying the Yankees but he was not playing in the same financial circles as today’s super rich owners. It is almost laughable today that Steinbrenner paid $10 million for the Yankees in 1973. Now, ten million might get you a subpar reliever or role player for a year.

Although the Yankees’ franchise generates high revenues, I would never want them to foolishly spend money. I do buy into the argument that you do not have to spend the most money to win; it is more a question of where you place the dollars you spend. It is a little aggravating to see the team stop short nearly every offseason with the full moves needed to ensure top contention for the Fall Classic. Overall, I am pleased with the Yankees’ moves this offseason after Juan Soto’s defection to the Mets. They may not be a better team than they were with Soto, but I do not feel they are noticeably worse. The fact they were able to tread water in what could have been a devastating loss is admirable. Aggravation is the current second/third base predicament. I would prefer to see Jazz Chisholm, Jr return to second base to replace the departed Gleyber Torres, with a new third baseman acquired. The present plan has DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza competing for the job. None of those options excite me, but there is still time before Spring Training for the Yankees to make moves. I do not fault GM Brian Cashman for waiting out the market to see what falls to him. Waiting is not fun, but the eventual results, if the Yankees can get the player they want, are better for the bottom line.

Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman and Yankees GM Brian Cashman

Although it is not my money, I want the Yankees to do what’s right for the long-term stability and continued success of the franchise. I am not saying that the Dodgers and Mets have unsustainable models, but I am only concerned about the state of the New York Yankees. Within the realm of doing what is right for the organization, I hope they make the necessary moves to help ensure that the Yankees are still standing at season’s end (hopefully, the last men standing).

The needs list is not that great. Find the second or third baseman, get a reliever that can join up with closer Devin Williams and setup reliever/backup closer Luke Weaver at the back end of games, find a backup catcher, and announce the new assistant pitching coach replacing the departed Desi Druschel. I dream how nice it would be to have Tanner Scott on the team, but I doubt the Yankees will pay the money it would take. Scott-Weaver-Williams would be lethal. But nearly every year, a surprising reliever emerges as a force, and I expect no less in 2025. There are plenty of potential candidates in the organization who could take their game to the next level. But as part of the trusted trio to close games, proven ability to shut down the game’s best hitters is a plus. I think more options will be added to the team before the gates of Steinbrenner Field and the surrounding practice facilities open to its spring participants.

Tanner Scott (Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/Pressbox)

I think the point to my exercise is that I am aware of the Dodgers and Mets, but focus is best served on the Yankees. The Yankees cannot control what the Dodgers and Mets do, but they can control what the New York Yankees can do. The Yankees made considerable progress in scouting and player development when they focused their resources on finding the right people. Continue down that path. Pitching Coach Matt Blake is an inspired hire that was the right choice. Keep it up. Despite the multiple loss of instructors throughout the organization this offseason to other teams, the Yankees have shown they have a model that others want. They have proven they can hire the right people. At the end of the day, everybody is replaceable.

So, to bring this story to a close, I am cautiously optimistic about the 2025 New York Yankees. I know there is work to be done, and I hope the team sees it through. Stopping short would be a mistake. We are in the prime of the careers of Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole. Strike while the fire is hot. A couple of years down the road, we can revisit the word “rebuild.” The focus here and now should be “enhance” or “improve.”  The Dodgers want somebody that can give them a challenge in next year’s World Series.

I think the thing that saddens me the most about the Dodgers’ signing Sasaki is there is no room for future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw. He has been such a great Dodger and will go down as one of the all-time greats in the organization. I had hoped he would spend the entirety of his career with the Dodgers, but if he decides to continue, it seems he will need to pull on a new uniform, with the Texas Rangers as the most logical fit for the Dallas area resident. I would hate to see Kersh as a Houston Astro even if he is not the pitcher he once was.

Clayton Kershaw

When the International Signing Period opened on January 15^th, I expected to see activity with the Yankees. Alas, nothing but crickets. I read that Roki Sasaki’s impending decision, even though the Yankees had been told they were out, was the reason for the delay in any announcement of signings. The most notable international player associated with the Yankees is Dominican shortstop Manny Cedeno, MLB’s eleventh-ranked international prospect. There was potential to trade international bonus pool money to the Dodgers after they signed Sasaki, but the Philadelphia Phillies were there to assist the Dodger Blue. It was reported the Phillies sent either $750,000 or $1 million to the Dodgers for outfield prospect Dylan Campbell. The Dodgers still need to make another move or two to get the money they need for Sasaki so maybe the Yankees are trying to figure out where they can cut a few dollars with the intended signings. Regardless, we should start getting the news of the actual signings this weekend (one would think). I hope the Yankees do not blow it with Cedeno as he is the only player on MLB’s list of Top 50 International Prospects that was associated with the Yankees. I wish I could find someone who loves me as much as the Yankees love shortstop prospects.

Maybe it is just me but as time goes on, I wish the Yankees could find a way to bring Jorge Posada back into the organization in some capacity. I have always loved his fire and intensity, and that is a needed quality in the organization.

Jorge Posada and Derek Jeter (Photo Credit: Mark Brown/Getty Images)

I will say it now, but I want Munetaka Murakami as the Yankees first baseman next offseason. Thanks Paul Goldschmidt, we appreciate you giving us a year, but NEXT. I know, it might be foolish to get excited about any Japanese player with Chavez Ravine being the current desired location, but maybe at some point, Hideki Matsui and Masahiro Tanaka can sell an elite young player on how great it is to play in New York wearing the famed Pinstripes. I seriously hope Murakami is that player.

Munetaka Murakami

Myles Straw is now in the AL East with the Toronto Blue Jays. It certainly gives Yankees fans more opportunity to boo a player that is just not that good. Not many players that I dislike, but Straw certainly is among the group. Good for the Cleveland Guardians to rid themselves of a pathetic outfielder. The only downside is that the great Don Mattingly and Straw now wear the same uniform.

Boston could still make moves that move them up the standings in the AL East. It is fathomable to think that both Alex Bregman and Pete Alonso could be calling Beantown home. While I think of the Baltimore Orioles as the top challenger in the AL East, their relative inaction and inability to strengthen the starting rotation leaves them vulnerable. Boston can be a prime beneficiary of waiting out the market.

Now that Sasaki has made his decision, I hope the offseason can resume. The Yankees’ activity has been non-existent for the past few weeks so it would be nice to see a move or two before we see Aaron Judge walking into Steinbrenner Field.

As always, Go Yankees!

Life Without Aaron Judge...

  

Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: Ashley Landis/AP)

Wanted: Miracle Toe Healer…

Life without Aaron Judge is not fun. Worse yet, it sucks. 

I know he is only away for a few weeks while his toe recovers from the dramatic play he made at Dodger Stadium earlier this month, but it is painful to watch the Yankees play without him. Without Judge in the lineup, the other weaknesses are magnified. It is frustrating that there is no timetable for Judge’s return.  I know the Yankees are conservative when it comes to injuries, and they do not want to set a date for return, only to face further delays, but I wish they were more transparent. Judge’s absence shows how devastating losing him in free agency would have been. Hopefully, the toe will improve with each passing day, and Aaron Judge will be roaming right field soon. 

I am not trying to play ‘I told you so’ but at the beginning of Spring Training, I felt Anthony Volpe should have returned to Triple-A for more seasoning and the Yankees starting shortstop should be Oswald Peraza. I held that opinion through most of Spring Training but finally acquiesced to support the decision to promote Volpe, pushing Peraza back to Triple-A when it appeared the Yankees were headed in that direction anyway. In retrospect, the Yankees should not have been seduced by Volpe’s strong Spring performance. We have seen too many players over the years enjoying stellar play in March, only to struggle once the gates of the regular season have opened. The ‘Greg Bird’ Syndrome. Most recently (before Volpe), it was Kyle Higashioka. 

I like Volpe, and I am excited for his long-term future with the Yankees, but maybe it is time for him to go to Triple-A to work on the finer aspects of his game now that he has had a taste of Major League life. He has a better understanding of what it takes to succeed at the game’s highest level, and it should provide a better blueprint for him to prepare to become a productive everyday starter in the Bronx.

Anthony Volpe (Photo Credit: Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Through sixty-six games, Volpe is batting .187/.261/.347 (.608 OPS). He has 9 home runs and 26 RBIs. He is 14-for-14 in stolen bases but he only has one in the last 24 games.  While you cannot compare Triple-A pitching to the Major Leagues, Oswald Peraza is batting .311/.383/.597 (.980 OPS) in twenty-eight games. He has 10 home runs and 21 RBIs, plus 7 stolen bases.  Peraza has cooled off lately after his blazing month of May, and he did not appear in either game of yesterday’s doubleheader between the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and the Norfolk Tides. I have not seen the reason for Peraza’s absence (he played Friday night), but if healthy, I would flip Volpe for Peraza. There is no denying Volpe has the higher ceiling, but Volpe would benefit from some further work in Triple-A while Peraza has nothing left to prove there.

I want Volpe to succeed, and he can be a disruptive force on the basepaths come October. A little time away to better his game is not an unreasonable request. Give Peraza a chance and be a stronger team later in the year when both players are on the Major League roster.   

Other players I am concerned about are DJ LeMahieu and Kyle Higashioka. The Yankees need LeMahieu to be the hitter he was before last year’s injury. LeMahieu will be 35 next month and admittedly, I am concerned he may never be the player he once was. For a while, I have wanted LeMahieu to take Josh Donaldson’s place as the starting third baseman. However, while I do not feel JD’s recent home runs scream ‘he’s back!’, LeMahieu’s struggles have lessened my desire to move on from Donaldson. I am about ready to rename LeMahieu “Oh Fer Three”. 

DJ LeMahieu (Photo Credit: Noah K Murray/AP)

Good pitching helped the Yankees on Saturday, but it is a tough ask for the pitching staff to consistently hold the other team to no more than one or two runs to compensate for an anemic offense. I am convinced this will be Higgy’s final year in Pinstripes, and I would not be disappointed if his time was up sooner than later. Ben Rortvedt was acquired to play catcher for the Yankees (not the RailRiders) and although the plan was derailed by injuries, I feel he can be an effective partner to support starter Jose Trevino. 

It will be tough for the Yankees to make trades in July. You cannot strip the farm system of multiple talented prospects every year without damaging the future. Last year’s trades seem like such a waste. The loss of many well-regarded prospects for multiple players who failed to make a difference for the Yankees. With the struggles of some of those prospects elsewhere, you can say the Yankees made the right calls. Yet, inevitably, there will be lost prospects who come back to haunt the Yankees. 

Despite the nice moments from Jake Bauers, Willie Calhoun and Billy McKinney, the Yankees still need a strong left fielder. I am not convinced the current lot is the answer. Bauers taking away a Rafael Devers home run on Saturday was a terrific highlight, but the Yankees can do better. Isiah Kiner-Falefa has performed better than expected as Harrison Bader’s replacement in center field, but the preference would be for him to remain in a utility role when Bader returns. For as much as fans have wanted the Yankees to promote Estevan Florial, the truth is the Yankees must make room for Bader and Aaron Judge when they are healthy, and at least one of Bauers, Calhoun, and McKinney will be sacrificed.  If the Yankees need a 40-man roster spot. Who loses? McKinney seems like the most expendable if Bader is healthy. If McKinney’s promotion had been Florial, it is likely Flo would be facing a second trip to the waiver wire with the Yankees losing him this time after his strong recent performance in Triple-A.   

It is a tough job for GM Brian Cashman and his team of nerds. They must reinforce the team with seemingly limited resources. The Yankees’ top five prospects according to MLB.com are three outfielders, a catcher, and a shortstop. I do not see the Yankees trading Jasson Dominguez or Spencer Jones. Everson Pereira is a talented future star, but he might be the most expendable of the group.  Austin Wells wants to stay at Catcher, but we have all heard the stories he will eventually need to change positions. With the profile of his bat, the Yankees will find room. I would be shocked if they traded him. Trey Sweeney, the shortstop, has always seemed like the future third baseman to me.  I do not want to lose any of the top five prospects.  Not so much prospect-hugging as it is concerned about the competitiveness of the team in future years. I know, win the World Series this year, and worry about next year…well…next year. 

The core belief is the twenty-six men who will take the field today at Yankee Stadium to play the series finale against the Boston Red Sox are average at best. This is not a championship squad. Sure, they will get better when Judge, Bader, and Carlos Rodón return. Maybe they can make a difference. Maybe they cannot. One thing is certain, they cannot do it alone. Better performances from Luis Severino, Giancarlo Stanton, and DJ LeMahieu, among others, are necessary for the team to accomplish its goals. Hoping for elite July reinforcements is akin to holding the winning ticket in Powerball. In other words, do not get your hopes up.

The Yankees need a left fielder and a starting pitcher. Bullpen help is always a plus. I am hopeful yet pessimistic that the Yankees can get the pieces they need. I will say it now that I do not believe the Yankees will acquire a player who moves the needle. I sincerely hope they prove me wrong. 

Mike Harkey, Pitching Coach

Yankees bullpen coach Mike Harkey, a former Major League pitching coach, was forced into duty yesterday as the fill-in for pitching coach Matt Blake.

It was a good opportunity for Harkey who led a successful mound visit with reliever Wandy Peralta late in yesterday’s 3-1 win over the Boston Red Sox that helped ice the game. Harkey always reminds me of Joe Girardi for no reason other than he is the last holdover from Girardi’s coaching staff. 

Blake and his family are dealing with the loss of his mother-in-law. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. 

As always, Go Yankees!

Yanks Question: Who's Left? ...

 

Oswaldo Cabrera

Search for Leftfielder continues…

It would have been so much easier if the Yankees could have just reached an agreement with outfielder Andrew Benintendi after giving up good prospects for him last summer. I know, there were reports that the St Louis, MO resident preferred the Midwest, but as we have often seen, money talks.  Five years at $75 million does not sound that unreasonable for the 28-year-old, a gifted defender, who may not hit with power but can make contact and deliver extra base hits when they matter.  It seems the Yankees could have matched or beaten the White Sox offer (surprisingly a record contract for the Pale Hose). 

Friday saw two more options fly off the board. The San Francisco Giants, trying to recover from what has been the most disastrous offseason in franchise history, signed free agent Michael Conforto to a two-year contract worth $36 million.  I thought Conforto was a chance worth taking, but honestly, it never seemed the Yankees were in on the player. If Conforto has a great year in San Francisco, the Yankees may wish they had gone down this road.

Much talk has been made of the surplus outfielders in Arizona. The Toronto Blue Jays finally grabbed one when they sent potentially elite catcher Gabriel Moreno and Lourdes Gurriel, Jr. to the Diamondbacks for Daulton Varsho. Varsho’s lefty bat would have played very nicely at Yankee Stadium. Well, it still will but for the wrong team. I liked Varsho the best among the available Arizona outfielders. Great outfield defender, above-average hitter (27 home runs in 2022), and the ability to play catcher in a pinch.

Where do the Yankees go from here?

Many fans say just plug Oswald Cabrera in left and call it a day. This does not make sense to me. Cabrera’s greatest asset is his versatility, but he was not trained as an outfielder. He did a fine job when asked to play the position with his tremendous athleticism, but the Yankees are better when Cabrera can be moved around to give guys a breather at other positions. He will play nearly every day in that type of role. When Andrew Benintendi was starting to get comfortable and before the hamate bone injury that ended his season, he was clearly the superior player based on the eye test.

The most popular trade acquisition among fans is Brian Reynolds of the Pittsburgh Pirates. There are reports the Yankees have talked to the Pirates, but I am sure that other teams, such as the Los Angeles Dodgers, have GM Ben Cherington on speed dial.  Brian Reynolds, not to be confused with Ryan Reynolds, is a good player but I am not sure he is worth the Yankees’ top prospects plus Nestor Cortes, Jr. If the Pirates are seeking high-end pitching talent, the Dodgers can easily put together a package superior to the Yankees.  Maybe a three-team trade works, but there is no reason for optimism with Reynolds. This situation feels like it did all those years the Yankees salivated over Gerrit Cole when he was a Pirate. They were connected to him season after season, only to watch him go to a bitter rival (the Houston Astros) when the Pirates finally traded him.  Reynolds seems likely to follow the same route. For the record, I would love to be wrong on this one.

Brian Reynolds (Photo Credit: Matt Sunday/DKPS)

This week, Joel Sherman of The New York Post suggested a trade (not based on any facts or rumors) with the Minnesota Twins which would bring Max Kepler and Nick Gordon to the Bronx for Gleyber Torres and Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Kepler runs hot and cold, more emphasis on the latter, with the Yankees fanbase. To his defense, Kepler would be a better option than simply rolling Aaron Hicks out there again.  Keeping DJ LeMahieu at one position to help preserve his health is appealing so this is probably a trade I would make as it seems, for whatever reasons, Torres will be traded this offseason. I saw a few Twins fans reacting favorably to Sherman’s suggested trade. Maybe it is an overpay, but I do know that Kepler would have greater value as the designated left fielder than Torres among what is now a glut of middle infielders with Oswald Peraza seemingly prepared to take over as the starting shortstop and the expected arrival of top prospect Anthony Volpe sometime during the 2023 Season. 

There are still two outfield targets in Arizona with Alek Thomas and Jake McCarthy, although I am not sure how motivated the D-Backs are with the elimination of Daulton Varsho. 

Is this the year the Yankees finally give Estevan Florial an extended look? They might have no choice. Since Florial is out of options, the team must keep him on the MLB roster or trade him. If he hits the waiver wire, another team will take a chance on him. Florial has done nothing in his limited Major League appearances to suggest success even if he has put up decent numbers in the minors. It would be a letdown if he is the starting left fielder, but I would probably still prefer him over Aaron Hicks, a player I would like to see eliminated from next year’s roster.  So, I will not even propose Hicks in left field.  Hicks has simply overstayed his welcome in my eyes.

Free agent David Peralta is an option. The long-time Diamondback was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays at last year’s trade deadline. Sadly, age (35) is not his friend. Much like IKF was the designated “stopgap” last season, Peralta would be this year’s version. 

Regardless of who fills the void in left, the Yankees either have a chance to field a dynamic outfield in combo with Harrison Bader and Aaron Judge or settle for the cheapest options. We may not have any answers until next month. Meanwhile, hoping for the best.

No Such Thing as a Bad Minor League Deal®

Infielder Wilmer Difo is the latest Minor League add with presumed Spring invite. Difo, 30, is a light hitting switch-hitter who spent the majority of 2022 in Triple A. He did manage to get into three games with the Arizona Diamondbacks last season.  With experience at second base, shortstop, third base, and the outfield, he is presumed depth for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Who knows how long Anthony Volpe will be their starting shortstop? I hear he may be moving on (up) soon. 

Wilmer Difo (Photo Credit: David Calvert/Calvert Photography)

Difo can opt out of his contract on July 1^st which it is presumed he will do unless the Yankees call him up at some point. One of those “things must have gone horribly bad if that player is starting” situations.

Maybe he becomes the latest Luis Sojo. Who knows…he has earned a chance to try.

Trevor Bauer is reinstated

An independent arbitrator reduced Trevor Bauer’s record 324-game suspension for violating MLB’s sexual assault and domestic abuse policy to time served or 194 games. Although Bauer continues to deny the allegations and has filed a lawsuit against the woman and her lawyer, I will take the ‘where there is smoke, there is fire’ approach. The arbitrator agreed with the offense, albeit with a reduction, and not elimination, of the sentence. In fairness to Bauer, he has never been charged with any crime.

The Dodgers were given fourteen days to reinstate or release Bauer. Had the original 324-game suspension held, it would have covered the duration of Bauer’s contract with the Dodgers. But with the reduction and considering the 50-games of docked pay, Bauer is owed $22.5 million for the 2023 season.

Trevor Bauer (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

If the Dodgers release Bauer, they will be responsible for the bulk of his contract. His new team would be responsible for the MLB minimum.  For the Dodgers, it is a no-win situation. They were trying to get under the luxury tax threshold this year in anticipation of Shohei Ohtani’s free agency next offseason. The addition of Bauer’s reduced salary brings the Dodgers payroll to $233 million, and they still need to make a few other moves to replace the guys they have lost this offseason. 

Although it is unclear if the Dodgers will release Bauer, I do not want him on the Yankees. I know the assault/abuse allegations have not been proven, but Bauer carries too much baggage. He had a rocky relationship with Gerrit Cole at UCLA although competitiveness may have been the root of their issues. Bauer brings controversy, I think he thrives in it. The Yankees have achieved strong clubhouse chemistry under the leadership of Cole, Anthony Rizzo, and newly anointed Captain Aaron Judge. I really would not want a potentially divisive influence to disrupt the harmony regardless of how talented Bauer may be. I lived through the days of the Bronx Zoo, and it was not fun.

Bauer has not pitched since mid-2021. He had signed a three-year contract with the Dodgers worth $105 million prior to the 2021 season. He will certainly improve the Dodgers’ rotation if they decide to retain him for the final year of his contract. Walker Buehler is recovering from Tommy John surgery, but Julio Urias, Tony “The Cat Man” Gonsolin, and future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw are returning. The Dodgers signed Noah Syndergaard this offseason. The tall Clint (Jackson) Frazier-looking Dustin May is expected to be knocking on the door for the rotation now that he has successfully returned from Tommy John surgery.  So, Bauer may be the odd man out even if he would be an upgrade for the Dodgers rotation. The Dodgers once reneged on a trade for Aroldis Chapman, then an elite closer, over domestic violence. I would be surprised if they do not follow the same path with Bauer.

Are the Yankees a better team with Nestor (and top prospects) in Pittsburgh and Bauer and Brian Reynolds in Pinstripes. Sure, in 2023, but be careful about what you ask for. 

Back-to-back Press Conferences

It is GREAT to see Aaron Judge and Carlos Rodón officially added to the Yankees’ 40-man roster. Even better to have press conferences on back-to-back days at Yankee Stadium. It was funny to see Judge put on the jersey over his street clothes given how many tremendous, amazing games he has delivered wearing the famed Pinstripes.

Listening to Judge, it was clear his heart was in New York which was music to my ears. I loved his ‘whole loaf’ comment when asked by Michael Kay about the breadcrumbs he left during last season to express his desire to remain a Yankee. 

I had thought prior to Judge’s presser that it would be cool if Yankees Legend Derek Jeter was there to pass the Captaincy to Judge. Sure enough, DJ had a seat at the table with Judge and his wife. It was a perfect setting for Hal Steinbrenner to deliver the news we all had expected…Aaron Judge will be the sixteenth Captain of your New York Yankees. An honor well-earned and well-deserved.

Aaron Judge Press Conference (Photo Credit: Dustin Satliff/Getty Images)

As for Carlos Rodón, it is going to take a minute to get used to his freshly clean-shaven face. He looks more like a corporate lawyer or securities trader from Manhattan than an elite Major League pitcher.  I liked the menacing look of his beard. Of course, I have long been in the camp that the Yankees should relax their facial hair policy to at least allow neatly groomed beards.  Nevertheless, the beard (or lack thereof) will have no adverse effect on Rodón’s ability to frustrate hitters. 

Carlos Rodón (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

I am excited to see Rodón pitch for the Yankees, and it is even better his first game will be at Yankee Stadium against the San Francisco Giants, the team he played for last year. He has a chance to beat both of his former teams (the Giants and the Chicago White Sox) in his first season. 

I was glad to see the Yankees give number 55 to Rodón. It was his number in Chicago. The Yankees website continues to show both Rodón and Domingo German with the number so German either must change or better yet, leave via trade. There are some good numbers available. 18, 24, 30 and 54 are a few that immediately come to mind. I have been curious if Oswaldo Cabrera (95) and Oswald Cabrera (91) stay with the high numbers or if they drop down. Cabrera seems to fit his current number. It says, ‘Go ahead, underestimate me…I dare you’. I hope Anthony Volpe gets assigned a good number since he will be wearing it for a very long time.

Return of the Pitching Coach

Not that we expected Pitching Coach Matt Blake to go anywhere, but his contract had expired after the season and there had been no announcement of an extension. Finally, this week it was reported that Blake has signed a three-year contract to return. I am glad to see it. Even though it never felt like he was leaving, it is much better to have him under contract rather than his continuation as an at-will employee who could depart at any time.  

Blake continues to be a refreshing choice as pitching coach. I do not miss the days of Larry Rothschild. Larry may be a wonderful guy who knows baseball, but he obviously was not the right guy for the Yankees despite his years as a pitching coach in the Major Leagues.  I was tired about the constant complaints about Larry when he was Yankees pitching coach (even if I agreed with them). It is nice to never hear complaints about Blake. The fans seem to have re-directed their ire towards Manager Aaron Boone. 

It remains to be seen if the Yankees replace assistant hitting coach Hensley Meulens who left to become the hitting coach for the Colorado Rockies. I think they will bring in another veteran (old school) hitting coach to pair with the analytics-driven assistant hitting coach Casey Dykes. I wish Jorge Posada would decide to get back into the game.

Happy Holidays to the Yankees Universe!

As always, Go Yankees!

Embrace the Current Yankees Boss...

  

Hal Steinbrenner (Photo Credit: Jason Szenes/Getty Images)

Hal, not George, runs the New York Yankees…

George Steinbrenner died July 13, 2010...

As someone who lived during the George Steinbrenner era, you will never find me wishing the Boss was still alive. I miss his passion and love for the Yankees, sure, but I remember the faults. As a kid, it seemed like there was a new manager every year and of course there was the unhealthy love/hate relationship the Boss had with Billy Martin. I loved every hiring and was deeply saddened by every firing. It was impossible to keep up with the pitching coaches. Those guys churned more than the revolving managerial door. 

Gabe Paul, Billy Martin & George Steinbrenner (Photo Credit: Marty Lederhandler/AP)

I remember going to my first game at the old Yankee Stadium in 1987 and the anti-Boss yells were noticeable. There was no love for George Steinbrenner during those days. Many of us were frustrated last March when the Yankees acquired the aging Josh Donaldson and his fat contract. Those type of acquisitions were frequent under the Boss. Overpaying veterans who were “past their prime” was commonplace.

I truly believe the 1990s dynasty would not have happened if not for the Boss’s time away. Dave Winfield signed a 10-year contract with the Yankees after the 1980 season (for a now laughable $23 million given where salaries are for elite players today). Winfield never brought a championship to New York, and of course, he earned the nickname “Mr. May” from Steinbrenner for his poor October performances. The contract did not age well, for Steinbrenner, and he suspended annual payments to Winfield’s foundation in the latter years of the contract, payments required under the terms and conditions of Winfield’s agreement with the team, with the belief the funds were mismanaged. This led to lawsuits between Winfield and the Boss. Steinbrenner, to prove Winfield’s mismanagement of the foundation payments, paid a gambler named Howard Spira $40,000. Spira had been a foundation volunteer and was willing to confirm Steinbrenner’s suspicions…for a price.

When Steinbrenner’s actions came to light, it led then MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent to bar Steinbrenner for life. Although the Boss was not required to sell his interest in the Yankees, he was barred from day-to-day management of the team. Steinbrenner had requested the lifetime ban over a two-year suspension because he feared a suspension would jeopardize his place as Vice President of the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Limited Partner Robert Nederlander took over as the Managing General Partner for two years, and subsequently replaced by Joe Molloy, Steinbrenner’s former son-in-law. Under Nederlander and Molloy, Yankees executive Gene Michael was able to build the framework for the late 1990s championship run. The trade which brought Paul O’Neill to New York happened while the Boss was “away” and of course the Core Four, plus Bernie Williams, rose to prominence because they were given the time to blossom. 

After requesting reinstatement, the lifetime ban was lifted, and the Boss returned to his role as the Managing General Partner in 1993. He largely allowed Michael to continue building the eventual championship teams. The notable exception was following the 1995 season, after the stunning playoff loss to the Seattle Mariners, when Buck Showalter turned down a two-year contract extension because it included a provision to fire then-hitting coach Rick Down. Steinbrenner took this as a “resignation” which created a managerial vacancy.

Although Michael lost a manager he would have retained, he rebounded by naming Joe Torre as Yankees manager and of course the rest is history. If pre-lifetime ban Steinbrenner had been present, the new Yankees manager most likely would have been Davey Johnson or Tony LaRussa. Fortunately, the post-lifetime ban Boss supported Michael’s decision, and the championships soon followed. 

The point is the championship run was probably only possible because of Steinbrenner’s time away. It allowed Gene Michael to make the right moves. Credit to both Nederlander and Molloy for their roles in providing the necessary support for Michael.

Gene "Stick" Michael (Photo Credit: AP)

I do not dislike current Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner. I may harbor frustration that he does not outwardly show his passion and love for the Yankees like his father did. Hal is a businessman, a bean counter by education. For all intents and purposes, he is a good man. Hal took over the Yankees after the 2007 season following the decision not to bring back Joe Torre and the subsequent retirement of his father, who had suffered through strokes and dementia in his final years. The Yankees have never had a losing record under Hal’s watch. In fact, the Yankees have not had a losing season since 1992.  Granted, there were only 84 wins in the 2014 and 2016 seasons, but they were “winning” seasons. Amazing to think that any Yankee fan in their 20s have never experienced a losing season. 

We may be frustrated with the moves Hal Steinbrenner makes or does not make, but to say he has been bad for the Yankees is wrong.  I do not pine for George Steinbrenner; I want Hal Steinbrenner to step up in a way that would make his father proud. Hal is his own man, and I do respect the trust he places in Yankees Management. The stability and continuity have been invaluable in helping the Yankees to become one of the best run teams in Major League Baseball. I did not enjoy the Bronx Zoo days.  Loved some of the characters, of course, but not the entire chaotic mess.

The singular point is ‘do better’. No more stop gaps. No more bloated contracts that hold the team back (saying this while hopeful the Yankees re-sign Aaron Judge to an excessively fat contract, in a sense of hypocrisy). I am probably referring more to guys like Josh Donaldson who seemed like a mistake from the moment the Gary Sanchez trade was announced last Spring.  Or “knee jerk” signings like Jacoby Ellsbury. The Yankees have a winning team, but they have proven they are not a championship team. Running it back with the same guys, hoping for better results is a flawed strategy.

I am hopeful the Yankees recognize they were not as good as their first half run last season. Bringing back Aaron Judge is a must, but the off-season improvements cannot stop there. I keep seeing fans who want Oswaldo Cabrera, Oswald Peraza, and Anthony Volpe in next season’s Opening Day lineup. Not me. I do not want to roll out three rookies in attempt to de-throne the Houston Astros. I believe Peraza should be the team’s starting shortstop (based on the current roster), but there is no question I would sign Trea Turner or Carlos Correa if I could. Oswaldo Cabrera is next season’s Marwin Gonzalez, only younger and better. Volpe will be great, but let him season a little more in Triple A. The end result will be worth it. 

Assuming Judge returns (I am a little more optimistic after hearing Jeff Passan on The Michael Kay Show last week, “All signs point to Aaron Judge remaining with the Yankees”), how the Yankees address the starting rotation (need better options than Clarke Schmidt or Domingo German to replace Jameson Taillon), the bullpen, and left field will go a long way toward building a team ready for the October hurdles.  Turner or Correa would be insurance it happens. 

Time for Hal Steinbrenner to win a World Series championship without his father’s watchful eye.

Thanksgiving Weekend…

I hope everyone had a joyous and memorable Thanksgiving Day yesterday. 

I know I was thankful to see my Minnesota Vikings finally defeat Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. The Vikings had not beaten the Pats since 2000. It is always beautiful anytime a Boston team loses. Sorry to my fellow Yankee fans who bleed Blue for the Dallas Cowboys’ victory over the New York Giants. Sadly, I think the Giants are like the Vikings…not as good as their respective records. But as the saying goes, “On any given Sunday…”.   

The Boston Red Sox have a Yankees fetish. With a few former Yankees on their roster (James Paxton, Garrett Whitlock, Kaleb Ort, and Rob Refsnyder) and one player named after a Yankees legend (Jeter Downs), the Red Sox added two more former Yankees last week. They acquired infielder Hoy Park, who had been designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Park went to Pittsburgh as part of the trade that brought Clay Holmes to New York. The Red Sox also signed free agent reliever Joely Rodriguez who spent last season as a Met after being traded for reliever Miguel Castro. 

As soon as I saw that the Pirates had DFA’d Park, my first thought was ‘future Red Sock’. Sure enough, it happened like clockwork.

Wondering when the Yankees will announce new contracts for general manager Brian Cashman and pitching coach Matt Blake. It seems odd while chasing free agent Aaron Judge and potential pitching options, the Yankees have not locked up two key members of the organization. I do not take this to mean they may not return, I think both will be back but the sooner their returns are announced, the better. 

Matt Blake (Photo Credit: Robert Sabo)

It will be interesting to see if the Yankees replace assistant hitting coach Hensley Meulens who left to become the hitting coach for the Colorado Rockies. The Yankees could just stand pat with only one assistant hitting coach (Desi Druschel) for hitting coach Dillon Lawson, but I feel there is value in an old school hitter to pair with analytics-driven coaches. I would love to see Brett Gardner rejoin the Yankees in this role.  As a former team leader, he has the command and respect of the clubhouse.

I thought it was funny the Los Angeles Angels acquired Mike Trout-lookalike Hunter Renfroe.

Hunter Renfroe

Mike Trout

Former Yankee prospect Janson Junk went to Milwaukee as part of the deal to bring Renfroe to Orange County, California. The Angels had previously acquired third baseman Gio Urshela from the Minnesota Twins, and signed former Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Anderson, a free agent, so they are clearly trying to do something before Shohei Ohtani leaves. The Angels see Urshela as an option at third base and first base, and occasionally at short, second base or the outfield.  Anthony Rendon has struggled to stay healthy since he signed with the Angels so no doubt Gio will be manning third base more than the Angels currently expect. Good for him. 

I am always glad to get the Thanksgiving holiday behind us for no other reason than we are closer to the annual Baseball Winter Meetings. It is always my favorite week of the MLB offseason, and it was missed immensely last season after cancellation due to the lockout. The bittersweet part of the week is the Rule 5 Draft when multiple Yankee prospects are chosen annually. At least with the MLB portion of the draft, the Yankees can get the prospects back if they fail to stick on the Major League rosters for their new teams. The only time I am openly rooting for Yankee prospects to fail. 

As a baseball fan, I am sorry to hear that Bryce Harper needed Tommy John surgery. I wish him a speedy and full recovery and look forward to his return to MLB sometime next season for the Philadelphia Phillies. Baseball is better when Bryce is playing.

Happy Birthday to the YES Network’s Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES on Twitter)! Jack is 58 years old today. Looking forward to his breaking news that Aaron Judge has re-signed with the Yankees (I hope). I hope it is a wonderful birthday, Jack, and we look forward to your work in the coming year. 

As always, Go Yankees!

The Baltimore Beatdown...

  

Photo Credit: Barbara Haddock/Baltimore Sun

AL Worst continues tormenting the Yankees…

The inability to beat the Baltimore Orioles in 2021 cost the Yankees dearly as it sent them to the ill-fated Wild Card Game in Boston instead of hosting the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. Yankees flew to Boston and, as we all know, their season was over. After holding their own against the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays this week, the Yankees arrived in Baltimore on Friday ready to make a statement. Thud! Here we go again.

Aroldis Chapman -- Photo Credit: Adam Hunger/Getty Images

Aroldis Chapman, looking like the latest incarnation of Tyler Clippard in pinstripes, walked home the winning run for the Orioles in last night’s game as Baltimore took the first game of nineteen against the Yankees. It wasted a good performance by Jordan Montgomery. Unfortunately, a journeyman Orioles pitcher who has played for six teams and was once released by the Colorado Rockies, Jordan Lyles, held the Yankees offense at bay, yielding only a single run in his 5 1/3 innings of work. In his last start, Lyles had given up five runs in five innings against the Tampa Bay Rays and entered last night’s game with a 9.00 ERA. Pitching against the Yankees’ offense, at least this year and last, is always a prescription for improvement of one’s earned run average. 

My only take about Chapman. I am not interested in re-signing him after the season. Even if he is willing to take a steep discount to stay, it is time to move on. It was great when the Cuban Missile was throwing flames across the plate but suffice it to say he is not and will not age as gracefully as the legendary Mariano Rivera. I am hoping Chapman can solve his control problems this year to give the Yankees (and we, the fans) some confidence in his ability late in games, but beyond that, ¡Hasta la vista, baby!

Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake continues to earn his paycheck, despite the challenges of Aroldis Chapman or Gerrit Cole’s attempts to rediscover his superiority following last year’s crackdown on the “sticky stuff”. There is no way that I would have predicted the two best starters for the Yankees two weeks into the new season would be Nestor Cortes, Jr and Luis Severino. Nestor continues to amaze me. Everyone wanted another starter during the off-season. If the Yankees had acquired, say Frankie Montas or Luis Castillo or some other pitcher, Nestor would have been the odd man out. The sixth starter on a staff of five, yet here he is carrying the team along with Sevy. Jordan Montgomery and Jameson Taillon are fine, but they were expected to be. I have purposely tried to keep my expectations for Severino low for no other reason than he has not pitched much in the last three years.  I credit the Yankees pitching coaches for the tremendous work they have done with Nestor, Sevy, and the bullpen outside of Chappy. Michael King certainly deserves a call-out for his performance the other night to clean up Chapman’s mess in the Blue Jays finale, earning his first career save. 

Michael King -- Photo Credit: Getty Images

Now if only Yankees hitting coach Dillon Lawson and his assistant hitting coaches could have the same impact on the hitters. I realize Isiash Kiner-Falefa is off to a slow start but it is too early to pull the plug. Most fans wanted the Yankees to sign Carlos Correa prior to the season (well, me included). A quick check of his stats show a batting line of .182/.280/.409 with .306 wOBA. He has one home run which represents his only RBI of the season. In other words, IKF is not alone in slow starts. It can happen to anyone. It just gets magnified when you move from the low pressurized environment of Arlington, Texas to the humongous New York stage.

I have seen many fans calling for Oswald Peraza but cool your jets. He is not ready yet. He only played 8 games in Triple A last year, and through 8 games this season, he is only batting .194/.242/.323, .253 wOBA, and 52 wRC+. We will see Peraza at some point this year but we need to give him time despite any frustrations with IKF.  Peraza, who will turn 22 on June 15th, needs to let his bat do his talking. It will tell the Yankees when he is ready. Until then, we need to give IKF our support. I do feel he will be closer to the hitter he was last season for the Texas Rangers (or better). Playing 158 games for the Rangers in 2021, IKF hit 8 homers and drive in 53 runs. His line was .271/.312/357 and .293 wOBA. Give him a chance. New York is not an easy place to play. We may have wanted an elite shortstop but this is the hand we were dealt and we need to make the most of it. IKF may surprise us if we give him the time to adjust.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa -- Photo Credit: Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports

If Aaron Judge wants to be a $36 million per year player, he needs to play like one. 

I am confident the Yankees will play better. Today would be a great day to start. I know championships are not won in April but I do feel getting off to a strong start is important for the season’s momentum. To borrow one of Aaron Boone’s favorite words (“obviously”), it is easier to build off a good start than it is a bad one.  Gerrit Cole will get stronger as the season progresses and the offense will start to click. I continue to have more confidence in this team than the 2021 version. The current record is nothing that a ten-game winning streak could not cure.  So, let’s go Yankees. You got this.

Clayton Kershaw nearly throws a perfect game. Say what you will, I think Dave Roberts’ decision to pull Kershaw after seven perfect innings this week was the right thing to do. I felt it in the heat of the moment and have not wavered in my opinion. With the shortened Spring, starting pitchers have yet to be fully stretched out. It is why rosters were expanded to 28 players until May 1st with a temporary unlimited cap on the number of pitchers a team can carry.

Clayton Kershaw -- Photo Credit: Craig Lassig/Associated Press

Kershaw is 34 years old and has missed time the last few years with a variety of injuries. He has a date with Cooperstown one day but pushing him to nine innings would not have been prudent and it could have heightened the possibility for his unavailability later in the season as a result. Although he struck out thirteen batters and had only thrown 80 pitches, Kershaw said it was the right decision since he had not been built up. He has not pitched a complete game since 2017.

I know Gary Sanchez was quoted this week saying that if it had been a pitcher like Gerrit Cole or Masahiro Tanaka, they would have fought to stay in the game. I do not agree with the former Yankees catcher. Baseball is a team sport, and the goal is a championship. Individual stats are nice, but not the ‘be all, end all’. Cole and Tanaka are both professionals who would have placed team priority over self-interest. I saw one Dodgers fan say he would have preferred to see Kershaw pitch a perfect game over a World Series championship. I loved the perfect games thrown by Davids Wells and Cone but they were not more valuable than the World Series championships. If given the choice for one or the other, the World Series championship is the only acceptable answer. 

The Dodgers bullpen may have blown the perfect game and no-hitter, but Clayton Kershaw is headed for the Hall of Fame regardless of the outcome.  

As always, Go Yankees!

Dissecting Trevor Bauer’s Free Agency Wants & Needs

 

Trevor Bauer is the top available free agent starting pitcher on the market and has vowed to do things differently this offseason in his approach to his own free agency. Rather than doing things like most/every free agent available before him, Trevor and his agent Rachel Luba are trying to control more of the flow of information themselves rather than letting rumors and “fake news” dictate the narrative. Personally, I love this approach because through his social media platforms, Twitter and YouTube specifically, Trevor can engage the fans and keep them in the loop. It is also fun to watch him and Luba replying to Jon Heyman calling out his inaccuracies and falsehoods because who doesn’t like to see that? To take that one step further, who wouldn’t enjoy watching Heyman having to credit me with breaking the news on where Bauer signs, and for how much? You want to do things different, then be different. Chris Cotillo breaking the Doug Fister to the Washington Nationals was different, watching all the national Baseball writers having to credit a High School kid was different. Selling yourself on YouTube and creating your brand is also different, but which one is more different? I guess that’s Trevor’s decision, Day 14 of me asking him to allow me to break his news comes tomorrow on Twitter regardless though.

 

Day 13 of me asking @BauerOutage to leak me info on his free agency so Jon Heyman has to credit me when I break the news.

Please support so we can do this! pic.twitter.com/jsS6XWxQhw pic.twitter.com/qPzUdiDEFn

— Greedy Pinstripes (@GreedyStripes) January 11, 2021

Bauer released a video on his YouTube channel last night outlining what was important to him in his free agency search, as well as what may not be as important as much to him. I took notes and will cover as much as I can here in this article, but I encourage you to check out the video below and I encourage you to subscribe to his channel, even if he doesn’t end up signing with your favorite team. It’s a great follow and it’s the inside information and content that I think we, the MLB fans, have been clamoring for forever.

 

First of all, Trevor wearing a shirt that says “Spin Rate” with a spinning top in the middle was the perfect shirt for the video and the perfect way to get his brand out there a little more, in my opinion. I’m an analytical and advanced metrics guy, plus I make t-shirts on the side, so this one touched me personally as a fan. It made me want to buy one, whether he comes to the Bronx or not, and that, in a nutshell, is what Bauer wants to accomplish with his brand. Kudos to him, it’s working.

 

Trevor wants to build a partnership with his next team. Trevor wants a team that is willing to let Trevor be Trevor, but he also wants a team that is willing to listen to him to garner ideas, philosophies, etc. because he thinks he can bring a lot to any team that he signs with. How can you disagree with that given his history, which is something he also specifically touched on in his video. His performance, his durability, his increase in spin rate, etc. were all specifically touched on in the video, as well as his ability to grow his brand, to be able to vlog to his fans, to be able to help people through charities (HOPE WEEK for the win, am I right?), and to help his teammates get the recognition that they deserve. Trevor used being an inspiration for kids and getting his teammates to their favorite concerts as examples of this. Trevor wants to be a great teammate and grow with everyone, which spits in the face of the narrative that he and former teammate Gerrit Cole being on the same causing a ruckus in the Bronx. Trevor has stated multiple times that he has no issues with Cole and that playing on the same team as the Yankees workhorse would not be an issue for him, or for the rest of the team. Trevor is a genuine guy and I believe him. Could he just be saying that to keep the dream alive that the Yankees and their checkbook are still in the fold potentially? Sure, but again… Trevor seems like a genuine guy. If he had an issue with Cole I don’t think he would go out of the way to trash him, but at the same time I think his responses would have been much different when asked as well.

 

Trevor outlined what is important to him, and what isn’t so important to him, in the video, but stated that he didn’t want his “important” list to be construed as a demand list. Trevor mentioned multiple times that it was a preference of his but continued to stress that this would be a partnership between him and his new team. What isn’t so important to Trevor is geography and the size of the media market that he would be entering via free agency. Trevor knows he can build his brand on Twitter and YouTube whether he pitched in the Bronx or whether he pitched in Bismarck, North Dakota. Trevor has proven this, we are all sitting here talking about him this winter after being drafted by a small market team in the Arizona Diamondbacks before making a name for himself in equally smaller markets in Cleveland and Cincinnati.

 

What is important to Trevor is his happiness. Trevor stated that he has spent a lot of time, both his personal life and his baseball life, unhappy and that he doesn’t want to waste more of his time staying that way. Kudos to him. Life is short, way too short, and every second you spend unhappy is a second that you won’t get back. Trevor also wants a team that is willing to accept the way Trevor goes about himself and the way he goes about getting ready for the game. Trevor mentioned how he was told he shouldn’t throw weighted balls by the Diamondbacks because he would throw his arm out, and how that now most pitchers throw with weighted balls. Bauer wanted to emphasize that this didn’t mean that he was necessarily un-coachable, but instead emphasized the partnership with any potential team he signed with. Bauer is open to ideas from his next pitching coach and organization but wants it to be a two-way revolving door with the organization and pitching coach also willing to listen and potentially implement some of his ideas. I think this is where the Yankees may gain a slight advantage, given that former Indians pitching coach and current Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake know Bauer very well.

 

Trevor knows he has a finite number of years to play at the MLB level and he wants the opportunity to not only compete for a World Series every year, which he would get in the Bronx, but he also wants to win a World Series. In my opinion, the Yankees window to win the World Series is two years, subject to change. After two years the contracts of Aaron Judge, Gleyber Torres, etc. begin getting expensive through arbitration and that will dictate how long the window stays open. Adding Bauer, depending on the length of the contract of course, potentially extends that window accordingly.

 

Bauer also wants to at least have a discussion about pitching every fourth day, stating that he tracks everything about his body and his performance. Bauer thinks he can be even better pitching every fourth day, which in a lot of ways would work best for the New York Yankees. The Yankees need innings and Bauer pitching every fourth day instead of every fifth day could solve a lot of problems in the Bronx. Bauer specifically touched on how him pitching every fourth day could potentially allow a pitcher who pitches better on five- or six-days rest (check Masahiro Tanaka’s stats with the extra day of rest for an example. We all know he prefers to come back here and could presumably be had for “cheap”) or a pitcher on a team-imposed innings limit (Clarke Schmidt, Domingo German, Deivi Garcia, and eventually Luis Severino come to mind immediately) could benefit from having Bauer pitch more often.

 

What it will come down to is money. Bauer has a pretty good idea what he is worth, and he wants to be compensated fairly for it, not only for his projections into 2021 and beyond, but from his past as well. Bauer noted and recognized that he has had good seasons and down seasons, but his durability and uptick in spin rate, etc. This is where I believe it gets dicey for the Yankees, specifically. Is the mandate to get under the $210 million luxury tax threshold posturing, or is it a real mandate? I am leaning towards the former and not the latter, but unfortunately, I know just as much (or as little) as the rest of us. I do know one thing though, if the Yankees want him here and if Bauer wants to pitch for this club, they can get creative and work something out. Defer money, whatever needs to be done.

 

We learned a lot by listening to Bauer, more than we ever learned from Jon Heyman tweets this offseason, so I compiled them into a PROS and CONS list specifically linked to my favorite team, the New York Yankees.

 

PROS:

 

• Yankees HOPE WEEK
• A seemingly fun, young(er) clubhouse based on the love of the game and unity.
• A media market and fan base that would embrace Trevor’s ideologies on the game in terms of social media, analytics, and the desire to win a World Series every single year.
• Former Indians pitching coach Matt Blake is the pitching coach in the Bronx

 

CONS:

 

• I don’t think the Yankees will meet the fiscal needs of Trevor outlined in his video so that he can continue to grow his brand. The $210 million mandate is real, whether they say it out loud or not.

 

Will the Yankees sign Trevor Bauer this offseason? In my opinion, the only thing keeping them from signing him will be his fiscal demands. I think given a two-year championship window that the tax shouldn’t be a concern, especially with the new CBA presumably coming after this season (and all the fiscal unknowns that come with it), but I am not in those war room discussions. I personally would buy a Bauer shirt/jersey day one if he signed in the Bronx and I think a ton of others would, but none of us know what’s going on inside the mind of Hal Steinbrenner. One thing I think we all know for a fact, though, is that the Yankees need pitching and Bauer is the best pitcher available. Bauer would make every single player on that team better and he would make every decision that Matt Blake, manager Aaron Boone, and GM Brian Cashman makes that much easier. It is the perfect storm, and the storm is here, now it’s up to the Yankees to walk into the eye of that storm and grab the most coveted piece on the free agent market… you know, like George would have done.

 

Get Greedy, Get Bauer.