Five Yankees Related Movies for Your Upcoming Weekend

The weekend is here and if you’re like me you’re just getting off of work. What will you do for the rest of this weekend? Do you have any plans? If so, leave them below in the comments section. If not here are a few Yankees related movies that you could watch while waiting on the Yankees game. Or, you know, you could always come chat with us on Twitter by sending @GreedyStripes a tweet. That’s always an option as well. On to the movies!!


“The Babe” is obviously a movie about Babe Ruth, the Yankees legend, but this movie covers it all. His time with the Boston Red Sox, the purchase from the New York Yankees, his time with the Braves, etc. It’s definitely an interesting one to watch.


The Pride of the Yankees is a movie covering the life and playing career of Lou Gehrig. I’m sure everyone knew that by now but how can you not watch this movie if you see it on television? Also, how can you not get goosebumps when Gehrig “considers himself… the luckiest man…. On the face of this Earth?”


At one point this season when I listed my Top 10 favorite baseball related movies I caught flak for not including the Yankees-themed movie “61*” so you best believe I am including it here. This movie covers the single-season home run chase in 1961 by Roger Maris, who hits 61 passing Babe Ruth who hit 60 home runs in a single season in less games (hence the asterisk), and teammate Mickey Mantle. I absolutely love this movie and I love Barry Pepper as an actor so this one I have watched at least 50 – 100 times already in my lifetime.


Finally you have “The Scout” which has Brendan Fraser as a pitcher for the Yankees. This movie covers it all, not only the game on the field but Fraser adapting to life in the big city and life in the big leagues after not coming through the system in the traditional sort like most pitchers. This is a great movie and one of my absolute all-time favorites, check it out. It has George Costanza for crying out loud, how could it be bad?

Meet a Prospect: Mickey Gasper

With their 27^th round pick, 817^th overall, in the 2018 MLB First Year Players Draft the New York Yankees selected Mickey Gasper, a first baseman out of Bryant University in Rhode Island. Surprisingly, Gasper was the first, first baseman to be drafted by the Yankees in the 2018 Draft, so let’s meet him. This is Meet a Prospect: The Mickey Gasper Edition.

Gasper stands 5’10” and weighs in at 190 lbs. as he throws right-handed and bats from both sides of the plate. Gasper was originally listed as a catcher at the time of him being drafted, but the Yankees requested that he be listed as a first baseman going forward. Gasper is a four-year college senior that slashed .344/.469/.524 with 119 RBI while playing at Bryant University. As a senior Gasper slashed .340/.468/.539 with just 20 strikeouts in over 200 at-bats.

Gasper is a power hitter and the Yankees are hoping that some of his doubles turn into home runs as he matures and fills into his body going forward. Gasper has played in the Cape Cod League in 2016 and 2017 meaning he knows his way around a wooden bat, an important aspect as he begins his professional career with the Yankees.

Mickey has already decided to sign with the club so let’s welcome him not only to the organization, but to the Yankees family as well. You can follow Mickey on Twitter by giving @_Mick_the_Kid_ a follow.

Yankees Top Prospects List Post 2018 MLB Draft

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

1.       Estevan Florial

2.       Justus Sheffield

3.       Albert Abreu

4.       Chance Adams

5.       Luis Medina

6.       Jonathan Loaisiga

7.       Domingo German

8.       Anthony Seigler

9.       Dillon Tate

10.   Freicer Perez

11.   Thairo Estrada

12.   Domingo Acevedo

13.   Billy McKinney

14.   Matt Sauer

15.   Trevor Stephan

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

Meet a Prospect: Keegan Curtis

With their 22^nd round pick, 667^th overall, in the 2018 MLB First Year Players Draft the New York Yankees selected Keegan Curtis, a right-handed pitcher out of the University of Louisiana Monroe. Another round and another college experienced right-handed arm to add to the fold, let’s meet him. This is Meet a Prospect: The Keegan Curtis Edition.

Curtis stands 6’0” and weighs in at 175 lbs. and was drafted as a college senior with a .600 winning percentage in 20 games played at ULM. Curtis allowed just 11 runs all season long including two home runs which was good for a 2.88 ERA and seven saves as a closer. Curtis struggled as a starting pitcher in his previous three collegiate seasons before breaking out in 2018 while pitching out of the bullpen.

Curtis could be fast-tracked through the Yankees system as a relief pitcher, although it wouldn’t surprise me to see the team try and pitch him as a starter a la Chance Adams, Jonathan Holder and others.

Keegan has already agreed to a contract with the organization so let us not only welcome him to the team, but to the Yankees family as well. You can follow Keegan on Twitter by following @Curtis_Keegan06.

Meet a Prospect: Mitchell Robinson

With their 21st round pick, 637^th overall, in the 2018 MLB First Year Players Draft the New York Yankees selected Mitchell Robinson, a third baseman out of the University of British Columbia. Robinson was previously drafted four years ago out of High School by the Miami Marlins in the 22^nd round, but ultimately decided to head to college where he was a four-year senior. Let’s meet him. This is Meet a Prospect: The Mitchell Robinson Edition.

Robinson is a large guy down at third base standing 6’3” and weighing in at 200 lbs. Robinson is right-handed both in batting and throwing and he uses his big frame to generate a ton of power while at the dish. As a senior, Robinson posted an impressive .361 average with eight home runs and 54 RBI while taking more walks, 28, than he struck out, 27, all of the 2018 season.

Robinson has the potential to be a versatile player for the Yankees in their minor league system after playing third base, catcher and first base while at the University of British Columbia, with Florida International and at Central Arizona University. Robinson’s defensive versatility and polished college bat may see him fly through the Yankees system in a couple of years.

Mitchell has already signed with the club since the draft so let’s welcome him not only to the Yankees organization, but to the Yankees family as well. You can follow Mitchell Robinson on Twitter by following @mitchrobinson44.

Meet a Prospect: Alex Guerrero

With their 18^th round pick, 547^th overall, in the 2018 MLB First Year Players Draft the New York Yankees selected Alex Guerrero, a catcher from Eagle High School in Idaho. Guerrero, in an interesting stat, did not have a stolen base during his entire High School baseball career, so let’s meet the man who far from threatens starting pitching while on the base paths. This is Meet a Prospect: The Alex Guerrero Edition.

Alex stands 6’0” and weighs in at 185 lbs. batting from the left side but throwing from the right. I joked about his lack of stolen bases while in High School and mentioned that he did not threaten starting pitchers while on the bases, but he definitely threatened them as a senior at Eagles High School with his bat. Guerrero batted .413 with three home runs, 16 RBI and eight doubles which was good for a .532 OBP and .682 slugging percentage.

Here is what PerfectGame.org had to say about Guerrero prior to the Draft:

“GUERRERO IS SOLID BEHIND THE PLATE DEFENSIVELY BUT HIS BEST TOOL IS HIS STRONG LEFTHANDED BAT. HE HAS QUICK HANDS AND A SHORT AND DIRECT SWING AND HAS SHOWN THE ABILITY TO DRIVE THE BALL WITH CARRY TO ALL FIELDS. GUERRERO HIT .452-3-24 AS A JUNIOR AT EAGLE HIGH SCHOOL, AND AT WASHINGTON, WHERE HE IS SIGNED, HAVING AN OUTSTANDING TRIO OF CATCHERS IN THEIR 2018 SIGNING CLASS, IT HAS BEEN SPECULATED THAT GUERRERO MIGHT MOVE TO A CORNER POSITION TO GET HIS BAT IN THE LINEUP.”

Guerrero has already signed with the club, thus foregoing his commitment to the University of Washington, so let’s welcome him not only to the Yankees organization, but to the Yankees family as well. Guerrero unfortunately does not have a Twitter account that we know of, so we will have to send our congrats and well wishes the old-fashioned way I guess. Make us proud, Alex.

Oh, and it is also worth mentioning that in High School the newest Yankees catcher did post a 4.1 GPA and scored a 1360 on his SAT’s. Between that and his decision to sign with the Yankees the guy seems to be a pretty smart guy.

Meet a Prospect: Derek Craft

With their 16^th round pick, 487^th overall, in the 2018 MLB First Year Players Draft the New York Yankees selected Derek Craft, a center a wide receiver a right-handed starting pitcher out of the University of Texas-San Antonio (UTSA). Craft is an imposing figure out on the mound, so let’s meet him. This is Meet a Prospect: The Derek Craft Edition.

Craft stands 6’8” and weighs in at 200 lbs. making him an uncomfortable at-bat for opposing hitters every time that he takes the mound. Craft was dominating as a junior posting a 1.89 ERA in 52.1 innings of work as he split time between the bullpen and the starting rotation. Craft made 24 appearances in 2018, although only three of them came as a starter, and held opposing hitters to a .211 batting average against while striking out 62 in 52 innings of work.

2018 was definitely a breakout season for Craft after struggling for much of his sophomore season so be on the lookout for him as he could potentially fly through the Yankees system. New York may opt to go the Chance Adams route with Craft and convert him into a starter, or the team could simply have another bullpen weapon waiting in the wings for Aaron Boone’s disposal in a couple of seasons.

Craft has signed with the New York Yankees as of the time of this writing so let’s all welcome him not only to the organization, but to the Yankees family as well. You can follow Derek on Twitter by giving @pitchDMC a follow. While you are there go ahead and give us a follow as well, @GreedyStripes. We follow back!

Meet a Prospect: Nick Ernst

With their 15^th round pick, 457^th overall, in the 2018 MLB First Year Players Draft the New York Yankees selected Nick Ernst, a right-handed starting pitcher out of Miami University in Ohio. It will be a while before we see Ernst on the mound at any of the Yankees affiliates as this season the right-hander tore his UCL, resulting in Tommy John surgery, but let’s meet him regardless. This is Meet a Prospect: The Nick Ernst Edition.

Now I know what you’re thinking, the Yankees drafted yet another college experienced right-handed starting pitcher for their upper levels of their farm system. Yes and no. As I alluded to earlier Ernst tore his UCL and has already undergone Tommy John surgery to repair the ligament, a surgery that will force him to miss the 2018 season and likely most of the 2019 season. When healthy Ernst is not the type of pitcher the Yankees have drafted recently in previous drafts. Ernst is a huge frame standing 6’3” and weighing in at 195 lbs. but that is where the similarities begin and end. Ernst is not a guy throwing in the high 90 MPH range and he is not going to be a pitcher that strikes out nearly 10 batters per nine innings either. Instead Ernst sits around 92 MPH with the ability to touch 94 MPH with a devastating slider that he uses as his out pitch. 

Here is what CollegeBaseballCentral.com had to say about Ernst: 

 “MOST TEAMS WOULD STRUGGLE AFTER LOSING THEIR FRIDAY NIGHT STARTER TWO WEEKS INTO THE SEASON. NOT ONLY DOES THAT MEAN YOU’VE LOST WHAT IS TYPICALLY THE BEST STARTING PITCHER ON THE ROSTER, BUT IT ALSO MEANS THAT EVERYONE ELSE ON THE STAFF HAS TO SLIDE DOWN A SPOT, WHICH HURTS YOUR DEPTH.

MIAMI (25-15, 11-7) WAS IN THAT POSITION AFTER THE SECOND WEEKEND OF THE SEASON, WHEN NICK ERNST WENT DOWN WITH A TORN UCL. THAT WAS AFTER, MIND YOU, ERNST BEGAN HIS SEASON BY THROWING SIX INNINGS AGAINST ARIZONA STATE, GIVING UP JUST FOUR HITS AND ONE RUN WITH NO WALKS AND SIX STRIKEOUTS IN A 4-2 WIN THAT GAVE THE REDHAWKS THEIR FIRST OPENING DAY WIN SINCE 2007.”

“NICK ERNST LOOKED LIKE HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO A BREAKOUT JUNIOR SEASON AS HE SHUT DOWN ARIZONA STATE IN MIAMI’S SEASON OPENER, BUT HE LEFT HIS NEXT START WITH AN ELBOW INJURY THAT REQUIRED TOMMY JOHN SURGERY. ERNST COULD HEAD BACK TO THE REDHAWKS FOR HIS SENIOR SEASON, BUT HE COULD STILL BE DRAFTED BY A TEAM INTRIGUED BY HIS 90-94 MPH FASTBALL AND PROMISING SLIDER.”

Nick has already signed with the team since the draft so welcome to the Yankees organization, and welcome to the Yankees family as well. You can follow Nick on Twitter by following @NickyE123.

Meet a Prospect: Daniel Bies

Another pick by the New York Yankees in the 2018 MLB Draft and another huge-framed, big-stature, experienced college right-handed starting pitcher for the farm system. Following a recent trend for the Yankees that dates back to the 2017 MLB Draft the Yankees are stockpiling experienced right-handed starters via the draft and the latest is Daniel Bies, a starter from the University of Gonzaga. Let’s meet him. This is Meet a Prospect: The Daniel Bies Edition.

Bies stands 6’8” and weighs in at 245 lbs. giving the Yankees another option for either their football or basketball team of pitchers the organization is seemingly putting together. Bies throws and bats right-handed and was the team’s 7^th round selection this year in the draft, 217^th overall.

In 16 starts as a red-shirt junior this season Bies posted a 7-4 record with a 2.49 ERA along with 125 strikeouts and just 25 walks in 112 innings of work. That’s all the Yankees need, another pitcher with nearly a 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings ratio.

Here is what Baseball America had to say about Bies before the Draft:

“ONE OF THE BIGGEST PITCHERS IN THE 2018 DRAFT CLASS, BIES IS A 6-FOOT-8, 245-POUND RIGHTHANDER WHO HAS A FASTBALL UP TO 94 MPH AND AN ABOVE-AVERAGE BREAKING BALL. BIES HAD TOMMY JOHN SURGERY IN HIGH SCHOOL AND REDSHIRTED DURING HIS FIRST YEAR WITH GONZAGA, BUT HE HAS IMPROVED EACH SEASON SINCE 2016. BIES HAS TURNED INTO AN ABOVE-AVERAGE STRIKE THROWER AFTER WALKING MORE THAN ONE BATTER PER INNING IN A SHORT 2016 SEASON AND THEN OVER FIVE BATTERS PER NINE INNINGS IN 2017. THIS SPRING, BIES HAS GONE RIGHT AFTER HITTERS WITH A SOLID-AVERAGE FASTBALL THAT PLAYS UP THANKS TO HIS SIZE AND THE PLANE HE’S ABLE TO GET ON THE BALL.”

Bies has already agreed to sign with the Yankees so congratulations to him and his family. Welcome to the organization and welcome to the family. You can follow Daniel on Twitter by following @DBies21, or you can follow this Daniel by following @GreedyStripes. Thank you!

Meet a Prospect: Rodney Hutchison

The New York Yankees love to draft experienced college right-handed starting pitchers in the draft and develop them into useful pieces at the Major League level. The plan remains the same with the latest right-handed college arm to be drafted by New York in the draft, sixth-round pick and 187^th overall pick out of the University of North Carolina, Rodney Hutchison Jr. Let’s meet him. This is Meet a Prospect: The Rodney Hutchison Edition.

Hutchison stands at an intimidating 6’6” and weighs in at 225 lbs. meaning if the right-hander doesn’t make it to the MLB level he has a definite fall back with the basketball team of pitchers that New York is preparing for. Hutchison has a fastball that can touch 94 MPH, a plus changeup and a slider (a pitch that the Yankees brass love) that is developing as his out-pitch. Hutchison split time this season with the UNC Tarheels bullpen and starting rotation where he posted a 3-3 record with a 4.63 ERA. Those numbers aren’t eye popping by any means, but his numbers as a starter were much more impressive than they were as a member of the bullpen.

Here is what Baseball America had to say about Hutchison before the draft:

“LISTED AT A THICK, 6-FOOT-6, 239 POUNDS, HUTCHISON’S STUFF HAS TAKEN A JUMP IN 2018 AND HE THROWS A HEAVY FASTBALL WITH LATE ARM-SIDE RUN FROM A LOW THREE-QUARTERS ARM SLOT. PRIMARILY WORKING AT 90-92 MPH HIS FIRST TWO SEASONS, HUTCHISON HAS LIVED 92-94 MPH MORE FREQUENTLY THIS SPRING AND TOUCHED 96 MPH IN AN EYE-OPENING OUTING IN FRONT OF SEVERAL ROWS OF SCOUTS AT THE ACC TOURNAMENT. HUTCHISON PAIRS HIS FASTBALL WITH A PLUS, MID-80S CHANGEUP WITH LATE FADE AWAY FROM LEFTHANDED HITTERS AND HE’S IMPROVED THE FEEL OF HIS SLIDER, THROWING IT HARDER AND TIGHTER. BECAUSE OF HIS LOW SLOT AND THE SHEER MOVEMENT OF HIS PITCHES, HUTCHISON CAN LOSE THE ZONE AT TIMES, GETTING HIM INTO TROUBLE. WHILE HE NEEDS MORE POLISH AND TO TIGHTEN HIS COMMAND, HUTCHISON’S VELOCITY SPIKE, PLUS CHANGEUP AND IMPROVED BREAKING PITCHES GIVE HIM INTRIGUING UPSIDE.”

Here's to hoping that Hutchison, a Yankees fan growing up, signs with the club. Go Yankees!!

ARTICLE REVISIT: Meet a Prospect - Clint Frazier

Clint Frazier is up with the Yankees at least for a few more days, if not forever, so let's take a look at the scouting report and Meet a Prospect post we had for him here on the blog back in 2016. Enjoy.

The New York Yankees are going through top prospects in their system like most people go through underwear, they have a new one every day or every other day it seems. I joke about people changing their underwear every other day, at least I hope that I am, but not about the Yankees top prospects in their system. For the entire season it was Jorge Mateo who occupied the top spot until Aroldis Chapman was sent to the Chicago Cubs and Gleyber Torres was brought in to dethrone the Yankees shortstop. Now like many transitions and power struggles there is a new king already after the Andrew Miller trade and his name is Clint Frazier. Don’t let the red hair fool you, Frazier is the real deal. Let’s meet him. This is Meet a Prospect: The Clint Frazier Edition.


Clint Frazier was born on September 6, 1994 in the Atlanta, Georgia area where he attended high school at Loganville High School in Loganville, George. Frazier was a top prospect entering the 2013 MLB First Year Players Draft and caught the attention of the Cleveland Indians who took the outfielder with the fifth pick overall that season. Frazier had committed to the University of Georgia but the Indians offer was too good to pass up thus beginning his professional career.


Frazier is a former third baseman and pitcher which shows you that he has a strong throwing arm but it is center field where he is making his mark at these days and he played at that position for most of his Cleveland Indians tenure. While in the Indians system Frazier cemented himself as a powerful prospect that has 30 home run potential in his future while stealing an absolute ton of bases as a

potential five-tool player. Frazier is an aggressive hitter but he has worked on that in recent years and has seen his strikeout numbers go down while his contact and walk numbers go up which is always encouraging for a prospect. It shows maturity at the plate which Frazier definitely has.



ETA for Frazier to the Major Leagues: 2017



Frazier was seen most recently in the 2016 XM All-Star Futures Game where he went 2-for-3 with an RBI double and a stolen base for Team USA while also earning a promotion to Triple-A with the Columbus Clippers. Now Frazier is in Scranton/Wilkes Barre with the RailRiders with the Yankees organization and I think I speak for Yankees fans everywhere when I say we sure are happy to have you. Many of us, myself included, did not want to see Andrew Miller traded but it’s hard to argue against the absolute haul that Brian Cashman got for his lefty closer. So Clint, welcome to the organization .

Comparing Aaron Judge’s Rookie Season to Ichiro Suzuki’s

The New York Yankees far exceeded expectations here in 2017 and much of the team’s success hinged on their pitching and the bat of one man, Aaron Judge. In the early parts of the 2017 season New York had many hot hitters including Chase Headley but while many hitters came back down to Earth or continued to play to the back of their baseball cards Aaron Judge just kept hitting and hitting, and amazing people and amazing people. Judge had his struggles, no doubt about it, and Judge still strikes out far too much, in the world of sabermetrics though I am not sure many care at this point, but one thing is for certain. Aaron Judge is a scary man at the plate and his presence along with his 52 home runs this season may get him not only the Rookie of the Year Award in the American League but the MVP Award as well. The last man to win the Rookie of the Year Award and the MVP in the same season was Ichiro Suzuki, who wasn’t really a rookie after playing for so long in the Japanese League, so let’s compare Judge’s 2017 season to Ichiro’s 2001 season.

Ichiro – 2001 Stats:

Year	Age	Tm	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
2001	27	SEA	157	738	692	127	242	34	8	8	69	56	30	53	.350	.381	.457	.838	126

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Judge – 2017 Stats:

Standard Batting

Year	Age	Tm	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
2017	25	NYY	155	678	542	128	154	24	3	52	114	9	127	208	.284	.422	.627	1.049	171

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

As you can see these stats are almost impossible to compare. Ichiro made his living and made a name for himself as a slap hitter that used his speed and agility to his advantage while Judge simply hits bomb after bomb after bomb in a home stadium that has never been too friendly to right-handed hitters. Aaron Judge is never going to get 240+ hits in a season and is never going to flirt with a .350 batting average but Ichiro could never hit 50 home runs in a season either, as a rookie or not. Two different players with two different stat lines looking to win two different awards in the same season. Will it happen? Stay tuned, and of course good luck to Judge in both races!

Shout out to Baseball Reference for the stat sheets and tables. 

Quick Hit: Billy McKinney to Learn First Base This Winter

The New York Yankees presumably teach a lot of things down on their farm systems and in their various minor league affiliates but one thing more than anything this team may teach is versatility. Flexibility is the name of the game here in Major League Baseball these days and the Yankees are trying to keep pace, whether it be for usefulness on the field or whether it be to boost a prospects trade value is anyone’s guess but nonetheless the efforts are there. These efforts will be on full display once again this winter in the instructional leagues when one of New York’s up-and-coming prospects learns a new position, first base. His name is Billy McKinney and he is one of the many outfielders currently being blocked by the wall that is Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks, Brett Gardner, Clint Frazier, and Jacoby Ellsbury to name a few.

The Yankees announced this week that the 23-year old will learn first base this winter in the instructional league as well as playing both corner outfield positions. McKinney was sent to the Yankees from the Chicago Cubs last summer in the Aroldis Chapman trade along with Gleyber Torres and has paid immediate dividends for the Yankees, especially since New York ultimately ended up getting Chapman back this winter via free agency. Now McKinney faces the possibility of playing for a third team in his minor league career as New York is faced with the decision to protect McKinney and add him to their 40 man roster or leave the outfielder unprotected for any team to snatch him up in this December’s Rule 5 Draft.

McKinney, a left-handed bat, broke out in a big way this season after being promoted to Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre and has opened a lot of eyes not only within the Yankees organization but outside the organization as well. Is this a power move for the Yankees as they prepare to trade McKinney in lieu of a roster crunch or does the team truly want and need another left-handed compliment to Greg Bird? The things that make you go hmmmmm. Stay tuned.

Would the Blue Jays Trade Marcus Stroman to the Yankees?

The New York Yankees are taking care of business here in 2017 which is a surprise to many involved within the organization. It wasn’t a surprise to me, mind you, as I predicted the Yankees would win a Wild Card spot here in 2017 before the season began but I think even the most optimistic person in the world had the Yankees not making big noise until at least the 2018 season. With the 2018 season inching closer and closer to fruition and reality I wanted to begin the “Get Greedy” campaign a little early and ask the question of whether the Toronto Blue Jays would trade Marcus Stroman this offseason and would they be willing to trade him to the Yankees?

Let me start by saying that Stroman is one of those pitchers, like Sonny Gray, that you will have to and should be willing to break the bank for in terms of dollars and in terms of prospects. The Yankees still have a ton of minor league depth as we saw earlier in the day with MLB.com’s Top 100 prospect list and Stroman is a guy that will command one or two of those prospects, and he’s worth it. Stroman is just 26-years old and would come to the Bronx not only AL East tested but playoff tested as well and neither of those elements you can put a price tag on or a stat with. We all know why it would make sense for the Yankees and you don’t need me to tell you why it would make sense for New York, but why would it make sense for Toronto?

Toronto has already come out and said that the team wants to start a youth movement like we have seen in the Bronx and the team has already begun that with the call ups of top prospects Teoscar Hernandez and Richard Urena. Trading Stroman to a team like the Yankees with such a strong farm system makes sense for obvious reasons, New York can part with prospects and the Yankees have good prospects. Toronto could also ask for more since Stroman would be staying within the division and if New York were smart, within reason of course, the team would pay it to acquire a talent like Stroman. It also doesn’t hurt that Stroman is a Medford, Long Island boy who would presumably love to make a homecoming out of this whole scenario.

Every once in a while a trade comes along that not only helps both clubs equally but it makes too much sense not to make it and this one screams that out to me. Call me bias, call me a homer and call me greedy, just get Stroman and don’t call me late to dinner. That’s my motto.

Get Greedy, Get Stroman and remember…. “Height Doesn’t Measure Heart.” #HDMH

So it Seems…. Becoming Baglio.

Good morning everyone. I hope everyone reading this on this beautiful Saturday morning is doing well. I am awake awfully early this morning for a Saturday but that is because today is becoming Baglio day. You’re confused, I know, so let me explain. My future sister in law, Kellie, is getting married today to a great man, Rob Baglio. Congratulations to them both and I couldn’t be happier for you both. Kellie, you will be the second most beautiful bride there ever was to take that majestic walk down that aisle, second only to your sister of course, and I hope for nothing but the best for you and for Rob not only today on your big day, but forever. I love you guys.

And my Kari, I love you. HEY YOU. 

Checking in w/ the Traded Yankees Prospects in 2017

The New York Yankees made quite a few traded this past July 31^st trading deadline that included some highly touted prospects inside their farm system. Let’s check back in with those prospects one last time and maybe gauge how these trades are going to work out for both teams going forward. Obviously it is way too early to tell on these trades involving prospects but this look can give us all hopefully a detailed first impression of the deals.

The Yankees acquire David Robertson, Tommy Kahnle and Todd Frazier.

The White Sox acquire Blake Rutherford, Ian Clarkin, Tito Polo and Tyler Clippard.

In the weeks leading up to the deal there were many scouts that had their doubts about Rutherford’s ability to hit for hard contact and power. Many wondered if the Yankees would be patient with Rutherford or trade him while his value was still high and we all obviously got the answer to that question with this deal. Rutherford has hit .228/.302/.272 with a 72 wRC+ since the trade as of the time of this writing and has still yet to hit for power or hard contact. He’s still young and was technically drafted out of High School, although he was a 19-year old player drafted out of High School, so the sky is still the limit on this kid but it seems as though the Yankees may have gotten the better end of that deal as of right now. Three years from now we could be talking about the worst trade in the Brian Cashman era. You can’t predict baseball.

Clarkin made two whole starts for his new team before a strained oblique landed the lefty in a familiar place, on the disabled list. Clarkin pitched a whole eight innings for the White Sox and pitched to a 6.04 FIP in an extremely small sample size. Different name, same story for Polo who has only managed 79 plate appearances for the White Sox before landing on the disabled list. Polo will represent the White Sox in the Arizona Fall League though because when he was healthy he did produce a .278/.342/.389 and 113 wRC+ batting line.

Finally the curious case of Tyler Clippard. Clippard was terrible in the Bronx, he rebuilt some of his stock with the White Sox and was ultimately flipped to the Houston Astros in a second trade this season. Since joining Houston, again at the time of this writing, Clippard has been back to his old ways posting a 7.71 ERA and 4.85 FIP with Houston but he may ultimately get a World Series ring out of it regardless so I doubt he’s too bothered by it. Clippard looks a lot like the pitcher we saw in New York and a lot less like the guy who had a 1.80 ERA with the Chicago White Sox.

The New York Yankees acquire Jaime Garcia and cash considerations.

The Minnesota Twins acquire Zack Littell and Dietrich Enns.

The Yankees basically got Garcia for free in terms of dollars and cents but not in terms of prospects as the team had to part with a pair of minor league pitchers in the deal. Neither pitcher really fit in with the Yankees long term plans to be completely honest although Enns could have been a bullpen piece for the team going forward. Enns did make his MLB debut this season pitching 2.1 innings allowing two runs on five hits. Shortly after the rough outing in which he labored heavily through his two-plus innings Enns was placed on the disabled list with a should injury. Enns is currently pitching in minor league rehab games and could be a September call up for Minnesota.

Littell has pitched well for the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts pitching to a 2.81 ERA and 3.51 FIP in seven starts. Littell does not fit the mold that the Yankees have seemingly fallen in love with since he is a soft-tossing left-hander but Littell has pitched well in every stop he has made throughout his minor league career so this one may be a hard loss to look back on in three-to-four years.

The New York Yankees acquire Sonny Gray.

The Oakland Athletics acquire Jorge Mateo, Dustin Fowler and James Kaprielian.

The big one, the trade that made the Yankees the Yankees again. The trade that sent three big prospects to the Athletics for right-handed pitcher Sonny Gray. Mateo was obviously the centerpiece of the deal and has hit .283/.328/.480 with two home runs for the Midland Rockhounds. Mateo is striking out at nearly a 23% clip but has played nice defense and has been a nice pickup for Oakland overall.

Both Fowler, knee, and Kaprielian, Tommy John surgery, have suffered season-ending injuries and will not play for Oakland this season. The A’s had their eyes on the future though when they made this deal while New York had their eyes on the present, 2018 and 2019. This deal could be one of those deals that ultimately work out equally as well for both teams given time. 

Five Yankees Related Movies for Your Upcoming Weekend

The weekend is coming and if you’re like me you’re just getting off of work. What will you do this weekend? Do you have any plans? If so, leave them below in the comments section. If not here are a few Yankees related movies that you could watch while waiting on the Yankees game. Or, you know, you could always come chat with us on Twitter by sending @GreedyStripes a tweet. That’s always an option as well. On to the movies!!

“The Babe” is obviously a movie about Babe Ruth, the Yankees legend, but this movie covers it all. His time with the Boston Red Sox, the purchase from the New York Yankees, his time with the Braves, etc. It’s definitely an interesting one to watch.

The Pride of the Yankees is a movie covering the life and playing career of Lou Gehrig. I’m sure everyone knew that by now but how can you not watch this movie if you see it on television? Also, how can you not get goosebumps when Gehrig “considers himself… the luckiest man…. On the face of this Earth?”

At one point this season when I listed my Top 10 favorite baseball related movies I caught flak for not including the Yankees-themed movie “61*” so you best believe I am including it here. This movie covers the single-season home run chase in 1961 by Roger Maris, who hits 61 passing Babe Ruth who hit 60 home runs in a single season in less games (hence the asterisk), and teammate Mickey Mantle. I absolutely love this movie and I love Barry Pepper as an actor so this one I have watched at least 50 – 100 times already in my lifetime.

Finally you have “The Scout” which has Brendan Fraser as a pitcher for the Yankees. This movie covers it all, not only the game on the field but Fraser adapting to life in the big city and life in the big leagues after not coming through the system in the traditional sort like most pitchers. This is a great movie and one of my absolute all-time favorites, check it out. It has George Costanza for crying out loud, how could it be bad?

Enjoy your weekend. 

Baby Bomber to Watch: Freicer Perez

For the first time in a long, long time the New York Yankees have a very strong and an extremely deep farm system. As a self-professed prospect humper, trademark pending, nothing more makes me excited than to watch players like Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez get drafted or signed before working their way to the Major Leagues and succeeding. Now that this crop of Yankees Baby Bombers are up and dominating the league at a high level it’s time to focus on the next wave of Baby Bombers. Now normally I focus on players in Double-A or Triple-A but I am going to dive deep into the Yankees farm system for this one and give you another Baby Bomber to watch, Freicer Perez.

With the trade of James Kaprielian and with what could be the imminent promotion of Chance Adams the Yankees will need a new wave of reinforcements on the pitching side of things. Justus Sheffield is great, Domingo Acevedo can throw 103 MPH fastballs, Albert Abreu, Dillon Tate and Jorge Guzman look to have found and harnessed their potential but what about Freicer Perez? Truth be told Perez may be the best of the bunch when the dust settles and all is said and done and that is a scary, scary thought for opposing batters in the league.

Perez was signed for a mere $10,000 back in 2014, you know… the year the Yankees spent $17 million on international free agents, and has far exceeded any expectations that anyone inside the organization could have given him. Perez started in the Dominican Summer League and was quickly moved up to the New York-Penn League with the Staten Island Yankees in 2016 and in both stops has dominated minor league hitting. Perez, still a teenager mind-you, has his flaws and his biggest issue is that he gives up a lot of hits, almost one hit per inning pitched in both 2015 and 2016 to be exact, but the right-hander has thoroughly improved in 2017 while with the Low-A Charleston Riverdogs. While Perez still gives up a lot of hits, he has given up 91 hits in his first 112.2 innings pitched this season, you can see an improvement in his 22 starts.

Perez has learned how to repeat his delivery and mix his pitches very well and has become more of a pitcher here in 2017 and less of a hard thrower. At the time of this writing Perez was sporting a 2.88 ERA, a WHIP of 1.15, a batting average against of .220 and a staggering 107:39 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Perez throws a fastball, curveball, changeup and a slider and all four pitches have seen upticks in velocity the older the right-hander has gotten. Perez can already reach triple digits on his fastball which has garnered comparisons to another Yankees prospect and All-Star, Dellin Betances.

Imagine if Dellin had been able to figure it out as a starter. Imagine that strikeout potential and power as a starter instead of for 100 innings a season in the bullpen. That’s what the Yankees could be getting with Perez if he develops the way every scout thinks that he will. Perez has better command and a better feel for pitching and for his pitches at Betances’ age though which leads many scouts to believe that Perez will stick as a starting pitcher, which is exciting.

Perez is just 21-years old and has not pitched above A-Ball in his career so an aggressive ETA for the right-hander is the 2019 season in my opinion, which is okay. Perez could conceivably start next season in Double-A and end up in Triple-A by the end of the 2018 season if all goes well. It may come sooner, the Yankees have shown an ability and a willingness to be aggressive with starters when they have to. See Luis Severino. This time next year though Perez may be the Yankees top pitching prospect in the system, or the best prospect period. His upside is that high and his talent is that immense.

Imagine a rotation with Luis Severino, Chance Adams, a healthy Masahiro Tanaka, Sonny Gray and a pitcher who could be dominant like Dellin Betances over the course of six-or-seven innings at a time. That’s scary and borderline unfair. No, that’s greedy and I absolutely love it. 

Why the Yankees Traded For So Much International Spending Pool Money

I have to admit that when I saw that the New York Yankees traded Double-A pitcher Yefrey Ramirez for just some international spending pool money I was a tad bit upset. I was willing and able to rant when I read it. Then I read that New York also acquired some additional money, $1.5 million to be exact, in the Sonny Gray deal with the Oakland Athletics that sent Jorge Mateo, Dustin Fowler and James Kaprielian out west which got me thinking. Why are the Yankees suddenly so caught up in acquiring international spending pool money when the team is no longer under spending restrictions in the IFA market and can spend as much as they want in 2017? So then I started doing some research and here is what I came up with so far.

There has been a change in how the international signing period works and the changes which came from the Collective Bargaining Agreement that runs from 2017-2021 begin with the 2017-2018 international signing period. I am not going to go into the very complicated and detailed reports of the entire agreement but here is the Readers Digest version of it. The new rules allows teams to trade for up to 75% of the pool that the league allots them every single signing period. This year the league gave the Yankees a bonus pool of $4.75 million to spend on international free agents so if you multiple that by 75% and carry the one the Yankees could conceivably acquire $3,562,500 from other teams giving the team a total of 8,212,500 to work with on the international market.

Now it is worth keeping in mind that the Yankees have already signed Venezuelan outfielder Everson Pereira to a $1.5 million deal while also signing Venezuelan shortstop Robert Chirinos for $900,000. The Yankees have made a few other deals as well and according to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com the Yankees have already spent $4.28 million of their IFA spending pool this signing period. That leaves the Yankees $470,000 before what the team acquired in the Gray deal, the Yefrey Ramirez deal and the Matt Wotherspoon deal with the Orioles from earlier last month. If the Yankees were to conceivably acquire the entire 75% in bonus pool money that the CBA allows the Yankees would have $3,982,500 in spending money left but who would the team spend it on?

Well at the time of this writing the #6 top rated international prospect Raimfer Salinas is available as well as #8 prospect Antonio Cabello. The Yankees could be gearing up to make a run at one or both of these top prospects to add to the pool that already includes Chirinos and Pereira. Make it happen Cashman, add all the blue chip potential prospects and talent that the league allows you to add, even if losing a player like Yefrey Ramirez did anger me a bit. There’s a plan in place, a plan that I am personally not privy to, and that plan is in action which truly just excites the hell out of me. 

Yankees Statistical Leaders Through the First Half

The first half is officially in the books and baseball returns today for the second half push. With the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game behind us the fans and the teams have the July 31^st trade deadline, the August 31^st trade deadline, the playoff pushes and the actual postseason itself to look forward to but not before we reflect on the first half one last time. Here are the Yankees statistical leaders through the first half in 2017, here’s to hoping that many of these players can keep up their production in the second half as well. All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference.

The Yankees Offense

At Bats: 

Brett Gardner - 313

Games:

Aaron Judge - 84

Hits:

Aaron Judge - 99

Doubles:

Chase Headley - 18

Home Runs:

Aaron Judge - 30

RBI:

Aaron Judge - 66

Batting Average:

Aaron Judge - .329

The Yankees Pitching

Wins:

Michael Pineda - 8

Losses:

Masahiro Tanaka - 8

ERA:

Starters: Luis Severino - 3.54

Bullpen: Chad Green - 1.91

Strikeouts:

Starters: Luis Severino - 124

Bullpen: Dellin Betances - 53

Saves:

Aroldis Chapman - 8

Shutouts:

Masahiro Tanaka - 1