Nathan Eovaldi, Non-Tender Candidates & the Yankees

MLB Trade Rumors does an absolutely fantastic job on their site not only bringing you rumors, whispers and news but also they do a wonderful job at their original and unique content. One of those such articles I read over the weekend was an article titled "8 High-Priced Non-Tender Candidates" and it originally caught my eye because Nathan Eovaldi was one of the eight. What made me want to write this article was the other seven candidates and whether, assuming they are indeed non-tendered this offseason, any of them would make sense for the 2017 Yankees. 

The seven non-tender candidates according to the above linked article include the New York Mets first baseman Lucas Duda, Colorado Rockies RHP Jake McGee, Arizona Diamondbacks RHP Shelby Miller, Minnesota Twins RHP Tommy Milone, Minnesota Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe, Washington Nationals outfielder Ben Revere and St. Louis Cardinals RHP and closer Trevor Rosenthal. The names that obviously stand up off the page above the rest are Shelby Miller and Jake McGee (not because he is nearly as talented as Miller but because of his power arm, the fact that he is American League East tested and the fact that the Yankees could use another power arm or two in their bullpen).

If the Yankees could get Shelby Miller, and trust me I cannot see in a million years the Arizona Diamondbacks giving up the #1 overall draft pick for Miller only to non-tender him a season later, you have to jump on that every day of the week and twice on Sunday. He's struggled but he is healthy and so damn talented. Sign him up. Jake McGee is another I think the Yankees will look at after seeing so much of him with the Tampa Bay Rays. He was a great arm for them but he has struggled in Colorado and on the road as well. He has battled injuries this season and effectiveness as well but he would immediately slot in as the 6th inning guy for the Yankees if signed. No pressure, just flaming fastballs.

I can't see the Yankees signing any of these seven guys although I can see them working out a multi-year deal with Eovaldi essentially making his 2017 season a wash while they hope for his recovery in 2018. If not it may be bust for the Yankees as far as non-tenders go but that isn't exactly the worst thing in the world anyway, is it?


Oh and in case you were wondering here is what the crew at MLBTR had to say about Mr. Eovaldi:

Nathan Eovaldi, SP, Yankees (5+, $5.6MM): 

Despite his struggles, Eovaldi seemed for much of the year to be a fairly sure thing to be tendered a contract. He continued to show signs of promise in spite of the inconsistencies — a career-best 9.3% swinging strike rate, for instance — and at worst would appear to be a late-inning pen candidate with a fastball that sits at 97 even when he’s starting. But a devastating elbow injury means that Eovaldi won’t pitch next year. The Yankees aren’t likely to pay up just to prepare the righty for free agency, so the only way he stays in New York is through some kind of multi-year arrangement.

Early prediction: Non-tender, barring multi-year agreement

Pedro Alvarez NOT A Fit in New York

Pedro Alvarez, formerly of the Pittsburgh Pirates, was made a free agent last week after being non-tendered by his former team. I have received a slew of emails since asking if the Yankees would be interested in Alvarez’s services on a short-term deal so I figured I would answer everyone at once rather than in a million individual emails, Pedro Alvarez is NOT a fit in New York.

Yes I realize he will come “cheap” and yes I realize that Baseball Reference lists him as a third baseman and a first baseman. Yes I realize we have no true third base backup for Chase Headley and yes I realize he is “versatile” because he plays multiple positions but here’s the thing. He’s left-handed, he stinks up the joint at both positions defensively and he cannot be hidden at the DH position.

Alex Rodriguez is the team’s DH for the next two seasons, Greg Bird is going to take over for Mark Teixeira after this season and Chase Headley has three more seasons at third base. Sure Headley could get injured but the Yankees, and myself, feel more comfortable with Brendan Ryan’s defense over there than Alvarez’s, even if the former Pirates player could hit you 20 home runs.

The Case For/Against Everth Cabrera

I can smell the fresh cut grass, the bags hauling all the balls and the bats, Spring Training is almost upon us. I made the case for Evereth Cabrera to be the next shortstop for the New York Yankees back in I believe November and while I am not making that case again I am once again beating the drum for Cabrera. All the major free agents and big names outside of Francisco Rodriguez and Rafael Soriano are signed and we are in definite minor league deal territory. There is no such thing as a bad minor league deal and there is no such thing as having too much depth. Would Cabrera once again make sense? Let's look at both sides of the equation. 

Pros:

• ·         Switch hitter
• ·         28 years old, youthful
• ·         Three years of team control
• ·         Doesn’t gut the farm system to acquire
• ·         Made less than $2.5 million in 2014
• ·         Above average league rating per 9 and per game defensively
• ·         Has 40 stolen base speed

Cons:

• ·         Coming off a down 2014 season and a Biogenesis suspension
• ·         Had a DUI charge last season questioning his character
• ·         Walked only 20 times in 2014
• ·         Low BA, OBP, and OPS

I can't see an issue with Cabrera joining Cole Figueroa, Nick Noonan, Robert Refsnyder, Jose Pirela and others in minor league camp in a couple weeks. If he doesn't work out he's cut and the team moves on. If he proves he can still do it with the bat the Yankees get more versatile and possibly a better alternative to Brendan Ryan. Not much risk and a whole lot of upside. Where do I sign?

Alexi Ogando the Next Yankees Swing-Man?

The Texas Rangers made Alexi Ogando a free agent after not tendering him a contract before the deadline this week, should the Yankees take notice? Would Ogando fit in as the next Yankees swing-man who can easily jump from the bullpen to the rotation as needed joining David Phelps? If he's healthy, and the Rangers said he was before non-tendering him, then I believe he should at least be in the discussion.

Ogando struggled in 2014 posting a 6.84 ERA in just 25 IP but I truly believe, with nothing to back this up unfortunately other than a guy feeling, that the right hander battled the injury all season long and will be more along the lines of his career 3.35 ERA (including the ugly mark last season) going forward.

The Rangers loss could be the Yankees gain as the team was reportedly upset with Ogando's refusal to pitch in the Winter League's this winter which could have factored into the non-tender decision. Ogando is just 31 years old and used to the abuse that comes along with switching between the pen and the rotation and could essentially save Phelps' arm for the long term for an incentive laden one year contract. I don't see an issue with signing him and letting him play it out in Spring Training and hopefully the Yankees don't either.

Would Juan Francisco Make Sense For New York?

The Boston Red Sox designated corner infielder Juan Francisco for assignment and then non-tendered him to make room on the roster for Pablo Sandoval making Francisco a free agent, would he make sense for the Yankees bench in 2015? In a word, abso-freaking-lutely. Francisco is a first baseman and third baseman in name only at this point in his career, honestly he should be a DH full time, but he can get it done in a pinch. Francisco is not likely to be exposed playing an inning or two here or a game or two a week there. His bat may not be adequate to land an everyday job, even as a DH, but his power would be a welcomed addition to the 2015 edition of the New York Yankees.

Francisco is a career .236 hitter so the team would not be getting a .300 type hitter that is going to change the dynamic of the lineup. Instead the Yankees would be getting a left handed power hitting bench option that could stumble into 10-20 home runs in Yankee Stadium if healthy and productive. Francisco can play some third base and some first base backing up Martin Prado, Chase Headley, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira or whoever else is plugged in between then and now while taking a turn a game a week at the DH position.

At 27 years old Francisco has been asked to come off the bench, fill in at both corners of the infield, hit for power and hit at the bottom half of the lineup. That's nothing more than the Yankees would need or ask of him in 2015 and he makes a ton of sense for what is looking like an offensively deficient team next season.

The Case For/Against Everth Cabrera

Tuesday night was the deadline for teams to offer or non-tender players and the San Diego Padres made an interesting move by not offering a contract to shortstop Everth Cabrera. Cabrera is a 28 year old switch hitting shortstop with three years of team control left and a whole lot of baggage. Just like any free agent, and non-tender candidate, Cabrera would come with pros and cons and we plan to try and list those here.

Pros:

• ·         Switch hitter
• ·         28 years old, youthful
• ·         Three years of team control
• ·         Doesn’t gut the farm system to acquire
• ·         Made less than $2.5 million in 2014
• ·         Above average league rating per 9 and per game defensively
• ·         Has 40 stolen base speed

Cons:

• ·         Coming off a down 2014 season and a Biogenesis suspension
• ·         Had a DUI charge last season questioning his character
• ·         Walked only 20 times in 2014
• ·         Low BA, OBP, and OPS

As you can see Cabrera is not the complete package and would not bring the dynamic to the infield and the lineup that say a Troy Tulowitzki would but in the same breath is more than a simple band aid or stop gap. The farm system does not have a shortstop closer than three years away and the free agency market looks bleak for the foreseeable future at the position and Cabrera could fill the position until a more attractive player becomes available via free agency, in a trade or through the farm system (here’s looking at you Jorge Mateo). Cabrera is not Plan A but he is better than Stephen Drew or Brendan Ryan so if the team doesn’t have plans on acquiring Tulowitzki or a Starlin Castro type they may want to take a long and serious look at Cabrera in 2015. 

Expect Heathcott and Campos Back, Maybe Huff

I was shocked a bit when I heard the news that the Yankees had non-tendered outfielder Slade Heathcott and pitchers Jose Campos and David Huff but history got me thinking that we may see Heathcott and Campos back in Yankees camp soon. In recent years the Yankees have done the same to third baseman David Adams and to some extent Nik Turley, Francisco Rondon and Corban Joseph to get them off the 40 man roster but still with the organization.

New York quickly brought these players back on minor league deals without the 40 man roster obligation presumably on some kind of verbal agreement. I can only speculate here that a similar issue is going on with Heathcott and Campos this season. Both players have often been injured and run very little risk of being claimed on waivers by other teams or picked up by other teams. Huff on the other hand could be doing the same but after a strong second half with the Yankees may be looking to latch on elsewhere.

Don’t panic Yankees fans all this means is the team has three more open 40 man roster spots and could have all three back in Spring Training or back with the team in some capacity in 2015. 

Yankees Sign Esmil Rogers, Avoid Arbitration

#Yankees, Esmil Rogers avoid arbitration with pre-deadline deal per source
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) December 3, 2014

I'm not quite sure I understand this move for the Yankees but anyway, moving on.

David Huff May Be On His Way Out of New York

While the fans of the Yankees are scrambling around trying to find all the information they can about lefties Jose De Paula and Justin Wilson one lefty in the Yankees organization is packing his bags waiting on a phone call. That man is David Huff. Huff was a non-tender candidate when the season ended after posting a sub 2.00 ERA in the Yankees bullpen last season after finding a cutter. With the additions of Wilson, De Paula, and Jacob Lindgren and Tyler Webb knocking on the door I think Huff may be on his way out of New York.

Of course both De Paula and Wilson have minor league options remaining and plenty of team control while Huff heads into his final year of arbitration so the team could always stash these guys in Triple-A at the beginning of the season but I find that unlikely. New York has this uncanny ability to spend an amazing amount of free agent dollars early only to skimp and save towards the end of free agency. Huff is expected to make right at $1 million in arbitration this season and the Yankees may look to fill that $1 million with two players and let Huff go.

This is all speculation and it's way too early to tell but remember where you heard it first, Huff's days as a Yankee are numbered, again.

Yankees Bring Back Matt Daley On Minor League Deal

I know more than one of our readers who comment on the site that will be made happy for Christmas knowing that Matt Daley is back with the New York Yankees on a minor league deal. The deal will likely come with an invitation to Spring Training, although that was not confirmed either way in the press release, after being non tendered just a month ago.

Daley is a Queens native, which always makes having him on the team fun for fans, and was the guy who replaced Mariano Rivera on his final outing of his career that September night in Yankee Stadium. Daley allowed two hits and zero walks with eight strike outs in six innings this season in the majors. Daley pitched to a 2.02 ERA in the minors in 2013 across three levels after coming back from shoulder surgery.

Yankees David Adams Signs With The Cleveland Indians

The Yankees non tendered infielder David Adams before the non tender deadline a few weeks ago with the hopes of signing him to another minor league deal but that thought line is now over. Adams signed a major league deal with the Cleveland Indians today ending his tenure with the team he was brought up with, the Yankees. Thanks for nothing Adams, signed Cliff Lee. I am being sarcastic obviously as I was a fan of Adams and wish he would have come back this year to provide more depth. Good luck in Cleveland sir!

Yankees Believe They Will Get Matt Daley Back

In a world where the Yankees are spending like this current administration New York is not wasting any time getting depth either in the minor league to go with the spending spree and according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post that will likely include Matt Daley. Daley is one of the three guys that the Yankees non tendered in order to clear a 40 man roster spot last week before the deadline. The Yankees feel confident that they will get the 31 year old back on a minor league deal and stash him in Scranton.

Daley was used in limited action last season but impressed including being the guy that pitched that 9th inning after Mariano Rivera was taken out for the final time. Daley pitched to a 2.02 ERA in 53.1 innings in the Yankees system last season and New York seems to really like the Queens native so a deal is likely to get done.

Yankees Non Tender Nix, David Adams, & Matt Daley

The New York Yankees have announced that they will not tender a contract to utility player Jayson Nix, infielder David Adams, and pitcher Matt Daley. Nix was in line to make $1.4 million through arbitration as the others were going to make right around the league minimum so the money was not the issue as much as the roster spots were. I would expect the Yankees to try and work out minor league deals with all three of these guys before long to have them back in the fold for 2014. This drops the 40 man roster to 36 players and one of those open spots is for Brian McCann so is this a sign of whats to come? I hope so.

Tomorrow Is The Non Tender Deadline

Tomorrow is the non tender deadline for contracts and the Yankees 40 man roster is currently sitting at 39 players. This list of 39 players does not include Brendan Ryan or Brian McCann so at least one roster move will have to be made tomorrow to make room for one of these men. Who will it be you ask? Here are a few of the options:

Chris Stewart is an obvious non tender candidate if he is not traded before then because he is a catcher and clears a spot for a catcher in McCann. The Yankees have five catchers on the 40 man roster before McCann is added so at least one of them are going to have to go. Both JR Murphy and Austin Romine have minor league options so they could be sent down to AAA to split time but at the same time these men have more trade value then any of the other options. Both Francisco Cervelli and Stewart are out of minor league options and would make suitable backups but Cervelli may be the better option. I know we can designate another young guy for assignment that will clear waivers and accept a AAA assignment but at least one catcher has to go anyway so why not make the move now right?

Depending on what happens with Alex Rodriguez would have a lot to do with the battle between Jayson Nix and Eduardo Nunez. Both are considered utility infielders with Nunez getting the edge with the bat and Nix getting the edge in defense and versatility. The problem is we already have Brendan Ryan signed as a back up player and we only have so many 40 man roster spots. If Alex is suspended then I could see the Yankees letting Nunez start and keeping Nix or signing an Eric Chavez but the problem with this is we won't know what happens with Alex until well after Christmas. If one of these guys got non tendered it would be Nix but right now I don't see either getting the cut just yet. Nix did agree to being sent off the 40 man roster and signed a minor league deal with us last year though so maybe that can happen again.

Matt Daley and David Huff are also on the brink with both being out of minor league options and fringe players. Huff and Daley could either start or go into the bullpen and relieve, one from the left side and one from the right side, and both players are making the league minimum. We could hold onto them now and DFA them later too so no need in making a move unless we absolutely have to so I see them both staying for now.

Ramon Flores is way behind on the organizational depth chart, especially with the emergence of Zoilo Almonte, and would not be a non tender candidate as much as he would be a DFA option. FLores plays primarily left field and hits for zero power and would not be a substantial loss if say we signed a Corey Hart or Carlos Beltran.