The King of the World...

  

Josh Donaldson, Anthony Rizzo and Michael King / Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg, New York Post

Now pitching, Number 34, Michael King…

It is easy to point to Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo as Team MVPs after twenty-five games. Yet, the Yankees would not be 18-7 and sitting atop the AL East without the huge contributions of Michael McRae King.

Michael King / Photo Credit: Vincent Carchietta, USA TODAY Sports

The case can be made that he has been the Yankees’ most valuable pitcher (starter or reliever). As confidence in closer Aroldis Chapman has started to decline in recent seasons, King’s ability to go multiple innings with his vast array of pitches, shutting down powerful bats, has been tremendous. King, who turns twenty-seven later this month, has been dominant (ya think?). In 17 2/3 innings, he has struck out 39.7% of the batters he has faced, while walking only 4.8%. He is 2-0, with one save, and 0.51 ERA. His fWAR of 1.2 (according to FanGraphs) is the highest among relievers and tied for third among all pitchers with Arizona Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly. They trail only Toronto’s Kevin Gausman (1.9) and San Francisco’s Carlos Rodon (1.3).

Armed with four pitches (four-seam and two-seam fastballs, slider and change-up), King keeps batters flustered as they fail repeatedly. There has been much talk about his mastery of the breaking ball thanks to last year’s tutelage by former Yank Corey Kluber. It is unfair to give full credit to Kluber. I am sure that the Klubot has offered plenty of advice to other pitchers over the years, but credit to the student for taking the feedback and implementing the necessary changes to make the pitch above average in his arsenal which obviously enhances his other pitches.

I remember when Chad Green was a starter, and I felt that he would be more effective as a reliever. It played out to perfection as Green was an elite reliever for a few years although he has slipped in recent seasons. King is the reliever that I would love to see become a starter. Maybe not this year. I loved the 2009 dominance of Phil Hughes as a reliever until he later moved back into the starting rotation in subsequent seasons. King is the 2022 version of the elite reliever for a championship team. Hopefully, if any of the starters miss time, the first call for replacement will be Clarke Schmidt and not King. But for next year and beyond, Michael King should be in the starting rotation with his deadly weaponry.

King was primarily a starter in the minor leagues with fifty-nine starts in eighty games pitched. If Jameson Taillon is not re-signed this coming off-season (he should be), King needs to be the arm that is slotted as his replacement. I love Nasty Nestor Cortes, Jr, but I would prefer him as the long reliever and spot starter with King in the rotation. Not this year…I would not want to disrupt a good thing…but as a future thought.

King was born in Rochester, New York on May 25, 1995. He went to high school in Rhode Island and pitched collegiately for Boston College. He was taken in the 12^th round (353^rd selection) of the 2016 MLB Draft by the Miami Marlins. The Yankees acquired King from the Marlins after the 2017 season, along with international bonus money, for starting pitcher Caleb Smith and first baseman/outfielder Garrett Cooper. I have been down on GM Brian Cashman in recent years, but this rates as one of his best trades, regardless of the spotty success Smith and Cooper have had at the Major League level. It is why I do not blink an eye if Cashman trades a veteran for a young prospect (like he did this past Spring when first baseman Luke Voit, a man without a position, was shipped to San Diego for pitcher Justin Lange or when he sent 4A outfielder Jake Cave to Minnesota a few years ago for RHP Luis Gil). Give these types of moves the necessary time to marinate.

King’s mission is simple. Help bring a World Championship back to the Bronx. There is no doubt he is doing his part. It is up to the other twenty-three men on the roster (purposely excluding Judge and Rizzo for their stellar play) to match King’s level of play.

Tim Locastro has been a blessing. When the Yankees acquired Locastro on July 1^st last summer from the Arizona Diamondbacks, the reason was simple. Speed. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL less than three weeks later and his 2021 season was ended. He was waived on November 5^th and claimed by the Boston Red Sox. Fortunately, he was non-tendered by the Red Sox after Thanksgiving, and he signed with the Yankees as a free agent in March after the lockout had ended.

Locastro beat out Ender Inciarte to make the team out of Spring Training and has been an invaluable weapon in reserve. As they say, speed plays. I must admit that I had my doubts. The anterior cruciate ligament injury is serious, and I had concerns it would rob Locastro of his elite speed. Thankfully, Locastro has not slowed down and he is helping to have influence for this year’s club when his name is called upon.

Blue Jays C Tyler Heineman and Tim Locastro (scoring) / Photo Credit: Christopher Katsarov, The Canadien Press via AP

Brian Cashman is smarter than us. Okay, to be fair, I probably have not changed my opinion that it is time for change in the Yankees organization. We cannot change the owner, but general managers have shelf life and Cashman has had a good run. His last championship was in 2009 and he has had his share of clunker moves. The Yankees have made significant strides by upgrading coaching throughout the organization (albeit maybe not at the managerial level). At some point, the Steinbrenner Family faces the decision of whether they can improve the general manager’s seat. With his contract expiring at season’s end, the time could be near. Of course, a World Series championship this Fall would bring the inevitable extension. But I digress. On to the point…

Brian Cashman makes his decisions with the longer-term in view. This past off-season saw the Yankees pass on the elite shortstops, the team’s most pressing need. We now know how well Isiah Kiner-Falefa has fit into the Yankees lineup and has proven to be a better fit than any of the big three elite free agents. I wanted Carlos Correa and yet he has gotten off to a slower start than IKF. He suffered a hand injury earlier this week that was first thought to be broken but has received better news within the past day. Once Correa was off the board, I wanted DJ LeMahieu’s former Colorado teammate, Trevor Story. I was disappointed when he signed with Boston. In retrospect, Story has been a big reason the Red Sox (10-17) currently languish in last place in the AL East, BEHIND the annual cellar-dwelling Baltimore Orioles.

Trevor Story / Photo Credit: Barry Chin, Boston Globe Staff

Story is batting .212/.292/.294 with .270 wOBA and 73 wRC+. He does not have any home runs and only ten RBIs. The other night, when he struck out four times, he immediately secluded himself in the batting cage with a couple of teammates to avoid the press. He stayed in the batting cage until after the clubhouse closed to the media. Dan Shaughnessy of The Boston Globe said it best. “Trevor Story not making himself available to media after 4-Ks and getting booed at Fenway is a bad sign. Fans want new players to succeed. But ducking questions never cuts it here. He’s a veteran. He knows the drill. That’s a ducking move. He can take a few questions, then go off and hit all night.”

Story’s behavior would not play in New York either. Credit to guys like Giancarlo Stanton, who have taken more than their fair share of heat over the years, they are always ready and available to field questions after games. I am sure Story’s bat will come around but suffice it to say that I am glad Brian Cashman was right and I was wrong. Credit where credit is due.

Brian Cashman / Photo Credit: Adam Hunger, Getty Images

No Yankees baseball for the third day in a row. Today’s game, like yesterday, has been postponed due to rain. Friday’s game against the Texas Rangers was rescheduled for tomorrow with a single-admission double-header. Today’s game against the old buddies of Joey Gallo, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Jose Trevino has been moved to Monday with 1:05 pm Eastern start time. Hopefully, the time off will not slow down the Yankees. I never get too excited about winning streaks because the Yankees have a habit of following up with a losing streak. Maybe the added rest days will help re-energize the team for another extended winning streak. The downside of the days off is that Aroldis Chapman is going to be horrendous in his next appearance since he never does well with too much time off.

Soggy Yankee Stadium / Photo Credit: AP

Here's hoping for better New York weather tomorrow…

As always, Go Yankees! 

Wanted: Major League Baseball...

  

Gio Urshela, Gleyber Torres & DJ LeMahieu / Credit: Getty Images

Lockout continues as meaningful negotiations remain evasive…

Normally, the end of the Super Bowl signals the switch of our full attention to America’s favorite pastime, but sadly, the MLB Lockout has forced us to look elsewhere for our sports addictions. The frustration of the short, meaningless meetings that have occurred between the MLB Owners and Players Association is worsened by the fact the MLB Owners could end the lockout with a snap of their fingers. The absence of a new collective bargaining agreement is not the cause of the lockout; it is the owners trying to squeeze the Players into a new owner-friendly deal. Now that spring training has been delayed, the pain will soon begin to reach into wallets. Since nothing else seems to be working, the loss of actual dollars will hopefully motivate the two sides to negotiate, in good faith and with a degree of urgency, to hasten the return of Major League Baseball. It is unfair, in my opinion, that it is the Players who will be hurt more than the Owners until a new CBA is reached.

On Thursday, the MLB announced the postponement of spring training games until Saturday, March 5^th. They had originally been scheduled to begin a week from today. To avoid further delays, next week looms as the most critical week to-date for the extended lockout. I do not understand why the two sides cannot lock themselves into a room (figuratively speaking) and burn the midnight oil until they can hammer out an agreement. I know, it is because the Owners want on new agreement on their terms and their terms only despite the pain inflicted on Players and Fans. Nevertheless, I hope they can find common ground next week so that we can be assured of a full 162-game regular season…and labor peace for the next five years.

As for the MLB postponement announcement, I felt the MLBPA’s response was appropriate: “MLB announced today that it ‘must’ postpone the start of spring training games. This is false. Nothing requires the league to delay the start of spring training, much like nothing required the league’s decision to implement the lockout in the first place. Despite these decisions by the league, Players remain committed to the negotiating process.”

Regardless of whether you side with the owners or the players, I think the MLB fans have suffered the most. The Owners’ disregard for the Fans, except for our money, has been apparent throughout this ordeal. I am tired of the lockout, I miss baseball, and I am ready for Owners and Players to work together for the good of the game.

Can reliever Matt Bowman be this year’s Lucas Luetge? Originally drafted by the New York Mets and claimed by the St Louis Cardinals in the Rule 5 draft before his release led him to Cincinnati, the righthanded reliever carved out an unremarkable career in his four Major League seasons. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2020. The Yankees signed him as a free agent in December 2020 (two-year minor league contract), knowing he would not pitch in 2021. Bowman appeared in 134 games for the Cardinals in 2016 and 2017, amassing ninety-eight strikeouts in 126 1/3 innings. Unfortunately, injuries have curtailed his career since that time. Blister issues plagued his 2018 season which limited his availability and led to his release by the Cardinals. He did rebound in 2019, but 2020 was lost due to elbow soreness which ultimately led to Tommy John surgery. He will be 31 in May but here is hope he will find the fountain of youth and magic in his arm like Luetge did last year. I know he has worked on cutters in recent years and will surely seek out Mariano Rivera for advice when (if?) spring training finally gets started. It is hard not to feel empathy for guys like Bowman who have worked hard to achieve their dreams despite a series of challenges.

Matt Bowman

So, DJ LeMahieu feels badly for the fired Yankees hitting coaches. I read the New York Daily News article this week which quotes LeMahieu saying “We didn’t play up to our capabilities, it’s that simple. It wasn’t their fault by any means. It’s not on them. There were the guys that helped us get to where we were the previous few years…”. Honestly, the shift in organizational philosophy over the last few years put on expiration date on former hitting coach Marcus Thames and assistant hitting coach P.J. Pilittere. Maybe the disappointment of last year’s hitters hastened their departures, but it was inevitable. Once the Yankees brought Dillon Lawson into the organization and the shift toward analytics-driven coaches transformed the minor league system, it was only a matter of time until Lawson was elevated to Major League hitting coach. If the Yankees had not promoted him, it is very possible another team would have poached him. I am happy for both Thames and Pilittere. They both quickly found new homes in their same roles. Thames as hitting coach for Donnie Baseball’s Miami Marlins and Pilittere as an assistant hitting coach in the Mile High City (where he can hang out with Greg Bird and his hairless cat).

My disappointment with Aaron Boone’s return and the new coaching staff. I was ready to move on from Boone this off-season until an extension guaranteed his return. I am not going to go into hate-Boone mode. I will support him as manager of my favorite team, and I will always pull for him to have success. I like Boone, but my biggest disappointment is the return of bench coach Carlos Mendoza. Mendoza should be part of the coaching staff, just not the crucial role as Boone’s chief lieutenant and in-game strategist. I was in favor of experience. Bring in a bench coach who had managerial experience to give Boone better options. Mendy and Boone seem too much alike. Boone needs a guy who can make him better. Watching my favorite football team (the Minnesota Vikings) so closely the last month while they assembled a new coaching staff, it really stood out to me that the Vikings chose to hire an experienced assistant head coach to support young, first-time coach Kevin O’Connell. When O’Connell was formally announced as the Vikings new head coach this week, the team also announced that former Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine has been named assistant head coach. I do not really care that Pettine did not have success as a head coach, but he brings perspective to O’Connell, a very bright and talented guy. I feel Boone could have benefited from a similar arrangement.

The shortstop stopgap solutions took a hit this week. Much of the off-season has centered on the Yankees’ plans for shortstop entering the 2022 season as almost no one except Gio Urshela expects the third baseman to be the Yankees starting shortstop this year. Aside from Andrelton Simmons (ugh), the most frequent name has been Isiah Kiner-Falefa of the Texas Rangers. Kiner-Falefa was expected to be available due to the Rangers free agent signings of Corey Seager and Marcus Semien. However, this week it was announced that Rangers third baseman Josh Jung may need shoulder surgery, and Kiner-Falefa is the most likely replacement at third base. With each passing day, my hope for an elite shortstop like Carlos Correa or Trevor Story fades. While it is possible the starting Yankees shortstop could be young Oswald Peraza, the more likely scenario is a starter that is not currently in the Yankees organization. God, I hope it is not Simmons. I am not energized by a potential return of Didi Gregorius even if he has been working out with Gleyber Torres and Gio Urshela in Tampa. Presently I am praying for Story while bracing for Nick Ahmed. I hope the eventual answer is not worse.

Trevor Story / Credit: Matthew Stockman, Getty Images

As much as I hate to see Aaron Judge get to free agency, I think the Yankees would benefit from waiting until next offseason to extend Judge. If he stays on the field this season, he should be rewarded accordingly. I hope it is with the Yankees since he is the current “face” of the franchise. The premature extensions for Luis Severino and Aaron Hicks have not worked out and I would hate to see the Yankees make another poor financial decision that will impact the organization for years to come. But with that being said, I truly hope Judge is a Yankee for life.

Aaron Judge

Let us hope and pray that the upcoming week brings good news for baseball fans.

As always, Go Yankees!

Wherefore art thou, Baseball? ...

  

MLB Lockout continues with no end in sight…

Monday, when the MLBPA is expected to present their counterproposal to the MLB Owners, will mark ten days since the Owners made their feeble first economics pitch. These talks need to pick up some urgency if Spring Training expects to open on time. At this point, it does seem Spring Training will be delayed, but hopefully the two sides can find common ground to ensure the regular season is not disrupted.

I wish the two sides would come to the table with the intent to hammer out an agreement and stay there until it is resolved. February is slightly more than a week away and it feels the two sides remain miles apart even if they really are not. Yet, neither side has brought proposals that should be seriously considered by the other side. It just seems like each side is saying ‘It is my way or the highway.’ Meanwhile, the fans suffer. From a fan’s perspective, it does not really matter who wins the latest CBA fight. We want restoration of America’s favorite pastime.

Not much happening in the Yankees Universe. With the passing of each day, I think the Yankees will take the lesser road to a stop-gap shortstop for 2022. As much as I think Carlos Correa would be a great Yankee, Hal Steinbrenner is not going to pay the elite shortstop the $350 million it will take to sign him. Scott Boras will get his new client truckloads of cash. He just won’t be getting Hal Steinbrenner’s money. I am beginning to lose confidence the Yankees will be players for Trevor Story. Nick Ahmed, Elvis Andrus, Andrelton Simmons, or Isiah Kiner-Falefa, among others, seem more likely to be Yankees than the talented Story. As fans, we want Carlos Correa, Matt Olson, and Luis Castillo. In Hal’s reality, we will end up with Simmons, Anthony Rizzo, and Carlos Rodon…if we are lucky. I do not have the faith in Steinbrenner to think he will do whatever is necessary to make the Yankees as competitive as they can be. He will do enough to give the appearance that he is trying, while ensuring his family’s cash cow continues to deliver for their pockets.

The only notable Yankees news of the past week involved former Yankees.

Melky Cabrera, two years after his last appearance in a Major League game, announced his retirement. The crown jewel of his career is the 2009 World Series Championship with the Yankees. Cabrera made his MLB debut for the Yankees in July 2005 and remained with the team through the championship season. In December 2009, he was sent to the Atlanta Braves in the trade that brought Javier Vazquez (fail) and Boone Logan to New York. Life in Atlanta did not go well for Cabrera, but he found new life in later years with the Kansas City Royals and San Francisco Giants. He spent time with the Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, and Pittsburgh Pirates to round out his career. He was in the New York Mets organization in 2020 but never made the active MLB roster.

Melky Cabrera / Photo Credit: AP, Frank Franklin II

For his career, he played in 1,887 MLB games. He hit 144 home runs and 854 RBIs, batting .285/.334/.417 with .326 wOBA, 101 WRC+ and 15.0 WAR. His time as a Yankee was fun while it lasted. I can still vividly remember his excitement in post-game celebrations. Granted, that was more memorable than his actual play on the field but still, every team needs enthusiastic supporting role players who can help. Cabrera did and I wish him the best with his retirement and post-playing career.

The other former Yankee made news for very horrific reasons. Sergio Mitre, who pitched for the Yankees in 2009 and 2010, and again late in the 2011 season, was sentenced by a Mexican court to 40 to 60 years in prison for the rape and murder of his former partner’s 22-month-old daughter. Honestly, 40 to 60 years is not enough for his crimes. It is sickening to think he once played for the Yankees. May he rot in prison and never see the light of day again.

Speaking of former Yankees, Ken Davidoff had a nice piece this week in The New York Post about Andrew Velazquez. As we all know, the Bronx native became such a fan favorite last summer. After the season, he was dealt to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. While some players could hold resentment for being traded away, Velazquez is appreciative for his time in his hometown and harbors no ill feelings. Frankly, I wish the Yankees could have found a way to keep Velazquez around, especially given the subsequent trade of Tyler Wade to the same Angels. Velazquez was never going to win the starting shortstop job but with no current true shortstops on the roster, he could have fought for a backup role. In Davidoff’s column, Velazquez was asked to identify the highlight of his time with the Yankees: “I think just putting the uniform on before the game, in the locker room. Taking the field. Little things like that. Warming up and seeing people I knew from my neighborhood screaming in the stands. That stuff, you can’t buy that stuff.” Thank you, Andrew, we are equally appreciative of your time in Pinstripes. We wish you all the best in sunny warm Orange County, California. 

Andrew Velazquez / Photo Credit: AP, Adam Hunger

While I would still love to see Carlos Beltran on Aaron Boone’s staff, I think he would be a fine addition to the YES Network crew to make up for David Cone’s reduced schedule and the retirement of Ken Singleton. The job could eventually help him open doors for future MLB opportunities. While it is tough to forgive the sins of his role in the Houston Astros cheating scandal, he deserves a second chance as much as A.J. Hinch and Alex Cora were given.

I think the New York Giants did well with their selection of Joe Schoen as the new general manager. It seems like only a matter of time until Brian Daboll is named the new head coach. But unlike many Yankee fans, I am not a Giants fan. I am a lifelong fan of the Minnesota Vikings, a team owned by a Giants fan (Zygi Wilf). I think my goal in life is to experience one championship with the Vikings. It is a very sharp contrast to life as a Yankees fan. Early in childhood, it felt like the Vikings were in Super Bowl contention every season during the Fran Tarkenton years. Yet, many years later, there have been a couple of near misses but never legitimate shots for the Lombardi Trophy. While I liked Mike Zimmer as the Vikings head coach for the past eight years, there was no question it was time for a change. I thought GM Rick Spielman might survive, but he was dismissed with Zimmer. Trader Rick always made the NFL Draft fun with his desire to accumulate as many draft picks as possible. A few more hits with those draft picks and he might still be employed by the Vikings.

So, where do the Vikings go from here? It is hard to look at the roster and feel they are Super Bowl-caliber after their 8-9 season. They did lose so many close games this season leaving us to wonder what could have been, but there will be free agent losses this off-season, and the Vikings do not have much salary cap space given how much money they pay quarterback Kirk Cousins. While Cousins is not an elite QB, I would not be opposed to his return under a new head coach that might be better suited to maximize Cousins’ talents. The offense has some talented players with RB Dalvin Cook and WRs Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen. TE Irv Smith, Jr., who missed the 2021 season due to injury, will be back and is expected to be a big part of the offense. Yet, if the Vikings could trade Cousins and his contract, it would allow the team to improve other areas of the roster so I have mixed feelings on the topic. If he is traded, Kellen Mond is not ready to take over as the starting quarterback.

The decisions that must be made will reside with the team’s new to-be-named general manager and head coach. The GM search has been narrowed to two candidates. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, currently VP of Football Operations for the Cleveland Browns, and Ryan Poles, Executive Director of Player Personnel for the Kansas City Chiefs. My pick: Adofo-Mensah. The culture of the Vikings needs to change. One player recently referred to it as a fear-based organization under the Zimmer/Spielman regime. Adofo-Mensah, 40, has taken an unconventional route to the NFL. He played basketball for Princeton, graduating with an economics degree. He also holds a master’s degree from Stanford University. After a brief career on Wall Street, he spent seven years in the San Francisco 49ers organization. His roles included Manager for Research and Development and Vice President of Operations. In 2020, he was hired by the Browns in a role that is essentially the assistant GM to General Manager Andrew Berry. I like the front office experience Adofo-Mensah has gained, and he is ideally suited for success at the next level. I certainly will not be disappointed if Ryan Poles gets the job, but I prefer Adofo-Mensah. The second interviews for both men are scheduled for next week. The new GM could be in place by the end of the week.

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah (L) and Andrew Berry / Photo Credit: Cleveland.com, John Kuntz

The Vikings are on record for saying the GM will be hired before the head coach. When the search started, my favorites were former Eagles head coach Doug Pederson, the only NFL coach to win a Super Bowl in Minnesota (his Eagles won Super Bowl LII on February 4, 2018, at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis) and Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. Since then, I have changed my mind after further researching candidates. While I should not let one game sway me, the way the Cowboys lost their playoff game against the 49ers left a bad taste.

My current favorites for Vikings head coach, ranked in order, are: 1) Raheem Morris, defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, 2) Dan Quinn, defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, and 3) DeMeco Ryans, defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers. It is funny because after a defense-minded coach like Zimmer, I wanted an offensive coach. Yet, with more thought, there are defensive coaches who can better understand the offensive game like Morris. Some Vikings fans are quick to point out Raheem’s dismal performance as head coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2009-2011). Morris was only thirty-two when he was named Tampa Bay’s head coach and he admits today that he was not ready. Now forty-five, he has experienced success in coaching roles on both sides of the ball. I liken this situation to when Joe Torre was named manager of the Yankees and called “Clueless Joe” by the fans (not me, for the record). If Morris can similarly bring championships to Minneapolis, I am all for it.

Raheem Morris / Photo Credit: AP

I hope everyone, except for Rob Manfred, has an enjoyable day. Thanks for reading.

As always, Go Yankees!

The Story of the Week...

Trevor Story and DJ LeMahieu

Linking Trevor to the Yankees…

A new year, the same old toxic relationship between MLB Owners and MLB Players Association as the MLB Lockout continues with no resolution in sight. The longer this goes on, you really must wonder how much time the Yankees will have to improve their roster before the season starts…correction, if the season starts.

The New York Post’s Ken Davidoff released his updated free agent predications this week and has the following players signing with the Yankees after the Lockout ends.

Shortstop Trevor Story

Davidoff originally had Story signing with the Houston Astros to replace Carlos Correa for five years and $110 million. He now sees the Yankees for less money. I entered the off-season under the belief that Corey Seager made the most sense with his strong left-handed bat, and pivoted to Correa, after Seager took big money in Texas, because a great young all-around elite shortstop is a valuable commodity regardless of his past misdeeds. It seems weird to see that we may have to ‘settle’ for Story (some have even referred to him as a stopgap) when, in reality, the guy is really good. I took the position after the season ended that I would be happy with any of the three top free agent shortstops so if the Yankees sign Story, I certainly will not be disappointed. During my years living in Denver, Colorado, Story was a joy to watch at Coors Field. He routinely received huge applause from the home crowd.

First Baseman Anthony Rizzo

Davidoff continues to believe Rizzo will be back in the Bronx on a two-year, $32 million deal. No doubt most of us would prefer Oakland’s Matt Olson via trade, but if the Yankees do not grab a “big fish” (i.e., Olson or free agent Freddie Freeman), Rizzo is better than nothing or in this case, Luke Voit. I do like Voit and his football mentality, but he is more of a DH. Rizzo showed us last season how much great defense at first base can be, and that’s just not Luke’s game. I will truly be disappointed if the Yankee first baseman next season is not Olson, Freeman or Rizzo.

Outfielder Seiya Suzuki

Davidoff originally had Suzuki joining Team Derek Jeter for three years and $21 million. He has pivoted to Suzuki becoming the second Suzuki to play outfield for the Yankees. Ironically, he has Brett Gardner going to the Miami Marlins to rejoin Jeter. Recent speculation elsewhere has Suzuki signing with the arch-rival Boston Red Sox when the Lockout ends. Despite Boston’s re-acquisition of CF Jackie Bradley Jr, they could certainly use some help in the outfield. I would not mind seeing the Yankees sign Suzuki, but I do feel it is more likely he goes to Boston. As for Brett, thanks for the memories. You were a great Yankee.

If this is the Yankees’ 2021-22 off-season, it would be slightly underwhelming if they do nothing else. The Yankees need to improve center field and catching and could use another topflight starter. I like Aaron Hicks when he is healthy, but the reality is that is not very often. Keeping Hicks as the fourth outfielder would make more sense. Although Brett Gardner routinely started as the team’s fourth outfielder because of the injury-prone Hicks, a healthier starting option might help to keep Hicks fresh and less susceptible to injury.

While I keep wanting to support Gary Sanchez, I am slowly realizing that his time as a Yankee has run its course. I wish the Yankees had done something before the Lockout to improve the position, but there is still hope for action once the Lockout is lifted. It seems like Willson Contreras is the most obvious option in a potential trade with the Chicago Cubs, but there are other catchers that would be an improvement over Gary (Austin Nola and Mitch Garver to name a few). Gary, right now, is my top ‘guy in need of a change of scenery.’ If the season starts and Sanchez remains the Yankees catcher, I will support him but if he continues to struggle, the toxic situation is only going to get worse. It is best to clear the slate and start anew.

I like Anthony Rizzo. I know he is not on the same level as Olson and Freeman, but it is not like he is a shlep. I admire his baseball acumen, the defense he provides at first base, and the team-first mentality he brings every day. A great clubhouse leader, he helps bond team chemistry. I still want Olson, but I will not be disappointed if Rizzo returns.

Reports about Jameson Taillon’s recovery and Clarke Schmidt’s health have been positive, but the Yankees must improve the starting rotation. Just as I would not bet the future on shortstop prospects Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza by only signing a true stopgap shortstop (an Andrelton Simmons type), I am reluctant to hedge the future on the emergence of Schmidt, Luis Gil, Luis Medina and/or the disappointing Deivi Garcia. When they are ready, the Yankees will make room. Until then, decisions should not be based on the hope they emerge. I want the young guys to succeed but meanwhile we are wasting the best years of Gerrit Cole, Giancarlo Stanton, and Aaron Judge if we continue to wait for the youngsters to develop. Win now means we need players ready to contribute to a championship today, not tomorrow.

If only MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and the MLBPA could set aside their differences and come to an agreement for the good of the game. I am ready for some actual baseball activity to take place and end the incessant speculation about how to improve the 2022 New York Yankees.

It was disappointing to hear this week that brief Yankees Assistant Hitting Coach Eric Chavez has chosen to join Buck Showalter and the New York Mets as their hitting coach. I had really been excited to have Chavez on the Yankees staff and could have seen him as a viable option if the Yankees ever decide to part ways with fan-not-so-favorite Aaron Boone. But I do not begrudge Chavez for taking a promotion to join the Mets. As excited as I was when I heard he was joining the Yankees as an assistant hitting coach, I was little surprised that he would take an “assistant” role in any capacity. His name had been mentioned in a few managerial rumors for other teams recently. Boone’s analogy that he would be a “Swiss Army knife” made sense but in retrospect, they should have created a title that better fit the position or expectations. I knew once the Mets hired Billy Eppler as their GM, they would be a desirable spot for Chavez given his lengthy association with Eppler. He left the Yankees before to join Eppler in Anaheim, so the precedent was there. For a guy with managerial aspirations, collaborating with Buck Showalter seems to be the better play so I wish Chavez the best and we move on.

One of the names mentioned to replace Chavez as Yankees assistant hitting coach is former Baltimore Oriole Mark Trumbo. I cannot say his name excites me. Right or wrong, I cannot shake the ‘swing and miss’ association I have with Trumbo’s name. The Yankees are apparently looking for someone with strong Major League experience so it seems unlikely the Yankees will do the sensible thing like promoting the deserving Rachel Balkovec. Someone such as Carlos Beltran would be fantastic but there is absolutely no way in hell he would take an assistant role. This is where it might make sense to bring Brett Gardner back unless he is determined to continue playing. Jorge Posada has always seemed like a desirable choice although he might be too joined at the hip with Derek Jeter in Miami, and I am a little uncertain how his intensity would play at a coaching level. I have always liked Tino Martinez, but his partial season run as hitting coach with the Miami Marlins ended in July 2013 when he resigned amidst allegations of physical and verbal abuse of players.

The other big news this week involved Yankees broadcasters David Cone and Michael Kay. David Cone will be joining ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball, along with Karl Ravech and Eduardo Perez. They replace Matt Vasgersian, who has left ESPN, and Alex Rodriguez, who has been reassigned. Cone will reportedly maintain his role with YES Network albeit a reduced schedule. This is one of those happy/sad moments. I am happy Cone will gain a broader national audience, but sad for us as we lose the exclusivity of Cone breaking down Yankee games for us. This was a great move by ESPN.

Michael Kay will be joining Alex Rodriguez on ESPN2 for eight of the Sunday Night baseball games. Their format will be like football’s Manningcast which features Peyton and Eli Manning in a sports bar style setting for a less formal discussion of the game, with frequent special guests. While Kay will retain his role on YES Network, I am in favor of any move that can get Ryan Ruocco into the YES Network booth more often. With Ken Singleton’s retirement and Cone’s reduced schedule, it will be interesting to see who joins the YES Network lineup. I would love to see David Wells in an expanded role although I have no idea his level of interest.

Rob Manfred, please get off your ass and kickstart the negotiations. This ‘wait until the last minute’ shit sucks.

As always, Go Yankees!

All I Want For Christmas Is Baseball...

  

MLB Lockout with no end in sight…

If life were fair, we would have been analyzing the free agent signings and trades of the last week during Baseball’s annual Winter Meetings. But alas, no meetings this year thanks to the greedy MLB owners. They live up to the name of The Greedy Pinstripes blog but for all the wrong reasons.

I think if there is one singular topic, I would like to see resolved is the pay inequity between the superstars (the clear minority of professional baseball players), who get their money and then some, and the minor leaguers and others trying to find their way while living on peanuts. The superstars will always get paid, but Major League teams should be more financially responsible for the care of the younger players in their organization. Obviously, there are multiple other prominent issues that require resolution, and I am not trying to marginalize any of them. It just stands out to me that while owners pocket billions, there is room to help everyone in the game, especially those who struggle to live the dream.

Nearly two weeks into the MLB Lockout, it feels like there has been no progress. It is unfortunate to me that we are heading into 2022 without resolution which most likely means the standoff will be present in February when it is normally time for pitchers and catchers to report for Spring Training. Why cannot grown men lock themselves into a room and settle their differences? For the good the game, they need to work harder to find compromise, and re-open the sport for its fans. The best Christmas present would be a surprise announcement the two sides have been secretly meeting and have come to a fair and mutually beneficial agreement to present to the owners and players for final approval. Yeah, that is not happening.

MLB, please get your shit together. Love, the Fans.

December and the biggest Yankees news is the free-agent minor league re-signing of catcher Rob Brantly. With teams actively signing minor league contracts, maybe the Yankees should sign Carlos Correa to a $350 million minor league deal. Okay, I jest but I am concerned about how much time the Yankees will have to improve their roster once the Lockout ends. Also, on a side note, I have cooled to the idea of handing out $350 million to Correa, an incredibly talented player, when you can sign a gifted Trevor Story and improve other areas of the rosters for less money. I think a stopgap shortstop would be a mistake since it does nothing to improve the roster, but Story would be a good enhancement. Corey Seager would have been a better fit, but Story plus a potential trade for first baseman Matt Olson or re-signing Anthony Rizzo makes more sense at this point. I try not to think about Freddie Freeman as I still think he will go back to Atlanta or at least he should for how much he means to that organization. Would I take Freeman if I had the opportunity? Yes, in a New York minute.

Freddie Freeman, Photo Credit: Carmen Mandato, Getty Images

I respect both CC Sabathia and Jeff Nelson, two former great Yankees, for speaking out this week against the immature comments made by former Yankee Clint Frazier. Nellie’s tweet (@NYnellie43) on December 9^th read: “Here is something for you. You can talk the talk but, you have not walked the walk. Love the confidence but, you have to do something on the field.” My feeling about Frazier is simply that he needs to turn the page. I wish him no ill will and hope he finds the success that has eluded him in Chicago. He needs to focus on his new team and opportunity and take the high road when he looks back on his failed time with the Yankees. I am tired of the infamous attention Frazier has received and feel it is time everyone moves on.

For as mad as Yankee fans were when the Yankees traded outfielder Mike Tauchman, it is funny the guy the Yankees acquired, Wandy Peralta, is the only current Major Leaguer involved in the April 2021 trade. Tauchman started his Giants career with a bang (a homer and four RBIs in his fourth game with San Francisco), but it was all downhill from there as he eventually found himself off the 40-man roster by the end of July. Tauchman has signed a $1 million contract ($300K bonus and $700 salary) with the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization. For his sake, I hope it is a path that will lead Tauchman back to the Major Leagues although I do not pine for his return to the Yankees.

Welcome to the new newest members of the Yankees organization. During last week’s Minor League Rule 5 Draft, they selected 49-year-old outfielder…checks notes…sorry…22-year-old RHP Manny Ramirez from the Astros organization and 22-year-old RHP Steven Jennings from the Pirates organization. The only loss was 27-year-old RHP Brian Keller. He was chosen by the Boston Red Sox as they attempt to find gold in the Yankees organization like they did last year with Garrett Whitlock. Even though Keller is not the prospect Whitlock was, I hate the continued poaching by the Red Sox.

Congratulations to the former players who were elected to the MLB Hall of Fame by the Early Baseball Era Committee. All the names were HOF-worthy…Gil Hodges, Minnie Miñoso, Tony Oliva, Jim Kaat, Bud Fowler and Buck O’Neil. Kaat, a one-time Yank, was nice but I am most excited for the late John Jordan “Buck” O’Neil, Jr.

O’Neil was a special player and manager in the Negro Leagues. He was a first baseman for the Kansas City Monarchs for 10 years and managed them for 8 years. He was a two-time Negro American League batting champ and won four Negro American League titles as manager from 1948 to 1955. He became the first black coach for the Chicago Cubs in 1962. He was later a scout for the Cubs and the Kansas City Royals. His career in baseball spanned 70 years. Famed Big Red Machine second baseman, the late Joe Morgan, once said “Buck was similar to Jackie Robinson. There was more to him than just baseball.” Morgan also said, “He was probably the greatest ambassador the Negro Leagues had ever had.”

O’Neil is credited for scouting former Yankee Oscar Gamble while working for the Chicago Cubs organization in 1968. I never had the opportunity to meet O’Neil, but I did meet Gamble earlier in my life, and it remains one of the greatest baseball memories of my lifetime (all made possible because O’Neil saw the talent in Gamble). Gamble remains one of the kindest and most genuine players I have ever met, and I can only imagine O’Neil was even more so. O’Neil is credited for scouting Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Lou Brock, Lee Smith, and Joe Carter.

For years, I have felt O’Neil deserved a place in the Hall of Fame. Like many, I became aware of O’Neil through Ken Burns’ baseball documentary in 1994. Honestly, it saddens me that it took that long to discover the legend the O’Neil. O’Neil passed away in 2006 at the age of ninety-four. It is unfortunate he did not live to see his induction into Cooperstown, but we will never forget his greatness and enormous impact on the game of baseball.

Buck O'Neil, Photo Credit: Associated Press

As always, Go Yankees!

Silent Days and Nights...

  

MLB Lockout begins but when will it end?...

November was so much fun with the flurry of free agent signings, even if the Yankees chose not to participate, but then, thud, it all ended with the expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and the subsequent lockout unanimously imposed by MLB owners.

As a fan, this really sucks. I know the fun of the free agent signings in November would not have happened without the impending lockout, however, my favorite time of the MLB off-season is the Baseball Winter Meetings which were cancelled this year. The Rule 5 Draft was also postponed so catcher Josh Breaux stays in the organization a little bit longer.

It sounds as though the labor dispute will extend into 2022 and perhaps even into time allotted for Spring Training. The gap between the greedy owners and the players seems so wide. To an outside observer, there have been no signs, at least to me, that the two sides are willing to compromise. After the lost revenues of 2020, it seems almost unconscionable the owners would risk harm to their game rather than negotiate in good faith with the players. Even though the fans pay for the sport, we are the least represented party in this dispute. Everybody wants our money and more of it, and we have no voice except not to pay.

I am hopeful there is progress before the end of the year, but time will tell.

Lindsey Adler of The Athletic reported yesterday the Yankees have promoted Minor League Hitting Coordinator Dillon Lawson to Hitting Coach on Manager Aaron Boone’s staff, replacing the fired Marcus Thames, now hitting coach for Derek Jeter’s Miami Marlins. This is the move I had expected the Yankees to make with their commitment to analytics and the rebounding success of hitting in the Yankees’ farm system this past year. As time moved on, I thought maybe they were looking at guys like Tim Hyers, the former Red Sox hitting coach who joined the Texas Rangers last month, or Brian Snitker’s son, Troy, the Houston Astros hitting coach. With Eric Chavez’s name on the rumor mill, I thought he might be a possibility, but at the end of the day, Lawson makes the most sense to me. The Yankees, due to the MLB Lockout, have not confirmed the promotion but I trust Lindsey and fully expect the formal announcement when MLB business resumes.

Photo Credit: Quad City Times

There is no word about the two assistant hitting coaches the Yankees plan to add, but I remain convinced Rachel Balkovec would be a brilliant and inspired addition. Her connection to Lawson, who brought her into the organization, makes it a natural choice.

Photo Credit: New York Yankees

To assist Pitching Coach Matt Blake, the Yankees, per Adler, will promote Minor League Manager of Pitch Development Desi Druschel to assistant pitching coach. As a native Iowan, I like Druschel’s connection to the University of Iowa. He served the University for five years ending in 2019 as, first, director of baseball operations, and, later, as pitching coach. Go Hawkeyes!

Druschel, right / Photo Credit: Brian Ray, HawkeyeSports.com

Note: With today’s Big Ten Championship looming between the Michigan Wolverines and the Hawkeyes, I had to find a way for a shameless plug of my favorite college football team.

There is no word who will fill the first base coach vacancy, although I will be disappointed if current bench coach Carlos Mendoza is not moved to the position to allow for a more seasoned veteran bench coach to aid Aaron Boone. Some of the names are probably holding out to see who gets the Mets managerial gig. As much as I would hate to see it, Buck Showalter makes the most sense to me. Whomever gets the job is going to benefit from the billionaire owner’s passionate desire to raise his club to greatness. Gee, I wish we had one of those kind of owners…

I get there was no reason for the Yankees to make splashy moves in November, and there are plenty of reasons why the Yankees should not have paid the exorbitant sums of money to the players who were signed. Yet, I was hoping for at least one move that could give us good feelings during this lockout. Sorry, shortstop Jose Peraza is not that guy. Fortunately, there are still plenty of unsigned players who could make the 2022 Yankees better so not all is lost.

My personal feelings about a stopgap shortstop are that it would do nothing to improve the Yankees, currently looking like the fourth best team in the AL East. Carlos Correa is going to cost a lot of money, but he brings greatness to both sides of the ball and would clearly improve the Yankees. He is young with heavy championship experience (regardless of your thoughts about how he got it) and would not be intimidated by New York. He makes the most sense to me, although I remain of the opinion that I would be incredibly happy to see Trevor Story as a Yankee. Either way, the Yankees need one of them. The whole idea of keeping the position warm for the young prospects (Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe) seems ridiculous. They are probably five years from potentially becoming what Correa and Story are today. For a win-now team, we need the best possible players now.

If the Yankees make the long-rumored trade with the Oakland A’s to acquire first baseman Matt Olson, it is pretty much a given Oswald Peraza would be included as part of the package. Everybody is getting excited about the rumors possibly linking Freddie Freeman to the Yankees, but I am skeptical on that one for no other reason than I feel he should and probably will stay in Atlanta.

I do not blame Masahiro Tanaka for declining to exercise the opt-out in his two-year contract with the Rakuten Eagles considering the MLB Lockout, but there was a little sadness when I saw it. I will admit there was a part of me hoping for a reunion with the Yankees. I would love to see Tanaka win a championship with the Yankees. With so much uncertainty surrounding Major League Baseball, Tanaka would have been foolish to opt out of a sure thing. I wish him the best of luck in 2022. Kind of funny that former Yankees first baseman Chris Gittens, released last month to play in Japan, will be Tanaka’s Rakuten teammate.

All I want for Christmas is Major League Baseball. Rob Manfred and Tony Clark, please man up and make it happen. For once in your lives, please think of the fans.

As always, Go Yankees!

Correa, Seager or Bust...

 

Yankees Fans impatiently wait…

Contrary to the title of this post, there is a very real possibility the Yankees get neither Carlos Correa nor Corey Seager. So, whether you feel the Yankees sign Correa, despite his history with trash cans, or Seager, despite his lesser defensive skills (than Correa) and the need for a position switch to third within the next couple of years, it is not our God-given right that we are going to get either one.

I could see a scenario where Correa goes to Detroit to be united with his former manager, A.J. Hinch, and Seager signs with the Texas Rangers, who are this year’s team with “stupid money” to spend. While it seems obvious the Houston Astros will not be players for Correa (based on their low-ball offer), you can never count the Los Angeles Dodgers out for Seager. He is a popular player with the Dodgers fan base, and a talented player on the field. The current third baseman, Justin Turner, will be 37 years old in ten days. Turner played 151 games last season, only the second time he has reached that number in his career, and the likelihood is that his numbers will start to trend downward. Turner will make $20 million in 2022 (counts $17 million toward the luxury tax threshold). His option for $16 million in 2023 can be bought out for $2 million. I can easily see the Dodgers deciding to move on from Turner if he shows signs of slippage in 2022. It makes sense to retain Seager to replace Turner and begin the transition next season, particularly if the universal DH is adopted in the National League. Trea Turner becomes the shortstop and insert Gavin Lux at second base. The Dodgers have the cash to make this work.

I am not trying to be a downer, but we need to set realistic expectations. If the Yankees sign Correa or Seager, I will be ecstatic. I am willing to forgive Correa if he joins the Yankees, and I think Aaron Judge would accept him, as one of the game’s best shortstops, in the Yankees clubhouse. While we will never forgive the sins of the Houston Astros as an organization, the players can seek redemption. I will never like Alex Bregman or Jose Altuve, as I viewed them as leaders in the scandal, but the other players were, to a small degree, victims of circumstances. They were part of a team and while we can say they should have blown the whistle; it is simply not as easy as that. How do you rat out your teammates? Or if you do, what kind of man are you? Some would say a great man, but others would say he is untrustworthy and unsupportive of his teammates. The latter tag would be exceedingly difficult to shake in clubhouses. It took an ex-Astro to step forward. I am not trying to defend Correa, but I do view it as a complicated situation for him. If the Yankees have the chance to sign a 27-year-old all-around great shortstop, they should.

While I keep going back and forth, there is no doubt I would love to have Corey Seager wear pinstripes. I am on board with a plan to eventually move Seager to third base to open shortstop for Oswald Peraza or Anthony Volpe when they are ready. It is likely if the Yankees are successful in trading for Oakland A’s first baseman Matt Olson, one of the young shortstops (probably Peraza) could be lost in the trade, but Volpe shows signs of being something special regardless of the talk he may need to be moved to second. In that scenario, sign a fill-in shortstop when the time comes to move Seager, and wait for a young stud like Trey Sweeney. The Yankees have options to keep Seager’s powerful bat in the lineup regardless of the position he plays.

But, if the Yankees are unsuccessful in their runs for either Correa or Seager, it is not the end of the world. I have long respected Trevor Story. I get the fears of Mile-High induced stats, but if you have seen the guy play, you know he is among the better players in the game. Like his former teammate, DJ LeMahieu, succeeded in New York, Story can do the same. Toronto’s Marcus Semien has the knack for coming up big in the brightest moments. He may be older, but he buys time for Peraza and Volpe. I know I would be disappointed if the Yankees do not get at least Story, but I would feel good with Semien playing shortstop in the Bronx next season.

Photo Credit: Michael Reaves, Getty Images

If the off-season shortstop acquisition is Andrelton Simmons, then we will know all plans went to hell.

It is sad that minor league free agent Kyle Holder’s offensive game could never match his sterling glove. If he could have hit, his timing for Major League readiness would have been now.

As other teams quickly move to make coaching staff changes, I wonder when the Yankees will announce Aaron Boone’s 2022 coaching staff. Based on GM Brian Cashman’s recent words, it sounded as though candidates were being vetted so it seems some announcements could be made soon. I saw the Minnesota Twins hired former Padres manager Jayce Tingler as their bench coach. Tingler may not have been a great manager for the loaded but uninspired Padres, but he is the type of hire I would like to see for Yankees bench coach. Not him specifically, but someone with his type of resume. Former Yankee coach Trey Hillman, most recently on Donnie Baseball’s staff in Miami, seems like a logical choice. He is valued by the front office and obviously knows the organization. I would move current bench coach Carlos Mendoza to first base. For third, former Mets manager Luis Rojas has been mentioned. Like Tingler, he did not prove to be a great manager, but I would have no trouble sliding him into the third base box as Phil Nevin’s replacement. It would be a good mutual fit for Rojas as it could position him for his next managerial job which could prove more successful for him.

I was surprised the Yankees re-signed LHP Joely Rodriguez so quickly. Granted, I thought he did an excellent job after his acquisition from Texas last July at the trading deadline, but realistically, he is easily replaceable. Why waste a valuable 40-man roster spot with him? I know the Yankees saved money. By declining the team option for $3 million, the Texas Rangers were on the hook for the $500,000 buyout. Putting Rodriguez’s John Hancock on a piece of paper three days later for $2 million technically saved the Yankees $1 million. I think I would have waited, even if it had meant losing Rodriguez, to keep the roster spot open. As it stands, the Yankees need to clear roster space (currently full) between now and next weekend to make room for valuable Rule 5 eligible prospects. I would hate to see another Garrett Whitlock situation where a talented prospect is grabbed by a rival and flourishes at the Major League level. The deadline to protect eligible prospects from the Rule 5 Draft is Friday, November 19^th, so it is a given there will be activity on the Yankees’ transaction wire this week. A wonderful time to send multiple players to Oakland for Matt Olson.

Speaking of Olson, it is tough. I really enjoyed Anthony Rizzo as a Yankee. I truly feel that if he had not contracted COVID-19, his time in Pinstripes could have embodied the brilliance of his first several weeks before becoming ill. I know he is an older player, and Olson is so much younger and better, but I would hate to lose Rizzo while chasing a potentially unsuccessful run for Olson. If the Yankees do grab Olson, I will not give it a second thought and will be incredibly happy for the team’s latest first baseman. I am hopeful if the Yankees cannot pry Olson from the A’s, they can quickly pivot back to Rizzo.

The Yankees should sign Aaron Judge to an extension.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

The next critical date for the Yankees is December 1^st for the non-tender deadline. This is the date we will know the fates of guys like Gary Sanchez, Miguel Andujar and Clint Frazier. A few years ago, it would have seemed so improbable they would be non-tendered, but here we are. It seems a given that Frazier is gone. Not sure how much value Andujar has right now, but it still seems a trade for a low-level lottery ticket would make more sense. I do not see the Yankees letting Sanchez go but I also recognize his time as a starting catcher for the Yankees may be over. There is a part of me that still holds out hope Sanchez can be the player we once thought he was going to be. If not, I would rather see him traded so the Yankees can control his destination rather than simply allow him to hit the open market and land with a rival, only to find success with his new team. I am glad that Brian Cashman, and not me, must make these decisions.

December 1^st also represents the expiration of the current collective bargaining agreement so the next day could bring a lockout. There is growing pessimism that a new deal can be struck before the CBA expires, yet it seems so foolish for both sides to allow a stoppage that could disrupt, at a minimum, the off-season. All parties stand to make incredible sums of money in 2022 if they can collaborate and compromise. A lockout, in my opinion, would do more harm than good for the game.

As always, Go Yankees!