Yankees Potential Trade Partners This July

The heat has been turned up and the month of July is now beyond the halfway point meaning the July 31^st trading deadline is drawing closer and closer by the minute. Surely the New York Yankees have done their homework and have identified the potential sellers already at this year’s July 31^st trading deadline but just in case they haven’t I have compiled what is probably an incomplete list. Also, since some still wonder if the team will buy or sell before the deadline, I will also include some potential buyers for the team as well. You know, because they read my content and I know it. Enjoy Cash and make sure to bookmark this for safe keeping. 

If you need any more proof that the Chicago White Sox are sellers than the team unloading Jose Quintana to the Chicago Cubs for four prospects then I don’t know what to tell you. The White Sox have more they may unload including, but not limited to, third baseman Todd Frazier and first baseman Jose Abreu. The Detroit Tigers will also be sellers along with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Oakland Athletics. Sonny Gray is still being seen as a gamble which is keeping his price tag low for the Athletics while the asking price for Gerrit Cole of the Pirates is said to be “enormous.” The San Diego Padres have a couple relief pitchers that are likely to be traded this July including Brad Hand while the San Francisco Giants are already said to be fielding calls for third baseman and former Yankee Eduardo Nunez. The Phillies will trade Pat Neshek before the end of the trading deadline while they may also trade first baseman Tommy Joseph to really jumpstart the rebuild in Philadelphia. 

The Chicago Cubs are obvious buyers after getting Jose Quintana from the Chicago White Sox but after the four prospect haul they already sent off they may not be serious buyers. The Cubs may buy-low on some players but I think their heavy lifting is done. The Washington Nationals also look to be buyers at this year’s trade deadline and will once again be in the market for a closer after losing Mark Melancon to the San Francisco Giants this offseason. Sean Kelley isn’t cutting it and I could have told you guys that was going to happen. The Miami Marlins have also told teams that they are open for business so expect Justin Bour and basically anyone not named Giancarlo Stanton to at least be available. 

The Yankees lead the “undecided” vote as the team may be waiting to see how this weekend series with the Boston Red Sox goes while the Milwaukee Brewers may also look to stand relatively still at the trade deadline despite their strong first half and lead in the NL Central Division. The Arizona Diamondbacks are also unlikely to do much as the team seems unwilling to trade key prospects out of the farm system while the Colorado Rockies may make a trade for the Reds Zack Cozart and call it a day. The Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays are unlikely to do much at this year’s trading deadline while I also, and this is my pure speculation, cannot see the Minnesota Twins dipping their feet into the deep end of the trade market either. 

The next couple weeks are going to be fun and I truly can’t wait to watch it all unfold. 

Replacing Didi Gregorius: Part One

The New York Yankees will be without their starting shortstop for at least the first month of the 2017 campaign after losing him to a sore shoulder while with Team Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic. Now before you think this is about to turn into another “The WBC is played too damn early in the season” rant, and trust me I feel another one of those coming but I’ll refrain for now, I’d rather spend my time and energy into discussing and plotting on how to replace Didi Gregorius. We will break this down into a two-part sessions and focus on potential trades in one post, this post, and later on we will discuss internal options. Enjoy them both.

The Cincinnati Reds have made basically anyone and everyone that isn’t tied down available and reportedly the New York Yankees have already shown preliminary interest in Zack Cozart. The Detroit Tigers are also in the midst of a rebuild and have at least began discussing deals for Jose Iglesias although the New York Yankees have not publicly shown any interest in pursuing a deal with the Tigers for their shortstop.

Both players make more money than the Yankees are presumably willing to take on for a month of the season. Cozart is a free agent following the 2017 season and is set to make $5.325 million this season which should be more money than any team is comfortable paying for essentially a bench player. Now the financial hit is a little less significant in the case of Iglesias, the Tigers shortstop is set to make $4.1 million in 2017, but is still in the area of discomfort when it comes to paying a glorified bench player.

Looking around the league the possible shortstops that could be acquired for a decent price include the Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Freddie Galvis and Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed with the usual dark horse thrown in there, as always. The bottom line is though that it’s just for a month and as I explain later on today the Yankees have plenty already on the roster to fill in for a month. There’s no need to make a panic move here ladies and gentleman. Period.

Get well soon Didi.

Kuroda's Dominance Made Meaningful By McCann's Walk-Off Single in Finale Win Over Reds

If there's one thing we've learned about Hiroki Kuroda this season, it's that his record is meaningless. 

In his last three starts, the veteran's had two that he should've won but didn't and one that he shouldn't have won but did, making his current 6-6 line confusing.

And no, that annoyance didn't end today, with Kuroda earning a no decision after surrendering no earned runs in 6 2/3 innings as the Yanks completed a sweep of the Reds 3-2.

Over this afternoon's first four frames, Kuroda and his counterpart Johnny Cueto (5 IP, 2 ER) didn't give up anything, but in the top of the fifth that all changed when Brian Roberts made an error.

That misplay, coming on a routine grounder off the bat of Zack Cozart, eventually led to an unearned run, giving Cincinnati what looked like a commanding 1-0 lead.

However, with one out in the following frame the Bombers rallied, putting two men on when Kelly Johnson and Brett Gardner walked to establish a legitamate threat.

Following those well-earned ways of getting on base, Derek Jeter and Jacoby Ellsbury quickly made it 2-1 with back-to-back singles, shocking Cueto and probably many Yankee fans.

Still, that advantage wouldn't last forever, with the usually-reliable Dellin Betances getting taken deep to left by Todd Frazier in the Reds' half of the eighth.

That homer, Frazier's 20th of the year, came on a 98 MPH fastball up and in, making the fact that it happened frustrating.

Be that as it may, it's not like it mattered that much in the long run, with the Ellsbury-led Pinstripes later winning in the bottom of the ninth. 

Facing the tough Aroldis Chapman after a scoreless three out performance by David Robertson, Ellsbury collected his fourth hit to begin the frame, followed shortly by a steal of second, a wild pitch, and a strikeout of Mark Teixeira to bring up Brian McCann. 

On the first pitch of the at-bat, McCann popped one into short right field, something that should've been an extremely routine out.

Instead though, it fell in between three Cincinnati defenders, allowing Ellsbury to score.

No, it wasn't the prettiest finish of all time, but yes, it was good enough to end the contest, as it completed a perfect weekend and improved the club's record to a solid 50-47.