The New York Yankees have a plethora of depth at the catcher
position both on the 40 man roster and down in the minor league systems, a fact
that may really help the Bronx Bombers in 2015. The catching depth should help
the Yankees because one or two of these pieces should be traded to bring in key
pieces for another postseason run. Currently the Yankees have two spots on the
25 man roster for catchers and easily five or six guys to fill the positions
and New York should take that position of power into the trade market this
offseason.
Brian McCann is going to be in Yankees pinstripes for at
least three more seasons, likely four with the option on his deal, so the
starting job seems secure for a while. Francisco Cervelli has done an admiral
job backing up McCann and has shown flashes of brilliance with his bat
especially when given the everyday job in 2013. John Ryan Murphy, don’t call me
JR, excelled in short spurts and sample sizes in both the 2013 and 2014 seasons
while Austin Romine followed up a strong 2013 season with a step back in 2014.
Also take note that the Yankees, in my opinion, second best prospect Gary
Sanchez is also on the 40 man roster and will start the season in Double-A with
Triple-A in his sights.
The problems the Yankees are having, specifically with
Romine, is that there are not enough opportunities and at bats to go around for
all these guys. Romine sat on the bench when he wasn’t injured in 2014 while
essentially backing up Murphy in Trenton. I think this really affected Austin both
on the field and mentally as he struggled with his timing and his hitting all
season long. Not everyone is made up character wise to be a part time player
and I truly think that Romine will continue to struggle without ample playing
time, whether it be in New York or elsewhere.
With that said New York should look to move either Murphy or
Cevelli. You obviously would like to move Romine but he has absolutely no trade
value right now and at this point is more of a throw in type organizational
player then the centerpiece of a deal. One of the two is traded and the other
acts as a backup catcher for McCann while opening up the Triple-A starting job
for Romine. I also would not be against a trade involving Gary Sanchez as long
as it brought back a key piece in return, a young shortstop or Giancarlo
Stanton for example. Whatever Brian Cashman and company decides to do they need
to do it this offseason because if they wait too long it may be too late. Do
what the good teams do and trade from a position of power and a position of
depth and fill a key spot for cheap on a reasonable contract instead of
throwing money at people like a money machine.
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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)