Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Yankees Sign Esmil Rogers, Avoid Arbitration

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

Yankees May Pass on Headley, Insert Refsnyder


The New York Yankees have announced that their interest in Chase Headley is cooling after the third baseman reportedly asked for a five year deal in a thin third base market. New York may instead plug Martin Prado in at the hot corner and add Robert Refsnyder or Jose Pirela at second base in 2015. READ HERE what Wally Matthews said about it on ESPN today. 

This is scary for the Yankees as the only infield options they would have are Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, Robert Refsnyder, Martin Prado and Brendan Ryan. I'm not sure I would give Headley a five year deal but I am worried if we don't get Chase the team becomes pretty sketchy in the infield.

Cyber Monday Deals Still Left on Tuesday: Positional Players


We’re back still hunting down the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals that are left over on this Tuesday afternoon and I found more than a few capable positional players that New York may want to take a look at.

  • Jed Lowrie may only be a shortstop on the back of his baseball card but if the Yankees signed him they would probably see an improvement in range and defense over what the team had the past three or so seasons. Lowrie can still produce offensively and wouldn’t be a terrible fall back option at second base if the team gave the reigns to Jose Pirela or Robert Refsnyder to start the season. This team is built on options, flexibility and versatility and Lowrie gives the team all three.


  • Alex Rios does not seem likely in an already crowded outfield in the Bronx but hear me out. The Yankees carried five outfielders last season with the idea of one of them alternating in the DH role. If the team can rid themselves of Alex Rodriguez, which I do not feel is likely admittedly, then a Rios deal makes sense here.



  • Like Rios the same can be said for Delmon Young who actually made strides with his bat and his defense in 2014 with the Baltimore Orioles. Delmon is not good enough to not need a platoon partner but it is worth mentioning that he hit a career best .312 against right handed pitching in 2014 while producing his best defensive ratings of his career. Could Young possibly be a late bloomer?

Exec Friendly With Cashman Thinks Yankees Need to Sign Scherzer

An exec who is "friendly" with Yankees GM Brian Cashman thinks the Yankees need to sign longtime Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer this offseason.

The Yankees have made it clear these last couple of months they have no interest in pursuing the top free agents available, and that their main goal is simply to keep David Robertson in pinstripes. However, this exec doesn't see them having a chance to win in 2014 without Scherzer, who has gone 39-8 over the past two years.

“Look, I know Cash would love to build more from within,” the exec told The New York Daily News. “But if they want to have any chance at winning next year they need a front-line starter. Their offense isn’t very good, but if they added a Scherzer they would have a chance to win with pitching."

If the season started today, the Yankees' rotation would likely consist of Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda, CC Sabathia, David Phelps and Shane Greene, an overall solid group. Still, it's logical to believe it could use some improvement heading into 2015, especially with the offense's recent struggles. 

The Yankees said they're open to bringing back RHP Brandon McCarthy back in October, but are yet to seriously negotiate with him. Indeed, they aren't going too hard for new arms right now, and with the uncertainty of Tanaka and Pineda's injuries, the exec is concerned for their future.

“Are you telling me they’re going to go into next year with (Masahiro) Tanaka as their No. 1, not knowing if his elbow will hold up?" he said. "Signing Scherzer would give them another No. 1, and if they do get lucky with Tanaka and (Michael) Pineda, they could outpitch teams like Baltimore, Toronto and Boston."

The last two of that trio, the Blue Jays and Red Sox, have already inked notable players to deals this winter, with the Blue Jays picking up Russell Martin and the Red Sox Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval. Ramirez and Sandoval were said to be guys the Yankees might look at later, so their being gone certainly can't help them.

Nonetheless, with this year's Winter Meetings getting closer and closer, the Yankees don't appear to be gearing up for another spending spree, as probable it is one would help them. 

My IBWAA Hall of Fame OFFICIAL Ballot


I admittedly went a little steroid era heavy here because honestly I think they should all be in. I personally think that Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, etc. would have been in anyway without the roids. Maybe it's just me, what say you?

Cyber Monday Deals Still Left on Tuesday: Pitchers


Don’t fret if you missed all the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals Yankees fans because there are plenty of good deals still left out there this season. General Managers don’t take the holidays off in most cases so hopefully Brian Cashman is in his office reading this right now. Here are 10 good options to bring to the club in 2015 if the Max Scherzer and Jon Lester rumors from over the weekend are proved to be false.

  • Brett Anderson, formerly of the Colorado Rockies, is just 26 years old and battled a disc issue in his back and a broken finger in 2014. If the Yankees can fix those issues or hope they are already fixed the team could get the once top Diamondbacks and Athletics prospect and not the broken down product we saw with the Rockies.


  • Gavin Floyd, formerly of the Atlanta Braves, is coming off back to back elbow injuries including a Tommy John surgery and a broken elbow. Presumably Floyd would command a minor league deal with a split contract this season and I would hand that to him every day of the week.


  • Jason Grilli, formerly of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim,  is 38 years old and more than likely going to take a one year contract from here on out until the righty decides to hand up his cleats. Grilli will not presumably request a closers role either which helps New York out if David Robertson leaves.



  • Luke Hochevar, formerly of the Kansas City Royals, is just 31 years old and not far removed from elbow surgery. While his 5.2 H/9 ratio is not great I believe he is far enough removed from the surgery to improve on that exponentially in 2015. 

TGP Daily Poll: Yankees Will Sign Jon Lester


All this talk of the New York Yankees signing Max Scherzer to a 7 year deal is just a smoke screen I think. Personally I see the Bronx Bombers saving their draft pick and signing Jon Lester away from Boston.

Vote in our poll!

This Day in New York Yankees History 12/2: The League vs. Jackie Robinson

Props to Nomaas.org on the photo we borrowed. 

If you have been reading these posts you know two days prior Jackie Robinson attacked the New York Yankees organization calling them racist for not having a black player in the league. Well it was on this day in 1952 that then Commissioner Ford Frick announced plans to take action against Robinson. Nothing much came of these comments or this plan from Frick so it must have all been simply water under the bridge.