Monday, November 9, 2015

ICYMI: Questions for New York w/ the Rule 5 Draft Looming


The New York Yankees have more than a few notable names and players eligible for the Rule 5 Draft this offseason including Minor League Player of the Year Ben Gamel and possibly their best pitching prospect currently in Rookie Davis. Who will get protected, who will be left out there for anyone and everyone and who will force the hand of the Yankees to create a 40 man roster spot? You're guess is honestly as good as mine, maybe better given my track record for predictions lately, but that doesn't mean it will stop me from taking a crack at it anyway.

Jake Cave:

Cave's biggest issue is that there are already three or four other Jake Cave's already on the team and one other similar player also up for protection in the Rule 5 Draft. Cave is a defensive first and speedy outfielder who doesn't have a lot of pop despite hitting left-handed. Cave will likely be left unprotected or included in a trade due to the fact that the Yankees already have Slade Heathcott, Mason Williams, Ben Gamel and Rico Noel to name a few.

Ben Gamel:

If one offensive player needs to be protected this time around it's Gamel. Gamel won the Minor League Player of the Year Award in 2015 for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and will almost certainly be claimed and hidden on a team's roster all season long. If it comes down to Cave or Gamel I think I have to go with Gamel.

Johnny Barbato:

Barbato was acquired in the trade that sent Shawn Kelley to the San Diego Padres. Barbato was left unprotected last year and wasn't selected and I don't think he did enough to warrant a team taking a waiver on him this season either. Especially after news broke shortly after the Yankees acquired him that he may require Tommy John surgery. He didn't but that alone makes him not worth the risk after his 2015 season in my opinion.

Rookie Davis:

If one player is protected this season it needs to be Rookie Davis. Davis hasn't pitched above Double-A but he has all the makings of being the next Adam Warren, David Phelps, Bryan Mitchell etc. type starter to come out of the Yankees system. Honestly, and I've followed Rookie for a while now, he may be the best out of the three mentioned above. Protect him.

Dietrich Enns:

This is one name I honestly haven't payed enough attention to in order to make a 100% responsible decision. I consider myself a self proclaimed "prospect humper" and if I don't pay attention to you then I have a sneaking suspicion other teams aren't going to take the risk of a 40 man roster spot with you. That's not a diss to Dietrich either, it's more of a sign that the Yankees farm system has come a long, long way in recent seasons.

Tony Renda:

In the world of roster flexibility and versatility that is evolving this day and time's game Tony Renda finds himself on the outside looking in. Sure, he's a good second baseman who possibly has enough of a bat to stick around but that's all he has in my opinion. Renda can't play any other positions, or hasn't in his professional career anyway, and doesn't have the type of bat or defense that makes you make room for him. Renda will be left unprotected and he may go elsewhere but he's not a great fit with the Yankees in my opinion.

4 comments:

  1. Ben Gamel and Rookie Davis are the only ones I would save from that bunch.

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  2. Same here Mr. Reed. I'd like to see what we have in Barbato but we have enough quality arms to never miss him to be honest. Plus I'd like to see Renda but he blocks Refsnyder and we all know where my allegiances lie lol.

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    1. I don't want anyone brought in to block Refsnyder at all. This is his one and ONLY chance to prove they can play him every day for years so as to team up with Mateo in a year or two. If not it may end up with Mateo and Tyler. That doesn't say much for Didi does it.

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    2. I agree with you Reed. If Refsnyder doesn't get a shot this season then his tenure as a Yankee is likely over. He would become immediate trade bait.

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