Monday, November 14, 2016

ICYMI: Meet a Prospect: Joe Mantiply Edition


The New York Yankees claimed a left-handed reliever from the Detroit Tigers named Joe Mantiply as the Yankees search and goal to restock their bullpen begins. Mantiply will likely be one of many members to join the Yankees bullpen in some way, shape or form this offseason so let’s meet him. This is Meet a Prospect: The Joe Mantiply Edition.


Joseph Newman Mantiply was born on March 1, 1991 and while playing amateur baseball in Virginia he caught the eye of the New York Mets in the 2009 MLB Draft with their 48th round selection. Mantiply decided to head to college rather than take the step from High School to professional baseball and ultimately attended Virginia Tech University where he was once again drafted by the

Philadelphia Phillies in the 28th round of the 2012 Draft. Another drafting and another decision to return to school for Mantiply but after his senior season the Detroit Tigers came calling in the 27th round of the draft in 2013.



In four seasons in the Tigers minor league system the left-hander has put up a 2.44 ERA including 13 starts while only giving up 11 home runs in 239.1 innings of work. Mantiply can start or be a reliever for the Yankees and his value comes with his ability to keep the ball in the ballpark and keep runs off the board, something any team needs.



In order to make room for Mantiply the Yankees designated Branden Pinder for assignment. He will likely miss most, if not all, of the 2017 season anyway so expect a new minor league deal to follow for the Tommy John recipient.


Welcome to the family Joe.

Most Popular Article of the Week: Two Yankees Minor Leagues Suspended for Drugs


Well after a great day here is a somber end to the evening. Two members of the New York Yankees minor league family were caught with and suspended for performance enhancing drugs this week.


Edel Luaces and Erick Mendez both received 50-game suspensions without pay for testing positive for performance enhancing drugs according to NJ.com and their Advanced Media. Both were members of the GCL Yankees although Mendez received a promotion to Pulaski later on in the 2016 regular season.





Like I’ve said many, many times before. This game is still not clean and it may never be.

Ranking Brian Cashman's November Trade/Acquisition History


Brian Cashman in the past has wasted no time preparing for the upcoming season as the Yankees GM so I decided to take a quick look at what he has done in the month of November in recent years. If the past is any indicator of the future should we expect a trade sometime soon this month?

2008 - Wilson Betemit, Jeff Marquez and Jhonny Nunez to the Chicago White Sox for Nick Swisher and Kanekoa Teixeira.

2014 - The Justin Wilson for Francisco Cervelli trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates definitely benefited both teams as both teams traded from a position of depth and power to fill a need. The way trades are designed to be.

2007 - Cashman sent Gary Sheffield to the Detroit Tigers for Humberto Sanchez, Anthony Claggett and Kevin Whelan. None of these prospects ever made the roster but Sheffield wasn't conspiring with Kenny Lofton about the "racist" Joe Torre either. Win/win.

2001- Cashman signs Melky Cabrera as a 16-year old out of Venezuela.

2015 - The Yankees sent John Ryan Murphy to the Minnesota Twins for Aaron Hicks and the team also acquired Ronald Herrera from the San Diego Padres on this day.

Weekly AFL Check In: Greg Bird


Greg Bird was a Arizona Fall League MVP just two years ago but this year he has been lacking a bit in the hitting department. Bird's average is hovering around the Stephen Drew line and his home run production has left much to be desired but he's healthy and his shoulder seems to be ready for big league action. There's always a silver lining in everything. 

Here is the stat line for the week from Mr. Bird. 


This Day in New York Yankees History 11/14: Enter A Rod… Again


On this day in 2007 Alex Rodriguez the reports started to fly around that Alex Rodriguez was close to a new deal with the New York Yankees somewhere in the neighborhood of $290,000,000. This was confirmed by Alex on his website and by the Steinbrenner family as well. This was done to try and soften Alex's look after the harsh criticism he received from opting out during Game 4 of the 2007 World Series.

And the rest, as they say, is history...