Saturday, May 6, 2017

Austin Romine Almost Has to Be Traded Now, Doesn’t He?


The New York Yankees and their fans had to feel at least a twinge of certain and impending doom when they learned that their catcher and star player Gary Sanchez would be heading to the disabled list with a biceps strain, I know I felt it anyway. Somehow, someway the New York Yankees have been resilient and have somehow improved without Sanchez under the combination of Austin Romine and Kyle Higashioka begging the question, does Austin Romine have to be traded now? I mean he almost does, doesn’t he? Or maybe that’s just me.

Romine didn’t just keep the Yankees heads above water during the Sanchez disabled list stint but he actually performed pretty damn well not only behind the plate but at the dish as well. The Yankees have gone 16-5 with Romine as their everyday starting catcher and Romine himself has compiled a .316 batting average with timely hits, home runs and RBI. In short Romine showed that he can handle the everyday catching duties at the Major League level. That’s good, the problem is that Higashioka was pretty damn impressive for the Yankees as well. Higashioka has options and Romine doesn’t so a trade isn’t imminent but it almost makes sense to move Romine now for prospects or as a part of a deal for something the team needs later on in the season. At least to me.

Romine has done well for the Yankees and to me, and this is a fan’s perspective obviously, I’d like to see him earn a shot to be a starter somewhere because I feel like he’s earned it. I feel like Higashioka has earned the right to be the Yankees backup catcher. I could be premature a bit in my thinking on both admittedly but that is how I feel. Romine is 28-years old and out of minor league options so the time is now for him and that “now” is not going to come with the Yankees. Not as long as Gary Sanchez is on the team and healthy. I’d miss him, I love him as a player, but I’d wish him well with the thought process that he is finally getting the opportunity to live out his dreams as a starter.


So could Romine be the next John Ryan Murphy and fetch the Yankees something useful in a trade? I honestly think it should happen, whether it will happens remains to be seen. Stay tuned.

9 comments:

  1. I hope not. Keep the back up as a dangerous weapon on the bench and play him once a week at catcher, first base, and DH. 3 games a week will keep him sharp.

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  2. Wanna hear something funny I would keep and start Romaine and trade Sanchez.

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  3. I don't think a nice month really will change opinions of romine. Don't get me wrong, it was great and I'm not opposed to trading him. If we can get a broken outfielder like bruxton (dare we repeat that with the twins lol), or profar (FYI Texas has a 32 year old BUC hitting comparably to rommine, but have a catching prospect coming up next year). Then yea.

    But especially after the Padres are pulling this shit with torrens, a system previously filled with catching depth has zilch.

    I don't think a team is sold enough on rommine month of play to give up on a broken player oozing with superstar potential. But that's the only time I'd move him.

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  4. Are you kidding? Trade Romine! Why? Why can't a team have a strong backup catcher without people wanting them to be traded? Maybe they should trade Hicks and Torreyes too while you are at it. Incredible.

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    1. Because we have two talented starting catchers, one of which is 28 years old (Romine) right? He will not replace Sanchez anytime soon. He is at the prime age of a players career, he has nothing more to learn and holding him back is a gross injustice to a guy that has given years of his life to be the Number one catcher on the Yankees or somewhere else. The name of the game is to be a starter in the Show not #2.

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  5. Those home runs Sanchez hit last year will seem like ancient history if he doesn't start hitting soon.

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    1. He's played 5 games. He will hit, don't worry.

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    2. He's played 5 games. He will hit, don't worry.

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  6. Romine can hit much better than many of the starting catchers in the majors..and he is a good catcher. He would fit well along with someone else to get a player we could use, like another pitcher...even if I don't think we need one.

    We already have five or more kids that could be good enough to be anywhere from #1 to #5 pitcher when they get to the point of joining the big guys.

    We all know of Kaprielien, L. Severino, J. Montgomery, C. Adams, but we have others that could be in that #3/4 or BP/Closer.

    I will be happy when pitchers like D. Acevedo, J. Sheffield, A. Warren, join the fore-mentioned 4 pitchers above.

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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)