A New Year for Pinstriped Dreams...

  

Happy New Year to Everyone in the Yankees Universe…

Happy New Year!

2025 has arrived, but, naturally, the 2025 New York Yankees are not yet a finished product. General Manager Brian Cashman has work to do to complete his roster masterpiece after the Yankees were forced into Plan B with the departure of prized free agent outfielder Juan Soto who signed with the crosstown Mets.

The biggest hole is either second or third base depending upon where you place Jazz Chisholm, Jr. While I felt Chisholm did well when asked to play out of position at third base, the Yankees would benefit from a ‘tried and true’ third baseman with above-average defensive skills. I think Chisholm can be a better third baseman if he focuses on it exclusively in Spring Training (a training environment he did not get last year as an outfielder for the Miami Marlins). Yet, I think the Yankees would be better served by moving Chisholm back to his original position of second base which was vacated by the free agent departure of Gleyber Torres, now a Detroit Tiger.

As such, the Yankees need a third baseman. The present roster options are DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Oswald Peraza. It is tough to get enthused about any of those guys. LeMahieu will be 37 years old this summer. His health challenges will persist. They are not going to get better as he continues fighting Father Time. LeMahieu would be best served playing the utility role he originally signed with the team for. I like Oswaldo Cabrera, but I remain unconvinced that he is more than bench depth. Last year seems like a lost year for Peraza. I do not feel that he did anything to warrant consideration as a starter on the Major League roster. We may not know all the reasons for why the organization held him back, but the fact they did should give us pause regarding Peraza.

The best and only hope is the team’s starting third baseman is not yet on the roster.

Fans love to speculate about the options. Every talked-about choice is polarizing. After much mention of St Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, it was shot down by Jack Curry on a recent episode of Hot Stove on the YES Network when he stated that there was not interest in Arenado within the Yankees organization. But like Mike Axisa said, things can change with a phone call. I know Arenado will be 34 in April, but he is still a good baseball player at the plate and on the field. Sure, Arenado and current Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt had down years for the Cardinals last season, but it was a down season for the entire team (you cannot place the blame solely on those two guys). I think both are capable of having rebound seasons. They may never reach the heights of their respective prime seasons, but the best versions of their current selves can help the Yankees win a championship. I like Nolan, and I would be happy to see him run out to third base at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, March 27 in the top of the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado (Photo Credit: Gregory Fisher/USA TODAY Sports)

I would even be willing to accept Houston Astros cheater Alex Bregman, a free agent that seems likely to land in Detroit, Boston, or Toronto soon. Again, it just takes a phone call. Until Bregman signs a contract, he is fair game for any team, including the Yankees. Well, not the Miami Marlins since they have already tapped out after spending **checks notes** nothing this offseason.

Other names have been mentioned, but regardless of who we are talking about, it is a given that Cashman and his team are evaluating players about whom we are NOT talking. While it is possible the Yankees could make a surprise announcement that they have acquired Arenado, it is equally possible we will see the acquisition of a name we were not expecting. If the Yankees feel they can acquire a young player on the cusp of a breakout season, I think they have earned the benefit of the doubt. Not everybody works out, but I remember being slightly underwhelmed when the Yankees acquired Tino Martinez from the Seattle Mariners to replace Yankees legend Don Mattingly when he retired. Maybe it was more about not wanting to see Mattingly go but I was deeply disappointed about the news. Martinez had big shoes to fill…despite the odds, he succeeded. He may not have been Don Mattingly, but he gave us the best version of Tino Martinez which was one of the key factors to the team’s dynasty success in the late 1990s. An incoming third baseman for the Yankees is not being asked to fill the shoes of a legend, but the point is that we need to give time and patience to the player if for no other reason than the Yankees believe the player is the right choice for the current opportunity. If he becomes a Joey Gallo sized failure, then we can tear into the choice.

So, for as frustrated as I have been with Cashman at times, I do believe he and his team have the proven ability to uncover untapped potential. My fear or my biggest gripe would be for the Yankees to do nothing further this offseason and go into the season with twenty-six men off the current 40-man roster. To stop short like they did a couple of seasons ago by not filling left field with a strong player. If we can do better than LeMahieu, Cabrera or Peraza at third base, I trust the organization to make the right choices. There is pressure on them to succeed.

Personally, I am hoping for Arenado’s acquisition but realistically, I think the Yankees will go the young up-and-comer route. The player ready for a breakout season. They will not be wrong when the decision is made. Only time will tell but given the circumstances, I am willing to gamble with the Yankees on this one so long as they make a move. Doing nothing is the worst possible outcome.

The Yankees also still need bullpen help and a backup catcher.

Whether the Yankees re-sign Tim Hill or sign former Tigers lefty Andrew Chafin, they will do something. I still hope for a reunion with Tommy Kahnle. A reliever could also be part of a potential trade for third baseman although that could be a two-way street with relievers. I am confident that Clayton Beeter will be a bullpen breakout next season, but the Yankees need more than just him. The Yankees have developed the knack for ‘Build-A-Bullpen,’ so I am not too worried.

It is possible that JC Escarra or Alex Jackson wins the backup catching duty vacated when Jose Trevino was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. However, I do not feel that either player can be anointed the backup ahead of Spring Training. The Yankees need other options. When the Los Angeles Dodgers designated a former top prospect, catcher Diego Cartaya, this week to make room for the free agent signing of Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim, it immediately caught my attention. I would love to see the Yankees get a hold of Cartaya to see if they can help him realize his potential. He is only twenty-three, so he is still young. I would prefer Cartaya over Alex Jackson based on his potential alone. I think Cartaya would benefit from the tutelage of Yankees Major League Field Coordinator and Director of Catching Tanner Swanson.

Diego Cartaya (Photo Credit: Mark J Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports)

It should be noted that Hyeseong Kim is not the San Diego free agent infielder Ha-Seong Kim, another rumored (fan-speculated; not organizational insiders) Yankees target. I have no problem with the MLB-experienced Kim other than my hope is the team’s third baseman has power. Kim hit seventeen homers in 2023, but only eleven last season. With the Padres’ Kim, you would most likely put him at second and keep Chisholm at third which is the scenario I would like to avoid if possible.

Speaking of coaches, there have not been any announcements about the formalization of the 2025 coaching staff. While most will return to continue their present roles, the Yankees still need an assistant pitching coach for Matt Blake. The Yankees website continues to show Desi Druschel as the Assistant Pitching Coach, but he left for the Mets earlier this off-season.

The Yankees website also loves to carry over a player’s number from his previous team regardless of number availability with the Yankees. Paul Goldschmidt shows number 46 which we know will not be unretired for Andy Pettitte. When the Yankees acquired Trent Grisham last year, they showed him with number 2. It was only a matter of time until Grisham was updated with number 12. I think Goldy should take forty-eight since he prefers numbers in the forties. He wore forty-four with the Arizona Diamondbacks and forty-six with the St Louis Cardinals. The only downside to Goldy wearing forty-eight is that it is the number of the beloved player he is replacing (Anthony Rizzo). If Kahnle returns, maybe he wants his old forty-eight back which would open forty-one for Goldy or he could take Luis Severino’s 40. I guess we will find out in about a month and a half.

One hundred years ago (the 1925 season), the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Washington Senators (now the Minnesota Twins) in seven games. The Senators were the defending World Champions after defeating the New York Giants the previous year. Is 2025 the year the New York Yankees can defeat the defending World Champions? I hope so. I want a rematch with the Dodgers. If not the Dodgers, bring on the Mets. To return to the World Series, the Yankees need a strong third baseman. Can they, do it? I hope so. I am counting on Hal Steinbrenner pulling out all stops to ensure that the team has a successful return to the Fall Classic with a better outcome. If he is not pulling out all stops, then he needs to question if the Steinbrenner Family is the right fit for the New York Yankees in this century and investigate the possible sale of the team to an owner capable of competing with the big boys.

As always, Go Yankees! 

And First Base is Covered...

 

Paul Goldschmidt (Photo Credit: Jeff Roberson/AP)

Yanks agree to a one-year deal with Paul Goldschmidt…

I was underwhelmed when I heard that the New York Yankees had signed free-agent first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. No offense to Goldy, but I hoped for a more youthful approach to the position. Now that I have had a day to think about it, a one-year, $12.5 Million deal is a solid investment to solidify the position for next season. Worry about first base after the 2025 season; it is not a concern now.

When Christian Walker signed with the Houston Astros, or when the Arizona Diamondbacks traded for Josh Naylor, or when the Cleveland Guardians signed Carlos Santana, or even today's trade of Nathaniel Lowe from the Texas Rangers to the Washington Nationals, Yankees fans on social media bemoaned those were prices the Yankees could have/should have paid. Regardless of how the Yankees landed on Goldschmidt, I am confident they examined every known possibility and looked at some that were not discussed. I hoped for a comparable Tino Martinez after Don Mattingly retired type of acquisition, but that move will wait another day. If the Yankees feel that Paul Goldschmidt is the best solution for the 2025 season, I will give them the benefit of the doubt. I am hopeful Goldy can rebound from his down year in 2024, but at age 37, he will not see his ceiling (NL MVP) again. That would be good enough for me if he could call himself a World Champion Yankee after the 2025 season.

I am sad to see the end of the Anthony Rizzo era in New York. He was quickly a favorite, even if injuries curtailed the last couple of seasons. He is a good guy, and he was once a valuable player. I only regret that we did not see Prime Rizzo in Pinstripes. Nevertheless, I am glad he was a Yankee and appreciated his time on the team. While I liked Luke Voit and his personality, not to mention his ability to go yard, his iron glove at first base was painful. Rizzo's glovework was a welcome relief, and even if Rizzo did not hit like he once did, his defense positively impacted him. While corner infielders should be strong run producers, bringing elite defense to first base is vast, given how active the position is during a game. Goldy is a good gloveman, so there should be no drop-off from Rizzo, or at least when Rizzo was on the field.

Anthony Rizzo (Photo Credit: Robert Sabo/NY Post)

I hope Rizzo stays in the game in some capacity. He is at the end of the road for his playing days. It will not be a long-term relationship, even if he signs on somewhere for next season. When Rizzo transitions to his post-playing career, I hope he stays as a coach. He is undoubtedly a Chicago Cub, and the Cubs may give him a coaching opportunity in their organization. If not, I hope the Yankees do.

As a person, I like Anthony Rizzo better than Paul Goldschmidt, but Goldy is the better player for 2025. Goldy seems like a great family who loves to play the game of baseball. He will have every opportunity to endear himself to the fan base, and I have no reason to believe he will not be successful. He is not a long-term option for the Yankees, but we can have a good run together. At the end of Goldy's run, we will be as grateful for him as we are for Rizzo.

Anthony Rizzo, thank you. The lost time was unfortunate, but you proved worthy of the Pinstripes. You wore them proudly, and we are thankful for your time. Our acceptance and embrace of Paul Goldschmidt as the new Yankees first baseman have nothing to do with your character's quality and desire to win. Sports is a continual changing of the guard. Father Time is undefeated.

When I think of his strength of character, Oscar Gamble will always stand out to me, given that I had the opportunity to meet him during his playing days with the Yankees. He is not a reason the Yankees won the World Series, and he was never the best player on his teams, but the quality of the man was elite. Rizzo passes the Gamble test, and I am hopeful Goldschmidt can, too.

We need to give Paul Goldschmidt a chance. Ben Rice has a good opportunity to back up first base and catcher while learning first base from one of the game's best players over the last decade. I hope Rice can use this time to elevate his game. If Goldy is injured, Cody Bellinger is fully capable of everyday work at first base. The Yankees have the most substantial safety net at first base that we have seen in a few years.

Now that the first base vacancy is solved, the next question is the third/second base. As much as I like Jazz Chisholm, Jr, I prefer him to return to second base. While I would like to see the Yankees re-sign current second baseman Gleyber Torres, Chisholm is the next best option if the Yankees move on from Torres, which is how the tea leaves currently read. I want strong defense at third base, especially after the massive investment in starter Max Fried. DJ LeMahieu can still provide good defense, but it is foolish to count on him as a starter, given his struggles with injuries the past couple of years. Jazz tries, but he is not a trained, experienced third baseman. I value experience and performance in the position. I am not opposed to acquiring St Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado. He is not the player he once was in Colorado, but he will not hurt you at third base. I prefer him over Oswaldo Cabrera, whom I view more as a role/bench player, or Oswald Peraza, a player I think will have a challenging time making the Opening Day roster.

I could accept Alex Bregman just to keep him away from Boston or from returning to Houston. I know some can never take the Houston cheaters, and while I will never forgive Bregman for his role in it, I can appreciate a current commitment to help the Yankees win. We have seen other villains put on the Pinstripes, and we have accepted them. Although you cannot get more villainous than Bregman and Jose Altuve, I believe in second chances. When players put on pinstripes, they value and appreciate it the most. It may not have been the case with Juan Soto, who valued the dollar above all else, but I sincerely believe that Alex Bregman would want to help the Yankees to win if he signed here, just like he will fight to be successful in Boston if he goes there. 

I prefer Arenado over Bregman, but then again, I lived in Denver during Arenado's prime and know what he meant to that city and his teams. Neither player is the player they once were, but who they are now can still help the New York Yankees win the World Series.

At the end of the day, I have no idea who will take third base on Opening Day. Regardless of the man who runs to the bag in the season's first game, I will know it was a decision that was carefully considered by the organization and a decision made in the best interest of changing the outcome of the most recent World Series. I know I have been critical of GM Brian Cashman, but only a fool would say that they do not understand the game of Major League Baseball. They have proven an ability to turn weaknesses into strengths. I will give them the benefit of the doubt on this one.

The best outcome for the Winter would have been to re-sign Juan Soto, but it did not happen. The alternative may not be as good, but it can be just as effective. I never dreamed that Max Fried would be in the starting rotation, yet there he is, right behind ace Gerrit Cole. We should head into the season with Luke Weaver as the team's closer (a role I accepted), but we will have The Airbender instead. If these are Brian Cashman's last years as the Yankees General Manager, he is focused on going out with a bang. I will never underestimate him.

The days ahead should be interesting. Some moves still need to be made, and I do not see the Yankees waiting until Spring Training to address the final holes. Multiple teams' rapid succession of moves quickly closed the first base window this week. The same situation could happen with the other current holes on the Yankees roster. Strike now while there is opportunity.

Dear Santa, all I want for Christmas is a team capable of beating all teams for the World Series in 2025. Please, make it happen.

As always, Go Yankees!

Juan, We Hardly Knew Ye...

  

Juan Soto (Photo Credit: Robert Deutsch/Imagn Images)

Soto departs for the “greener” pastures in Queens…

I am disappointed that Juan Soto chose to take the most money for the duration of his major league career even if all of us, most likely, would take top dollar. If the Mets had offered substantially more than the Yankees, it would be one thing, but the Yankees gave an extremely competitive $760 million offer that was only $5 million short of Uncle Steve’s offer. I do not know the exact details, and of course, there were other perks involved, but the Yankees deserved better consideration from Soto. At the end of the day, it shows the quality of his character. As such, maybe it is best that he gave us only one season in the Bronx. I just wish it had not happened at the cost of Michael King in retrospect. I know it is a bit hypocritical to say we would take the most money and then criticize a player for doing exactly that, but one would like to think there were sentimental reasons to stay in Pinstripes, the most storied franchise in baseball history.

As I mentioned in earlier posts, I was never able to fully embrace Soto as a Yankee. I know he is one of the game’s finest young talents, but I was suspicious that things would play out the way they did. I did not want to get emotionally invested in a player who could easily be wearing a rival’s uniform in 2025. This proved to be correct. There is no doubt if Aaron Judge had accepted the offer from the San Francisco Giants, it would have been far more painful that watching Soto parade around Citi Field and saying how no one reached out to him after the season. Such is life. We move on. I wish Soto the best, but now he is just another player I want to beat.

I must admit that I was getting hopeful the Yankees would pivot to Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker, and there was some sense of optimism with recent reports until the official trade with the Chicago Cubs was announced today. Tucker would have gone a long way toward making up for the loss of Soto. Oh well, Team Cashman has time to find other alternatives. Will they? Who knows? But one can have hope.

The Yankees did make a move today in acquiring Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams. 

Devin Williams (Photo Credit: Aaron Cash/AP)

Another beard bites the dust.

Although I appreciated Luke Weaver’s efforts as the team’s closer after the Clay Holmes closing era ended, the combo of Weaver and Williams brings great confidence to the end of games. When Clay Holmes was great, he was fantastic. When he was not, he was Tyler Clippard in his last appearances for the Yankees. Williams brings much greater certainty to the final innings. It is sad to see Nestor Cortes, Jr depart, but it was almost expected. I like Nestor and I appreciate the job he did, but to get quality, you must give up quality. I was probably more surprised that the other Yankee headed to Milwaukee is second base prospect Caleb Durbin who had been penciled in as the second base replacement for Gleyber Torres by many. The Yankees clearly have a plan so we will wait to see how it plays out. Moving Jazz Chisholm, Jr to second base, his original position, makes sense if you want to bring greater defensive certainty to third base. No slight to Jazz who did an admirable job, but we do not need a player learning the position when the stakes are so high.

The question is who will take over third base. I think the past few years have proven that DJ LeMahieu can no longer be counted on as a solution. As much as I dislike the Houston Astros, I would not have an issue if the Yankees were to sign Alex Bregman. Alex Verdugo proved last year that we can forgive former enemies, and Bregman is obviously a much better player. Granted, Verdugo did not cheat to beat the Yankees, but 2017 was another time, and I am only worried about 2025 at this point.

Alex Bregman (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

There is other third base options so we will see how this plays out.

The most probable next trade continues to be outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger. Now that the Cubs have Tucker, they are more motivated than ever to unload Belli’s contract. I like Bellinger. He is not Juan Soto (obviously), but he can fill a role with the Yankees. He can play center field. He can play first base. Both are positions of need for the Yankees. I like his ability to back up the position he does not start. It is cool that his father Clay is a former Yankee, but that is not the reason I want to see Bellinger in Pinstripes. I genuinely feel that he can help. But as much as I like Belli, he cannot be the only offensive addition after the loss of Soto.

Cody Bellinger

I thought the Yankees would be more active during the Winter Meetings this past week, yet I was surprised when they signed former Atlanta Braves ace Max Fried to an eight-year, $218 million contract. I did not see that one coming. I like it…with a bit of caution given his injury history. Hopefully, the Yankees can manage him correctly to keep him on the field. 

Max Fried

Adding guys like Devin Williams will certainly help Fried. Admittedly, I do not know a great deal about Fried. I am not a Braves fan, and I have not followed their team. I knew that Fried and Spencer Strider were the two best pitchers in Atlanta’s starting rotation, but that is about it. My first reaction at hearing the news of Fried’s addition was how much he reminds me of former Yankee Jimmy Key. I am not comparing pitching styles. It is more their personalities or their mound presence. I did not care for Key, the Toronto Blue Jay, but I loved his time as a Yankee. I cannot say that I disliked Fried since I do not really think much about the Braves, but I can see him becoming a personal favorite. I thought Carlos Rodón was going to be a strong number two starter behind Gerrit Cole, and it never happened. I have felt the Yankees needed to find a better option for the last couple of seasons, so it is nice to finally cross that one off the list. Cole to Fried gives confidence on back-to-back days. If Luis Gil, Clarke Schmidt, and Rodón can pitch to their potential, there are not any weaknesses in the rotation. I wish it would have been a better outcome for Marcus Stroman, but he does appear to be the odd man out unless there is another move that opens a spot in the rotation.

Another move that surprised me this week was the trade that sent catcher Carlos Narvaez to Boston. Although I liked the return, I despise watching the former Yankees thrive in Boston. I would rather see them go to someplace like San Francisco. As for the return, the Yankees received a top twenty prospect from the Red Sox in minor league righthander Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz. 

Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz (Photo Credit: Christopher Smith/MassLive)

ERC was the thirteenth-ranked prospect in Boston’s system according to MLB.com. He moved up a spot to twelfth in the Yankees system. The Yankees also received $250,000 in international bonus pool money. The Yankees put the money to effective use on Friday when they signed international prospect Stiven Romans, a 17-year-old shortstop, for approximately $1.5 million. They had been linked to Romans for the 2025 signing period, but the additional money received from the Red Sox allowed them to sign the eligible Romans now. It sets up a potential run at Roki Sasaki for the next signing period although I suspect the Los Angeles Dodgers will win that chase.

I liked Narvaez and I had assumed that he would replace Jose Trevino as the Yankees backup catcher at some point, but it is hard to argue against the additions of Rodriguez-Cruz and Romans. I think the Yankees did well, but of course, only time will tell. In the meantime, I hope Narvaez does not cause too much damage against the home team.

As always, Go Yankees!

The Importance of the Houston Astros Loss of Draft Picks

Imagine AJ Hinch having to make this walk...

I want to preface this post by saying, in all honesty, that no matter what the punishment was for the Houston Astros, many, including myself, were just not going to be happy. Anything short of stripping them of the 2017 World Series Championship, which is not realistic or logistically feasible, and parading all the players down the street a la Game of Thrones with Cersei’s walk of shame (Season 5, Episode 10) was simply not going to be good enough. That’s fandom in a nutshell. We’re all fanatical about our team and we are all equally as fanatical when we feel like our team got screwed over and/or cheated. Yankees fans are rightly upset about the whole situation, and the subsequent punishments set down by the league after the fact didn’t help matters much in my opinion.

Admittedly, when the announcement came down, I put out a tweet stating that I felt like the punishment was pretty light. Truth be told, I still kind of do think the punishment was a little on the lighter side, but once I saw a Tweet from my very good friend, and the co-owner and founder of the blog, Bryan Van Dusen, I started looking at things another way. Could the loss of their first and second round draft picks for the 2020 and 2021 MLB First Year Players Draft have much more of an impact on the team than I am giving the league credit for? Maybe.

What about Justin Verlander? The got him after dealing 1st rounder Daz Cameron (and three others). Zack Greinke was acquired using two 1st rounders and a 2nd rounder.

— Undies (@Bryan_TGP) January 13, 2020

Now before we deep dive into this too much I will admit that many of these first round and second round picks that I am about to talk about came early on in the draft and came as a result of the Astros tanking for many, many years. These subsequent draft picks that the Astros are about to lose will likely come towards the later half of both drafts, Houston will lose the 30^th overall pick and the 62^nd overall pick in 2020, but that doesn’t make them any less important.

The Astros current core and roster was built via the draft. Star players like Carlos Correa (1^st overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft), Alex Bregman (2^nd overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft), George Springer (11^th overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft), Kyle Tucker (5^th overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft), and Lance McCullers Jr. (41^st pick overall in 2012) make up just a few pieces of the core that Houston was able to draft, develop, and bring up to the Major Leagues with varying degrees of success. It is also worth mentioning, while not part of the core and not a star player as of the time of this writing, that Blake Taylor will likely win a spot in the Astros bullpen to start the 2020 season. Taylor was drafted in the 2^nd round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates and was acquired by the Astros from the New York Mets, along with Kenedy Corona, for outfielder Jake Marisnick this winter. Taking away even one of these guys probably changes the dynamic of the team but imagine if potentially four of them got taken away. That would just be soul crushing to the team, in my opinion, and that could very well be happening in some capacity to the future of the Houston Astros with these punishments handed down from the league yesterday.

"I take back my congratulations post, because you're just a little cheater!"

My one gripe about the punishment, and my main reason for thinking the punishment was a little light, was that the Astros were not hit whatsoever on the international market. Some of my followers on Twitter quickly rebuffed this, stating that the Astros were not major players on the IFA market, but after researching a little I have to vehemently disagree. It only takes one player signing with the Astros off the IFA market to change the minds of the many, and the simple fact that the Astros plucked All-Star and 2017 MVP* Jose Altuve out of Maracay, Venezuela as a 16-year old in 2007 could potentially change a lot of minds in the market. On top of that, albeit in smaller roles, the additions of Yuli Gurriel (defected from Cuba in 2016), Yordan Alvarez (defected from Cuba in 2016 and signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers), Aledmys Diaz (defected from Cuba in 2012 and signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2014), Jose Urquidy who broke out during the 2019 postseason (signed out of Mazatlan, Mexico), and a pair of IFA-acquired arms in Framber Valdez and Francis Martes that may be vying for the 5^th starter spot in spring training 2020, may also go a long way to putting Houston as a desirable destination for potential future international free agents. How many kids growing up in Venezuela want to be Jose Altuve right now? I bet that number is staggering, so to completely disregard the IFA market in the punishment is completely irresponsible, in my opinion.

Yes, I realize that Gurriel and Alvarez were signed outside of the International market and would not have affected their IFA spending budget, but my overall point was to show that the Astros could, and now are, more attractive than ever on the international market. Oh, and by the way if you want to continue even deeper down this rabbit hole, the Astros traded RHP Josh Fields to the Dodgers for Alvarez. Fields bounced around a few times throughout his MiLB career, but that career started after the Seattle Mariners selected him 20^th overall in the first round of the 2008 MLB Draft. Another first round pick that never amounted to anything at the big-league level, but ultimately shaped the way the Houston Astros are currently constructed through the Draft.

"Let's bang one out and get that dub!"

To take this whole thing one step further, you have to mention the fact that the Astros best pitcher right now is the ageless Justin Verlander. Verlander was the 2^nd overall pick of the Detroit Tigers way back in the 2004 MLB Draft, and it took RHP Franklin Perez (Astros #3 prospect at the time who was acquired on the IFA market out of Valencia, Venezuela), OF Daz Cameron (Astros #9 prospect at the time who was drafted in the first round of the 2015 MLB Draft), and C Jake Rogers (Astros #11 prospect at the time and former 3^rd round pick from 2016) to acquire him back in 2017. So, in order for the Astros to acquire the pitcher that put them over the top during the 2017 postseason (and a former first round pick) it took them sending three of their top 11 best prospects, one of them being a former first round pick and the other being an IFA signing). You also have to remember that the Astros didn’t pay for the production that they received from Verlander; he was struggling mightily in Detroit before seemingly reinventing himself in Houston. Imagine if he had the same production in Detroit before the trade that he had while with the Astros, it may have taken three or four former first round picks to acquire him.

The Astros were not done there and were seemingly not content with their 2017 World Series Championship*. After the 2017 season the Astros acquired another former first round pick in Gerrit Cole (drafted 28^th overall by the New York Yankees in 2008, and then again first overall to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2011) from the Pittsburgh Pirates. What did it cost Houston to acquire the talented right-hander from Pittsburgh before the 2018 season? Joe Musgrove (first round pick of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011), Michael Feliz (IFA signing out of the Dominican Republic), Colin Moran (first round pick 6^th overall of the Miami Marlins in 2013), and Jason Martin (8^th round pick of the Astros in 2013). To acquire yet another former first round pick, and another piece that the team thought would put them ahead of the pack in the American League, it cost the Astros two more first round picks, an IFA signing, and a “lottery ticket” in Martin.

"Bang, because Yankees fans were making fun of me!"

But the Astros were not done there either. In their never-ending effort to stay on top of the competition in the American League, Jeff Luhnow and company acquired former Arizona Diamondbacks starter Zack Greinke at the trade deadline during the 2019 season. Greinke, a former first round pick (6^th overall) of the Kansas City Royals in 2002, was acquired from Arizona for SP Corbin Martin (2^nd round pick of the Astros in the 2017 MLB Draft), SP J.B. Bukauskas (1^st round pick, 15^th overall, by Houston in 2017), 1B Seth Beer (1^st round pick, 28^th overall, by Houston in 2018), and UTIL Josh Rojas. It is worth mentioning that while the Diamondbacks were willing to eat $24 million of the remaining dollars on Greinke’s contract, Houston is still on the hook for $53 million including his salary for the 2020 season. Did the money factor into the prospects haul for the Diamondbacks? You would have to think so, but even then, it still took two former first round picks, a second-round pick, and another lottery ticket in Rojas.

The Astros are clearly not against trading top prospects and former first and second round picks for that key piece they need at the big league level, which may mean that some of these Top 30 prospects (Fangraphs) may also be in the market for new real estate before July 31, 2020. Here is a look at the Astros Top 30 prospects and a quick look at how they got here.

      1.       Forrest Whitley – 1^st round pick 17^th overall 2016
2.       Jose Urquidy – IFA signing out of Mexico
3.       Abraham Toro – 5^th round pick in 2016
4.       Freudis Nova – IFA signing out of the Dominican Republic
5.       Bryan Abreu – IFA signing out of the Dominican Republic
6.       Cristian Javier – IFA signing out of the Dominican Republic
7.       Brandon Bielak - 11^th round pick in 2017
8.       Korey Lee – 1^st round pick 32^nd overall in 2019
9.       Hunter Brown – 5^th round pick in 2019
10.   Jairo Solis – IFA signing out of Venezuela
11.   Jeremy Pena – 3^rd round pick in 2018
12.   Jose Alberto Rivera – IFA signing out of the Dominican Republic
13.   Enoli Paredes – IFA signing out of the Dominican Republic
14.   Tyler Ivey – 3^rd round pick in 2017
15.   Angel Macuare – IFA signing out of Venezuela
16.   Jordan Brewer – 3^rd round pick in 2019
17.   Colin Barber – 4^th round pick in 2019
18.   Grae Kessinger – 2^nd round pick in 2019
19.   Luis Garcia – IFA signing out of Venezuela
20.   Luis Santana – IFA signing out of the Dominican Republic
21.   Jojanse Torres – IFA signing out of the Dominican Republic
22.   Carlos Sanabria – IFA signing out of Venezuela
23.   Cionel Perez – Defected from Cuba, signed as IFA in 2016
24.   Ronnie Dawson – 2^nd round pick in 2016
25.   Dauri Lorenzo – IFA signing out of the Dominican Republic
26.   Manny Ramirez – IFA signing out of the Dominican Republic
27.   Rogelio Armenteros – Defected from Cuba, signed as IFA in 2014
28.   Nivaldo Rodriguez – IFA signing out of Venezuela
29.   Garrett Stubbs – 8^th round pick in 2015
30.   Chas McCormick – 21^st round pick in 2017

The present makeup and construction of the Astros were largely built through the MLB First Year Players Draft, and it looks like the future of the organization (either through the system or via trade) could be largely made up through the Draft as well.

"Got out just in time, boys!"

So, in closing, are the loss of their first and second round draft picks for the 2020 and 2021 MLB Drafts important? Yes, absolutely. Would it have hurt Houston even more to lose some of their IFA money and spending capabilities? Also, absolutely, but you know what hurts the most? Well, besides when the Astros miss the playoffs entirely in 2020 and have to watch the Yankees finally bring that World Championship trophy home, is that the team had to watch their manager get fired, their GM (and probably the best GM in all of baseball) get fired, AND they had to watch arguably their best pitcher head to arguably their biggest rival via free agency. Unfortunately, though, the Astros WILL keep the compensation pick that they received, 72^nd overall, from the Yankees signing of Cole. How sweet would it have been if they had lost that pick too?  

Now we wait on the punishment for the Boston Red Sox, and more importantly Alex Cora. More to come…

Predicting the 2019 Season: The MVP’s

And finally, the big one. The award that every player, pitcher or positional player, dreams of winning. The Most Valuable Player Award. Who will be the most outstanding, and subsequently the most valuable, player in each league in 2019? Well, if you’re using my predictions as a gauge, I can tell you that this is your first mistake, but even a blind squirrel eventually finds a nut. At least I hope, anyway.

If I am going to be wrong anyway at least I will be able to say looking back on these predictions that I was bold. The easy pick to win the American League MVP Award is to pick Mike Trout, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, etc., but that’s not me. I am picking Houston Astros infielder Alex Bregman. Bregman quietly had a great season in 2018 and is still only 24-years old, he turns 25-years old later this month. Bregman is just not ENTERING his prime and is still putting up the .286/.394/.532/.926 slash with 31 home runs and 103 RBI that he put up in 2018. The sky is the limit for this guy, folks, and I think that sky peaks this season with an AL MVP Award. Plus, he hates Boston possibly as much as I do… which isn’t nothing.

If I go bold in the AL, I have to go bold in the National League as well, right? I mean, it’s only fair, so with my National League pick I am going to go with a right-handed hitting first baseman out of the Philadelphia Phillies organization. His name is Rhys Hoskins, and not only will he win the NL MVP Award, but I am going to go out on a limb and say that he wins the 2019 State Farm Home Run Derby as well. Book it, it’s happening. Hoskins turns 26-years old this month and is coming off a season where he hit .246/.354/.496/.850 with 34 home runs and 96 RBI. Now he has Andrew McCutchen and others protecting him and getting on base in front of him, so look out for him here in 2019.

Those are your MVP Award winner predictions, and I guess they could go down as bold predictions as well. Check back with me in November or so to see how well, or not-so-well, I did. Enjoy!

2018 MLB Home Run Bore

Boy, do I hope I am wrong about this, but my first impression after looking at the field for the 2018 State Farm Home Run Derby is… what a bore this is going to be. Again, I hope I am wrong and, again, this is just a first impression… but wow. I guess we have been spoiled over the years with the likes of Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and Giancarlo Stanton in the event, but the names we will go over below just do not excite me right off the bat. I’m sorry but they don’t, and I can’t be the only one.

(#1) Jesus Aguilar – MIL

(#8) Rhys Hoskins – PHI

(#4) Alex Bregman – HOU

(#5) Kyle Schwarber – CHC

(#2) Bryce Harper – WAS

(#7) Freddie Freeman – ATL

(#3) Max Muncy – LAD

(#6) Javier Baez – CHC

So, who wins? I guess I will go with Max Muncy, just because. I may not even watch it, truth be told.

Houston Astros, 2017 World Series Champions...

Credit:  Wally Skalij -- LA Times

2017 World Series

Astros 5, Dodgers 1...

Astros Win Series, 4-3

In the words of the former Yankees manager Joe Girardi, it's not what you want. Sadly for me and those who were pulling for the Los Angeles Dodgers, it was a very long night. From the second consecutive horrific start by Yu Darvish to Cody Bellinger shattering Aaron Judge's post-season strikeout record, it was a forgettable night for the Dodger Blue as the Houston Astros claimed their first ever World Series Championship.

Credit:  Robert Gauthier - LA Times

This should have been a special and magical season for the Dodgers. Their start to the season created much talk about surpassing the tremendous accomplishments of the 1998 Yankees, then came the extended losing streak. They rebounded but in the end, they were just another World Series loser. It was a good Dodgers club, but not quite good enough.  

As for me, I am kind of tired of the Houston Astros after losing two seven-game series in a row to them...first the Yankees in the ALCS and now the Dodgers in the World Series. Plus, word started popping last night that Yankees third base coach Joe Espada has decided to join the Astros as their new bench coach (replacing Alex Cora who will become the new manager for the Boston Red Sox). I guess it was just adding salt in the wound.

Nevertheless, congratulations to the Astros for the championship! It was a hard-fought win for them and the city of Houston.

The Astros controlled the game from the start. It took three pitches for Houston's George Springer, leading off the game, to double into the left field corner off Dodgers starter Yu Darvish. Alex Bregman reached base on an error, making it to second on first baseman Cody Bellinger's throwing error. Bellinger had moved toward second in front of the second baseman in shallow right to scoop up the grounder, but his throw back to first sailed past Darvish. It probably would have been easier for second baseman Logan Forsythe to make that play. 

Credit:  David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG

While Bregman advanced to second, Springer scored the game's first run. Bregman stole third to put himself in prime scoring position.  It played to perfection when Jose Altuve grounded out to first, with Bregman racing home to score the second run for the Astros. Darvish settled down and retired the next two hitters to get out of the inning and finally bring the Dodgers to bat.  

The Dodgers looked like they were going to answer the bell in the bottom of the 1st. Chris Taylor led off for the Dodgers with a double to deep right center. Corey Seager struck out swinging, but there was still hope with the heart of the Dodgers batting order coming up. Justin Turner was hit by a pitch when he took a ball off his forearm, the first of four batters that Astros starter Lance McCullers, Jr would plunk. Cody Bellinger struck out for the second out. Yasiel Puig was next and he, like Turner, was hit by a pitch, on the arm, to load the bases. The reinvigorated Joc Pederson came to the plate, flashing a smile, with the chance to bring momentum back to the Dodgers. Unfortunately, he grounded out to second baseman Jose Altuve for the final out.  No runs for the Dodgers. A missed opportunity for them.  In retrospect, one of the game's key moments.

Yu Darvish was back out on the mound for the 2nd inning but he would not survive.  He started the inning by walking Brian McCann. Marwin Gonzalez doubled to the right field wall, with the slow-footed McCann moving to third. Josh Reddick grounded out to second for the first out. Then, in one of the game's critical moments, McCullers, who should have been an easy out, hit a slow grounder between first and second. The only play for the Dodgers was to throw out McCullers at first. McCann was able to easily jog (sorry, it is hard to use the word "run" when it comes to the former Yankees catcher) home to pick up an RBI for McCullers. George Springer was next and he put an exclamation point on the Astros' early performance with a two-run homer high over the center field wall. The Astros led, 5-0. 

Credit:  Wally Skalij - LA Times

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts came out and pulled Darvish in favor of Brandon Morrow. It may have been the final Dodger appearance for Darvish, a free agent to be. Morrow struck out Alex Bregman to end the inning but using one of your best relievers in the second inning is not exactly a blue print for success.

The Dodgers looked like they had another opportunity in the bottom of the 2nd. Logan Forsythe started things with a single to left. Austin Barnes grounded out to third (great defensive play and throw by third baseman Alex Bregman), but Forsythe was able to advance to second to put himself in scoring position. Kike Hernandez pinch hit for Morrow and was hit by a pitch (ball grazed his shirt but it would have been Ball 4 anyway). Runners at first and second. But it was not the Dodgers' night. Chris Taylor lined a shot directly to shortstop Carlos Correa and the Astros were able to double Forsythe off second to complete the double play. Again, no runs for the Dodgers and yet another missed opportunity.

Clayton Kershaw took over for the Dodgers in the top of the 3rd inning. Kind of makes you wonder why the Dodgers didn't go to Kershaw sooner but he did his job, retiring the Astros in order. There was still time for the Dodgers to claw their way back into the game. In the bottom of the inning, Corey Seager led off with a single to center over Jose Altuve's head. I tried to think of a humorous line about that but I came up short. Justin Turner was hit by a pitch for the second time, this time under his left shoulder blade, and the fourth hit batter by McCullers. 

Credit:  Wally Skalij - LA Times

After McCullers struck out Cody Bellinger, Astros manager A.J. Hinch removed him and brought in Brad Peacock. Yasiel Puig flied out to center but Seager was able to tag and move to third. Two outs for Joc Pederson with a runner just 90 feet away. Pederson went down swinging.  Still no runs for the Dodgers.

Meanwhile, with Kershaw pitching strongly, the Dodgers had their next chance in the 5th. Corey Seager took a one-out walk and moved to second when Justin Turner singled to left. Alex Bregman dove for the ball and knocked it away from Carlos Correa, allowing the ball to roll into left field. The Astros pulled Brad Peacock and brought in Francisco Liriano. Cody Bellinger hit a fielder's choice to Jose Altuve and the Astros were able to force Turner out at second with Seager moving to third. 

Credit:  Wally Skalij - LA Times

Another pitching change which brought Chris Devenski in to face Yasiel Puig. Devenski won the battle when Puig lined out to first for the final out.  

The Astros were able to load the bases in the top of the 6th against Kershaw on only one hit but Kershaw was able to get out of the jam unscathed.

In the bottom of the 6th with Charlie Morton taking over the mound for the Astros, Joc Pederson singled to center...a hit that would have been more useful in his earlier at-bats. Logan Forsythe walked and the Dodgers looked like they might be in business. After Austin Barnes popped out to Carlos Correa in shallow left for the first out, Andre Ethier, pinch-hitting for Kershaw, singled to right on a roller past Jose Altuve, scoring Pederson. Forsythe moved to second.  A home run now, and it would have been a one-run game. Unfortunately, like the earlier innings, the Dodgers couldn't move the runners. Chris Taylor struck out and Corey Seager grounded out to short. It had seemed like it might be a big inning for the Dodgers but all they had to show for it was a single run. 5-1, Astros.

From there, Morton shut down the Dodgers, retiring the next nine batters in order. When Corey Seager hit a grounder to second baseman Jose Altuve who, in turn, threw the ball to first baseman Yuli Gurriel in the bottom of the 9th, the Houston Astros were World Series Champions.  

Credit:  Luis Sinco - LA Times

I am happy for Carlos Beltran and Brian McCann. For them, it was good to see the elusive World Series championship come their way.  It might be the final hour for Beltran's career so if it is the end, he gets to go out the right way.  

Credit:  Jason O Watson, Getty Images North America

George Springer was rightfully named the Series MVP.  His five home runs tied a World Series record and he was seemingly at the heart of every big Astros rally in this series.

Credit:  Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG

For as much as I ripped Yuli Gurriel for his offensive gestures directed at Yu Darvish and his subsequent 2018 suspension for same, it was a very nice touch by Gurriel to tip his cap to Darvish when he came to the plate in the bottom of the 1st inning.  

Credit:  John McCoy, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG

The first pitches for the game were thrown by Dodgers legends Sandy Koufax and Don Newcombe, with Steve Garvey and Rick Monday on the receiving ends, respectively. It was a very nice moment for the Dodgers and their fans.

Credit:  David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG

Now, the MLB season is over and the Hot Stove League begins. Time for the Yankees to find a new manager and begin preparations for the path that hopefully leads to the 2018 World Series championship.

Odds & Ends...

Now that the World Series has ended, Masahiro Tanaka has three days to decide if he'll opt out of his contract. So, we'll know by Saturday where we stand with the right-hander. I am hopeful that either he decides not to opt out or that he and the Yankees are able to come together for an extension. I would prefer to see Tanaka stay.

Credit:  Anthony Causi, New York Post

It looks like the Yankees have found their replacement for former VP of Player Development, Gary Denbo, who recently departed to join Derek Jeter in Miami. Kevin Reese, most recently Director of Professional Scouting for the Yankees, will apparently take Denbo's former role. There has not been an official announcement yet by the Yankees but it is expected shortly.

The New York Mets did not retain hitting coach Kevin Long when Long's contract expired so there are rumors that Long could return to his former role as hitting coach for the Yankees. Nothing against Alan Cockrell or Marcus Thames, but I'd like to see Long back in Pinstripes. He is one of the many rumored names for potential Yankees manager. I do not really want to see him as the manager, but as part of the coaching staff, he'd be a great fit.

The coming days should be interesting for the Yankees and the managerial search. I find it very hard to believe that they did not have a specific choice or choices in mind when they made the decision not to retain Joe Girardi. So I don't buy they are in the process of gathering names. I think they'll go with an outsider rather than someone with immediate Yankee connections but we'll see. Things should become more transparent as we move forward.  I would not be at all surprised if the new manager is Jerry Hairston, Jr.  

Credit:  USA TODAY Sports

Have a great Thursday! It was a wonderful season and a successful one for the Pinstripers.  They are only going to get better.  Go Yankees!