Yankees Spoke With Bronson Arroyo Last Week

The New York Yankees are "casting a wide net" on the remaining free agents in the league and that net reached out to free agent pitcher Bronson Arroyo last week. This was obviously before the Masahiro Tanaka decision was handed down so definitely Arroyo is being classified as a Plan B or C, I hope anyway. The Yankees were also interested earlier in the offseason for the right handed innings eater from the Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox.

Arroyo is 36 years old and while his numbers look good, 3.79 ERA in 202 innings, I think his stuff would not translate well back into the AL East. He did pitch in one of the better hitters parks in the league in the Great American Ball Park but he also faced the pitcher two or three times a night too, which helps. Arroyo's value is in his durability as he has pitched at least 199 innings in the last nine seasons consecutively.

Again he is definitely not a Plan A and should not be a Plan B either but he would definitely fill a need, a need of 200 innings to take the toll off the bullpen.

Brian Kenny Thinks He Can Fix The Yankees

Ok, just for a minute.. Rule #1 to finish fixing Yanks: I know it, Choo know it, everyone knows it. Obp is king".
— Brian Kenny (@MrBrianKenny) December 11, 2013

So we have Brett Gardner, Shin Soo Choo, Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran, Alfonso Soriano, Vernon Wells, & Ichiro Suzuki? Holy hell what a logjam.

Rule #2 to fix Yanks: It's ok to keep two speedy onbase guys in your OF.
— Brian Kenny (@MrBrianKenny) December 11, 2013

Agreed. Reminds me of Billy Martin and Billy Ball. Well I was born in 1985 so what I have seen on tape and heard anyway, it doesn't actually remind me of anything. Speed does kill and I love having that option in the lineup and in the outfield.

Rule #3 to fix the Yankees: You already have a 2b. Only upgrade Kelly Johnson if it"s cheap.
— Brian Kenny (@MrBrianKenny) December 11, 2013

In my series of posts I described in September imagining if Robinson Cano left for greener pastures I said to let Kelly Johnson have the second base job. He can give you 20 home runs, 80 RBI's, hit around .270, and is the closest we have or will get to "replacing" Cano. Long story short, agreed.

Rule #4 to fix the Yankees: be talking with every relief pitcher out there - sign 2 or 3. You're the Yankees, dammit.
— Brian Kenny (@MrBrianKenny) December 11, 2013

Figured Kenny would be more willing to give the young guys a shot but then I forgot he was strictly a numbers guy. One or two I wouldn't be upset with but signing three guys seems like an awful lot for us and takes away innings from guys like Cesar Cabral, Dellin Betances, Preston Claiborne, etc. Girardi has made a living off of revamping our bullpen on a year to year basis with our farm system. If it's not broke...

Rule #5 for fixing the Yankees: Who is in charge of developing your minor league pitching? WHAT IS GOING ON??
— Brian Kenny (@MrBrianKenny) December 11, 2013

Yeah I got nothing...

Rule #6 for fixing Yankees: If the Reds are tiring of Homer Bailey, remedy that.
— Brian Kenny (@MrBrianKenny) December 11, 2013

Reds already said they are not interested in Gardner and he is about the only trade chip we have that they want to win now. It would be nice but right now it does not seem realistic.

Rule #7 for fixing Yankees: Do not be interested in any other Reds. (Unless it rhymes with "Blotto")
— Brian Kenny (@MrBrianKenny) December 11, 2013

Finally someone else who doesn't want the Yankees to trade for Brandon Phillips. Thank you!

Rule #8 to fix Yankees: You lost a lot with Cano. But you did the right thing.
— Brian Kenny (@MrBrianKenny) December 11, 2013

Surprisingly I think 90% of us are all in unison about this. No more 10 year deals to guys in their 30's, bottom line.

Rule #9 to fix the Yankees: backload the Choo deal if necessary. Work hard to keep it 5, & 6 is max.
— Brian Kenny (@MrBrianKenny) December 11, 2013

What does it matter if it is front loaded or back loaded? Using AAV it doesn't matter and all we care about is the luxury tax.

Rule #10 to fix Yanks: Run the numbers on Bronson Arroyo. Have them for me by morning.
— Brian Kenny (@MrBrianKenny) December 11, 2013

Isn't there some kind of sabermetric stat that could you tell you how much effectiveness he would lose if he were to come back to the AL East and Yankee Stadium? I have his BIP locations ready if you would like to discuss it Mr. Kenny.

Oh my god, really? Done. Rule #11: Sign Bronson Arroyo. RT: “@ScottLindholm: @MrBrianKenny 2 years, $15 million, done”
— Brian Kenny (@MrBrianKenny) December 11, 2013

You skipped Rule 10. Is this one of those things where you buy four pigs and paint them each with a number "1", "2", "3", and "5" and laugh while everyone searches for #4? Did I mention his BIP locations from Great American Ballpark to Yankee Stadium?

Rule #12: Have Walt Jocketty on speed dial. RT: “@best_matt_ever: so sign choo. Trade for Votto/bailey. Sign Bronson.Welcome to 2013 reds”
— Brian Kenny (@MrBrianKenny) December 11, 2013

Votto is not going anywhere and Bailey is not realistic. Bronson's BIP's... I still have them when you are ready Mr. Kenny.

Rule #13 to fix Yanks: Have 3-man full-time analytics "game flow" staff adjacent to dugout to help Joe Girardi w/all tactical decisions.
— Brian Kenny (@MrBrianKenny) December 11, 2013

Volunteering to be a human binder?

Rule #15 to fix Yankees: Institute Old School Saturdays. All Sat 1pm games have no sound system beyond PA & Organ. Let crowd do work.
— Brian Kenny (@MrBrianKenny) December 11, 2013

For a guy who crunches numbers a lot you sure are skipping a lot of numbers here. Plus Coupon Clipping Hal has priced the Yankees fans out of the new stadium.

Except for the job itself, who doesn't want to be a GM? “@SAnalyticsBlog: Rule #16 to Fix the Yankees: Hire Brian Kenny as General Manager”
— Brian Kenny (@MrBrianKenny) December 11, 2013

Agreed!

Add Haren, Arroyo, & Feldman To The Yankees Wish List

Add a few more names to the Yankees Christmas wishlist and shopping list this evening as Jon Heyman is reporting that the Yankees are interested in pitchers Bronson Arroyo, Scott Feldman, and Dan Haren. Okay so I know that Brian Cashman has to work the phones, do his due diligence, leave no stone un-turned, explore every option, etc. I get that and I appreciate that and the effort but being interested in a guy like Arroyo makes absolutely no sense. Either way the Yankees seem to be ready to become very aggressive at next week's GM Meetings.

Arroyo is 36 years old and went to the National League because he could not cut in the American League anymore, specifically in the AL East, so I think a move back would be foolish. Arroyo is coming off of a 3.79 ERA and 4.49 FIP in a traditionally home run friendly ballpark in Cincinnati in 202 innings pitched. If the Yankees needed a 5th or 6th starter type and had every other position filled then sure you an make room for a big innings eater that can keep you into games but right now I still say we have to pass on Bronson.

Feldman had a pretty decent season split between the Chicago Cubs and the Baltimore Orioles and may be a sleeper pick for whoever acquires him in 2014. Feldman is only 30 years old and is coming off a combined 3.86 ERA and  4.03 FIP in 182.2 innings pitched. Feldman will likely not command a long or big money contract and could fit nicely in or around the #3 spot in our rotation so I say make a guy like Masahiro Tanaka a priority but after that is in the bag I could see us going after a guy like Feldman.

Dan Haren scares the hell out of me after he struggled in a strong National League East division last year with the Nationals. That task is only going to get harder in the American League East with the Yankees if he were to come here although he did pitch better in the second half then he did in the first. I know we were after him at the end of last season but that was only to upgrade over Phil Hughes, now he has a little bit bigger shoes to fill so right now I may have to pass.