People Are Actually Upset About Turning Down the Jason Heyward Blockbuster?

The New York Yankees fan is a unique and special fan because of their passion and their love for the team. Most fans I know are the truest of true fans and they bleed Yankees blue just like me. While I mean the utmost respect when I call you fans passionate, special and unique there is a con for every pro for almost everything in this world. One of the cons about being passionate about this team is that you want the best 25 players on the roster at all times and you want a World Series victory at all times, heck I do too to be completely honest, but sometimes you have to step back and look at the bigger picture. The news that the New York Yankees turned down a mega blockbuster deal with the Atlanta Braves before the 2015 season is the perfect example of this because I can’t believe the outrage I am seeing from some fans directed towards the team and Brian Cashman.

First and foremost this is all speculation, I obviously have no insight or inside information with the players, the team and the GM but you have to think that Jason Heyward was going to hit free agency either way this offseason. He’s 26-years old and he was going to want to test the market and get a boatload of money to future proof his and his family’s life. The Yankees would essentially have had Heyward for one season with no real place to put him. Jacoby Ellsbury, Brett Gardner and Carlos Beltran were all healthy and under contract at the time and Alex Rodriguez was at the DH position, so where does everyone even play? Also these talks happened before the Yankees acquired Didi Gregorius from the Arizona Diamondbacks in a three-team trade. I’m sorry but if Didi hits half as well as he did after the first two months of the season, he hit .297 FYI, then he would be a huge upgrade over Andrelton Simmons. No contest.

The Yankees farm system would once again be decimated by this trade. Heyward for one season and a draft pick, Hal Steinbrenner proved this winter he was not going to pay Heyward… he had every chance to so this is not speculation, plus Chris Johnson, a third baseman New York could have had for just money on the free agent market and once again passed on, David Carpenter, who the Yankees got anyway and designated for assignment, for the low, low price of Luis Severino, Aaron Judge, Ian Clarkin, Gary Sanchez and Manny Banuelos. Where would the Yankees be if they made this trade? A lot farther from the light at the end of the tunnel and in a lot more trouble this season than they may or may not be already. That’s where!

Be passionate, be opinionated but once you calm down think it through Yankees family. This trade would have been extremely short-sighted and would have been the kind of trade that Yankees fans everywhere have been wanting to get away from for years. This is a good thing that this didn’t go down and frankly I am glad that Brian Cashman, Hank Steinbrenner or whoever declined to make the deal. Have a plan and stick to it, the new Yankees way. 

Yankees Bench: What About Chris Johnson?

The New York Yankees have built a team around youth, defense and versatility recently and the plan is finally starting to come to fruition. The additions of Didi Gregorius and Starlin Castro up the middle with the veteran stalwarts Chase Headley and Mark Teixeira at the corners has given the Yankees potentially one of the best defensive infields in recent memory but what about the Yankees bench? At this point it looks like Aaron Hicks will be there as the fourth outfielder, Gary Sanchez will back up Brian McCann and give Alex Rodriguez an occasional day off at the DH position and Dustin Ackley will play all over the infield and the outfield. New York may have room for one more guy on the bench, assuming Pete Kozma doesn't win a job out of spring training, and that job may go to Chris Johnson.

If you look at the most glaring hole on the Yankees bench right now it is the fact that the team lacks a true third base option. Chase Headley led the team in games played last season for that very reason, the Yankees lack serious third base options. Castro is the current backup at third base although he hasn't played more than seven games at the position and those were all in the minors. Brendan Ryan was an option but he was traded to the Chicago Cubs as a player to be named later in the Castro deal and has not been re-signed since the Cubs let him go a mere week later. Johnson is an option for New York after the Cleveland Indians designated him for assignment and released him before working out a deal with another team on a trade. What would Johnson bring to the table?

Johnson is listed as a third baseman and first baseman according to Baseball Reference and he hits from the right side, three checks on the Yankees want list. While New York lacks a true backup at third base the team also lacks a true backup at first as well with Greg Bird in the minor leagues and Johnson could fill both those holes. It would also allow Headley to get more rest, especially against left-handed pitching, keeping him fresh longer throughout the season. Johnson hit .326/.354/.391 against left-handed pitching last year while Headley hit just .283/.335/.408 in almost double the at bats.

Johnson hit much better with the Indians in 2015 than he did with the Braves suggesting that maybe a change of scenery could help the third baseman harness whatever he had during his good 2010, 2012 and 2013 seasons. Something about putting on the Yankees pinstripes can revitalize a guy, even if he's just 31 years old like Johnson. You would think since Johnson passed through waivers and was not traded after his DFA that many teams aren't knocking down his doors so maybe the Yankees can find lightning in a bottle with him. Or maybe they will just bring Brendan Ryan back....