Wanted: Good News For A Change...

Credit:  MLB.com

A Collective Groan in the Yankees Universe...

On the tail of a six-game losing streak, how can things go from bad to worse?  Losing top prospect Gleyber Torres to Tommy John surgery certainly qualifies.  Thought to have only a hyperextended elbow, consultation with Yankees team physician Christopher Ahmad revealed that Torres has a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow.  Many were expecting the July call-up of Torres to the Major Leagues as a potential replacement for third baseman Chase Headley.  Now, Torres will undergo surgery, with eyes for Spring Training 2018.  Ouch, this one hurts. Well, him more than me but still, losing both the top pitching and the top hitting prospects to Tommy John surgery in the same year is difficult.  I suppose the news would have been much worse if Torres had injured his throwing arm (longer recuperation and rehabilitation period).  So, we should be grateful that this was not worse than it was.  Good things never happen with headfirst slides.

Like the ascension of Chance Adams to top pitching prospect status, Clint Frazier becomes the de facto top prospect in the organization pending Gleyber's successful return to good health.  As I try to comprehend this depressing news, I didn't really think that Torres was ready for the Big Leagues yet.  I had already viewed his timetable as next Spring.  With immediate projections that he'll be ready for Spring Training, nothing really changes except he'll lose valuable time learning the nuances of third base over the course of the next few months.  Manager Joe Girardi is already on record saying that if there is an infield need at second/short on the MLB roster, Tyler Wade would be the guy.  

Where do we go from here?  With first base surfacing as the greatest need, this probably enhances the chances for Chase Headley to remain as the third base starter (regardless of the consequences) unless the Yankees swing a less expensive deal for a guy like Howie Kendrick of the Philadelphia Phillies.  Without Major League ready third basemen in the Minor Leagues and greater needs at first base and left-handed relief in the bullpen, there's probably not much that can be done to upgrade third base at this point without costing an arm and leg (a few arms and legs, in fact).  Even the guy the Yankees traded to the San Diego Padres for Headley (Yangervis Solarte) would be a better option today in a side-by-side comparison. 

Credit:  Associated Press

The Yankees are competing against the Houston Astros in the pitching market and for third base, they face stiff competition from the Boston Red Sox who appear ready to flush the Pablo Sandoval disaster.  I believe this makes the possibility of Mike Moustakas calling Fenway Park "home" the more likely outcome.  This year's July Trading Deadline figures to be a very expensive one for the many teams looking to upgrade. 

The Yankees elevated 3B Miguel Andujar to AAA-Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to replace Torres.  He was 1-for-4 last night in the RailRiders' 6-1 victory over the Syracuse Chiefs.  He also scored two runs.  The heroes of the game were Dustin Fowler, who had a two-run home run, and Brady Lail, who pitched 6 2/3 innings, surrendering only the one run and four hits, for the win.  Andujar is probably the best true third baseman right now but he's not close to taking his game to the next level yet.

In case you were sleeping last night...

Despite the day off, the Yankees are back in sole possession of first place in the AL East.  The Boston Red Sox lost to the Kansas City Royals, 4-2, to fall a 1/2 game off the pace.  Having played three more games than the Yankees, the Red Sox are two games behind in the loss column.  The third place Tampa Bay Rays slid to 4 games back, thanks to their loss to the Cincinnati Reds, 7-3.   The Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles sit 5 games back entering play today.  The Jays beat the Texas Rangers, 7-6, while the Orioles were de-feathered by the Cleveland Indians, 12-0.  

Preview of Upcoming Angels-Yankees Series:

Here are the scheduled pitching match-ups for the series with the Los Angeles Angels which begins tonight at Yankee Stadium:

Tuesday, June 20th

Angels:  Parker Bridwell (1-0, 2.79 ERA)

Yankees:  Michael Pineda (7-3, 3.71 ERA)

Wednesday, June 21st

Angels:  Ricky Nolasco (2-8, 5.01 ERA)

Yankees:  Jordan Montgomery (4-4, 3.78 ERA)

Thursday, June 22nd

Angels:  Jesse Chavez (5-7, 4.85 ERA)

Yankees:  Luis Severino (5-2, 2.99 ERA)

Odds & Ends...

Yankees RHP Matt Marsh, 25, has been suspended for 50 games for a second violation of Baseball's Minor League Drug Policy.  Marsh, a relief pitcher, has appeared in 15 games for High-A Tampa and AA-Trenton.  He is 3-2 with 2.49 ERA, and has held batters to .190 batting average while striking out 28 in 21 2/3 innings.  He did not allow a run in 7 innings pitched for Tampa.  Marsh was signed by the Yankees as an undrafted free agent in 2014.

Credit:  Josh Lefkowitz-Getty Images

Move over, Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez.  Cody Bellinger of the Los Angeles Dodgers is now the hottest young home run hitter in baseball.  Bellinger hit two more homers last night against Zack Wheeler and the New York Mets and now has 21 in 51 games.  It is the fifth multi-homer game for Bellinger.  He is just the fourth player 21 years or younger with 20 homers by the All-Star Break (joining Eddie Matthews, Albert Pujols, and Miguel Cabrera).  Do the Dodgers miss injured first baseman Adrian Gonzalez?  I think not...

Credit:  Harry How-Getty Images

Have a great Tuesday!  It's time to put the losing streak in the rearview mirror!

Predicting the Rest of the Top Free Agent Destinations

Before the MLB Hot Stove season began I predicted all the top free agent destinations with varying degrees of success. When I say varying degrees of success I mean I did terrible, see HERE. I have seven correct and none of them were the top free agents on the list, so is life I guess. There are plenty of these top guys remaining including Justin Upton, Yoenis Cespedes, Wei-Yin Chen, Chris Davis, Ian Desmond, Yovani Gallardo, Ian Kennedy and Howie Kendrick. I predicted them once without a single free agent coming off the board but we have a much clearer picture now so I'm going to take a second stab at it.



Justin Upton

Original Prediction: San Francisco Giants
New Prediction: Baltimore Orioles



Yoenis Cespedes

Original Prediction: Chicago White Sox
New Prediction: Chicago White Sox



Wei-Yin Chen * predicted before he signed, left up to show I'm humble :)

Original Prediction: Boston Red Sox
New Prediction: Washington Nationals



Chris Davis

Original Prediction: Washington Nationals
New Prediction: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim



Ian Desmond

Original Prediction:New York Mets
New Prediction: San Diego Padres



Yovani Gallardo

Original Prediction: Texas Rangers
New Prediction: Texas Rangers



Ian Kennedy

Original Prediction: Baltimore Orioles
New Prediction: San Diego Padres



Howie Kendrick

Original Prediction: Chicago White Sox
New Prediction: Arizona Diamondbacks

Best of What's Left on the Free Agency Market

The big names and the huge checks are being written this winter and the run on the second tier players is probably going to begin soon. Who is the best of what's left on the free agency market at every position?

C: Hector Sanchez
1B: Chris Davis
2B: Howie Kendrick
SS: Ian Desmond
3B: Daniel Murphy
OF: Dexter Fowler
OF: Alex Gordon
OF: Yoenis Cespedes
DH: Justin Upton

SP: Kenta Maeda
SP: Mike Leake
SP: Wei-Yin Chen
SP: Scott Kazmir

CP: Tyler Clippard
RP: Antonio Bastardo
RP: Fernando Rodney
RP: Ryan Cook

Let the Free Agency Black Friday Deals Begin

Thanksgiving is over. The turkey is cooked, the ham is eaten and the stuffing has me stuffed. What better way to follow up a day of gluttonous eating and showing our thanks for everything we have in this world than to trample over people in a retail store for our own greed and pleasure. In America we call this “Black Friday” where you can risk your life and get in a fist fight over some cheap and flimsy Wal Mart towels all to save a couple hundred bucks. Me personally, I prefer to stay home under the covers and do all my Christmas shopping online, something that many teams around the league are likely doing right about now in free agency.

The first major free agents have yet to fall off the board this season and with the family functions over and the endless traveling back and forth for this dinner and that dinner the wheeling and dealing (you know, to burn calories and such) can begin. We’ve all seen these offseason’s before, it just takes one of these major free agents to pick a destination and the rest of the league scurries to grab up the remaining talent before it’s gone. Free agency is just like Black Friday, and these deals could be going fast.

Ben Zobrist is likely the most highly sought after 34-year old on the entire free agent market. When teams like the New York Yankees and the New York Mets are interested in your services you can understand why the switch hitting utility player is taking his time but until Zobrist comes off the board you are unlikely to see Howie Kendrick, Alexei Ramirez, Ian Desmond or any of the middle infield free agents specifically come off the board.

The Yankees are dangling Brett Gardner out in any and all trade offers this offseason and may have log-jammed the entire outfield market. Until Gardner is secure either in the Bronx or elsewhere it may be a while before we see a Denard Span or a Dexter Fowler come off the free agency board.

The Cincinnati Reds know how to get us all worked up just to let us down as fans. Last season we all thought Aroldis Chapman was going to be traded before the deadline and he wasn’t. Then recently a report surfaced that Chapman was going to be moved again and by that weekend. Chapman is still in Cincinnati which means no one is looking at trading for the Yankees Andrew Miller or any other closer until Chapman’s 2016 home is secure, even if it’s still inside the Great American Ball Park.

David Price despite being older than and presumably more expensive than Jordan Zimmermann is likely going to set the tone for the starting pitching market this winter. Until Price comes off the board Zimmermann, Johnny Cueto and others may simply sit by and wait idly while the left-hander makes up his mind.

And finally the relief pitching department, as fickle as it can be, may be at a standstill until former Baltimore Orioles right-hander Darren O’Day makes up his mind. O’Day is likely the best and most sought after free agent in the bullpen that’s not already a closer and is said to have much of the league interested in his services. Tyler Clippard, Ryan Madson and maybe even Joakim Soria continue to sit in limbo until someone grabs O’Day off that Black Friday pallet and brings him home this Christmas.

I hope everyone had a great and Happy Thanksgiving, an even better and a safe Black Friday and a great weekend.

The Free Agency Royal Rumble Returns – Infielders

For the first time in Free Agency Royal Rumble history an incumbent member of the New York Yankees will have his job on the line as both Dustin Ackley and Robert Refsnyder will be in the rumble. Joining Refsynder and Ackley in the rumble will be the Kansas City Royals second baseman Ben Zobrist, the Los Angeles Dodgers second basemen Chase Utley and Howie Kendrick and the incumbent Yankees second baseman, Mr. Stephen Drew.

Howie Kendrick was taken out and backstabbed almost immediately by Chase Utley on an errant slide into the ropes leaving the field at five. Utley hurt himself on the slide, he is 37-years old after all, and was easily eliminated by Stephen Drew who was stat padding his stats in garbage time leaving the field at four. Ben Zobrist felt excited looking at the field remaining, especially considering he is not linked to draft pick compensation but the Yankees threesome quickly took advantage of his head in the clouds, and bulky contract that in my opinion he will never live up to at 35-years old and after all the hype he received in Oakland, and eliminated him.

In a shocking turn of events the Yankees Three, that’s what they are now calling themselves, left the ring hand-in-hand-in-hand leaving the Yankees with all three of them for the 2016 season. According to reports, reports I am making up for the purpose of this post and for fun, Drew will ride the bench and be the backup to Didi Gregorius and Chase Headley while both Ackley and Refsnyder will platoon at second base. When Refsnyder is at second Ackley will relieve one of the corner outfielders, especially Brett Gardner, to keep them fresh and prevent another second half letdown.

Recapping the Winter Meetings 2014

It's Sunday and the wild and active Winter Meetings are over. Let's take a time on this lazy Sunday to recap just what happened. Spoiler alert, if you're looking for something Yankees related here you're not going to get it. Anyway, carry on. I'm not going to list every move but just the notable and impact ones. 

12-8

Cleveland Indians – Traded Joey Wendle for OF Brandon Moss from the Oakland Athletics.

12-9

Chicago Cubs – Traded RHP Zachary Godley and RHP Jeferson Mejia for C Miguel Montero from the Arizona Diamondbacks. 

Chicago White Sox – Traded RHP Chris Bassitt, C Josh Phegley, 3B Rangel Ravelo and SS Marcus Semien for RHP Jeff Samardzija and RHP Michael Ynoa from the Oakland Athletics. 

12-10

Chicago White Sox – Signed RHP David Robertson.

Los Angeles Dodgers – Traded LHP Andrew Heaney for 2B Howie Kendrick from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Miami Marlins – Traded C Austin Barnes, RHP David Hatcher, LHP Andrew Heaney and SS Enrique Hernandez for RHP Dan Haren, 2B Dee Gordon and SS Miguel Rojas from the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

12-11

Detroit Tigers – Traded RHP Jonathon Crawford and INF Eugenio Suarez for RHP Alfredo Simon from the Cincinnati Reds. 

Detroit Tigers – Traded RHP Rick Porcello for  OF Yoenis Cespedes, RHP Alex Wilson and LHP Gabe Speier from the Boston Red Sox. 

Miami Marlins – Traded RHP Anthony DeSclafani and C Chad Wallach for RHP Mat Latos from the Cincinnati Reds. 

Announced 12-12 or later

Boston Red Sox – Traded RHP Rubby De La Rosa, RHP Allen Webster and another minor leaguer for LHP Wade Miley from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

San Diego Padres – Traded C Yasmani Grandal, RHP Joe Wieland, and RHP Zach Eflin for OF Matt Kemp and C Tim Federowicz from the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Los Angeles Dodgers – Traded a minor league package for SS Jimmy Rollins from the Philadelphia Phillies. 

Chicago Cubs – Signed RHP Jason Hammel

Pittsburgh Pirates – Signed LHP Francisco Liriano

Chicago Cubs – Signed LHP Jon Lester

Houston Astros – Signed RHP Luke Gregerson

Houston Astros – Signed RHP Pat Neshek

Los Angeles Dodgers – Signed RHP Brandon McCarthy

Boston Red Sox – Signed RHP Justin Masterson

Kansas City Royals – Signed 1B Kendrys Morales

St. Louis Cardinals – Signed 3B/1B Mark Reynolds

Minnesota Twins – Signed RHP Ervin Santana

Angels Likely To Trade Kendrick or Freese

MLB Trade Rumors wrote this week about the fact that the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim may have to trade wither second baseman Howie Kendrick or third baseman David Freese this winter. Should the Yankees be interested in either of them? Both of them? In a word, yes.

Neither will come cheap in terms of prospects or in salary but both are obtainable without giving up Top 10 talent. Kendrick is slated to make $9.5 million next season after posting a 2014 slash of .293/.347/.397 while Freese is scheduled to earn more than his $5.05 million he did in 2014 in his final season of arbitration after hitting .261/.321/.383 last season.

The Angels need a starting pitcher and/or a left handed relief pitcher for next season while also trying to get their spending under control. A trade for either Kendrick or Freese and only giving up a Bryan Mitchell, James Pazos, Tyler Webb, or someone not named Manny Banuelos, Shane Greene, or Jacob Lindgren makes sense for both clubs.

This may be what the Yankees need to pull off to help ease the 40 man roster crunch and Rule 5 Draft problems the team is likely to face this winter. Get it done Cash.

Quick Hit: Don't Pitch To Albert Pujols

Do not, I repeat, do not pitch to Albert Pujols. Just don't do it if you want to win these three very winnable games against the Angels at home this weekend. Josh Hamilton is out of the lineup and Pujols has no protection hitting behind him once again, sound familiar St. Louis Cardinals fans? If I am the Yankees I think I would rather attack Howie Kendrick, Yankee killer and all, than a red hot Pujols right now.

The Angels are coming off a great series against the Washington Nationals and Pujols is hot after joining the 500 home run club. You don't need a binder to see this, don't pitch to Pujols this weekend and try to keep Mike Trout off the basepaths. Oh and score more runs then the Angels do, then the Yankees sweep.

Sounds easy enough, now just do it. Happy Friday everybody, have a great day.

Omar Infante Wants A Four Year Deal, Yankees Don't

Omar Infante and his agent are very aware that he is the best available second basemen after Robinson Cano left for Seattle and he wants to be paid like it. Yesterday we learned that Infante wanted $8 million or more per season and today we learned that Omar wants a four year deal. The Yankees are obviously not crazy about going four years on a 31 year old, soon to be 32 year old, but how can they say no? They gave Carlos Beltran a three year deal at 37 years old and we had other outfield options, the Yankees don't necessarily have that luxury at second base this season. The Kansas City Royals may be willing to go to four years and are now considered to be the favorites after this news broke. Hopefully the Yankees don't get burned again because Howie Kendrick is said to no longer be available from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim so the second base market is drying up quickly.