2018 Playoffs: Oakland Athletics Offense vs. Luis Severino - Career

Will we see Luis Severino circa the 2017 AL Wild Card Game against the Minnesota Twins inside Yankee Stadium tonight? Or will we see dominant, young ace right-hander Severino tonight inside Yankee Stadium against the Oakland Athletics? Stay tuned...

All stats and images courtesy of ESPN and Baseball Reference.

So Brian McCann Cleared Waivers, Now What?

The waiver wire trade deadline is set for August 31^st and unlike the August 1^st trading deadline this deadline is whole lot more complicated with a whole lot more moving parts. First a player must clear revocable waivers where he can be claimed, and revoked or brought back off waivers, before he can be traded and Brian McCann did just that this week. Will the Yankees trade him? Honestly, and I’ve written about this already this season, I don’t think that they should but for argument’s sake let’s say that they do. Here are a few teams presumably still looking for catching help that could bite on the right deal or a deal where the Yankees ate some salary.

Five teams immediately come to mind when I think of potential landing spots for McCann because these are the five teams that were most notably looking for catching help before the August 1^st trading deadline but did not pull off a deal for one. That list includes the New York Mets, the Atlanta Braves, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Houston Astros and the Cleveland Indians. All these teams are playoff contenders with the exception of the Braves of course but Atlanta could want McCann for the same reasons I laid out over the weekend, you keep a veteran catcher during a rebuild to work with your young pitchers and to build relationships and confidence.

The Mets currently employ Travis d’Arnaud at the position but judging by their attempt to acquire Jonathan Lucroy before the deadline you can see the team is not sold on him. The problem is the Mets system is pretty weak by all accounts, especially with MLB ready or close to MLB ready prospects, while the team is likely to also want the Yankees to eat some salary in any potential deal. The Yankees needs either salary relief and less prospects or good prospects for McCann and I can’t see the Mets giving the Bombers either unfortunately.

The Atlanta Braves are in the same boat as the Mets when it comes to the ability and willingness to eat salary. The Braves talked to the Yankees prior to the deadline about McCann and basically refused to take on the salary of their former catcher thus closing the door on any potential deal. The Braves have the prospects to get this done but the difference here is the Braves don’t have to get it done, and that will affect what they are willing to and will ultimately pay if a deal were to take place. I consider Atlanta to be a Plan B, Plan C or lower if the Yankees are simply motivated to move him just to move him.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are listed here because the Los Angeles Dodgers are always listed as interested for every available free agent and trade target. They are greedy like that and I can appreciate that personally. Anyway, the Dodgers do have some genuine interest in improving their team and especially improving their catching situation as they find themselves in a dog fight with the San Francisco Giants atop the NL West Division race. McCann makes their catching situation better and their offense much better almost immediately if a deal is made, and a deal could be made due to the fact that the Dodgers can afford to absorb the salary and they also have enough in their farm system to make the Yankees happy. Just no Yasiel Puig, please?

While the Dodgers are chasing down the Giants the Astros are going in the opposite direction in both the division standings and the Wild Card standings as well. Currently at the catcher position the Astros have a DH acting as a part-time catcher in Evan Gattis and a defensive-minded and defense-only catcher in Jason Castro so the need for an offensive catcher is extremely apparent. McCann would be a huge upgrade and a shot in the arm for Astros playoff push and Houston could absolutely afford to take the hit both in terms of salary and in terms of prospects.

Finally you have the Cleveland Indians, the Yankees couldn’t pillage their farm system one more time this season. Could they? The Brewers agreed to trade Jonathan Lucroy to the Indians before Lucroy refused to waive his no-trade clause and Cleveland never acquired a catcher before the deadline leaving these two teams once again a match for a potential trade. Brian Cashman has to be familiar with the Indians farm system and the Yankees seem to be motivated to move him so this could also be a potential landing spot for the Yankees catcher.

The Yankees have at least five potential landing spots for McCann now that he has cleared revocable waivers. McCann would obviously have to accept any trade because of his no-trade clause but the Yankees have options here. Does that necessarily mean a trade will happen? Lord no. That’s a lot of money left on the table and nothing is ever easy when a full no-trade clause is involved but the options are there and that is at least encouraging. 

Selling Pieces Now Can Help in 2017?

The New York Yankees seem to be in sell mode before this year’s August 1^st trading and while we may not be seeing a fire sale by any stretch of the imagination we could see a few key pieces moved before it’s all said and done. This is important not only for the 2016 season with eyes on the 2018 season and beyond but there is one key component that many are missing in regards to the 2017 season as well. The Top 10 picks every season are protected when offering contracts to players who received qualifying offers and if the Yankees fall a bit more they could potentially get one of those protected picks and get a free pass this winter in free agency.

Entering play on Monday 13 teams have records worse than the Yankees record right now and one team, the Seattle Mariners, have an identical record as the Bronx Bombers. The Yankees had the 14^th worst record in Major League Baseball with the dominating bullpen of No Runs DMC, a resurgent season from Carlos Beltran and great performances from the likes of CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova, Brett Gardner, Brian McCann and others. If some of these players fall by the wayside and/or get traded this month or next month that record could fall, and fall fast.

Now looking at the potential free agent class for the 2017 season you can see if it’s even worth it to “tank” the season for one of those protected picks. Thanks to MLB Trade Rumors you can see that the cream of the crop as far as the 2017 free agency market goes are Jonathan Lucroy (he has a club option for 2017 that will likely be exercised), Wilson Ramos (like we need another catcher), Edwin Encarnacion, possibly Yoenis Cespedes if he opts out of his contract with the Mets, Ian Desmond (see my above comment about needing a catcher), Jose Bautista (we need guys who can throw punches, not take them), Andrew Cashner and a plethora of relievers you can read about at MLB Trade Rumors. Oh and Stephen Drew. Stephen Drew sucks.

I don’t know about you but that list doesn’t necessarily intrigue me all that much. There are only a handful of players who are under that magical 30-year old mark and only a handful of players that I would actually want on the Yankees going forward. Mark Melancon would be nice and would definitely be worth the second round pick that New York would have to give up presumably if Pittsburgh offers him a qualifying offer but aside from that I’m just not blown away.

So would selling now help not only the 2017 season but also the 2018 season and beyond? No, I don’t think that it would. Right now it looks like there is no helping this 2016 club or the 2017 club either unfortunately and in my opinion. 

Fantasy Baseball: So You Need a Catcher?

If you have played Fantasy Baseball one time or 100 times you know one thing for sure, there are certain positions you have to get a little bit early or you won’t get them at all. One position that immediately comes to mind is the closer position as there is basically a finite amount of them (unlike an outfield that has three per team and a total of 90 outfielders not counting bench pieces) and another one of them is the catcher position. There just aren’t that many run producing offensive catchers that you can snag for fantasy purposes so you may want to grab them early if you want a good one. Everyone knows the Buster Posey’s of the world as he sits atop the position but what about below him? That’s where I come in, hopefully.

Buster Posey is the best catcher in real life and in fantasy but if I were to fill out a Top 5 list behind him I would have Salvador Perez, Yadier Molina, Kyle Schwarber and Jonathan Lucroy in some order behind him. Brian McCann comes to mind as well only because he possesses 20-25 home run power and plays inside Yankee Stadium where the runs and RBI opportunities are as plentiful as the beer and the suits in the stands. If McCann is 6^th on my list then in some order behind him Matt Wieters, who should be better in his second year removed from Tommy John surgery, Travis d’Arnaud, Russell Martin, for his power only, and Yan Gomes probably fill out my Top 10.

I know many will call me crazy but if I had to stretch the list to a #11 I may go with Francisco Cervelli of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Yes I know I am ignoring the likes of Yasmani Grandal, Devin Mesoraco (little protection behind him and no reason to pitch to him), Derek Norris (Petco Park), and Stephen Vogt (see Derek Norris) to name a few but they all have legitimate reasons to worry about their offensive production. Plus I like Cervelli and the player he has become since leaving New York and heading to Pittsburgh, I admit though that I may be higher on him than most. I think I’m also pretty high on Yadier Molina as well and that’s okay.

If you don’t grab one of these catchers you are taking a true risk in your league. You may get something out of J.T. Realmuto in Miami, especially with the fences drawn in a bit, or John Ryan Murphy in Minnesota over the course of a season but if you have to rely on a Wilson Ramos of Washington, Miguel Montero of Chicago, Nick Hundley of Colorado or Blake Swihart of Boston to name a few you may be in trouble just a tad. My strategy over the years, for better or worse, was to grab a catcher early so I knew that I had one. That’s the best advice I can give you, reach for Posey and settle for a guy in the Top 5. If you miss then you’re in trouble. Don’t miss. 

Fantasy Baseball: Who are the Milwaukee Brewers?

Fantasy Baseball season will be here before you know it, if it’s not already here for some, and I have been focusing on some of the players you can draft later on in your draft that can win you your league. With a team like the Milwaukee Brewers you know that Ryan Braun is going to carry the team and you know that even in a down year like 2015 Jonathan Lucroy is still going to be one of the better catchers in the league but what about a few of the names that you don’t necessarily know? Names like Jimmy Nelson, Chris Carter, Will Smith and Corey Knebel.

Jimmy Nelson enters 2016 ready for his age 26 season and ready to be the ace for the Milwaukee Brewers. Nelson has struggled with his control to date but he is a physical pitcher that can give you wins with a low ERA. Nelson is not a huge strikeout guy and is more of a pitch to contact type pitcher with a nice ground ball rate and may be available around Round 15 or later. He’s not David Price or Zack Greinke but he’d be a fine fourth or fifth starter on your team, especially in those leagues that are especially deep.

Chris Carter, former Houston Astro, looks to be the starting first baseman in Milwaukee in 2016 which could be a good thing for you if you’re looking for some power. Carter may hit 30-40 home runs a year with Braun hitting behind him or in front of him in the Brewers lineup but the problem is he’s likely to only add about a .220 average along with it and not many RBI. If you need a home run guy later in the draft that is almost guaranteed to play every day then Carter is your guy. If you need a mix of power, speed, runs scored and average then stay away from Carter because he’s not going to give it to you.

Finally the Brewers look like they will have a closer by committee or an intense competition this spring for the newly vacated closer spot left behind by the trade of Francisco Rodriguez. Vying for the saves in Milwaukee will be Will Smith, Corey Knebel and even Jeremy Jeffress may get a shot or two to close. Smith is a high strikeout guy averaging almost 13 K’s per nine innings while Knebel, just 23-years old, had almost 10 K’s per nine in 2015. All three could get chances to close games this season and as you know even the team with the worst records still have closers who save 30-40 games almost every single season.

Those are my picks, if I overlooked or over-valued someone please let me know below in the comments section or by sending me a tweet on twitter @GreedyStripes. 

Does Buying Low on Jonathan Lucroy Make Any Sense?

I love being a blogger and a writer. I do it here on the blog every day for free and I pump out a ton of content not because of any financial gains or because I am getting anything out of it but because I truly just love to do it. Sometimes as a blogger, and I think this gets confused by some who read my work, I like to play both sides of things. Sometimes I write about free agent targets or moves that I personally, the fan, would like to see while sometimes I just throw out ideas to gauge interest from you, my friends and everyone who reads this site. This is one of those ideas that I don’t necessarily think or want to happen but I am more interested in what you, the readers, think. Does buying low on Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy make any sense? 

Initially it really doesn’t look like it makes any sense. The Yankees already have a catcher in Brian McCann and presumably a backup catcher, albeit an unproven one at the Major League level, in Gary Sanchez so on paper the deal seems redundant but what if. What if the Yankees were worried about McCann’s .230 average from 2015 and his decline at the plate in every aspect but the power department, check his splits from Yankee Stadium to on the road by the way, and they wanted some insurance behind the dish? Also what if the Yankees aren’t entirely sold on Sanchez’s readiness and value as a backup catcher after dominating the Arizona Fall League and 35 games or so in Triple-A this season? That’s a legitimate concern I guess, although Greg Bird played in less Triple-A games and held his own in the majors this season, that may lead the Yankees to another backup catcher to give Sanchez another half season or so in Scranton. 

I only bring up Lucroy specifically because of his age and his value as far as his contract goes. Hal Steinbrenner doesn’t want to add payroll and he wouldn’t have to add much if Lucroy was acquired. Lucroy has two years left on his current deal with Milwaukee and is set to make just $4 million this season and $5.2 million next season before hitting free agency at age 31. I also bring up Lucroy specifically because he wants out of Milwaukee and wants to play for a contender. As recently as 2014 Lucroy hit .301 with 53 doubles which was good for a fourth place finish in the NL MVP voting before injuries limited his 2015 season to just 103 games and a .264 average. His bat would only improve the team, no one can deny that. 

You guys know me, I want Sanchez to not only take innings away from McCann to keep him healthy and fresh but I want him to take at bats away from Alex Rodriguez for the same reason. I want the Yankees farm system to bear another fruit and I want another Yankees farm system success to write about all season long. Sometimes we can’t always get what we want though and sometimes some things just make sense. Is Lucroy one of them? Leave your thoughts below in the comments. 

If the Milwaukee Brewers Keep Selling...

We have done quite a few of these now because quite a few of the teams in Major League Baseball are selling off tradeable pieces and beginning their rebuilds. Teams like the Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds, Tampa Bay Rays who have made all of their starting pitching available not named Chris Archer, and teams like the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers have sent Adam Lind, Mike Fiers, Carlos Gomez, Francisco Rodriguez, Aramis Ramirez and others in the last calendar year and may have a few more pieces they might be willing to move for a long-term gain, do the Brewers and Yankees match up as trade partners?

The Brewers have Jonathan Lucroy behind the plate and he is probably their highest sought after trade piece on the team. Lucroy has two years left on his contract and will make just a shade under $10 million as a plus-offensive catcher, despite his injury plagued season in 2015. The problem is the Yankees don't really need a catcher and for all the plus reasons for Lucroy that would entice the Yankees to trade for him those same reasons would also be huge reasons why Milwaukee would want to keep him. Especially considering that the veteran guy behind the plate will do wonders for their young pitchers they have coming up right now. It seems like the Brewers are unlikely to trade Lucroy and very unlikely to trade him to a team like the Yankees.

Speaking of veterans Ryan Braun is extremely expensive and has seen his production go down in a huge way since he began to battle thumb and hand injuries over the years. Milwaukee undoubtedly wants out of that contract and they undoubtedly would take less in the terms of prospects if they can get some salary relief out of it. I could also see Milwaukee eating some of the $21 million AAV left on his contract through the 2020 season. There is a mutual option for the 2021 season on his contract worth just $15 million as the final season of a heavily front loaded contract. Braun, even injured and having multiple "down" seasons, is better offensively than both Carlos Beltran and Brett Gardner, is younger at just age 32 and is right-handed which balances out the lineup. I've asked for Braun multiple times during my time as a blogger and I'll ask at least one more time, Cashman... please?

Ryan "feeling awful" over Saturday night's error

Whether or not Brendan Ryan's error in last night's loss to the Brewers actually affected the game's outcome is up for debate.

The bobble, which took place with two outs and nobody on in the bottom of third, aloud Milwaukee SS Jean Segura to reach first, setting up a two-run home run from Jonathan Lucroy and a solo home run from Aramis Ramirez.

At that point, the Crew led 4-2, with all three of those trips around the bases charged to CC Sabathia as unearned. 

It looks like Ryan agrees with that ruling. 

"It just rips your heart out," #17 told ESPN New York's Wallace Matthews. "CC was starting to cruise there for a minute, and then the next thing you know, it costs you three [runs]. It feels pretty awful. Big difference in the game. We rallied, but take those three runs away, we probably didn’t need to." 

That part about Sabathia cruising is actually true, as the big man had retired six in a row, but overall, those two home runs are still on him. The error wasn't a dropped fly ball with runners in scoring position, it was a missed grounder with two outs and nobody on. They're completely different.