The Free Agency Royal Rumble Returns – Outfielders

The New York Yankees earned the ultimate gift and the ultimate curse all wrapped up in one player in 2015 and his name was Alex Rodriguez. This isn’t meant to be negative or condescending by any means, I was defending and asking for forgiveness for Alex before Bald Vinny made money off of it made it cool, but him being effective and a huge part of the offense makes the team’s options rather limited. At this point in his career Carlos Beltran should be at least a part-time DH, if not a full-time DH, but is forced to play the field due to Rodriguez being on the roster. With Rodriguez at DH, Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner patrolling center field and left field respectively and Chris Young hitting free agency it looks like the Free Agency Royal Rumble will be a free-for-all for the final roster spot on the Yankees bench in 2016.

Entering the ring for the rumble are a few competitors that I think will at least be in the running for the position. The up and coming superstar Aaron Judge, former Yankees player and current Baltimore Orioles first baseman and outfielder Steve Pearce, Marlon Byrd of the Cincinnati Reds and the San Francisco Giants in 2015, Drew Stubbs and another former Yankees farm hand and current Chicago Cub, Austin Jackson.

Before the match begins Marlon Byrd asks for a microphone and was quoted as saying the following:

“Now I know that if I win this Royal Rumble and I come to New York my playing time will be limited and dictated by injuries, I’m not okay with that. Also I have read numerous times that a fake Jon Heyman Twitter account faked out Daniel Burch at the trading deadline in 2014 forcing Mr. Burch to write over 2,000 words about me and welcoming me to the team only for me to go elsewhere. With all that said I think I’m going to forfeit, just not feeling it today. Thanks though. “

With Byrd out the group of remaining competitors, like they often do in these Royal Rumble’s, gang up on the biggest man in the ring, Aaron Judge. Judge is quickly disposed of and thrown over the top rope to the mat leaving Pearce, Stubbs and Jackson. Pearce, being the multi-faceted player that he is, reminds everyone that he is pennant chase, playoff and American League East tested not only in the outfield but at first base (hello Mark Teixeira insurance policy) and uses that to throw both Jackson and Stubbs over the top rope and to the floor. Stubbs would have been nice, he kills lefties but his right-handed splits aren’t much to write home about, and so would Jackson, another outfielder with the ability to play center field allowing a constant rotation to keep everyone fresh and healthy, but Pearce makes too much sense for the Yankees NOT to sign in my opinion. 

Quick Hit: Replacing Chris Young on the Yankees Bench

The New York Yankees will have three major, for lack of a better word, free agents at the end of the 2015 World Series. Chris Capuano, who will unlikely be back with the team in 2016, Stephen Drew, who if he came back it would likely be as a bench piece to replace or complement Brendan Ryan, and Chris Young, who may be the toughest of the three to replace. The Yankees need right-handed power in their outfield with Jacoby Ellsbury, Brett Gardner and Carlos Beltran, who is a switch hitter but who hits much better left-handed, and may have more than a few names to choose from assuming they don't hand the job to Aaron Judge or bring Young back for a third season.

Steve Pearce is no stranger to a Yankees uniform and no stranger to playing the outfield in the American League East. Taking away from the Baltimore Orioles is one thing, adding his potent bat to the team (who can also play first base) would be ideal if Young decides to walk.

Austin Jackson is another player that is no stranger to Yankees pinstripes, New York drafted him and traded him to the Detroit Tigers in the Curtis Granderson deal. Jackson can play all three center field positions, which Joe Girardi and the Yankees like, and possibly has enough pop to justify a cheap contract on a one-year deal.

Marlon Byrd likely wants a starting job but if he can be talked into "chasing a ring" then why not, right?

Drew Stubbs is terrible... unless he faces left-handed pitching. The 2016 version of Chris Young?

If Jonny Gomes didn't work out as an outfielder he may be a halfway decent right-handed relief pitcher?

TGP Daily Poll: Cincinnati Ready to Deal

With the 2015 MLB All-Star Game officially in the books the Cincinnati Reds don’t need to save face and keep players anymore. Cincinnati can now start selling off pieces and will by trading away at least three before the July 31^st trading deadline.

Vote in our prediction poll on Knoda.com

Just for fun let’s take a stab at who those three players will be. Johnny Cueto seems to be a lock to be moved and so is Aroldis Chapman. The third will likely be Marlon Byrd before Jay Bruce, although that’s simply my opinion. All four, or more, could be traded before it’s all said and done because we didn’t even mention Mike Leake’s name yet. 

Potential Trade Targets: Cincinnati Reds

The New York Yankees have reclaimed first place in the American League East all by their lonesome after a pair of walk-off victories in the Bronx this weekend and look to stay that way going forward. No team in the AL East is without flaws this season and no one is running away with this thing meaning that the July 31st trade deadline will undoubtedly separate the contenders from the pretenders in the division. The Yankees expect to be active at the deadline, although a blockbuster is unlikely, while teams like the Cincinnati Reds expect to sell so do these two teams match up in any potential trades this summer?

The Reds have a ton of talent available but the problem for the Yankees is most of the talent is top heavy and would come as rentals. I say top heavy because of the fact that Johnny Cueto is probably the best starting pitcher available and Aroldis Chapman is possibly the best closer available at the trade deadline presumably this season. The Yankees aren't keen on giving up Luis Severino, Aaron Judge and other top prospects so trades for either of these guys seems likely for New York and instead the club will focus on potential trades with Brandon Phillips, Mike Leake and possibly Marlon Byrd.

Phillips we have discussed before on the blog and will discuss again later as my piece was the most popular article of the week so we will focus less on him and more on Leake. Leake is just 27 years old and comes with less than 1,000 innings on his right arm. Leake is a true rental and is a free agent after the 2015 season meaning the Reds would presumably take less for him in a deal in terms of prospects just to get rid of the remaining salary left on his $9.78 million deal. At the time of this writing Leake was pitching to a 4.38 ERA in 100 innings in a very hitting friendly ballpark. Normally you would expect a full run to be added onto an ERA when a pitcher comes from the National League to the American League East but in a down year for the AL East mixed in with the fact that Leake has been pitching in the Great American Ball Park this season Leake may now be the pitcher we would see if he were pitching in the Bronx.

According to a fake Twitter account the Yankees acquired Marlon Byrd last year, only after I had a 2,300 blog post written about it did I realize that it was a fake account. The Yankees really could acquire Byrd at this year's trading deadline after seeing half the outfielders on the 40 man roster head to the disabled list. Byrd battled a wrist injury that many thought would end his season but is back in the lineup looking to add to his .240/.298/.466 triple slash and 14 home run and 32 RBI totals. Byrd is intriguing because he's right handed, adds some pop to the lineup, comes with a vesting/team option for 2016 and would allow me to finally post that 2,300 word blog post I've had saved as a draft for over a year now.

The Yankees likely won't make a run at Cueto or Chapman unless the deal absolutely makes too much sense to pass up but the team may be able to swing a deal for either Leake, Phillips, Byrd or all three. The Reds just need to get the idea out of their heads that they may be able to make a second half run and need to start selling off pieces, now.

Yankees 101 Writer Explains Why Yankees Won't Trade For Hamels

The idea of acquiring Cole Hamels from the Phillies might be a fun one to think about for Yankees fans, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's realistic.

Yankees 101's Michael Moraitis appeared to prove so Sunday, arguing in this article the Phillies' asking price will be too high for New York to reach. As evidence for his claim, Moraitis looked to the Phillies' treatment of Marlon Byrd back in July, when they reportedly demanded the Yankees give them either pitching prospect Luis Severino or outfield prospect Aaron Judge in exchange for the veteran bat. 

"So, if [Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr.] thought to ask for those two top prospects for Byrd," Moraitis wrote,"can you imagine what he'd be asking for in return for an impact starter like Hamels?"

The Yankees certainly don't seem to be looking for another rotation piece right now, and probably won't change that anytime soon. They already have five respectable arms on their staff, including two they've made deals with in the last month.

Indeed, the Yankees feel they have enough guys to compete at the moment, and Hamels may just be too expensive to make them change their minds. 

"The price [for Hamels] would be through the roof and the Yanks' GM has made it perfectly clear he won't clean out the farm for almost anyone," Moraitis continued. "Any combination of the two between Severino, Judge and/or [Greg] Bird would qualify as doing just that."

Hamels' current contract runs through 2018, so it's a safe bet the Yankees weren't planning to pursue him anyway. The team has maintained a stance of staying away from longterm deals so far this offseason, something clearly shown by their reluctance to re-sign David Robertson and Brandon McCarthy in December.

And Hamels' annual salary of approximately $24 million isn't too consistent with that attitude either, especially since he would cost the Yankees even more once the luxury tax is enforced.

Phillies Byrd & Hamels Claimed, Papelbon Clears

Marlon Byrd and Cole Hamels have been claimed on revocable waivers and Jonathan Papelbon has cleared waivers. The Phillies have 48.5 hours to work out deals for Byrd and Hamels with the teams that claimed them. They can always give the players to the claiming teams for the contract or pull the players back. Papelbon can be traded to any team for the remainder of the season.

Just as a reminder Hamels has the Red Sox, Angels, Nationals, Dodgers, Cardinals, Braves, Yankees, Padres, and Rangers on his no trade list. Byrd can block deals to the Royals, Mariners, Blue Jays, and Rays. Papelbon also has a limited no trade clause but has stated he is more than willing to waive it to play with a contender this season and next.

Hamels is owed $90 million through the 2018 season. Byrd is owed $8 million for the 2015 season and has an easily attainable vesting option for 2016 also for $8 million. Papelbon is owed $13 million in 2015 and also has an easily attainable vesting option for 2016 as well.

It's unclear whether the Yankees claimed either of these players or if they would be interested in Papelbon but I guess we will find out in a couple days. Just as a reminder the National League gets first dibs on the claiming order in reverse order according to worst record to best before the American League gets a shot so I find it unlikely that New York claimed Hamels, but maybe Byrd fell to them. Either way, stay tuned.

13 Players Reportedly Placed On Revocable Waivers

According to a post on MLB Trade Rumors an estimated 13 players have been placed on revocable waivers so far in less than a week of August baseball. Should the Yankees be interested in claiming any of them? Here's the list:

Oakland Athletics:

Jason Hammel

Arizona Diamondbacks:

Wade Miley

Philadelphia Phillies:

Marlon Byrd

Jonathan Papelbon

Chase Utley

AJ Burnett

Jimmy Rollins

Cole Hamels

Carlos Ruiz

Antonio Bastardo

Roberto Hernandez

Ryan Howard

Kyle Kendrick

Rules For A Good GM: Don't Be Like Ruben Amaro Jr.

More than once I have spoken on the blog about how the Yankees general manager Brian Cashman needs to be more like Boston's GM Ben Cherington. One general manager that Cashman should not try to emulate is Ruben Amaro Jr. in Philadelphia. In short, Amaro is an idiot plain and simple. The Phillies had very tradeable pieces at the trading deadline including, but not limited to, Marlon Byrd, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, and AJ Burnett. Amaro traded none of them, actually he didn't make a single move on Thursday, and now we find out why.

Amaro asked the Yankees for either Luis Severino or Aaron Judge in return for Byrd. Say what? Byrd and who else? Who the hell does this guy think he is and who the hell does he thinks he is trading? No wonder Philadelphia collapsed the way they did. Geeze. Good luck with that.

Potential Trade Targets For New York Today

Here is a quick list of who the Yankees could realistically acquire today before the trading deadline at 4:00 pm ET. This is pure speculation and based on trade rumors, not inside sources, so take this with a grain of salt. The Yankees tend to keep their trade rumors quiet when they actually make a deal so I will likely whiff on all of these but you have to be in it to win it.

Marlon Byrd of the Phillies, Justin Ruggiano of the Cubs, and Dayan Viciedo of the White Sox all look like potential trade candidates for the Yankees outfield. Josh Willingham has been thrown around a lot in rumors but the Yankees need a right fielder and Willingham has never played right in his career. It's also worth mentioning that his arm would be below average in right field. Alex Rios is a right fielder and could fill the void that will be there in 2015 as well making him attractive.

Asdrubal Cabrera could be a potential target at second base that I like a lot over Brian Roberts.

The marginal upgrades at starting pitcher include Jorge De La Rosa of the Rockies, Brett Anderson of the Rockies, Cliff Lee of the Phillies, and Ian Kennedy of the Padres.

Bullpen help could come with an Antonio Bastardo trade with the Phillies, Joaquin Benoit from the Padres, and James Russell of the Athletics.

The pipe dream list includes Troy Tulowitzki of the Rockies, Cole Hamels of the Phillies, David Price of the Rays, and Jon Lester of the Red Sox.