Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles 5/2

Game time in the Bronx between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays. Happy Tanaka Day ladies and gentleman! The New York Yankees will send Masahiro Tanaka to the mound tonight to square off with Mat Latos for the Toronto Blue Jays. The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network and MLB TV.

Follow along and interact with us all season long as we inch and crawl towards 5,000 Twitter followers by checking out @GreedyStripes. Enjoy the game everyone and as always, Go Yankees!!

Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Toronto Blue Jays 5/2

The New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays are back at it again today with the middle game of their three-game set in the Bronx. The Yankees are flying high right now in the division despite a slow start to the season while the Blue Jays are still looking to find their wings in 2017. Let’s hope Toronto doesn’t find them at least until after this series, if at all, and the man donned with the task of keeping Toronto down is the ace and the stopper Masahiro Tanaka for the Yankees. The man looking to get the Blue Jays to a winning streak is an old veteran in Mat Latos.

Tanaka pitched an absolute gem in his last start inside Fenway Park hurling a shutout in Boston against the Red Sox. Tanaka only allowed three hits in the starts striking out three and walking none. Tanaka only threw 97 pitches in the start and looks to have finally adjusted to his extra arm strength and velocity that he found over the winter.

Latos pitched well in his last outing as well pitching six scoreless innings against a tough St. Louis Cardinals offense. Latos is filling in for an injured J.A. Happ right now but if he pitches well enough he could stick in the rotation or in the very least in the Toronto bullpen.

The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network and MLB TV. You can also follow along on the radio with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman, Mr. and Mrs. Baseball, on WFAN. Enjoy the game and Go Yankees!!

This Day in New York Yankees History 1/28: Nothing but a Bold Prediction

There was absolutely no history or news to report on this day in New York Yankees history so I will instead start the day off with a bold prediction, the fact that the New York Yankees will sign someone today. It might be a minor league deal for Mat Latos or it might be a relatively minor signing for the bench like David Freese but I just woke up with a gut feeling this morning that it is going to happen. Write it down and tell me I'm wrong tomorrow. 

Song: Wake Up by Coheed and Cambria

Quick Hit: Free Agent Starting Pitching Clearance Carts

The New York Yankees are a franchise that tends to contradict themselves, especially when it comes to the whole hot stove and free agency market. One minute Bubba Crosby is the Yankees starting center fielder and the next Johnny Damon is shaving that ridiculous long hair and beard and flashing peace signs in a Yankees uniform. One minute the Yankees are looking to add a starting pitcher to their rotation for some stability and innings and the next the rotation is full and so full in fact that the Yankees are looking and willing to trade away Ivan Nova one year away from free agency. Who knows what is going on inside Brian Cashman’s head right now and what’s going on in Hal Steinbrenner’s wallet pocket right now but if they need me to lay out a few bargain basement signings for them I will, and I will right now in fact.

Cliff Lee would pitch again in 2016, and has been cleared again to pitch in 2016, for the perfect fit. The Yankees have the innings to give him and they have the need for a veteran left-handed starting pitcher on a short one-year deal worth chump change as far as MLB starters are concerned and that’s all Lee is likely to command. Lee undoubtedly wants to win and with a healthy and effective Lee the Yankees can do just that. Lee is Plan A.

New York has three “Plan B’s” in Tim Lincecum and Doug Fister and they all fit the same mold. They can start or they can relieve. Both of them remind me of what the team traded away this winter and have yet to replace, Adam Warren. Any of these men could be a safety net for the rotation and none of them will require salaries that would come anywhere near that of Jordan Zimmermann, David Price or Zack Greinke.

With every Plan A and Plan B comes a Plan Z and the Yankees have two of them. Mat Latos and Aaron Harang. Both struggled mightily in 2015 in the National League and both are likely to command minor league deals only in 2016, if anything. If the Yankees feel like they need more Triple-A insurance, sure sign them. If not, no thank you.

Mat Latos the 2016 Version of Kyle Davies?

When the Miami Marlins decided to go "all-in" in the winter before the 2015 season the team made various deals including signing Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelich to extensions and acquiring the likes of Dee Gordon, Dan Haren, Mat Latos and others in various deals. While the Stanton and Yelich extensions look good on paper and the middle infield including Gordon looks to be set for a long time the team has not received the best returns from Haren or Latos. Haren has pitched much better than Latos, and essentially for free mind you as the Dodgers sent Haren's $10 million in salary along with the right-hander in the deal, which led Jeffrey Loria's club to trade Latos to the Los Angeles Dodgers before the trading deadline. Latos did not pitch much better in the pennant race and has recently been designated for assignment and ultimately released by Los Angeles, could he be a minor league option for teams, especially the New York Yankees who love these sorts of deals, for the 2016 season?

The New York Yankees sign a veteran to a minor league deal virtually every offseason with relief pitcher Jared Burton and starting pitcher Kyle Davies the most recent examples of this strategy. Burton was not long for the team but Davies led the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders to the postseason as their "ace" after Luis Severino's promotion. Does Latos fit the mold and would the Yankees even want him?

The second question is much easier to answer than the first, of course the Yankees would want him if we're talking about a minor league deal. There is no such thing as a bad minor league deal, Hal Steinbrenner probably spends more on booze in a month than a MiLB free agent makes in a full season, and if Latos is willing to accept one then the Yankees, or any team, should pounce. At 27-years old I think Latos is far from done, even with a combined 4.95 ERA this season between the Marlins and the Dodgers. Latos is one season removed from an injury riddles 2014 season and two seasons from removed from his second consecutive 14-win season. 

It is not uncommon to see certain injuries carrying over the next season despite being fully healed, see Mark Teixeira's wrist injury from 2013, and it's not common for Latos to see his BABip above the .300 mark like it is in 2015. Latos strikes out enough batters to survives and contains the walks enough to be competitive while keeping the ball in the ballpark while keeping the ball on the ground enough to win ball games. If he wants to throw those strikes and ground ball outs in Scranton with an opt-out clause to come to the majors then sign me up, if not I think some team is going to get a ton of value on a relatively small MLB contract with Latos in 2016. Just a hunch. Plus I like his tattoos. 

Looking Back At The Trade Deadline

It would have been great if the Yankees traded for an ace-like pitcher like Johnny Cueto, David Price, or Cole Hamels. But I think we all agree that the asking price for those guys, which likely would have included one or more of Aaron Judge, Luis Severino, Greg Bird, and Jorge Mateo, was a bit high. 

However, pitchers such as Dan Haren (traded to the Cubs), Mat Latos (traded to the Dodgers), and Mike Leake (traded to the Giants), were available for a much more reasonable price. Yet the Yankees were never truly in on those guys. 

Instead of making a move to acquire a pitcher from outside the organization, the only move the Yankees made to improve the rotation was to promote Luis Severino. Even though a lot of fans wanted to see Severino promoted, many weren't satisfied with Brian Cashman's lack of action at the trade deadline (the non-waiver one, that is). But how has that worked out?

"I'll give you a clue... not bad."

Here are some stats since the trade deadline...

Dan Haren - GS: 3, ERA: 5.40, WHIP: 1.467, FIP: 7.17
Mat Latos - GS: 3, ERA: 6.75, WHIP: 1.432, FIP: 4.40
Mike Leake* - GS: 1, ERA: 2.84, WHIP: 1.579, FIP: 4.53

*Leake was placed on the disabled list with a hamstring strain after just one start with San Francisco.

Luis Severino - GS: 3, ERA: 3.18, WHIP: 1.059, FIP: 3.40

I won't go as far as to say Severino will be the better pitcher for the rest of the season, but it's certainly possible. And one thing is certain, and that's the fact Luis has been the best pitcher out of the four since the deadline. 

Now, some may say the Yankees should have gone harder after a pitcher once they found out that Michael Pineda was headed to the disabled list, especially since it looked like it would be for longer than 15 days. However, Latos and Leake were dealt at about the same time it was learned that that's where Pineda was headed. And as for Dan Haren, I think the Yankees would have been better off with Bryan Mitchell and the bullpen, anyway.

In fact, especially if CC Sabathia can build on his last few starts (3.38 ERA and a .647 OPS against), Joe Girardi will have some tough decisions surrounding the rotation to make in a couple of weeks.

July 31st Trade Rumors Catch Up Post

The July 31st trading deadline is now just two days away, less than two days technically, and the rumors are flying around like crazy. Let's get caught back up:

• Mat Latos has been traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, or he hasn't depending on what you read and where you're reading it. The initial deal had Mat Latos and Michel Morse leaving Miami for Los Angeles in exchange for prospects. The deal may fall through though due to medical concerns over an unnamed player. 

• The Tigers are ready to hit CTRL+ALT+DEL and reset. David Price and Yoenis Cespedes are officially on the market. 

• The Reds are officially fielding offers for Aroldis Chapman. 

• The Yankees and Padres talked about a trade bringin Criag Kimbrel and all $28 million of his salary to the Bronx for Jorge Mateo but the Yankees rejected the deal. 

• Cole Hamels will not be traded today but it could come tomorrow or Friday. 

• The Phillies are scouting Ivan Nova like the Reds did before rejecting a deal bringing Johnny Cueto to New York and shipping Nova to Cincinnati. He could be in play for Cole Hamels as well. 

Girardi denies Sabathia only in rotation due to contract

It might be a common belief amongst Yankees fans, but struggling pitcher CC Sabathia isn't only in the team's rotation due to his salary.

At least that's what manager Joe Girardi told NJ.com on Sunday, voicing the unpopular opinion that Sabathia is most contributive in his current role.

"No it doesn't," Girardi told Ryan Hatch. "We talk about our team all the time, and we feel he best serves as a starter."

Sabathia is set to make $23 million this season, easily the highest income on the Yankees. His 5.38 ERA, however, is second-worst on the staff to Chris Capuano -- prompting many to believe Sabathia belongs in the bullpen.

Yet the Yankees have no plans for such a move in their future, even after again watching the veteran labor on Saturday.

"It's frustrating, yeah," Sabathia said following his rough outing against the Twins, in which he allowed five earned runs in just 5 2/3 innings.

If the Yankees were to turn Sabathia into a reliever, it's likely Adam Warren or a trade acquisition would replace him. Warren was a reliable starter throughout May and June, and someone like the Marlins' Mat Latos could be obtained at a reasonable cost.

But Sabathia remains convinced he's on the path to improvement, despite his inconsistency over the first 97 games.

"Earlier in the season I would just get pissed off and kind of throw the ball wherever I wanted," Sabathia said. "And [Saturday], I just tried to make pitches and be a pitcher."

Mat Latos to the Yankees?

The July 31st trade deadline is just around the corner and the New York Yankees are expected to add at least one player before the deadline closes. New York seemingly wants an upgrade over Stephen Drew at second base, even if that means calling Robert Refsnyder back up, and may also look to upgrade their starting pitching. New York has been linked to just about every starting pitcher on the market including Johnny Cueto, Cole Hamels and David Price but one name we're not hearing enough about is the Miami Marlins RHP Mat Latos. There is probably a good reason for that too.

This weekend the rumors began that New York was scouting and somewhat interested in the Marlins starter Latos. Latos, at the time of this writing, has posted a 4-6 record with a 4.48 ERA while striking out 74 batters in a shade over 84 innings pitched. Keep in mind that Latos pitches in a pretty pitching friendly Marlins Park and also faces the oppoising team's starting pitcher once every time through the order before we start comparing those numbers to current Yankees starters. An old rule that I used to go by, and whether it is really accurate or not is anyone's guess, is that you add a full run to his ERA after going from the National League to the American League with non-ace starting pitchers. If this holds true that would put Latos more closer to a 5.48 ERA than a 4.48 ERA if he was pitching inside Yankee Stadium in 2015.

Latos is not an ace, he is closer to a third starter with the Yankees and maybe a number two starter in the National League even with his struggles and injury history this season, but he would be a nice fall back option for New York. Latos may never start on an Opening Day for New York, and he's a free agent after 2015, but if the Yankees make the playoffs you have to think right now he would start a potential Game Three of Game Four in a seven game series and that at least means something.

Time to Call the Marlins GM Dan Jennings?

The Miami Marlins have not lived up to expectations this season despite signing Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelich to major extensions while signing or acquiring Dan Haren, Dee Gordon, Ichiro Suzuki, David Phelps, Martin Prado, Mat Latos and a slew of other pieces leading many to wonder if a fire sale is in order once again in Miami. On Sunday I posted an article labeled “Bring Me Martin Prado” asking the New York Yankees to re-acquire their second baseman from the second half of 2014 while taking advantage of the Marlins while they are down. Are there any other players besides Prado that may interest the Yankees if Marlins GM Dan Jennings decides to sell this July?

Before we get too ahead of ourselves let’s remember that Stanton broke the hamate bone in his hand over the weekend and may be out at least six weeks or longer which could potentially bury this team in the playoff races and National League East Division. While I don’t expect Miami to flat out start selling every piece they have they could move, as I stated on Sunday in my Prado piece, players that are set to hit free agency before the 2016 season anyway.

We went over Prado Sunday and I don’t think I need to beat that dead horse any longer, if Prado is healthy and proves he is healthy before the trade deadline he could be moved and would be a welcomed addition to the team’s struggling infield. New York needs more than infield help though and could look at some of Miami’s pitching. I am reluctant to include Haren since he is so reluctant to pitch outside of the Southern California area but he has been Miami’s best pitcher and eventually came around to pitching for the Marlins, maybe a playoff race could keep him quiet and happy for two or three more months? If not Haren would you bank on Latos and his 3.62 FIP and ignore his 5.49 ERA and -0.6 WAR in hopes of another Brandon McCarthy resurgence?

It’s hard to bank on Miami really trading many, if any, of their players at this year’s trading deadline. The team has already expressed an interest in re-signing Ichiro to a deal for 2016 as he continues his march towards 3,000 hits making a deal for him unlikely while the team obviously does not want to trade away a player to make Stanton or Yelich disgruntled players. Jennings and owner Jeffrey Loria’s hands seem tied at this point so it seems like Haren, Prado, Latos or bust in a deal involving Miami and New York this July.

Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. Miami Marlins 6/18

The New York Yankees and the Miami Marlins are in the championship rounds now as they face off head-to-head for the fourth and final time this week. Will Miami land the decisive knockout blow forcing the Yankees to tap out or can New York come roaring back to take the series to decision? Only one way to find out as CC Sabathia takes the mound for the Yankees and Mat Latos takes the mound for Miami. The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV.

The Yankees remain home after this series to play host to the Detroit Tigers and the Philadelphia Phillies. To see either of these series live and in person without breaking the bank simply click the Yankees Tickets link at the top of the blog to get your tickets through our friends at Ticket Monster. If you can’t make it live then that’s not an issue, simply jump on Twitter and give @GreedyStripes a follow and/or join us in our comments section of the site to interact during each and every game.

Sabathia is in the red corner, the Marlins are in the blue corner and both are ready. It’s time to settle this, go Yankees!

Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Miami Marlins 6/18

For the final time this week the New York Yankees and the Miami Marlins will face off head-to-head inside Yankee Stadium. The first two games of this series came inside Marlins Park where Miami took care of business with the final two games going down in the Bronx. In the finale the Yankees will send CC Sabathia to the mound to face off against another tough Marlins pitcher Mat Latos. The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV.

• Sabathia is coming into this start fresh off a no-decision against the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday. Sabathia allowed four runs on eight hits, two of those hits of the home run variety, in five innings while striking out three batters and walking none. Sabathia will look to start a winning streak for the Yankees tonight.

• Latos is coming off possibly his best start of the season as he struck out 11 batters in a victory over the Colorado Rockies. Latos has not been as advertised since Miami acquired him from Cincinnati this winter but with his velocity back up to 96 MPH and his legs apparently finally healthy this may be a long night for the Yankees. Latos has never faced the Yankees in his career.

The Yankees stay home tomorrow night to play host to the Detroit Tigers in a three game series while the Marlins go somewhere. I don’t know where they are going and frankly I don’t care where they go they just have to get the hell out of here. What a pesky team that should not beat up on the Yankees like they have this week. Oh well, such is the life of a Major League Baseball franchise playing in the grind that is a 162 game season. Go Yankees!

Miami went all out for Ichiro

The Miami Marlins announced their one year deal with Ichiro Suzuki this week making the one year and $2 million deal official. Miami went all out to make their new 41 year old fourth outfielder feel welcome as the team made an 18 hour journey to Japan to announce the deal.

Five team executives made the 18 hour flight to Japan in an effort to make a strong first impression to Ichiro and to welcome him to their family. Ichiro was said to be humbled and energized by the gesture and was quoted as saying “I feel incredible enthusiasm. My feeling then was that somehow I really wanted to respond to their enthusiasm. That’s also a very good driving force to be a good player for this team. Now what I needs to do is prepare for this great season I’m anticipating.”

Ichiro will be the first Japanese born player in the Marlins franchise history after starting his career off in Seattle with the Mariners before being traded to the New York Yankees in 2012. Suzuki is a 10 time All-Star and a mere 156 hits away from the 3,000 hit mark in the United States.

Suzuki will join Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich and Marcell Ozuna in the Marlins outfield and will join an ever growing list of newcomers to the team including Dee Gordon, Michael Morse, Mat Latos, Dan Haren, David Phelps and Martin Prado. 

Catch Up on the Final Day of the Winter Meetings

Nice move for rangers to get Ross Detwiler on the cheap. They view him as a starter, so he'll be happy with the deal, too
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 11, 2014

Source: As it stands now, unlikely that #Padres come to terms with Kwang-Hyun Kim before deadline.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) December 11, 2014

Optimism that Chase Heeadley gets done today, Yanks, Giants...but Lester/Giants negotiations a yellow light factor
— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) December 9, 2014

ervin santana gets $54M for 4 years from twins, with 5th year option
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 11, 2014

Once #Dodgers get Rollins, they will be open to moving Arruebarrena. Elite defender, owed $16M over next four years.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 11, 2014

Marlins acquire Mat Latos from the Reds for Anthony DeSclafani, Chad Wallach http://t.co/hpYEUhbQHc
— MLB Daily Dish (@mlbdailydish) December 11, 2014

masterson is a 1-year deal with boston. good idea for him to re-establish value. #redsox
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 11, 2014

Deal is announced: #Tigers trade Eugenio Suarez and Jonathon Crawford to #Reds for Alfredo Simon.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) December 11, 2014

kendrys morales gets $17M for 2 years plus 750 incentives each year. $18.5M max. #royals
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 11, 2014

MIA's deal with LAD on Haren a classic: $10 million to cover his salary if he pitches, and they get to keep the money if he doesn't pitch.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 11, 2014

mat latos will be going to the marlins in trade. #reds
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 11, 2014

The #Tigers today have acquired OF Yoenis Cespedes, RHP Alex Wilson & LHP Gabe Speier from Boston in exchange for RHP Rick Porcello.
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) December 11, 2014

so it's kemp, about $25M and tim federowicz for yasmani grandal, joe wieland and a 3rd prospect. #dodgers #padres
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 11, 2014

The Yankees want Alex Rodriguez to lose some weight. http://t.co/hJN2O1azKp
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 11, 2014