Ready or Not, Here Comes Opening Day...

 

Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas

With a detour to Mexico City, the Yankees will soon arrive in Houston…

Less than a week until the regular season opens (well, at least for the New York Yankees since the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres already got the party started in Seoul, Korea this week).

Honestly, I thought the Yankees would be more active during the closing weeks of Spring Training in shaping the final roster. Granted, there are still a few days to determine the final 26-man roster that will head to Houston, Texas, so anything is possible, yet the clock is winding down. I am glad the Blake Snell rumors have been laid to rest now that he is officially a San Francisco Giant. We received another swirl of ‘Yankees connected to Jordan Montgomery’ rumors even if the likelihood is about as strong as the chance the Dodgers rehire Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter Ippei Mizuhara. In other words, no chance in H-E-double toothpicks. Even if the Yankees’ back-office nerds do not like Montgomery, I do and I think the team could benefit from his consistency, reliability, and now, World Series experience. Give Monty a rotation spot and worry about other positions…not that one. Realistically, there is no way that Hal Steinbrenner is going to pay premium dollars for Montgomery since the amount would double with the luxury tax penalties associated therewith.

The best way to sustain an expensive business model is to supplement it with cheap, affordable, and most importantly, controllable, young talent. As such, Will Warren, Clayton Beeter, Cody Poteet, or Luis Gil stand a better chance of being in the Yankees rotation than Montgomery. My uninformed guess is that Will Warren will be nominated as the Man of the Hour, subject to performance, in a decision that can and most likely will change as the season progresses. I like Warren, and I am excited about his upcoming Major League career, but I would be foolish to say I prefer him over Jordan Montgomery, even with the price difference (hey, it is not my money!).

Will Warren (Photo Credit: @yankees via Instagram)

So, in other words, Will Warren, it will be. I know Luis Gil is under consideration, but he seems like a better fit for the bullpen (filling the role once held by Michael King). Yet, even if Warren gets the job, he will not be the last Yankees prospect to make his Major League debut in the rotation this season.

For the first few years of DJ LeMahieu’s Yankee career, I wanted him to have a set position. He was recognized as one of the better second basemen in the game (with emphasis on defense). Using him as a roving infielder never made complete sense to me, but to his credit, he has played respectively at both corner infield spots. Now, as he ages, I was admittedly concerned when I heard that he would be the starting third baseman this season. He can play third base, yes, and if healthy, he will not be a weakness in the lineup or on the field. Yet, it is that word ‘healthy’ that has caused me grief. LeMahieu and good health are, basically, a couple who are constantly screaming at each other. They cannot live with each other; they cannot live without each other.

LeMahieu recently fouled a ball off his right foot which caused a severe bone bruise. The MRI results were clear, so the prescription is rest and, of course, the Yankees tend to take a conservative approach when it comes to injuries. On one hand, you can feel relieved that LeMahieu did not break or crack a bone, but on the other hand, it is always something with him. He may not be the frequent traveler to the Injured List like Aaron Hicks was, but his ailments tend to reduce his effectiveness when he is playing. With Oswald Peraza on the shelf, the Yankees need a backup third baseman. I thought Gio Urshela made total sense before he signed with the Detroit Tigers. Or even JD Davis before he signed with the Oakland A’s although Gio is more versatile. I like Oswaldo Cabrera, but I am not excited about him being part of the everyday lineup in a critical position like third base. I know, he is an infielder by trade, but he has not shown he is an everyday player. I guess you must start somewhere. Minor league roster invitee Kevin Smith seems like an underwhelming option. With upcoming roster cuts by all teams, maybe a good backup corner infielder, who is cheap, will become available for the Yankees. As if LeMahieu’s health concerns were not enough, first baseman Anthony Rizzo was scratched from Friday’s exhibition game with a tight latissimus dorsi. Although Rizzo is expected to be ready for Opening Day, the Yankees cannot afford to lose both LeMahieu and Rizzo for any extended period without a solid Plan B in place.

I saw the Chicago White Sox released Mike Moustakas on Friday. There was a time when I wanted him as a Yankee. That time is NOT now. Eduardo Escobar, released by the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday, does not excite me either. We know how GM Brian Cashman likes dumpster dives. These are not garbage pieces worth collecting but you know that Cashman will be sniffing.

I want the perfect team. Is that too much to ask? One would think over $300 million could ensure twenty-six elite players on the roster, but sadly, it buys you a flawed roster at best.

Oh well, bring on Opening Day, Part II. Thursday, March 28, 4:10 pm EDT, with cameras ready at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, will soon be here, y’all! Beers, BBQ, and a Yankees win. I love it!

The Last Straw in Cleveland

Now that Alex Verdugo has become “likable” (how did that happen?), the list of players I do not like has become much shorter. Cleveland’s Myles Straw has been a longtime resident on my list, yet his days in Cleveland might be over. Straw, beaten out by other Guardians outfielders including Estevan Florial, was placed on waivers this week. Sadly, with his contract (3 more years totaling $19.25 million which includes a 2026 buyout), no team will claim the dislikable outfielder. He will clear waivers and will be sent outright to Cleveland’s top minor league affiliate (he has sufficient service time to reject the outright assignment, although he would be dumber than I thought if he walked away from $19.25 million).

Myles Straw (Photo Credit: AP)

The Yankees visit Cleveland for a three-game series beginning on April 12. Hopefully, Cleveland does not have an outfield need between now and then to force Straw’s call-up. I am looking forward to a Straw-less series with the Guardians. Of course, that probably means that Estevan Florial will go off on the Yankees, hitting something like three game-winning home runs to win the series for Cleveland.

If the Guardians are making moves, I know where they can send starting pitcher Shane Bieber. Bieber would look great in road gray for the three-game series in mid-April.

Service Time Manipulation

Add Baltimore’s Jackson Holliday, Matt’s son, to the list of the young prospects demoted to delay the start of the MLB service time clock. The reasons for Holliday’s demotion seem legitimate. Holliday is moving to second base from shortstop since the talented Gunnar Henderson has the latter position. Holliday needs more time to learn the nuances of playing second base, an education that started this Spring. Orioles GM Mike Elias also cited Holliday’s lack of experience against upper-level lefthanded pitching. Young Holliday has only played eighteen games at Triple-A and is only twenty.

Jackson Holliday (Photo Credit: The Baltimore Sun)

Holliday hit .311 in Spring Training (14-for-45). He collected three doubles, two triples, and two home runs while scoring six runs. Many expected him to be on the Orioles’ Opening Day Roster. Yet, he did struggle against lefties, striking out nine times against southpaws.

There is no doubt Holliday will make his Major League debut in 2024. I am sure that once he is below the potential to reach 172 days needed to qualify for a full year of service time, he will look extremely attractive to the Orioles for a Major League call-up. He could still earn a full year of service without reaching 172 days if he happened to win the Rookie of the Year award (which is within the realm of possibility). Baltimore has way too many young potential superstars. I guess we should be thankful the Orioles have chosen to delay the MLB start of the latest one. 

As always, Go Yankees! 

A Grand Yankees Opening and Debut...

 

Anthony Volpe (Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post)

Yankees win in Volpe’s debut…

Opening Day 2023 was about as perfect as the day could be. Gerrit Cole, in a dominating performance after the opening walk on four pitches, led the Yankees to a 5-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants. He struck out eleven Giants in six innings of work. The first Yankees home run of the season was courtesy of the 2022 AL Most Valuable Player, and the game featured the exciting debut of an extremely talented 21-year-old shortstop.

A good start. Now rinse and repeat for one hundred sixty-one more games. I wish all games could be as non-stressful as the first of the new season.

The next two games against the Giants will prove to be more challenging if for no other reason than Cole is not starting. With no disrespect to Clarke Schmidt and Jhony Brito, the scheduled weekend starters, they are not Cole, a potential Cy Young Award winner if he can continue to shove all season. I have been hoping 2023 proves to be Schmidt’s breakout year and hopefully, it begins today when he takes the Yankee Stadium mound. I am not denying Brito is an exciting young talent, but as the team’s Triple-A emergency starter, I would have preferred the emergency was not the first series of the season. Losing three starting pitchers before the season started is difficult, but in difficulty, there is an opportunity to shine.  Schmidt and Brito can make statements with their performances and prove they can be useful rotation pieces in the years ahead.  Not that one game will define anyone, but you must start somewhere.

I liked Anthony Volpe’s decision to go with number 11 for his Yankees career. It was a classy touch that he sought permission from Brett Gardner, who wore the number proudly from 2008 through 2021. Even better that Gardy gave his blessing. I had no problem with 77 had Volpe chosen to stay with his Spring Training number. Mickey Mantle is one of the greatest legends in franchise history, and seeing his number twice on the back of a jersey was kind of cool. But now that Volpe has taken 11, I like his choice.

1st Major League At-Bat for Anthony Volpe (Photo Credit: Andrew Mills/NJ Advance Media)

I thought it was funny as soon as Volpe relinquished 77, it was snapped up by pitching coach Matt Blake. Manager Aaron Boone, with his Reds number of 17, is the only coach with a number below 60. It is kind of funny there is a movement for managers and coaches to not wear numbers due to the shortage. The Yankees have retired twenty-two numbers, the most in MLB. I feel for future generations who may see triple digits on jerseys. I would go with alpha-numeric characters before adding a third digit.  Give the manager “M1”. His bench coach could be “C1”.  Seriously, I wish the Yankees held the criteria for retiring numbers much higher than they do. Reggie Jackson had a nice five-year run with the Yankees, but it was only five years. Sure, he helped win two World Series, and his three-home run game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1977 World Series stands out as his greatest performance, but many guys have helped the Yankees win with much longer tenures of success. 

I am not a fan of Alex Rodriguez, but he helped the Yankees win a World Series and had a long Yankees career. Yet, his number is still in circulation, most recently worn by former Yankee Joey Gallo. No doubt his history with PEDs contributed to the decision not to retire the number, but still, he was a good baseball player, every bit as good if not better than Jackson. Mike Mussina pitched eight great years with the Yankees and won twenty games in his final season, yet his number 35 immediately went back into circulation and is currently worn by reliever Clay Holmes. Mussina’s sin is never winning a World Series, but it did not stop the Yankees from retiring Don Mattingly’s number. The Yankees have not re-issued CC Sabathia’s number 52 (or Masahiro Tanaka’s 19 for that matter). I guess the lack of numbers is a problem for the 2173 Yankees which should not be our concern.

New Acquisitions

I had expected Rafael Ortega to make the Yankees’ Opening Day Roster, so I was slightly surprised when he opted out of his minor league contract after the Yankees made the decision not to promote him. The Yankees had their eye on former Boston Red Sox outfielder/first baseman Franchy Cordero who was cut by the Baltimore Orioles after a strong Spring performance. They signed Cordero and he was in uniform on Opening Day.

It is rather humorous that the Yankees could not re-sign Andrew Benintendi, so they signed the guy he was once traded for. Not expecting much with Cordero but it would be nice if the Yankees could tap into some of the potential he once held. He has prestigious power if he could ever learn to hit consistently. Cordero stands out in my mind for a misplayed popup when he was the first baseman for the Red Sox in a game against the Yankees last July. The dropped ball allowed Aaron Hicks to score in a game eventually won by the Yankees, 6-5.

Franchy Cordero (Photo Credit: Mary Schwalm/AP)

Cordero signed with the Orioles through free agency last December. He had a surprisingly strong Spring, slashing .413/.426/.674 (1.100 OPS) in eighteen games, but it was not enough to make the Orioles’ Opening Day Roster. He was released by the Orioles on March 27^th and signed with the Yankees three days later. 

Regardless of past miscues and failed potential, it is a new beginning for Cordero. Maybe the Pinstripes are magical for him. Maybe not. There is only one way to find out.

The other new acquisition is reliever Colton Brewer. Brewer, who spent time with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in 2017, is another former Red Sock.  He was in camp with the Tampa Bay Rays this Spring after spending 2022 playing for Kansas City’s Triple-A club, and when he failed to make the Rays’ Opening Day roster, the Yankees acquired him for cash considerations. Brewer has subsequently been assigned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. When he was first acquired, it appeared that it would be for a Major League spot which I did not see as a fit. It seemed like the Yankees would have had to end their love affair with Albert Abreu to make room (or move on from outfielder Estevan Florial). Brewer seems to be a depth/insurance piece to be stashed in Triple-A until if/when the need arises. 

I thought the Yankees would be more aggressive in bringing in a veteran pitcher given the injuries to the pitching staff. Not sure why Aaron Boone said the other day the Yankees were working on a potential deal to add a pitcher to the staff. If Brewer was the pitcher he was talking about, it probably was not worth the mention. Perhaps the potential deal fell apart. Sometimes it is best to say nothing until it happens.

Oswald Peraza, RailRider

I feel bad for Oswald Peraza. I felt like he was ready for the Major Leagues, and at the start of Spring Training, I had thought he would be the starting shortstop for the Yankees. I am not disappointed Anthony Volpe has the job, but I am saddened it cost Peraza a spot on the Major League roster. Peraza started at short on Friday night for the RailRiders in their 2-1 win over the Buffalo Bisons. He was 1-for-4, striking out three times. He had an eighth-inning single and a stolen base. Not a great night for him, but hopefully he stays positive and productive until he gets the call to the Show. 

Oswald Peraza (Photo Credit: Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Granted, with Volpe making the roster, there was no room for Peraza. I seriously thought Peraza would be the shortstop based on the stronger throwing arm, with Volpe representing the future at second base. Volpe carved his own future to take shortstop, and good for him. So now what happens? I am not ready to part ways with Gleyber Torres, even if I recognize he seems to be the most tradeable asset. If the Yankees are willing to commit to Torres long-term, I would not have an issue with trading Peraza to give him an opportunity elsewhere. If there is no intent to extend Torres, then the Yankees should pull the trigger on a trade when a reasonable offer presents itself to open the door for Peraza. 

Peraza spending the summer in Triple-A proves nothing. His development needs to continue in the Major Leagues. I hope the Yankees can figure this one out without harming the player’s future.

Gary Sanchez to the Giants

Great for Gary Sanchez to get an opportunity with the San Francisco Giants. A minor league deal, with a 30-day opt-out, but it is a chance for him to start anew. Despite the shortage of catching in the Yankees’ system, I did not want a reunion with Sanchez. However, I equally did not want to see him show up in Boston, Toronto, or Tampa Bay. Going to a National League club on the West Coast is best case scenario.

The Kraken (Photo Credit: Dan Fappiano)

I hope he is successful in reclaiming a Major League job. I wanted him to succeed as a Yankee and held my support for him longer than most fans. When the Yankees parted ways, it was time. So even though I do not wish to see his return to New York, I would like to see him find happiness and success so long as it is not with a Yankees rival. 

Speaking of ex-Yankees, Luke Voit signed a one-year deal with a club option for 2024 with the Milwaukee Brewers. I am glad to see him land a Major League job. It has been a tough road for him since leaving the Yankees. San Diego, Washington, and now Milwaukee. Although never a fan of Voit’s glove, I liked the guy’s bat and his personality in general. Armed with the mentality of an NFL linebacker, his home runs were a joy to watch.  Cheers to Luke in Brew City!

He may not have played for the Yankees at the big-league level, but former Yankees prospect outfielder/second baseman Nick Solak was acquired on Friday by the Seattle Mariners. He had been designated for assignment by the Cincinnati Reds. Solak went to the Tampa Bay Rays a few years ago in the deal that brought Brandon Drury to New York from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Solak found some later success with the Texas Rangers. Once a touted prospect, his journeyman status proves GM Brian Cashman was right to include him in a trade. I am always worried that the prospects traded away turn out to be Hall of Famers like Fred “Crime Dog” McGriff.  An unfounded fear, for the most part.

As always, Go Yankees!

And the Winner Is...

 

Anthony Volpe (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Anthony Volpe is the fan favorite for starting shortstop…

As Spring Training winds down, there is one thing that is quite clear. Anthony Volpe has made the Opening Day roster, or the New York Yankees have set up its fans for a huge letdown. No question Volpe has done everything possible to win a spot despite his age (21) and limited experience at the Triple-A level.

Volpe, who turns 22 in late April, continues to make a difference when he plays which seems lately to be nearly every day. I checked today’s lineup against the Philadelphia Phillies at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, FL, and sure enough, Volpe is the starting shortstop, atop the batting order. In sixteen Spring games, he is hitting .277/.393/.574 (.967 OPS). His home run during yesterday’s game against the Minnesota Twins was his third of the exhibition schedule. Oswaldo Cabrera and Andres Chaparro may have stronger Spring hitting statistics, but Volpe’s maturity beyond his years, the ability to adjust, and making consistent plays with his glove have set him apart in the shortstop race. Most importantly, he has proven he belongs in the Major Leagues. Some players have ‘baseball smarts’ and young Volpe is that guy. 

The Yankees have a difficult decision ahead. The glut of infielders remains an obstacle unless there is a trade. The more likely scenario, unfortunately, is the potential reassignment of expected starter Oswald Peraza to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to clear space on the Opening Day roster. I feel bad for Peraza. He has nothing left to prove in Triple-A, and he is the stronger defender at short. No question that Volpe has outplayed Peraza at the plate and has done more to shine in the field over the past few weeks. Regardless, Peraza is Major League-ready, and his further development needs to happen at the game’s highest level.  I am convinced he will hit if given the opportunity.

Oswald Peraza (Photo Credit: AP)

If Volpe has won the shortstop job, I am beginning to wonder if Peraza’s time as a Yankee may be ending. Gleyber Torres is the most frequently mentioned name in trade rumors, yet Peraza has value and could help bring in an experienced starting pitcher for depth purposes. I thought we would have seen a trade or two this week as teams begin to make decisions about their rosters. The days ahead could prove to be active. If Volpe makes the Opening Day roster, the Yankees must make room on the 40-man roster. It will not be hard with the pitchers who will be moved to the 60-day Injured List (Scott Effross, Luis Gil, and Frankie Montas). Once the Yankees commit a 40-man spot to Volpe, it will be his for years to come.

I do not sense the Yankees will trade Torres over the coming days. DJ LeMahieu most likely will be the Opening Day second baseman with Torres perhaps serving as the designated hitter and Giancarlo Stanton playing the field. But Torres will be the team’s regular second baseman until proven otherwise. The cost of Torre and Volpe on the Opening Day roster is apparently Peraza so I expect the minor league reassignment instead of a trade.

Injuries can change things in a hurry so Peraza, if he is demoted, should stay positive and be ready for the inevitable call-up. He will be on the Yankees’ active roster before we get too deep into the 162-game schedule. Unfortunately, there must be a winner and a loser in the Volpe/Peraza battle for shortstop and the Opening Day roster. The Yankees would be better to have both yet there is simply no room, especially if they legitimately believe Josh Donaldson has rediscovered the ability to hit and Isiah Kiner-Falefa can be their Six-Million-Dollar man in an infield utility role. 

Regardless of how things develop between now and Opening Day, there will be disappointment among the excitement for those who make the team versus those who do not. I am ready for the regular season. Spring Training games have run their course. The Yankees played split games yesterday, jumping out to leads in both games, only to lose in the late innings. I do not like to lose, even with meaningless exhibition games, yet the only thought yesterday was can these exhibition games just end so that we can get to games that matter? I am so done with exhibition games.

Are the Catchers Ready?

Kyle Higashioka has returned to the Yankees from the World Baseball Classic (WBC) after Team Japan’s thrilling championship victory over Team USA. The concern, for me, is whether he is behind schedule in his preparation for the season. Despite making the Team USA roster, Higgy only appeared in three games and never saw the plate except behind it with his glove. I understood why Higgy did not play; he backed up elite catchers JT Realmuto and Will Smith, yet it did not get him prepared for the grind of the long season ahead. Hopefully, he will get up to speed quickly now that he has rejoined the Yankees.

Miles Mikolas and Kyle Higashioka (Photo Credit: Mark J Repilas/USA TODAY Sports)

The Yankees signed another catcher for minor league depth this week when they inked José Godoy to a minor league contract. Godoy, 28, has yet to make his mark in the Major Leagues. He has played in the Mariners, Twins, and Pirates organizations, but has only appeared in twenty-six Major League games since making his debut on May 21, 2021. A noteworthy stat is he became MLB’s 20,000^th player when he made his debut. Most recently, he was in camp with the Los Angeles Angels on a non-roster invite until he received his release. I am not expecting much, if anything, with this signing but Godoy does provide needed depth in the farm system. 

Probably my only reason for mentioning Godoy is how close he could be to the Major League roster should anything happen to either Higashioka or Jose Trevino. The moral of the story is that Higgy and Trevi must stay healthy. Until Ben Rortvedt is healthy and ready to play, the Yankees are dangerously thin at the position. Rortvedt has started throwing and expects to ramp up baseball activities within the next couple of weeks.

Speaking of players away for the WBC, I feel bad for the Philadelphia Phillies and their first baseman Rhys Hoskins. Hoskins, returning from his time with Team USA, tore the ACL in his left knee in his first exhibition game back with the Phillies this week. He is expected to miss most, if not all, of the season. Hoskins is the latest reminder of how injuries can change plans in a hurry. Although I thought the WBC was a strong event, the knock is the timing of the competition during Spring Training. Players either had to play at a high level in a hurry like Hoskins…or do nothing like Higashioka.  Either way, it disrupted player preparedness for the upcoming regular season.    

Battle of Relievers

Last March, the Yankees made the memorable trade with the Texas Rangers for catcher Jose Trevino for reliever Albert Abreu and minor leaguer Robby Ahlstrom. Abreu was subsequently designated for assignment by the Rangers and then waived by the Kansas City Royals before finding his way back to Pinstripes. The Yankees obviously like him or they would not have brought him back. However, I think it is time to part ways.

Although one game should not be held against anybody, yesterday’s Twins game was a microcosm of the problem. Abreu was on the mound when Minnesota scored four runs in the ninth for their come-from-behind win over the Yankees. He gave up five runs in 1 1/3 innings of work. The Twins had four hits against him, including two home runs. Abreu also walked a batter. By comparison, Jimmy Cordero, earlier in the same game, pitched 1 2/3 innings, allowing no hits or walks, and struck out three batters.

 

Jimmy Cordero (Photo Credit: Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports)

Cordero has done enough to show me he should make the Yankees’ bullpen over Abreu. Or maybe Abreu has just shown me enough that he should not be given a spot in the bullpen. Out of options, Abreu will be traded or released soon unless the Yankees remain infatuated with him for whatever reasons.

Estevan Florial lives another day

I thought Estevan Florial’s time as a Yankee was coming to an end, but most likely, with Harrison Bader starting the season on the Injured List, he has kicked the can down the road. Once Bader returns, Florial’s roster status will become questionable, and I foresee his designation for assignment unless he somehow has an epiphany to become a legitimate Major League hitter (unlikely, in my opinion). 

To start the season, Florial should serve as the team’s fourth outfielder although I would expect Oswaldo Cabrera to see more time in left supplanting my not-so-favorite Yankee Aaron Hicks. I thought the Yankees might go with Willie Calhoun or Rafael Ortega for the reserve outfield role, but in the final days of training camp, Florial’s spot on the 40-man roster gives him the leg up on the competition. He can serve as a speedy pinch runner and is a good defensive replacement.

I was hoping for more Yankees news this week to give us something to talk about. There are five days until Opening Day. Although the Yankees’ transaction wire has been quiet since the start of camp (outside of minor league activity), there should be some turbulence in the next 72 to 96 hours. 

Get ready, Gerrit Cole will soon get the ball. Looking forward to seeing who joins him and Aaron Judge in the Bronx for the season opener against the San Francisco Giants. 

As always, Go Yankees!

To Trade or Not to Trade...

 

Gleyber Torres (Photo Credit: Sporting News)

Warning: MLB Roster Decisions Ahead…

Next week stands as the last complete week without “real” Major League Baseball games. With Opening Day only twelve days away, the upcoming week is sure to include many behind-closed-door meetings between General Manager Brian Cashman and his team. Time for newly hired executive consultants Brian Sabean and Omar Minaya to earn their paychecks. 

As the Yankees face the difficult decision (difficult for them, not us) to either add Anthony Volpe to the 40-man roster and bring him to New York for Opening Day or send him to Eastern Pennsylvania for slightly more seasoning, other MLB front offices are analyzing needs in preparation for determining the best twenty-six men for their respective rosters. It should create an opportunity for potential trade acquisitions as teams look to enhance rosters before the one-hundred-sixty-two-game schedule starts.

 

Anthony Volpe (Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post)

Injuries can change a team’s priorities in a hurry. The Los Angeles Dodgers were viewed as a complete team when Spring Training started and then they lose infielder Gavin Lux for the season, and the team screams the need for another infielder. It has prompted the subsequent Isiah Kiner-Falefa to the Dodgers rumors, which of course could just be a fictional proposal created by the Yankees’ fanbase. The New York Mets, despite all of Steve Cohen’s money, find themselves scrambling for a new closer after losing star Edwin Diaz was lost for the season. Diaz, celebrating Puerto Rico’s victory over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, tore the patellar tendon tear in his right knee. He underwent surgery which has an expected timeline of about eight months according to Mets general manager Billy Eppler. I do not think the Yankees and Mets match up for any potential trades, but teams are assessing their volatile, ever-changing needs and preparing to pull the trigger for potential final improvements before the start of the long summer run.    

The Yankees’ weaknesses are the same as they have been since last October. Left field, pitching, and a surplus of infielders, especially if Anthony Volpe makes the big-league roster. Having too many players is always a nice problem, but it must be addressed. I like Gleyber Torres and I am not particularly anxious to see him depart via trade, but I recognize he would bring the most in return. My fear is the Yankees trade Torres, and then Oswald Peraza and/or Volpe prove they are not quite ready for the Show. I like the thought of Peraza and Volpe as the long-term shortstop/second base solution. At some point, you must rip the band-aid off. I like Volpe better at second base than third, so if you are not moving Torres to third, which I do not believe the Yankees would do, it makes so much sense to move Torres for pitching. 

The starting rotation concerns me. Carlos Rodón’s season will be delayed. Although he is expected back in late April or early May (looking to be the latter based on recent reports), his injury history says there is cause for concern. While I try not to read too much into Spring stats, Luis Severino’s slow start is troubling. Hopefully, once the regular season starts, he is the bulldog of old, but watching him get hit hard this Spring has not been fun. I was pleased with Clarke Schmidt’s dominating performance the other day (he threw five perfect innings against the Pirates, striking out seven batters). But…it was just a Spring Training game. He still must prove it in the regular season. I will never be a big fan of Domingo German, so I find it hard to hold trust in his ability. He might be a good opener, but he weakens during the course of games as batting orders get second and third looks at his pitches. Nestor Cortes, Jr may be healthy but his hamstring pull at the start of camp shows how quickly one can go down.

When the Yankees signed Rodón, everyone loved talking about how dominating the starting staff could be. Then the injury bug hit, first taking down Frankie Montas. While I think Rodón will be okay, the line of first defense…the starting rotation depth…is troubling. Jhony Brito looms as the first call-up if an additional starter is needed. Yet, he has never pitched in the Majors so he has yet to go through the adjustment period when one makes it at the game’s highest level. Deivi Garcia has had a good Spring but after two disappointing years in the Minors, his Spring does not alleviate the risks or concerns. Non-roster invitee Tanner Tully made a nice impression before his minor league reassignment. The organization’s top pitching prospects seem too far away to help. Drew Thorpe is in the low Minors, and Will Warren has only pitched one game this Spring. There is potential in the depth but no proven Major League experience.

Jhony Brito (Photo Credit: Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports)

With the uncertain starting pitching depth, a trade for an experienced starter seems likely. Maybe I am letting my dislike of German seep in, but I would add a starter, assuming one can be had, and move German to long relief, which was his intended role before Montas went down. No doubt Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes is the Brian Reynolds of pitching for Yankee fans.  Burnes would look awesome in Pinstripes, but I think a trade for him is as likely as winning Powerball. It seems more likely the Yankees would trade for a pitcher like Chris Flexen of the Seattle Mariners.

If I had my choice of infielders to move, Josh Donaldson would head the list. Unfortunately, his age, contract, and declining bat skills make him difficult to move. It would cost good young prospects who would have to be added as an enticement and the Yankees would have to pay part of his contract. Isiah Kiner-Falefa makes the most sense. Although his days as the Yankees’ starting shortstop are over…thankfully…he has value as a utility player. The Dodgers have shown you can never have too many utility players. IKF’s ability to play multiple positions adds to his appeal for other teams. The Volpe decision weighs heavily into whether IKF or Gleyber Torres is moved. If Volpe starts the year in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, it seems more probable IKF goes. If Volpe makes the team’s Opening Day roster as the second baseman, Torres, sadly, would be the one who gets the tap on the shoulder. I just do not really see the Yankees moving Volpe or Torres to third base. I would cut Donaldson in a heartbeat to do it, eating his contract, but I do not think the Yankees would. 

Lastly, the albatross…left field. Aaron Hicks is a Yankee. My God, let it end. I am ready for the end of his Yankees career. Let him go elsewhere to see if he can stay healthy and have a resurgent career. Willie Calhoun and Rafael Ortega are not great options, and Estevan Florial cannot hit Major League pitching.  I am still riding the Jurickson Profar or bust train. Whether it is Profar or someone else who is not currently with the team, the Yankees need a good one-year option in left. Next Spring, there will be legitimate discussions about Jasson Dominguez taking over plus Spencer Jones will continue to make more noise. As much as I disliked the stopgap idea for shortstop last year, it makes total sense for left field.

We have been talking about these positions all Winter. Hope is in the air that we finally see some resolution during the upcoming week. It would be a tremendous day to wake up to find out the Yankees have parted ways with a few of the above names like Hicks and IKF. I see next week as the ‘add bodies’ week, the following week as the final roster tweaking (moving the bodies around) in preparation for the March 30^th opener at Yankee Stadium.

Misters Sabean and Minaya, you are on the clock.

As always, Go Yankees!

Anthony Volpe, Star of the Future...

  

Anthony Volpe (Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post)

Volpe is making a tremendous first impression…

Anthony Volpe is fantastic, but…he will not be the Yankees’ Opening Day starting shortstop.

At some point later this month, Volpe will be reassigned to Minor League camp and sent to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. Many Yankees fans will have a difficult time accepting it when it happens, but we would be foolish to expect the Yankees to deviate from their plan.

Volpe is the likely winner of the James P. Dawson Award which goes to the best Yankees rookie in Spring Training. The award originated in 1956, and Clarke Schmidt, battling Domingo German for the fifth spot in the starting rotation, was the 2022 winner.

Volpe is a special player. He has the “it” factor, and his Baseball IQ has been described as ‘off the charts’.  While I believe Volpe could play in the Major Leagues today, it is important to understand the Yankees feel he needs more time to establish himself at Triple-A before his ascent to the Bronx. I do not believe this is a case of service time manipulation.

Volpe played 110 games for the Double-A Somerset Patriots last season. He slashed .251/.348/.472, with .358 wOBA and 122 wRC+, hitting 18 home runs and 60 RBI.  His performance earned him a promotion to Triple-A, where he played 22 games for the RailRiders. His line at Triple-A dropped to .236/.313/.404, .320 wOBA and 91 wRC+. He had 3 homers and 5 RBI.  The Triple-A numbers are a small sample, but it is a level Volpe has not yet mastered. 

In a very small sample size (eleven at-bats) this Spring, Volpe is hitting .364/.417/.727…against minor league pitchers and non-roster guys desperately trying to make their respective teams. The inflated batting line, strong defensive play, and on-the-field leadership qualities have led to heightened fan expectations. If you believe Volpe should be the Opening Day starting shortstop and will be upset if it does not happen, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. 

Anthony Volpe with Derek Jeter "several years ago" (Photo Credit: Twitter/@TalkinYanks via @SOMPatriots)

MLB History is littered with great players who skipped minor league levels. It always makes me think of former Atlanta Braves slugger Bob Horner who was the first overall amateur draft pick in 1978 and was directly inserted into the ’78 Braves starting lineup. No comparison to Volpe, Horner was a collegiate player while Volpe was drafted out of high school so there were obvious differences in age, maturity, and development. Horner is just my reference point for ‘I don’t need no stinking minor leagues!’. 

If the Yankees believe Volpe needs more time in Triple-A, maybe he does. I do not want the Yankees to rush his development, and I support careful handling to ensure Volpe is the best player he can be. I am confident he will make his Major League debut in 2023. Maybe not late March or early April, but we will likely see him by the All-Star Break if all goes well. 

Anthony Volpe (Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post)

I am excited about Volpe’s future. This is the best I have felt about a Yankees rookie since Aaron Judge (with no intended disrespect to Gleyber Torres).  I am less confident about which position Volpe will play. Oswald Peraza’s best position seems to be shortstop, and the general talk has Volpe at second base where Gleyber Torres currently resides (thus, all the Gleyber trade talk). Third base is a possibility, and the Yankees will soon need a replacement for Josh Donaldson. If Donaldson continues his poor offensive performance, the change could happen as soon as this year. If not, it still seems unlikely Donaldson will be on the 2024 Opening Day Roster.   

I refuse to be upset when the announcement comes down that Volpe is headed for Triple-A. I support the Yankees’ opinion, and their belief it is in the best interests of the player and the organization. 

Volpe’s time will come…soon.  Patience requested. 

Donaldson, Kiner-Falefa, and Hicks

Every week, I reevaluate where I am with Josh Donaldson, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and Aaron Hicks.

I have softened on Donaldson. I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt that the lockout and short Spring Training that included an unexpected trade from the Minnesota Twins to the Yankees may have adversely impacted Donaldson’s display at the plate last season. If for no other reasons than I love his defensive value at third, I am willing to give Donaldson time this season to see if he can be the feared hitter he once was. Maybe Father Time has him in a stranglehold, maybe not. I will hope for the latter, but I am prepared for the former.

Josh Donaldson and Aaron Boone (Photo Credit: Nam Y Huh/AP)

Personally, if I owned the team, I would trade Donaldson and make DJ LeMahieu the starting third baseman. Since that is unrealistic, I accept Donaldson’s presence and I am willing to give him a chance. 

Isiah Kiner-Falefa is NOT a Major League starting shortstop. The Yankees were foolish to think he was last season. Yet, Kiner-Falefa has value as a utility player. At $6 million this season, he is an expensive utility, and like high-cost natural gas, it is best to use in moderation. I will always be amazed the Texas Rangers spent a half-billion dollars to replace IKF, and the Yankees passed on elite free agent shortstops to give him the starting job. How did Texas know who IKF was, and the Yankees did not?  The Yankees are a smart organization, but IKF was a misjudgment on their part. 

I believe strongly that Oswald Peraza will be the Opening Day starting shortstop. If you are upset about Volpe being sent down, I will be upset if Peraza does not take the field in the top of the first inning on Thursday, March 30^th when the Yankees play the San Francisco Giants at Yankee Stadium. 

If IKF is on the roster as an infield utility (I dismiss the outfield talk), I am fine with it. He can carve a role with the team in a backup capacity. If he is traded to a suddenly infielder-needy team like the Los Angeles Dodgers or Colorado Rockies, fine. I will pack his bags and drive him to the airport. 

This leads us to Aaron Hicks. My God, how does this guy still have a job with the New York Yankees? I am done with Hicks. Finished. Kaput. My patience ran out with him a long time ago and there is no hope for restoration. I would love to see the Yankees sign Jurickson Profar and trade Hicks even if they must pay part of his contract. If not Profar, other trade options could bring in better players than Hicks.  Maybe not a Brian Reynolds, but a quality outfielder can be found at the right price. With terrific outfield prospects Jasson Dominguez, Everson Pereira, and Spencer Jones on the horizon, the Yankees only need a quality left fielder to cover the next year or two. Aaron Hicks is not that guy. Next…

The King is back!

Michael King made his presence felt yesterday when he pitched two hitless/scoreless innings in the Yankees’ 5-3 loss to Detroit. He struck out four Tigers in his dominating Spring debut.

After King’s breakout last season, he has become such a force in the bullpen. When he was lost for the season last year with a fractured elbow, the team suffered for it. I always like to say everyone is replaceable, but last season, King proved nobody could replace him. 

Michael King (Photo Credit: Yankees/MLB.com)

King is one of my favorite players and I love his role with the Yankees. I am sure there will be bad days. There always are with the crazy game of baseball, but King brings confidence each time he enters a game. If the Yankees win the World Series this year, King will have made a significant contribution to reaching the goal.   

I pray good health follows King this season. The Yankees need him, we need him. All hail the King!

As always, Go Yankees!

Rain: The Bringer of Donaldson...

  

Josh Donaldson / Photo Credit: John Minchillo, AP

Rain Postponement of Opening Day sets stage for Donaldson…

For as excited as I was for Opening Day to arrive (delayed by one day due to the rain forecast), it certainly started poorly with the pre-game announcement that the Yankees and star outfielder Aaron Judge were unable to agree on terms for an extension. More thoughts on Judge later, but the mood seemed to carry through to the start of the game. Gerrit Cole, apparently flustered by a four-minute delay for first pitch, was roughed up for three runs in the first inning. Three runs with no outs. For a moment, it had seemed like Billy Crystal must have stayed on the mound after tossing the opening pitch. Fortunately, Cole was able to stop the bleeding and held Boston in check through four innings.

Gerrit Cole / Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg, NY Post

The Yankees quickly made it a one-run game in the bottom of the first when Anthony Rizzo blasted the first Yankee home run of 2022 following an Aaron Judge single. Giancarlo Stanton tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning with an ‘only in Yankee Stadium’ home run blast to the right field bleachers.

The Red Sox broke the tie in the top of the sixth inning. With Clay Holmes on the mound, Xander Bogaerts led off with a double. He moved to third on a ground-out by J.D. Martinez and scored when Alex Verdugo singled. The Red Sox looked to be mounting a huge threat in the inning. After a fielder’s choice and a single had men at first and second, Holmes was pulled in favor of new Yankee Miguel Castro. The former Mets reliever walked the first batter to load the bases. However, the threat was snuffed out when Castro struck out Christian Vásquez. No doubt it was an incredibly positive first Yankee moment for him.

Boston reliever Garrett Whitlock took over starter Nathan Eovaldi in the bottom of the sixth inning, and the former Yankees prospect shut down the Yankees offense into the eighth. GM Brian Cashman was taking his usual beating on social media for allowing Whitlock to slip through via the Rule 5 Draft to the Red Sox prior to the 2021 season until DJ LeMahieu answered the bell. His home run shot to right center tied the game once again and quieted the social media talk about Whitlock.

Everyone wanted the Yankees to win the game in the bottom of the ninth. No one wanted to see the ghost runner at second base in extra innings. The moment was set up for Giancarlo Stanton to be the hero with Aaron Judge on second base and two outs. Unfortunately, it was not one of Stanton’s better at-bats and he struck out swinging to push the game into the tenth inning, complete the dreaded ghost at second.

Both teams scored a run in the tenth to keep the game going. Michael King, who had given up a cheap run in the tenth, was masterful in the eleventh inning. Two strikeouts and a groundout as Boston failed to advance their ghost runner. In the bottom of the eleventh, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, having made the final out of the preceding inning, took second base. Josh Donaldson, wasting no time for his signature Yankee moment, hit a single up the middle through Boston’s two “shortstops.” IKF raced around to score the winning run, 6-5 Yankees. Que Frank Sinatra and New York, New York.

  

Josh Donaldson, the Bringer of Rain, is our kind of “idiot.”

Photo Credit: Jim Davis, Boston Globe Staff

To point out a few of performances, I thought Jonathan Loaisiga looked terrific, picking up where he left off from last season. The closer-in-waiting seems ready to ascend to the throne currently held by Aroldis Chapman. Aaron Judge deserves credit for getting a hit in his first at-bat after the failed extension distraction earlier in the day. He made the plays he needed to make today. Yankees catchers did a superb job behind the plate. First Kyle Higashioka and later Jose Trevino. I cannot remember how long it has been since I had total confidence in catching defense after living through the Gary Sanchez era. Watching two expert framers is artwork in motion. I missed Higgy’s Spring Training bat but the defense more than made up for it. Someone tweeted that the Yankees would have lost today if Gary Sanchez had been the catcher. I believe it.

King picked up the win with his strong two innings effort.

Michael King / Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg, NY Post

It is important to get off to a good start. I know this is only one game, but a win is better than a loss. Even after the game, Anthony Rizzo said one game could be the difference at the end of 162 games. So true, one more win last season and the Wild Card game would have been held at Yankee Stadium rather than Fenway Park. With so many consecutive days without a day off and a shortened bench (due to sixteen pitchers), extra-inning games are particularly brutal this month. The shortened Spring schedule leaves the starting rotation still trying to ramp up, meaning an earlier hook in most games until they are fully stretched out. Therefore, I have no issue with sixteen pitchers even if I would have preferred fifteen and extra legs on the bench (specifically, Tim Locastro). My team goal this month is to stay healthy, win more games than losses, and have the team running on all cylinders by May 1^st when rosters reduce from 28 to 26 and pitchers are capped at thirteen.

It is hard to believe that Friday’s Opening Day walk-off was the first for the Yankees since before most of us were born. In 1957, Yankees third baseman Andy Carey scored Yogi Berra to win Opening Day and it has not happened since…until now.

The 2022 Yankees do seem to have a vibe that has been missing for the last few years. I am sure Josh Donaldson is a big reason, but it is not just him. This team seems more focused and ready to prove they are better than last year’s roller coaster team. I like it.

I am disappointed in Aaron Judge and the Yankees. I do not understand why the Yankees released the amount of their offer to Aaron Judge other than to make Judge look bad, but I do acknowledge that the seven years, $213.5 million extension proposal is fair and generous given Judge’s injury history and age (he turns thirty on April 26^th). When you factor in 2022, it brings the total value to $230.5 million. The average annual value of the extension proposal is $30.5 million. If the demands for nine or ten years from the Judge camp is true, the Yankees are correct to pass and allow Judge to walk after the season. I say this loving Judge as a Yankee.

Probably the greater disappointment is how the Yankees have passed on elite free agents over the past few years with Judge’s extension looming. I am hopeful the Yankees and Judge can find common ground, but the rift seems too large. Judge’s arbitration hearing is scheduled for June. If they do not settle before then, an arbitration hearing will make the relationship even more contentious. In July, if the Yankees see the impossibility of an extension, they should seriously consider moving him before the trading deadline to at least get something of value before he departs.

Hopefully, we never reach worst-case scenario and the two sides come together. It would be great to see Judge as a Yankee for at least seven more years.

Aaron Judge / Photo Credit: John Minchillo, AP

Welcome to the newest Yankees.

Catcher Jose Trevino arrived last weekend in a trade that sent pitchers Albert Abreu and Robert Ahlstrom to the Texas Rangers. I feel bad for Ben Rortvedt, given he had a clear path to a Major League job before the trade. However, his oblique injury (right oblique muscle strain) has clouded his return and the Yankees needed a somebody better than Rob Brantly to pair with Kyle Higashioka. Like Higgy, Trevino is an elite framer, giving the Yankees two extraordinarily strong defensive catchers. Rort is in the same mold, but who knows when he will be ready. On the bright side, when he does return and goes to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, he will be only a phone call away if one of the two primary catchers is injured. It is kind of funny how Trevino’s availability started with the Rangers acquisition of catcher Mitch Garver from the Minnesota Twins which of course led to the Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela trade to the Twins. A case of catching musical chairs between the Rangers, Twins and Yankees.

The Yankees and Mets hooked up for a rare trade that saw lefty reliever Joely Rodriguez head to Queens for righty reliever Miguel Castro. I never fully understood the Yankees move to re-sign Rodriguez so quickly in November, but in retrospect, I am glad it led to Castro’s acquisition. He is a welcome addition to the bullpen. A rare trade that helps both teams.

Marwin Gonzalez, in camp on a minor league contract, officially headed north with the big-league club when he was added to the 40-man roster after recent acquisition outfielder Jeisson Rosario was designated for assignment. A few years ago, I would have been incredibly happy to have Gonzalez. I may not be as excited today, but I do believe he can help until the best utility prospect (Oswaldo Cabrera) is ready for the Show. So long Rosario, we hardly knew ye.

As strange as it was to see the Yankees and Mets involved with a trade, it was weird hearing the Yankees had acquired a reliever from the rival Tampa Bay Rays. David McKay was added to the 40-man (when the Yankees moved reliever Stephen Ridings to the 60-day IL) and sent to Triple A. There, he will become part of the bullpen shuttle between New York and Scranton. We later found out that McKay had forced the trade. He had been signed to a minor league contract, but when he realized he would not make the Rays, he exercised his opt-out. The trade with the Yankees involved $1 to the Rays. I am sure it was tough for Hal Steinbrenner to part with that dollar.

The last new Yankee is an old face. First baseman Greg Bird, who will begin the year with the RailRiders. Bird had been in camp with the Toronto Blue Jays and was having his usual Spring Training success. He even homered off the Yankees this Spring with his then long-haired, bearded look. I thought he was going to make the Blue Jays roster but when he did not, he chose to opt-out. From there, he came back to his original organization where seemingly a path to first base behind Anthony Rizzo is not quite as daunting as Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. I thought it was funny to see Bird wearing #45 for the RailRiders, the number worn at the time by Luke Voit when Bird and Voit were engaged in the battle for Yankees first base a few years ago. Voit won that battle, but in a way, Bird gets the last laugh, at least with the Yankees. I am not counting on Bird like I once was, but I hope he does well. I hope Rizzo stays healthy, yet Bird offers some insurance. I always did love his beautiful left-handed swing at Yankee Stadium.

Greg Bird / Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg, NY Post

Congratulations to CC Sabathia for his appointment as a special assistant to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. Sabathia will focus on player relations, diversity, equity and inclusion, social responsibility, youth participation, and broadcasting. CC is such a great ambassador for the game, and his new role will play a huge part in the continued evolution and growth of our favorite professional sport.

CC Sabathia / Photo Credit: Andy Marlin, USA TODAY Sports

Lastly, congratulations to Tampa Tarpons (Low-A) Manager Rachel Balkovec who picked up her first minor league victory in last night’s 9-6 Opening Day win over the Lakeland Flying Tigers. Balkovec, 34, is the first full-time female manager in the history of affiliated baseball at all professional levels.

Rachel Balkovec / Photo Credit: AP

As always, Go Yankees!