A New Year for Pinstriped Dreams...

  

Happy New Year to Everyone in the Yankees Universe…

Happy New Year!

2025 has arrived, but, naturally, the 2025 New York Yankees are not yet a finished product. General Manager Brian Cashman has work to do to complete his roster masterpiece after the Yankees were forced into Plan B with the departure of prized free agent outfielder Juan Soto who signed with the crosstown Mets.

The biggest hole is either second or third base depending upon where you place Jazz Chisholm, Jr. While I felt Chisholm did well when asked to play out of position at third base, the Yankees would benefit from a ‘tried and true’ third baseman with above-average defensive skills. I think Chisholm can be a better third baseman if he focuses on it exclusively in Spring Training (a training environment he did not get last year as an outfielder for the Miami Marlins). Yet, I think the Yankees would be better served by moving Chisholm back to his original position of second base which was vacated by the free agent departure of Gleyber Torres, now a Detroit Tiger.

As such, the Yankees need a third baseman. The present roster options are DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Oswald Peraza. It is tough to get enthused about any of those guys. LeMahieu will be 37 years old this summer. His health challenges will persist. They are not going to get better as he continues fighting Father Time. LeMahieu would be best served playing the utility role he originally signed with the team for. I like Oswaldo Cabrera, but I remain unconvinced that he is more than bench depth. Last year seems like a lost year for Peraza. I do not feel that he did anything to warrant consideration as a starter on the Major League roster. We may not know all the reasons for why the organization held him back, but the fact they did should give us pause regarding Peraza.

The best and only hope is the team’s starting third baseman is not yet on the roster.

Fans love to speculate about the options. Every talked-about choice is polarizing. After much mention of St Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, it was shot down by Jack Curry on a recent episode of Hot Stove on the YES Network when he stated that there was not interest in Arenado within the Yankees organization. But like Mike Axisa said, things can change with a phone call. I know Arenado will be 34 in April, but he is still a good baseball player at the plate and on the field. Sure, Arenado and current Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt had down years for the Cardinals last season, but it was a down season for the entire team (you cannot place the blame solely on those two guys). I think both are capable of having rebound seasons. They may never reach the heights of their respective prime seasons, but the best versions of their current selves can help the Yankees win a championship. I like Nolan, and I would be happy to see him run out to third base at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, March 27 in the top of the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado (Photo Credit: Gregory Fisher/USA TODAY Sports)

I would even be willing to accept Houston Astros cheater Alex Bregman, a free agent that seems likely to land in Detroit, Boston, or Toronto soon. Again, it just takes a phone call. Until Bregman signs a contract, he is fair game for any team, including the Yankees. Well, not the Miami Marlins since they have already tapped out after spending **checks notes** nothing this offseason.

Other names have been mentioned, but regardless of who we are talking about, it is a given that Cashman and his team are evaluating players about whom we are NOT talking. While it is possible the Yankees could make a surprise announcement that they have acquired Arenado, it is equally possible we will see the acquisition of a name we were not expecting. If the Yankees feel they can acquire a young player on the cusp of a breakout season, I think they have earned the benefit of the doubt. Not everybody works out, but I remember being slightly underwhelmed when the Yankees acquired Tino Martinez from the Seattle Mariners to replace Yankees legend Don Mattingly when he retired. Maybe it was more about not wanting to see Mattingly go but I was deeply disappointed about the news. Martinez had big shoes to fill…despite the odds, he succeeded. He may not have been Don Mattingly, but he gave us the best version of Tino Martinez which was one of the key factors to the team’s dynasty success in the late 1990s. An incoming third baseman for the Yankees is not being asked to fill the shoes of a legend, but the point is that we need to give time and patience to the player if for no other reason than the Yankees believe the player is the right choice for the current opportunity. If he becomes a Joey Gallo sized failure, then we can tear into the choice.

So, for as frustrated as I have been with Cashman at times, I do believe he and his team have the proven ability to uncover untapped potential. My fear or my biggest gripe would be for the Yankees to do nothing further this offseason and go into the season with twenty-six men off the current 40-man roster. To stop short like they did a couple of seasons ago by not filling left field with a strong player. If we can do better than LeMahieu, Cabrera or Peraza at third base, I trust the organization to make the right choices. There is pressure on them to succeed.

Personally, I am hoping for Arenado’s acquisition but realistically, I think the Yankees will go the young up-and-comer route. The player ready for a breakout season. They will not be wrong when the decision is made. Only time will tell but given the circumstances, I am willing to gamble with the Yankees on this one so long as they make a move. Doing nothing is the worst possible outcome.

The Yankees also still need bullpen help and a backup catcher.

Whether the Yankees re-sign Tim Hill or sign former Tigers lefty Andrew Chafin, they will do something. I still hope for a reunion with Tommy Kahnle. A reliever could also be part of a potential trade for third baseman although that could be a two-way street with relievers. I am confident that Clayton Beeter will be a bullpen breakout next season, but the Yankees need more than just him. The Yankees have developed the knack for ‘Build-A-Bullpen,’ so I am not too worried.

It is possible that JC Escarra or Alex Jackson wins the backup catching duty vacated when Jose Trevino was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. However, I do not feel that either player can be anointed the backup ahead of Spring Training. The Yankees need other options. When the Los Angeles Dodgers designated a former top prospect, catcher Diego Cartaya, this week to make room for the free agent signing of Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim, it immediately caught my attention. I would love to see the Yankees get a hold of Cartaya to see if they can help him realize his potential. He is only twenty-three, so he is still young. I would prefer Cartaya over Alex Jackson based on his potential alone. I think Cartaya would benefit from the tutelage of Yankees Major League Field Coordinator and Director of Catching Tanner Swanson.

Diego Cartaya (Photo Credit: Mark J Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports)

It should be noted that Hyeseong Kim is not the San Diego free agent infielder Ha-Seong Kim, another rumored (fan-speculated; not organizational insiders) Yankees target. I have no problem with the MLB-experienced Kim other than my hope is the team’s third baseman has power. Kim hit seventeen homers in 2023, but only eleven last season. With the Padres’ Kim, you would most likely put him at second and keep Chisholm at third which is the scenario I would like to avoid if possible.

Speaking of coaches, there have not been any announcements about the formalization of the 2025 coaching staff. While most will return to continue their present roles, the Yankees still need an assistant pitching coach for Matt Blake. The Yankees website continues to show Desi Druschel as the Assistant Pitching Coach, but he left for the Mets earlier this off-season.

The Yankees website also loves to carry over a player’s number from his previous team regardless of number availability with the Yankees. Paul Goldschmidt shows number 46 which we know will not be unretired for Andy Pettitte. When the Yankees acquired Trent Grisham last year, they showed him with number 2. It was only a matter of time until Grisham was updated with number 12. I think Goldy should take forty-eight since he prefers numbers in the forties. He wore forty-four with the Arizona Diamondbacks and forty-six with the St Louis Cardinals. The only downside to Goldy wearing forty-eight is that it is the number of the beloved player he is replacing (Anthony Rizzo). If Kahnle returns, maybe he wants his old forty-eight back which would open forty-one for Goldy or he could take Luis Severino’s 40. I guess we will find out in about a month and a half.

One hundred years ago (the 1925 season), the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Washington Senators (now the Minnesota Twins) in seven games. The Senators were the defending World Champions after defeating the New York Giants the previous year. Is 2025 the year the New York Yankees can defeat the defending World Champions? I hope so. I want a rematch with the Dodgers. If not the Dodgers, bring on the Mets. To return to the World Series, the Yankees need a strong third baseman. Can they, do it? I hope so. I am counting on Hal Steinbrenner pulling out all stops to ensure that the team has a successful return to the Fall Classic with a better outcome. If he is not pulling out all stops, then he needs to question if the Steinbrenner Family is the right fit for the New York Yankees in this century and investigate the possible sale of the team to an owner capable of competing with the big boys.

As always, Go Yankees! 

And First Base is Covered...

 

Paul Goldschmidt (Photo Credit: Jeff Roberson/AP)

Yanks agree to a one-year deal with Paul Goldschmidt…

I was underwhelmed when I heard that the New York Yankees had signed free-agent first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. No offense to Goldy, but I hoped for a more youthful approach to the position. Now that I have had a day to think about it, a one-year, $12.5 Million deal is a solid investment to solidify the position for next season. Worry about first base after the 2025 season; it is not a concern now.

When Christian Walker signed with the Houston Astros, or when the Arizona Diamondbacks traded for Josh Naylor, or when the Cleveland Guardians signed Carlos Santana, or even today's trade of Nathaniel Lowe from the Texas Rangers to the Washington Nationals, Yankees fans on social media bemoaned those were prices the Yankees could have/should have paid. Regardless of how the Yankees landed on Goldschmidt, I am confident they examined every known possibility and looked at some that were not discussed. I hoped for a comparable Tino Martinez after Don Mattingly retired type of acquisition, but that move will wait another day. If the Yankees feel that Paul Goldschmidt is the best solution for the 2025 season, I will give them the benefit of the doubt. I am hopeful Goldy can rebound from his down year in 2024, but at age 37, he will not see his ceiling (NL MVP) again. That would be good enough for me if he could call himself a World Champion Yankee after the 2025 season.

I am sad to see the end of the Anthony Rizzo era in New York. He was quickly a favorite, even if injuries curtailed the last couple of seasons. He is a good guy, and he was once a valuable player. I only regret that we did not see Prime Rizzo in Pinstripes. Nevertheless, I am glad he was a Yankee and appreciated his time on the team. While I liked Luke Voit and his personality, not to mention his ability to go yard, his iron glove at first base was painful. Rizzo's glovework was a welcome relief, and even if Rizzo did not hit like he once did, his defense positively impacted him. While corner infielders should be strong run producers, bringing elite defense to first base is vast, given how active the position is during a game. Goldy is a good gloveman, so there should be no drop-off from Rizzo, or at least when Rizzo was on the field.

Anthony Rizzo (Photo Credit: Robert Sabo/NY Post)

I hope Rizzo stays in the game in some capacity. He is at the end of the road for his playing days. It will not be a long-term relationship, even if he signs on somewhere for next season. When Rizzo transitions to his post-playing career, I hope he stays as a coach. He is undoubtedly a Chicago Cub, and the Cubs may give him a coaching opportunity in their organization. If not, I hope the Yankees do.

As a person, I like Anthony Rizzo better than Paul Goldschmidt, but Goldy is the better player for 2025. Goldy seems like a great family who loves to play the game of baseball. He will have every opportunity to endear himself to the fan base, and I have no reason to believe he will not be successful. He is not a long-term option for the Yankees, but we can have a good run together. At the end of Goldy's run, we will be as grateful for him as we are for Rizzo.

Anthony Rizzo, thank you. The lost time was unfortunate, but you proved worthy of the Pinstripes. You wore them proudly, and we are thankful for your time. Our acceptance and embrace of Paul Goldschmidt as the new Yankees first baseman have nothing to do with your character's quality and desire to win. Sports is a continual changing of the guard. Father Time is undefeated.

When I think of his strength of character, Oscar Gamble will always stand out to me, given that I had the opportunity to meet him during his playing days with the Yankees. He is not a reason the Yankees won the World Series, and he was never the best player on his teams, but the quality of the man was elite. Rizzo passes the Gamble test, and I am hopeful Goldschmidt can, too.

We need to give Paul Goldschmidt a chance. Ben Rice has a good opportunity to back up first base and catcher while learning first base from one of the game's best players over the last decade. I hope Rice can use this time to elevate his game. If Goldy is injured, Cody Bellinger is fully capable of everyday work at first base. The Yankees have the most substantial safety net at first base that we have seen in a few years.

Now that the first base vacancy is solved, the next question is the third/second base. As much as I like Jazz Chisholm, Jr, I prefer him to return to second base. While I would like to see the Yankees re-sign current second baseman Gleyber Torres, Chisholm is the next best option if the Yankees move on from Torres, which is how the tea leaves currently read. I want strong defense at third base, especially after the massive investment in starter Max Fried. DJ LeMahieu can still provide good defense, but it is foolish to count on him as a starter, given his struggles with injuries the past couple of years. Jazz tries, but he is not a trained, experienced third baseman. I value experience and performance in the position. I am not opposed to acquiring St Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado. He is not the player he once was in Colorado, but he will not hurt you at third base. I prefer him over Oswaldo Cabrera, whom I view more as a role/bench player, or Oswald Peraza, a player I think will have a challenging time making the Opening Day roster.

I could accept Alex Bregman just to keep him away from Boston or from returning to Houston. I know some can never take the Houston cheaters, and while I will never forgive Bregman for his role in it, I can appreciate a current commitment to help the Yankees win. We have seen other villains put on the Pinstripes, and we have accepted them. Although you cannot get more villainous than Bregman and Jose Altuve, I believe in second chances. When players put on pinstripes, they value and appreciate it the most. It may not have been the case with Juan Soto, who valued the dollar above all else, but I sincerely believe that Alex Bregman would want to help the Yankees to win if he signed here, just like he will fight to be successful in Boston if he goes there. 

I prefer Arenado over Bregman, but then again, I lived in Denver during Arenado's prime and know what he meant to that city and his teams. Neither player is the player they once were, but who they are now can still help the New York Yankees win the World Series.

At the end of the day, I have no idea who will take third base on Opening Day. Regardless of the man who runs to the bag in the season's first game, I will know it was a decision that was carefully considered by the organization and a decision made in the best interest of changing the outcome of the most recent World Series. I know I have been critical of GM Brian Cashman, but only a fool would say that they do not understand the game of Major League Baseball. They have proven an ability to turn weaknesses into strengths. I will give them the benefit of the doubt on this one.

The best outcome for the Winter would have been to re-sign Juan Soto, but it did not happen. The alternative may not be as good, but it can be just as effective. I never dreamed that Max Fried would be in the starting rotation, yet there he is, right behind ace Gerrit Cole. We should head into the season with Luke Weaver as the team's closer (a role I accepted), but we will have The Airbender instead. If these are Brian Cashman's last years as the Yankees General Manager, he is focused on going out with a bang. I will never underestimate him.

The days ahead should be interesting. Some moves still need to be made, and I do not see the Yankees waiting until Spring Training to address the final holes. Multiple teams' rapid succession of moves quickly closed the first base window this week. The same situation could happen with the other current holes on the Yankees roster. Strike now while there is opportunity.

Dear Santa, all I want for Christmas is a team capable of beating all teams for the World Series in 2025. Please, make it happen.

As always, Go Yankees!

What About The Other Side Of The Infield?

This offseason has been all about free agents Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, and Patrick Corbin. And to a lesser extent free agents J.A. Happ, Marwin Gonzalez, Josh Harrison, Mike Moustakas, Lance Lynn, Adam Ottavino, David Robertson, and Zach Britton. And then there are trade targets Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, Robbie Ray, and Noah Syndergaard.

And I get it.

The focus this offseason, from the mouth of Brian Cashman himself, is solidifying the starting rotation. And not just with anybody, but with top starters. And when it comes to offense, while the Yankees are not hurting in that department, you can't dismiss the young elite talent of Harper and Machado.

Then there's the hole left by Didi Gregorius getting Tommy John surgery, which has naturally led people to wonder how the Yankees could fill that hole.

But one position that has been almost entirely ignored is one that I think is a very big question mark... first base.

Greg Bird still hasn't had anything close to a full season in Major League Baseball so it may not be fair to say he's a bust. But at the same time how much longer can we sit back and wait for the guy to get healthy and possibly produce?

Luke Voit was huge for the Yankees last season and a big reason why they were even able to get to the American League Division Series, but how many Yankees fans can seriously say they are confident that he'd be anything better than average for an entire season?

Which is why I talked about acquiring Justin Bour to at least platoon with Luke Voit at first base. Since his first full season in MLB Bour has averaged 117 games a season, with an OPS+ of 124. And while Citizen's Bank Ballpark is not hard on power hitters, Yankee Stadium is better for left-handed power-hitters, meaning Bour could easily swat 25-30 home runs a season there. My only concern about Justin is that awful batting average he put up last season (.227). But seeing that he'd be a cheap option, then banking on him being able to get that batting average back up to the .260-.270 range would not be that hard to swallow.

You know what, though? I'm not married to the idea of Justin Bour. What about Marwin Gonzalez? Gonzalez has been talked about as a way to fill in on the left side of the infield, but we shouldn't forget that he can play first base as well. Or what about the trade route? For the record, I didn't want to pay the high price for Paul Goldschmidt, especially since he's set to be a free agent after next season. I haven't heard of any trade rumors for first baseman outside of Goldy and Jose Abreu (still too expensive, and also a free agent after next season), but I'm sure there is something out there.

The point is that we can't ignore the question marks at first base, and hopefully Brian Cashman already plans on addressing that position. If not, I firmly believe the Yankees are making a mistake leaning on Bird and/or Voit going into 2019.

The 2019 Offseason and What it Means for the 2020 Offseason

The New York Yankees may not want to spend heavily during the offseason before the 2019 season, but they just might have to. You may be asking yourself why, and the answer is simple. The offseason before the 2020 season, and the subsequent players that free agency after the 2019 season, is looking to be bleak, old, and not so promising.

Let’s take a quick look at the potential list of Yankees free agents after the 2019 season, barring any trades, extensions, etc.

CC Sabathia – LHP

Brett Gardner – LF

Austin Romine – C

Dellin Betances – RP

Sonny Gray – RHP

Didi Gregorius – SS

Aaron Hicks – CF

Cody Asche – LF

Now, the Yankees may potentially have to replace their starting shortstop, their starting center fielder, their starting left fielder (or a huge bench piece), an even huger part of their bullpen, and at least one or two of their starting pitchers. What do the free agency lists look like for those particular positions you may be asking?

Xander Bogaerts would be an interesting pull for the shortstop position, both in terms of hurting the Boston Red Sox and in the likelihood that he could adequately replace Gregorius. The problem is that Bogaerts is likely going to be one of the best free agents out there before 2020, assuming he isn’t extended, meaning he will be extremely expensive. The Yankees could always extend Gregorius, which seemed likely before his Tommy John surgery, or they could opt for a lesser hit to their rivals by signing Brock Holt, but right now the options just aren’t there. New York could always slide Gleyber Torres back to shortstop and sign a second baseman also, but a 39-year old Ben Zobrist, 36-year old Howie Kendrick, Eduardo Nunez, etc. just don’t intrigue me much. Scooter Gennett will also be a free agent, as will Jonathan Schoop, but in a weak market I would think that New York would have to overpay for a “solid” player and pay them like they are “great” players, and I’m just not comfortable doing that. It could be argued that Bogaerts may be on the same level as say a Manny Machado, but then again some could say that Bogaerts may command a comparable, or higher, contract next season. These free agent prices aren’t going to come down, it is only up from here.

The Yankees don’t “need” an outfielder to replace Brett Gardner, but it seems likely that they would to potentially replace Aaron Hicks. With names like Matt Kemp (35-years old) and Alex Gordon (36), along with younger options like Marcell Ozuna, Billy Hamilton, Yasiel Puig, Nick Castellanos, and Avisail Garcia at least somewhat tempting, the Yankees could conceivably replace both via free agency, but again I believe the prices for these players could get expensive. Billy Hamilton, the only name listed capable of playing center field at the Major League level, will only be 29-years old at the time of his free agency and will likely be on the same level as a Xander Bogaerts in terms of years and dollars commanded in what is widely considered to be a weak free agent class. I’ll say this though, no one here mentioned is even on the same stratosphere as Bryce Harper.

The Yankees don’t necessarily need to replace Austin Romine, many would argue that backup catchers are a dime a dozen, but let’s just have fun and look at the class of catchers anyway. Russell Martin is a free agent and so is Francisco Cervelli, but both would likely want a full-time starting job (and pay). You can also add Jason Castro to that list, but a couple of intriguing names are listed as potential backups for the Yankees if they decide to move away from Romine. Alex Avila was suggested as a potential landing spot for the Yankees last offseason while Brian McCann only signed a one-year deal with Atlanta for $2 million and will hit the market once again before the 2020 season (although I predict that he retires after the year). In all honesty the Yankees will likely re-sign (or possibly extend this offseason) Romine before this decision needs to be made, but there are at least a few suitable replacements for him if it came down to that. Let me say this, let me say it again, and let me say it forever. Gary Sanchez is, and will be, the Yankees starting catcher for a long, long time. Deal with it.

I know a first baseman is not listed in the grouping above, but I would be remiss if I didn’t at least mention the first base class for next offseason, just in case Luke Voit turns out to be Shane Spencer or Kevin Maas as I have predicted. Mitch Moreland is set to be a free agent, as is Justin Smoak, Jose Abreu and Paul Goldschmidt. This is a strong class for first baseman, which makes it less likely that the Yankees give up a top prospect like Estevan Florial for Goldschmidt now this season. Just my two cents.

The final aspect to look at for the future is pitching, both in terms of starters and relief pitchers. It is all but a foregone conclusion that CC Sabathia will retire after the season (he said he would, but he liable to change his mind). It is also a foregone conclusion that Sonny Gray will be traded this offseason (Brian Cashman has all but said it) so, theoretically, both will have to be replaced along with Dellin Betances. What does the pitching market look like for the 2020 offseason? Justin Verlander hits the free agent market, but he is 37, while Felix Hernandez (34-years old, but injury prone and not effective lately), Cole Hamels (36), Hyun-Jin Ryu (33), Rich Hill (40), Brian Duensing (37), Adam Wainwright (38) join Rick Porcello (31), Madison Bumgarner (30), Michael Pineda (31, still recovering from Tommy John surgery), Chris Sale (31), Shelby Miller (29), Gerrit Cole (29), Zack Wheeler (30), Alex Wood (29), Tanner Roark (33), Jake Odorizzi (30), and Kyle Gibson (32) to name a few starters in what looks to be a strong pitching field to choose from. On the relief side of things, the Yankees could potentially choose one or more from Arodys Vizcaino (29), Liam Hendriks (31), Fernando Rodney (43), Brandon Kintzler (35), and Anthony Swarzak (34) to name a few in what looks to be a weak market for relievers. It may be worth the Yankees making a splash or two now by signing Adam Ottavino, David Robertson, Zach Britton, etc. to not only solidify the pen for the 2019 season, but for the 2020 season as well. Also, as crazy as this sounds, it may make it sting a little less for New York if they are to lose out on Patrick Corbin this offseason as they could potentially replace him with a cheaper, shorter-term option like JA Happ for now before dipping their toes back into the free agent starters pool in 2020. Corbin should be the priority, but I am merely speaking of a Plan B scenario if the Phillies were to offer him a dumb amount of money and years this offseason.

In closing, just because it may not make sense to some to spend on some of these players listed here in 2019, it doesn’t mean it won’t make sense for the 2020 season. Think ahead, plan long term, and sign some of these once-in-a-generation type talents now, before you wish you did one-year from today.

News & Rumors Wrap-Up

Between home stuff, work, and officiating basketball, the holidays and the time leading up to them are always very hectic for me. So I tend to be quiet around here during that time unless something big happens. But I'm going to try and write a weekly news and rumors wrap-up article each week. 

"Try" being the key word here.

To begin I decided to talk about what I see as the six biggest bits of news and rumors so far this offseason. If there is something you'd like to hear me talk about now or in a future article, then let me know. 

With that said, though, you're better off emailing me (link to the side of this page) or messaging me on Twitter (@Bryan_TGP), as I don't get into the comments here very often.

So without further adieu let's jump into it...

CC Sabathia & Brett Gardner Are Re-Signed

These two signings really showed how stupid some fans can be. First, the Yankees signed Brett Gardner, and the next thing I read was outrage from some fans saying this means the Yankees are out on Bryce Harper because Gardy will be the starting left fielder for the Yankees next season.

No... it doesn't. The Yankees can afford to pay their 4th outfielder $7.5 million. Besides, there are very few players in the history of baseball that you make room for, and Bryce Harper is one of them. That doesn't mean I believe the Yankees will definitely sign Bryce, but neither Brett Gardner nor $7.5 million is going to stop them from trying to bring in a 26-year-old elite player.

The same can be said for the signing of CC Sabathia. To be fair, the outrage was certainly to a lesser extent since the Yankees need to acquire more than one starting pitcher. Most of it came from people that believe CC's signing means the Yankees won't bring back J.A. Happ. But even if the Yanks signed Patrick Corbin, there's still room in the rotation for someone such as Happ. I'm not totally sold on Happ, so I'd like to see the team do better, but the bottom line is some fans need to step back from the edge and take a second or two to think.

CC and Brett are solid players and are leaders in the clubhouse, however, they will not keep the team from making splashier moves.

Possible Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, and James Paxton Trades

Speaking of splashier moves that could be made, Yankees fans rightfully lit up when it became known that the Indians and Mariners were willing to move their star pitchers.

I have a hard time believing the Yankees could trade for Kluber or Carrasco without paying too much. The Indians won the American League Central division last season, and their only big loss to free agency is Michael Brantley. It's smart to listen to any and all offers because, regardless of who's involved, if it makes your team better that's all that matters. But the Indians are going to have to be swept away by an offer for either pitcher, and I don't believe the Yankees need to go there.

On the other hand, James Paxton seems like a good shot. Seattle may have won 89 games last season, but with the Houston Astros and Oakland Athletics in their division, making some long-term plans is likely the way to go.

Although Paxton's strikeout rates the last two years are really good, I'm not blown away by the guy. I mean, I don't think there's any guarantee that he would be among the top three starters for the Yankees going into the postseason in 2019. If the Yankees do sign Corbin you have him and Severino as locks for a postseason start in any series, then you have Tanaka, who in five postseason starts has an ERA of 1.50.

So Cashman should absolutely take a look at James, but if Seattle wants anything that could be deemed as "a lot" for the guy then forget it. Like I mentioned above, just round out the rotation with someone like J.A. Happ instead. Then again, who knows what other pitchers are available?

Gary Sanchez Out Three Months After Shoulder Surgery

I'm absolutely on board with Sanchez getting surgery. The team had tried cortisone shots last year, but the problem hasn't gone away. And since Gary more than likely will be ready for Opening Day, I see no reason to hold off on just getting the shoulder cleaned out now.

Now, is that shoulder to blame for his poor season? I suppose it could have been a contributing factor, along with his groin issues, but let's not get too excited for an easy fix. My hope is that Gary eventually returns to baseball activity in mid-February, and works his butt off both at the plate and behind it. The team can't allow him to think that getting healthy is the only thing that needs fixing.

As for a possible replacement should Sanchez not be ready on Opening Day, I'd rather just go with what's in house. Brian Cashman has already said they'd be comfortable using Romine and Higashioka. If it turns out Sanchez is going to miss a month or more of the season, then I'd like to see Cashman get a better catcher to hold down the position, but if we're talking about just a couple of weeks then don't bother wasting any resources there.

The Yankees Are Not Interested In Paul Goldschmidt

This one I can believe. Not that the Diamondbacks aren't serious about trading Goldschmidt, as they'd be stupid not to try and get something good to great before he hits free agency next offseason. It's not like Arizona is in the same spot as Cleveland, as the D-backs have a tough hill to climb to unseat the Dodgers in the NL West. Even a wild card spot will not be easy thanks to teams like the Cubs, Cardinals, Rockies, and look out for the ready-to-spend Phillies.

As sad as it's been seeing the Yankees get little to nothing from what is traditionally a productive offensive spot, I don't believe Brian Cashman should spend big for a first baseman... at least as far as trading prospects. I feel the same way about trading top prospects for corner outfielders. Those positions are typically fairly easy to fill. If the Yankees are to spend big on those areas then do it with money, which is something they have plenty of. Holding onto prospects is the biggest reason the Yankees are so close to creating another dynasty right now.

I admit that writing a lineup that includes Goldschmidt would be freakin' sweet, but since this is reality and not fantasy baseball, I agree that the Yanks should pass.

Bryce Harper Can Play First Base

I don't doubt for a second that Harper could play first base. When going over my postseason plan a little while back I mentioned that Bryce is athletic enough to play well in left field despite the fact he hasn't played on that side of the outfield in over four years. And that is true even at first base, a position that he's never played at the professional level (Baseball Reference notes he made an appearance at 1B last season, but with zero innings).

Although I don't trust Scott Boras at all, as he's just trying to say the right things to get his client as much money as possible, I can't help but believe this bit of news is important to the Yankees. It allows them to take a chance on Luke Voit being able to build off of his great run with them last season, and have a backup plan in Harper should Luke need to be benched.

Hal Steinbrenner Will Spend If It Means Winning

For a long time now I've put up with Yankees fans calling Hal "cheap". And to a point, I agree with them. The Yankees make enough money that paying the Luxury Tax is not a problem. Just consider the Luxury Tax payment as paying for a 41st man on the roster, instead of it being a penalty for spending too much. Maybe then it would be seen as a good thing, rather than bad.

The fact of the matter is professional sports are businesses. Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, Major League Soccer, etc are there to make money. Hell, contrary to what they may say, those running the National Collegiate Athletic Association are about making money too. So it's silly to get all up-in-arms when a team's owner tries to save money. Does it suck? Yeah... sometimes. But it's a fact, so we can either deal with it or give ourselves heart attacks screaming about it.

With that said, though, I 100% believe that Hal wants to win. Like the saying goes... "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree", and George Steinbrenner wanted to win as much as any other "tree" in the forest. That's not to say that he's going to approve a payroll of $300 million, but I don't think any team has to spend that much to win, either.

I firmly believe the Yankees will sign Patrick Corbin and one of Bryce Harper or Manny Machado, which alone would put them over the Luxury Tax threshold for next season. And I see them spending a little more on one of David Robertson or Zach Britton. And if they sign Machado, I could see someone like Micheal Brantley starting regularly in LF over Brett Gardner.

Hal wants to win, and he's not stupid. Even if there's something he doesn't know he has guys like Brian Cashman and Randy Levine there to inform him. Call me "naive" if you so desire, but I believe in those guys and the New York Yankees.

Sonny Gray, Paul Goldschmidt, and a Match Made in the Bronx

Late Monday evening I received a text on my phone from a person that I trust. This person was a friend of a friend that works within the Yankees organization that gives us a bone whenever he or she can. They told us about Johnny Damon coming to the Bronx in 2005 a few days before it happened, although I was not big on social media or blogging then, and they dropped other information to us including the New York Mets signing Curtis Granderson (we had the exact years and dollar amounts, Joel Sherman, so unblock me and give credit where credit is due) and others. Long story short, when this person talks… we listen. This person talked again this week and let us know that the Yankees are already actively talking to opposing GM’s about right-handed pitcher Sonny Gray, and they state that Cashman has already had discussions regarding Gray with the Atlanta Braves, the Arizona Diamondbacks and other National League teams.

The source made it very clear that Cashman’s intention was to shop Gray to National League team’s first, which makes sense. Gray is a good pitcher, but he just can’t get out of his own head. Some people aren’t made for New York, and Gray seems to be one of them. Gray is going to figure this thing out if and when he is traded this offseason, and the Yankees would rather him figure it out with a team that would not see the Yankees all that often going forward.

So, with that said, let the speculation begin. What would the Yankees potentially get back from either of these teams, and ultimately what are their needs? It is hard to say, but we will pretend like the trade is imminent and keep the Yankees current needs in mind. This could obviously change the deeper into the winter and the hot stove season gets, but we will cross that bridge when we get there if this trade stuff goes that long. The Yankees don’t NEED another outfielder, and they don’t NEED a first baseman, and it is unlikely that they will trade Gray for the starting pitching help that they so desperately need, leaving just the bullpen and the farm system as potential areas to upgrade with the trade.

The Braves had pitching woes of their own here in 2018, so the only pieces of value that Atlanta will be able to offer the Yankees in return for Gray is a couple players out of their farm system. Pick the names, it doesn’t really matter at this point to be completely honest. Gray is a lost trade for Cashman and company and anything that he gets back will help lessen the hit. The Diamondbacks, on the other hand, could think outside the box with a trade since their farm system is pretty barren right now. Arizona has already discussed the possibility of trading first baseman Paul Goldschmidt this winter, could this be the very early stages of a trade package between New York and Arizona?

Obviously, the Yankees would have to include a lot more than just Sonny Gray to pry away Goldschmidt from the Diamondbacks, but with Arizona presumably losing Patrick Corbin to free agency they may value Gray and his upside more than the Yankees, or most teams for that matter, do. The window for winning in Arizona is closing and Gray may give the team one more shot at going deep into the postseason with this current team. Who else would be in the package from the Yankees? Again, take your pick. Arizona’s farm system is barren, and I am sure they would merely take the best available prospects rather than a specific need, like a shortstop for example. If the Yankees don’t have enough or are unwilling to part with everything the Diamondbacks would ask for in a Goldschmidt trade, bring in a third team. The Yankees and Diamondbacks have done it before with the Tampa Bay Rays just last season, there is no reason they couldn’t do it again. Maybe even bring in the Braves, who knows? The specifics are left up to someone a lot smarter than me, but at least on paper this could potentially be the beginning of a match made in the Bronx.

The Yankees don’t NEED Goldschmidt, but damn it would be nice to have some stability at first base for once. Get Greedy, Get Goldy? It has a nice ring to it…

IBWAA SELECTS ALTUVE, STANTON IN MVP VOTE

IBWAA SELECTS ALTUVE, STANTON IN MVP VOTE

 

Los Angeles – The Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) announced the winners in its Most Valuable Player category Thursday, with the Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve winning the group’s American League award, and Giancarlo Stanton, of the Miami Marlins, being selected in the National League.

 

Altuve received 107 first-place votes (72.79%) and 1838 points while being named on 146 of 147 ballots (99.32%). Others receiving first-place votes include Aaron Judge (28), Mike Trout (7) and Francisco Lindor (2).

 

Stanton received 58 first-place votes (40%) and 1492 points while being named on 144 of 145 (97.96%) ballots. Others receiving first-place votes include Paul Goldschmidt (25), Nolan Arenado (20), Joey Votto (16), Charlie Blackmon (15) and Anthony Rendon (7).

 

Election results are as follows:

 

AL MVP

 

1^st Place:                  Jose Altuve, Houston Astros – 1838 points
2^nd Place:                 Aaron Judge , New York Yankees – 1341
3^rd Place :                  Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – 1067

4^th Place:                 Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Indians – 997

5^th Place:                  Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians – 562

6^th Place:                  Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians – 389

7^th Place:                  Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox – 376 

8^th Place:                  Chris Sale, Boston Red Sox – 280

9th Place:                 George Springer, Houston Astros – 207

10^th Place:                Andrelton Simmons, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – 202

 

NL MVP

 

1^st Place:                  Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins – 1492 points
2^nd Place:                 Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks – 1115 
3^rd Place:                  Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds – 1025

4^th Place:                  Charlie Blackmon , Colorado Rockies – 1003

5^th Place:                  Nolan Arenado , Colorado Rockies – 959

6^th Place:                  Anthony Rendon , Washington Nationals – 577

7^th Place:                  Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs – 512

8^th Place:                  Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers – 253

9^th Place:                  Justin Turner, Los Angeles Dodgers – 243

10^th Place:                Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals – 185

 

Ballot tabulations by Brian Wittig & Associates, using the Borda Method.

 

The IBWAA was established July 4, 2009 to organize and promote the growing online baseball media, and to serve as a digital alternative to the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA). Voting for full season awards takes place in September of each year, with selections being announced in November. The IBWAA also holds a Hall of Fame election in December of each year, with results being announced the following January.

 
Among others, IBWAA members include Tim Brown, Yahoo! Sports; Craig Calcaterra, NBC Sports Hardball Talk; Bill Chuck, Billy-Ball.com; Derrick Goold, St. Louis Post-Dispatch; Jon Heyman and Jesse Spector, Today’s Knuckleball; Danny Knobler, Bleacher Report; Kevin Kennedy; Kostya Kennedy, Sports Illustrated; Brian Kenny, MLBN; Will Leitch, Sports on Earth; Bruce Markusen, Hardball Times; Ross Newhan; Dayn Perry and Matt Snyder, CBSSports.com; Tom Hoffarth and J.P. Hoornstra Los Angeles Daily News; Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times; Tracy Ringolsby, MLB.com; Ken Rosenthal, TheAthletic.com; Eno Sarris, FanGraphs; David Schoenfield of ESPN.com; Jim Bowden and Bill Arnold.

 

Association membership is open to any and all Internet baseball writers, with a $75 lifetime fee. Discounts for groups and scholarships are available. Members must be 18 years of age to apply.

For more information please visit www.ibwaa.com.

Contact:

 

Howard Cole
Founding Director, IBWAA
baseballsavvy@aol.com

Quick Hit: 2017 Fantasy Baseball Awards

The 2017 season is coming to a close and the 2017 fantasy season has all but concluded here so let’s take a look at who won you your respective leagues and who will be taking home the 2017 Fantasy Baseball major awards.

If you drafted Aaron Judge or Giancarlo Stanton this season you were probably very happy with your pick. Why? Chicks, and fantasy owners, dig the long ball and both players have surpassed 50 home runs this season for their respective teams. One of these two have to win the Fantasy MVP and I think, all bias aside, that Judge has to ultimately take home the award. Judge hits home runs, sure, but he also takes his walks and has a great on-base percentage and RBI total. Sure, Judge is going to strikeout a lot but like in the game and in Fantasy Baseball an out is an out no matter how you record it. Cody Bellinger and Elvis Andrus should also get at least some consideration after strong fantasy seasons.

It is easy to load up your pitching staff with Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer, Corey Kluber, Chris Sale or other perennial All-Star pitchers but it is usually those diamond in the rough type guys that wins you your league and three names in particular stood out for me this season in fantasy. Alex Wood of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Luis Severino of the New York Yankees and Ervin Santana of the Minnesota Twins. Where would the Twins be without Santana this season? Not in the AL Wild Card Game, you can bet that, and the same may be said for the Yankees and their sudden emerging ace Severino. Wood though may have shocked the world with his start to the 2017 season heading into the All-Star break with an 11-0 record. Wood is now an MLB 15-game winner with a sub-3.00 ERA and a miniscule WHIP making him an absolute steal for any owner that drafted him or picked him up via trade or off of waivers.

The final award we will hand out for Fantasy Baseball this season will be the Rookie of the Year. I am going to cheat a little bit and I am going to leave Judge off the list since I already handed him the MVP award and instead take the time to honor and showcase the season that Whit Merrifield had for the Kansas City Royals. No one knew the name Merrifield before Raul Mondesi Jr. began the 2017 season with a  .114 batting average as the team’s starting second baseman pushing the team to call up Merrifield from Triple-A. Merrifield has done nothing but impress since his late April call up stealing over 30 bases and pushing 20 home runs and 80 RBI keeping the Royals in the playoff chase all season long.

According to the USA Today here are the Top 15 players for your 2018 Draft. Yes, it’s early but it’s never too early for some to start preparing for next season. Enjoy.

1.     OF Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
2. 2B Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
3. 1B Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks
4. OF Charlie Blackmon, Colorado Rockies
5. 3B Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies
6. SS Trea Turner, Washington Nationals
7. OF Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals
8. SP Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
9. OF Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins
10. SP Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals
11. OF Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox
12. 3B Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs
13. 1B Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds
14. 3B Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays
15. SS Carlos Correa, Houston Astros

Quick Hit: My Early 2017 Awards Predictions

With less than a month to go during the regular season here in 2017 I wanted to take an early stab at predicting the American League and National League major awards. I did these same predictions here on the blog before the season, and I will showcase them at a later time, but these are a separate set of predictions based on what we have seen thus far. Right, wrong or argumentative leave your thoughts and comments below in the comments section.

AL MVP – Jose Altuve. Houston Astros.

Runner up – Mike Trout. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

NL MVP – Paul Goldschmidt. Arizona Diamondbacks.

Runner up – Giancarlo Stanton. Miami Marlins.

AL Cy Young – Chris Sale. Boston Red Sox.

Runner up – Corey Kluber. Cleveland Indians

NL Cy Young – Max Scherzer. Washington Nationals.

Runner up – Clayton Kershaw. Los Angeles Dodgers.

AL Rookie of the Year – Aaron Judge. New York Yankees.

Runner up – Andrew Benintendi. Boston Red Sox.

NL Rookie of the Year – Cody Bellinger. Los Angeles Dodgers.

Runner up – Josh Bell. Pittsburgh Pirates. 

Weekly MLB Power Rankings

Another week done in the 2017 MLB season and another set of weekly MLB power rankings released by the USA Today. Will the Boston Red Sox be able to chase down the Houston Astros and take the best record in the American League away from them? Will the Yankees be able to hang around in the American League East Division race? Can anyone catch the Dodgers? While these rankings don’t have the answers to any of those questions for sure you can bet that they can be used as an indicator of things going forward so let’s check them out.

This is a Yankees blog so we’ll start there. Last week the Yankees were 9^th overall on the rankings and falling fast and that is exactly where the team remained this week after another lackluster week. The team is hovering around the .500 mark over the last three months of the season and a Top 10 finish for the team seems pretty suitable for the team. I wish it were higher but what can you do? Brian Cashman did all he could and all that Hal Steinbrenner would allow, now it is up to manager Joe Girardi and the players to collectively get it done. So do it.

The Top 5 on the list are the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Washington Nationals who rose one spot, the Boston Red Sox who rose two spots, the Houston Astros who dropped two spots and the Arizona Diamondbacks who fell one spot. It’s crazy to think that the Dodgers haven’t lost a series in almost three months and may clinch the division this month, the Astros were once being compared to the 1927 Yankees before losing nine of their first twelve games to start the month of August and the Diamondbacks may have the NL MVP in Paul Goldschmidt and somehow still no one is noticing outside of Arizona. You can’t predict baseball.

Don’t look now but the St. Louis Cardinals are back in the Top 10, the Kansas City Royals were once completely written off and are now 12^th overall according to the list and the Tampa Bay Rays, who many publications said would win the AL East this season, have fallen off back to the #13 position. But hey, think of all those click baits they benefited from when the Rays went on their little run. It’s okay though, at least they aren’t the Phillies.

Most Popular Article of the Week: Yankees Potential Trade Partners: Arizona Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks are one of those teams that I’m not entirely sure even they know what direction the team is going. The team gets younger and starts to build a core before they trade Dansby Swanson, first overall pick Dansby Swanson, for Shelby Miller and before handing Zack Greinke huge money on the free agent market. To be completely honest I don’t know if the Diamondbacks will be coming or going here in 2017 but if they are looking to move a few pieces as they progress either way I think the Yankees have to at least be listening.


Unfortunately the bigger named pieces like Shelby Miller, Zack Greinke, AJ Pollock and Paul Goldschmidt are likely off the table but what about their third baseman Jake Lamb? If the Yankees move Chase Headley, and they could seeing as he does not have a no-trade clause written into his contract, the team could fill the gap with 26-year old Lamb. Lamb is a left-handed hitter who somehow found a way to hit 29 home runs and drive in 91 RBI without anyone on the East Coast taking notice. Lamb comes with his issues of course, his .249 batting average and 154 strikeouts lead that list of concerns, but in the era of sabermetrics you take that for driving in runs and hitting it over the fence any day.


The Yankees would lose a step or defensively in the hypothetical Lamb for Headley swap but Lamb is still at least two years from entering his prime while Headley is at least three years from his which could make up the difference in the long term. Lamb is not arbitration eligible for two more years which means he is going to cost a ton. How much is a ton? Well suddenly the once shortstop heavy Diamondbacks need middle infielders and it has been speculated already that the team would move Jorge Mateo in a deal this winter. I don’t want to give up on or give away Mateo but for a 26-year old power hitting lefty like Lamb you always make the deal, especially for a player who has never seen Double-A.


Arizona also needs a catcher and the Yankees have three on their 40 man roster with Kyle Higashioka soon to be added per the team. Why not include Austin Romine in the deal and bring back a prospect or two in the deal while Brian Cashman is at it? This is one of those “too good to be true” sounding deals for New York but you never know until you ask so Cashman, ask.

The Irresponsible Offseason Journalism Has Begun

The offseason is almost here for all 30 MLB teams which is bittersweet in a way. I love the offseason because of the trade rumors, the possibilities for your favorite team the next season and all the movement from the players and coaches. I enjoy it. What I don’t enjoy are those long days where absolutely nothing is going on to report on or speculate about which leads some irresponsible journalists, my opinion, to produce articles in order to click bait a reader. For example, and I won’t link to it but a simple Google search should get you to the article if you really want to read it, the article that stated the Yankees are going to make a run at Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt this offseason.

Let’s get one thing straight, Paul Goldschmidt is the best first baseman in the National League and maybe in all of Major League Baseball and not enough people know about him for whatever reason. For that reason alone it’s unlikely for the Arizona Diamondbacks to trade Goldschmidt to anyone and if they did it would take a king’s ransom. Add on top of that the amount of money and prospect cost the team has already spent to acquire Shelby Miller, Zack Grienke and others and I simply cannot see them trading away their franchise player after just one unsuccessful season. It’s simply not going to happen.

Sure if you put something along the lines of “Yankees interested in Paul Goldschmidt?” as your headline it is going to generate some interest and views, I get that. I also get that you are a paid employee and it’s your job to get those views in order to provide for your family, I get that too. It doesn’t mean I have to like it just because I understand it. The beautiful thing about the shop we have set up here is I’m not getting paid, nobody is, and I can say anything and everything I want to say. And I generally do. This kind of journalism is simply irresponsible to me.

Also, I have to add, remember Greg Bird? Remember? 

Yankees Potential Trade Partners: Arizona Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks are one of those teams that I’m not entirely sure even they know what direction the team is going. The team gets younger and starts to build a core before they trade Dansby Swanson, first overall pick Dansby Swanson, for Shelby Miller and before handing Zack Greinke huge money on the free agent market. To be completely honest I don’t know if the Diamondbacks will be coming or going here in 2017 but if they are looking to move a few pieces as they progress either way I think the Yankees have to at least be listening.

Unfortunately the bigger named pieces like Shelby Miller, Zack Greinke, AJ Pollock and Paul Goldschmidt are likely off the table but what about their third baseman Jake Lamb? If the Yankees move Chase Headley, and they could seeing as he does not have a no-trade clause written into his contract, the team could fill the gap with 26-year old Lamb. Lamb is a left-handed hitter who somehow found a way to hit 29 home runs and drive in 91 RBI without anyone on the East Coast taking notice. Lamb comes with his issues of course, his .249 batting average and 154 strikeouts lead that list of concerns, but in the era of sabermetrics you take that for driving in runs and hitting it over the fence any day.

The Yankees would lose a step or defensively in the hypothetical Lamb for Headley swap  but Lamb is still at least two years from entering his prime while Headley is at least three years from his which could make up the difference in the long term. Lamb is not arbitration eligible for two more years which means he is going to cost a ton. How much is a ton? Well suddenly the once shortstop heavy Diamondbacks need middle infielders and it has been speculated already that the team would move Jorge Mateo in a deal this winter. I don’t want to give up on or give away Mateo but for a 26-year old power hitting lefty like Lamb you always make the deal, especially for a player who has never seen Double-A.

Arizona also needs a catcher and the Yankees have three on their 40 man roster with Kyle Higashioka soon to be added per the team. Why not include Austin Romine in the deal and bring back a prospect or two in the deal while Brian Cashman is at it? This is one of those “too good to be true” sounding deals for New York but you never know until you ask so Cashman, ask. 

Checking My Preseason 2016 MVP Award Predictions

Here we go ladies and gentleman, the big one. The award we’ve all been waiting for and the prediction we’ve all been waiting to laugh at and mock for the rest of the weekend. The American League and National League MVP Awards. While we have a couple months before the actual awards are handed out I took a stab at predicting the award winner back at the end of Spring Training this year. How far off was I? Here is the original post from earlier this year.

In the American League there isn’t many times I go against the safe pick in the Angels Mike Trout but you know what, I’m feeling it today. I’m feeling either incredibly foolish or incredibly lucky today so I will not pick Trout even though he’s as likely a candidate as anyone to win the award year in and year out and instead I will move to Jose Abreu of the Chicago White Sox. Abreu has had little in the way of true protection in his years in the Major Leagues but with Todd Frazier hitting somewhere in the lineup around him or behind him I can see a lot more fastballs and a lot more home runs and RBI this season for the Cuban-born star. 

In the National League I have gone with Giancarlo Stanton using the whole “I’m going to keep picking him until he proves me wrong” philosophy and every year he proves me wrong. He’s injured or he simply gets outperformed by Andrew McCutchen of Pittsburgh so I’m going to go against the grain once again here, but not by much. What about Paul Goldschmidt of the Arizona Diamondbacks? He’s probably the best first baseman in the game and probably the best hitter in the National League but he hasn’t received much attention due to the fact that his team has struggled. With Shelby Miller and Zack Greinke now in the desert that shouldn’t be the case any longer. ---

Paul Goldschmidt has once again had a solid season for the Arizona Diamondbacks and once again no one in the league has seemingly noticed. I don’t know if it’s going to be enough to win an MVP Award though and that’s really a shame. Jose Abreu on the other hand, yeah he’s not winning an MVP Award. He’s not getting a single vote. He’s not even in the discussion anywhere but here in this blog post. Oh well, another one bite’s the dust for me.

What were your predictions? Do you remember? Leave them below in the comments section.