Steroid/Stimulant Use Penalties Just Got Tougher

Earlier this morning we brought you the results from the previous season’s steroid and performance enhancing drug testing done by Major League Baseball and now we bring you a bit of news regarding those 15 failed drug tests out of the 8,281 tests given and what it could  mean to those whole try to “beat the train” again in 2017. The testing is getting harder and more frequent in the new collective bargaining agreement and the penalties are too.

The suspension for a second stimulant violation, such as Adderall, is going up from 25 games to 50 games while a third violation is now a 100-game suspension, up from 80 games just a season ago. You better get that medical exemption if you want to use Adderall, just saying. A fourth suspension is an automatic permanent ban from the game of Major League Baseball.

You may take your case to an arbitrator to get your penalties decreased, the arbitrator can decrease the suspension to as little as 30 games which is down from 40 games just a season ago, as a first-time offender but you must prove that the stimulant found in your urine was there and “not your fault.” However you do that. I guess by pulling a David Ortiz and buying “some supplement from the mall at some damn GNC” while hugging the Commissioner… again, just saying. 

There’s Always Next Year w/ Shohei Otani

Chicago Cubs fans no longer have to say “there’s always next year” after their World Series victory in 2016, their first since the 1908 Fall Classic, but New York Yankees fans find themselves saying that once again when it comes to Japanese-born right-handed starting pitcher Shohei Otani. For a couple seasons now the talk has been whether the best pitcher in Japan would be coming to the Major Leagues and whether the New York Yankees, who are always starved for starting pitching, would sign him but once again the Yankees have to wait and hope for next year. Shohei Otani is not coming over to the Major Leagues before next season, again.

Otani is just 22-years old but has been talk around the Major Leagues for at least two-or-three offseasons now. Otani has shown loads of potential as a hitter, which is why he remains in Japan and which is why he may prefer to play for a National League team, but he has excelled as a pitcher which is what has drawn MLB teams to him despite not being eligible for free agency until after the 2021 season.

According to reports the Nippon Ham Fighters, Otani’s current team in the Japanese League, is willing to place Otani through the posting system whenever the right-hander is ready to head to the Major Leagues. Otani signed a $2.37 million deal for the 2017 season with the Fighters so I guess that dream is on hold for just one more season, at least.

35 New Free Agents Enter the Fold

As you have already learned the New York Yankees lost future reliever Jacob Lindgren to the Atlanta Braves after the team non-tendered him a contract making him a free agent. Lindgren will likely miss all of the 2017 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery so I feel it is safe to presume that the Yankees felt like they could sign him to a new minor league deal while getting him off the 40-man roster before the Braves swooped in and gave him a cool million bucks to rehab down in Atlanta. This such scenario, or a similar one at least, happened for 35 players before the deadline adding 35 new free agents into the fold, let’s take a look at them.

Tyson Ross likely headlines the pack of new free agents after becoming an All-Star just two seasons ago with the San Diego Padres. Joining Tyson Ross are other notables including Washington Nationals outfielder Ben Revere, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Cody Asche, Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Welington Castillo and pitcher Rubby De La Rosa, Baltimore Orioles starter Vance Worley and Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen arm Louis Coleman. Chris Carter, formerly of the Milwaukee Brewers, and Jeff Locke, formerly of the Pittsburgh Pirates, were also non-tendered but only after being designated for assignment last week.

Ross is likely the most intriguing for the Yankees followed possibly by Vance Worley only because they are starting pitchers, an obvious need for the Yankees. Ross is still just 29-years old and is coming off a season in which he posted a 13-14 record with a 2.81 ERA in 2014 before slipping a bit to 10-12 with a 3.26 ERA in 2015. 2016 was a different scenario for Ross though posting just one MLB appearance due to a thoracic outlet syndrome surgery he had in the offseason. Ross earned $9.625 million in 2016 for that one appearance and will look to latch on with a team despite his four-to-six month recovery time for the surgery he had in October. He may or may not be ready for spring training but on a one-year deal with incentives, he isn’t going to take a minor league deal at 29-years old, I don’t see an issue with taking a waiver on him whatsoever. Do it.

Worley would be a fifth starter with the Yankees and an innings eater, nothing more unfortunately. He is AL East trained after pitching with the Baltimore Orioles last season but he should be a clear Plan C or below. I’d take him personally but only after a lot of names and a whole lot of arms came off the board. That’s just me. It’s Ross or bust in my opinion. What say you?

MLB Releases Drug Testing Results from 2016

Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association have released the results from league-wide drug testing in 2016. Here are the results if you were curious.

All-in-all there were 8,281 tests performed under MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program dating back to last offseason to this offseason and of those over 8,000 tests only 15 were failed tests for either steroids, performance enhancing drugs or stimulants. Twelve of the fifteen were for PED’s while three were for stimulants such as Adderall.

Speaking of Adderal, 105 medical exemptions were given to players who suffered from attention deficit disorder (ADD) in 2016 which equates to 8% of all MLB players.

All-in-all you have to think MLB is happy with these numbers. That number is never going to be 0 but I think that 15 failed tests in an entire calendar year is as close to that number as you’re going to get. There’s always going to be those handful of players that want to “beat the train” and take those drugs anyway so this is a win in my eyes for MLB.

Great job. 

This Day in New York Yankees History 12/6: Left Intentionally Blank

this was left intentionally blank to emphasize my point.

Surprisingly not a single bit of news, a single trade, a single free agent signing, nothing happened on this day in New York Yankees history. Maybe Brian Cashman can make some news today so we can write about it next year.

ICYMI: My Take on the Matt Holliday Signing Before It Happened

EDIT: This is dated as Matt Holliday signed last night but here was my take before this was a reality and when it was just a possibility. Enjoy.

I have to admit that ever since the very beginning of free agency I have been against the idea but I feel like it would be irresponsible of me to not at least make the case for and against Matt Holliday in pinstripes. Holliday wanted to be a Yankee, he was very vocal about it, before signing with the St. Louis Cardinals and now that the 37-year old (in January) is a free agent once again the rumors that he could be Bronx bound are gaining traction once again. Let’s explore.


The New York Yankees have at least been rumored to be interested in the likes of Carlos Beltran and Edwin Encarnacion but you would have to think, especially considering the Yankees newfound sense of austerity, that Holliday would come far cheaper than either of those two DH candidates. Holliday, unlike Beltran, could spell Greg Bird against left-handed pitchers as well and play some first base while also getting some at bats as an outfielder as well. Holliday has played a whopping 1,698 games in left field but his defensive days, and definitely his better defensive days, may already be behind him.





I know I’ve preached for much of this young offseason that I wanted a player to DH that could also be counted on in the outfield and at first base, and Matt Holliday checks all those boxes, but I have also preached seeing the youth movement through until the end. Signing a 37-year old Matt Holliday does not do that, even if he does have a little bit left in the tank. I wouldn’t jump up and down and threaten to boycott the team if Holliday is signed but if you’re asking me if I personally want him, well that answer has to be no.

Most Popular Article of the Week: A Plan for the DH Position & The Youth Movement

EDIT: Well this has been settled, it won't be Aaron Judge, but it's the most popular article nonetheless. Happy Monday all. 

You guys know me by now, I don’t go into anything without a plan. Now whether my plans are good plans are not is another discussion for another day but rest assured, I have a plan. My plan for the DH position is simple, cost effective and it fits in with the current Yankees youth movement as it involves relying once again on the Yankees farm system. In a rotation the Yankees young hitters should go in and out of the DH position but one man should be listed as the “every day DH” and that man is Aaron Judge. So who plays right field you ask? Well between Tyler Austin, Aaron Hicks and/or Mason Williams the Yankees should have that covered but just in case it may be a good idea to call up the Yankees top prospect Clint Frazier as well.


I know what you’re thinking, I’m nut. Well, I am but that isn’t the point. I know Frazier is young and has less than a full season at the Triple-A level and believe me that I am well aware that he struggled some in his limited time there. I get it. I also get that Judge has struggled with MLB pitching, again in a small sample size, but Judge focusing on hitting only can only help him in my eyes. Frazier on the other hand is talented and would step into a right field that doesn’t come attached to a “World Series or bust” type expectation level. The Yankees aren’t planning on competing in 2017 so why not let Frazier get his feet wet?


Frazier is the Yankees top prospect and the 15th best prospect in all of baseball according to MLB.com and he comes with raw power and the ability to play any of the three outfield positions and do it well. That’s the kind of versatility and talent the Yankees need at the MLB level. Frazier could slowly get his feet wet and get acclimated to the Major Leagues by the team having that outfield rotation we discussed earlier while gaining invaluable experience and knowledge at the MLB level. Plus I think Judge would be helped as well as he can work with Marcus Thames, one of the Yankees hitting coaches, more one-on-one this winter.





It likely won’t happen because the Yankees are seemingly against rushing their prospects but it makes a bit of sense in my eyes so I presented it. What say you? Leave it below, thanks.

Position by Position Comparisons: New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles

The New York Yankees sat at home and watched as three of their fellow AL East Division mates made the 2016 postseason. Boston won the division, Toronto took home the first Wild Card and a home playoff game and the team they faced off with is also the team the Yankees face off with in this comparisons post, the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles were one-and-done in the 2016 postseason but I feel like they may put up more of a fight this afternoon against the Yankees. Stay tuned and keep reading.

First Base: 

Greg Bird vs. Chris Davis

Second Base:

Starlin Castro vs. Jonathan Schoop

Shortstop:

Didi Gregorius vs. JJ Hardy

Third Base:

Chase Headley vs. Manny Machado

Catcher:

Gary Sanchez vs. Caleb Joseph

DH:

Matt Holliday vs. Trey Mancini

Left Field:

Brett Gardner vs. Hyun Soo Kim

Center Field: 

Jacoby Ellsbury vs. Adam Jones

Right Field: 

Aaron Judge vs. Joey Rickard

"Winner" in my opinion is bolded.

Position by Position Comparisons: New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox

The New York Yankees hate missing the playoffs, obviously I am presuming this as I am not inside the clubhouse but I feel safe in saying so, but the team hates it even more when their oldest and most bitter rivals, the Boston Red Sox, make the playoffs. When you want to add salt into the wound, like in 2016, the Red Sox win the division but thankfully for the Yankees they saw Boston's season end in the 2016 ALDS at the hands of the Cleveland Indians. Will Boston get their revenge this afternoon in this comparisons post? Keep reading.

First Base: 

Greg Bird vs. Hanley Ramirez

Second Base:

Starlin Castro vs. Dustin Pedroia

Shortstop:

Didi Gregorius vs. Xander Bogaerts 

Third Base:

Chase Headley vs. Pablo Sandoval/Travis Shaw

Catcher:

Gary Sanchez vs. Sandy Leon

DH:

Matt Holliday vs. Travis Shaw/Pablo Sandoval

Left Field:

Brett Gardner vs. Andrew Benintendi (for now, not in a year or two)

Center Field: 

Jacoby Ellsbury vs. Jackie Bradley Jr.

Right Field: 

Aaron Judge vs. Mookie Betts

"Winner" in my opinion is bolded.

Position by Position Comparisons: New York Yankees vs. Toronto Blue Jays

Continuing with our preliminary look, position by position, at how the New York Yankees stack up against the rest of the American League East we will take the time this morning to compare the Bronx Bombers to one of the three playoff teams from the division, the Toronto Blue Jays. Toronto beat the Baltimore Orioles in the AL Wild Card Game and also beat the Texas Rangers in the ALDS before falling to the Cleveland Indians in the 2016 ALCS. Will they beat the Yankees this morning in our comparison without Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion?

First Base: 

Greg Bird vs. Justin Smoak

Second Base:

Starlin Castro vs. Devon Travis

Shortstop:

Didi Gregorius vs. Troy Tulowitzki (this is going to cause a discussion but Tulo doesn't impress me as much as he used to aside from his power output)

Third Base:

Chase Headley vs. Josh Donaldson

Catcher:

Gary Sanchez vs. Russell Martin

DH:

Matt Holliday vs. Kendrys Morales 

Left Field:

Brett Gardner vs.Melvin Upton Jr.

Center Field: 

Jacoby Ellsbury vs. Kevin Pillar

Right Field: 

Aaron Judge vs. Ezequiel Carrera

"Winner" in my opinion is bolded.