Time to rebuild/reload

[Palodios]

Reports are Yanks are not going after Scherzer still. One of the theories says the team is quietly going to rebuild with an eye towards 2017.

 

I could see them not doing anything big this year but I'd be shocked if they really don't dabble in next seasons FA pool for SP.

 

It will be interesting to see what happens. They have a fanbase that doesn't know what it is like to be losers. They survived the last two years on Rivera/Jeter retirement schemes, but the only big news story now is the black mark Arod puts on the organization.

[Spudboy]

I imagine that the core Yankee fans are in tune with what is going on. I bet that there is some optimism.

[Meh]

The Marlins are going for it this yr. They'd want a player who can start for them, not another project. We gave them a highly versatile 2 hole hitter. You know, in terms of assets, though, we flipped a AAA catcher who will likely end up a RFer for a hard throwing, potential top of the rotation starter. I think Cash did well overall, but I am not sure dealing Prado was a smart choice. If Refsnyder turns out to be as good as we think, then maybe he was right

 

you doing your top 20 prospects for the yankees this winter?

[jacksonianmarch]

I haven't been able to keep in the loop due to baby #3 imminent. Maybe before the season

[Palodios]

I haven't been able to keep in the loop due to baby #3 imminent. Maybe before the season

 

Congrats. Did they come in rapid succession? I swear, it was only recently you were talking about the first.

[jacksonianmarch]

Yep, 1 and 2 were 15 months apart. Now, I have my boy coming any day now.

[seabeachfred]

Yep, 1 and 2 were 15 months apart. Now, I have my boy coming any day now.[/quote

 

Congrats Jacko. Three children is just about perfect. Love and cherish them to the hilt and do them a favor and make them Red Sox fans.

[jacksonianmarch]

I got them to say Boo Red Sox! Much to the chagrin of my wife

[Spudboy]

I got them to say Boo Red Sox! Much to the chagrin of my wife

 

Your Wife sounds great. How did she get stuck with you?

[jacksonianmarch]

Well, I wouldn't be surprised if we're done for the offseason, and to be honest, I think this team is appropriate for what we should have expected. With so much dead money on the roster, we had to try to get younger. Thing is, we couldn't get younger and more expensive, so we had to go with either unproven or underperforming guys with great tools. I'm okay with that. If we finish 2015 with answers to these questions, we'll be better served to fill out a roster for 2016 when a lot of dead money will be entering its final years...

 

1. Can Pineda and Tanaka stay healthy. The answer to this question is absolutely huge. If they stay healthy, then we've got a 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation that is unlike anything currently in the AL East. If not, then we're pretty certain to be signing an upper level starter for 2016.

 

2. Can Eovaldi take the next step? This will go a long way to determining if we also need to be in the market for a mid rotation starter.

 

3. Is CC done? If he is done, then the chains can be removed from the budget in 2016 as his contract is fully insured and he's due $30 mil in 2016. If he isn't done, how effective will he be? If he's healthy, he's on the roster for 2016, and if he can give us #4 starter production, then we won't need a third starter on the market

 

4. Can Refsnyder and Gregorius be an adequate up the middle tandem in their first full big league season? If so, then we've got cheap defense up the middle with some offensive promise (especially from Refsnyder).

 

5. Who bounces back? This one is the lead important as most of the guys who struggled are on unmovable contracts. But it will go a long way to determining who needs an adequate backup plan come 2016.

 

This yr is a show me year. If all breaks right, we could be a title contender. If all breaks wrong, then we could be in last place. But answers to the above will be huge in determining our future

[seabeachfred]

Well, I wouldn't be surprised if we're done for the offseason, and to be honest, I think this team is appropriate for what we should have expected. With so much dead money on the roster, we had to try to get younger. Thing is, we couldn't get younger and more expensive, so we had to go with either unproven or underperforming guys with great tools. I'm okay with that. If we finish 2015 with answers to these questions, we'll be better served to fill out a roster for 2016 when a lot of dead money will be entering its final years...

 

1. Can Pineda and Tanaka stay healthy. The answer to this question is absolutely huge. If they stay healthy, then we've got a 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation that is unlike anything currently in the AL East. If not, then we're pretty certain to be signing an upper level starter for 2016.

 

2. Can Eovaldi take the next step? This will go a long way to determining if we also need to be in the market for a mid rotation starter.

 

3. Is CC done? If he is done, then the chains can be removed from the budget in 2016 as his contract is fully insured and he's due $30 mil in 2016. If he isn't done, how effective will he be? If he's healthy, he's on the roster for 2016, and if he can give us #4 starter production, then we won't need a third starter on the market

 

4. Can Refsnyder and Gregorius be an adequate up the middle tandem in their first full big league season? If so, then we've got cheap defense up the middle with some offensive promise (especially from Refsnyder).

 

5. Who bounces back? This one is the lead important as most of the guys who struggled are on unmovable contracts. But it will go a long way to determining who needs an adequate backup plan come 2016.

 

This yr is a show me year. If all breaks right, we could be a title contender. If all breaks wrong, then we could be in last place. But answers to the above will be huge in determining our future

 

You won't finish in last place no matter what some Red Sox fans would love to see. The Yankee front office will not allow that.....nor will they allow the team to wallow, long contracts or not. They are going after Scherzer with a full court press, and I'd be both surprised and shocked if they didn't and went at it the way you suggested.

[jacksonianmarch]

Scherzer absolutely improves our standing in the division. But with so many FAs in the pitching market next yr, and with so many promising but questionable options in our rotation this yr, we're better off passing. Also, our pick this yr is the highest we've had in 2 decades and I'd like to make it. I also forgot a huge question, probably #3 on the list above...

 

How does Nova return from TJS? He's been a very effective pitcher for half his big league seasons. The funny thing is, he's missed time with "forearm strains" and elbow soreness. I bet he's had a shoddy UCL for years and last year it finally went. A fully healthy Nova was our #2 postseason pitcher against Detroit the yr we lost in the ALDS. If he comes back to that level, then he has that kind of impact on 2016. And 2016/2017 should be our overarching goal at this point.

[jacksonianmarch]

So we just dealt Kelley for a minor league reliever who needs TJS? What the hell are we doing? This guarantees that Warren stays in the pen

[BSN07]

So we just dealt Kelley for a minor league reliever who needs TJS? What the hell are we doing? This guarantees that Warren stays in the pen

 

Just trimming the 40 man it looks like.

[Meh]

So we just dealt Kelley for a minor league reliever who needs TJS? What the hell are we doing? This guarantees that Warren stays in the pen

 

Idk, the more i see either Hal is trying to cut payroll or Cashman is making room for another piece. Prado saved us a few million, Kelley as well. It'd be nice if we gave Wilson and Webb or Rumblelow a shot though.

 

I'd love if the pitching staff was...

 

Tanaka

Pineda

Sabathia

Eovaldi

Mitchell

 

Soriano (signed to a one year/$5 to 7 million deal)

Dellin - 7th/8th

Miller - 7th/8th

Wilson - Lefty

Rogers - MR

Whitley - MR/Long (Unless Pinder or someone else impresses in ST)

Capuano - Long

 

Soriano shits the bed, Dellin and Miller step up to the plate.

[jacksonianmarch]

I liked Kelley. He had significant strikeout capability and his xFIP and FIP outplayed his bad ERA. One more year to mature and you probably have yourself a solid middle relief and pinch closer option. Dealing him is one thing, but getting back a guy who needs TJS is another. Granted, the kid we got looks like a future setup man or closer, but anyone who is brought in knowing they need TJS is a bit of a concern. We do have a LOT of options in the pen. That much is for sure. But Kelley brought a veteran to the fold, where a lot of what we're throwing out there is young.

 

Also, I don't think this is purely a payroll move. I think this is an acknowledgement that we have a team that kinda has to stay as is. We are tweaking parts of it and I can tell you right now, we're gonna test our minor league system. We used the maturation of Greene to get an up and coming SS prospect in Gregorius. We used a boom or bust quasi C prospect to get Prado then moved him along with a #5/6 to get a kid with enormous promise in Eovaldi and a top notch prospect in German. We move a middle reliever for a closer type, albeit one who needs TJS. By moving Prado, we're pretty much guaranteeing either rookie Rob Refsnyder or rookie Jose Pirela start the yr at 2b. We drop Ichiro, pretty much assuring our 4th OFer is a rookie as well. By moving on from Cervelli, we get younger at 2nd catcher. By moving Kelley and not getting another middle relief option, we open spots for our pen depth. We are testing our minor league system for sure. I think that's the plan. Test what is in house, ride out these horrible contracts and go for a true ace level pitcher next offseason if s*** hits the fan

[Meh]

Well Young will be the 4th outfielder, I think he'll do a fine job with that.

[jacksonianmarch]

I forgot about Young. Well, there goes that part of the theory

[Palodios]

Banuelos traded for Carpenter. So much for the killer B's, only Betances left.

[a700hitter]

Banuelos traded for Carpenter. So much for the killer B's, only Betances left.

is Carpenter going to be a bullpen arm?

[BSN07]

I know Banuelos was coming back from TJ but that seems like selling low on him. Did he have no chance to remain a SP?

[jacksonianmarch]

Carpenter was lights out in the back of that pen and has a 99mph fastball with a lights out slider. Shrieve is a lefty who experienced a velo bump last yr and did well in a short stint in the bigs. They got two guys who are likely to have big roles in the pen. Banuelos was destroyed by our medical staff. After dicking around with and elbow injury through 2012, they finally performed TJS Oct 2012. He missed 2013 then has a various array of injuries in 2014. Also, when his velo spiked in 2011, he lost his impeccable command. The parts are there for a frontline starter. He's just made no improvements over the last 3 yrs due to injury. If Atlanta gets the 2011 ManBan, then they're gonna be pretty happy.

[jacksonianmarch]

This also is slightly puzzling since they got rid of a guy who was going to start in AAAA for two relievers. Our starting depth is a bit thin. Makes me wonder if Gary Sanchez is the next to be moved for a starter

[Bellhorn04]

Carpenter was Red Sox property for about a month. We got him in the trade with the Jays for Farrell, then waived him.

[jacksonianmarch]

And he proceeded to put up monster numbers in Atlanta. I'd be more suspect of this kid if it wasn't for his stuff. He's got closer stuff. It's gonna be interesting to see that back end of the pen. Nobody with closing experience but a bunch of closer arms.

 

Our pen as it stands...

 

CL- Betances

SU- Miller

SU- Carpenter

MR- Shrieve

MR- Wilson

MR- Warren (for now)

 

There will be some serious competition for the final spot or two in the pen. Also, with the acquisition of Carpenter and Shrieve, we're likely bringing Warren to camp as a starter

[Station 13]

Carpenter is pretty awful outside of pitching at Turners.

[jacksonianmarch]

Carpenter is pretty awful outside of pitching at Turners.

 

It's more a statistical anomaly than anything else. You would think there'd be some jump in HR allowed when he pitches outside of Turner Field, but he only allowed 1HR away from the friendly confines. His BAA was .310 on the road last yr, and that was with nearly a strikeout per inning, so his BABIP was abnormally high. In 2013, his away numbers were a WHIP of 1.04 and an ERA of 2.08. So I would hardly say he cannot pitch outside of Turner. Also, his stuff is really good. High 90s fastball with a plus slider and good command. That's closer stuff.

[jacksonianmarch]

If things stay as is, our pen is gonna be lights out. I think in watching the World Series, you could see the value in a deep and powerful pen. We're gonna have a 7-8-9 inning role filled with pitchers who regularly run it up there over 95mph and all have plus to plus plus breaking pitches. Add in the power from Shrieve and Warren and you've got the makings of an abnormally powerful pen. We also have no less then 5 prospects in the high minors who have the looks of dominant pen arms in the minors. This is one area where redundancy can really be a boon, especially with our rotation having so many injury questions.

[Meh]

Honestly, I think our bullpen is such a strength we could deal, Dellin. I know youre going to say thats crazy but his value is sky high, he's cheap, has great stuff, and under team control. I think RAB had an article about it too. We could add some very nice pieces from a team like the Cubs or Pirates who could use more depth in their bullpen.

Even without Dellin our bullpen could be great with...

Miller- Closer

Set-Up men- Carp, Warren, Wilson

6th inning/project - Bailey

Shrieve/Pazos/Pinder/Rogers

Long man I'd still go with Capauno, with Mitchell in the 5th slot in the rotation.

[jacksonianmarch]

Yankees sign Stephen Drew for 1 yr $5 mil. He is expected to compete for 2b.