Yankees 2017-2018 Hot Stove

[dgalehouse]

He’s buried right now. We have 4 OFers ahead of him. The open DH spot and Hicks’ career splits gives him a possible opening for injury or ineffectiveness, but if players perform to their 2017 levels, he has literally no place in our lineup. He thinks he can beat out Hicks for the CF spot, but Hicks is better than him both offensively (power and patience combo) and defense. Hicks will be the CF starter on opening day. Ellsbury will have to win PT by hoping for someone to fail. I think this deal will change his mind for sure. That being said, he’s got a NT. I’d go to him and tell him that he’s got no path to PT. We have depth that is better than him in AAA and we have no openings on the big league stage. If he stayed, he’d be a pinch runner and seldom used reserve. If dealt, he could theoretically start for someone.

 

For as bad as the contract is, Ells did put up a 1.6 WAR in 112 games. He’s a 2 WAR player capable of playing a slightly below average defensive CF. I had pegged his worth at $7-$10 mil annually (fangraphs had him worth $12.8 mil last year). He’s on the books for $21.8 mil per year for 3 more seasons. Someone will want him, the question is who and for how much

The Yankees obviously now have a glut of outfielders , with Frazier waiting in the wings. The obvious move would be to trade Ellsbury. But trading him ( pretty much giving him away ) while eating much of his salary does not sound very smart. And the no trade clause complicates things. Is there a west coast team in need of a centerfielder that could be a match ? I don't know. Personally , I thought Girardi made a mistake in benching Ellsbury in favor of Hicks in the post season. Hicks contributed little , and it might have made the difference. Anyways , having too many good players is not such a bad problem to have. The Yankees are no doubt the winter book favorites to win the division , if not the whole thing.

[jacksonianmarch]

Dgale, Ells played more games and put up a significantly lower WAR than Hicks. Hicks was clearly the better player in 2017, but he clearly faded at the end. It’s easy to look retrospectively and put Ells in, but after the season Hicks put up, you kinda have to put him in there and hope he turned it around

[dgalehouse]

Dgale, Ells played more games and put up a significantly lower WAR than Hicks. Hicks was clearly the better player in 2017, but he clearly faded at the end. It’s easy to look retrospectively and put Ells in, but after the season Hicks put up, you kinda have to put him in there and hope he turned it around

 

Okay. It just seemed to me that Ellsbury was playing very well after he got healthy. Hicks was having a good season before he got hurt , but his overall career has been mediocre at best. I thought the Yankees would have had a better shot in the playoffs with Ellsbury in the lineup. But I don't follow the Yankees that closely , so I defer to your opinion. I do think trading Ellsbury without eating much of his salary will be difficult to do. But that is always the problem with big , long term contracts. Maybe someday the Yankees will regret the Stanton deal. Who knows?

[Carpin]

It looks like the Yankees have interest in Gerrit Cole, no indications if the Pirates are interested in moving him.

 

I don't see the yankees getting Cole withou giving a few top prospects including Gleyber Torres, I doubt it happens but rumors are out

[moonslav59]

If the trade goes through, the Yankees will have 3 hitters with a HR/FB ratio of 25% or better. No other DIVISION has 3.

 

That pretty much says it all.

[moonslav59]

2017 ISO

 

1. Stanton .350

2. Judge .343

20. Sanchez .253

 

Top Sox seasonal ISO since 2004:

 

.349 Ortiz 2006

.305 Ortiz 2016

.305 Ramirez 2004

.304 Ortiz 2005

.302 Ortiz 2004

.301 Ramirez 2005

.298 Ramirez 2006

Just to show perspective)

 

SLG

1. Stanton .631

3. Judge .627

22. Sanchez .531

 

Top Sox Sluggers since 2004:

.636 Ortiz 2006

.621 Ortiz 2007

.620 Ortiz 2016

.619 Ramirez 2006

.613 Ramirez 2004

 

[Bellhorn04]

2017 ISO

 

1. Stanton .350

2. Judge .343

20. Sanchez .253

 

Top Sox seasonal ISO since 2004:

 

.349 Ortiz 2006

.305 Ortiz 2016

.305 Ramirez 2004

.304 Ortiz 2005

.302 Ortiz 2004

.301 Ramirez 2005

.298 Ramirez 2006

Just to show perspective)

 

SLG

1. Stanton .631

3. Judge .627

22. Sanchez .531

 

Top Sox Sluggers since 2004:

.636 Ortiz 2006

.621 Ortiz 2007

.620 Ortiz 2016

.619 Ramirez 2006

.613 Ramirez 2004

 

 

J D Martinez with the Ruthian .690 SLG last year.

[Bellhorn04]

Ruth's career SLG was in fact .690.

[moonslav59]

If the trade goes through, the Yankees will have 3 hitters with a HR/FB ratio of 25% or better. No other DIVISION has 3.

 

Counting GS on the Yanks...

 

2017 Leagues with Players with 25%+ HR/FB:

 

3 Yankees

3 the rest of the AL

3 the rest of the NL

 

ISO over .281

 

2 Yanksees (.350 and .343)

2 rest of the AL (.327 and .323)

1 rest of the NL (.315)

Edited December 11, 2017 by moonslav59

[moonslav59]

J D Martinez with the Ruthian .690 SLG last year.

 

He did not have enough PAs to qualify, but even if he went o for 16 in the PAs need to qualify, he'd have still led the league.

[Meh]

My winter meeting wish list.

 

1. Jacoby Ellsbury for Jeff Samardzija.

 

2. Clint Fraizer and Austin Romine for Mitch Keller, Nick Klingman, and Taylor Hearn.

 

3. Bryan Mitchell and Giovanny Gallegos for Profar.

 

4. Cash deal to buy a Rule 5 pick and take Max Pentecost.

 

5. Trade Adam Warren to Astros for Perez.

 

Take would make our team...

 

C: Sanchez

1B: Bird

2B: Profar

SS: Didi

3B: Andujar

OF: Gardner, Hicks, Judge

DH: Stanton

 

Bench: Headley, McKinney, Pentecost, and Torreyes

 

Severino, Tanaka, Gray, Shark, Monty

 

Chapman, Robertson, Betances, Kanhle, Green, German and Shreve.

 

Very great team imo. Obviously Stanton woudn't be set in stone at the DH. McKinney could see some time at 1B as well. Line up being something like... Gardner, Judge, Bird, Stanton, Sanchez, Gregorius, Hicks, Andujar, Profar.

[Carpin]

My winter meeting wish list.

 

1. Jacoby Ellsbury for Jeff Samardzija.

 

2. Clint Fraizer and Austin Romine for Mitch Keller, Nick Klingman, and Taylor Hearn.

 

3. Bryan Mitchell and Giovanny Gallegos for Profar.

 

4. Cash deal to buy a Rule 5 pick and take Max Pentecost.

 

5. Trade Adam Warren to Astros for Perez.

 

Take would make our team...

 

C: Sanchez

1B: Bird

2B: Profar

SS: Didi

3B: Andujar

OF: Gardner, Hicks, Judge

DH: Stanton

 

Bench: Headley, McKinney, Pentecost, and Torreyes

 

Severino, Tanaka, Gray, Shark, Monty

 

Chapman, Robertson, Betances, Kanhle, Green, German and Shreve.

 

Very great team imo. Obviously Stanton woudn't be set in stone at the DH. McKinney could see some time at 1B as well. Line up being something like... Gardner, Judge, Bird, Stanton, Sanchez, Gregorius, Hicks, Andujar, Profar.

 

I'd change Frazier for Gerrit Cole

[jacksonianmarch]

Meh, you're always tinkering! I'd leave things as is for now unless a pitching trade falls into our laps. Maybe after failing to get Ohtani or Stanton, the Giants go into rebuild mode. Maybe Cole forces his way out of PIT. For now, I hold onto my chips and wait to see who falls out. I don't like any of the FAs for us right now. A trade for Ozuna doesn't make sense. We have a loaded bullpen. We have a top 3 that can hold against any team in baseball. Our lineup should be legendary. No need to take the rug right out from under us and deal from our farm when we don't have a glaring need. I would seriously look at CC for a short term acquisition or I'd look for a minor trade for a stopgap until Adam, Acevedo or Sheffield are ready. Unless I can get a Stanton level starter, I don't make any more big moves.

[Spudboy]

I would think signing Sabathia would be a no-brainer. 1/12 or so.

[jacksonianmarch]

It’s a no-brainer if there’s no better option available by trade. Sabathia is the only FA who makes sense. Once Tanaka declines to opt out, our need for a big fish was gone and we could focus on the back end of the rotation. Sabathia would allow us to keep grooming our kids and not force us to dip into our depth from the getgo. There will be injuries, especially with sabathia’s knee, Tanaka’s arm, Sonny Gray’s everything and with our young guns far exceeding their innings max in Sevy and JMont. Plus, it’s just the nature of the unnatural motion of pitching. Our AAA rotation will be stupid. We’ll be entirely ready for any injuries that should arise

 

1. Adams

2. Sheffield

3. Acevedo

4. Cessa

[jacksonianmarch]

Yankees in on Corbin and Fulmer. Corbin is a good but not great starter. Fulmer is a young ace coming off ulnar nerve surgery. The cost for Corbin won’t be huge, but the cost for Fulmer would be astronomical

[Bellhorn04]

Yankees unload Headley and shed more payroll. Bastards!

[Carpin]

Yankees unload Headley and shed more payroll. Bastards!

 

Yessss

 

We just need to get rid of Ellsbury

[jacksonianmarch]

SD ate the whole contract. Wow. Mitchell was going to get DFAd

[BudLight]

Next move is to solidify 3B. Plenty of rumors regarding Yankees interest in Profar and Miguel Andujar will get a long look in spring training. While T Frazier would welcome a return to the Yankees, not sure the interest is mutual.

[Station 13]

Confusing. What is in it for San Diego?

[BudLight]

Headley, while he worked hard to get out of San Diego, put up good numbers with the Friars and is still an asset at 3B defensively. Not sure for $13M though.

[moonslav59]

As much as I hate the Yankess, Cashman is doing an unbelievable job building a top contender, a strong farm and an under luxury tax limit team.

[BudLight]

New rumor out of the winter meetings, Machado wants a return to shortstop. While it appears the Yanks are stuck with the Ellsbury contract, they may still get some value out of it over the next season. Here's a scenario that may not be to far fetched: Machado to the Yankees for Brett Gardner and a lower level prospect. Gardner immediately improves the Orioles left field situation and his and Machado's contracts are very close in AAV. No significant additional increase for the Yanks and Baltimore at least gets something for Machado before he walks at the end of the season. Hicks and Ellsbury platoon in CF while Didi moves to 2nd, Torres and/or Andujar at 3B and Machado at SS.

[moonslav59]

New rumor out of the winter meetings, Machado wants a return to shortstop. While it appears the Yanks are stuck with the Ellsbury contract, they may still get some value out of it over the next season. Here's a scenario that may not be to far fetched: Machado to the Yankees for Brett Gardner and a lower level prospect. Gardner immediately improves the Orioles left field situation and his and Machado's contracts are very close in AAV. No significant additional increase for the Yanks and Baltimore at least gets something for Machado before he walks at the end of the season. Hicks and Ellsbury platoon in CF while Didi moves to 2nd, Torres and/or Andujar at 3B and Machado at SS.

 

I think it would take Gardner and a top prospect (or two).

[bkzwhitestrican]

Mitchell will slot in as the #2 starter on that crap team.

[Station 13]

New rumor out of the winter meetings, Machado wants a return to shortstop. While it appears the Yanks are stuck with the Ellsbury contract, they may still get some value out of it over the next season. Here's a scenario that may not be to far fetched: Machado to the Yankees for Brett Gardner and a lower level prospect. Gardner immediately improves the Orioles left field situation and his and Machado's contracts are very close in AAV. No significant additional increase for the Yanks and Baltimore at least gets something for Machado before he walks at the end of the season. Hicks and Ellsbury platoon in CF while Didi moves to 2nd, Torres and/or Andujar at 3B and Machado at SS.

 

This is terrible. Gardner for a 25 superstar SS, and throw in a lower level prospect, on what plabnet? Mancini is the Orioles LF.

 

For the Orioles to part with Machado, the Yankees better be ready to part with Torres just to start.

[BudLight]

I think it would take Gardner and a top prospect (or two).

 

Quite possible it would take a top prospect or two. Andujar might be one of those prospects and C Frazier might be another. Just speculating.

[BudLight]

This is terrible. Gardner for a 25 superstar SS, and throw in a lower level prospect, on what plabnet? Mancini is the Orioles LF.

 

For the Orioles to part with Machado, the Yankees better be ready to part with Torres just to start.

 

A week ago there wasn't much confidence in the Yanks being able to get rid of Headley's salary or signing Stanton.

[Station 13]

A week ago there wasn't much confidence in the Yanks being able to get rid of Headley's salary or signing Stanton.

 

Stanton was a salary dump. This is different. The Orioles don't have to do anything. Orioles are not stupid to give their best player for an old player.