2018-2019 Yankee rumors thread

[jacksonianmarch]

nah man. i got you. you're right. im an idiot.

...

you're exactly right. i'm dumb about baseball.

 

At least you are aware of your idiocy

[jacksonianmarch]

Yankees are doing "extensive" background work on Manny Machado. I think his punk act has turned some people off to how good he is. He has posted 6+ WAR in 3 of the last 4 seasons. He has hit 33 or more HRs in 4 straight. His walk rate hit a career high in 2018 at 9.9%. His K rate dropped to a career low at 14.7%. He crossed the 100 RBI mark for the first time in his career. His defensive numbers weren't as good in 2018 as he was playing SS, where he is more below average than anything else. But as a 3B, he is a gold glove caliber defender. Surprisingly, he also stole 14 bases. He doesn't fix the right handedness of our lineup and clearly has some maturing to do, but at 26 yrs old and already an MVP caliber player, he would be a welcome addition. If we do sign him, we would not need to surrender any picks as he was dealt in season. With Didi on the shelf, adding him would lineup as follows for the beginning

 

1. Torres 2B

2. Judge RF

3. Machado SS

4. Hicks CF

5. Stanton DH

6. Andujar 3B

7. Voit 1B

8. Sanchez C

9. Gardner LF

 

When Didi returns, Andujar will be either pushed to 1b or DH and Stanton would move to LF.

 

1. Torres 2B

2. Judge RF

3. Machado 3B

4. Gregorius SS

5. Stanton LF

6. Hicks CF

7. Andujar 1B

8. Sanchez C

9. Voit DH

 

That is a hell of a deep lineup

[Bellhorn04]

There's some chatter about the Yankees signing Machado and trading Andujar for pitching. Makes sense.

[Carpin]

There's some chatter about the Yankees signing Machado and trading Andujar for pitching. Makes sense.

 

I'll be on board if they are trading for a real TOTR, not many in the league

 

I like MadBum but with only 1 tear of team control, he will need to sign an extension to be worth Andujar

[jacksonianmarch]

The only guy I’d deal Andujar for is Thor. DeGrom is old. MadBum has the cred, but lots of miles and a shoulder injury. Kluber and Carrasco are also older. If we are gonna deal an all star level bat that doesn’t strike out much, we better get a guy we can put at #1 and forget about it for a few years

[Carpin]

The only guy I’d deal Andujar for is Thor. DeGrom is old. MadBum has the cred, but lots of miles and a shoulder injury. Kluber and Carrasco are also older. If we are gonna deal an all star level bat that doesn’t strike out much, we better get a guy we can put at #1 and forget about it for a few years

 

Thor would be one of them for sure, but Bumgarner shoulder injury is not baseball related and not that many miles compared with some pitchers of the same age

[jacksonianmarch]

Thor would be one of them for sure, but Bumgarner shoulder injury is not baseball related and not that many miles compared with some pitchers of the same age

 

I guess you're right. My concern with MadBum would be the contract. One year of control isn't enough to deal 5 years of Andujar

[Carpin]

I guess you're right. My concern with MadBum would be the contract. One year of control isn't enough to deal 5 years of Andujar

 

I know, in a previous post I said that the only way I'm on board with this is if it comes with an affordable extension.

 

I don't see a problem with the current team, they will take us to the playoffs, we need MadBum (or somebody like him) to take us all the way.

[jacksonianmarch]

Madbum would really solidify the rotation for sure. Heck, watch us deal for him, sign him long term then lock up Machado and Corbin and roll with a stupidly good club ready to kick the s*** out of everyone.

[BillyWilliams]

Madbum would really solidify the rotation for sure. Heck, watch us deal for him, sign him long term then lock up Machado and Corbin and roll with a stupidly good club ready to kick the s*** out of everyone.

 

Hell no!!

 

Madbum's walks are up, stikeouts per 9 are down, his innings pitched has fallen off dramatically. Plus I'm always leery of a pitcher coming from the NL to the AL with diminishing stuff.

 

No way I sign him to a long term extension.

 

I'd rather go for Kluber, who has shown no signs of slowing down (despite your age concerns), and is already under team control for multiple seasons on a team friendly contract.

[Carpin]

Hell no!!

 

Madbum's walks are up, stikeouts per 9 are down, his innings pitched has fallen off dramatically. Plus I'm always leery of a pitcher coming from the NL to the AL with diminishing stuff.

 

No way I sign him to a long term extension.

 

I'd rather go for Kluber, who has shown no signs of slowing down (despite your age concerns), and is already under team control for multiple seasons on a team friendly contract.

 

Kluber velocity is trending down, used to have a fastball around 95 and now is in the low 90's, I like his contract thou

 

MadBum has been in the low 90's his entire career, and his injuries are not baseball related so I have not a lot of concerns on that. I see your point on the AL/NL transition but looking at his postseason success, I'm ok with the risk if we can have a horse in October

 

Both are GB pitchers, which is a good news if you pitch half your games in YS

[notin]

I know, in a previous post I said that the only way I'm on board with this is if it comes with an affordable extension.

 

I don't see a problem with the current team, they will take us to the playoffs, we need MadBum (or somebody like him) to take us all the way.

 

I’m not so sure Bumgarner would be amenable to an “affordable extension.” He’s one year from free agency. It’s little late to think he wants to be extended now, especially below market price...

[notin]

The only guy I’d deal Andujar for is Thor. DeGrom is old. MadBum has the cred, but lots of miles and a shoulder injury. Kluber and Carrasco are also older. If we are gonna deal an all star level bat that doesn’t strike out much, we better get a guy we can put at #1 and forget about it for a few years

 

deGrom is one year older than Bumgarner and signed for two more years at arbitration costs. You wouldn’t trade Maikel Franco, I mean Miguel Andujar (honest mistake), for him?

 

And while older, Kluber’s AAV (the number that matters) has him paid like a setup guy for 3 more years. If the Yankees want him - and I bet they do - it should cost something similar to what the Sox gave up for Sale. That might mean Andujar and Sheffield...

[jacksonianmarch]

Andujar is not Franco, that’s just entirely stupid

[notin]

I

Andujar is not Franco, that’s just entirely stupid

 

 

In his age 23 rookie season, Miguel Andujar had a 127 OPS+ and was valued at 2.7 fWAR in 149 games. In his rookie season, Maikel Franco had an OPS+ of 130 and was valued at 1.7 fWAR in only 80 games.. I know you were impressed with Andujar 16% K%. At the same age, Franco had a 15.5% K%. Andujar had a 4.1% walk rate. Franco had a 7.8% walk rate.

 

You’re right. Andujar is nothing like Franco was at the same age. But he could have been with just a little practice...

[jacksonianmarch]

Franco did have a very strong 80 game start, but Andujar had his “start” over a full 149 game season. No flash in the pan half season of greatness. Also, Andujar’s WAR is driven down by his freakishly bad defense, not his very strong offensive numbers. The defensive improvements may or may not come, but he has the tools to improve as he’s quick, has good hands and a great arm, just seems to be mechanically unsound.

 

The big difference between Andujar and Franco comes in the types of contact. Andujar’s 2018 saw him make “soft contact” only 14% of the time as opposed to Franco’s 22% rate in his shortened rookie campaign. Hard contact rates were in Andujar’s favor as well, 36% to 28%. When you’re hitting the ball harder 8% more of the time, you’re going to have a better shot at keeping your offensive game in good position. Franco walks more. Andujar has better power and a far better ability to hit for extra base hits. Andujar also proved to be able to hit for high average in the minors which Franco didn’t. Franco’s final full season in the minors saw him hit .257. Andujar hit .315.

 

Slapping a label of Franco on him is wishful thinking from a pink hat.

[jacksonianmarch]

So the rotation stands at...

 

1. Tanaka

2. Paxton

3. Severino

4. ???

5. Sabathia

 

With the fact that we won’t need to add salary with Paxton as dealing Gray will negate the added salary, we should have a ton of cap space to add the final rotation piece as well as add to the lineup.

[notin]

So the rotation stands at...

 

1. Tanaka

2. Paxton

3. Severino

4. ???

5. Sabathia

 

With the fact that we won’t need to add salary with Paxton as dealing Gray will negate the added salary, we should have a ton of cap space to add the final rotation piece as well as add to the lineup.

 

Well if you don’t add Corbin, you’re going to f*** up my entry in the MLBTR Free Agent Prediction Contest....

[jacksonianmarch]

Report today that the Yankees value adding another starting pitcher above adding Machado. I definitely see Corbin as out top target. I think the other thing we will need to look at is his cost. Cashman has been avoiding the big, long term pitching deals the past few seasons for guys 30 and older. We go out and get Paxton, but the money is light and 2 years of control is perfect. We got Gray with 2.5 years of control. CC has been on a year to year. The longest term pitching acquisition in recent memory was Tanaka and he was 25 at the time and that turned out well. I wonder if Cashman would rather have Happ for 2-3 years vs Corbin for 6-7. I also wonder if we aren't done dealing. The pitching in this system is deep and if we are mostly set for 2019, we have guys who will back fill if we deal from the high minors. We still have enough ammo for one big deal

[moonslav59]

So the rotation stands at...

 

1. Tanaka

2. Paxton

3. Severino

4. ???

5. Sabathia

 

With the fact that we won’t need to add salary with Paxton as dealing Gray will negate the added salary, we should have a ton of cap space to add the final rotation piece as well as add to the lineup.

 

I'm not afraid of that rotation at all. You still need a big name like Kluber or Corbin. (Maybe Keuchel, but I'm not high on him.)

[Kimmi]

I'm not afraid of that rotation at all. You still need a big name like Kluber or Corbin. (Maybe Keuchel, but I'm not high on him.)

 

The Yankees will be good, but the Red Sox are scary good.

[jacksonianmarch]

The Sox were, on the heels of a career season from Mookie and with Eovaldi and Kimbrel, who look likely to head elsewhere. We are closing the gap and if a few things break right, we might have already surpassed

[Kimmi]

The Sox were, on the heels of a career season from Mookie and with Eovaldi and Kimbrel, who look likely to head elsewhere. We are closing the gap and if a few things break right, we might have already surpassed

 

I believe we heard the same thing from you last year Jacko.

 

I'm sure the Yankees are not done this offseason. You will field a very good team, but so will we. Plus, we have Cora.

[moonslav59]

The Yankees will be good, but the Red Sox are scary good.

 

Yes, the Yanks will be very good. They will add another SP'er and replace some lost pen arms, but the rotation I see now, is not scary. Their line-up is and will be, especially if they add Harper or Machado and Didi returns to form.

 

The Yanks worry me, but not their current rotation.

[dgalehouse]

I would certainly expect the Yankees to do whatever they feel is necessary to overtake the Sox. The addition of Paxton is a good start in that direction. There is no disputing that.

[moonslav59]

I would certainly expect the Yankees to do whatever they feel is necessary to overtake the Sox. The addition of Paxton is a good start in that direction. There is no disputing that.

 

My guess is they sign Machado or Harper and another pitcher like Corbin, Keuchel or Happ. They will also probably add a solid RP'er.

[jacksonianmarch]

The crazy thing is nobody gives Severino any credit. He did finish 3rd in the CY voting in 2017. He finished 10th this year. He’s one of the best pitchers in baseball. The problem is he, like Sale, fades as the season goes along. The idea that he somehow sucks is ridiculous.

 

Paxton gives us an ace performer without an ace durability. If he’s healthy for 28-32 starts and most importantly, is entirely healthy come October, then watch out. Tanaka has performed like a #2-3 starter, but has been excellent in every game he’s pitched in the post season. The building blocks are pretty solid. CC is #5, which clearly we can do better, but I wonder if he’s just a place holder til one of the kids takes hold or JMont returns. If we add Happ or Corbin, we will have a revamped rotation and one that’s pretty LHP heavy, which fits well against Boston. Our offense should see some improvements as Sanchez is far better than it showed (turns out he was hurt and needed surgery) and big acquisitions typically show best offensively in year 2, so watch out for Stanton. Add in Machado or anyone else you want to sprinkle in and this lineup will be deadly. The pen still has the twin towers are the end with Holder and Green as the bridge, which is pretty sweet and may see internal upgrades or a FA signing. The team right now is incomplete, but come 2019, there’s a good chance we will be the favorites

[Bellhorn04]

The crazy thing is nobody gives Severino any credit. He did finish 3rd in the CY voting in 2017. He finished 10th this year. He’s one of the best pitchers in baseball. The problem is he, like Sale, fades as the season goes along. The idea that he somehow sucks is ridiculous.

 

Of course he doesn't suck. He's got the numbers. The 'problem', as such, is that he's expected to be the ace and to come up big in the biggest games. And if you don't come through people start labeling you as a choker or whatever. Price went through it for years, as we know.

[jacksonianmarch]

Of course he doesn't suck. He's got the numbers. The 'problem', as such, is that he's expected to be the ace and to come up big in the biggest games. And if you don't come through people start labeling you as a choker or whatever. Price went through it for years, as we know.

 

I hear you. I certainly wouldn't label Sevy a choker. He has just clearly shown wear come August. It has been a problem two years in a row and likely has to do with the fact that he was advanced a bit too quickly with his innings totals and his arm needs time to catch up. If he went through the natural progression, this upcoming year would be the 200IP season, so maybe he sheds the late season swoon?

[jacksonianmarch]

November 30 will be a very interesting day for Yankee fans as that is the day one must tender arbitration offers to their arb eligible guys. The case in question is that of Didi Gregorius. Under usual circumstances, this would be a no-brainer. But with Didi recovering from TJS of his throwing elbow and very likely to miss at least a month and probably more like 2-3 of action, the projected arb cost of his final season may not be worth it. That being said, releasing Didi would give him a head start on free agency, where I think Didi's worth falls around the Elvis Andrus level plus inflation. With TJS being a major injury, I can understand the Yankees reticence. That being said, this is a very well recovered from type of injury and Didi isn't a pitcher. If he loses a touch off his fastball, it isn't that big of a deal. And if he does, the Yanks 2b can easily slide to SS and allow Didi to move to 2b. The question is, will a team be willing to have Didi be a big signing and then have him start his inaugural season on the bench due to injury? The other question is, how many teams will look at Didi as a Yankee Stadium made hitter and not be willing to live with a guy who had a near 200 point OPS drop when playing outside of Yankee Stadium?