2020 Yankee Off-Season Thread

[Carpin]

Gardner was a plus defender in 2019. Any chance it’s the same in 2020? I don’t want to depend on Gardner only to have Father Time strip him of his abilities. He’s fine as a backup, but he’s probably looking at a multi year deal after 2019 and I don’t want to pay that.

 

I'd be on board with Gardner on a 1 year contract, more than that at his age it's risky.

 

I didn't know he has an option for 2020 12.5 Millions with a 2 Millions buyout, they will be paying like 10.5 if they pick up the option for next year

[Meh]

Gardner was a plus defender in 2019. Any chance it’s the same in 2020? I don’t want to depend on Gardner only to have Father Time strip him of his abilities. He’s fine as a backup, but he’s probably looking at a multi year deal after 2019 and I don’t want to pay that.

 

I wouldn't sign any fee agents before Jan 1. Let the market crash again and see if there are bargins like Gardner still out there. Only guy I'd be aggressive with is Cole... and Stras when he opts out.

[jacksonianmarch]

I'd be on board with Gardner on a 1 year contract, more than that at his age it's risky.

 

I didn't know he has an option for 2020 12.5 Millions with a 2 Millions buyout, they will be paying like 10.5 if they pick up the option for next year

 

You’re looking at his last contract. He’s an unrestricted FA. No buyouts

 

But we did buy out EE today. TB pays the $5 mil buyout

[jacksonianmarch]

So with the end of the season comes a little bit of clarity. EE has been declined and is a FA. His $5 mil comes from TB, so he won't count at all on our lux tax bill and is a FA.

 

The case for Didi is interesting. Yes, we need left handed hitting. Yes, he provides excellent defense for a prime defensive position. But I really didn't like what I saw out of him last year. Yes, he started the year hurt, but he devolved offensively to the light hitting, free swinging player we initially obtained when Jeter retired. Not sure if he had some pressure in his contract year, but he did himself no favors. He is an easy QO decline there. But as a 30 yr old shortstop, I wonder what his market is. I would anticipate anyone signing him would expect his speed to diminish over the next couple seasons and he would probably need to move to 2b or even a CIF position. He doesn't hit well enough to cover a CIF position. Also, in 2018, Didi was an absolute masher in YS and pedestrian outside of the Bronx. Granted, 2017 was the opposite, so it isn't like you can say definitively that he is a product of the ball park. I do wonder if Didi comes to the Yanks and asks for a 1 yr $10 mil deal as a way to prove he is healthy, lessen the load a bit and earn himself a bigger payday after 2020. Even with our budget constraints, I would be inclined to take that.

[jacksonianmarch]

I also need to wonder about the Chapman opt out. I forgot that Chapman never had the chance to get a QO. He is an easy QO offer, which will considerably limit his market. He was as good as ever last year, but he is a power pitcher who will be 32 at the start of next season. How much more can he expect to get than 2 yrs $34 mil. He wont see the same AAV, maybe he gets a 3 or 4 yr deal, but he isn't a kid anymore and his arsenal doesn't lend towards aging well. If I were Cash and he opted out, I would take the opportunity to let the market settle out a bit then potentially get him at a discount. The QO really changed things for a lot of players and I bet it would limit the market for a 32 yr old closer

[bkzwhitestrican]

This will be Greg Bird's breakout year, I can feel it! He's already playing down in one of those Latin leagues and is sporting a robust .150 average.

[moonslav59]

So with the end of the season comes a little bit of clarity. EE has been declined and is a FA. His $5 mil comes from TB, so he won't count at all on our lux tax bill and is a FA.

 

 

Even if the Yanks paid the $5M, it wouldn't count against the 2020 luxury tax budget. Buy-out money is added to the previous guaranteed years.

[Meh]

This will be Greg Bird's breakout year, I can feel it! He's already playing down in one of those Latin leagues and is sporting a robust .150 average.

 

I agree 2020 will be a big year for him, when we non tender him and a team like the Royals or even Guardians pick him up lol.

[Carpin]

You’re looking at his last contract. He’s an unrestricted FA. No buyouts

 

But we did buy out EE today. TB pays the $5 mil buyout

 

look at this

 

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-free-agency-brett-gardner-yankees-agree-to-one-year-deal-for-2019/

[jacksonianmarch]

It says the option was for $12.5 mil with a buyout. That was last year

[notin]

This will be Greg Bird's breakout year, I can feel it! He's already playing down in one of those Latin leagues and is sporting a robust .150 average.

 

He'll finally break his way completely out of professional baseball...

[Fan_since_Boggs]

Not a surprise: Chapman will opt out if the Yankees don't sign him to an extension:

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/11/yankees-aroldis-chapman-opt-out-extension.html

 

The Yankees would be better off letting Chapman walk, finding another closer, and signing G.Cole, but Cashman sucks at evaluating pitching and so I doubt he makes the smart moves.

[bkzwhitestrican]

Not a surprise: Chapman will opt out if the Yankees don't sign him to an extension:

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/11/yankees-aroldis-chapman-opt-out-extension.html

 

The Yankees would be better off letting Chapman walk, finding another closer, and signing G.Cole, but Cashman sucks at evaluating pitching and so I doubt he makes the smart moves.

 

I saw a blog post advocating for the Yankees to sign Pomeranz in place of Chapman. I thought it was a joke, but as a reliever Pomeranz was actually really good last year. It could be SSS flukiness but his stuff played up out of the pen (avg FB velocity increased by over 2MPH to 94.3).

 

28.2 IP - 1.88 ERA, 1.67 FIP, 47.2K%

 

Relying on Pomeranz to repeat this is kinda risky but they could probably sign Pomeranz AND bring back Betances for the same price as re-signing Chapman, maybe even less.

[jacksonianmarch]

Not a surprise: Chapman will opt out if the Yankees don't sign him to an extension:

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/11/yankees-aroldis-chapman-opt-out-extension.html

 

The Yankees would be better off letting Chapman walk, finding another closer, and signing G.Cole, but Cashman sucks at evaluating pitching and so I doubt he makes the smart moves.

 

[jacksonianmarch]

I saw a blog post advocating for the Yankees to sign Pomeranz in place of Chapman. I thought it was a joke, but as a reliever Pomeranz was actually really good last year. It could be SSS flukiness but his stuff played up out of the pen (avg FB velocity increased by over 2MPH to 94.3).

 

28.2 IP - 1.88 ERA, 1.67 FIP, 47.2K%

 

Relying on Pomeranz to repeat this is kinda risky but they could probably sign Pomeranz AND bring back Betances for the same price as re-signing Chapman, maybe even less.

 

Pomeranz got up to 96mph in relief. He was the most dominant reliever in the second half and actually out pitched his counterpart, Hader.

 

Chapman wants to come back. We will get a 4th rounder if he walks. No issue there. I do wonder if him opting out and is resigning him can actually lower his AAV. We paid him $56 over his first 3 seasons. He’s only got 2yrs $30 mil left. Maybe we let him opt out, and offer a 3 yr $48 mil deal and drop his AAV by nearly 2 mil

[jacksonianmarch]

Pomeranz got up to 96mph in relief. He was the most dominant reliever in the second half and actually out pitched his counterpart, Hader.

 

Chapman wants to come back. We will get a 4th rounder if he walks. No issue there. I do wonder if him opting out and is resigning him can actually lower his AAV. We paid him $56 over his first 3 seasons. He’s only got 2yrs $30 mil left. Maybe we let him opt out, and offer a 3 yr $48 mil deal and drop his AAV by nearly 2 mil

 

Nailed it to the penny.

[jacksonianmarch]

So Chapman is back in the fold. We’re right below the lux tax threshold at $207 mil right now (Hale was non tendered). We have $40 mil to play with before hitting the final line, assuming all else return. That’s an entirely intact, mostly young returning team that won 103 games with the best team in the League losing their best player, so not a bad starting point.

 

I do wonder if we get another starter, do we clear some salary. Does Ottavino get moved? Do we try to deal off Stanton? I’d be fine with the former. I don’t like doing the latter. Stanton at $22 mil AAV isn’t bad and if we use him as a mostly full time DH, he should stay healthy. He was just snake bit this year and I don’t like moving on from all star or even fringe HOF talents when their value is low

[Fan_since_Boggs]

With the Chapman extension, his six year outlay is now 104 million. That's a lot of money for a closer, especially a closer who failed in big spots in the ALCS against the Astros in 2017 (game 2) and against the Astros in 2019 (game 6). Brian Cashman--LOL.

 

I don't remember how Chapman pitched against the Red Sox in the playoffs in 2018. Since that series was a one-sided slaughter, you can't pin the loss on Chapman.

 

As good as Chapman is in the regular season, I wouldn't want him pitching in a big playoff game--he doesn't handle the pressure very well.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

Do we try to deal off Stanton?

 

They can't move Stanton. He has a no-trade. When he left the Marlins, he would only accept a deal to the Yankees or Dodgers. The Dodgers don't want him. Moreover, Stanton is on a DH trajectory meaning that NL teams might be OK with playing him in the OF for a year or two, but his defense will turn into a negative soon enough (if it isn't there already). The Yankees are stuck with Stanton even though he continues to be the Yankees' fan base favorite trade commodity. If you listen to WFAN in NY, each day Yankees fans call up with Stanton trade proposals and Mike Francesca has to remind them that it isn't possible.

[moonslav59]

They can't move Stanton. He has a no-trade. When he left the Marlins, he would only accept a deal to the Yankees or Dodgers. The Dodgers don't want him. Moreover, Stanton is on a DH trajectory meaning that NL teams might be OK with playing him in the OF for a year or two, but his defense will turn into a negative soon enough (if it isn't there already). The Yankees are stuck with Stanton even though he continues to be the Yankees' fan base favorite trade commodity. If you listen to WFAN in NY, each day Yankees fans call up with Stanton trade proposals and Mike Francesca has to remind them that it isn't possible.

 

Stanton's views on who he might want to play for might have changed.

 

He may also have realized he hates it in NY. (I have no evidence this is true, but never say never.)

[moonslav59]

With the Chapman extension, his six year outlay is now 104 million. That's a lot of money for a closer, especially a closer who failed in big spots in the ALCS against the Astros in 2017 (game 2) and against the Astros in 2019 (game 6). Brian Cashman--LOL.

 

I don't remember how Chapman pitched against the Red Sox in the playoffs in 2018. Since that series was a one-sided slaughter, you can't pin the loss on Chapman.

 

As good as Chapman is in the regular season, I wouldn't want him pitching in a big playoff game--he doesn't handle the pressure very well.

 

You guys are making the same mistakes we did. WaAAAAAYYYYYY Tooooooo Much for a Closer!

Edited November 3, 2019 by moonslav59

[jacksonianmarch]

With the Chapman extension, his six year outlay is now 104 million. That's a lot of money for a closer, especially a closer who failed in big spots in the ALCS against the Astros in 2017 (game 2) and against the Astros in 2019 (game 6). Brian Cashman--LOL.

 

I don't remember how Chapman pitched against the Red Sox in the playoffs in 2018. Since that series was a one-sided slaughter, you can't pin the loss on Chapman.

 

As good as Chapman is in the regular season, I wouldn't want him pitching in a big playoff game--he doesn't handle the pressure very well.

 

[jacksonianmarch]

You guys are making the same mistakes we did. WaAAAAAYYYYYY Tooooooo Much for a Closer!

 

Not really. He's been as consistent as can be for years and put up one of his best career seasons. Also, the fact we got him on a 3 yr deal is pretty solid as well. Also, this deal lowers his AAV, believe it or not. His new contract is now 3 yrs $48 mil, or $16 mil AAV. He was at $17.2 mil. Every little bit helps.

[jacksonianmarch]

Stanton's views on who he might want to play for might have changed.

 

He may also have realized he hates it in NY. (I have no evidence this is true, but never say never.)

 

Why would he hate it in NY? He had never seen the playoffs prior to coming to NY and he's seen playoff baseball two years in a row. Also, if our roster construction was different, I would say "Hell No" to the idea of moving him. But we aren't exactly hurting for RH power hitters. I would NOT entertain any dumping of his salary. You remember that his lux tax number is only $22 mil for the Yanks. Yes, I know they're paying him the equivalent of $28 mil per year ($31.7 mil AAV on his final 10 seasons minus $3 mil AAV the Marlins are throwing in). But as far as the lux tax goes, you could do far worse than Stanton for that number.

[jacksonianmarch]

We have done nothing to dispel our ability to go after a top tier starter. Chapman brings us back to status quo in terms of potential effective losses. Didi and Gardner are redundant and internally replaceable. Chapman, not so much, especially how our pitching staff is built. Maybe that changes with some trades. Maybe Voit and German get packaged for a top tier starter or a slugging left hander. Who knows, we can go in so many directions and have so much internal redundancy that we can get pretty much anything. The only thing we are missing is a true blue, top notch ace. That is it. We have literally everything else

[Bellhorn04]

Why would he hate it in NY? He had never seen the playoffs prior to coming to NY and he's seen playoff baseball two years in a row.

 

Attention, especially of the negative variety, with an underlying theme of 'albatross contract for guy who can't stay healthy and should be a DH'.

[moonslav59]

Not really. He's been as consistent as can be for years and put up one of his best career seasons. Also, the fact we got him on a 3 yr deal is pretty solid as well. Also, this deal lowers his AAV, believe it or not. His new contract is now 3 yrs $48 mil, or $16 mil AAV. He was at $17.2 mil. Every little bit helps.

 

It's a huge overpay.

[Kimmi]

It's a huge overpay.

 

Music to my ears.

[moonslav59]

Music to my ears.

 

I love seeing people make our mistakes.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

Not really. He's been as consistent as can be for years and put up one of his best career seasons.

 

You can't overlook playoff performance. Chapman blew a game in the 2017 ALCS and he blew game 6 in the 2019 ALCS. That matters. In 2017, the Yankees were one win away from the World Series. In 2019, the Yankees were one win away from forcing a game 7. Chapman choked in big spots, and the Yankees total outlay for Chapman is now over 100 m. That's called bad decision-making.

 

Maybe Voit and German get packaged for a top tier starter

You are getting rid of the Yankees garbage for a top tier starter? How generous. In the first place, German has zero trade value until his issues are resolved. Second point, Voit slumped late in the season and the Yankees, who know Voit better than anyone, decided against putting Voit on the playoff roster.