jacksonianmarch

Insurance isn't taken in the 5th round. Insurance is taken 11th round or later. If he doesn't sign, that money leaves their pot. One of the downsides of that is that you also lose the 5% overage you are allotted to sign more overslot guys. If you look at our top 10 rounds, only one guy is a HSer after the second round and he wasn't nationally ranked (4th rounder). He likely said he would sign and doesn't seem to be an overslot. Scherff is a top 60 prospect, he will be tough.

The Yankees made the playoffs every season sans one (injury marred season) from 1995-2012, a staggering 17 of 18 seasons. Injuries and age started to take their toll and while we were above .500 and competitive, 2013-2016 were years to say goodbye to aging stars and a time to renew. Most teams either rebuild from within which takes years of losing or spend like drunken sailors to stay competitive. The Yankees somehow avoided both fates. While our team is still bloated with the heavy contracts of yesteryear, those overpaid players are no longer the face or the heart of the franchise. In ARod's case, he isn't even playing anymore. Yet somehow, after picking in the back of nearly every draft for over 20 years now, we have somehow rebuilt in a way that has left us financially savvy while keeping our farm system stocked. The decision to finally give up on a season did pay dividends, but the only player acquired currently producing on the big stage is Adam Warren. But taking a look at this team and the depth or youth at every spot in terms of both big league options and high level prospects is staggering. Catchers: Gary Sanchez is 24 years old and is still controllable at league minimum through 2019. We have him under wraps until 2022. The guy is a sure fire middle of the order bat who also plays a damn good defensive game behind the dish as well. He is a major building block for this club going forward. Behind him we have Austin Romine, who is a solid defender and Kyle Higashioka at AAA who has power, but might be more a AAAA player. While our true depth beyond our starter isn't outstanding, the fact that our starter is controllable for 6 seasons and is 24 is awesome First Base: Greg Bird is also 24 years old and he is controllable through 2021. This kid stepped in during a playoff push and hammered HR's left and right before losing a season to a shoulder injury. He hammered the ball in ST before injuring his foot. He is currently on a rehab assignment. When the kid is going right, he is a middle of the order bat. He proved that when he hit 11 homers in 46 games as a rookie in 2015. The kid can play. There are plenty of guys who can fill in at 1b or could make a big name for themselves behind Bird long term, but Bird is 24 and isn't going anywhere any time soon. The best prospect name behind him is Chris Gittens, who is 23 yrs old and is just killing the ball in High A. Second Base: Starlin Castro seems like he has been around forever, yet he just turned 27 yrs old. His contract is controllable through 2020 as well. Behind him at the position is the 2016 second round pick Nick Solak, who has a .400+OBP in High A this year. There are a multitude of middle infielders, but Nick is the best pure 2b in the system behind Starlin Shortstop: Didi Gregorius also seems like he has been around awhile. He just turned 27 as well and is controllable through next season. Behind him are a stable of top flight prospects and a damn good utility guy in Torreyes. Gleyber Torres is a top 5 prospect in all of baseball. He's a 5 tool player who just turned 20. Gleyber can play all IF positions as well. Since Didi is locking this one down likely for awhile, Gleyber likely moves off the position. Tyler Wade is another good name in AAA. He doesn't have the power potential of Gleyber, but he is a bigger threat on the bases. He also takes a lot of walks and has consistently hit well in the minors. Another nationally known prospect is Jorge Mateo. The kid hasn't put it together as has been hoped, but his combo of speed and power potential has scouts projecting big things. He is one of the rare 80 speed guys Third Base: Chase Headley is a stiff. Ronald Torreyes is a good utility guy, but not a good 3b replacement. All the backups to Didi at SS make sense here, but there is a good young prospect in AA who has a bigger power profile than all of them. Miguel Andujar is only 22 and he is raking AA pitching. He doesn't walk much, but he is more a Castro like player with much more power potential. If there wasn't a glut of prospects in AAA, he'd already be there. I still think long term that this position ends up in the hands of Gleyber Torres before he moves back to SS after Didi moves on OF: We currently have Gardner in LF. He's playing at an AS level and is controllable through next season with an option for 2019. While he is older, he is very athletic. I think he might be trade bait, though. Aaron Hicks has taken CF and won't give it away. He is only 27 yrs old and is controllable through 2019. The guy has become a GG caliber OFer and has blossomed as a hitter. If he keeps this up, he will be a hell of a player for us and we will all forget about Ellsbury. Aaron Judge is a man amongst boys. He is 25 yrs old and under control through 2022. Needless to say, he isn't going anywhere. We have Ellsbury ticketed to 4th OFer. He is a stiff. Behind him, though, we have two outfielders knocking on the door in AAA. Dustin Fowler is a cycle waiting to happen. While he doesn't walk as much as anyone would like, he looks like a high average 20-20 guy who could lock down a COF spot and make a good CF impression in a pinch. The best prospect is Clint Frazier. This guy is a top 20 guy nationally who looks to be a potential 30 HR guy in the majors with the potential to steal some bases as well. DH: Matt Holliday is having a career renaissance. He is likely to be asked back in a similar role, but we will see if he tests the market. We have a ton of talent that could take the role, but his leadership is said to be big SP Tanaka is better than he has shown and he proved that in Anaheim. I expect him to return to near the top of the rotation. I also think that the early season blip and history of elbow issues will likely cause him not to opt out this year. That means he has another 3 years with us. Pineda is likely to head off to greener pastures in FA. While he is having a career year, we can replace him on the market with someone more reliable Sabathia is having a career renaissance as well. He is also in his final year here and I find it likely that we try to let him move on unless he somehow maintains his sub 3 ERA. Luis Severino is forgetting about 2016 and remembering his blistering end to 2015. He just turned 23, so he is very young. He is also controllable through 2022. This kid is the future ace of the staff and the future is now. Jordan Montgomery has become our 5th starter, but he is showing he is more than that. He is 24 yrs old and controllable through 2022 and looks to be a future #3 or maybe #2 depending on the refinement of his location. While I expect 2 holes to open this offseason, I do expect us to sign a starter and develop another. Yu Darvish looks to be the guy we sign. But in terms of development, we have options Our best option who is ready is Chance Adams. The kid has dominated all levels of the minors and currently at 22 yrs old, is dominating AAA. His WHIP is under 0.9 and his BAA is .151 in AAA. He should be on the short list to enter the rotation in 2018. Behind him, we have guys like Chad Green, who has done very well for us in the pen. We also have Luis Cessa who did well last year for us. In terms of top prospects, we have Justus Sheffield in AA who is killing it. Domingo Acevedo is dominating AA as well. James Kaprielian is recovering from TJS, but he might be the best of them all. Regardless, we have a young and highly effective new core. But what we also have is a deep farm at the same time. We have somehow stayed competitive and reloaded and now we are back on top.

Gary Sanchez with a 3 run bomb.

The one thing that doesnt make sense is the drafting of Scherff in the 5th round. This is a kid who safely ranked mid 2nd round and has tons of leverage. Either they were saving money up to sign him or they didnt want to risk losing a higher pick but were reasonably sure they'd get a deal done. He seems like a guy who should have gone in rounds 11-20. They must be reasonably sure they'd sign him, but I am not sure why. Their top pick should sign for slot and their second rounder might need more than second round money to sign. Their 4th rounder ranked end of 2nd in the MLB rankings as well. It's not like they kicked the can down the road for a bunch of picks to sign this kid. If they can sign him, then it's a steal, but I wouldnt be surprised if the sox fail to do so

He's got to stay healthy. His issue has been durability. He reminds me of Warren. College pitcher whose performance and stuff was overlooked somehow. Reading his SR, aside from "tired arm" which he's recovered from, in not sure why he fell to the 5th

He won't keep up a .400+BABIP. But his ability to beat a shift should keep him well above the .300 mark

Vazquez has more value as he is younger and he has the better run prevention capability. Guys with rocket arms behind the plate are worth something. If you dealt Leon, you're getting a PTNBL. If you deal Vazquez, you might get a B prospect

6. Dalton Lehnen LHP Augustana Col All the MLB guys say is he's a reliever who tops out at 96. No idea about his breaking stuff

Strange to pick an over slot in the 5th round. Kid sounds like a good pick at this stage, but who knows what it'll take to sign him

4. Canaan Smith RF HS Big left handed power bat, has good patience. Announced as a RFer, but many believe his future is at 1b. He has a plus arm but isn't very protectable due to lack of athleticism 5. Glen Otto RHP Rice Big framed power pitcher who was relegated to pen duty due to tired arm. Came on strong at the end. Throws mid 90s with a plus curve. Distant change. While he was drafted as a reliever, he is likely to be stretched into a starting role

3. Brett Netzer 2B UNC Charlotte He's a hit first 2b without a lot of power. Average runner, projectable average defender who has been abysmal defensively this year. Should hit for average, but that's really his only plus tool per MLB

3. Trevor Stephan RHP U of Arkansas Big framed pitcher with a crossfire delivery. Tops out at 97. Lots of run on his fastball. Secondary stuff average to questionable. Delivery not conducive to starting, but could be a high leverage reliever. Kid fits the Yankees MO after the second round. High velocity college pitcher who should run through the system in the pen

Given where you are picking and how thin your system has become, yeah that's not a bad first day. The first pick was all about getting a guy who could move through fast. The second pick was all about projection and athleticism

Lively is a good prospect. That being said, the rest of that Phillies team sucks infinite ass.

Flores is light years away. Figure that Gary Sanchez was signed as a 16 yr old in 2009 and he didn't debut for 7 years. Catchers take awhile to develop AND 16 yr olds take time to develop. Right now he is added talent, but counting on his aside from considering him a nice lottery ticket is foolish

His stuff points towards starter. Usually your heavy sinkerballers are starters. Remember, Chien Ming Wang had a good career before he blew out his elbow throwing only bowling ball sinkers

1. Tanner Houck RHP Missouri He is a big framed strike thrower with a filthy mid 90s sinker. Slider is inconsistent. Change is weak. Funky mechanics make him an injury risk. As a collegian, he should move fast. 2. Cole Brannen OF HS Speed guy with protectable 10-15HR power. Sounds like a Mark Kotsay type with better SB potential.

1. Clarke Schmidt RHP SC This is an interesting pick. Looked like he was ticketed for the middle of the first round until he blew out his elbow and had TJS last month. When I heard about this pick, I scratched my head. His injury shot his stock into the second round. But his injury coupled with the fact that he cannot throw next year in college leaves him with no leverage. We can save some money here and if he recovers well, still get first round talent. He's a 92-94 sinkerballer with a plus curve and slider. His location is solid as well. If he comes back strong or stronger, he could be a front line starter. 2. Matt Sauer RHP HS This is a signability guy. Big frame, sits low to mid 90s, topped out at 97 as a HS kid. Already plus slider sitting at 87 mph. Change is way behind the FB-slider combo. Easy to project as a reliever due to the developed heat and slider combo. Yankees will work to develop the change and mold him into a starter. If the change doesn't come, he could move quickly as a power reliever.

25% of the balls he put in play are line drives. He had averaged around that in the minors. His FB% is actually down a little bit from his MiLB numbers. If his FB% rises to his minors numbers, then the homers should actually rise! The crazy thing is how powerful he is to right field. Makes a lot of sense in YS. I don't foresee him being a .340 hitter. He likely settles in as a career .270-.280 hitter. But that power is insane. He doesn't even need to center a ball to get it way out. His K% is still higher than I like, but he cut it down by 16% from last year

Dmoney, who knows. His power is rare. When he centers a ball, it's leaves the yard in a hurry

Cash signed one in Miller then offloaded him for a haul of prospects. He dealt for Chap by selling high on two prospects and then re-signed him sans penalty. We develop Betances. We developed Warren, dealt him for Castro, then got him back for Chapman. Holder looks the real deal. Green was dealt for as a prospect and has turned into something really good. The next wave are all guys who throw hard as well

And I love that there's so much JBJ love. A month ago all you guys wanted to trade him. He's streaky. It's gotta suck to watch him hit .150 for a month then .400 the next month. But his defense is consistently excellent. If you dealt him, you'd lose a lot more than you know

And what did I tell you. Sox chip away, they'll win this game. Norris is on the ropes and the Tigers pen is a pile of s***. You'll win this one going away.

3-0. Pom will settle down and the sox will score runs late. I have seen this story before. Sox fall behind, whittle away and win vs the pen

Judge leads all position players with a 3.7 WAR. His OPS is rising and it's up to 1.168. He leads in HR, tied in runs, 13th in hits, 6th in RBI, 8th in walks, 1st in OPS (Trout will fall off the leaderboard due to injury). His season is Mantle-esque