Let’s take a quick look in at the AL East:
- The Yankees have called up outfielder Slade Heathcott after placing Jacoby Ellsbury on the 15-day DL, as Jack Curry of the YES Network tweeted last night. For Heathcott, the opportunity represents yet another step in a remarkable turnaround. The former top-100 prospect has impressed the organization this spring since losing his 40-man roster spot and re-signing to a minor league deal. As for Ellsbury, it’s only a knee sprain at the moment, but his recovery bears watching given his injury history.
- Meanwhile, the Yankees got more promising injury news out of starter Masahiro Tanaka, as George A. King III of the New York Post reports on Twitter. The injured hurler will make a rehab start on Thursday at Triple-A, per King.
- It’s time for the Blue Jays to look into dealing either Jose Bautista or Edwin Encarnacion for pitching, Joel Sherman of the New York Post opines. While those sluggers continue to provide low-cost power production, Sherman argues that an arm is a more pressing need for the club. Unsurprisingly, GM Alex Anthopoulos indicated that he was not inclined to move either player. It’s certainly hard to disagree that the team needs to bolster its staff if it wants to make a serious run this year, though for my money it still probably makes more sense to deal away prospects to make that happen. After all, the most likely contention scenario would be one in which Bautista and Encarnacion remained in Toronto, and either or both could always be dealt after the season to recoup any lost long-term value if things don’t pan out.
It doesn’t make any sense to deal Bautista or Encarnacion, at least not this year. Who could they land for either one of them? Last I checked people usually trade prospects when acquiring an established star. The Jays have their share of pitching talent in the minors and majors, but those guys aren’t ready to make a major impact yet. If they are gonna seek a pitching upgrade, they’re are going to have to trade those young guys. Worse case scenario for the Jays, they trade both Bautista and Encarnacion at next year’s trade deadline and end up igniting a rebuild by acquiring some hitting prospects to compliment their young guns.
I like most of what AA has done but not Saunders for Happ. It seemed clear that Buerhle and Dickey were nearing the end of being useful SP.
I actually liked the Happ for Saunders trade from the Blue Jays’ perspective in terms of value. I think they will end up getting the most benefit from that trade when it is all said and done, even though they should’ve expected Saunders to be injured quite a bit. My only issue with it was that they didn’t address the rotation following that trade when they should’ve. I understand them rolling with what they have, and the Stroman injury being a big blow to their plans, but they literally have no depth outside of the options they currently have, which is very limited. If they had found a way to have at least moderate depth in the rotation, like most contending teams do, then they probably wouldn’t have to worry as much as they currently are forced to do.
Nobody Expected Happ to have the hot start he’s had, and I don’t expect it to continue. He’s not a sub 3.00 ERA pitcher… But the difference is Happ is healthy and will give you a start every 5 days. Saunders is an injury magnet.
Do you want to join our fantasy league? Your team name could be AAFanForever. LOL.
I really don’t think AA is a great GM. He is a good one, but not great. I’m not really a fan of his.
I was a fan at first… When he was all about prospects and building a team from within… but it’s all gone downhill. He’s thrown in all his chips on deals that have turned out to be complete busts.
Joel Sherman also claims Encarnacion could be sold to other teams as an outfielder, so I put little value in his senseless speculation.
He’s great at insider scoops, but he engages in a lot of ‘senseless speculation’ to presumably get page views/sell papers. It’s best to ignore him when he’s speculating.
Not a lot of Pulitzer Prize winners at his newspaper.
He’s a good power bat. If they need him in the OF, then it’s okay. He put in some work at OF over the past season just in case. Hanley moved to LF. It’s a disaster so far, but he’s done it. I’m sure he’d be all for it if he could play on a team capable of contending and with a manager who is capable of managing well.
That last sentence describes the Jays perfectly. He’s not leaving.
Yeah. He’s providing great power, and half decent defense for far below market value. He’s worth it. Bautista on the other hand, I’d be okay with trading lol.
Your first sentence just described Bautista perfectly also.
It’s mainly personal but Bautista is someone I am just not a fan of at all. Used to be. Now he’s too mouthy and cocky and whines whenever a pitch doesn’t go in his favor. I just can’t stand it.
Yet I bet when Josh Donaldson tells the opposing team something lewd you cheer him? You do know Ortiz does the exact same thing as Bautista right? Are the Leafs playing soon? Maybe you can go watch their draft analyze on how the fix wasn’t in on them getting McDavid.
Bautista’s had an elite eye for years now, the guy has averaged 112 walks a season on a 162 game basis since 2010 and the majority of the time guys throw nothing but pitches low and outside that get called against Bautista for whatever reason. What is he suppose to do? Not complain for someone ruining his AB?
Ellsbury hurt himself swinging at an off speed pitch. Yeah, that ‘injury prone’ label was all wrong.
So Sherman says the Jay should trade Bautista or Encarnacion for pitch but then can’t think of a single pitcher they should go after.
All he says is “Cole Hamels’ no-trade clause includes Toronto and he would not go there, the White Sox (Jeff Samardzija) and Reds (Johnny Cueto) are unlikely to consider a move until late July.” Sounds like a self defeating article.
It’s funny that despite writing in NY and constantly speculating about the Mets, he only tosses them in as an afterthought, despite the fact that they have a plethora of pitching and need offense. Bautista would be a decent fit for the Mets (OF, short contract, etc).
Too bad the Mets have no money to take on Bautista’s contract because of the Wilpons. So it’s out of the question.
He only costs $14MM this season (pro-rated to something lower) and could be dumped for the $1MM buyout next year. It’s not too much money.
I know you’re not suggesting dumping his $14MM club option next year but the deal is ridiculously team friendly considering what Nick Swisher got in Free Agency just a few years back for essentially getting walks and hitting for less power. Bautista’s averaged 112 walks per 162 since 2010. Plus the guy( 45 homers per 162 since 2010) does know how to hit homers and not strikeout at a ridiculous rate as other guys who walk and hit homers.
Oh, definitely not. I was trying to dispel the notion that Bautista is too much money for the Mets. He’s not too much for anyone. Also, as MB923 says below, the Mets make a lot on SNY.
Wright’s extension was nearly 2x as much and Grandersons contract I believe was just as much, possibly more. I don’t believe the Mets have no money. Besides, they make A Lot from SNY.
A good example are the A’s in 2014. Even though they were in first, they trade their power (Cespedes) for an Ace (Lester). After the trade, the went onto a 22-32 record, and one-and-done playoffs.
That trade was really silly altogether, The A’s were obviously going to struggle offensively because they had lesser hitters move up in the order and the likes of Sam Fuld and Johnny Gomes trying to replace his production. They should’ve and could’ve sat put with an overstocked rotation after they acquired both Samardzija and Hammel but they didn’t.
Not really the same situation. A trade like this would make a lot more sense for the Jays than it did for the A’s at that point. Their offense is better than the A’s was and their starting pitching is a lot weaker. But like others have said, it all seems like pointless blather when the writer himself can’t even line up a legitimate trade partner for them. Good idea at its core, but nonsense in theory and execution.
Been long road for Heathcott. Long time coming. Happy for the kid.
He has some major character issues, right? Pointed a gun at his father while in high school plus a DUI. Hope he’s gotten over that stuff. I think that was a major stumbling block in his early career.
During his junior year of high school, Heathcott was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and got kicked off the baseball team for academic reasons. He also admitted to pointing a 12 gauge shotgun at his father during an argument.[1]
The Yankees found out about Heathcott’s alcohol problem when he blacked out and lost his passport the night before he was to fly to the Dominican Republic.[1] They introduced him to Sam Marsonek, who took Heathcott to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Heathcott credits finding religion with helping him to turn around his personal life.[1]
A violent, religious, drunk, yankee. Not really rooting for him.
Encarnacion for 1B seems awesome for the Red Sox in the future. Send Owens or Johnson, I’d do it. Edwin hits a homer every series at Fenway ever! HE WOULD RAKE AT FEMWAY
The Jays would be looking at established SP options if they actually considered trading Edwin. Not a chance they would swing that deal with the Red Sox.
I doubt they would trade him within the division anyway.
Which is my point… AA wont move one of the top HR hitters over the past few years to another AL East team
I agree with both comments. And on the other hand Boston probably won’t trade any of their untouchable garbage, I mean prospects, either.
Of course not.
Sandoval or Hanley I think in the near future will be at 1B.
Jays won’t trade him to a division rival, how the heck would that help them?
“Low cost power”, maybe but it seems like the last few years, every time the Yankees went to play the Jays in September, those 2 guys were never on the active roster; they were always on the DL. I’m hesitant to drop top prospects for guys who are prone to missing large chunks of time. Not really relevant from a Yankee perspective, of course, A) it’s highly unlikely the Jays would deal them within the division, B) the only upper level pitching prospect the Yankees have is Luis Severino, C) Edwin Encarnacion is basically a DH/maybe 1B and the Yankees have those spots clogged up with A-Rod, Teixeira and Beltran.
Better keep an eye on Ellsbury while he’s on the DL. Before you know it? Boras will be whispering in his ear that he needs to be at his own private training HQ, undergoing some needless physical therapy there and extending his DL stint.
Not trying to hammer on Ells, always liked the guy, just think Boras puts too many terrible ideas into his head that are needless. Maybe since he got him the large deal already it won’t happen, but wouldn’t be sure. I’d watch Boras on this and get a cpl of strong opinions on his knee and how long it could effect him down the line.
Boras probably doesn’t care whether Ellsbury misses 15 games or the rest of the season. He only cares about the $.
I think he only cares about his players performances in contract years, or near contract years, and I don’t think he cares how Ellsbury does for quite some time.
Boras has, of course, already gotten his money. You guys are positing pretty awful things about him with zero proof.
“Boras has, of course, already gotten his money.”
That was my point.
Am I missing something with Heathcott? He’s as bad as he’s ever been, worse than 2014. Looks like a non-prospect to me.
He’s batting .285 w/17 RBIs on the season so far, not exactly bad. Plus he plays good defense.
He’s in a huge slump though. I was surprised they didn’t call up Ramon Flores.
Yeah I’m aware of the slump but it’s conceivable that’s all it’s been and he’ll snap back out of it, which I figure they’re assuming as well. The choice could really have gone either way, I think it just comes down to the fact that Heathcott was a former top prospect and them wanting to get a look at how he handles the big leagues.
I think it’s odd that, in AAA, a 285 BA with 17 RBIs – the least useful stats there are – somehow qualify a player as good.
I never used the word good either in terms of his offense, but it’s hard to call a guy bad while he’s batting at that rate through 165 PAs, you have to be doing something right with the bat to be doing both of those things. His peripherals beyond that have suffered due to his slumping, but he’s had points of looking rather interesting this season.
I think any other stats than the ones you listed might tell a fuller story. OBP, Slugging, K:BB ratio…anything. BA can be fluky and RBIs are a function of opportunity, not talent. And 17 RBI in 165 ABs isn’t particularly impressive, right? That’s a pace of something like 65 RBI in a full season.
Fair enough, using those stats generally doesn’t tell the full story of how a guy is playing at all I wont argue with that, but I wasn’t really trying to do that in my comments either, I was really just using simple stats to try and make a simple point:that he’s not plainly bad. He’s been in a slump of late, and his peripherals have taken a major hit as a result, hence my reluctance to go that deep into analysis.
No problem; I hope he gets a chance to play; seems like he’s been in the system forever.
Girardi said that he will get a chance to make a few starts before Ellsbury is back, he’ll probably get chance in the next few days since they’re starting their homestand against Texas. It’d be great to get something out of their ’09 1st rounder after all the ups and downs with him.
He’s a well below league average hitter in that league. You forgot to mention his complete lack of plate discipline, power, or baserunning skills, resulting in a .685 OPS.
I’m not sitting here saying he’s Trout or anything, all I’m saying is he’s not just “bad” as you said and that it’s not as if calling him up was a bad call. He’s not a star, but he’s got solid speed/range on defense, can hit for average, and has double-type pop in his bat. Yes, his peripherals are ugly right now, but slumping like he has been recently will do that to you. Like I said in another comment, you’re not going to compile a .285 BA w/17 RBIs and be totally terrible, you have to be doing SOMETHING right, and they needed someone in the wake of Ellsbury being on the DL.
I don’t have a problem with the Yankees calling him up. i just found it odd that they used the word ‘remarkable’ to describe his performance thus far. When you’re replacement level in AAA, you haven’t been very good. Maybe he has the skills to be better, but he hasn’t been.
The problem for the Blue Jays is that the pitchers that need to be replaced in the rotation are the two they can’t move, Dickey and Buehrle. I would rather have Hutchinson (despite his struggles), Sanchez and Norris (who should be with the big club) in the rotation, because there is hope for improvement. There is no hope for improvement from two old veterans who are well past their primes. The money Dickey and Buehrle are making could have easily been used to get a true ace to head up the staff and a decent back end of the rotation starter. Nothing can really be done for the Blue Jays until the bad contracts that AA foolish gave up good talent for are gone.
Buehrle makes $20 mil this year! Insane. And Dickey’s at 17 Mil. Lets not forget Reyes is also making over $20 mil. 3 players who are both unreliable this year, and 1 of which can’t stay healthy. When these guys are off the books there’ll be plenty to spend.
“When these guys are off the books there’ll be plenty to spend.”
The Jays rarely ever spend big. Russell Martin was their largest contract I believe since Vernon Wells back in what, 2006?
They didn’t even start paying Vernon anything significant until 2010 as it was an extremely backloaded deal and they traded him before that had to come.
They can thank the Angels for that. My point is the Jays have rarely given out large contracts.
I never disagreed.
My bad man. For whatever reason I thought you were arguing against what I was saying.
“Dickey’s at 17 Mil”
I can say things that aren’t facts and pretend they are because I’m angry too. Dickey’s making just $12MM this season.
Yep, spot on. Things are looking up for next year with Stroman and Hoffman likely replacing Dickey and Buehrle, but they’re kind of between a rock and a hard place right now. Not that an arm wouldn’t help, especially if they’re going to leave Norris in AAA as there is a black hole in the rotation then besides Dickey/Buehrle.
I personally would be okay with dealing Bautista… That’s a personal thing though. He’s just simply become too full of himself, and whines a lot to umpires and admires all his homeruns despite the fact he’s having a rough year. He seems like more of a negative player to have on the team. When he first discovered himself and had the confidence and swagger it was awesome to watch. Now he’s gone too far and is completely full of himself. I say deal him while you can and while his value is somewhat high.
Rough year? 139 OPS+ would suggest he’s actually not.
Yeah, no thanks. He’s not having a down year, and his attitude only suggests that he wants to win.
Wanting to win is one thing. But pitches don’t go your way all the time. The elite players in MLB will take these pitches and don’t say much, because they are confident they can get the next one. ANY pitch that Bautista disagrees with he whines with or reacts to in a pissy way. Just take it and move on. I hope he has a terrible year and gets his option declined. That’s the hope I’m hanging on too.
Perhaps you don’t watch games outside of Toronto but Ortiz doesn’t like when he doesn’t get a strike called in the pitchers favor and neither does just about any player in the league who’s actually any good.
The fact you want a guy who signed a team friendly deal with your team to do terribly suggests to me all that I need to know. Leafs got pre-draft talk soon.
He’s not having a bad year, he’s not having his option declined, and he will not be leaving. Would you also give up on Bryce Harper after last night’s outburst? You are being ridiculous and harbouring a grudge for no logical reason against one of the best players in all of baseball.
“One of the best”… HAHA
He absolutely is.
Well, harpers outburst was because he got thrown out for being out of the batters box. I get that it happens sometimes and nobody likes pitches going against them. But he whines EVERY time. Guys like Cabrera and Trout. 2 of the ACTUAL best players in baseball, sometimes do argue yes, but in general they just accept it, knowing they’re good enough that they can get the next one.
You could literally see him complaining about the strike call seconds before the ump started yelling at the dugout. Bautista has slowed down on the complaining a lot in the past two seasons, don’t act like it happens every game.
I’m tired of defending Bautista, his performance has proven you to be wrong, if you don’t want to see that, go ahead and keep those blinders on. I’ll just continue to enjoy watching him produce for the Jays.
If the team was winning nobody would complain about Bautista or the others. The fact that they’re struggling as a team now just brings out the bitterness in fans. Case in point–the showdown between JB and Darren O’Day early this season(when the Jays were still riding high); I didn’t see one complain from fans about his bat flipping or slow trot rounding the bases or did anyone bring up JB’s “attitude” towards umps. The only thing that’s different today is where the Jays are in the standings…
I personally, haven’t been a fan of his antics for ever. When he first was mashing balls, he had confidence and swagger. For the last 2-3 years now his heads swelled up and he expects everything to go his way. Even if they’re undefeated to this point, I can still not stand him. Biggest whiner in baseball
I guess that’s your right as a fan. For me personally, what players do or say to each other and the officials, it’s all part of the spectacle. As long as they don’t unfairly criticize fans, it doesn’t really have much impact on me. Yeah, sometimes it’s embarrassing but it’s not my neck on the line so whatever.
Or, keep two of the best hitters in the AL on your roster, wait for Stroman and Hoffman to come into the rotation next season, Sanchez to keep getting better, Norris to find his command, and your holes are fixed without creating any others…..
Don’t get too excited, Yankee fans; Heathcott’s OPS is only .693