Top Red Sox prospect Yoan Moncada may not quite be ready to follow Andrew Benintendi to the majors, but GM Mike Hazen says he is playing his way into the team’s near-term plans, as Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald writes. Moncada’s big numbers at Double-A have prompted a move to third base, where he could play at the big league level in relatively short order. Hazen analogized the situation to that of Mookie Betts, who also shifted off of second base — in his case, to the outfield — because he was ready to play but was blocked by stalwart Dustin Pedroia. As for timing of a big league promotion, Hazen declined to offer an opinion, but did note that Moncada has had a very different path to this point than did Benintendi. Also, as Mastrodonato notes, he needs to polish his hitting approach and refine his mechanics from both sides of the plate.
A bit more from the AL East…
- The Yankees have no plans to release Alex Rodriguez, general manager Brian Cashman said in a recent ESPN Radio appearance (transcript via the Post’s George A. King III). Cashman acknowledged that some of Rodriguez’s at-bats will go to other players, but injuries or matchups could get Rodriguez additional looks down the stretch. The contract of Rodriguez, which calls for him to earn another $27MM through next season, is a factor, Cashman admitted: “First and foremost, you just have to admit it’s not easy to go ahead and eat — meaning release — that kind of money. It’s not something you come to a quick decision on. There are players around the game with big contracts, well-below-average players, for many years, not just a year. Alex hit 33 home runs, I believe, last year. … If we choose to do something, that’s our right at any time, but right now that’s not being done.”
- Cashman appeared on yesterday’s Baseball Tonight podcast with ESPN’s Buster Olney (audio link) and discussed the Yankees’ decision to act as sellers at this year’s deadline as well as the prospects he picked up in trades of Andrew Miller and Carlos Beltran leading up to the non-waiver trade deadline. Cashman also said he has a list of Pirates prospects at the lower levels of their system from which he’ll select a pair of players to be named later in order to complete the Ivan Nova trade, but they’re still in the process of evaluating their options.
- Rays infielder Brad Miller tells Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times that he was “extremely disappointed” to learn that newly acquired Matt Duffy will supplant him as the everyday shortstop upon his return from an Achilles injury. Miller considers himself a shortstop and sounds frustrated that he’ll be moved off the position for the second time in his young career. “I feel like I’ve done everything I needed to do to keep the job, and they didn’t see it that way,” he explains. “The same thing happened in Seattle.” Rays skipper Kevin Cash, though, stressed that Miller will still be an everyday player due to his bat. He’ll move over to first base until Logan Morrison’s return and then presumably see regular at-bats spread across several positions as a means of keeping his .252/.300/.484 slash line and 18 homers in the lineup.
- Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro said in an appearance on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM within the past hour (audio link) and said definitively that Aaron Sanchez won’t throw 220 innings this season. Shapiro added that GM Ross Atkins is on his way to discuss scenarios with Sanchez, manager John Gibbons and pitching coach Pete Walker at today. Said Shapiro of the innings limitation on Sanchez: “There’s no safe way to shut him down and ramp him up again. If you take that out, it’s simply do you let him start to a point where he either fatigues and mandates being shut down or he reaches some arbitrary inning amount — 190 or whatever it is — …or do we reallocate this innings in the bullpen and let him continue to contribute to this team in high-leverage situations?”
Miller needs to be playing left field.
I say DH because Dickerson is a better fielder and they want miller because of his bat.
Gosh, I’m sorry it isn’t easy to cut a player and use the at bats to develop some of your prospects. I’m thinking you need to pass the big boy pants to someone who they fit if you aren’t up to the job.
1. The money is already spent.
2. You don’t need to sign a replacement. you just need to promote one.
3. The team will be better this year
4. The team will be better next year, the year after and the year after that.
The only thing the Yankees stand to possibly gain is Arod accepting a buyout at some point. Which means the team is choosing to screw over it’s fans and employees to maybe save a few million dollars if Arod decides he’d rather stay home and is willing to pay for the right.
Do you guys think all of your fans are children? It’s hard? What a joke!
They also said they wouldn’t be sellers.
totally agree. i can’t understand the logic. they SPENT the money. it’s like keep pitching someone even though they are terrible just because they make a lot of money. you aren’t getting it back if you play them. accept your loses and move on.
Because I’m sure you know a lot more of the ins-and-outs of baseball than Brian Cashman. Yes, they could easily get rid of him, but then they are essentially paying him something like $25 million to not play for them. Even if the player is struggling, that is not a smart move in-season move. They’re better off keeping him to the end of the year and then deciding to cut bait then. Like you said, they’re already paying him, so what’s the worst/best can happen? Best case, he returns to form (very unlikely) and helps the team out in the remaining few days. Worst case, he plays terribly and gets cut at the end of the year. Releasing him now isn’t going to do anything for the team. It’s not like he’s starting every game and getting a ton of at-bats…calling up a prospect to replace him now would hurt the prospect’s development more since said prospect would most likely be riding the bench as opposed to getting regular at-bats in the minors.
I’m not saying I know more than Brian Cashman. I’m saying he is a coward. That’s why I mentioned big boy pants. Not because he’s like you and pulls his ideas out of his rear end and needs better access.
You pay Arod just as much on the team as you do off the team so it doesn’t cost you any extra money.
Why isn’t it smart to move a player in season? Are you going to state that like it’s a fact (it isn’t a fact) and then not give a reason? Why are they better waiting until the end of the year? What do they gain?
I explained why the team is better now and in the future cutting Arod today. Did you not read my post? They have a lot of prospects and just went all in on a rebuild by trading their best players. Now, instead of letting the young players get a start on the rebuild, they are going to play the old guys and just let some of the prospects go in the rule 5 draft without even seeing what they can do in the majors?
The prospect only rides the bench IF THEY DON’T CUT THE VETS. You seem to be completely missing my point. You can’t rebuild if you don’t let the kids develop. Sitting on the bench in the majors is better than sitting on the bench in AAA because you just traded for a bunch of prospects and already sent a player hitting 400 to AA from AAA because there was no room in AAA.
You either rebuild or you don’t. You can’t collect prospects and keep them in AAA until they are proven.
Why is the best case him returning to form? Even if he starts hitting as well as Beltran was hitting the team is still worse than it was before the trades.
Once again,
1. The team is better this and every year after if they cut Arod now.
2. They don’t save any money keeping Arod
3. The prospects develop faster if you give them access to major league action
4. You don’t lose as many prospects in the rule 5 draft because you know what you have & can keep the good ones
I honestly see zero reason to keep him other than cheer leader and pitching coach for a bunch of major league vets. Are you hoping to win extra game, save money, make money, rebuild faster, what do you hope to gain?
The bigger problem is that he’s using up a roster spot; right now a roster spot has more value than Rodriguez.
You are right on the money. The money has already been spent and A-Rod has negative WAR. That’s not good. I say give A-Rod until the end of the year to prove what he’s got and take it from there. No need to make a rash decision when the Yankees aren’t really in “win-now” mode. (If they were, A-Rod would’ve been gone.)
Why till the end of the year?
If he turns things around do you bring him back?
If he helps us win a few more games do we see anything besides a lower draft choice?
When we lose 2 or 3 guys in the rule 5 draft that we didn’t even test drive in the majors the last month or two are we better?
Good or bad we’re heading down a different path and unless he might possible get 10 years younger the team is better off going a different direction.
Because cutting A-Rod and calling up a prospect just means the prospect is going to ride the bench, not A-Rod.
There’s no reason to cut him when the rosters expand in 27 days. He’s not taking ABs away from anyone who needs them. And you very rarely cut a player during the season.
It’s a moot point, because he’ll probably be cut in the off-season anyway.
And to worry about the Rule 5 draft in August is lolable. You have plenty of time to make roster movements to get all the possible goodies off the board.
Shenzhen
“Moncada’s big numbers at Double-A have prompted a move to third base”
Moncada has exactly zero innings played at 3rd, so I don’t know what you’re talking about.
What they are saying is that since he has great Double A numbers, they need to shift his position since he has no position to play in the majors if he were to stay at second. If he wasn’t playing great, there would be no need to switch his position since he wouldn’t be Major Leagues ready.
He’s played 3rd while in Cuba so he has some experience just not in the minors yet
They have reportedly been working Moncada out at 3B and OF prior to games recently….my guess is this is what the post is referring to, but you are right in that he hasn’t actually made an appearance there in an actual game.
Rodriguez does bring hitting expertise to the table and may help out the young guys in that regard this year. However, his contract to this point is a sunk cost, and the best teams derive value from 25/25 roster spots. The Yankees are much less concerned about winning in ’16 as they are about developing younger players so I can see the unquantifiable value derived from his presence at this point. That said, I’d be shocked if Rodriguez was on the ’17 opening day roster.
Unquantifiable in regards to immeasurable since there is no way to value “clubhouse presence”.
That sounds good until you realize the kids aren’t there unless they get rid of the old guys.
Not referencing any other old guys except for A Rod. Sanchez was called up yesterday, Judge and Austin are set to be called up soon as well, and the rosters expand to 40 in less than a month. Not sure how having him on the roster, will have an impact on prospects called up from now until the rest of the season. Especially with the aforementioned roster expansion. Now next season when 25 roster spots have more importance, in what hopefully will turn out to be a more prosperous year than ’16, I just don’t see how they can waste a spot on him regardless of how much $ he’s earning (or already earned depending how you look at it).
Tex is someone else that can go. I’d put him, Arod and McCann on waivers and McCann is the only one I would keep if none were claimed. I’d send Hicks packing or to AAA. He can come up when the rosters expand but he hasn’t earned any at bats.
Austin should have been called up a month ago with Higashioka to see if we could turn things around this year but they decided to keep playing the same old tune until after the trade deadline and even after cashing in our chips we’re still waiting.
You can’t look for some really compelling reason to develop a prospect at any specific point in time because promoting a prospect and giving him at bats isn’t about getting immediate results. Getting some of these guys up and playing full time immediately however can save you from a terrible mistake or give you some direction for off season investments. You shouldn’t delay player development because you can do it later. Do you want a 2 year rebuild or a 3 year rebuild. That is what the last 2 months of cost us in addition to any prayer of competing this year.
Just a month of time in the majors doesn’t matter to someone like Arod but to a minor league player that month is either the entirety of his major league experience this year or half of it. It’s very significant to get some exposure before the off season and 100 at bats is a lot better than 30.
I agree with most of what you said except that even at this point Tex (glove, hitting at least lightly as of late) and McCann (OBP/Slugging) are still providing SOME value, as opposed to sitting on the bench 9/10 games and having no position. Not opposed to getting rid of Tex, but I wouldn’t get rid of McCann on waivers and eat all that salary for nothing in return. That’s ludicrous. He can be had for something in the off-season (salary relief or prospects). As far as prospects go, Judge wasn’t truly ready even after his hot streak and at the time he was injured (although had he stayed healthy, he might have been by now). Sanchez and Austin are, you’ll get no argument from me on that. But there’s not really prospects oozing with potential at the AAA level too. I’d also like to caution you about bringing guys up to early when they aren’t ready just to give them a shot and see what you have. Every timeline is different and rushing prospects strictly because they’re “toolsy”, exciting, or an open spot at the MLB level, isn’t the best interests for a prospects developmental timeline. It’s a foolish move. Buxton is a prime example. Additionally it serves a franchise THAT much more to hold off on promotions and act with caution, to delay arb. and FA. Not saying that’s morally right, but that’s the system.
If the Yankees are going to delay the training of the next generation of players by a whole year to avoid 60 days of service time that’s a real bummer.
I would put McCann through waiver and let him and his salary go if someone claimed him but pull hi back and keep him if no one does.
The problem with the “value” you talk about with tex. What is that value beyond stats which have no value? A few more wins this year gets you a worse draft choice & still doesn’t get you into the play offs or get you a prize of any kind.
I can see the money saving goal but the place to save money is Clippard. Not delaying free agency for Tyler Austin for a year.
If the next dynasty is the goal we should be single minded in it’s pursuit. Developing too many prospects is a much better way to save money than making sure tex gets every at bat he’s paid for.
I think Sanchez should stay as a SP and start being monitored closely when he reaches about 170-180 IN of work if they want him to succeed at the MLB level and use him as a starter next season. Besides; he’s having a Cy caliber type of season and I think it will be very selfish and unfair to take that away from him just because of IN Limits when Stroman hasn’t pitched much aether and is not being consider a shut down candidate. I think the back end of the bullpen will be just fine with the likes of:
Feldman, Benoit, Cecil, Grilli, Osuna.
While the Rotation will ever OK with Sanchez getting some extra rest with Liriano’s presence on a 6man rotation !
Estrada
Happ
Sanchez
Liriano
Stroman
Dickey
Moncada should stay playing 2B and becoming Bogaert new 2B play partner while shifting Pedroia to 3B !
What? The horrible English in the comments section is really starting to get to me. Plus you’re just flat out wrong. Pedroia should stay at second.
I don’t think Pedroia has the Arm to play 3B and he is a very good defensive 2B the move would make no sense at all.
Bogaerts can say this in 4 languages clearer than you can say it in one
I disagree. Monads is the 3B of the future. The future is now or 2017. Pety is THE team leader and he stays at 2B.
Darn spell check!
Lol, Monads.
Bad idea. Moncada has the arm, range, and ability to play 3rd
Move one of the best defenisve 2b to 3b, to give a kid who has never played a ML game the chance to play 2b?
That’s insane. 4 time Gold Glove Winner, with more to come. And he’s never played 3B. Plus he’s 32 years old; and his arm isn’t getting any stronger. You don’t tell Pedroia where to play, he tells you.
Pedroia was a shortstop in college but was moved to second because of his arm. Betts already moved out of deference to Pedroia, and Moncada will have to as well.
Hahaha! Well said!
Pedroia doesn’t have the arm for third
Also Moncada has played third for two years back in Cuba .. Not like he is just starting out there … Also note Moncada had not played the last two nights at AA… Possible something in the works, but Han Rams situation is day to day… Posturing
Some Boston sports radio people think it’s because of an attitude problem after benintendi got promoted. I’m not convinced
Please are you serious about Pedroia he is the 2nd baseman it is Moncada that needs a new position it’s why Betts was moved off of 2nd.
Sanchez should stay Asa SP and period !!!
Well, then he would be shut down at some point and that would be it for his season. They are not going to let him throw past a certain amount of innings, Shapiro just made that perfectly clear.
How about pitchers pitch until they can’t pitch anymore.
Heck, some suggest that pitchers are not pitching enough. That a pitcher’s arm goes from hot to cold to often that the muscles are not lose enough and thus causes breaks & tears. That’s what japan does. 6-man rotation but no innings limit. They also condition their arms (and body) better through messages, hot/cold spa treatment, and more.
Article on the matter… sportsonearth.com/article/76156074/major-league-ba…
They also don’t throw anywhere near as hard on a consistent basis as the average pitcher in MLB.
You need to read Jeff Pasaan’s “The Arm” to learn more about the Japanese baseball culture. The “throw until you can’t anymore” mentality leads to significantly more injuries in kids and teenagers. While I’m not saying the mentality we have in the U.S. is right, there is legitimate evidence showing that Japan’s baseball culture is awful for a pitcher’s arm.
The history of Japanese pitchers and injuries when they come to the majors is…umm…not good at all. It’s not just the 6-man rotation. They are also pitching to much better hitters with more exertion per pitch.
Why move Moncada to third where is blocked by Pablo Sandoval?
Unfortunately for Brad Miller, playing shortstop involves fielding.
Especially with his below average slash line. You can stomach correas defense with his offense, but millers isn’t good enough to carry both
Fantastic watching ARod efficiently fade away, a true pleasure. ARod is despicable. I agree with the post above, I see no merit in hanging on to ARod (other than allowing me to continue watching his downfall). Come on, Yanks, release the bum, you’ve got the right idea with the youth movement. Release ARod.
Wonder if the ya Kees would be interested in a touki toussaint arroyo type deal
Seriously doubt it
I am thinking it’s close to time to trade Pedroia. Wait! Hear me out!
I think Pedroia is great, he’s one of my favorite players, and has tremendous value to this club. He also would fetch a lot of talent on the market. I think they should hear offers after this season.
He’s about to turn 33. He will probably put together a 3.5+ WAR season this year. It’ll be his best season since 2013, because he had some injuries the last two. It’s not hard to imagine him putting up 5 WAR for 2017, and maybe even 2018. He is signed to ~$15M/year for the next 5 years, until he is 37. He’s arguably under priced, where usually established talent is over priced.
But, he’s blocking Moncada. Moncada is, by many estimates, a can’t miss All Star caliber player. Redeveloping him into a 3B/OF costs him development time. Does anyone doubt that shifting Xander to 3B for a season cost him a year?
I’m very worried that Pedroia will fall off sometime in the next few years, Sox will have a hard time benching him or playing Moncada, and the team will suffer. However, if you address this now, maybe you’ll get blown away by a package in the offseason.