The latest from the East Coast:
- The Orioles will trade impending free-agent shortstop Manny Machado this year, but it’s not going to happen until closer to the July 31 non-waiver deadline, says FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal (video link). Despite Machado’s best efforts, the Orioles are off to a nightmarish start (7-20) and already sit 9.5 games out of a wild-card spot. Nevertheless, they’re not ready to consider dealing key pieces yet, according to Rosenthal. The team just spent a combined $76MM on free-agent pitchers during the offseason, after all, and has been without injured veterans in second baseman Jonathan Schoop, designated hitter Mark Trumbo and closer Zach Britton for most or all of the season. Both Schoop and Trumbo figure to come off the disabled list soon, which should give the O’s a better chance to climb back in the race, though they already looked like playoff long shots even before losing 20 of 27 to open the year.
- More from Rosenthal, who notes (video link via Twitter) that the Yankees have an interesting situation developing at third base. It’s unclear how they’ll divide time at the position between hot-hitting rookie Miguel Andujar and Brandon Drury when the latter returns soon from the DL. Drury has been down with migraines since April 7, opening the door for the 23-year-old Andujar to come up and thrive. But Andujar could head back to the minors or even become trade bait with Drury around, Rosenthal observes. The Yankees are bullish on Drury, whom they had been pursuing for a while before parting with multiple prospects to acquire him from the Diamondbacks in February. Manager Aaron Boone confirmed the Yankees’ high opinion of Drury on Saturday, telling George A. King III of the New York Post and other reporters that they “view him as a front-line third baseman.” Drury’s still just 25 and under control for four years, including this one.
- Phillies shortstop J.P. Crawford has a strained right forearm and could require a DL stint, manager Gabe Kapler informed Matt Breen of the Philly.com and other reporters Saturday. The club will know more Sunday when Crawford undergoes an MRI. Crawford left the team’s game Saturday with numbness in his arm, and he revealed afterward that the injury has been an issue for a few days. Breen wonders if it could help explain Crawford’s NL-worst five errors in the field. The former top prospect has also struggled offensively, having hit a paltry .188/.246/.328 (58 wRC+) in 71 plate appearances. Should Crawford go to the DL, the Phillies would likely recall Roman Quinn or Jesmuel Valentin from Triple-A to take his roster spot, per Breen.
I think it would be very unwise of The Yankees to use Andujar as trade bait right now, and when Dury comes off The DL.
Goes both ways. If it was up to me, I’d keep him, but I’m sure you were saying the same thing when Profar (who just hit a HR today) was regarded as a consensus top prospect.
I’ve been excited for Miguel Andujar, this whole off-season, only to be greeted by naysayers lol
I’m happy for the kid, this is a good problem to have, for the Yankees.
Getting to where Rosenthal is pretty inconsistent. Where’s Joel Sherman when you need a level opinion?
Andujar is ranked #63 on the mlb prospect list. He’s only raised his stock since then. He’s only 23. Letting him keep the job is an absolute no brainer.
Honestly I can’t see the FO making any changes with the offense clicking the way it has. Andujar is earning his spot, Drury is a decent player and might even have the tools to be an excellent player, but he’s not really proved anything yet.
Andujar is very promising and off to a great start, but he’s had 84 MLB AB compared to 985 for Drury (at age 25) – it could be argued who’s “really proved anything” at those sample sizes, particularly when defense is taken into consideration. (And plenty of top 100 prospects have flopped, the numbers are no guarantee.)
I kind of agree even though I would be rabid if the Yanks traded Andujar. Drury has shown he is a good player, and if they get this migraine topped with blurry vision stuff handled then he might even turn into a very good player. He said that he’s been dealing with these symptoms for years, and if he can be a good player tracking a blurry baseball then he might be really good one tracking a clear ball. It’s a good problem to have, but I think that either Drury or Andujar should start learning first base fast, as I have no confidence in Bird, I like Austin but don’t think he’s on par with either of them, and as much as I like Walker, he seems like a really nice guy, he’s not the solution. No matter how you look at though, it’s a good time to be a Yankee fan.
Also, if they send someone down I think it should be Torres, not Andujar. Torres has impressed while being up, and I think he is ready for the big leagues (and has earned it), but I feel like out of the two he is the one who will benefit the most from some more seasoning. And if that’s the case, this all might be figured out by next year at the latest, a move to first base or a clearer rotation of DH at-bats between Stanton, Andujar, and Sanchez (who should probably be DHing more than he has this year to keep him fresh), and then we could all take a deep breath and not worry about the team trading these talented kids.
Austin is a better bat than Drury.. There is no reason why all three can’t be on the team with Drury as a Super U. Of course this would mean the loss of fan favorite The Little Toe!
Andujar isn’t going anywhere, including the minors!
You don’t trade a young controllable future hall of Famer. And you def don’t replace him with a lesser player in Machado.
And you don’t fail this much at trolling…
The Yankees aren’t getting Machado. Why is everyone dreaming about this? Machado wants to play short. The Yankees have Didi. Why ruin any type of chemistry the Yankees have lacked for years. I don’t want Machado. Let him sign somewhere else. The future is with Andujar and Torres.
I just hope the Evil Empire acquires Machado so we can stop the pain n just crown them the Kings of the Evil Empire.
Couldn’t make any sense of this
Lol were you drunk when you typed that comment?
opinion I say. I think Manny will be resigned.
No way. That team is a disaster. They will trade him
At the deadline.
Andujar homered 4/23 –his 7th consecutive game with an extra-base hit.
Only other Yankees to string seven consecutive games with an extra-base hit before age 24?
Joe DiMaggio (1937) and Mickey Mantle (1955)
Plus he leads the league in doubles.
Wait, the Orioles actually thought they were gonna win games?
I don’t think any contending team is gonna give much of anything for Machado unless is a sign and trade. They know they can keep assets and go after Harper or Manny in offseason.
Baltimore is screwed.
Even the Evil Empire won’t give them much since they can snap him up as FA just like what Manny says
Andujar and Didi are beasts and the naysayers should apologize
sorry
its ok:) we cant get them all correct
1. Cut Neil Walker (which might not be too easy) to make room for Drury
2. Drop a bullpen arm (Germán, Cole, or Holder) for Bird when he returns
3. Send down the two remaining arms mentioned above when Warren and Kahnle are healthy
I think they should drop a bullpen arm (Cole) for Drury when he comes back. Then, if everyone else stays productive and healthy, you can release or trade Walker when Bird is back.
That way, you can continue to alternate Austin/Walker at 1st in the meantime. Drury can play both 2nd & 3rd, so they can sit Andujar and Torres twice a week each. That way they will all get 4-5 starts a week.
I never drank the Walker Kool-Aid many of these mlbtr writers (and world) were drinking when NYY signed Neil
but to be fair, Walker was terrible in April of last season (.195 /.273 / .310) with a full spring.., I suspect better days are coming, problem is, he might not have enough time.
Walker went 2-for-5, with 3 runs scored today, raising his BA .164 to .181 in the 2nd game of the LAA-NYY series.
He also had 2 hard hit balls, first game, one of which saw him robbed of three-run homer by Calhoun, he had to settle for sac fly, nothing to show for it (0-3)
Yanks won’t cut Walker because they need as much of his salary back as possible to possibly acquire a pitcher before the deadline and still stay under the tax. I can see a trade for a player to be named down the road.
Good post. Finally someone with a brain.
Andujar straight up for Chris Archer.
No one wants overrated Archer.
Neither team would do that
The Yanks might, but I doubt the Rays would.
I was thinking that the Rays might but not the Yanks…
That deal is premature and light but it’s exactly Rosenthal’s point. Trade surplus for the perceived missing piece which virtually everyone expects will be a controllable starter.
Package them both for Machado
Why would they trade anyone for Machado when they have..an abundance of infielders as is and if they want him they can sign him this Winter. If they trade for anything it will be a starter. Do you watch or follow the Yankees?
They think real life is MLB the Show if they dont have whoever the big name is its not worth playing. Why trade great infielders for an infielder? Who knows, it makes no sense.
This is exactly why I commented on this in another chain. Why are we so high on Drury. He’s got 3 years in the majors and has put up mediocre stats. He also played in Arizona, where everyone can hit and still only put together mediocre stats. The Yankees always do this. They refuse to trust their farm system and go get a veteran who plays just well enough to trade away their prospect. Andujar has done nothing but prove he can hit. Even if he doesn’t pan out giving up Drury isn’t going to hurt because you can find 275 with 15 homers on the scrap heap.
Agree with above though to cut walker but once bird comes back they will have to cut someone else. Should be Drury, or trade him for prospects.
They wanted Drury and traded a good prospect to get him. They’re not gonna cut or trade him.
If Andujar and Torres keep it up like how they’re playing(I know its very early), I think the Yankees would set their sights back on Harper.. They could use a big lefty bat, especially if Bird is never healthy.
I think the opposite. If Andjuar and Torres continue hitting they’ll target a big pitcher, not an elite, 40M/yr hitter. With those two added to Judge, Stanton, Sanchez, Didi, and Clint Frazier in the minors, their lineup will be just fine for a very long time. They need to set their sights on signing big time pitchers. If Kershaw opts out I’d rather spend on him than Harper.
Manny should never be traded. Once in a lifetime player. Could be one of top 10 best ever. Oriole’s are facing this dilemma because Davis was signed and for much more than $15M. GM should be fired. Is Davis on a drug ? Maybe not because then he might be hitting. Maybe he’s afraid of being hit with a pitch, standing so upright instead of crouching and having a level swing. Needs higher percentage of bat head time in strike zone bubba !
Yeah, it was all the GM. Right…… Angelos is a senile old geezer. That’s where your blame should go.
My feeling on Andujar as trade bait depends greatly on who the Yankees would get in return. If he was the center of a package for a young cost-controlled ace, I could deal with it. Yankees desperately need top flight starting pitching.
Trading Andujar because he is blocked by Brandon Drury of all people sounds like a very bad idea
Orioles will suck until Angelos is gone.
Trade Drury for a young controllable ace. Not many elite 3rd base options out there and NY has 2. Good problem to have.
lofl
Drury for a young controlled ace? LoL! U r joking right?
Are the Orioles aware that the longer they wait to trade Machado, the less they’ll get for him?
Trade him to the Dodgers for some of their hot prospects. Plus, the Dodgers will be able to pay him going forward. Turner could go to first, Berlinger to LF and Manny to third. This gives the Dodgers the big RH bat they are searching for to compliment Seager and Bellinger.
Machado wants to play SS, plus moving all these players around the field will just result in poor defense
It’s so much fun watching so many argue over the first month. Lol. Remember Yanks fans (myself included), we had a shock dealt to us all last year when “they” claimed NYY wouldn’t win more than 80 games and boom. I wouldn’t start pressing the panic button just yet. Granted Sonny Gray isn’t working his command and our utility infielders aren’t showing up… But our kids sure are! Trading Andujar would be a stupiddddd move! Granted we might snag Manny… But, unless you net a high reward for Andujar, why trade this kid?? We aren’t Miami teams that gut our roster.
So, listen…I am 76 years old and will put up $500 that I can hit as bad as Davis.