The latest from the Bronx, courtesy of George A. King III of the New York Post:
- After losing out on Patrick Corbin and Nathan Eovaldi in free agency, the Yankees are reportedly considering re-signing left-hander J.A. Happ. However, there’s “industry buzz” that the team wants Happ back on a two-year deal, while he’s seeking a three-year pact, King reports. Despite Happ’s age (36), MLBTR does predict he’ll receive a three-year contract, considering he has offered terrific production dating back to 2015. As for the Yankees, cautiousness has been a theme for them this winter when it comes to free-agent starters. They fell a year and $40MM short of the Nationals’ six-year, $140MM winning bid for Corbin, were reportedly “hesitant” to give Eovaldi four years (which he got from the Red Sox) and now seem leery of overcommitting to Happ.
- Lefty reliever Zach Britton, like Happ, joined the Yankees in a midsummer trade. It now appears Britton’s Yankees tenure will go down as a fleeting one, as he’s a near-lock to leave for a team that would use him as a closer, according to King. The Yankees, of course, already have an established ninth-inning option in Aroldis Chapman. The 30-year-old Britton is also accustomed to closing, having racked up 139 saves with the Orioles from 2014-18. Britton was an elite closer at times during that span, which will help his cause on the open market.
- While the Yankees’ bullpen could lose Britton, it may welcome back free-agent righty Adam Warren. It’s not “out of the question” that the Yankees could bring back the 31-year-old, King writes. Warren has already been a Yankee twice, and both tenures ended with trades (he went to the Cubs for Starlin Castro in 2015, back to the Yankees when they dealt Chapman to Chicago in 2016, then to the Mariners in a surprise move last summer). Despite the Yankees’ proclivity for giving up Warren, he has mostly been effective since debuting in 2012. Between New York and Seattle last season, Warren pitched to a 3.19 ERA (albeit with a less encouraging 3.94 FIP) and posted 9.06 K/9 against 3.48 BB/9 in 51 2/3 innings.
And here we go again, Warren. He is so iffy.
So what happened to the big
get of 0ttovano or WHATEVER his name is?
That’s the media making those predictions. No one knows what the Yanks feel internally. I think, if healthy, the Yanks would feel comfortable bringing back guys that have already had previous success in NY. (Robo, Miller, Warren).
I just want that relief corp again, but know it’s unrealistic… They were fun to watch last year… As it stands, Yankees (still) dominant bullpen needs tinkering cuz it has no LH outside Chappy… Crazy!
Who’s to say the Yanks won’t sign two significant bullpen arms? Cashman listed them as a priority. Let the market play out.
DRob
I’m still surprised you call yourself a Yankees fan. Last seasons results between the Yanks & Sox could have easily gone the other way. The Yanks had injuries to deal with all season, esp with the Judge. The Sox had a season to remember with Mookie & JD. The season really only got interesting when Sale started becoming fragile. With two rookie managers it was a crap shoot. I think it turned out damn good for both. I’m expecting another season like ’18 but maybe closer.
But like I said, it’s hard to fathom you’re a true Yankees fan. You say you’ve followed baseball since early 50s. If that’s the case then I’m guessing you were probably a Dodgers fan. When both them & the Giants went west you adopted the Yankees.
All this is puzzling seeing you grew up in the NYC area during a time when the city had three great teams. Yet you initially didn’t care for me having the MYR name. It must be your inability to like the Red Sox. I liked the Sox in ’67 with Yaz. Never stopped following all three teams. Moving to Maine in ’83 I still follow all three teams. Granted ’86 was an interesting year but so was the ’00 series.
All this being said, I think you are the case of the pot calling the kettle black.
Start supporting your team instead of crapping on a new manager. Especially seeing you witnessed how the Yankees brass crapped on Casey after the ’60 WS.
I’m not sure MYR how you can speak in one breath about the golden age in NY baseball, and then later reference the Mets. The dodgers even as bums had ownership that cared and the owners of both teams cared about NYC until the day that they pulled up their stakes.
The Mets were lovable and laughable under the first two owners, however have become an example of a franchise with pathetic ownership under Mutt and Jeff.
How anyone can support a team that uses flash cards for distraction is beyond my belief. “Look here…we’re trying this year…oh I know we had so many injuries last year…blah, blah, blah.” In the meantime they are siphoning the fans’ financial support by vesting as a small market team over the past 20+ years.
Yeah, I don’t like what they’re doing to the Mets. But I haven’t given up on them either. I’ll crap on some of the dumb signings they make. But they were my first team. Those loveable bumbling Mets of the mid 60s. Joan Payson was a really nice owner. How these slimeball Wilpons ended up as owners I don’t know. Eventually they’ll go away just like CBS did when they were in charge of the Yankees. I’ll wait it out until 2031 when the Mets get in the WS again.
1973, 1986, 2000, 2015.
See the pattern?
I left ’69 out because it’s not part of the pattern.
I wasn’t trying to compare both eras of NYC baseball. Im pretty sure you’ll never see three franchises in one major market again. Especially as good as all three teams were. I guess not so much the Dodgers. I’m jealous of those who witnessed that era.
Instead of Happ would the Yankees trade Sonny Gray and Clint Frazier to the Dodgers for Rich Hill ($18MM in 2019 then FA) and a younger OF prospect (team has several good ones from which to choose) or 2b/SS prospect like Errol Robinson or Omar Estevez?
As a dodger fan, I would do this deal in a heartbeat. Balance out the left handedness of the rotation, and then either keep or flip Frazier… however I doubt that the Yankees would ever even consider this trade.
OK, why would the Yankees not do this deal? Yankees openly trying to trade Sonny Gray ($9MM on expiring contract) for Hill ($18MM expiring contract) who had a much better year and pitched very well against the Redsox. Yankees are overloaded with OF’ers at this time, so send Frazier to Dodgers with LA sending back a younger, well regarded OF prospect (Peters/Kendall/Rincon/Heredia) or infield prospect.
The Yankees are looking for a controllable mid-to-front of the rotation arm if they are gonna make a deal. Rich Hill has an extensive recent injury history and is a unreliable due to this and his age. The Yankees wouldn’t sell that low on Frazier, who they still believe can be a legitimate contributor now.
The one reason I could think is that Frazier + Gray could probably net you more than an expensive expiring starting, or at least a better pitcher than Hill.
I don’t think it’s a lopsided trade however, just depends on if they think they can do better, which they might be able to.
The surprising truth is that Gray still has a lot of value. He’s only a year removed from being a valuable starter (and in 2018 his splits showed he was a very different pitcher on the road), is still just 29, and is not terribly expensive. Frazier still has a lot of value as a blue chip, but his time is running out, and I think other teams know it. It’s now or never to be traded or find a spot in the Yankee outfield.
Frankly, I would like them to keep Frazier if they can’t use him to acquire a front line starter, and put him in left field with Stanton at DH (and playing Gardner as a 4th outfielder/PH/PR).
thanks for the reasoned reply.
Would Rich Hill be an upgrade over Gray? At Yankee Stadium yes but Gray pitcher pretty well outside of Yankee Stadium for the most part.. Would upgrading from Gray to Hill at Yankee Stadium enough to justify giving up Frazier.? It would really depend upon the prospect. For DJ Peters or Jeron Kendall sure. I’d make that deal. But those other guys that were mentioned Herridia, Robinson, Jackson etc wouldn’t do it. The big problem is that its not enough to pitch better than Gray at Yankee Stadium. We need guys who can give us innings to lower the workload on our bullpen. Hill pitched around 260 innings combined the last two years. He averaged a little over 5 innings a game. That’s CC Sabathia level and not enough of an upgrade for me.
Yankees wouldn’t do this deal. They’re selling the road version of Sonny Gray as having surplus value, that his home numbers are an anomaly, they won’t trade for zero surplus value in return, let alone attach a prospect.
Selling the road version, ignoring the home version?? Do you ignore undesirable facts all the time? Reality is a struggle? Love how you failed to mention the negative value, and only highlighted what you call surplus value. Its like you sell used cars for a living.
Oh, I know why….you are a yankee fan, and reality, there, is often a struggle, when you are the center of the universe.
My apologies.
For the record, I would LOVE to hear Cashman explain THIS concept to the other competant GMs in the room at Winter Meetings. Maybe he has it in .PPT form too??
You think I think this is rational? Cashman is doing his job, trying to get top dollar. I’m not buying any bridges, that doesn’t stop him from trying to sell one.
Also, I hate the Yankees.
His job is to be an effective leader. Not ignore facts and live in a false reality.
Every single thing about this post, from the smug superiority to the ironically jumbled and fractured grammar, is hilariously horrible.
So an effective leader doesn’t try to get max value on trade assets? What are you arguing here?
Well, Johnny GM, what I am pointing out is the giant black hole in your logic. Cashman is probably a fairly competant GM. I think we can agree on that. He likely knows the value of Gray, after all, he traded for him. But your proclamation of what the Yankees will and will not do, using partial facts as basis, was quite interesting and narrow-visioned to say the least. So, if you arent a Yankee fan, you are making great progress to fit right in.
Sonny Gray was very good in 2017. In 2018 he was very good on the road (almost night and day vs his home numbers, look them up it’s quite startling).
It’s clear he’s not a fit for New York, but it’s not crazy to think he could go to another team have a lot of success again considering he’s just 29 next season. Other teams see the same thing. Their job is try to get a good deal by arguing he’s more the New York version than the away version, and it’s Cashman’s job to do the inverse.
Ever hear of irony? Pause. Think about it.
How you fit through a doorway with that big head of yours, I’ll never know. This is not me making things up, I’m relaying what reliable reporters are saying. I’ll say it again – the Yankees will not trade Sonny Gray and Clint Frazier for Rich Hill.
I think irony is misspelling “competent” multiple times as you berate the intelligence of others.
Why would Cashman need to “explain” that to anyone? History has shown that often, pitchers that had success elsewhere came to NY, struggled, left and returned back to their previous selves. The Yanks won’t get value as IF his home numbers DIDN’T exist, but according to reports they’ve received lots of interest from teams who think his struggles in 2018 had more to do with NY and not an injury, decrease in velocity or anything like that.
Our expectations shouldn’t be for a top 100 prospect but outside of a top 100 surely doesn’t mean a “fringe” or “long-shot”.
Yes and you’re a good example of it right now. He gone.
You’re an idiot.do you honestly think other teams don’t understand that Gray had an almost 7 era at the Yankees stadium band box and a mid 3 era anywhere else?
Just because you’re an imbecile 3rdstrike. Doesn’t mean big league GMs are. They have all the data. And I’m a Met fan but unlike you I’m not in over my head
If the other GMs did not recognize the difference between Gray’s pitching at Yankee Stadium and his pitching away from Yankee Stadium there wouldn’t be as much interest around the league as there is. They are trying to value him as a Yankee Stadium pitcher to give up a less quality return. Cashman is trying to get as much as he can. At some point Cashman and some GM will meet in the middle.
LOL Johnny GM!
a 36 year old pitcher wants a 3 year deal? Ya….okay
I don’t buy into this Mets/Yanks never trade with each other nonsense. Work out a trade for Thor. One should include Frazier to play outfield. Perhaps a three team trade with Miami. Mets need catcher so JTR in the mix. I’m sure something can get done.
It all starts today.
I like the three team thinking.
Frazier only for Syndergaard naaa. You’ll have to include either Andjuiar or Torres in that deal. Remember the Marlins want Rosario, Conforto, and Nimmo. That’s why the Mets wanted to get Shawerber in the deal for Syndergaard. So then they could trade Conforto, and Nimmo for JTR
This JT Realmutto stuff has gotten out of hand. When exactly did he become Johnny Bench?
Hes a good player with 2 years of control remaining.
The marlins are acting like hes a#1 starter with 4 years if cintrol.
Wishful thinking, Frazier doesn’t even start the conversation.
Can we please stop this line of thinking. Look at what Cole, Verlander, or any other FOR guy was traded for. Andujar and Torres are no longer prospects. They each had a great rookie season. They will not be included in any realistic trades scenario being discussed unless it’s a bigger package that includes other things going back to NY. That’s not to say that a Kluber for example is not more valuable than Andujar but it’s just so rare that you see “proven” young player traded for SP. It’s almost always “true” prospects.
I didn’t mean Frazier/Thor straight up. Just threw Frazier’s name in there as one particular player. I’ll leave the other details to those in the know on here. I just figured getting Frazier as one piece would free up either Conforto or Nimmo as a player to swap to Miami for JTR.
I can see a three team swap with Yanks/Mets/Fish. Once again, details to the experts.
Also, until they can clone Mike Piazza, this JTR sounds like an improvement over what they have.
Conforto and nimmo for realmuto?
Thats ridiculous.
Totally agree.
Sure he is good, but way overhyped. Marlins are doing a great job at that
Wow you must be on Facebook?
Miami sends JT to the Mets?
Yanks send Andujar and another 1 or 2 decent prospect(s) to Miami?
Mets send Noah to Yanks?
Not buying it?
As a Yankee fan I love Noah competitive edge and attitude but what scares me allot is his violent delivery and injury history and the fact the Mets would consider trading there 2nd beat pitcher away leaving Defrom with question marks surrounding him?
Wheeler seemed to finally make that turn?
Matz always hurt?
Who I missing?
Gsellman????
DeGrom!
Hell throw Bonilla in…he’s still on the payroll.
I think this trade is good for all three teams.
If I’m the Mets, not interested in trading THOR for JTR, your 3 team scenario. Now, if it’s Frazier and andujar to the Mets, with yankees kicking prospects to the marlins and marlins sending JTR to the Mets, I would consider. I would even send the Yankees toddfather and Vargas so they get their arm and 3Bman for gray.
I’m good with this.
Everyone improves.
ANY pitcher can blow his arm out and be lost for up to two years, especially in today’s throw 100+ mph gas instead of changing speeds/eye level etc.
Even the Ryan Express knew how to pitch after a while. Didn’t hurt his changeup was probably 93.
As a yankee fan, you don’t trade andujar. Look what he did in year one. And we are not signing machado, imo at least, so why have to retool 3b.
I don’t think it’s that crazy, especially for a pitcher like Happ. He’s all about fastball location, not velocity. He’s one of the rare guys who can (and has) avoid the dreaded age regression.
He also did have a velo spike late in his career that he’s largely maintained
Rich Hill signed a three-year deal at 37 just 2 seasons ago. It’s not absurd for Happ to ask for something similar.
Rich Hill also has 1 terrific pitch (curve) he throws 50% of the time as his out pitch that is WELL above average and is LH. 2 big pluses in his favor over Happ.
Someone posted further above (not u) that Hill has an extensive injury history which is not really true. His issues now are really just blisters from all the curves he throws and delays between some of the starts on occasions, nothing else since he signed with Boston years back when believe he had just had shoulder surgery and that was all think he has had for major issues.
Happ is also LH.
And Hill has about the longest injury history of any pitcher that makes it until age 39. He had a serious back injury that limited him to 5 starts in 2008. He had shoulder surgery in 2009. Then he had Tommy John in 2011.
The way the Yankees are approaching this offseason they may as well concede the division to the Sox now!!!
They are saving every penny for MANNY
But are you are so right in any case.
Actually report just came out this morning that the Yankees will not go $300 mil for Machado, though they are meeting with Machado any day now if not already.
It sounds like their focus will be on adding another high end arm via trade and only jumping in on Machado and Harper if their markets don’t come to fruition. Given that Lerner said Harper would be leaving money on the table if he took $300 mil from them, that pretty much takes the Yanks out on Bryce.
I don’t see any way this off-season ends without Kluber or better in a Yanks uniform, but I have even changed my own thoughts on Machado or Harper to Yanks and believe neither will wind up in pinstripes.
Thefen,
I never said I wanted either of them, we don’t need Manny at all
There are other ways to go here.
I want Kluber more than anyone on this team.
I just feel Cash has something brewing.
Thefen,
I never said I wanted either of them,
They can have Manny! He’s big trouble, remember how his dirty play put Peddy out of commission for 2 seasons. He’s a dirty player.
How much you want to bet that the same people who refuse to sign up at the designated driver carts (you can potentially win a Yankees prize pack just for doing so) because they don’t get a free soda voucher are the same guys who are complaining about the Yankees being cheap?
No, they’re trying to avoid the mistakes they made in the past, signing big names with no regard for long term effects. They wanted Corbin, and made him a decent offer, but don’t feel he’s worth what the Nationals gave him. Same for Eovaldi.
Sure, they could have signed both and been better in 2019, but what then? Do you want them to be stuck with Corbin when he inevitably declines, and is sucking up a rotation spot because they’re paying him $23M?
They traded for Paxton and gave up their #1 prospect. That’s not nothing. And the offseason has just begun: the Yankees still have prospects and players to trade, a ton of money to spend, and there are a lot of big free agents still out there.
If they end up signing Manny Machado, David Robertson, and Adam Ottavino, trade for another quality pitcher, I bet you’ll be singing a very different tune.
So far I have no issues with what they’ve done so far, and I’m glad they steered clear of Corbin for that price. It’s still early. I have for one will be patient before declaring that they’ve conceded anything.
Lol Foreveryankees screen name. You and ey both bandwagon fans.
Are the Yankees gonna low-ball every pitcher by 1 year on their contract?
If so, I think Lance Lynn very well might be the best they do.
mr,
they are saving every penny
for Manny, really
Take your meds
Don’t they check at the home to see if she’s hiding them under her tongue?
The Yankees have enough money to sign Manny, Harper, Kimbrel, Keuchel and Britton, if they wanted to. Wouldn’t even be straining, financially. It would still keep their payroll under 45% of revenues (the Red Sox are at around 55%).
They won’t sign all five (my guess is, they’ll sign 3 of them, and trade for a fourth addition, a starter), but not out of a desire to save money. It’s out of a desire to stay flexible (keep some slots open or semi-open in the rotation and lineup), because the best options aren’t on the 2019 free agent market. They can be found in three places:
1. current trade market
2. future trade market (in the summer or next winter)
3. future free agent market (Arenado, Goldshmidt, Cole, Sale, MadBum, etc.), and of course Betts and Trout in 2021.
Yankee fans are impatient and want to win now at all cost, because that’s what they’ve been conditioned by old man George to be. But the Yankee front office isn’t. They are building a long term dynasty, not a one championship team like in 2009.
Mookie Betts isn’t going anywhere. Trout to the Phillies makes more sense. He grew up in Vineland NJ which is only a 35 minute drive from the stadium. He was a Phillies fan growing up.
Actually Millville NJ, south of Vineland and about an hour depending on traffic on 55 but I agree with the rest.
“He grew up in Vineland NJ”
You’re thinking of somebody else.
If I was Trout, I wouldn’t play for Philly for two reasons.
No DH and they suck. He’s Yankees bound…he even has the grooming.
Excellent post. The real income disparity in MLB isn’t that the Yanks (Red Sox, Dodgers et al) can have the biggest payroll, it’s that they can DOUBLE that payroll, and George Steinbrenner XXIII still will have his college education paid for.
And while the Sox spending 55% of their payroll is laudable, let’s remember everybody lies. The Sox claim they get 80M from NESN, hysterically underreporting the real value of that contract. They of course own NESN (80% of it anyway).
Fans everywhere are forgetting (easy to do Winter Meetings week) that it’s not what your roster looks like on April 1, but on August 1. Winter dealings are just the start. Billy Beane once said that there’s 3 seasons; you spend the first seeing what you’ve got, the second reacting to it, and the third hoping you’ve made the right choices.
Theo used to sit in his office in Boston with a spread sheet of AL East teams’ rosters….projected out FIVE years. He accurately predicted the 2009 rise of the Rays (“Even THEY can’t f**k this up” I believe was the direct quote, per Shaughnessy). And that was in 2005. Part of his job was to react to that data, as well as the immediate ones.
Cashman likely realizes that beating the Sox this year will be tough…core’s too young, ownership is aggressive, and DD reacts quickly. But he also realizes the Sox have little in the pipeline, and is reacting to that factor as well as the immediacy of 2019. He knows he has a likely playoff team this year, even if it’s only the Wild Card….weird things happen in the playoffs. So he has to be forward AND present thinking.
Actually he was born in Vineland and at some point moved to Millville where he played HS ball.
I spent a year at Glassboro State College in late ’70s. It all looked the same to me.
@bobtillman
Good post! The Baby Bombers of ’17 shocked everyone to the point that everyone figured they win it all in ’18.
But wasn’t it actually 2019/2020 when the Yanks FO thought they’d gel?
Also agree by farm systems & contracts that the Sox will be making changes after this season. The pendulum will swing the Yanks fans way.
It’s always been about pitching so here’s still hoping the Yanks/Mets can do something to help each other improve.
southbeachbully….he was born in Vineland because Millville doen’t have a hospital.. Millville only has a population of about 28,000 now and was about 26,000 in 1990. Vineland is now extremely populous (about 60,000) but is the largest city in NJ by area. I was born in Vineland like many in that area but never lived there.
*not extremely
Where would he play when Didi gets back? If they put him at third what do they do with Andujar? Is he gonna learn to switch hit, because they need a LH bat?
Harper is more likely. Would not be shocked at all. Yanks seem to ignore the guy they want and then BLAM. Tex reminds me of that. Yanks have a need for LH bat in LF.
I imagine that they will lowball every pitcher on the free agent market, yes. And they are right to do so, none of these pitchers are a good long term option for the Yankees.
By lowballing them, you are leaving open the possibility of moving them in the future, to replace them with one of the aces who are hitting free agency next winter.
If you pay top dollar, you’re stuck with them for 4 to 6 years, and that’s obviously not a situation the Yankees want to be in with the likes of Eovaldi and Corbin.
But don’t worry, when Sale and Gerrit Cole hit the market, the Yankees will at least match their best offers. They also won’t lowball Machado, if they decide they want him.
I don’t think there low balling any offers, Eovaldi and Corbin we’re both overpaid
Anyone smelling sour grapes? [Sniff, sniff]
I wanted Corbin on the Yankees. But as I told a buddy at work “he’s not an ace, and I don’t want them to pay him like one.” I for one am sad the Yanks won’t have him as their #3, but I also don’t think he’s worth the ace-like money he’s been given.
I’m not sour over it, I wish he was on the Yanks, but that’s the market for you. There’s always one team willing to ridiculously overpay. Used to be the Yankees. But then the Yankees around 2010 or so, started seeing why that’s not always he best idea.
Does anyone remember how bad the Yankees were in 2013? That team trotted out a lineup with Jayson Nix, Vernon Wells, Lyle Overbay, Chris Stewart and Travis Hafner on a daily basis. None of them hit more than .240.
That lineup was just awful, and it was the result of inflexibility due to the a miserable farm system and bad contracts. And what did they do to cure it?
They handed out possibly the worst contract in Yankees history to Jacoby Ellsbury. No, the Yankees finally have had a solid farm system the past few seasons– they need to use it wisely and NOT hand out stupid long term deals to guys who will never live up to it.
That said, there are TWO players on the market right now who are young and dynamic to be worth the mega deals they will surely get, and I suspect the Yankees are going to sign one of them.
I will testify that my fellow Yankee fans are quick to turn on some of the FA they may have wanted the Yanks to sign who end up signing elsewhere.
However, this isn’t an Ohtani situation. The Yanks could’ve signed ANY of Corbin and Eovaldi if they were wiling to outspend the competition,
We as fans can’t have it both ways. We can’t complain when the team sets a limit for what they will pay a FA or assets in a trade and THEN complain when that contract turns bad down the road or it’s an overpay.
Warren is a way to get good production without spending big bucks for it. Me likey.
And we know he can succeed in NY too.
Warren was a good cost controlled option for the Yankees, in the past. But they have no business wasting payroll on a mid-game reliever. They have plenty of arms in the system to take over those duties, at minimum wage.
They need to go after relievers who can shut down good teams late in the game, and in the playoffs.
AMMEN
@ Elaine
I’m going to rule out that your Irish.
Every good Catholic knows how to spell amen.
whoopsie AMEN
I have no problems with bringing back Warren. He’ll play the same role he always played. If one of those young kids push him to a lesser role then so be it. Iron sharpens iron. Make those youngsters earn their place rather than just hand it to them and scramble for an upgrade if they can’t handle it.
Lets get rid of the phrase after losing out, the Yankees have no desire to sign big name Free Agents. This is not the Boss’s team! The Yankees now operate as if the Katzenjammer Kids are running the show. When you resigned an old overweight pitcher with bad knees and an outfielder who can not hit second base on the fly or hit consistently not to mentioned he never worked on learning how to bunt that tells you the Yankee Front office mindset.
Typical fake Yankees fan whining about how people spend money that isn’t his. Do you still love the Ellsbury signing. If you don’t then you should be happy our team isn’t trying to repeat that mistake.
I have no negative feelings about the Ellsbury signing. Ellsbury certainly isn’t hurting the Yankees. He actually helped them, for a couple of years. And now he’s sitting on the DL, neither helping nor hurting.
And please don’t tell me that his contract is keeping the Yankees from paying others. The Yankees spent 25% or so or their revenues on payroll this year. That’s one of the lowest in the league. Teams like the Tigers and Orioles spent 70% of it, and the Red Sox 55%. The Yankees should be sitting at $300M payroll by the end of the winter.
By the way, the Red Sox won the World Series with about three times more dead money on their books than Ellsbury’s salary. So, obviously, that’s not the kind of obstacle people make it out to be. One bad signing is a drop in the bucket for a big market team. It doesn’t keep them from fielding a great team.
This dude really doesn’t know about the luxury tax. And to say ellsbury is neither helping nor hurting the Yankees is a moronic statement. And I’m a Yankees fan
If you know so much than why would you describe the Ellsbury situation so whacked?
Seriously dude. You need to understand what role CC and Gardner are going to play. You see how expensive if it is to get that last SP now. CC had a good 2018 relative to what is asked of a #5 PITCHER!!!! He’s not expected to do anything more than throw 150 + innings with an ERA under 4. He had a 3.65 ERA and a 2.5 WAR. That’s amazing production from a 5th starter. The Yanks just need to make sure they sign a guy good enough to keep CC in that #5 slot.
I can almost guarantee you that Gardner will not be the starting LF next year. He also had a WAR over too. They are both good signs for the reduced roles they are asking them to hold down. Stop complaining. Yanks traded for a $325 player, offered Corbin 5/$100 mil and you’re inferring that they are cheap?
To all Yankee fans saying “the kids are nothing like their father” as if that’s a bad thing, George ceased controlling this team YEARS ago. The same guys in control now are the same ones that put up the $$$$ to bring in Tex, Burnett, CC, Arod’s 2nd contract, Ellsbury, CC’s 2nd contract, Tanaka and others. SHUT UP AND STOP COMPLAINING. Look at what they HAVE done. Look at the kids they brought up. Look at the buy-low acquisitions of Didi, Hicks and Voit who combined for 11.5 WAR last year. Geez. Still tons of stars on the market.
Maybe they put in a bid for Kikuchi?
I would certainly be more curious about what he can do in pinstripes, than what Eovaldi would’ve done. Not optimistic, but curious. There’s at least a chance he could be solid. There’s no chance Eovaldi could’ve been.
Eovaldi was a yankee… a pretty decent pitcher before TJS. Did you just start watching baseball?
Stop being so arrogant. He is not the same pitcher today that he was when he was with the Yanks. The cutter he throws has helped him a lot. That being said, I’m glad they didn’t offer him 4/$65 mil because it’s mostly based off of what he did for a two month stretch. Not hating on him But I think he’s as risky as Paxton is considered and much more expensive too.
I never understood the Britton trade, and I think they regret it. Too much for too little. As for Corbin and Eovaldi, I don’t really blame them,. Three elbow surgeries (2 TJ) for a pitcher who had been just a little better than OK with them for a 2 year period–maybe they just didn’t want the risk. As for Corbin, he could be the guy who got away, but do people think 2018 was his true-talent level? It’s a big jump from where he had been before.
What’s hard to understand? They needed a lefty and they used Tate, a prospect that needed to be rule 5 protected and probably wasn’t going to make the mlb team.
The yanks really need to get Happ, unless they’re working on a trade for a pitcher. No way they can be stingy on Happ and settle for Lynn. That would effectively say they’re okay with being the wild card team again. At his point give happ the third year and deal with it then.
I would say let Britton go and try hardest to resign Robertson and sign Miller. Stay away from Ottavino – 33 year old reliever with one good season under his belt, pass.
Meh, offer him the third year. It’s not like it will be 3/70. Give him like 3/48-51
to bring the AAV down a bit and he’ll bite.
So the Yankees wanted Corbin for 5 years, but he got 6. They wanted Eovaldi for 3 years, but he gets 4. They want Happ for 2 years, but he wants 3. If I’m a free agent starting pitcher I go to the Yanks and ask for a 19 year contract, because someone else will give me 20.
Everybody uses the Yankees potential interest to “leverage up” their demands and thereby increase the offers other teams are willing to sign them by!
The Cole trade is a good example…..Pitt wanted an elite return and settled for a very middling one from the Astros.
When the Yankees are involved its always one more year, or an extra player, or greater dollars!
STRAGTEGY man…STRATEGY!
They should have let CC & Gardner walk and used that money for Corbin. They made three silly moves in CC Gardner and Walker
Walker hasn’t been signed yet.
I will give you Corbin but I don’t want happ for 3 years
Please someone give Happ 3 yrs (Philly’s stupid money). I absolutely love seeing NYY have to scramble for SPs. Lance Lynn is looking pretty good right now, huh? Has Sonny packed up yet? Maybe Pomeranz will take 2 yrs. Graveman?
Lol…
And Corey Kluber isnt walking through the door either.
Oh you know the Cleveland and NY organizations that well….they call you prior to making any trades do they??????
You shouldn’t talk about what you don’t know…..None of us know…..we just post our opinions and likely don’t really know squat about what is really happening or can happen until its done!
Anything is possible in baseball these days!
Your logic just gave me a headache.
Well another Yankee hater comes out of the closet…..hey Bub, that Yankee team you so quickly denigrate won 100 games last year and should win close to the same this is all unfolds pretty much the same.
Everybody complains when the Yankees outspend everyone else, now everyone complains when they embrace fiscal restraint……you Yankee haters should make up your minds!
No, I hate them whether they spend or not.
Jealousy…..jealousy….I guess success just gets your goat doesn’t it!
Sorry, what was that? I was gazing at a picture of Bostons 4 WS trophies.
🙂
Since when is 4 greater than the 7 i’ve seen in my lifetime or the 27 we’ve had historically? Yes, the last one was in 2009 but I love how Sox fans want to look only at when THEY started winning.
Dont even…
Here is what bothers me as a Yankee fan which nobody seems to be talking about.
Would have it been nice to have Corbin sure maybe so maybe not .
Here’s MY problem. The Yankees bring back Gardner who cannot hit himself outta a paper bag. You mean to tell me there were NO better options out there then Gardner? I mean come on now I could name 10! So ANOTHER YEAR watching this guy bat 240 with 6 homeruns COME ON NOW!
They also bring back CC instead of Happ!!? Give Gardner’s money and CC money to Corbin? They also bring back Walker? I mean come on what are they thinknig bringing back these three guys? This is the best you can do with the load of wonderful free agents that are out there this year?
These three guys they should have let WALK but SAME OL YANKEES
Why the hell do you assume Gardner is going to be the starting LF? You really think Cashman would decline his option and offer him less money to comeback and do the exact same job? Seriously…..some of my fellow fans are just stupid. And you want to act like bringing CC back for 1/8 mil is a problem after he had a 3.65 ERA in 150 IP as our #5 starter? Silly.
And if you think the reason why they stuck to 5/$100 to Corbin had anything to do with not having the $$$ because they gave CC and Gardner a combined $16 mil then you simply need to use more common sense.
Hal Steinbrenner is just cheap. There is no denying the obvious. Where George would kill a fly with a sledgehammer his Son, is much more interested in keeping the revenue train going than actually winning something. It’s too bad. Because the brand suffers.There was a time when the Ohtani’s, the Corbins, and Trout’s would flock to the Yankees because the Brand meant something. But Hal Steinbrenner who has never had to work a day in his life has no reason or drive to do anything except keep the money train rolling along
Gardner,CC,Walker makes total sense
There was a time when the Ohtanis*, the Corbins, and Trouts* would flock to NY because George would back up the money truck. Not because of “the Brand.”
*Not really applicable, but ok.
Backing up the money truck was part of it yes. But it’s was part and parcel of investing in their product and that IS the brand. They always made a profit regardless it’s why fans loved to hate them. they knew George wanted to win at all costs. Not so with Hal.
Mike Trout has never been a FA.
Learn to read. I never said Trout was. the point was that when they wanted someone George more often than not went out and got them. He invested in his product and played to win. Hal Steinbrenner plays to be competitive. His focus is keeping the revenue stream going
Steinbrenner was not the reason the Yanks won in the late 90s.It was Stick standing up to him and refusing to trade young talent like Jeter Posada Rivera and Williams. It was Stick trading Roberto Kelly for Paul O,Neill, Steinbrenner was behind ARod Giambi Teixara Sabbathia Clemens Pavano etc but for our dynasty teams it was mainly staying with our farm players a very unSteinbrenner type of approach
didn’t George sign Jimmy key, bring in Clemens,Wells,Strawberry and Gooden? And don’t forget wetteland. George bought an entire pitching staff. I love Petitte but he couldn’t start 5 games a week.
You obviously forgot that
So why mention Trout if he’s never been available for them to acquire?
Key and Wetteland were their for one year. Also obviously there were some people signed but they didn’t win all those WS because of those guys.They won those WS because of Posada Jeter Williams O’Neil Pettitte and Rivera.. They built around them but that was the core all those years
Learn how to make a concise point that everybody gets. Nowhere in post was that made clear.
So the same guy who signed off on the Stanton trade, signed Tex, Burnett, the Arod contract, Ellsbury, Tanaka, Chapman, CC’s 1st contract and the extension, is cheap? Smh….I’m done with guys like you. 100 win team and you’re mad because it’s Dec 10th and they stuck to their internal valuation on two pitchers that they refused to (in their valuations) overpay for.
I guarantee you that Ohtani and Corbin didn’t come to NY because their “brand” wasn’t attractive. Trout hasn’t even become a FA yet. You’re just ignorant.
No you’re ignorant the point is that the Yankees self proclaimed goal is the world series or bust. Fans don’t say that Hal Steinbrenner does. They have yearly revenues of over 500 million. So since they proclaimed that acquiring 2 top level starters as their purpose this offseason, there’s no excuse. You just don’t hold them accountable for what THEY say.
Yankee fans don’t play them like marionettes, making them say what they do. Hal Steinbrenner is cheap. When you earn almost 3 times your payroll every season, you can’t cry poormouth.
I don’t blame cashman he’s an employee and a fine GM. But Steinbrenner should shut his mouth and invest in his product. Instead of leeching off it.
You don’t like it I get it but those are facts as an IRS employee I’ve seen the returns, unlike you I’m not an imbecile
Your still not making any sense. Of course their goal is world series or bust and to their credit, they fielded a team that won 100 games DESPITE down years from Judge, Stanton, Sanchez and others. He traded for a guy earning $325 mil. How in the WORLD is Hal “cheap”. I also gave you numerous examples of all the big player contracts he’s signed. JUST because he was fed up with paying 50% lux tax doesn’t not mean he’s “cheap”.
Look…agree with me or disagree with me. BUT DO SO USING FACTS. You can say whatever you want about me but I ALWAYS try to use logic and FACTS to support what I say. You…..”ga huh ga huh..Stankees are cheap. Georgie was the best”. Smh
Southbeach I feel for you but take a deep breath. You know some Yankee fans think the Yanks should have every all star and every free agent.Forget them. Right now as you said the Yanks are a 100 win young team. We’ve already improved our team with the Paxton trade and Cashman is a very competent GM.We’ll be fine and those morons will keep screaming no matter what happens.Don’t let the clowns get to you
You can’t even spell willie, what do you know? The point is they are crying poormouth. It’s not the fans doing that. Cashman is an excellent G M. No fan made him say he wants two top starters.He said that of his own volition
All fans are doing is holding them to what THEY chose to say, no more no less
Yes and he got one and it’s December.Talk to me in March.
It’s just so frustrating. I mean I’m cool with others having their own opinion but yeash. It’s tough enough dealing with the Yankee-hate just because of rivalries. That;’s cool. That’s part of the fun. But to call the Yanks cheap because for 1 year they tried to reset the lux tax where 100 mil turns into 150 mil because of the lux tax DESPITE trading for a $325 mil player is just absurd. I want them to sign a FOR pitcher too but I can’t call them cheap for not committing to what they must’ve felt was a overpay. They could be wrong. But I would rather they make more thought out moves than what GS use to do back in the 80s.
The same people who are complaining now are the same guys who complain when the yanks were stuck with ARods and Texeiras contracts at the ends of their career and Ellsburys contract now
Who’s crying poor? Haha…
@willymays Exactly.
You’re an insufferable troll.
At the end of this week a lot of people will be singing different tunes.
Explain
Lot of trades and signings, you will love them or hate them. If your team does a trade you will love it or if they sign a free agent you will like it. If your team does nothing you will complain LOL.
I’ll be singing “Sussudio” by Phil Collins.
I have to assume that Peter Gabriel downvoted this.
How can the same guy who came up with In the Air at Night come up with that stupid Sussudio?
I preferred them all in Genesis anyways.
Learning to Fly by Pink Floyd
If your picking a Floyd song during free agency pick Money
Anything from Animals.
I guess you don’t want to be misunderstood. lol
Proof of this is selling the yes network. It was a cash grab. That better them a huge haul. But after doing that they realized that the network was the real revenue driver and now seek to buy it back, when it NEVER should have been sold in the first place. Hal Steinbrenner is not his father, Never had been, Never will be. And until the fans stop buying tickets and give Steinbrenner a reason to change, they won’t be anything more than competitive.
Agreed that the Yankee organization needs someone to come into the organization at a high level and remind them that even though the Yankee brand is recognized worldwide and is one of THE strongest in sports, the modern day athlete is playing and motivated for different reasons than those of prior decades.
Top dollars and long term contracts, beards and facial hair etc., are what they are seeking and until the Levines and Hal realize this, Cashman will be hamstrung in negotiations with todays players singing a song they consider old!
I like that “singing a song they consider old”, soon enough those high revenues will dwindle. If the Yankees continue to sit on their thumbs the fans will revolt by not watching.
Ummmm…..I’m in my 40’s. Other than the titles in the 70’s what was so great about Steinbrenner’s era again?
Are you guys so young that you forget that the Yanks didn’t turn things around until AFTER George was banded from baseball in the early 90’s?
Yanks built up their farm and THEN traded or signed the vets that went along to help with those 4 in the 90s. They won because George had not say in running the team.
idiots.
I’m 60 and it’s you who is the idiot. The Yankees were sold at a loss by CBS in 1972, George built the cash cow they have become by investing in his product.
You’re probably the stupidest so called Yankee fan ever.The point is George continuously invested in his product. Hal Steinbrenner does do that. He sold the YES network and realized it was a huge mistake and now seeks to buy it back
So go away you little bit you’re totally clueless.
And I thank him for letting a young Yankee fan see WS wins in 77 and 78. But to acknowledge the good (the revitalization of the franchise in the 70s and the general must-win spirit that lives on to this day) and ignore the horrendous moves and playoff droughts for the remainder of his reign from 1982-1990 is absolutely revisionist history. You sir, with all due respect, should know better because saw the difference between the CBS era, the GS era, the ding-dong the with is gone era from 1991-2003 era and from then til now. You know better, And if you don’t then I can’t say much about your intelligence.
I mean dag on it, the guy was BANNED FROM BASEBALL. Think about all the shotty owners in sports and he’s one of the few that was BANNED.
CBS were liars in the 1960s just like they’ve lied since then. All the empty seats finally forced them out of ownership.
CBS: Can’t Believe S***
Yanks need to bite the bullet and sign Happ to a 3 year deal. This year will be CC’s last. If Happ is healthy he could at least be a solid #4 or #5 for the next 3 years. In 2019 you have a shot at a few really good SP assuming they don’t extend before the end of this upcoming season.
Bumgarner
Cole
Hamels
Mikolas
Odorizzi
Porcello
Sale
Verlander
Strasburg (should he opt out)
Wacha
Wheeler
I would love it if they would just go ahead and bring back Robertson. I don’t know, but I didn’t get the impression that Robo disliked NY at all. He probably just wants a 3 year deal since it might be his last big payday.
People think the Steinbrenner’s are cheap ever since the old man died? Have you seen some of the contracts they have paid out? Now they have Stanton and are paying 80% of the 325 million not to mention they are in discussions with Harper and they know how much it would take to sign him.
Dude it’s just so amazing the stupidity that some of my fellow Yanks make. George had a great “spirit” but what did the he do other than the the titles in the 70s? We didn’t make the playoffs at all from 1981 until 1995. He’s band from BB operations, has no control over player moves and the Yanks have won 6 titles since 1996.
Hmmm….GS Era = 1973-1990 (year he was banned from day-to-day operations):
5 post-season visits, 4 world series appearances, 2 WS titles and 12 managerial changes.
1991-2018- 20 post-season appearances, 7 world series appearances, 5 WS titles and 4 managerial changes.
Exactly 17 years with GS and 17 years without. Included in his era were numerous scandals and embarasing moments. Other than the drive to win, what was so great about his legacy again? I mean, the Yanks went 11 years without even making it to the post-season. We didn’t develop any stars other than Mattingly.
I think the current organization has the “spirit” of GS but the proper baseball acumen to succeed in today’s game which is wildly different that that of the 70s/80s let alone even the 90s.
Southbeach youre a liar. George brought in wells. He brought in Key, Clemens, Wetteland, Gooden Strawberry. He may have been suspended for 2 years while the Yankees barely won 60 games but his money won those championships as much as gene Michael did
George was banned and the Yankees barely won 60 games the Yankees win because of the pitching George signed
And you’re an idiot because it’s well-known that when he returned back from the ban in 1993 he stayed away from day-to-day decisions and allowed Stick Michaels and others to make player personnel moves. That’s one of the reason why the Yanks were able to graduate the core 5 (Jeter, Bernie, Posada, Pettite and Mariano). And if you don’t know that then I don’t know if I can take you as a serious Yankee fan.
As for the Yankees….
I wanted Corbin but at 6/$141 it’s an easy pass. I believe Corbin had a career 4.13 ERA going into last season. His velo dipped this year (bounced back a little at the end but still) and he’s all about that slider. Again, I like the player and wanted him on the Yankees, but not for that contract.
I’m in the minority but I don’t want Harper or Manny if it’s silly money. The $300m+ contracts never, ever pan out. I don’t care how “in their prime” the players are, history tends to show that these large, absurd deals end up being regrettable far more often than not.
I’d like to see an Andrew Miller reunion with the Yanks. Yes he’s older now, velo has dipped (could be knee related), and his health has been in question but he’s a perfect 1 year high salary type signing. Even 2 years. If he’s healthy he’s excellent, and I’d much rather Miller > Britton with risk / reward / costs being considered.
I would not go 3 years on Happ unless it were a vesting option with some solid metrics needing to be reached. I like Happ as a reliable middle of the rotation arm, but he is 36 and when father time does come knocking, he usually isn’t all that patient waiting for you to open the door. The decline tends to be quick and steep. 3 years is too long of a guarantee. Pay more annually if you have to, but I do think the Yanks need him.
I would not have resigned CC. As my Patriots tend to operate with players, it’s better to be a year early (on parting ways) than a year too late. I
You’re a Pats & Yankees fan..smh
Cc Gardner Walker should have walked
Quick google search will tell you they haven’t resigned Walker, anyways 1 year deals don’t hurt anyone, Gardner’s a bench bat if and when we sign Harper, CC is a 5th starter, a great one at that, anyone complaining about CC just has the memories of him being an ace and still thinking he’s that.
I can’t think of a single of example of a 10 year contract given to a 26-year-old that didn’t pan out.
All the Yankee haters make me laugh. When they spend insane money on contracts by overpaying the Yankee haters get on them when they are being financially responsible than they are called cheap LOL. Also whoever said the Yankees sold the yes network please get drug tested LOL.
Smh. Tightwad Hal is letting the team go to crap. Red Sox just won a World Series and are already outspending the team by 60 million, and they go ahead and sign Eovaldi for 70 million — but we’re all like “der I don’t know if we can afford JA Happ.” Just disgraceful.
more pathetic is we now have a weakish farm system to tap into for trades. Cash unloaded the assets for basically nothing/just a chance to play a wild card game. Let’s go thorugh the list
1. sonny Gray (3 assets gone)- I know they have not done much in the majors but they had value. This was an F
2. Happ- again two assets for 7 weeks of wild card assurance- Happ made zero difference for this team on the end result and we could have used drury now!
3. Cutch- see happ comment. like him but no difference made.
4. lance Lynn- a joke- my 15 year old can hit him.
5. all the outfielders….think jake cave types
6. Rutherford at his peak for Robertson (who is fine but the white sox could not wait to dumb the $$$), Frazier (terrible), and Kahnle (not worth used gum).
7. 3 guys for 7 weeks of Britton……including one high end prospect who most likely won’t make it but had value.
8. Jaime Garcia (who is just lance lynn level awful for Littell and Enns……
From where I sit- we dumped about 7-10 assets that could have fetched something for nothing more than 2 wild card games.
yes I understand 40 man roster binds- but you tell me who in the list above is a difference maker? Robertson maybe, the rest? not worth what he gave up.
The Yankees team is made up of Judge Andujar Sanchez Severino Montgomery and Torres.All recent graduates of our farm system. We still have Florial Frazier Abreu Sheffield Loisiga Acevedo and Adams.I really don’t know what your problem is.Many players in their farm system have no place to go in the major leagues with the Yankees thus they’re expendable
Did i comment on the success of the farm? No- i commented on its current state and the loss of potential pieces traded for a hill of beans instead of quality.
we don’t have the piece/assets anymore for a top flight starter b/c he wasted so many assets on players who are average to average plus at best. prove me wrong in one trade i listed above.
don’t be a blind fool. i want to win every year and you can’t do with second tier pitching.
Argue if you want- but given that we are 10 years in with nothing more than WC games is the only proof needed.
I understood your point but the Yankees farm sysrem is far from weakish its middle of the pack or better and two of the top rookies of the year coming out of that farm system Thats my point
So you’re going to ignore the minor league players they kept (as mentioned by @williemays), the ones used to acquire Didi, Hicks, Green, Voit, etc and focus on the ones traded, none of which has given us reason to regret?
The only prospects I think we MIGHT regret is Taylor Widenor and possibly Nik Solak, both traded in the Drury trade.
We could use Drury to do what? You’re ignoring that he did absolutely nothing in 2018 due to his injuries. Are you assuming the Yanks would’ve committed to play him at 2b in 2019 and move Torres to SS while Didi is injured? That would be a stupid opinion to have since his presence would’ve likely meant that Andujar wouldn’t have received any real PT last year. Do you REALLY think the Yanks would’ve held on to a wild card spot had they NOT acquired Happ last year? Yanks were 9-2 in the 11 starts by Happ.
smh lmao wtf saf
who cares about the wild card, when your beloved happ got bombed in Fenway. when it mattered.
None of the trades I listed worked out and instead of being stocked to promote from within or trade we have what exactly???
we beat a crap A’s team- woohoo whip out the confetti.
Boston wasn’t just 8 games better. suck it up. cash blew the farm for what? Lets review sonny gray, lance lynn, and a hill of beans
your deportment and demeanor perfectly resembles you assumed intellect
I appreciate the Yankees cautionary approach to free agency, but so far they are losing out on some top quality players.
I’m 60 and it’s you who is the idiot. The Yankees were sold at a loss by CBS in 1972, George built the cash cow they have become by investing in his product.
You’re probably the stupidest so called Yankee fan ever.The point is George continuously invested in his product. Hal Steinbrenner does do that. He sold the YES network and realized it was a huge mistake and now seeks to buy it back
So go away you little bit you’re totally clueless.
When your revenues are 3 times your expenses ever y year crying about money doesnt fly
And his son I to cheap to pay the players! If George was alive there would be no guestion!! If he doesn’t want to invest he should sell the team!
Leave Happ alone, don’t want him in New York!!
HApp will never last 3 years to age 39. Yankees are smart offering him 2 years. Look elsewhere if he won’t accept 2 years.
Need a real number 1 starter or Boston and/or Houston get by us again. Its that simple. the pen and other bats are secondary back fill for Cash’s inability to get a true #1 SP. seve, tanaka and paxson are 2s and 3s…..