6:55pm: Manager Aaron Boone also spoke to the media today, revealing what many had already expected: Sabathia isn’t likely to be ready for the start of the season, either (link via Bryan Hoch of MLB.com).
“He had his second ’pen that went well [on Wednesday],” Boone said of Sabathia, who got a late start to Spring Training following offseason knee surgery and an angioplasty. “I certainly don’t expect him for the start of the season. It may be a couple of weeks in, if everything keeps going according to plan.”
Despite those maladies, the Yankees expect to use internal options like German, Loaisiga and others to round out the rotation while Severino and Sabathia mend in late March and early April.
3:05pm: Yankees GM Brian Cashman chatted with the media today, discussing in particular the team’s stance on its rotation depth. As Pete Caldera of the Bergen Record tweets, the veteran exec says he’s generally pleased with the existing slate of options.
It seems the Yanks aren’t terribly concerned about the outlook for staff ace Luis Severino, who’s laying low after experiencing some shoulder discomfort. Even if he isn’t expected to miss a lengthy stretch, though, some would argue that depth was a preexisting concern given the past health issues of some key members on the staff.
Cashman says he “like[s] the personnel” already on hand, downplaying the likelihood of a new outside acquisition. “Can’t rule anything out but the main focus is what we’ve got,” he explained.
The Yanks have already added three starters over the winter, re-signing J.A. Happ and CC Sabathia while acquiring James Paxton. Still, rumors have persisted that the Yanks are still kicking around the possibility of adding another arm. Free agent Gio Gonzalez popped up again in trade rumors last night and remains a hypothetical target.
Cashman’s true degree of interest in exploring the market is tough to surmise based upon his comments. There are certainly some plausible options on hand, with Domingo German, Jonathan Loaisiga, Luis Cessa, and Chance Adams seemingly being the likeliest to stake a claim.
In other news, Cashman touched upon the status of outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, who will report to Yankees camp in ten days or so. (Via Brendan Kuty of NJ.com, via Twitter.) At that point, the team will take a closer look at the veteran, who never appeared in competitive action last season. Ellsbury has dealt with a dizzying variety of ailments of late, with plantar fasciitis seemingly to blame for his current absence.
Why does seem like we’re always searching for SP?
**** the draft pick. Just sign Keuchel and be done with it.
He won’t sign in NY. He wouldn’t want to shave his beard for goofy, outdated team rules.
You are spreading fake news.
cbssports.com/mlb/news/dallas-keuchel-is-willing-t…
Just like the “fake news” that the Yankees had any interest in Harper right?
He said he’d be happy to shave the beard to play for the Yankees. Try following the sport.
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They can make whatever rules they want. Lots of employers have dress codes. But, you are entitled to your opinion.
Ha, the classic “My job can do this to me, they should be able to do it to him too.” News flash, you don’t bring enough value to the table to keep your employer from doing it to you. More than likely he does, and that’s why the players don’t have to live by the same rules you do.
Lol what are you talking about? He simply stated that employers have certain rules for employees, his value to his job has nothing to do with that, but nice straw man.
Sure, he’s also stating those rules apply to MLB players the same as others, which, with a few exceptions, is pretty much not true. Now the Yankees very well could be stubborn and stay in the 1950s and prohibit beards, and honestly Keuchel isn’t enough to make them change that. But I’d guess if Chris Sale, hypothetically, said he would sign in NY but not if they had that restriction, the restriction would be gone.
Dude above wasn’t just talking about certain employers work rules, he was attempting I suggest there could possibly be some sort of comparison between the work rules MLB players have to follow and most employers scenarios. These guys just don’t have to follow the same restrictions other employers put out, because what they do is worth millions. There’s just no comparison between MLB as an employer and this dude’s job.
I think that an overwhelmingly majority will follow their arcane rules if they’ll get more money out of it.
Sure, if it’s more money most would. But the reality is they have a choice and this guy really doesn’t. That’s why there’s no comparison.
Beards rule.
Neat & trim should be the new policy. I like seeing ballplayers neat & trim which is ironic considering my team is the Red Sox.
If someones entire personality revolves around their beard they might want to reconsider some things
james harden
what about him? i dont watch basketball. is he one of those guys obsessed with his own beard or something?
No championships
Goofy outdated rules?
They like to have a clean professional appearance with no name on back of the jersey either. I guess that bothers you also mr. millennial? Many professional jobs have rules in the real world and with the Yankees it’s tradition. I don’t mind tradition, in fact I embrace it.
It’s a terrible rule. There’s no reason for it to be there. Why they’d damage their own chance at free agents is beyond me.
Well the Yankees are the perfect conservative team…take a bunch of public money, build a stadium where the lower level is occupied mainly by Wall Street types and oh while we’re at it destroy a local park where black and Hispanic kids played.
They did take over a kids park for the stadium. They also built Heritage Park for the same kids. Get your facts instead of sharing your opinion.
Has there ever been a player to not choose play for the Yankees because of the policy tho? Probably not. And I’m pretty sure I can speak for anyone honestly here.. if Yankees asked you to play for them, you would be clean shaven right away & you wouldn’t get a wink of sleep that night.. it’s the Yankees. Love to hate their tradition.
I know that Mr. Burns really had a problem with Don Mattingly’s sideburns. But that was years ago now.
The Yankees have had these rules forever so why would they change now? I don’t think players dismiss the Yankees over facial hair but it is cool that Boston beats the snot out of them with long hair, beards and names on their backs. Is it outdated? Probably Does anyone really care? NOPE!
All rules that give a team no potential benefit and any rush of loss, no matter how small, are terrible.
*risk of loss
Southpaw is entitled to like his men whatever way he wants
Give one example of a player refusing to play for the Yankees because he didn’t want to shave.
if a player would rather choose his beard than to play for the yankees then i’ts probably not a fit anyway.
I’m glad the Yankees have a no beard or long hair policy. Keuchel looks like an absolute jerkoff with his beard. I could live with a neat, trimmed beard, but guys like Keuchel and Blackmon look ridiculous. Same goes for long hair, i.e. Syndergaard and Stanek.
Why do you think that? Do you also hate any time a player shows an ounce of personality?
One of the most ridiculous comments ever. Who gives a flying F$#@ how a player wears his hair or has a mustache or beard. The Yankees are the only team I know who wants it this way and no other sport really cares. Even tennis does not care. They only care if a woman is showing too much skin or if a guy has his balls hanging out. Maybe Golf has a code but who cares about those guys anyway.
No beard code in golf as far as I know. Check out Beef Johnson.
Southpaw prefers men clean shaving. My wife does too she doesn’t like the scruffy kiss
Wow,is MENSA aware of your brilliance? Now go back to asking Tim about fantasy league transactions. Never realized so many dudes on here were into beards. Yikes.
Clean shaving? I see you’re more into men’s beards than proper use of English. Maybe your wife can teach you the proper phrasing in between stories of all the bearded guys she’s seeing while you’re at work. Lol
Fact is the 21st century so far is the century of the beard — just like the 19th century. No wonder the Yankees aren’t dominant anymore.
actually Keuchel went on TV and said he would happily shave off the beard:
Free agent MLB star pitcher Dallas Keuchel is willing to comply with the New York Yankees’ no-facial-hair rule if the Bronx Bombers bid for him.
“For the right opportunity, I would happily shave this beard off,” Keuchel told FOX BusinessOpens a New Window. ’ Stuart VarneyOpens a New Window. on Friday.
Not stupid, not out dated.. it’s tradition !
I find nothing wrong with millionaires looking like professionals. And as for your comment, anyone who wouldn’t shave a beard for millions of dollars or a chance to play for the Yankees is an idiot.
Typical Yankee fan thinking everyone wants to play for the Yankees
callingoutdummies247,
Typical Mets’ fan, generalizing Yankee fans’ cuz jealous of success. (Or Mets’ lack thereof)
You have a better rotation; Lock up deGrom, before u lose him. (Not saying to the Yanks.)
Goofy, outdated, team rules?
You really think the loss of a 1st round pick is the main deterrent keeping the Yanks from signing Keuchel. a Boras client? I would say it’s likely the length of contract he’s seeking at age 31 and to a lesser extent his aav and lux tax implications.
1st round? No longer 1st round picks!
The Yankees will lose the pick they got from the Reds
Starting Pitching… bah. The yankees should have signed Machado or Harper. That would have fixed everything. :rolleyes
I don’t understand you. Were you molested by someone wearing a Yankee hat or something as a child? I doubt Cashman has passed on a SP that he felt was worth the ask. And since Manny nor Harper were signed it sort of makes your post irrelevant.
Rather, ask your stingy GM and owner where that Manny money went to since they didn’t sign him. Maybe they should be looking to improve that 60 win team of yours.
ChiSoxCity (‘chicago clown’)
Only thing anybody needs to admit is ur bias against NY and Cashman.
I agree the rotation situation is a bit puzzling but over the course of a season playing in Yankee Stadium for half the season a great offense will win you more games than a great rotation. A solid rotation with an amazing bullpen should be able to win a world championship. Boston didn’t win a title last year because of their starting five they won it because they had the two best hitters in the American League in their lineup. You can argue Trout was better than Martinez but looking at JD’s numbers from last season I don’t think so.
He does have a point the Yankees rotation is a major weakness in what is otherwise a good team. We all know you think Cashman is the bestest GM ever, but he is not, specially now that he can’t simply outspend everyone.
Well, it’s not awful, but it is definitely shaky, even though that they do have some good starters, including one, maybe two very good ones.
The Yankees don’t have the best rotation, but may have the best bullpen. I suspect their thought process is to have the bullpen pick up innings.
Yankees never really chased those free agents though. They both went NL. that’s a win for NYY. Their weakness is their rotation, but they have 2 guys who’d be a 1 on many teams & 2 other guys who would be a 2 or 3 on almost every team. And 4 guys who would slot at #1 in ChiSoxCity.
Cashman is probably best right now. He fix NY system for raising talent through system. He high performs, even under pressure and expectation. I only take crown from Cashman if Boone poops beds and misses playoffs
you confuse not wanting to drastically overpay for less than elite pitchers. the fact is that 43 pitchers had a 2.5 WAR or better last year and the yankees have 5 of them. they made a good offer to Corbin and they were outbid.
im wondering…. what elite FA pitcher did they pass on the last few years (not including Greinke for well known reasons)?
stick to bashing the cheap cellar dwelling White Sox. the team that seldom hands out 6 figures salary and struggle to reach 80 wins of late.
i implore you to do the research. either advance analytics mean something or they don’t. health is a concern but the talent 1-5 is hard to beat. 5 pitchers with a 2.5 WAR or better last year.
They have one very good pitcher who is now hurt, possibly not too concerning but still not pitching currently. The rest would be rest would be no better than the 3rd best starter on most playoff level teams.
The Yankees have so many quality pitching prospects in the minors there is no need to tie up the close to $20m a year Keuchel is wanting. Besides Montgomery will be back in July or August. Until then the Yankees can give German, Adams or Loaisiga starts.
You really should keep tabs on the Yankees farm before clamoring for them to sign someone. Abreu has a good chance to be ready for a call up towards the end of the year (top 100 prospect) and is seen as a future TOR pitcher. Acevedo should be ready early in the year and has hit 103mph with his fastball. Think of a young Betances with a decent 3rd pitch and a bit better control. They also have Schmidt a former first rounder who was a polished college pitcher that should move through the minors quickly and Medina (another future TOR) who will be ready towards the end of next year.
In 2 years when the Yankees young bats are fully into their prime they are going to have some high quality young pitchers to go along with them. The next Yankees dynasty will probably begin next year or in 2021. Cashman has outdone himself with quality drafting and international signings. Their advantage with money hasn’t really come into play with any of them except for Sanchez. He has put together a great scouting staff and so far hasn’t been burned by the prospects he has traded away.
Sorry about writing you a novel but us Yankee fans need to lose the mentality that they should plug every potential hole with a high priced free agent. I knew it was coming a few years ago when I read an interview with Cashman where he stated that he would enjoy switching to another team that didn’t have the financial muscle that the Yankees have. Hal catches a ton of flak for not being more like his father but in all honesty I think it’s more that he has put the team into Cashman’s hands and let him build it how he chooses.
Exactly. The sign everybody mentality is old. It’s boring. I want to watch young players who are hungry, more than older guys who are rich.
It’s not that it’s boring but signing everybody doesn’t work without a strong player development program complimenting it. The Yankees of the 70s maybe bought themselves pennants but the Yanks of the 90s were built around a core of homegrown guys like Jeter, Pettitte, etc. Top free agents these days are too expensive relative to their reliability. Half the top free agents bomb out within a few years or worse.
Yes the 90s teams were built around those four players but the success was driven by their high spending, there is no way around that. The Yankees had the ability to acquire just about any player they wanted. If they didn’t work out then they would simply them trade off and acquire someone else, while continuing to pay them as they toiled for others. It was something no other team could match. That’s how they won.
Of the farm system’s 30 prospects, 21 of them are pitchers. Is not one of them close enough to fill a fifth spot?
He already said he’d shave his beard for the right opportunity before the offseason began.
Keuchel would love the Yankees to join his non-existent market.
They should still stay away unless he takes a one year deal.
Two guys are going to miss a couple starts, so you want to committ 3-4 years at 12-18 mil per. Theyre likely to sign/extend judge at the end of the year. Then you are going to want them to chase Trout, too. They would have a 350-400 million dollar payroll if you ran the team!
Go with the opener, new way to lower cost and risk in a starting rotation. The Rays and Brewers perfected this and Yanks have a deeper and rotation. Note Sevy and Monty will return at some point this year too. Tanaka , Paxton, Happ, then Opener 1 combo(Holder,German, Betances, Ottovino, Britton), Opener 2 combo(Green, Cessa,Kahnle , Tarpley, Chappy)
Who plays more games this year – Pedroia or Ellsbury?
Cashman himself is more likely to pick up a bat than either of those two.
I think Cashman would rather have Ellsbury stay injured and pick up the 15 million in insurance money and the Sox might feel the same way.
Tis not even the 15 million it’s the roster spot.
15 million is worth a roster spot don’t you think?
Pedroia
Pedroia easy. More likely Ellsbury retires from injuries then actually plays a game.
Why would he leave the money on the table serious question if he retires he leaves money
I think he’s saying Ellsbury will “retire from injuries”, after 2021 team option is mercifully bought out for 5m… I would not blame him…
Yes, that is what he is saying.
Pedroia does.
Pedroia, but he will not play in a lot of games, though.
You really think Cessa and especially Adams are ahead of Domingo German in the pecking order?
Cessa probably is, only because he doesn’t have a minor league option and German does.
Nah just forgot to mention him! I’m adding him in there.
Yeah I was thinking this. Though I think Cessna had a good ST game. I know Adams had a horrific one.
Was there a person on earth that didn’t think that Ellsbury contract was terrible for the Yankees the second the ink dried?
Ellsbury and the Yankees FO, probably
I think it goes without saying that after a guy like Curtis Granderson hit 40 homers in back to back seasons by having the “perfect swing” for Yankee Stadium that they got arrogant and started chasing every left handed pull hitter who could turn that line drive off the wall power into homer power.
The Ellsbury contract insn’t nearly as bad as some other contracts , the Yanks are getting 15 million in insurance money for him. If he doesn’t play this year that’s 30 million and the rest of his contract is paid off. Players that are playing poorly like Heyward and Fowler are much worse contracts to me. Every team has bad contracts, the Sox had Panda and Castillo which were worse than Ellsbury, no insurance money for either. The Mets had Wright and Cespedes and so on.
Insurance money has no impact on the luxury tax thresholds, so the Yankees could care less about the insurance money. That’s a weekend in Vegas for Steinbrenner, Jr. What they really want is that albatross of a contract off the books entirely!
You are right, the Yanks made 619 million last year and they have the team they want right now. Cashman has stated he isn’t going after another pitcher with Sevy on the shelf. Hal did state that the team should be able to field a championship team under the cap. That 15 million from last year has them under the cap right now.
Listen they ALL have had hideous contracts, just too bad the Panda didn’t legitimately hurt himself. I live in the Bay Area n they love that slacker Panda. He fleeced the Redsox. It’s too bad they didn’t have a weight claus in contract. Lesson learned I hope when they have someone borderline like him n his weight. Panda should be ashamed of himself.
Highly-paid poor performers are also taking a spot in the 40-man roster where Ellsbury isnt.
Because we had identical player in gardy who was much cheaper and less injury prone and probably better locker rm leader.
Ellsbury’s had a 32 homer season, a 16 homer season and that’s it for all the times he’s reached double digits in that category. I’ll never understand how he could hit 32 in a year and only pass double digits once more in his baseball career.
Juice.
Probably of the apple or orange variety
some times everything just goes right and youre seeing every pitch in sight. there are a lot of times where a player will have a really good season but cannot replicate that level of success
He prolly stopped taking PEDs, lol!
NOW WE’RE GETTING SOMEWHERE.
I always thought the Ellsbury contract was some elaborate money laundering scheme, where plenty of palms had to be greased and others had to be left bridled… or unbridled in dark alleyways. What a tangled web we weave when we choose to deceive.
I’m just glad I’m not the only one who has considered this.
2011 was also the only time he had over 300 total bases, he had 364 which led majors and was 11 more than Matt Kemp, who led the National League in that category.
Ellsbury is also the last player in the MLB to steal 60 bases or more in 2009
What else is Cashman going to say? “We sure could use another starter but I’ve been told not to spend anymore”.
Yankees are not a post season team with this rotation. No chance. Same outcome as last season. They need a bonafide ace or bust.
Two years ago with less they got to game seven of the ALCS. Now they have Happ for a full year and Paxton someone they did not have last year. What stopped them last year was a scorching hot Red Sox team you know absolutely nothing about any of this. Severino will be fine he will be there in October. Obviously a Yankee hater with no baseball intellect.
Check Fangraphs
I don’t expect any further additions to the roster until the trading deadline.I think Yankee’s are going to see if Ells is going to be able to contribute this season.I’m not a Cessa fan,I had hoped he would have already been traded.Loggy is a option if he can stay healthy. German hasn’t figured out a effective third out pitch as of yet.I have a feeling Cash may regret the Seattle deal.I hope not,and Paxton has a great season.
So no one has bothered to ask Ells if he can throw a knuckleball???
Kill two birds with one stone.
Even if Keuchel signs today I’d think he’d also be questionable for opening day. Yankee’s are probably better off just going with in house guys that will be ready for the start of the season.
Yankees have enough rotation depth for now. If they did sign a Keuchel or Gonzalez, who gets bumped from the rotation two weeks into the season?
Wouldn’t surprise me at all if Yankees are in on a starter at the deadline, but for now there just isnt a need (unless Severino is worse than advertised)
there is no need to sign a FA when you have Jonny Lasagnia in house to hold down the fort for Sevy, and plenty of viable stop-gaps to work the spot CC will leave vacant. lets not forget their BP can probably craft a darn fine BP game in a pinch.
He actually did well as a starter last season, he only had a 5.11 ERA because he was lit up like a Christmas Tree as a reliever, which is the opposite of Cessa, because he is terrible as a starter but is actually a decent reliever, despite still having severe control issues.
Starting pitching is a mess
cash is a genius. not
Clean, shaven. You look neat and dressed appropriately when you put the pinstripes on. It’s an George Steinbrenner rule. The sons are only keeping that rule going from their dad hay days. When you join the Yankees you know the goal is to win. They create a winning environment for the past 26 years they had a winning record the longest in sports. You can hate them or love. Yet people hates them because they “buy” championships. Yet you have the dodgers , Red Sox, giants, tigers , nats, Cubs who all have money to spend to win anything. But no one wants to be call an hypocrite with their comments. I respect other teams in baseball than these non chonlant one team fandom.
What the hell are you talking about?
He’s commenting on a convo towards the beginning of the thread. Seems random down here all alone
Free agent MLB star pitcher Dallas Keuchel is willing to comply with the New York Yankees’ no-facial-hair rule if the Bronx Bombers bid for him.
“For the right opportunity, I would happily shave this beard off,” Keuchel told FOX Business Stuart Varney on Friday.Dallas Keuchel says he would shave signature beard to sign with Yankees “The lure of the city would be really cool. I like pitching in Yankee Stadium,” he said.
>> “dizzying variety of ailments”
Not to mention dizziness.
A lot of guys seem to mention the facial hair policy, and mention that some players wont play for them because of that. I don’t think folks realize do not care. The Yankees have described themselves as a multi billion dollar sports and marketing business with a baseball team at its center. They have fantasy camps, resorts, content production, had a sports network, joint team ownership’s; many revenue streams. The management understand n one player or group of players is going to impact that, certainly not enough to change the value of the brand. The brand is all that matters. They don’t have to win every year to make money. They don’t have to sign every big name free agent to make money. They spent the last few years moving away from that. and using analytics, targeting trading of veterans like Chapman to get almost major league ready prospects like Torres, using the International signing system, and targeting players that fill a need, like Lemahieu, who makes more contact (they have enough 2 outcome guys going for HR or Strikeouts) is a good fielder and can play around the diamond, which is actually a smart baseball move because it is roster building. They have the most valuable franchise in baseball and that’s not by accident.Players will come and go but the franchise value climbs because of the brand. Hate it or love it that is the way baseball and sports in general operates today, more like multi-level marketing businesses and less like sports teams.
Nobody seems concerned about CC n his heart condition is. HUGE concern. As a Redsox fan I’m concerned just about his off field heart problem. But also I can see him crying that the other team took advantage of him. He needs to retire n take care of himself I would hate to see him go down while pitching.
As a yankee fan I remained concerned about how Cash has failed to acquire top flight SP. Its our downfall and drives me insane every fall when it actually matters.
So my questions to you as a sox fan-
1. even at full strength are you confident that your sox can handle the Yanks starters?
2. when you see Happ and CC on the mound do you salivate?
3. are there are yankee starters that give you pause for concern the way i feel about Sale, porcello, verlander, and cole?
I’m curious- thanks
I believe that the Yankees require all players to wear a coat and tie when they fly as a team as well, the tie may be optional. This was the case when George S was around, anyway. Dress codes are part of the requirements of some employers. Some are stricter than others. For instance, if you are a letter carrier for the USPS and wear a long sleeve shirt, you MUST wear a tie. Failure to do this can mean suspension, thus putting your job at risk. It’s rarely enforced, but if they want to, they could. It’s all part of what you agree to, in writing, as part of your terms of employment, same as each MLB team has you sign.
Bring back the downvote option. I loved getting downvotes, it meant I was right. Bunch of pansies.