WEDNESDAY: New York’s “not very involved” in the Minor derby, Jon Heyman of MLB Network tweets.
MONDAY: As they continue to weigh a variety of possible pitching additions, the Yankees are taking a look at Rangers lefty Mike Minor, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (subscription link). But that interest comes with a few complications.
The Yanks are one of ten teams to which Minor can block a swap pursuant to his contract, per Rosenthal. Minor’s willingness to waive his rights isn’t known, but he certainly doesn’t sound particularly anxious to leave town.
Minor’s continued strong work makes his contract rights quite appealing. He’s earning just $9.5MM this year and next, making the 31-year-old a cost-efficient target. Pinching pennies isn’t strictly necessary for the Yankees, but the organization is as aware of value concepts as any and has an obvious desire to avoid unnecessary luxury tax complications (now and in the future).
It’s not surprising, then, that the Bronx Bombers have sent notable front-office member Tim Naehring out to see Minor’s past two outings. That could be interpreted as a tell, though Rosenthal rightly points out that Naehring and the team’s other trusted evaluators have also put in plenty of time watching other arms as well.
It is still tough to guess just what direction the Yankees will take. If Luis Severino is able to make it back, even if not in a full-blown starter’s capacity, the club will have enviable depth with James Paxton and Domingo German featuring as capable postseason starters and a variety of other multi-inning hurlers on hand. It could certainly stand to add a marquee arm to front the staff, but it’s fair to wonder if that’s really what Minor is. There’s unquestionably a rotation need in 2020 as well, but perhaps that shouldn’t be the priority right now. The price for Minor will be steep — in addition to other demand, the Rangers will value his rights for next season — and there is an argument to be made that the Yanks ought instead to utilize their resources on other targets, either posting less in prospect value for a rental hurler or somehow concocting a bigger move for a truly top-shelf starter.
My hunch is they get Marcus Stroman. Ground ball pitcher and there is a history between the two teams.
And Giles.
Yankees don’t need Giles.
They don’t NEED him, but it wouldn’t be the worst to have him. But I doubt they would meet the Jays asking price.
The Jays asking price would start with Florial, Loisaiga and Abreu and I doubt they let a division rival off that light. Probably have to throw in a Frazier / Andujar type as well for both guys. And no they aren’t actually worth that, but in separate deals, they’d net 3 high-end prospects and more.
The difference between a front office and dreamy fan bases are that a front office has to balance its assets. Short-term long-term. By position. Etc. Unless you get a piece dirt cheap, you never make a deal just to make a deal. Bad contract swaps are such a scenario where you make a deal to make a deal. Payroll shedding you can snag a guy, just to snag him. Otherwise, the Yankees bullpen is stacked and has no need for a guy like Giles at the cost of another top prospect when they are likely to give up 2 for a starter already.
I think the interest here in Minor is real and it sends a message to the Jays. I think its also a good indicator that the Jays asking price on Stroman is still currently too high. I think people (including the Jays front office) are going to be shocked by how little they get back for Stroman relative to what they are thinking/asking. The return will be closer to a #2-#3 rental then a #1 bonafide ace haul. That still can reap big rewards though.
The Jays should be dealing with Minn, Hou and Atl before messing with the Yankees. Yankees can send whatever message they want. They know they need an impact pitcher. They are not the team with leverage. Yet.
Garcia and Abreu are the pitchers worth dealing for. No reason for the Jays to be interested in Florial or Loisaiga.
It’s a sellers market. No buyers have leverage.
Giles is trash. He couldn’t handle Houston when they got good, and punched himself in the face.
There is no way he can handle New York
Are the Yankees prepared to pay more than someone else going for stroman? Prices are always higher within the division.
Sometimes but I don’t know why this would be here. Stroman is only signed through next year and that’s not in the Jays competitive window. Tiebreaker goes outside the division I suppose but the slightest bit better and it becomes irrelevant again.
Agreed
I don’t think Mike Minor is going to be enough.
I wouldn’t give anything of great value to get him!!
Stroman sucks
Is it dangerous to be lefty heavy in New York!
Oh don’t the fricken Yankees have interest in anyone on the planet
U mad bro?
Pass on Minor. Yankees don’t need another 3 or 4 starter.
What are you smoking? 2.86 era
So it begins.
I’m by no means an expert, but his FIP suggests that he’s just average.
Ugh. No Minor.
Yeah I dont know about minor . His peripherals are not good but his standard numbers are very good the last few years. I think a team out there will end up overpaying for him.
But hes also cost controlled through 2020.. so even if he is more of a 3 4 starter than an ace he still might be of good value
Justin Verlander’s FIP is 4.08
Mike Minor’s FIP is 4.09
While Mike Minor is clearly no Justin Verlander, determining a pitcher is just “average” based on one stat is foolish.
Other notable FIP’s
James Paxton 3.93
Domingo German 4.03
Masahiro Tanaka 4.38
J.A. Happ 5.11
Robbie Ray 4.27
Aaron Nola 4.28
Trevor Bauer 4.30
Besides Verlander, all of those pitchers you listed are having below average seasons when considering their own career averages.
Domingo German is having a below average season.Really?And while Nola is below average a 3.64 era with an 8-2 record is nothing to sneeze at. I think his point is made. Using FIP and nothing else as a way of determining a pitchers worth is foolhardy
Two more FIPs to consider….
Wheeler 3.67
Syndergaard 3.68
Please no. This will not end well.
The Yanks are interested in just about everyone but U need to give something to get something except when they helped out DJ and that Huge contract off his hands in Stanton lol
Try harder
Like you don’t read everyday that the Padres, Dodgers, Red Sox, Twins, Braves, etc. are interested in every player available.
Show some class and don’t Yankee hate!
Yawn. I’ve seen better trolling
You would have said that to the better troll too.
Happ is pitching great dont forget it
CC can’t even get outta the 4th innings.
Tauchman is the man.
You have to give Tauchman credit as he did not look all that good early in the season. Just more troubles for Clint Frazier as Tauchman is playing himself into that lineup!
Do you think Tauchman survives the 25 man purge for when they either get more bodies back or add at the deadline? He probably would get exposed by everyday AB’s, but I think a rebuilding team would definitely take a shot on him.
Not exactly getting exposed by everyday at bats as he’s putting the ball in play on each and every at bat. Just seems like a player that needed to get a chance to play and not just sit on the bench.
And his defense is definitely an asset as he can play all 3 outfield positions very well.
May not make the Yankees 25, but definitely worth a shot from another team if they set him loose.
I do not see him surviving the 25 man purge because he still has options and Cameron Maybin does not.
Tauchman may go down, but he’s got to be in the Yankees plans for next year now. He’s been their best player the past 2 weeks. Similar to Voit coming on the scene last year. Was up, got sent down, came back up and exploded!
At this moment tauchman is a more complete player than Frazier. Hes exactly the guy you buy low on and Frazier is the guy you package in a deal
That would be true if he hadn’t pitched at least 5 innings in 14 of his 16 starts. Soooo look (in my Bill Lumberg voice) ima need you to retract that. Mhmm kay??
Louie,
CC is a degrace, not only this year but for years already. Whatever runs are scored in a particular inning, he gives them right back. He is a troublemaker too, starting fights with the other team
Oh watch him strike out a batter, lol, then walk around the mound like he is God, oh yeah that’s right after he gives up homers. Not a playoff pitcher.
Troublemaker? I think not, washed up absolutely.
edit…disgrace
Alex, lol, yes, washed up for years. Troublemaker, don’t you see him staring down players when he strikes them out and from the dugout, he always start yelling at the opposition. HE is a bully, did you see his speech with the press the other night, he is looking for it!
Calm down cya. Ask his teammates how much they love him sticking up for them. It’s not mouthing off, it’s defending play the right way which some pitchers don’t when they go after Yankee hitters.
You can cry all the way to Cooperstown because he will go in as one of the truly great pitchers of this generation.
Cya isn’t questioning the overall career. And you both agree he’s done, so why the hostility. Yelling into the dugout, when your the role model. It’s just a bad look. He grumbles when guys bunt against him, like they are supposed to avoid bunting because of cc’s knees. He was a great ace for several years. What he did as a Brewer was special. The last couple years he has been annoying. I don’t recall him acting like that when he was the best pitcher.
the Post season around the corner. We are looking at ,in pursuit of a WS championship Happ, Paxton and Tanaka. German will be in the pen and CC is a batting practice pitcher. No way they win a championship with that trio, wouldn’t trust any of them in a big game. Getting Seay and Bestances back will help. Hopefully swing and miss Stanton stays on the bench. Mad Bum is who they need, but the cost would be substantial. Stroman would be an upgrade From CC but not much better than our trio. I would put Minor in the cant trust category. Best case assuming the walking wounded are back is the use of openers.
So you’re saying they’re already dead in the water?
Look at the potential match ups to get to the WS.
Happ, Tanaka and Paxton vs sale, price, Verlander, cole . Not a pretty picture.
I guess that’s why he’ll be in the Hall of Fame right?
Certain HOF, but not based on his last couple of years. Can’t keep running him out there just because.
edit…disgrace
I would have walked away last year. All I kept hearing is hows hes the best #5 sp out there give me a break.
I never seen a team that their SP can’t even give them 100 innings. AND 100 innings is BAD
Minor is a prime “buyer’s remorse” candidate.
Buyers remorse if you don’t know what you’re buying. If you think you’re buying a #2 starter you ought to be remorseful. If you liken him to last years JA Happ, you aren’t. That’s really the kind of production you should expect.
Last year’s Happ pitched like a #2.
And look at Happ this season.
Happ has looked better as of late . Hes also had 2 or 3 really bad clunkers lumped in there that balloon his ERA.
with that being said I rather have Corbin
Happ didn’t pitch like a #2 in NY. He had a 4.44 FIP there and they still decided to give him 18 per year instead of ponying up for Corbin. I was highly critical of that move in January.
I agree. If you’re getting minor to anchor a rotation you will be disappointed. However if you’re looking for a cost controlled mid rotation arm you will be very pleased
Minor is perfect for the Yankees.
Yanks will add a pitcher and Minor is a fit. It will cost them Frazier and Estrada.
Cost too high for another maybe 3, but more than likely 4-5 starter.
They are already committed to Happ for another year, don’t need another guy to regress next year just like Happ did this year.
Frazier should still play in the Yankees plans for next year and Estrada looks like a pretty good utility player if given the chance which is definitely in vogue around the league.
Not saying they shouldn’t make a trade that includes these two, but the Yankees need top of the rotation help and that should be their target if available. Minor gives up a lot of homers which would amplify in Yankee Stadium.
He really doesn’t give up a lot of homers especially with playing in Arlington. The last game against the astros he gave up 4 which inflated the numbers badly. Before that only 13 on the season. He doesn’t like the trade chatter though so I think (and by think I mean my opinion based on comments he has made and my own made up thoughts about what a person is thinking who I don’t know) that he is distracted by all of this. If that is the case that would worry me more than his peripheral numbers.
Rangers are going to want a pitcher in a Minor deal. Frazier is a great headliner but the 2nd prospect would have to be one of their top pitching prospects.
g-d no, when will cash learn that a rotation of inconsistent 2s at best and 4/5s at worst does not win games in October. we already have CC and Happless with their combined 9.5 plus ERA . we tried, jaime garcia and lance lynn, not to mention vazquez twice and many many others.
Get a legit #1 or move on. Minor, Ray, Boyd etc are not difference makers and are no better than what we have.
That is what makes Minor perfect for the Yankees. They enjoy B pitchers and below.
i want to hurl. mostly b/c i know you are right and this is exactly what will happen. he will trade for the most marketable next Happ available…. painful
Lynn is pitching like a number 1 this year
good for him, then i pray he is traded to Boston, Houston, Minnesota or Tampa. he won’t make it to the 4th inning.
If only they weren’t so cheap not to give Corbin that extra year, who the Yanks wanted for years mind you, this would’ve not been an issue for pitching.
Not on topic, but another issue is Rothschild working with every good pitcher the Yankees get. To me, he ruined Happ and
Paxton, AJ Burnett, and to be fair Sonny Gray.
There have been others too. My opinion, just sayin..
Cash doesn’t want to pay market price for a quality pitcher so he goes cheap. You get what you pay for. If Pax were really an ace would he have fetched just Sheffield? how about the A’s with sonny? its costs a lot to get a cole or a sale because they are worth it,
As for the FA market its the same story.
I’m not so sure its just roth though, seems like the talent, and NY pressure has something to do with it as well…
Geeson, Yes, great point!
Corbin here would prob have 12 wins already and already P 125 innings.
happ and CC can’t gert outta the 4th
lol, you ain’t kiddin Louiebeans
Yup bad decision
If only they weren’t so cheap not to give Corbin that extra year, who the Yanks wanted for years mind you, this would’ve not been an issue for pitching.
Not on topic, but another issue is Rothschild working with every good pitcher the Yankees get. To me, he ruined Happ,
Paxton, AJ Burnett, and to be fair Sonny Gray. Yes, he didn’t belong in NY, but I feel Rothschild made him worse.
There have been others too. My opinion, just sayin.. We all have them which makes the world go around.
So I can see all of you Yanks fans are against this but let’s play the game of it does happen, who do you think or what do you think would be a fair trade? I am not familiar with the Yankee farm system to know what is a possibility or who is good.
its will be 2 or 3 longer shots and not the better closer prospects. Not even cash is that stupid. although he did send top 100 prospects away for drek in deals before…. (think A’s and White sox trades)
It’ll have to be either Frazier or a top 100 prospect as the headliner.
The way it stands now, the Yankees have two number 5 starters in Happ and Sabathia, a number 4 in Paxton with the way he has been pitching, a 3 in Tanaka and a 2 in German. They need more depth. How come no one mentions Chris Archer as a target? I’d rather have Lance Lynn than Minor, too. They should have re-signed him instead of Happ. I would give them Voit or Frazier and Florial for both Minor and Lynn.
Chris archer? Really? Lmao.
#1 on the brain dead trade ideas so far this month.
Lol they’re not trading voit… that’s the dumbest thing I’ve read in a long time
Hopefully it’s minor interest.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Cashman gets 2 starters at the deadline. I could see him getting both Stroman and Minor. They are controllable and are under paid for their abilities, and they might be better than anything available over the winter.
I never seen a SP STAFF that cannot pitch 100 innings. That’s a total joke and you guys think this team is going to go far with the current SP staff?
CC and Happ should have never ever been brought back. I’m so sick and tired of the Yankees and their thinking that they need clubhouse guy. The continue to runn CC HAPP Gardner out there. Like wtf are they thinking?
The SP that could have been had for nothing more then CASG last off season. How do you NOT upgrade the SP Staff?
Yankee are in the same boat and they same thing is going to happen in the PS
Gardner is playing well. On pace for another 3 win season
CC, Paxton, and Happ oh my! Now breaking the Yankees have signed a front line starter…..Matt Harvey…can it be the Dark Night to Gotham….stay right there same Bat Time same Bat Station!
My guess when all is said and if the Yankees do a deal for a SP’er by the deadline it will be for Stroman. He wants to be a Yankee and while he may not be an “ace” he certainly is a front line starter.and he will cost the Yankees <$2.5M this year. Leaving them well under the final $246M Tax threshold. As far a prospects you have to give up something to get something and it sounds like with the exception of Deivi Garcia and Clint Frazier pretty much the Yankees are willing to move everyone else for the right deal.
Cashman somehow doesn’t understand that if you acquire good pitching in the winter than you don’t need to be so desperate in the summer…..Especially when bargain bin shopping
besides isn’t he the one who said we need “pitching pitching pitching”? yep and then all we did was waste 3 years at 17 per on happless, a year at 8 on CC, and acquire Pax.
So from the time Boston finished embarrassing us in October to today all the genius did was add Paxton and replace Robertston with Ottavino……
I cannot tell you how many times I have said the last off season was time to go out and use the FA markets for SP to put this team over the edge. The Yankees have become cheap. How in the world do you bring back CC and Happ. It’s mind boggling. They did NOTHING and NOW are looking. Give me a break!
Mark my words without an upgrade in pitching the playoffs will be short. Better hope the Sux don’t get the wild card.
The reason I haven’t watch one Yankee game this season as some are saying here NOW.
They did not upgrade their SP staff which could have been done with nothing more then just cash in the off season. Because yes they will make the playoffs as the do but they will fall short due to the lack of SP and the guy they run out in left field that couldn’t hit a LICK come the Playoffs.
I was against bringing back CC Happ and yes Brett Gardner.
I also said that CC and Happ won’t and cannot get outta the 5th inning.
I don’t wanna hear on how these guys are good for the clubhouse. It’s a poor excuse. As someone said it’s the Yankee smoke screen which I saw coming years ago. They don’t go out and get a thing they make excuses so you fans cling on to them and the make excuse after excuse why there was nothing out there worth trading for.
Fast forward and here we are talking about the same thing year after year.
Now it’s more then haff the SP that cannot get outta the 4th inning.
It’s almost the entire SP staff that can’t even give you 100 innings pitched. Are you kidding me? SP should be able to give you 150-200 innings.
They refused to fix their SP over the years which needed fixing years ago. SO the holes they had years ago became bigger now it’s the whole SP staff.
Excuse after excuse after excuse.
Let’s stay tuned ad see what excuse they got for not getting anything. Better yet the’ll grab someone else junk a #5 and pray.
Dumpster diving – The Yankee way.
There is going to be a inner division tax on Yanks from Jays for Stroman.. thats just business as usual. Most teams do not want their fan base watching former players succeed against them upwards of 18 times a year. I do think the Yanks are very in on both but from sound of it Minor has notions about NY not being for him. He is a college teammate and friend of Sonny Gray. Robbie Ray seems like a very possible target especially with Arizona being in Yankee stadium at the deadline.
All the drum banging by the Yankees is nothing but a smoke screen to keep their fan base off the front office’s back. Come July 31, the Yankees will release a press release that the market was too overpriced and we couldn’t make a deal to our liking. So, this is the team that Hal built….good enough to make the playoffs, but one and done!
Everyone is catching on. Good! I been onto them for years!!!
Just good enough to cash in on that playoff money. He likely sees the extra spending for a championship as diminishing returns.