The Yankees have had discussions about signing second baseman Joe Panik, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney tweets, as New York continues to look for ways to both add infield depth and add left-handed balance to a lineup that is loaded with righty swingers. Panik is a left-handed bat, though he is coming off a pair of subpar years at the plate — the veteran has only a .249/.311/.334 slash line over 883 plate appearances since the start of the 2018 season. These struggles prompted the Giants to part ways with their longtime second baseman last summer, though Panik hit better after catching on with the Mets for 39 games in 2019. The 29-year-old Panik also has the bonus of being a native New Yorker, born in Yonkers and a product of St. John’s University.
With Gleyber Torres likely to shift from second base to shortstop, the keystone could be occupied by DJ LeMahieu if the Yankees don’t prefer to use LeMahieu primarily as a first baseman. Tyler Wade and Thairo Estrada are the top in-house options for the utility infield or part-time second base jobs if LeMahieu is indeed slated mostly for first base work, though the Yankees could prefer to be as flexible as possible with LeMahieu based on matchups. In this sense, Panik’s lack of defensive versatility could be a detriment to his chances at a Yankees deal; Panik has played all but one of his 682 MLB games as a second baseman, with the lone exception being one game at first base for San Francisco in 2018.
Here’s more from around the AL East…
- The Rays’ two-year, $12MM contract with Yoshitomo Tsutsugo wasn’t the highest offer received by the outfielder, though the team’s strong courtship of the Japanese slugger eventually convinced him to come to Florida, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times writes. The Rays were the first team to contact Tsutsugo after he was posted by Yokohama, they provided him with a thorough 20-page booklet about the club and the Tampa area, and a six-person crew that included manager Kevin Cash and GM Erik Neander visited Tsutsugo in person prior to the Winter Meetings, while Tsutsugo was working out in Los Angeles. All of the wooing paid off for the Rays, who now welcome a player with 185 homers over his last six seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball.
- The Blue Jays made a similar big push to land Tanner Roark, as the right-hander told reporters (including Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic) that Toronto was the first team to get in contact with his representatives as free agency opened. “They knew what they wanted, and they wanted me and it’s exciting to have someone want you like that,” Roark said. Pitching coach Pete Walker also told McGrath that he and Roark “just seemed to hit it off” during a 25-minute phone call. Roark ended up inking a two-year, $24MM deal with the Jays, and is looking forward to being a veteran leader within Toronto’s young clubhouse.
- The Orioles had several conversations with Fernando Abad before the left-hander signed with the Nationals, MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko reports. With Abad now off the board, the O’s will continue to look for low-cost experience for their bullpen.
- Also from Kubatko, the Orioles have hired Darren Holmes as their new bullpen coach. Holmes worked in the same role with the Rockies for the previous five seasons. A veteran of 13 MLB seasons, Holmes’ playing career included a brief five-game stint as a member of the Orioles in 2000.
charles stevens
There’s always been a bad odor in NY. All they’re missing is the Rougned.
fair-critic
orioles taking a low budget approach to pitching? just had a good chuckle
YankeesBleacherCreature
With Tyler Wade, the Yankees need not Panik.
MoRivera 1999
True, but I hate to see them Wade in too deep.
Keena
Tyler Wade is terrible. The Ramiro Pena of this era. Why the Yankees continue to think so highly of this guy is beyond me. He’s so far below average it’s not even funny.
fits65
Calm down Lee
bobtillman
The O’s missing out on Abad is probably going to cost them a playoff spot.
MoRivera 1999
There goes the window.
dynamite drop in monty
There goes the ringer !!
Reggie Bars
Chris Davis’s prime years are being wasted.
YankeesBleacherCreature
A .150 batting average or below will be called the Davis line going forward.
dimitrios in la
Was hoping for better from everyone!
Strike Four
Yankees should start protecting Judge from his own athleticism and body that clearly isn’t cut out for that level (as he keeps getting hurt from his overly-athletic play) and move him to first base. Only problem, they also have to move Sanchez to first base.
I think the Yankees best move is to trade Sanchez, move Judge to 1B and Stanton becomes the Big Papi style DH for the rest of his career, with some spot starts in the OF when needed. The wildest thing is that Betts for Sanchez straight up (with Sanchez moving to 1B full time for Boston) kinda makes sense, but those teams will never trade with each other like that.
MoRivera 1999
I think Judge only got hurt the once last year. The year before his wrist was hit by a pitch.
tigerlillypond
He played in 102 games last year. Making all these proposes moves with the hope he could play in an additional 35-40 games would cost more production than could be gained. Plus injuries could still happen regardless. It’s an idea without merit.
imindless
I could see angels being interested in sanchez maybe for marsh, rehifo, a mid tier prospect? sanchez is a great offensive player but has lapses on d and maybe maddon could get the most out of him.
luclusciano
Pretty sure Judge got hurt last year in a swing, and the year prior being hit by a pitch.
One could argue that the heavy lifting is affecting him just as much as the athleticism. Truthfully, in don’t think I this either, just two bad circumstances. The coming years will define what it is.
Strike Four
Injuries are either cumulative and instantaneous and none of us can say what is what. Judge making 10 sliding catches might have worn down whatever part of the body he hurt that was instantaneous-looking. I get the HBP, I wont reference 2018 in his injured years, but 2016 and 2019 have both been severely affected by obliques, which are precisely the kind of cumulative injury Im referencing.
His size far outreaches his athleticism and I think it’s really obvious to everyone. Mookie Betts is perfect for that style, but not 300 pounders. Judge’s bat is elite, period, so they should just keep him healthy over positional value, or else he’s only going to be playing 90 games a year.
southbeachbully
@Strike Four
In 2016 he missed a couple of weeks in AAA because of a knee sprain. I don’t know if it was from sliding, diving or whatever. Never in 2016 did he miss any games because of his oblique..In 2019 it was an oblique injury. I think you’re making way to much of his injury relative to his size. I think all OF should limit themselves when it comes to diving catches unless it’s a real important game and moment in the game. But he can injure himself playing 1B just as easily trying to do splits to get an out. Leave him alone for now, It’s not like we have an easy replacement in RF now anyway.
Mystery Team
@Strike Four I’ve been saying this for a couple of years now and would go a step further than you’ve suggested and trade Judge. That big body is only going to land him on the IL year after year with oblique strain after oblique strain. Not to mention wear and tear on those legs. The guy to chase and sign for the big money is Mookie Betts. I would trade Judge next off season and make a move for Betts unless of course Florial actually pans out but his regression has me worried plus I’m not sure he’ll be able to get an opportunity at the MLB level soon enough to factor into this situation. They can’t have two guys(Stanton and Judge) consistently working the IL and they’re unfortunately locked into Stanton for the long haul so I say try to sign Betts while trading Judge if it’s possible.
tigerlillypond
Trade the player who was 2nd in War despite having an injury shortened season? A player who costs essentially nothing in salary? A player who has become a fan favorite and a face of the franchise?
What does that accomplish exactly?
southbeachbully
@Strike Four
No the Yanks shouldn’t move him from RF. He’s a gold glover there and it’s not like he’s an old guy. As @mo4ever mentioned, one of his injuries were from NOT playing the OF.
Also, and I’m so sick of the oversight, Voit happens to be occupying 1B right now and while his glove is below average there’s nothing that indicates either Sanchez nor Judge would be any better. Voit is raking and for some reason guys act like he doesn’t exist. He’s got 5 years of control which is nothing to sneeze at when you have other guys making tons of money.
Let it play out for another couple of years.
xSpecBx
While Judge is big for a baseball player, he is basically average size for players in other sports (like football) which are much more physical. He pulled an oblique while swinging the bat, something that many smaller guys do on a regular basis, and got hurt the previous season on a HBP. When it comes time to extend him, given his age, they will have to factor that in to term and length of contract, but trading him now would just be silly.
nyderek27
Seems to me the only injuries Aaron suffers is at the plate. Moving to 1B isn’t a solution for a potential gold glove RF…with a great arm.
YankeesBleacherCreature
Meh. He could be the next Ken Griffey Jr. or Grady Sizemore (who had great HOF talent but was never healthy). You can’t start coddling players and not let them play at their fullest potential. If they hurt, so be it.
kevnames42
Did you forget about Voit and Ford at first for the Yanks? Why would we put DJ at first when we can have him be our everyday second baseman? Also his natural position
Old User Name
I’ve seen several occasions where people and writers act like Voit just doesn’t exist.
southbeachbully
@Strike Four
In 2016 he missed a couple of weeks in AAA because of a knee sprain. I don’t know if it was from sliding, diving or whatever. Never in 2016 did he miss any games because of his oblique..In 2019 it was an oblique injury. I think you’re making way to much of his injury relative to his size. I think all OF should limit themselves when it comes to diving catches unless it’s a real important game and moment in the game. But he can injure himself playing 1B just as easily trying to do splits to get an out. Leave him alone for now, It’s not like we have an easy replacement in RF now anyway.
southbeachbully
@Joe Says. and @kevnames42
It irks me to no end how ppl act is if he doesn’t exist? In a accumulation of 157 games and 658 PA the guy’s bat has been elite. 35 homers, a 14& walk rate and a .901 OPS. He is slow on the bases. His glove is below average and he does have 181 ks but he also has 88 walks for a .384 OBP. He also has 5 years of control. Leave him at 1B until he forces something to change.
Gasu1
What does that mean, “natural” position? Was he born under a second base tree?
tigerlillypond
It means it’s where he has had the most playing time and where his talent and skills work at the highest level.
dynamite drop in monty
I can’t drive so tonight I’m gonna walk all over you!
MoRivera 1999
This is why I wish the NYY had gotten Gregorius back. Now they’re contemplating Wade and Panik when the full-time back-up all around the infield could be DJ again.
luclusciano
I think the yanks should use wade and Estrada as a back up. Granted last year DJ was a head scratcher, and looked how that worked out for them.
It is strange that Voit and Ford are suddenly out of the conversation in this article. Ford provides a power lefty option, and can split time.
Fg-3
After the season that DJ had… you want to have him as a utility backup? He needs to be in lineup every game. By far the best pure hitter on Yankees.
MoRivera 1999
He played all around the infield last year and it worked beautifully. Great to have him start at second, too, I just hate talking about Wade and Panik. Yikes.
southbeachbully
@Fg-3
He can still get a significant amount of AB and depth always has a way of working itself out. What happens if there’s an injury in the IF? Having DJ exclusively at 2B doesn’t take advantage of one of his best attributes, his positional flexibility.
xSpecBx
DJ is also an average to above average defender at basically every position in the infield, minus SS. I think even if he is rotating through the infield, he will get plenty of ABs as guys are getting days off and with the inherit injuries that will pop up.
Old User Name
42 game on base streak this year for Voit. It’s a wonder he ever made it out of high A ball.
deweybelongsinthehall
Like many good role players, they sometimes get hot and overproduce for a stretch but the more they consistently play, the more they get exposed. Until last year Brock Holt was thought of that way. Personally, I love Ford who isn’t flashy but has come up big. Voit when he got to the Yankees became an instant star but by the end of last year, Yankee fans saw why St. Louis never gave him a shot. Both players in a full time role would likely be below average at the plate. As a Sox fan, I think of JBJ. He gets on a streak and for three to five weeks, he’ll hit .350. Unfortunately he’ll it .180 the rest of the year and end up batting .225.
Old User Name
Do you not know Voit had a hernia in July and never fully recovered last year? You don’t like the Yankees. I get it but just because you ignore facts doesn’t mean I do.
southbeachbully
@deweybelongsinthehall
Dude your clueless. He had an injury. He wasn’t “exposed”. The guy had a 14% walk rate last year and an OPS of .901 pre injury on July 31st. He went on the DL, came back and obviously wasn’t 100% thus left off the post-season roster and I think had surgery in the off-season,
I’m not saying Voit is the 2nd coming of Yeezus but he’s earned the right to be the starting 1B in 2020.
xSpecBx
Voit arguably carried the offense for a significant portion of time early last season, along with DJ, when Stanton and Judge were out with injuries. He wound up getting hurt, tried to play through it, and got the hernia fixed after the season. People seem to forget he had a significant core injury.
fits65
Correct XSpec. Most posters already know the following, however for the new people I will post another fact not to forget:
Dewey belongs in the Hall because the Mrs. kicked him out of their apartment because She couldn’t take his stupidity.
fits65
D-E-W-E-Y, you are a D-O-P-E.
Your theories are not based upon facts.
Luke Voit has always hit no matter how many games he has played.
Jr. is a good defense, WEAK bat Who’s best is the contract that his agent pulled out of Trader Dave.
Enjoy the Fenway Franks through September next year. We all know they they won’t be available in October again.
Gumby82
Hoping the A’s would take a chance on Panik to compete for the 2B job. He’s still good defensively, and has his moments with the bat.
pasha2k
Last I looked the Redsox were part of the Al East.
charlesk
Crazy that the Yankee flew a contingent of Cashman, Boone, Pettitte and Matt Blake to California, where C.C. Sabathia was also involved in recruiting Gerrit Cole, and yet Tanner Roark only got a 25 minute phone call from Jays pitching coach Pete Walker?!!