The Yankees’ season has again been punctuated by injuries for high-profile players, but manager Aaron Boone tells reporters that both Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton could get at-bats at the alternate training site this weekend and return “shortly after that” if all goes well (Twitter link, with video, via SNY). On a less-optimistic note, MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch tweets that Boone also acknowledged it will be “challenging” for lefty James Paxton to return this season.
Judge missed nearly two weeks early last month due to a calf injury and returned for just one game before heading back to the IL with further troubles in that same calf. Stanton, meanwhile, has played only 14 games in 2020 due to a hamstring strain that has sidelined him for more than a month now.
It’s the second consecutive injury marred season for the pair of former 50-homer sluggers. Both have been excellent when on the field — Judge is hitting .292/.343/.738 and Stanton .293/.453/.585 — but they’ve combined for only 125 trips to the plate. The timing of their return next week is pivotal. The Yankees are set to host the Blue Jays for three games beginning Tuesday, and they’ll travel to face them in a four-game set the following week. The Jays recently leapfrogged the Yankees in the standings and now hold a two-game lead over Boone’s club, which is clinging to the No. 8 seed after dropping seven of its past ten contests.
The news on Paxton isn’t good but also isn’t unexpected after last night’s update that he’d be shut down from throwing for a few days following soreness in his most recent throwing session. Paxton, who also underwent back surgery in February, has been limited to five ineffective starts for the Yankees so far in 2020 and has been out since Aug. 21 due to a Grade 1 flexor strain.
Boone didn’t completely rule out a return in 2020, and a lengthy postseason run for the Yankees would obviously improve his odds of healing up enough to make it back to the mound. However, the uncertainty surrounding his return date also creates the possibility that Paxton, a free agent this winter, has thrown his final pitch for the Yankees.
Don’t worry you can always sign Brett Garbage for another year for 15 million and watch him bat third and hit about a buck 29.
has he destroyed anything in the dugout yet this year?
Lol louie’s ability to shoehorn Brett Gardner into any conversation is absolutely hilarious. Missed your awful takes, sir Lou of Beantown.
The plan should definitely be to let Paxton, Happ, and Gardy walk away. Re-sign Masahiro for 4 years with a club option for a 5th year. Sign Bauer for 1 year for $28 million. Then the Yankees should give DJ a 2 year extension for $18 million annually.
Because I’m sure DJ would jump at that given his production over the last two years. Guy will easily get 4/80 somewhere minimum. But I hope it’s still with us.
As a Yankee fan, I agree on Paxton, Happ, and Gardner. Especially the latter two. I also agree on DJ. However, there’s no way they should give Tanaka four to five years. Also, I doubt Bauer would ever get an offer from the Yankees since him and Cole are enemies.
Maybe if there are no fans in the stands next year they can use that to keep them separated. Keep one in the stands and the other in the dugout or on the mound. Although, this does run the risk of Bauer throwing a ball in the stands and hitting Cole; no plan is full-proof.
Agree no way on the length for Tanaka. Who knows if or when he decides to return to Japan to end his career. Choice might not be team’s but if it is, I see 2 years with a player option if not less.
By the way, anyone else see both the Mets and Red Sox showing interest in DJ, if for nothing else than to up his price? I don’t see hi leaving the Yankees but here he is two years older and in a better position than last time. If I’m the Mets under new ownership, I needle the Yankees and make local headlines and Boston could actually use him to solve their 2B issue despite all the players they’re presently auditioning. My issue is even the Yankees will have financial limits in 21 and by bidding up the cost of DJL, it might help the team get a pitcher both are in position to get. More theoretical than actual since this year is weak for free agent pitching. Bauer is not likely to gauge the interest of a big market team.
@Darth…. Money and pursuit of a ring works wonders. Cite to the 2 davids, price and ortiz.
@Looie, I don’t see Bloom getting into those games the way the Sox did with Mariano some years back.
I also don’t see bloom going that route, there’s not enough pitching in Boston for him to actually want DJ when you’ve got Jeter and others (nobody who started at 3b this year though) in line. I see 2021 being more of a shakedown and tweak year for Boston with 2022 as a target date to have things sorted out
I should add that the Yankees are going to have a bigger headache with Judge and what his future with the organization will be. Healthy, he’s an easy $300 million dollar guy. With all of his injuries….
@Darth At the age of 31, he won’t be a $300mm guy. Bigger problem is that he cannot stay healthy. If he continues like that, he may end up somewhere else.
He will have trouble getting $100mil!
I bet he doesn’t get it!
Yank4Life I don’t see the Yankees ever bringing in Bauer. It’s not only the Cole thing, but his personality too.
@Rocket32- it definitely remains to be seen. I just think with a one year deal which he wants to do seems pretty worth it. Basically if he doesn’t behave himself or make up with Cole he doesn’t come back. So it would be one & done
Happ has that vesting option.
So that’s a bit more complicated than just letting him walk.
I’m just hoping he doesn’t hit my innings/starts that are needed.
Remember; he’s one of the special consideration contracts.
But, I’m down with your off-season plan 100%.
(also, love Gardy but I think he is at the end)
@Ducky… I don’t think its possible at this point for Happ to vest, even at the prorated targets, unless they actually go out of their way to force the option into vesting.
That’s why he’s been so whiney with the media about it
@Ducky Buckin Fent- If Happ misses 1 more start that vesting option will not be picked up. So that is the plan. If he misses another start through no fault of his own, Happ will likely head to an arbitrator to settle on what happens about next season’s option.
If the Yankees do all that and sign most of their 14 arbitration eligible players, their payroll will be close to $300M and will be 3X CBT offenders. Not sure if even the Yankees will want to pay that much extra in penalties and draft pick losses.
So, I thought all teams were going to be under the tax line this year?
@Ducky – nope. They’re prorating everything, so, the prorated salary is compared against a prorated cap functionally.
The actual tax penalty will be a prorated amount, but you still count as over the limit.
That’s why Boston brass was so happy the day things became official and were tweeting about it
Damnit, @atlsoxfan.
Thanks for the info. Unwelcome as it is.
😉
The Yankees are gonna have
Tanaka: 22 mil
Ellsbury: 22 (even tho they didn’t pay him this year)
Paxton: 12.5
Gardner: 12.5
Dj: 12
Happ: 17
That’s 98 mil coming off the books.
They could resign Tanaka 3-51 (17 mil)
Resign DJ: 3-54 (18 mil)
And still have 60-70 mil to spend
This is Ellsbury’s option year.
So as opposed to 22 mil it’s “just” a 5 mil buyout.
Fyi
you also realize they have arbitration raises where many of their bigger names are going through their 3rd or 4th year arbitration which is their bigger raises so you can easily knock that 60-70 mil in half if not more.
Then dont forget option buyouts for gardner
Also Tanaka would have to take a pretty sizable discount to take that pay. Very much possible but he arguably 2nd best starting pitcher in free agency so at minimum is 20 mil a year but im leaning closer to 22 or 23 per year based on market.
DJ at 18 mil is a laugh. Didi in a down year coming off an injury was at 14. DJ is having a better year than last year based on the shortened season and was in the mvp running last year. So potentially a someone that was potentially in the top 5 in mvp voting the last 2 years to take that big of a discount is a bit silly. I think opening offer starts at 20 and will only go up from there especially as this is potentially his last big contract.
So after arbitration signing those two you will be a 3x tax offender probably just under the high tier with about 5-10 mil to spend on 2 spots on your rotation
Bronx. basically with you but would go 3-60 for Tanaka….AND DJ. Truthfully DJ is probably worth more and wouldn’t mind if they went 4-80… He is a legitimate MVP on any team. . Then sign Bauer, if possible for something like 3-60. And then do a full court press on trading Sanchez and sign Realmuto……Thoughts ??
Bauer will get close to 1yr/40m
Trade either Voit or Andujar, (maybe both) so that DJ can move back to 1st base and Torres to 2nd. Then make amends with Sir Didi and bring him back to the Bronx where his talent and, most important, leadership are badly missed.
Hahahah 1 year/$28 million? 2/$18? Yeah DJ will take a pay cut and Bauer will raise the bar with his one year contract idea by taking lower than what he deserves.
What would the Tanaka extension look like? His contract was 7/$155 before, so maybe 5 years and at $75k per year? Maybe he would pay the team then it’s win win
Let Tanaka and his partially torn UCL walk also. Time for this starting rotation to be overhauled. It’s the primary reason they haven’t won a WS in over a decade. Keep rolling out the same mediocre starters and expecting a different result … smh.
LOL – 4yrs for Tanaka… 2 at best!
Just give all the free agents 100 million a year and call it good.
It’s irresponsible to lay the blame for the Yanks’ failures on their injuries (especially when you see teams like the Orioles, weaker from the outset, not nosedive in the face of significant injuries (Hays, Santander, Mancini and so on). They are an underperforming club, plain and simple, and they lack the organizational depth of years past.
They hit lightning in a bottle last year only without the championship banner. When teams win, they sometimes get an unusual amount of favorable bounces only we don’t at the time notice it. Take the Red Sox in 18. Down the stretch it just seemed every move Cora made was right. Some of course were smart moves but others just amazing luck or karma. Sox bullpen with the same players stopped walking into losses for example (Barnes and Kelly) who pitched the best of their careers and getting that amazing relief appearances out of Eovaldi. Last year, it was next man up and each replacement seemed to have a career year. Not do much in this weird year of 2020.
The Yankees just about got a full season from Paxton last year. That will have to be enough of a return for what the Yankees paid to get him.
Sheffield is being used as a reliever and has really only been kind of okay at it and Swanson looks like a washout at the moment. Don Thompson-Williams looks intriguing but the Mariners outfield talent coming up may squeeze him out so his value may be in a trade or as a pretty good 4th OF.
When put this way, the prospects plus salary, the Yankees got pretty good production for what they paid.
Sheffield has made 7 starts this year and no relief appearances.
Damn. I must have been looking at the wrong pitcher some how. You’re right. My bad
Sheffield is NOT being used as a reliever – try research before posting dribble. OH – he would be our #3 starter if we had kept him.
Now, I would have made that trade also, but just shows that not all trades work out and this is one we’d lOVE to have back!
You don’t have to be a little punk, Hark. I stated above I was mistaken.
Sheffield for Paxton was a George 1980s style deal. And just as much of a failure.
Yawn………….
Then why post?
Because I can – are you the post police?
Because what is REALLY important is that everyone knows he finds this article boring. They have to be punished for that evil. Ignoring an uninteresting article is letting them get away with it and stooge won’t stand for that.
The peanut brittle brothers, tired of hearing it.
Dr. Boone provides updates: they’re not dead yet.
If the yankees have a lengthy post season run the whole team will have a bunch of pulled this and sprained that and discombobulated whatnot.
LOL! You must be the second coming of Dr. Seuss. =)
trade sanchez (before he loses all trade value) and a prospect for a first line pitcher.then make a hard run at j t realmuto.
Who is going to want Sanchez? Who is going to give up a first line pitcher for him and a prospect? I think you will be looking for a long time. I don’t see a trade like that happening.
Just go after Romine; as Joni Mitchell — the Yogi Berra of folk rock — so wisely said, “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.”
EXACTLY WHAT I JUST SAID ABOVE !! Sanchez is sooo overrated it is not even funny….but there are tams that would value his services….
I sure can’t see any team wanting Sanchez’s services when he can’t hit and is horrible defensively. Where is the value?
Sanchez for McCann (CWS), a new start for Sanchez & McCann is a beast & is good defensively, kinda getting wasted with CWS. A potential win win for both teams.
If McCann is a beast and good defensively that why in the world would the white Sox swap him for a guy stinks?
Because a lot (not all) of Yankee fans over-evaluate all their players. I bet Curly up there wouldn’t trade Frazier for Ronald Acuna unless the Braves tossed in a prospect.
Because some folks who hit 34 homeruns & 77 rbis just might do it again – duh?
Then again they might not do it again. Combine that with his horrible defense gives Sanchez very little value. to many teams,
Joe Chanoneau, Kevin Maas, Carlos Febles… you get the drift?
Grandal is your starting catcher, McCann, to me is not getting enough exposure. Sanchez is a good backup catcher who could DH & get positive exposure from the cultural lineup in Chicago. Positiional exchanges have been positive in the past, why couldn’t this one?
Imagine you are the Sox. You have a valuable trade chip. He is hitting great, he can play defense and he plays catcher. Everyone will want him. You are set at catcher with Grandal. Your infield is set with lots of talent. Now, do you trade your best chip for a possible backup catcher/DH who can’t play defense and can’t hit to save his life right now? Or do you trade him for pitching? Or high ceiling, far away prospects?
Java – Sure trade him for pitching, that would be who? I’ve had my eye on McCann for a year now, for many teams., including Braves. Trade him for what pitching? You guys have all the pitching in the world. He doesn’t hit the long ball, Sanchez does.
I am not a Sox fan Curly. I am simply telling you that you really want McCann but the Sox have no interest whatsoever in Sanchez. If you want to get something FROM the Sox, you have to offer them something THEY WANT. Not just something you want to get rid of.
Sanchez is a catcher who cannot play defense. He can possibly hit well, but he is not. That makes him a DH who cannot hit right now. That is useless. If the Sox trade McCann, it will be for something they want. That is not Sanchez.
I love the fascinating oddities that can occur in baseball, such as the unique circumstances this year that provide the situation where someone could throw a perfect game and lose.
This is an MLB trade rumors site – that’s all i;’m offering, rumors – get it?
And I am offering a response-get it?
Yeah tinker belle, I think i sense it.
“Tinker belle” Who is that, Albert Belle’s cousin? It’s “Tinkerbell” you mook.
You try to insult me and prove yourself an idiot at the same time? Classic!
Hahahaha, Oh the Yankees. At least the Red sox are bad enough in this joke of a year that fans can take the whole season off. Yankees are just an ongoing nightmare.
@roll
Well thought out stuff again. I hear what you’re saying about arb money.
Point taken.
First; it seems like fewer teams will be spending significant money on the free agent market this year.
Just want to say a couple things specifically in regards to what you brought up in regards to Tanaka and DJ.
I think the Keuchel deal is a decent comp for Tanaka. 3 year 55.5 mil. His elbow is always going to be a concern. I know it’s not a huge deal but he *does* love being a Yankee. History bears this out; he opted *in* a couple years ago. He certainly could have beat what was left on his deal in terms of total dollars.
Yet he stayed. What I’m getting at is I actually think 22 mil is a higher AAV than he’ll actually sign for.
Didi’s deal is one year.
Your right. I don’t think one year 18 mil gets it done with DJ.
But.
A multi year deal at around that AAV? Yeah, I could see that. With the current backdrop I wouldn’t be surprised if he was offered 5/90 right now he wouldn’t sign. I don’t think he’ll get Donaldson money? I don’t think he would have in a “regular” off-season either.
Also, I’m not sure they “have” to sign *two* starters. Certainly one. Two would be optimal.
Bottom line: Yanks definitely have to spend some money this winter if they want to be World Series favorites. That’s an iffy thing, however. Cashman and Hal have prioritized trying to be a playoff (“crapshoot”- uh?) team year after year as opposed to the All In Season.
I know the Cole signing definitely had an all in flavor. But after that the spending stopped. Through the deadline.
So.
And, it’s easy to see how one more solid middle reliever and a capable backup shortstop would have greatly benefitted this squad.
Be an interesting off-season.