Even after reaching agreements with DJ LeMahieu and Corey Kluber, the Yankees are still hoping to round out the roster. New York is looking for pitching depth, hears Buster Olney of ESPN, with a “third-tier starter” or relief help most likely. Olney also adds that the Yankees would still like to bring back outfielder Brett Gardner, who has spent his entire career to date in pinstripes.
The Yankees have a few high-upside pitchers who could earn regular rotation jobs behind Gerrit Cole and Kluber, at least until Luis Severino recovers from his February 2020 Tommy John surgery. Jordan Montgomery didn’t do a great job keeping runs off the board last year, but his peripherals were strong and likely earned him another rotation spot. Prospects Clarke Schmidt and Deivi García are at or near the majors, while Domingo Germán is returning from a season-long domestic violence suspension. Given the wide ranges of potential outcomes for most of those players (and Kluber, for that matter), it’s arguable the Yankees should add a stable back-of-the-rotation veteran to the mix. That’s all the more true in a 2021 campaign where pitchers’ workloads are expected to see a massive spike after last year’s shortened season.
In the outfield, the Yankees maintained they had interest in bringing Gardner back immediately after buying out his club option last October. Apparently, that remains the case. The 37-year-old is an organizational favorite whose left-handed bat continues to fit a Yankee lineup that skews right-handed. Gardner had a fairly productive .223/.354/.392 slash line last season but is certainly looking at a contract for less than the $12.5MM guarantee he commanded last offseason.
At the moment, the Yankees’ 2021 payroll sits at a projected $201MM, per Roster Resource. The organization’s luxury tax ledger is estimated at just over $207MM. That leaves essentially no wiggle room for further additions if the organization is committed to staying below the first tax threshold of $210MM. With that in mind, Olney suggests the Yankees could look to move reliever Adam Ottavino, who has a matching $9MM salary and luxury hit in the final season of his contract. The Yankees may have to pay down some of that money and accept a rather minimal return to do so, though, with Ottavino coming off something of a down year.
mlbnyyfan
Get someone to finally take Stanton. Then sign both Gardy and Brantley.
Mrtwotone
That’s almost an impossible task.
mlbnyyfan
If Yankees are willing to pay down his salary someone willing to have Stanton for 15-17 Million each year. Cashman needs to get creative and unload the mistake he made in the first place.
BasedBall
Giancarlo plus $75 million over 5 years?
I bet a few teams would take that deal.
deweybelongsinthehall
Remember Stanton has a no trade clause.
iverbure
How could it be a mistake? Everyone on here said at the time the Yankees fleeced the marlins.
Voice of Reason
There’s no team that’s going to take on Stanton’s contract even if they get it down to $15 million per year. He’s played a total of 41 games the last two seasons and even teams who might take a chance won’t do so due to this thing called a pandemic and the uncertainty surrounding it.
oldmansteve
If I’m paying $15 mil either way I’d rather have him on my team. He’s a pretty darn good hitter.
iverbure
mlbtraderumors.com/2017/12/yankees-to-acquire-gian…
Read the comments lol. I’ll say this again for anyone who doesn’t want to go back and read the comments. The team who gets rid of 13 year commitment to a player, even if they get zero players in return wins the trade hands down. Especially if the team is a smaller market. I don’t care if Stanton hit 70 home runs the year before he was traded.
dpsmith22
lmao! Steroids, it does a body good.
WiffleBall
I still don’t think Stanton was a mistake. The reigning NL MVP who just hit 50+ HRs, and the Marlins are willing to pay a big chunk of the salary, I do that over and over.
I still think he has a few big years ahead of him. He just hit .297 in the postseason, he is still capable of big things. I have no desire to dump him.
Sanchez and Judge, wouldn’t mind swapping them for some prospects and signing Realmuto.
Le Grande Orangerie
Stanton has a FULL no-trade clause. He wouldn’t waive it when it was partial. He won’t waive it n0w.
mlb1225
He was willing to waive it for teams that made it to the NLCS back when he was traded. I remember he turned down a deal to the St. Louis Cardinals. So maybe the only way he would be willing to waive it again was for a team that has recently made it to the NLCS. Granted, I don’t think any team is taking that contract unless the Yankees are willing to eat like 95% of the contract.
fljay73
Better for a team to sign Springer then who can at least play the OF more regularly
Balk
So glad Stanton didn’t want to play for San Francisco. What a huge swing and miss for the Giants that actually turned out in their favor imo! Lol
iverbure
I don’t think the Yankees would have to eat that much. I think plenty of teams would be willing to pay Stanton 10 million a season if he were a free agent right now. So Yankees say we will pay 50% of the remaining money due to Stanton and I think suddenly there’s a bunch of teams interested to some extent.
Braves would like someone to hit behind Freeman. Not really their style to trade for that term still and no DH.
Mets. Badly need a RH outfielder. No DH in the NL.
Nationals: need a RH hitter behind Soto. No DH in NL.
Angels: the angels will have Pujols gone soon they need another highly paid guy whose injured and shell of his former self.
Cardinals: tried to trade for him when he was with the marlins. Needs upgrade to offence. No DH in the NL
3 major things need to happen in order for a Stanton trade to make sense.
DH in the NL, hopefully that doesn’t happen but not going to get into that debate
Stanton has to be willing to accept a trade
Yankees pay at least 50% of remaining deal.
Makes the deal much more likely in my mind and moves the % from less than zero to about 5%.
its_happening
Braves haven’t signed a player for long during AA’s tenure. No chance they want Stanton.
Mets will need to offload Cano. Matchup for. Deal is doubtful.
Nats would wait a year for salary relief and even then they wouldn’t take Stanton.
Angels have Pujols. No more DH types.
Cardinals a careful with cash.
We are down to zero teams looking to take Stanton. Yanks would have to eat a TON to offload him. So much so they might as well keep him for the time being. Any idea that Stanton is tradeable is an idea devoid of reality.
BobGibsonFan
Wait, are these all old posts but instead of Ellsbury, they input Stanton?
YankeesBleacherCreature
Considering where the Marlins were at to be in contention, they could’ve had prime Babe Ruth and it wouldn’t have made a difference. You can’t always look at things in a vacuum.
newyorkyankee7
What’s the point of eating 95% of the contract? Absolutely zilch.
slider32
Stop with the Stanton trades, he is the second best DH in baseball at his worst, I still think they should stick him in left field and see what happens!
Mrivers
But there are a myriad of other issues with Stanton that make him a drag on any team.
mrmackey
Stanton is just hurt a lot, but he’s definitely still at the top of his offensive game when he’s healthy. He’s still one of the most dangerous power bats in the game.
Mrivers
EXACTLY RIGHT.
Yankee Clipper
No it doesn’t- he can’t stay on the field now.
frankjovine
Can you provide proof or are you just another ignorant hater?
Spare Tire Dixon
If the NL is getting the DH by 2022, maybe they could leverage the Rockies in that direction? Take Arenado and Jon Gray off their hands if they take Stanton and Ottavion?
EasternLeagueVeteran
Arenado and Gray? For who? For a broken down DH? Why would the Rockies want to help the Yankees unload their contract woes, and give them back two of their best players for those two old guys?
CHS O'sFan
This is such a biased Yankees fan proposal. I wont even get into the Gray for Ottovino piece. Arenado had one down 60 game season and still produces elite defensive production at an important defensive position. I wouldnt bet against 2020 being an aberration for a star player.
Stanton though has to recoup some value before having any trade opportunities, that contract. If he never does, then enjoy your very own version of Chris Davis.
newyorkyankee7
Ottaviino is gone after this year anyway, how does that help in 2022?
Hudson6
Arenado still has value irrespective of his contract. Stanton does not.
slider32
Gray and Story for Gleyber, Ottavino, and Loisigna!
mrmackey
Uh, no.
Mrivers
Hating on Arenado is dumb. Elite fielder, elite offensive stats until ’20. Raked vs. Yanks when he visited in ’19. Take him over Stanton every day of every week.
You are wrong
Wait, teams aren’t lining up to sign a roof monster that plays 70 games a year? Shocking.
You are wrong
Roid*
PinstripedPride
Yep even I will agree that is an impossible task. Stanton, with his no-trade clause and his salary, is going NOWHERE
fungie22
Agreed but you would need to pay 1/2 of his contract. Horrible signing! You think they would have learned with ARod and Ellsbury.
dpsmith22
You would that you would have seen a long time ago, that money doesn’t matter to the Yankees.
Mrivers
But it DOES to management now apparently. Making the Stanton trade a disaster. If he doesn’t play OF at all, he blocks DH and his value is severely lessened. In any case, not debatable that his Yankee stint to present has been ugly.
Ducky Buckin Fent
I dunno.
I’d consider a meteor hitting Yankee stadium to be a “disaster”. Not a baseball trade? To each their own.
“Ugly”? When did you become a Yankee fan? Seriously. You don’t recall him carrying us down the stretch in ’18? Or his performance in the playoffs this year?
Same fans with all of their online hate towards Arod now have Stanton in their sights. His AAV is 22 mil. He’s not impeding progress with that sum.
Balderdash, @kevins.
Mrivers
Do you follow the Yankees? I remember him choking mightily with men on base vs. Sox in ’18 and having 5 different injuries a la Ellsbury in ’19 and missing most of the season in ’20 and being relegated to DH. Check your memory, sir.
Ducky Buckin Fent
I sure do, broly.
Blahfeckingblahblah. “teH injureez teh strikz outz”. Lol.
You guys are all the same.
Stanton is one of the most feared hitters in MLB. Every lineup in baseball is better with him.
The End.
To think he’s some how handcuffing spending is just so absurd. Stanton is not the reason the Yanks are lowering payroll, bubby.
Apparently you just became a Yankee fan last week, or whatever. Welcome aboard! Realize however that we do not suffer fools lightly. So tighten up, lad.
Old User Name
What do you people not understand about a No Trade Clause? When the Marlins were trying to move him, he only wanted the Dodgers and the Yankees. The Dodgers didn’t want him then, they aren’t going to want him now.
Le Grande Orangerie
yup.
iverbure
Not only do they not understand no trade clauses but they don’t understand leverage. If the player only wants to go to one team and the team that has him needs to trade him. The one team he wants to go can low ball his current team.
The Yankees probably aren’t even shopping Stanton but if they were and they could somehow convince Stanton to waive the no trade clause 3 of the most likely teams in my mind that could either afford him right now and would be interested even if it’s only slightly are the Mets, Redsox and Jays. Mets can afford him but there’s no DH and are the Yankees really going to want to watch him be successful in queens? Doubtful. Redsox can afford him but already have a expensive aging DH. Are the Yankees going to want to see Stanton turn it around in Boston? Doubtful. Jays can afford him. They play on concrete, and Stanton is already injury prone. Jays don’t really need another bad defensive OF so unless the Yankees are giving him away and paying like half his salary I really don’t see a fit there either.
Yankees better hope the NL gets the DH so NL teams get dumb and start signing old broke down expensive bums like AL teams do. Gives them 15 other stupid teams willing to take on stupid money.
jdgoat
Getting someone to take on what might be a top three worst contract in the game is easier said than done.
towinagain
He rakes at Petco. Pads and Yanks matchup in a trade? Pads take on a large portion of the salary and add good prospects?
oldmansteve
3 certainties in life are death, taxes, and delusional yankee fans
ctguy
3 certainties in life are death, taxes and crybaby Yankee haters.
Ducky Buckin Fent
@nebraska –
As I wait for the Trevor Bauer signing.
frankjovine
And morons such as yourself, no?
Ducky Buckin Fent
Hey, chuckles –
Nice of you to weigh in I suppose.
Not too impressed by the craftsmanship, tone, or insight provided, however.
😉
towinagain
Stanton for Weather’s, Campusano and Lawson and add Myers to offset some salary if needed.
MikeD26
Lol
itstimefordodgersbaseball
DELUSIONAL
The Yankees would have to trade prospects with Staton to trade him and eat some of his salary. That’s just to get rid of him. No one will trade anything back for him cause he has NO value cause injuries and that contract. Not to mention his no trade clause that only few on here realize is a thing.
towinagain
For the Pads he’d fit perfectly as a DH and as evidenced in the playoffs and His time months NL he torches Petco.
Perksy
How about Stanton, Voit, and a prospect for Hosmer and Myers
mlb1225
If Stanton would be traded, the team trading for him would have to pay him 188 million in total until 2027. Myers is owed $45 million guarenteed with a $20 million option and $1 million buyout for 2023. At the very most, the Padres would still be taking on over $140 million, while surrendering one of the best prospects in the league, a top 10 organization pitching prospect and another top 20 org prospect. All that for a guy who’s played less than a quarter of his team’s total games played. If he consistently played 140-150 games a year, then there might be someone willing to take that on, but he’s played at least 150 games just three times in an 10 season career where the MLB has played at least 150 games. I could see the Padres potentially willing to if the Yankees are also willing to take on Hosmer+Myers.
towinagain
Sounds like it’s work for both teams! Fits monetarily and the Pads throw in more salary to get the Yankees under the cap. Voir replaces Hosmer at first Myers replaces Stanton. Pads throw in a prospect or two from the farm if needed.
mlb1225
Are you that desprate to get rid of Stanton you’re willing to take on about as much in total of salary plus get rid of Luke Voit and a prospect. That doesn’t seem like a smart trade on the Yankees’ end.
Hudson6
Why would the Padres do that trade? They do not want Stanton. Sure they would like to get rid of bad contracts but not by taking on even more money.
Myers played great last year, Stanton did not. The Padres have no starting quality backup for Myers. Stanton certainly cannot start in RF.
It’s just not going to happen.
Yankee Clipper
He has NO value?! That’s absurd. Well, maybe Staton has no value, but Stanton surely does, and to pretend otherwise is disingenuous. Yes, his no trade clause and costs are prohibitive for a trade and he’s not going anywhere for the foreseeable future.
BUT, reading these boards, EVERY team has fans that suggest incredibly lopsided trades, overvalue personnel and performance, and surprisingly, non-Yankees fans are some of the most vile toward the Yankee fan base, particularly with unintelligible ramblings.
Bjoe
No one wants that ridiculous contract
tjbarnaba
Maybe if Yankee “fans” started to support and embrace this guy, he could get comfortable and produce. No wonder he struggles when all of the “fans” of the team call for him to be moved. Maybe change the narrative as a fan and the perception on his contract will change… just a thought considering this avenue of hate hasn’t really helped any of you “fans”
DarkSide830
why is it on the fans when he’s never on the field?
Ducky Buckin Fent
“never” is a really big number.
I would like to introduce you to the 2020 AL playoffs.
Yankee Clipper
Keep ‘em coming, Ducky. Loving it, buddy.
newyorkyankee7
Maybe if he stayed on the field., or how about healthy enough to DH, I don’t trust him in the field anyway.
Greenmamba559
O boy here we go with outlandish fantasy ideas from my fellow yankee fans. So what team exactly are we trading Giancarlo too since it’s so easy? O that’s right he’s got a no trade clause. Ok so maybe LAD? Oh they’re pretty set and probably don’t need to add a 30m defensive liability in a non DH league. Lol man we are stuck with him, get it through your heads. The only way he gets moved is if he absolutely mashes the next year and a half and his numbers justify his worth. Kinda like cano did before his smart self got caught using peds again. But still his no trade clause only allows like 2-3 teams of that, that he would go to. And if he is healthy and mashing, I’m sure the yanks would keep him. his contract won’t look as bad compared to the other guys who signed mega deals if he’s healthy and producing.
newyorkyankee7
IF, IF, IF!!!!!
poppie
Brantley yes Gardner time to get rid of him
EasternLeagueVeteran
Brantley will push the team over the $210 luxury tax. It would be nice if they would do it, but i don’t think that is their first move.
mlb1225
They have bigger needs than another outfielder.
BortMcCheevers
I’d love to find a sucker to take Stanton but it’s wishful thinking. Between his no trade clause, the sheer amount of money they’d have to eat, and all the amount of money lost due to COVID around the league, and fans in the seats this year still an unknown, the odds are about as close to 0 as you can get.
Baseballallday
Was I the only one who watched the Yankees in the playoffs this year? Stanton literally carried the offense. I understand he’s been hurt an unacceptable amount and has to work on laying off sliders in the dirt but I feel like some of the people commenting on here are acting like he’s useless. I doubt anyone would want his contract because of the $$ especially with his injuries but if the Yankees were willing to take on a decent chunk of it I’m willing to bet teams would be lining up to get him (if he would be willing to waive the no trade). And you’re all lying to yourself if you don’t think he makes the Yankees lineup better. Maybe not $300 million better but his bat with that kind of power 100% effects how pitchers throw to everyone else in the lineup. Even if he strikes out an ungodly amount pitchers know one mistake to him and they aren’t getting that ball back. To me he’s a huge asset if he can figure out how to not get injured every time he tries to the bases
Mrivers
WRONG. Yankees never needed Stanton. They don’t now. They needed a LH hitting OF like Brantley, but Cashman stupidly traded for Stanton.
Harko
Please…..no more Gardner. He’s had a few good years, but no more popups and lazy ground balls. That money can be better spent on a decent reliever!!
Bruin1012
Since he has a complete no trade clause my guess is he would waive it to go to the Dodgers maybe San Diego maybe the Angels. He is west coast guy no doubt he would waive his ntc for the Dodgers but highly doubt they want him at this point. Nope the Yankees are stuck with Stanton.
solaris602
Stanton’s contract is only part of the problem. His never ending litany of injuries will make any team hesitant to take him even at half price.
madjob33
Gardner a great pickup with that .223 average.
madjob33
…and his range should increase at 37 !
BuJoBi
All this Stanton trade talk is crazy, no way the Yankees pay 95% of salary as some of u are saying?? Why and why would they do that? Also Why would any team trade good serviceable players for a player clearly unable to stay healthy or play both sides of the ball. Its 162 game season u need ppl to show up for 150 of them and be trusted to. He will be with the Yankees until he has a injury he cant come back from. Hes lucky to have another MVP caliber season imo
Michael Fan
Nobody is going to take Stanton and he wouldn’t approve a deal unless it was to LA.
ArianaGrandSlam
Tanaka-san not even mentioned!?
mlbnyyfan
The Yankees are not far off from getting to the WS. Sign the last few players you need. Pay the Tax and deal with the expense.
EasternLeagueVeteran
I agree, and work this season toward resetting the tax for next year. They are close. But if Gardy comes back, it will be at a great discount. I don’t see his market developing any wider or deeper than Kevin Pillar.
dave frost nhlpa
There is no “tax” next year as the CBA expires. The players want the tax removed as it curbs clubs for offering players in the union MORE MONEY.
If there was no tax,DJ would have gotten more and Tanaka would still be here. Duh
EasternLeagueVeteran
Then prepare for a strike or lockout
mlbfan
@EasternLeagueVeteran. Exactly, the major sports have a salary cap. The won’t put up with the luxury tax removed without a salary caop.
jakec77
How do you get below the tax next year? The roster only gets more expensive from here on out. There isn’t a lot coming off (last year of Ellsbury, Ottavino) but guys like Severing, Judge, Torres are all looking at greatly increased salaries if they are any good in 2021 (and if they aren’t, then it wasn’t worth going over the cap in the first place).
And that’s assuming anyone signed from here on out is kept to a one year deal- if not, then that just makes it that much more difficult to get below next year.
Now, I suppose you could gamble that the tax will go away next year…
Greenmamba559
Severino already signed his extension 2 years ago. He’s gotta prove he’s back but he signed an extension already, Judge will command a lot but has injury history working largely against him so it’s not going to be an Arenado type extension. Torres is still a baby and isn’t due for a few more years.
As far as Tanaka-San, he made 22m last season, we don’t have a ton of money left. Him and Gardy are going to take massive pay cuts, to the point for Tanaka-San is giving NY a discount that big really worth it if another team is offering more money and years? Again he made 22m and posted good numbers, he should be getting something like JA Happ got a few years ago but the money isn’t there. If we are going to go over the tax then I hate to say it , go after Bauer then and not Tanaka. If Tanaka would accept 15m to play this year with NYY then I’d hope cashman works the books and figures a way to add him then. But put yourself in tanakas shoes. You know your worth more than what he’ll get offered. You’re not getting younger, and have a chance to make as much as you can before retirement and this probably his last chance at a FA contract to bank in on.
Roll
Torres is a super 2 i believe and is due 1st arbitration next year and i believe has received mvp votes in all the full seasons he played will place him up from his 500k to prob 5M or maybe more.. Not hugely expensive but pre arb cheap nomore. Also dont forget there are a bunch of others hitting 1st time to like Voit, Frazier, Tauch, etc etc. Also you will have to decide again on Sanchez, if he does well that arb will be a lot higher and is he back to what he was or was it a fluke year. If he stinks you signing a catcher at the minimum..
Monkey’s Uncle
Maybe that ship has sailed.
ctguy
Maybe it hasn’t
agerst1574
This is what I don’t get. People are excited about Kluber, a guy who has not proven he is healthy, and forget about Tanaka. I much rather have Tanaka who has proven he can pitch.
mike156
Kluber is an expensive flyer. Maybe he works out, maybe he has upside, but that’s an expensive allocation of funds to someone both injured and ineffective recently
VonPurpleHayes
Is Tanaka injured or something? I’m baffled by his lack of a market. The guy was the Yankees second best pitcher and the Yanks seem to have no interest in bringing him back.
DarkSide830
maybe his asking price is too high at the moment
Hudson6
He should have more of a market with the quality of pitching that he has consistently shown. I’m sure that his partially torn UCL is doing him no favors.
Ducky Buckin Fent
Ya know, I’m actually starting to wonder about his medicals. Yanks know him best. Ya know?
But there’s been pretty much nothing connecting them to him. It really could be they’re scared off over the partial UCL tear.
Yankee Clipper
He’s going back to Japan. I think the Yankees see a predictable downward trajectory in his performance coupled with a request of 15-20 million AAV and know they can do much better. Love Tanaka, but not for that.
They need a solid #2 SP, a RP, and then turn to IF and last C, IF necessary.
Ducky Buckin Fent
Tanaka & Gardy are my two favorite current Yankees. I’m starting to really doubt the return of either.
As for a co-ace, or #2, or whatever, I don’t see that happening. Unless the Yanks decided to get in on Bauer I don’t think we’ll see much improvement to the rotation.
If Hal would be willing to pay some CBT fines we could bring a better squad (on paper) to Florida this spring. Going from 250 to below 210 is a little zany. Going to a sub 230 payroll has the lightest penalities & would go a long way in this incredibly deep free agent class.
I’d go back to an overengineered pen & lineup.
I’d spend 20 MM more thusly;
Sign LaStella. He can back up 3rd better than Miggy, 1b better than Ford, & will be a lot easier to watch backup 2b than Wade or Estrada.
I really started to like him when I was thinking about DJ replacements.
LH bat. Really high contact rates to provide a nice counterpoint. He can pinch hit, has played on the grass & can DH occasionally.
Then I’d sign a RH reliever & a LH reliever. Melancon & Shane Greene would be nice fits & should cost $4 mil AAV or less.
Watson, Wilson, Perez, MrcGee, & Alvarez would all be good additions and will probably be in the 1-4 MM range.
LaStella is one of the few impact bats left & there’s a fit for us. & a real strength of our 17-19 clubs was the pen. I’d get back to that template. It’s a good formula for 100 win regular seasons & deep playoff runs.
Anyway, that’s less than 16 mil in AAV.
I’d spend the remainder on a starter. Guys like Hamels, Sanchez, & Brett Anderson all could help fill the very real need the Yanks have for regular season innings & could all possibly start a playoff game.
18-20 mil added payroll & we may not be World Series favorites but we’d remain the team to beat in the AL. Yanks still need some work. We are weaker than we were.
newyorkyankee7
I know, I wished they brought him back. I would have signed him before Kluber, unless he’s already told Yanks he’s going back to Japan.
Perksy
No room for Tanaka when they are less than $10m from the luxury tax, plus needing a reliever and another left handed bat.
mike156
I don’t think any team is going to want to help the Yankees spend more by taking an expensive contract off the Yankees hands unless NY really sweetens the pot. They’d be better off just using whatever resources they had internally, and save whatever little room they have for a mid season acquisition,
BobSacamano
Spencer Turnbull, Matthew Boyd, Daniel Norris, Michael Fulmer 😉
driftcat28 2
None of those guys
its_happening
Take out one game where Ottavino got blasted by the Jays and he had a pretty good season. Not great but pretty good. Teams needing bullpen help should be all over this.
Red Sox is one of them.
mlbnyyfan
That’s always been my point no one willing to help the Yankees. They rather trade a Lindor to Mets or Mookie to Dodgers for basically nothing. I could be wrong but teams are jealous of the Yankees for all the past successes. That’s why they need to do a much better job at player development and drafting.
its_happening
If you are right, I don’t understand that thinking. Everyone plays by the same rules. Put the Yanks on the pay no mind list and build your team. If anything, we could argue the Yanks are at a disadvantage thanks to the luxury tax. Yet they soldier on.
My first thought with Ottavino was dealing him and Tauchman for Benintendi. Something along those lines.
ctguy
Ottavino and Tauchman for Benintendi??? Red Sox have to add to that offer. Benintendi. His numbers have been declining steadily after his really good rookie year.
newyorkyankee7
Why would Boston get rid of him and when do they stop laughing at your proposal
SoxRewl
That’s a little much to say those players were traded for nothing. Red sox got to dump a chunk of Price’s terrible contract with that one year of team control for Mookie and still got back a rookie who was a top 30 prospect in Verdugo and another who is currently a top 60 prospect in Downs. Similar situation for Cleveland.
Fact is yankees have been loathe to spend over the tax since George passed, which has been a much bigger factor in why they seem to come up short more often when they go for someone anymore.
Still, I’d much prefer their current spending habits over the bargain bin signings of the Red Sox the last two years.
dpsmith22
I guess lindor’s 20 mil contract escapes you…
EasternLeagueVeteran
SoxRewl: you are correct to say the Yankees operated more like a business since George passed. Not that they are cheap, for they aren’t, but that they don’t spend as recklessly and their prospects have not been overrated by the rest of mlb teams. Maybe if Sanchez can fjnally figiure out how to hit again
EasternLeagueVeteran
If Sanchez figures it out, they will be the force to be reckoned with.
deweybelongsinthehall
The Yankees will not give him to the Red Sox.
rocky7
Ah, after watching Ottavino last abbreviated season, there were many, many games where Otto didn’t do the job….this went far beyond this one Jays game you mention…he was not the 7th inning stopper guy he had been previously and it showed through. his own frustration of getting pulled from games. He certainly didn’t have a pretty good season and his lack of performance led to an over dependence on Chad Green who due to the over work, became very hittable and as undependable as Otto.
Yankee Clipper
He struggled…… a lot of people did. 2020 was a mess. People wore masks while driving. Let’s just wait and see before condemning Otto to the pasture.
HistoryBelongstotheVictorsInArms
Thinking the sweetener for something as albatross soup as the Stanton contract starts (and likely thus ends) with Jasson Dominguez…
BasedBall
Gardner at age 37?
Cashman should look at Joc Pederson.
He’s not up to par with Gardner’s defense but his bat is much better.
Joc’s lefty power swing probably plays well in the Bronx.
Old User Name
They just as well see what Tauchman can do.
Yankee Clipper
Joc cannot hit LH pitching at all. Although they do need LH bats, I don’t see a big advantage in getting yet another outfielder for a few more** home runs in RF.
CalcetinesBlancos
Yankees are good at keeping a player or two around forever to give the team a familiarity that’s fun. I say this as someone who is still bitter that the Sox let Buehrle walk for no reason.
iverbure
What is with the fascination of fans wanting players to stay with one team their entire career? This comes up with small market franchises all the time crying the franchise player won’t stay? You don’t want them to stay if you want to win. And the media doesn’t want that either. They’ll ask the guy when he’s hurt and broke down, why aren’t you the same player and the guy will leave angry. Happens too frequently. Let them go.
CalcetinesBlancos
It’s fun to have a few players that you are familiar with. I never said you should keep bad players around. One of the parts of the NHL that totally sucks is the fact that the salary cap means you don’t get to see a lot of players you like stick around for any amount of time.
The Saber-toothed Superfife
I doubt Al Avila is even a baseball fan at this point…… Sure as the Dickens- he is NOT a Tiger fan…..
Chris ILLICH has no apparent love for baseball either……
Sports professionals ruining the game for true fans……
STINKS!
mlbnyyfan
Stop thinking about the Yankees giving up Dominguez. Yankees finally got a great prospect and hopefully he can replace Judge who’s Mr DL.
mlbnyyfan
@Joe yes seeing what Tauchman can do is great. I’m just thinking about getting rid of Stanton to also get Brantley to give up another contact hitter like DJ. I only say this because the Yankees are insisting on avoiding the tax. Having it all Stanton and Brantley is great too if Yankees just pay whatever it takes to go all in. It’s been long enough. They are not a small market team.
Yankee Clipper
They’re not doing either. Getting rid of Stanton is a pipe dream. It’s not happening unless he reverts back to MVP-type numbers and the NL gets the DH after next season, and finally the Yankees pony up a bunch of cash.
But if he reverts back to MVP hitting, why the hell would they?
iverbure
Did I miss the part in the article where they talked about the tigers?
partyatnapolis
am i the only one who feels a .223/.354/.392 line isn’t that productive?
DarkSide830
you aren’t
iverbure
You aren’t the only one but most of the people who don’t died years ago or have from covid. Still a couple people that don’t understand how current baseball is evaluated though.
DarkSide830
all that line says to the positive is he hits a few home runs (which is not hard in today’s game) and can take a walk. (which he’s good at but hardly world-class at) otherwise that slash screams 9 hole hitter to me. compare those numbers to the worst starter or even worst bench hitter on most contending teams. the idea that you’d expend any tangible financial resources for such production is absurd to me.
Greenmamba559
@darkside830 exactly he’s only useful because he’s a left handed bat that will work a count and maybe walk or homer, nothing in between anymore. Doesn’t steal bases, hit for average and has a noodle for an arm in LF. O yeah he thinks he’s a power hitter cuz he hit 28 a few years ago. I’d be happy to move on from him. I forgot the red Sox are shopping benintendi, I highly doubt they make a trade with NYY but hed be perfect and a way better option than brantly like this other guy keeps saying.
lolzmets
This is impossible to read. Just a series of words with no line breaks, you can’t tell what is a sentence or not. Why go to the trouble of typing this much jibberish if no one can read it?
MoRivera 1999
It’s not impossible to read. I admit it’s not well written but it’s hardly illegible, unless you have a weak mind. And nobody appointed you editor. Get over yourself already.
iverbure
.245/.323/.418 is the average slash line of mlb last year. The middle part that’s OBP. That’s what teams look at first. .353 is much higher than .323 that’s why teams still want him in 2021.
DarkSide830
but the other two matter and “average” isnt a high bar when you want to win a championship.
mlb1225
Yea but we’re talking about a 4th OF. Not a guy who they’re relying on every day.
Yankee Clipper
And he’s on the field everyday, and he’s got intangibles that many organizations would love to have in their players… I like Gardy, and for fourth OF he’s fine. I also hoped he would retire after last year but he wants to go out on a WS.
Yankees need to spend the money during this competitive window, shore up their current weaknesses (especially the BIG pitching ones) and plan for a couple moves next year. Go over the welfare, hem, CBT, and win.
Steve7seven
Guys look at it this way. Would you take GS an AO for Arenado and gray if you were a Rockie fan? It’s a resounding NO. Stop looking through the pinstriped glasses and get realistic. Arenado’s glove alone makes him extremely valuable
iverbure
The motivation for the Yankees to move Stanton is to get rid of the contract. Getting Arenado does nothing but add salary but for a shorter time.
edward66m
Stanton will be back as a force. As a DH hopefully he can stay healthy and hit those homer’s we were promised. We also need the same out of Arron Judge. They still are the most dangerous home run tandem in all of baseball if they get there acts together.
NY_Yankee
What do Stanton and 44 DD’s have in common? Answer: A big bust
CHS O'sFan
I think those players moving sounds decently fair but I think that would take a 3rd team to take Ottovino and trade a prospect from their Org. Just dont know that the Red Sox would trade Benintendi for a “now” piece in Ottavino. This seems like a fair move to me:
Red Sox get Tauchman and team X’s prospect.
Yankees get Benitendi
Team X gets Ottavino and 3M from Red Sox/Yankees.
Mr_KLC
Yankees have as much chance of getting rid of the Stanton contract as the Orioles do with Chris Davis.
mlbnyyfan
Whatever happened to players willing to take a paycut to win a Championship. Maybe Tanaka comes back one year 5 Million
mlbnyyfan
I don’t care what most people think. Trading for Stanton was a mistake now more than ever. The Yankees are on a so called budget by Yankees standards. That contract has hurt them more than helped. His contract was the reason the Yankees couldn’t go higher for Corbin or Wheeler, couldn’t get Lindor etc
Gambit1193
If stanton’s contract wasn’t there someones else’s hefty contract would’ve taken its place and still wouldn’t be in the Lindor talks etc
Hudson6
I am sure that Tanaka already has offers in the $10 million range at least.
seth3120
I do agree that there is such a thing as an injury prone player but hell in 2019 nobody on that team could stay healthy. I’d prefer the reason for his lack of production be a treatable health reason than regression. If(big if)Stanton can remain healthy the Yankees will have one of the best hitters in the game. He was an absolute beast with the Marlins. I’d be concerned with his injuries but slow down with the hot garbage talk.
whyhayzee
I expect a lot of ankle injuries because they’re cheap skates.
mattmooney33
No one will take Stanton’s contract. He can’t even sneeze with out getting hurt. His contract should of came with a full body cast whenever he was traded to the Yankees.
yankee766766
Frazier, Andujar, Albert Abreu……..for Castillo. Sign Gardy…..Done !!!!
MoRivera 1999
Reds say no. Almost nobody wants Andujar, and certainly not as a piece in a trade for Castillo. Try Schmidt and Garcia with Frazier and Abreu and maybe you’ll start getting traction. I’m not sure the Yankees have the pieces for a Castillo trade.
billysbballz
Lol you guys need to find another hobby and stop playing GM. Frazier is the starting left fielder. Andujar trade value is like nill. Castillo is a top rotation arm in NL who I’m sure once he comes to AL will struggle and Yankee fans will hate the fact they dealt fir him. Just wait sbd see what Clarke Schmidt gives you and Devi and Severino will be back and Montgomery will be better. Just relax! Only deal worth doing is one they cannot and that is get rid of Stanton. Hicks is next to go after Stanton.
yanks02026
Can they please move on from Gardner.
Ducky Buckin Fent
That’s going to be… difficult for some of us, bro.
billysbballz
Stanton is the Yankees latest albatross and he has a full no trade so he’s going no where! Unless he starts hating NY and decides to allow a trade to west coast and then the Yanks would have to eat a ton of money snd no expect any decent return. Just isn’t happening anytime soon if at all. Didn’t like this trade too much at the start and despise it even more now.
debubba
Must be nice to have a $12 mil 4th outfielder. Garner, if on the Indians, would be there highest paid player this year. He hit better than any of them…but this is where baseball has gone wrong. Not that the Indians don’t have money and are cost cutting because they have to, but when other teams fan say that they are willing to pay 15 million to another team to “take a mistake” and get little back, there is a huge discrepancy in teams and talent. I do t know how to fix this because neither side would give enough to correct the problem but something has got to give.
iverbure
The problem with baseball is it has the dumbest fans. It has people that makes suggestions on fixes that the owners, not the players want and neither do the intelligent fans. Intelligent fans know that for years the Indians were competitive and nearly won the World Series in 2016.
The others leagues have done a great job convincing the simpleton fans of their league that a salary cap makes parity when there isn’t. If you even suggest a salary cap you should have to get Marvin Miller family members and all the players from the expos and tony Gwynn any else who lost money in 1994 and they should each spit right in your face all of them one after another. Then if you think it’s still a good idea you can bring up the salary cap.
Yankee Clipper
Caps and CBT = less money. Open it up, let teams spend. It is a self-correcting problem because every business has a limit.
Woodlawn
Bringing back Gardner just shows a non committal to winning. He is trash.
pasha2k
As a Redsox fan and an admirer of the Evil Empire team players, i like Popeye and hope they bring him back. He gave 110% when he played, and most players could learn from him. Otto was decent his first yr cuz no one knew him in the AL, but he is a big talker, and not very good. I wish they would keep him and play him in every NYY/Redsox game!!!!
Joe Momma
Lol to everyone bashing Gardner. Dude has been signed for like 4 years straight to be the 4th outfielder only to have to play every day and bail out the glass trifecta in Hicks, Judge and Stanton. Is it Gardners fault that he isn’t a wimp like those guys?
Here is an idea….how about Judge, Hicks and Stanton man up and deal with their little paper cuts that keep them out for seasons at a time and we won’t have to worry about Gardner playing more than once or twice a week.
Thank god Cash keeps bring him back. What 4th outfielder would have out performed Gardner over the last 3 years when they are forced to play everyday. Go ahead and compile that list I’ll wait here.
YankeesBleacherCreature
It’s kind of difficult to tough it out if you have oblique muscle tears, torn elbow tendons, and torn hamstring muscles and be expected to play in professional sports, no? At that point, you’re just a warm body and a liability on the field.
Lurking
I’m no Yankee fan, but from the outside and if my memory holds, the last time they relied on young pitching to carry them into the playoffs, the following offseason they spent like 500M on improvements because that plan failed so hard
I agree with those who think the plan to duck under the first line is gone. I could very well see them trying to Tanaka over a Paxton at this point and biting the tax bullet again
slider32
Yanks are done with free agents this year, they will trade for another starter. Blockbuster trades: Torres, Garcia, Schmidt, and Andujar for Marquez and Story, or Gray and Story for Garcia, Perraza, and Ford. Rockies need to rebuild, they are not close right now!
Nick W
I say offer 2/20 to both Tanaka and Odorizzi who ever takes it is who we have.
Ducky Buckin Fent
& nothing on wether or not the Yankees are truly intending to get below the fist CBT threshold.
A starter + bullpen help + a possible Gardy reunion = way more than $3-4 MM. If the Yanks are willing to incur the lowest level of fines/penalities they would have 20 mil left.
That would do all that.
Although – painful as it is – it may be time to part ways with GGBG.
Joe Momma
Ducky from the RAB days?
Ducky Buckin Fent
Tis.
“GGBG” gave it away, huh?
YankeesBleacherCreature
GoodGameBrettGardner – Miss that site! Mike had most level-headed takes covering the team and commenters weren’t just homers wearing horse-blinders.
Ducky Buckin Fent
You had the same screen name there didn’t you?
But, yeah, RAB was awesome. Mr Axisa was an entertaining writer & a very good analyst. & what a cast of characters, man.
YankeesBleacherCreature
No, I was never on their boards. Seemed like a frat and a tough crowd if you weren’t a regular. I was at Pinstripe Alley from the beginning before SB Nation bought them. Then it quickly devolved after a few managing editor turnovers.
Ducky Buckin Fent
Gotcha.
Feel like I’ve seen that name before?
I went from RAB to PSA. I ran into some…problems at PSA.
I’ve nothing untoward to say about the posters – in general – over there, however.
Yankee Clipper
Alright Ducky: My proposition (because I think Castillo is unfortunately out of reach) is German Marquez…. and maybe a combo with Story/Blackmon. What say you, sir? Obviously they have a clogging problem, so mlb talent must return to Colorado and/or another team, and the Yankees would likely have to take on Charlie Blackmon’s (?) contract too.
Ducky Buckin Fent
Oh yeah, I definitely like that.
I’d be pretty stoked to see a trade like that, man.
That’s quite a bit of added payroll. I’m not sure how Hal would feel about it. Blackmon would be a good get. I bet that young man cleans up well, uh?
I’ve been trying to work with adding ~ 20 mil in AAV as something that the Yankees might do.
BTV has Blackmon at – 27.5 MM, & Marquez at 91.2 MM. Absorbing Blackmon’s salary should lessen the the prospect cost.
I like this one. Hadn’t thought about it until now, but that trade would accomplish a lot.