11:00am: Eight clubs have contacted the Yankees about Tauchman, Martino tweets.
9:10am: The Yankees are receiving trade interest in outfielder Mike Tauchman, SNY’s Andy Martino reports. They’re looking past his 2020 season and valuing him more in line with his 2019 output, per Martino, who adds that it’d take a reliever with some team control or another piece with legitimate value for the Yanks to part with the 30-year-old outfielder.
That teams are inquiring on Tauchman comes as little surprise at this juncture of Spring Training. He’s out of minor league options and looks to be without much of a path to regular playing time, given the presence of Clint Frazier, Aaron Hicks, Aaron Judge, Brett Gardner and Giancarlo Stanton all on the roster.
The Yankees also have veterans Jay Bruce and Derek Dietrich in camp on non-roster deals. Bruce, in particular, has been rumored to pique the Yankees’ interest. Neither has put together a particularly overwhelming spring performance thus far, but both are left-handed bats with pop who could bring some versatility to the mix. While Tauchman is capable of playing all three outfield spots, he doesn’t have any experience in the infield. Bruce has spent a good bit of time at first base, however, and Dietrich can play second base in addition to all four corner positions.
Yankees skipper Aaron Boone acknowledged the looming decisions after yesterday’s game, telling reporters: “The reality is we — and a few of our players — have decisions to make in the next 24, 48, 72 hours,” (link via the New York Post’s Dan Martin). “But no decision has been made as of right now.”
Bruce’s minor league deal with the club contained an opt-out clause yesterday, which gives the Yankees 48 hours to put him on the roster. There’s no formal indication that Bruce triggered that clause, although there’s little reason for him not to have done so. Exercising the clause puts pressure on the Yankees and, if he’s not going to make the Opening Day roster in the Bronx, gives him the opportunity to pursue a roster spot with another club.
Martino has suggested it’s possible that both Tauchman and Bruce make the Opening Day roster, with infielder Tyler Wade being optioned to Triple-A to begin the season, although that’s obviously not the most ideal scenario for the Yankees. Doing so would mean a bench of Gardner, Tauchman, Bruce and backup catcher Kyle Higashioka. Each of Gio Urshela, Gleyber Torres and DJ LeMahieu can play multiple spots around the infield, but there’s not much of a safety net on the bench if one of them needs to depart a game with an injury. Keeping Dietrich, who has ample experience at both second base and third base, would be a cleaner fit in the event that Wade is optioned.
The simplest course of action for the Yankees would be to let Bruce and Dietrich pursue other opportunities, keeping Tauchman and Wade both on the bench to begin the season. However, there’s a case to be made that Tauchman is somewhat redundant with Gardner back in the fold and so many other outfield options on the roster. And with the Yankees losing Zack Britton for up to four months and Justin Wilson working through some shoulder tightness — yesterday’s MRI came back clean — it could work to their benefit if they could pry a useful reliever away from another club in a deal for Tauchman.
The 2020 season was a rough one for Tauchman, who played through a shoulder injury and recently acknowledged (via Martin in the previously linked piece) that he “developed some bad swing-path patterns” while trying to compensate for the pain he was experiencing. Tauchman hit just .242/.342/.305 in 111 plate appearances last season, maintaining the strong plate discipline he displayed from 2017-19 but showing nowhere near the power he did the prior year.
The 2019 season was a breakout campaign for Tauchman, whom the Yankees plucked from the Rockies in exchange for lefty Phillip Diehl. In 296 plate appearances with the Yankees that year, Tauchman slashed .277/.361/.504 with 13 home runs. He won’t be eligible for arbitration until next winter, and the Yankees control Tauchman through the 2024 season.
Martino drumming up interest for a player they can’t keep. Nice to be on the Yankees payroll!
Nah teams would be interested in Tauchmam. He was a legit 5 tool player in 2019 and has lots of team control left. I don’t know if he can bring back the type of return the Yanks would want to part with him after his down season last year though.
He’d also be a clear cut OF starter for several teams. Orioles and the Giants both come to mind.
I think you’re overrating a guy based on essentially one season of success. I’m sure some teams are intrigued but clear cut starter? Eh.
And could you be devaluing him based on the short season? Not to mention his season long injury? Yankees screwed up by Resigning Gardner.
No, I’m not devaluing him based on a short season, I’m judging upon his professional career, which is much longer than one and a half years.
Ya Gardner was an odd move. He’s fine, but are they not basically the exact same player?
The only reason the Giants might have interest in Tauchman is because he plays CF.
But he’s also out of options, and I can’t imagine they send Austin Slater or someone better to the minors just so they carry Tauchman on the roster.
Teams can never have enough pitching, and it todays MLB that includes relief pitching.
The Yankees want a decent relief pitcher AND another plyer for a backup OF?
Seems most FO’s would wait to see which players are released as rosters are cut down. But maybe they find a desperate GM out there without a lick of sense.
The Yankees for asking for relievers AND anything else is comical (if that’s actually true).
Tauchman has effectively zero value. He is out of options, so he has to stay on the roster. There are few teams with an obvious roster spot for him right now, and those that do certainly aren’t giving up much value for him.
It’s more or less likely that the Yankees will take some unheralded 47th round pick in return for an outfielder that can probably be had through the waiver wire come late April.
@samual –
Do you not understand what the word “or” means?
I can help!
It means: to link alternatives.
As usual you’re welcome, sir.
Was thinking the same thing. How much is he worth?
Orioles all easy have just as talented options if not more with options available.. totally disagree.. do real search on Orioles outfielders
Someone who hit so well in 2019 and has performed well in ST, and who is cheap and cost-controlled and can play a good CF most definitely has value.
What the Yankees will do: if there’s no fair trade out there for Tauchman, they will let Bruce go. They’ll send Wade to the minors to start the season and they will carry Dietrich. Very simple.
If they can get a good return for Tauchman, then they will make a deal and keep Bruce. There is no way they’re going to let Tauchman be claimed on waivers and get nothing for him.
You would at least have to pair him up with a younger arm in order to bring back anything that would make the bullpen now.
Man, I just don’t see what the advantage to keeping Dietrich over Wade is. I feel the same with Bruce over Tauch, but it’s a better argument.
Tyler Wade, in nearly 350 career plate appearances, has a 57 wRC+ on his career.
The fact that any team, let alone the New York Yankees, gave him that many opportunities to hit is about as gracious an act as you’ll find. While I loathe seeing the Yankees do well, they would be best moving on from Tyler Wade.
He doesn’t have to hit. Speed and defense is his role. Dietrich would have to hit to contribute and he hasn’t done that either the past 2 seasons.
Dietrich’s past three seasons:
2018- 109 wRC+
2019- 102 wRC+
2020- 124 wRC+
He has legitimately been a league-average, or better hitter in every season of his career outside of his debut season. That’s the definition of “hit to contribute”.
But Gardner also brings leadership.
Ducky, here come the Yankee haters with Tauchman has zero value. But x player on their team is the best at his position, or would need Dominguez, Garcia, Torres, Schmidt, Vargas, and some lottery picks because …..POTENTIAL
It’s kind of mind numbing that it’s not even original. Tauchman could be a huge benefit to a lot of teams, but hey, what do GMs know?
I see your point. My counter is that he won’t get the at bats to make that production relevant enough to sacrifice the speed and defense versatility of wade. But you’ve made it a closer argument than I had originally thought.
He’s an excellent fit on the Giants, but probably as a platoon with Dubon and/or Slater. Plus, the Giants have a number of relievers that the Yankees might want. Whether SF is ready to let one go—given last years debacle bullpen—is something else.
I mean, if the Giants are giving up an out-of-options reliever like Jarlin Garcia, or someone they optioned out like Sam Selman, I could maybe see Zaidi doing that deal.
But Zaidi isn’t giving up someone he needs for Tauchman to waste away a roster spot.
And I wouldn’t be happy seeing either one of those two relievers go, but Tauchman fits PRECISELY what SF has been looking for a legit defensive, LH-hitting CF to platoon with Dubon or Slater.
JJKHS: I didn’t realize his past three seasons were that productive offensively. That’s actually much better than what I had originally thought. Good post.
“No, I’m not devaluing him based on a short season, I’m judging upon his professional career, which is much longer than one and a half years.”
No, it’s not “much longer.” He hardly played in Colorado. Unless you think 59 total at-bats before he came to New York is a big sample.
He’s a had a total of 414 at-bats in his career.
Minor leagues count as professional. It’s a lot more than 414 at bats once you include that.
“Minor leagues count as professional. It’s a lot more than 414 at bats once you include that.”
Oh, okay. Well, this is Tauchman’s stat line in the minors:
.303/.375/.453/.827
What do you call that – unproductive? Subpar?
This is Aaron Hicks’s minor-league stat line:
.276/.379/.431/.810
This is Aaron Judge’s minor league stat line:
.276/.371/.471/.842
Maybe you need to rethink your evaluation, no?
I didn’t say that teams wouldn’t be interested in him or that he was terrible – but everyone knows the Yankees can’t really keep him on their roster so teams like Baltimore can wait. Why trade an asset when he’s going to be on waivers soon?
Because…….. He. Won’t. Be. On. Waivers. Soon. And, they know Yankees will be more motivated to move him now than after they waive someone else who is already scooped up.
He. Won’t. Be. On. Waivers…..because the interest is swirling (see original post). It’s now a matter of the Yankees trying to extract the maximum value where Martino’s tweets help immensely.
Thanks for coming to my TedTalk
You’re missing my point, DWOBP. Despite the immense power Martini’s tweets yield, he wouldn’t be on waivers anyway. They discussed last week that he wasn’t going to be sent down, and he & Bruce very well may make the roster together (which I don’t like b/c no IF backup).
So, my point is, teams know Yankees wouldn’t sacrifice him. To your point in your post, “Why not wait….” because waiting will have a negative yield.
He was never going to get sent down. Cashman will not sacrifice him to waiver and was never going to, which GMs know. If they move now, he’s more movable for the Yankees. If he gets locked in because of injuries and Bruce goes elsewhere, they won’t settle.
“5 tool player” who can’t make a squad over Brett Gardner. LMAO
As a Yankees fan I am embarrassed that he said that. There’s no way he’s a 5 tool player.
I guess in that light every player is a 5-tool-player. They all have gradients of running, power, hit, defense, and can throw a baseball; just not as well as the other, much better five-tool players.
I do recall seeing “fringe” though, so don’t beat him up too much…..
Clipper- every player is a 5 tool player! Hahaha that’s a FACT Jack. They all have tools.
Speaking of 5 tool players- I’m reading “24” the book on Willie Mays. In that book MLB industry experts are quoted saying that if Mays came up as a prospect today he’d have an 80 grade for each of his 5 tools. Apologies if you knew that already.
To put that into perspective: Wander Franco the current #1 prospect in MLB is the only prospect in all of MLB who has an 80 grade in one (Hitting) category. Franco has H80 P60 R50 F55 A50. Willie Mays! What a player. Makes me wish I could travel back in time to see him and all the other fantastic Negro League players who never got that chance to get into MLB
Yankee fans are really funny sometimes. its just exacerbated because theres so many of em
Ayrbhoy: Nice! Yeah, that’s amazing, and I have not read that book. To see someone like Mays, as great as he was, for as long as he played? It is incomprehensible to fans today, including me. That’s why I am of the opinion that the epoch of play is irrelevant. I believe the greatest players to ever grace the field, like Mays, transcend evolutions in the game of baseball.
Thanks for the reminder about that book, I will be sure to pick up a copy!
Teams are tauch’in
Underrated wordplay, hosmer. Props.
I think everyone expected regression from Tauchman with the bat, but not as much as he did. His power completley dissapeared. In terms of the expected stats, he was a .250/.340/.410 hitter which overall is pretty solid, especially considering the defense he brings. While his BA and OBP were pretty close to what was expected, the aformentioned power completley went away and his defense also took a hit.
shoulder injury zapped his power.
His shoulder injury was the issue, his power has been there in ST.
I’m fine going with Tauchman/Wade and letting Bruce/Dietrich walk. But if Tauch can bring back a worthy bullpen arm I’m interested. Pair him with an Abreu. Yanks have a ton of young relief arms on the 40 that could help bring back something relevant.
Yankees could and should do the right thing for Tauchman – and move him. Signing Gardner was not necessary. Tauchman isn’t getting any younger, and wasting valuable years, on their bench. Hopefully in the future, no teams will help ‘bailout’ the Yankees from their moves of excess.
To be fair NY bailed out COL of their “excess” first. Tauch had his playing opportunity in ’19 then got hurt. Had similar opportunity in ’20, and was hurt. This is why Gardy was resigned. I think he needs to stay healthy and beat out Gardy for playing time before he’s given entitlement to anything.
Gardner signing was plain dumb .. would have rather had Tauchman and I at cheaper
The Gardner signing was not dumb. He’s still a solidly average ML player. They brought him back because no one knew what Tauchman was after his bad 2020. He had no power and he legitimately could not hit a straight fastball down the middle of the plate. There were questions, hence Gardner was brought back. Its not that difficult to understand.
Dogbone: They all “bailout” each other at some point. Kind of like the PTBNL deals. If you operate with the mentality of “screw them” as a GM, how do you think one of the wealthiest teams in baseball will repay the favor when your team is in a bind?
Funny how the NY sports media are so happy to be tools for the Yankees roster moves.
Yeah it probably doesn’t happen with any other team, just the Yankees.
I would keep Tauchman as insurance when the injuries happen. I like Bruce, but it seems like there’s too many moving pieces involved in keeping him.
Yep, Hicks and Judge aren’t exactly iron men, and even Frazier has the concussion issues. They won’t want to play Stanton much in the OF either. They had both Gardner and Tauchman the past two seasons, so I am not sure why people suddenly feel they won’t carry both now.
They also had MiLB options on Tauchman. They don’t anymore. So if Tauchman struggles, or if they need a roster spot for someone else, they may not be able to carry 2 outfielders on the bench.
They’re carried them both in 2019 and 2020, not sure why people think they can’t do it now.
I think Tauchman needed to reprove himself this spring. He was bad in 2020. He couldn’t hit a fastball down the middle of the plate – perhaps related to the injury.
IMO, he’s done what he needed to do so far this March. If I’m Cashman, Tauchman has won that roster spot BUT if another team is willing to offer a useful reliever I might reconsider. I’m planning on Tauchman being my guy, but if Bruce/Dietrich + whatever reliever they get in a trade makes the roster better than just Tauchman, that is something to think about.
Shouldn’t have brought back Gardner.
A. He and Tauchman are the same type of players: slap hitting 4th outfielders that can run. I prefer Tauchman because he is younger.
B. Would love to have either Bruce or Dietrich as a power hitting lefty off the bench. That would be a more valuable use of a roster spot then Gardner.
Tauchman has more pop and more speed than Gardner at this point. Both similar defensively. I think he’s a fringe 5 tool player at best and with regular playing time can be a 260 hitter with 15-30 HR snd 20 SB potential. That should at least get the Yanks a decent return. Bringing back Gardner definitely caused this logjam and Bruce being the back up first baseman plus corner outfielder gives the roster more flexibility. If they can deal Tauchman with a nice young hug arm in Abreu and maybe get a solid left handed reliever that would be ideal. I like Tauchman though and wish we didn’t have to deal him with Judge and Hicks always hurt. I wish that would be a good enough package to acquire a Josh Hader who is coming off a down season and very HR prone but the Brewers don’t need a 4th outfielder plus they would want more. The Yanks need a left handed arm fit bullpen so maybe one is available that’s worth trading Tauchman for.
I meant to type 15-20 home run, not 30. Sorry mistyped
Gardner is fast but has never been a good base runner- Which Tauchman is
This is blatantly incorrect, @mets’64.
Gardy routinely grades out as one of the best base runners in MLB.
& Tauchman does not have more “pop”, @billy.
GGBG HR’s 2019 & 2020: 28 & 5
Tauchman: 13 & 0
The Yankees brought Gardner back simply because he is still the superior player. The End.
Tauchman can help some other team.
Perhaps my Tauchman & Kriske for Richard Rodriguez wasn’t so far afield after all. Cash’ll get something useful for him.
Bet.
I’m Covid positive but asymptomatic btw, fellas. Found out yesterday evening. So I’m heading to South Dakota to social distance, hunt snow geese, & fish for walleye.
So don’t post mean stuff about Gardy while I’m not here to defend him, uh?
Isnt it kind of dishonest to use home run totals to determine that Gardner has more pop? I think he had like 2x as many plate appearances.. You would have to assume that hes going to hit more home runs given more opportunities. Im not arguing one player is better than the other just putting it out there.
Perhaps.
Career sluggisng percentage:
Gardy: .392
Tauchman: .415
But the inverse happens here. Far *fewer* AB’s & Tauchman’s is inflated due to his .505 ’19 which came in ~ half the plate appearances.
Gardy has the longer & more recent track record of pop. Is that fair enough?
Otherwise, you’ll force me to use “eye test” which I’m not above.
Ducky, sorry to hear, hope your son doesn’t come down with anything. Stay safe out there in SD, I hear {politicians, eek) go out there to get away from their crumbling cities. They’re worse than Covid, so stay away from those buggars.
I’ll keep you in our thought as prayers, buddy. Travel safe!
Gardy has a MLB career slugging percentage of .401. Pretty darn good for a ‘little guy’. Plus he’s the heart & soul of the Yankees clubhouse.
Be well, Ducky. I hop in here and there to fight the good Gardner fight, lol. Get healthy for the regular season, my friend!
Hey, Clip.
Thank you, man. Son & girlfriend are fine. Why I dipped for a few days. Not sure if you’ve ever been out here?
But there is a desolate beauty to the great plains.
I’m watching spring roll in from the west.
Was a good day out on the prairie.
I’ll always take any & all prayers.
Thank you.
Stay up.
My man, @Srechter35.
Keep up the good fight. I’ll be right as rain. Thank you for the positive vibes.
100% the correct answer here
Um, Tauchman has very good power but had a shoulder injury last year. His power looks to have returned in ST.
Gardner has changed himself in to a guy with some HR pop as well, he hit 28 in 2019.
So no, neither is a slap hitter and Tauchman may be starter quality, the jury is still out on that. I think he’d have a very good chance at starting in CF for a lot of teams.
I am kind of sick of Gardner at this point as well, but he does have a lot of value in the clubhouse. The “Let Brett Bang” thing is very good for team chemistry – literally on every big hit of 2019 the players would make a “Brett Banging” hand gesture.
Tribe? Perfect fit….
The Tribe does not need another 4th outfielder.
He’s better than their 27 candidates in CF….Naylor should move to 1B. They won’t give BB a shot and Bauers is awful with the stick.
Canvas bag full of batting practice baseballs?
Canvas!! He ain’t no Babe Ruth!
Well it’s not waterproof canvas. And no monogram.
If they had been trying to trade him after 2019 he would have brought back a very nice return.
If you think a cheap, cost-controlled guy who had an off year due to a shoulder injury gets reduced to zero value, then I hang up on you as the Yankee GM and look for someone who is willing to part with something good.
Otherwise I cut Bruce and hold on to Tauchman. Dude put up a 3.8 WAR in 87 games in 2019, you’re crazy if you think he shouldn’t bring back a good reliever at the least.
That was also at the height of the juiced ball era though. No team is going to value him at that level, including the Yankees.
I doubt they’d ask for a top reliever for him, but they should be able to get a good, cost-controlled one the least.
So he had a shoulder injury, but still played in 43 games in 2020? That’s not exactly a way to build value for a player…
And it’s pretty evident that you don’t understand that MiLB options are pretty valuable when acquiring players. The Giants gave up more than they probably wanted to land LaMonte Wade, Jr., and that was mostly because Wade, Jr. had an option remaining.
And you’re not valuing the 4 years of control of a cheap player who posted a 3.8 WAR in 87 games.
Buddy, four years of team control means nothing if I can’t ACTUALLY control what I do with that player.
Whatever team acquires Mike Tauchman cannot send him to the minors if they need to. They have to carry him full time, on the 26-man roster for 4 seasons. And if they don’t, they’ll likely lose him to another team.
I don’t know what else I have to get through your brain to help you see those limitations. Teams value options. Tauchman isn’t a sure-fire starting outfielder on any team in baseball, and they legitimately cannot send him to the minors.
Who is going to pay anything of value for that?
Why would you want to send him down? If you’re trading for him with the idea that he might start for you, then sending him down is completely meaningless.
I don’t know what it would take to get that through to your brain, buddy. Not every team has the OF depth the Yankees do. Many teams would not want to send him to the minors.
And BTW, I’m not your Buddy, Guy.
Despite your very passionate, fiery love for Michael Robert Tauchman (he’s married, FWIW), it’s important you understand that most of baseball doesn’t agree with your assessment of his talent.
There are 87 other starting outfield positions, and I’m not sure I can find a single one where Tauchman would be an immediate upgrade, either statistically or contractually.
So whatever teams acquires him will do so for depth purposes only. And teams want optionable depth.
I know that probably sends your brain into overdrive…. just the thought of some dastardly GM sending precious little Mike down to the minors, but it’s possible, and teams will want that option if they need to.
So whatever team acquires him will have to take those limitations into account when offering up a trade for him. They might offer up another out-of-options player, particularly a reliever, for him. Or they might give the ever-traded “Cash Considerations” for him.
If you think Mike Tauchman is a starting outfielder, you’re welcome to think that. But you’d also be wrong.
And you’re entitled to be wrong if you wish to be.
There are teams where he could be, and apparently at least 8 came calling, knowing he has no options.
You’re denying reality and on some kind of jihad against admitting Tauchman has real talent/promise.
Whatever fwen, keep hating on Tauchman and he’ll soon enough prove you wrong.
I’m seeing the Yanks look poised to part ways with Bruce, so I guess the 8 interested teams can try and sign him.
You understand that teams attempting to trade for him doesn’t necessarily mean they plan on starting him, right? They are looking for further OF depth… the kind you keep pretending the Yankees have.
And I look forward to Michael Tauchman and his 0.3 WAR to come back and show me! Maybe at your nuptials, you can remind me of this.
And you understand that they’re both interested and aware that he is out of options, right? Or is that just going *whoosh*? As perhaps many points do with you and your limited capacity for reasoning.
You seem to think (among a variety of incorrect things) that I’m saying no one wants Mike Tauchman. If the reports are accurate (it’s Andy Martino, so the jury is out on that one), then yes, there are teams interested.
Some of those teams have a variety of interest, probably most, if not all, seeing him as a potential OF depth piece to start the season.
The issue, if you had any reading comprehension skills at all, is that you and others seem to think the Yankees are going to get a legitimately talented reliever for Mike Tauchman.
And what I’m telling you is that the chances of that happening are extremely slim. There’s a very, very decent chance that 99.9% of the baseball world will have no earthly idea whatever the name that goes back to New York in a trade when/if it happens. Think someone like Ryan Durwanowicz (Full disclosure: I made that name up).
I agree with the assessment that there are teams who probably want to see if they can get 2019 production out of Tauchman. And would be interested in making a trade. But I don’t agree that teams are going to take a massive gamble on a 30-year-old backup outfielder who has exhausted all of his MiLB options in about the same time as you exhausted your brain cells.
So yeah. Maybe that’ll help you comprehend a little more.
Who said a major piece was going to come back for him?
You’ve been saying no team will even give up a major leaguer in return, and that’s ridiculous.
A team with extra BP depth that needs an OF is a perfect fit. I don’t expect Josh Hader in return. I would expect a cost-controlled reliever who has at least shown something in the past couple of seasons, as Tauchman has in 2019. And who looks good in ST, as Tauchman has.
If that’s your definition of a “massive gamble” maybe you need a new hobby, you don’t understand baseball very well.
“Who said a major piece was going to come back for him?”
Literally, the article said that. Andy Martino’s article. Like, did you even read the artilce? Or did you come here to profess to the world your love for Mike Tauchman?
And if the guy is currently on a major league roster, he’s going to constitute a “major return”. You understand that almost no out-of-options players get traded for players on MLB rosters, right? (Actually, don’t answer, we know you don’t).
You should seriously go look at what other “out of option” players were acquired for… some of those guys have since been granted an extra year of options, but it’s not exactly a great return.
And even the guys with cost control AND options, they weren’t acquired for anyone you’ve heard of.
Some examples:
Cionel Perez to CIN for Luke Berryhill
Jordan Yamamoto to NYM for Federico Polanco
Derek Fisher to MIL for cold, hard cash
Josh Sborz to TEX for Jhan Zambrano
Duane Underwood to PIT for Shendrik Apostel
I’d still argue Tauchman is better than all of those guys, but no one is giving up ANY MLB talent for a 30-year-old, out-of-options outfielder. No one.
Yankee fans are the most comically absurd fanbase that exists in American sports. They also rank among the least intelligent. It’s actually incredible.
Probably not a wise idea to respond to one individual and call an entire fan base less intelligent. Especially when it’s pretty pervasive among fans on all teams, regardless of the sport.
That tends to open one of for a wide range of criticism from a multitude of people. Just a nugget of wisdom.
Nothing of what I said is remotely false. MrMackey was only proving it correct.
“Literally, the article said that. Andy Martino’s article. Like, did you even read the artilce? Or did you come here to profess to the world your love for Mike Tauchman?”
It’s a tweet, not an article. Nowhere does it mention a major return is coming back for Tauchman. You are lost. And you keep bringing up love for Tauchman – I think you secretly admire him. Did he spurn your advances? Is that what this is all about?
“And if the guy is currently on a major league roster, he’s going to constitute a “major return”. You understand that almost no out-of-options players get traded for players on MLB rosters, right? (Actually, don’t answer, we know you don’t).”
That’s ridiculous. Not all players on ML rosters are a “major return”. If so, that means Tauchman himself is a “major return”. You just disproved your own nonsense in a self defeating statement. And are you insane? Players who have no options get traded, literally all the time. Have you followed baseball before today?
“You should seriously go look at what other “out of option” players were acquired for… some of those guys have since been granted an extra year of options, but it’s not exactly a great return.”
It all depends on the player and what the receiving team needs. Most players are “out of options”, hello!
“I’d still argue Tauchman is better than all of those guys”
Yeah you could have stopped right there.
“Yankee fans are the most comically absurd fanbase that exists in American sports. They also rank among the least intelligent. It’s actually incredible.”
Now it’s the entire fanbase? Did other Yankee players spurn your romantic overtures, and/or Yankee fans? You’ve come unhinged here fella.
LOL. The initial link is an article to SNY with this quote, “It would take a controllable reliever or another piece of real value to pry him away from New York.”
Once again, it might help to read the article posted. Then again, I’m not confident you know how to do this. It seems awfully difficult for you to comprehend anything. Is Tauchman distracting you? I get it, he’s kinda cute.
Yes, I’m aware that “players with no options get traded, literally all the time.” Almost NEVER are they traded for anyone who is even remotely close to the majors. Like, they aren’t even traded for the worst players on MLB rosters. In fact, I can’t even recall an out-of-options player being traded for an MLB player with options. If you have a recent example, feel free to share.
So if the Yankees were to get anyone on a 40-man roster for Mike Tauchman, that WOULD be a major return.
It’s hilarious that you have to make up things that aren’t said so you can try and sound smarter in a conversation. I literally never said that players with no options don’t get traded, but they have literally zero value. Usually, that “trade” is a way for teams to jump the waiver process… so they get a guy they want before he gets exposed to lesser teams.
But again, they NEVER get traded for MLB talent. The fact that you think the Yankees might get anyone, literally anyone who will be plugged into the MLB roster is about as laughable as it gets… especially when you’re asking if I even watch baseball.
I’d argue that the guy whose ONLY argument is that Mike Tauchman one time had a good half season is why he’s good and who doesn’t understand small sample sizes probably shouldn’t condescend to anyone.
If Tauchman gets traded, we should make sure we check in on MrMackey’s wellness. I don’t think he’ll be able to cope with the realities of how bad this trade will be for New York.
Holy smokes.
You guys were doing this before I left!
In the interim, I drove to South Dakota, set up camp, bagged some geese, & made dinner.
Fellas.
I don’t think you’ll convince each other of your points, man.
I just do not.
My family is traveling to Utah and I am doing this when it’s not my turn to drive lol.
I like Tauchman’s defense and frankly Bruce strikes out a lot. If Tauchmanhas another good year can replace Gardner next year. Rooting for the underdog
LOL
If you think Bruce K’s a lot, wait till you get a load of Dietrich.
Dietrich will get a chance because Wade is so horrible with the bat.
Quite a number of players had career years with the rabbit ball in 2019, which was basically like hitting a golf ball. I’m not saying he can’t repeat it, but I’d be very leery about judging a player solely on 2019 performance.
He had a leg injury late in 2019 that dragged his numbers down for a couple weeks before he was shut down. Last year had shoulder issues that probably explains the lack of power. If healthy he profiles as a solid 4th OF on a good team, could start for someone lacking OF depth. He’s not an All-Star and won’t bring back one in a trade but he’s has the upside of a very useful player.
Maybe Tauchman is one of those “Ken Phelps all-stars”…. his minor league stats are much more impressive than I thought. why was this guy not given a shot earlier? … looking into it, he seems to only have developed his power at about age 26. Then his OBP rose. I don’t know what that really means in terms of predictions.
White Sox, please DON’T trade for this guy.
CWS already have Eaton. Although it’s probably a good comparison for Tauchman’s ceiling.
And they’re both injury prone.
Funny you say that. I could see the WSox kicking the tires after reading since they could use OF depth and a lefty bat. Doubt they offer up much.
Yankees need a lefty bat
Does a lefty really need pop in Yankee Stadium? It takes a pitching wedge to get a HR there.
That said, Tauchman does sound like a Giants fit. Probably not a huge return as the Tanks have no leverage, but better than losing him for nothing.
I don’t see the Yankees getting rid of him. They like his versatility and LH bat. He can play all three Of positions at a high level. With the Yankees that make him invaluable.
Bruce can play two positions adequately
Deitrich can play 5-6 positions but his bat has been non-existent so far
I agree with everyone suggesting Gardy never should of been brought back especially if it means Tauchman is off the team. Bruce strikes out too much and DLM is a good back up for Voit. I don’t like the idea of sending Wade down because he still has options. The Yankees need to make a trade and get rid of players that are close to being out of options. They need to get rid of several players to help with the 40 man roster. No one seems to like my suggestion to keep both Bruce and Tauchman and get rid of a Cessa however most Yankees starters are not reliable enough to give them any length. I’m curious I don’t follow many other teams. Do they have this problem? Should the rosters be expanded more?
The ONLY reason I could see Zaidi trading for Tauchman would be out of a dissatisfaction in his CF options. But as it stands, he seems willing to go with Dubon in center, with Yaz and Slater getting reps there.
And frankly, Tauchman isn’t better than any of the outfielders currently on the Giants 26-man roster, and the guy is out of options. So where would he play?
I’m not as familiar with their roster as you are. I just know they were looking for outfield depth earlier this off season. Add in the cost control and that defense is highly valued in that ballpark and it made sense.
They acquired LaMonte Wade, Jr as an option. Zaidi made it pretty well known that he was looking for someone that was a) an option in CF, b) left-handed and c) had MiLB options remaining.
I’m sure Tauchman was considered, but he didn’t fit the final requirement.
Why do they need leverage? He’s young and cost-controlled and put up a 3.8 WAR in 87 games in 2019. Can play CF and well.
They’re going to cut Bruce if they can’t find a good return for Tauchman.
Because Tauchman is out of options. Any team taking him on legitimately has to carry him on the active roster for the next FOUR years until he’s a free agent.
So, if Tauchman struggles, or if a team needs that roster spot for someone else, they can’t move Tauchman, at all, without exposing him to waivers.
Teams aren’t giving up much value, if any at all, for that. And Tauchman played in 43 games (71%) last season. He was not good, at all. No one is giving up big-league talent for him.
Any receiving team also controls him for FOUR years, and if he plays well that’s a great trade piece.
Tauchman had a shoulder injury last year which sapped his power. In 87 games in 2019 he posted a 3.8 WAR. His power looks to have returned in ST.
If no team wants to give up a useful ML reliever, than the Yanks will keep him and dump Bruce. But you’re wrong.
I don’t think you understand. The four years of team control only matters if he actually contributes. Because if he doesn’t, the team can’t send him to the minors. He HAS to stay on the 26-man roster.
He is, effectively, a Rule 5 pick with a longer timeline of limitations. Instead of 90 days, it’s 4 seasons. The acquiring team must carry him on the roster for 4 years, or potentially lose him through waivers.
No one is giving up big-league talent for that. So, yeah, I guess if that’s the Yankees’ stance, then enjoy Tauchman.
Tauchman is so good that he can’t even make 4th OF for the Yankees. The Yankees are really torn up they have to trade him over Brett Gardner so don’t expect them to just give away the amazing dude who had a good half a year in 2019
He was one of the best OF’ers in the game in 2019 by WAR per game.
It’s not like he’s a fringe ML’er, not by a long shot. The Yankee OF is so good and so deep that it’s a question there, but for many teams he would not only make the ML roster but be a starter.
So what if you can’t send him down when you’re dealing for him to start?
Cmon man. There is a very real chance he was a one year wonder. At this point, he is a fringe major leaguer. There would be no question of guys like Wade or Bruce making a roster over him if that wasn’t the case. You are overvaluing him way too much at this point in his career.
Then why is Bruce going to be the odd man out? He’s not competing with Wade at all, who BTW will most likely be in the minors so they can give Dietrich a shot.
I am saying they will not waive him, it’s not going to happen, and they will only keep Bruce if they get something good for him. A cost controlled reliever who has had at least one strong year in the past two years in the majors, and who has looked good in ST. For less than that they will not trade him, they’ll just keep him.
WSox need him. Morse says Eloy tore labrum
Oh, no.
For real? That’s awful, man. Andujar hasn’t been the same since he tore his. I so hope that’s not the case, man.
Cardinals’ fan here. What about a match with either Ryan Helsley or Kodi Whitley (both are solid RH RPs with years of control for Tauchman?. The Cardinals do need additional LHBs and this would solidify the OF even more.
The trade values do match up for both sides per BaseballTradeSimulator.
You realize that BTV is a complete and total farce, right? Why would the Cardinals take on an out-of-options fourth outfielder for relievers that still have options and aren’t that terrible?
Seriously, the amount of people who think BTV is anything more than a fun little toy to make up nonsensical trade ideas is baffling.
Those are the kinds of guys the Yanks will be looking for IMO, it would just depend on what their scouts think of them. But they will want useful / cost-controlled relievers.
Is it just possible that when a guy gets dumped by a team like Colorado, one deal with the devil season doesn’t make him a 5 tool player?
Is it possible he played with a bad shoulder in 2020 and has looked healthy and had his power return in ST?
He’ll probably play at somewhere between 2020 and 2019, and a guy who can do that cheaply and play all 3 OF slots ain’t bad.
He played 43 games with a bad shoulder?
You realize that hurts his value, right?
Sure, but it doesn’t mean he has no value. You realize his power has been back in ST, right? And that his 2019 was stellar, right?
And that he’s going to be cheap and controllable for 4 more years, right?
And that a ton of small market teams with OF depth issues would love to take a shot at a guy like Tauchman, right?
I think the point is that, yes, he has value. But, being a 30 year old with a short track record and out of options, that value is extremely low. 4 years of control means a lot less for a 30 year old than if he were younger. Even if he were an established vet, which he isn’t, he’d be about to enter his decline years anyway.
I really don’t think he’s over the hill at all. And would you rather pay a FA for their over 30 seasons, or have a guy cost-controlled for that period?
Hicks is the problem here being he has 4 years and 40 mil left on his deal and is a 4th outfielder at best considering he is always hurt. It’s still crazy to me that he got a 7 year deal off of 80 games of above average production. Release this clown already so you have some roster flexibility. All he does is eat up an IL spot.
Right, a switch hitting, good fielding CF who draws a ton of walks and has power is someone you release.
If the Yankees go with 12 pitchers then they can keep Gardy, Brucie, Tauch and Wade all on their 26 man roster. That’s probably what they’ll do unless they get a find for Tauchman which is possible. (Thinking another lefty reliever to replace the injured Britton)
No they need six relievers since it’s early in the season while pitchers build arm strength and have lower pitch counts. Even more so with Kluber and Taillion.
@YankeesBleacherCreature- ok, but the Yankees don’t need a 5th starter till mid to late April. So expect Brucie, Gardy, Tauch, and Wade to make the 26 man roster. So they can carry those 7 relievers that you mentioned also, no problem.
*seven
Tauchman could be a starting outfielder for most MKB teams. Trade him for a reliever
If he can play CF the phillies should be in. Trade a couple pieces off the 40 man to make room for Kintzler and Watson.
Absurd on its face.
If they were actually valuing him in line with his 2019 output, there would be no scenario where Bruce would be making the team over him.
They are valuing him as what his is- a 30 YO who two years ago had a good season (in 300 ABs) but who has otherwise done nothing as a major leaguer.
Tauchman had something to prove after his injury and he has proven it – his power is back.
Bruce was brought in as insurance/depth. He’s about to be gone.
Only if the Yanks get a good offer for Tauchman will Bruce remain, and the clock is ticking as he can opt out.
The Yankees are loaded with outfielders. Look at the comments above. If a team out there needs a 4th outfielder, especially one that’s left-handed just call the Yankees. Tauchman struggled last season. My guess he will definitely help another ball club. And he is somewhere in between what he was in 2019 and 2020. It’s possible the Yanks could always keep him and go with 12 pitchers on their 26 man roster, especially thru April.
They can obviously keep him considering they’ve kept both he and Gardner around for two years now.
As a White Sox fan, I’d rather have him than Eaton. And the Sox have a wealth of BP arms. It wouldn’t take one of their top guys, like Bummer, to land him.
It wouldn’t even take a big-league reliever to land Tauchman. He could probably be had via waivers in late April if teams are patient enough.
You would have to pair him with a young relief arm to get anything back worthy of the bullpen right now.
Why would the Yankees do that when they’re looking to trade for a reliever?
No way he is going on waivers.
Bummer would be too much to ask, they would probably look at something based around Fry if they dealt with the White Sox.
LOL. You really, really think you’re sounding like you know what you’re talking about, don’t you?
There’s legitimately zero chance that the White Sox, who are a pretty shrewd front office, would give up Jace Fry for Mike Tauchman.
Right, a guy with a career 4.75 ERA who walks 5.5 per 9 innings is untouchable.
You really have no clue what you’re talking about.
For Mike Tauchman? ANY player on an MLB roster is untouchable.
Do you seriously not understand how surplus value works? (Once again, a rhetorical question.)
Find a new hobby, you don’t understand baseball.
You legitimately think that some team is going to hand over MLB-caliber players for Mike Tauchman, and then you also think other people don’t understand baseball.
You need to go look at what out-of-options players get traded for. Any of them… over the last 3 seasons. Over the last 3 years, there have been very few, if any out-of-option players traded for MLB talent.
The Angels acquired Raisel Iglesias for Noe Ramirez (who the Reds just released this week).
The Reds and Rockies swapped out-of-options pitchers in Stephenson and Hoffman.
The ONLY ones that I could find that got anything remotely close to MLB talent or MLB-ready talent were pitchers. Those type of moves for outfielders, they get worse.
Turns out, no one is willing to give up anything of value for the Mike Tauchman’s of the world. I’d guess that’s why he’s still on the Yankees roster today.
Do the Yankees HAVE to keep 13 pitchers ( eight in the BP)? Why not 5 players on the bench keep tauchman wade and bruce.
Given that 3 of their 5 starters have pitched 1 inning combined (Kluber) in the last year. Yes they probably do
I think Cashman would do that if he cannot get the value he wants and really wants to keep Bruce around. Cashman has a solid history of getting value on these types of non-star deals. although I think he will regret letting Whitlock go.
i believe with the move to 26 roster atleast 13 had to be pitchers but i am not sure if that was due to covid or the rule with the 26.
The Rockies and Astros both could use some Outfield help. Not sure either has Relievers to give but would probably part with a pair of lotto tickets
I laughed and laughed at this.
The Rangers should give Odor and Calhoun for Tauchman and a PTBNL.
Hard pass
The Yanks want a pen arm, they don’t need another OF and they would never take Odor’s salary.
As per usual, the delusionals overvalue their players and think that some other random team is going to give them value back for an essentially valueless player. If the same player was on any other team he would be seen as valueless by the delusionals. Every team has a player like this and they’re not getting anything back for them except the ever available Pat Banal without the vowels.
I guess we’ll see. If teams have shown interest or he doesn’t pass through waivers or he stays in NY then obviously he is not valueless. Tauch and a younger arm for a legit back end bullpen arm with options would be a best case scenario.
The Yankees have a injury problem. If they get rid of Tauchman they are in trouble. Hicks, Stanton, Judge will all miss significant time. Gardy can’t play everyday anymore and I don’t trust the likes of Greg Allen, Florial, etc to play everyday. Tauchman very reliable. The only reason they are looking to move him because he’s out of options. That rule needs to change.
That rule won’t change because it will slow organizations to keep players in the minors in perpetuity. It’s specifically to allow players to progress and to prevent teams from keeping them looked away.
If I read your response correctly –
That rule is fine and good for players. If you make changes to what your alluding to, then you’re creating an AAAA league and the days of elite talents reaching free agency when they’re 26/27 are over.
If anything that will shorten the time in the next CBA.
“They”
Have you looked in the mirror lately?
The delusion is that 8 teams haven’t called about him. Hello!
LOL. “8 teams called about him” doesn’t mean there’s going to be some bidding war over Mike Tauchman.
It means a couple of teams, who might be willing to carry an out-of-options outfielder, are gauging what the Yankees will actually take for Tauchman.
No one has said that teams don’t want Mike Tauchman. They’ve said that no one will give up MLB players for him. And they’ll be right.
Bruce, Gardy, Higgy and Dietrich
Replace Bruce with Tauchman and that’s what it should start out as.
So, Tauchman is so good that Jay Bruce should take his place on the roster instead?
Yankees fans, man.
He was brought in for depth, a ST invite with an opt out clause.
You really just don’t understand ST or baseball.
This has Giants written all over it. Wade hasn’t run with the backup OF/ left handed CF option job. Duggar isn’t good. Giants have a need for someone like this dude.
I agree they won’t change the rule. Just hate to a solid player leave my team. Judge will miss time again and will regret it if Tauchman is traded.
The obvious question with tauchman remains: is his small 2019 sample overvalued or his even smaller 2020 sample overly considered? How much value can a guy gain from 250-300 PA and how much can he lose from ~100 PA? If both stretches of performance occurred in the same season, he’d still have quite a bit of value. Together, he posted an .807 ops with 3.8 bwar in ~400 PA from 19-20. That player would be highly valued. Fascinating stuff.
I would include his minor league stats in order to make an assessment
Srechter: my opinion is that it’s probably in between. He’s got the potential of 2019, obviously, but that’s going to be his peak year imho.
So, 2020? I discount that for everyone except those who remained consistent with their prior performances for the obvious and readily apparent reasons.
Result = somewhere in between on offense, and you got what you got on defense.
I imagine todays news of Eloy Jimenez being out 5 to 6 months tells the Yankees there is probably no chance Tauchman clears waivers. Interesting thing is if they release Bruce he could literally have a new team by the end of today
Jimenez or not there was no way Tauchman would clear waivers.
I would do this, and the Sox could really use an OF’er now with the Jimenez injury.
Seems like a huge haul if it were to happen – I’m sure it will make at least on poster here rant and rave!
yanksgoyard.com/2021/03/26/yankees-mike-tauchman-t…