The Yankees have announced that they signed Tim Locastro to a major league deal. The official terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it’s unlikely that Locastro will make much more than the veteran minimum. The Yankees 40-man roster is now full.
The Yankees acquired Locastro from the Diamondbacks in exchange for minor leaguer Keegan Curtis on July 1 of last season. The deal marked the fourth time in his career that Locastro had been traded. In fact, the Yankees themselves had traded Locastro to the Diamondbacks prior to the 2019 season. Locastro had been in the Yankees’ organization for just a couple of months during that offseason, never having appeared actively on the diamond for the Yankees.
This time around, the speedster injured his right ACL on July 17th, undergoing season-ending surgery just four days later. In the little more than two weeks that Locastro wore pinstripes, Locastro slashed .190/.217/.429 over 23 plate appearances. As has been the pattern for Locastro, he was mostly viewed as a speed option off the bench. Coming off a knee injury, there must at least be some concern that Locastro will lose a step.
Defensively, Locastro can play anywhere in the outfield. He’s not going to take a lot of playing time from Aaron Judge, Joey Gallo, and Aaron Hicks, but if he makes the roster, he could be the body that the Yankees use to keep those other three fresh. As a 29-year-old with a career 82 wRC+, there may not be tremendous upside to his game, but he’s not without skills. Locastro’s speed is unique, but he’s also very capable of putting the ball in play (19.1 percent career strikeout rate), which should help him put that speed to use. Power, on the other hand, has not traditionally been a part of Locastro’s game (.097 ISO). The Yankees may view Locastro as a complementary skillset to the power-first approach of the outfield starters.
Gardy finally gonzo?
This must be Hal’s response to his nemesis Cohen’s blitz of free agent signings and a Bassitt trade. Purse strings are officially open!
Yeah when they announce Correa they will be
This is the third time the Yanks have acquired him since November 2018.
Can’t live with him, can’t live without him.
Curse you, Camden! Noooooooo Correa!
Could not agree more.! I still don’t understand why Seager wasn’t signed. I can find the fault. Stud left-handed batter with great track record for a team in desperate need of a left handed bat. A SS for the next couple of years on a team that desperately needs one for just that time frame with plenty of room in the infield to move him around.
Most important, he’s been tried and tested thru and thru in an intense fanbase environment and playing deep into the playoff for years. NY has brought many players in who wilted under the bright lights. Seager was a no brainer. Give him his $350 and call it a day. As for Correra, screw that.
I think because he signed too quickly, and also a big overpay. Plus Seager has been injury prone.
I hear San Diego wants to move Hosmer and Myers. Could fill 2 spots for the Yanks. Hosmer is $20m this year, but drops to $13m next 3 years. Is he any worse than Rizzo? Hosmer is a contact hitter.
Myers is $20m this year, and club option next year. He can play all 3 OF spots, and 1b. Just a thought. I think they’d have to move a little salary back to San Diego.
@Perksy Correa is injury prone also.
So what prospects is San Diego sending to the Yankees to take on both of those contracts?
@FSF. The New York Post just came out with a story a few hours ago with Aaron Boone naming Gio Urshela the starting shortstop. Appears Hal has ran out of coin and is hoping to keep Judge around in the future by closing the checkbook. I apologize for my son Donny as well in advance.
@Bruin1012- the Yankees have ZERO interest in Myers or Hosmer. No worries.
Yes, the Mets are the Yanks’ “nemesis”. They’re our big worry:)
Not their worry but the AL East has gotten stronger and the Yankees are stagnant.
They need to worry about their division before the Mets.
As a A’s fan I am surprised they didn’t out deal Mets for Bassit. NYY have a lot of minor league pitching they could have offered unless they are going after Manaea instead.
Signed LoCastro — as a coach?
Yeah.
Thanks Bret for a great attitude.
Yanks picked up T’Lo and Ender.
Let’s pray the Gardner era is over.
Now we’re cooking. 🙂
Yep, now we see why Hal wanted the CBT raised! *Cough, cough*
Hal: “Steven, I’ll see your 13 moves, worth $100M, and I’ll raise you 1 Tim Locastro. Now who owns the back pages?!”
[Cashman golf-clapping in the background, Boone golf-clapping in his background].
@Clipper, I’m actually happy Locastro is back, but I think he’s AAA bound.
No matter. I’ll take a Locastro story over a CBA story every time!
Beyond that, where’s our SS?! No way it’s Urshela. That statement reminds me of Cashman’s “Bubby Crosby is our CFer” comment.
L99: Yeah, I know you’re right and Ducky said the same. He’s been right more times than I can count, but those statements always concern me with the way the recent Yanks operate.
Bring on Trevor Story! C’mon Cash, man-up you little sissy!
I keep hitting refresh looking for the Trevor Story sign with Yankees headline. Did I miss it?!
I know right? Me too man. Boone saying, “We can win with what we have now” just makes me want to throw up though. How many times are we going to lose with that same attitude? I don’t know how the man can keep a straight face while saying those words.
We got Jose Peraza already, let’s not get greedy.
@Clip re: Your original comment. Ha! You know how to paint a picture. 🙂
With waterlogged charcoal.
Man. We’ve been waiting since November for the big Tim Locastro signing? I’m one of the most optimistic & patient Yankee guys on the board & even I think this is laughable.
Duck, you’re right. This hardly seems like a headline trade, and I am laughing.
Before anyone else can call me stupid, this was a signing, not a trade, duh. I had a stooge moment, & this makes Mo look smarter than me.
Remember when he poked that nun right in the eyes? Only a soulless person could see that & not laugh.
Well Ducky, I think this might be the end of your boy Gardner.
“ Well Ducky, I think this might be the end of your boy Gardner.”
*As taps plays in the background softly*
I am also a fan of Gardner, even though he has an unusually large, alien head. He’s always given his best and he should be proud of his career.
Agree, a great Yankee.
He’s not coming back now.
Yup.
Kind of insulting seeing his spot passed to this guy though. I’ll get over it. I’ll root like hell for Locastro. But right now…man…
Locastro will be like a fart in a heavy wind. He’ll stink for a while & then he’ll be gone
I wonder if that’s the case regarding this being the end of Gardner? Cashman is building a contingency roster from which he can build upwards. Meaning, ok, I got a backup CFer but I may end up adding in an even better one, in which case Locastro moves on. I’ll believe Gardner is no longer a Yankee when I see the MLBTR story that he announces his retirement, or he signs with another team AND I see him wearing another uniform.
Zzzzzzzzzzzz
Is that you, Cashman?
YANKEES WON FREE AGENCY!!!
A team that has been very quiet so far are the Seattle Mariners. I thought they were going to sign a few players by now. They might be looking to sign one of the top free agents hitter like Nick Castellanos or Kris Bryant.
Jerry’s going to trade with the Reds since they’re giving away starting pitchers.
Yes, it could be.
Didn’t they sign Robbie Ray early on?
Thought still hoping they sign Bryant.
I’m leaning Kris Bryant forthe M’s
Yes they did sign Robbie Ray. They also traded for Adam Frazier. I wouldn’t describe them as quiet.
SalaryCapMyth- Well, I’m referring to after the lockout what they have done so far.
Not exactly the big news I was waiting for but decent depth piece.
Finally God, now we all can breath the Yanks 2022 lmao
Get them fitted for rings now, classic cashman
Print the World Series tickets!
Surprised it’s a major league deal. Speed-based player who tore his acl in July last year? That’ll show em’.
@srechter where did you get your medical degree from ?
Do I need a medical degree to know that a guy tore his acl? Sheesh.
Those infield hits and bunt singles sure do add up.. Sure is fun watching him score from first base on a single though.
When the Yankees want their man, nobody stands a chance
“Your move MLB!” -Brian Cashman
“Why didn’t you guys tell me the first page was his 2017 stats?!” – Brian Cashman
That’s it, we got this World Series locked down
Unfortunately, FG agrees with you, which is why we keep making these moves to begin with…..
Finally. Now the Mets fans are seething with jealousy!
Wow A sign of life!! Woo yanks are back another righty to the line up
Gardner should be around the corner. He didn’t decline his player option for nothing.
@brucenewton- yes, Gardner will be around the corner in the Bronx at the closest “old folks home”
Now we’re cooking with butter!
YEAH!!! I told you! Woootwooot!….wait, who…Locastro? Oh.
Yep, Locastro and Jose Paraza. Cashman said he was going to take care of SS and CF.
To quote Lebron: “Not 2, not 3, not 4….”
Well, I wanted to see us sign a first baseman, a SS, & do a little something to buttress CF. This sure is a “little something”, uh?
Lolol, you guys crack me up, man. Nice we can laugh at this (for now). Although, when he had a knee he was the fastest player in the MLB in sprint speed, so there’s that. Without a knee, I’m sure he’s faster than Luke Voit, so there’s that.
I’m just glad to see “Yankees” in the headline.
These sarcastic really poor jokes on posts like this I will never understand . Every team needs depth . There’s only a handful of superstar free agents available every off-season maybe a few more on the trade market. If all the Yankees did was sign corrrea and trade for Matt Olson this off-season the same clowns would be whining that there is no depth
This isn’t “depth” though. It’s an MLB deal, bro. It’s a spot on the 26 man roster.
He’s cheap and expendable if he doesn’t perform well. Even if Gardner is still somewhat better than Locastro or Incarte he’d be markedly more expensive. Still would not want any of them to have more than 100 PA’s no matter what the circumstances.
Upon further review, I think you are probably right Ducky. This is a depth move only if leads to something bigger. Grab that 4th outfielder before you make another move. Course I haven’t been right once this off season, maybe I finally am.
Depth bro. As in bench depth he won’t be starting. He will pinch run late in games . Start twice a month and be a late inning defensive sub when Stanton plays the outfield because for some reason an in shape all world athlete in his early 30s can’t play the outfield more than 3 times a week
Rob, I’m afraid this will be our superstar signing… hopefully Ducky will prove me wrong for the millionth time this year, and it won’t be…..
This off-season feels like one of those days I hear mad shooting upstream & down from me, but nothing is flying anywhere near me.
Sometimes I start thinking that I was wrong about everything & how can something with a brain smaller than a tootsie roll be so much smarter than I am.
Maybe I have been wrong about the Whole Thing, Clip. I can’t believe Cash is comfortable with this roster. But the longer all the action is some place else, a fella can’t help but have second thoughts.
DBF,
There’s a couple of big moves Brewing. Ninja is working his Craft on the Down Low. After all these years we know when he’s at his quietest is when he’s working on something Big. Like Billy Joel said, “Keeping the Faith”
I can’t help but think the same, Byron.
At the same time, a little proof of that would be welcome. He Ninja Cash’d the hell outta the deadline though. & I have noticed the past couple off-seasons that teams seem to make moves in bunches. So: maybe that “proof” is shortly forthcoming.
Ducky, my biggest concern was in Bryan Hoch’s report of Boone’s statement, “We can win with what he have now.” This is the same narrative that has been pushed for the past several seasons that saw roster stagnation and it was pushed using this exact phrase. I hope I’m wrong, man, I do.
One positive point – there been nothing, absolutely nothing reported in Olson or Story. And, Freeman’s 24 hours have come and gone without so much as a peep. Quite interesting, so it’s possible Yankees are working inside there.
Boone’s a Company Man.
He will do/say what he is told to at all times. I wish all my people had that same blind loyalty, serious.
That is, Clip. Cash was pretty forthcoming about the need for a more balanced lineup. 1B is the easiest place to accomplish that.
Seems he’s been harder to pin down on the need at short, however.
Reminds me of when CBS owned the Yanks.
You realize the Yankees have the 3rd highest payroll in baseball right
Yupe. I meant this off season reminds of when CBS owned the Yankees. Very, very few teams have spent less money this off season than the Yanks.
2022 Yankee World Series Champions!
Only about 18 million in space under the tax. Need to leave some for the trade deadline, too.
Good point, but I assume Voit is gone at some point, along with at least one more guy, so roughly…….$23-26M to spare when all is said and done. But, IF they get Story, Olson, & extend Judge (my preference) they’re over easily this year, but drop back under next year with room to spare.
Yankees need to save that money for Aaron Judge. Even with the extra 20-30 million, whatever the exact number was, towards the tax threshold, all of it will go to an Aaron Judge extension, and it still won’t be enough to lock up an Aaron Judge type of player.
So if they sign a Correra, and next year judge is due for an extension, you’re looking at over 20-30-40 million over the tax next year for the Yankees. This is what happens when you unwisely spend the flexibility that they had not long ago, when they moved on from the Jeter Arod days.
At this point they probably should offer Story a very lucrative deal for 1 year. Give him maybe 25-30 million, whatever it’ll cost, and it probably can’t be a long term deal, not probably but it can’t. Or they go over the tax next year.
Britton and Chapman come off the books next year, so that’s $30 million freed up to sign Judge. Though I don’t think it’s imperative that they sign him. Make a real competitive offer and if someone beats it, let him go.
First off it’s not 30MM more for Judge. He’s going to make 17 MM this year so it’s only about 13 MM on the Books next year.
What 13 million? He’s a free agent after the season is up .. And yeah, Chapman and Britton coming off the books next helps a lot, but then you’re in the same position you are now, just with Judge under a new deal.
Byron means $13 additional M on top of $17 he was getting paid, so not $30M additional, just to sign Judge.
Oh I hear you. Oh okay, you guys are definitely right.
Severino is a free agent as well in 2023?
Option year. So: maybe.
A major league deal?! Why?
Wow !!! There’s the big move we all have been accustomed too ! Might as well have gotten Fidel Castro
That’s a lot of comments for one sentence.
We do need some athleticism. Yankees barely steal bases. Good back up. Maybe we can mix things up in bullpen now. I think they are resting on their morales and hoping voit is healthy at first. And their young shortstop can come up and make an impact.
I’ve never heard of the “veteran minimum.” I don’t think that’s really a thing. It’s just the major league minimum.
Todo el mundo fortaleciendo y Los Yankees haciendo esa clase de firma.
SI
the yanks aren’t gonna do squat .. they are gonna keep running out the same team essentially since 2017 and sit there wondering why the red sox win another chip or the rays finally getting over the hump or the astro’s consistently getting close to another championship and cash will come on the michael kay show and wax poetic about how great sanchez is and how important locastro is or whomever and blame it on injury and say things like “at full strength i believe this team can win” and we’ll go another decade with no chip
Everyone is strengthening themselves & the Yankees are making it…man, French to Spanish to English is hard.
Remember when Brian Cashman said “We’re a fully operational Death Star”?
Good times.
Are you insinuating we’re not?
Yeah Ducky, going with what Clipper said about death stars not faring so well, we are indeed a death star.
touché
I often wonder if he knows the Death Stars were destroyed, until we run out the same roster, then I’m like, “oh yeah, he definitely means ‘death star’ knowing it was destroyed, just like we are going to be.”
Ducky & Joe: Came across this article which is a pretty good read and an apt description of the differences between the costs of MLB in the past v now.
bleedingyankeeblue.blogspot.com/2022/03/understand…
we’re THERE!
The guy is good at stealing 1st base. Great pick up.
foolish baseball lol
Red Sox legend