The Yankees announced they’ve signed Matt Carpenter to a big league contract. The veteran infielder had been granted his release from a minor league deal with the Rangers a week ago. Carpenter is a client of SSG Baseball.
New York also announced they’ve selected left-hander Manny Bañuelos onto the big league roster. The Yankees had optioned outfielder Estevan Florial and left-hander JP Sears to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to clear two active roster spots last night.
Carpenter was one of the game’s best hitters for a good portion of his tenure with the Cardinals. He posted above-average offensive numbers each season from 2012-18, earning a trio of All-Star selections along the way. He earned a Silver Slugger award in 2013 and twice finished in the top ten of NL MVP balloting. As recently as 2018, Carpenter had posted an excellent .257/.374/.523 slash line with 36 home runs.
Things have gone sharply downhill over the past few years, however. As he hit his mid-30’s, the left-handed hitter experienced a dramatic decline. Going back to the start of the 2019 season, Carpenter owns just a .203/.325/.346 mark in a bit more than 900 plate appearances. He’s continued to draw walks at a robust 13.3% clip, but that’s essentially been the only positive in his offensive game. He’s fanned in 27.9% of his plate appearances, posted a below-average .143 ISO (slugging minus batting average) and hit only .270 on balls in play.
St. Louis bought Carpenter out at the end of last season, and he was limited to minor league offers over the winter. The 36-year-old was forthright about the necessity of reinventing himself at the plate, and he chronicled some changes he’d made with Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic in February. The former TCU star signed a non-roster pact with the Rangers shortly after the lockout, and he’s shown some signs of a turnaround.
Through 21 games with Triple-A Round Rock, Carpenter put up a .275/.379/.613 showing. He hit six homers while continuing to draw plenty of free passes. Perhaps most encouragingly, he trimmed his strikeout rate to a lower than average 21.1%. Texas didn’t feel he had a path to playing time on the big league club, but the Yankees will give him the opportunity to try to carry over his strong work in the minors against MLB pitching.
Carpenter started exclusively at first base for Round Rock, but he has plenty of experience both at second and third base in the majors. He figures to see some time at all three spots in the Bronx, offering manager Aaron Boone a left-handed bat off the bench. The Yankees have Anthony Rizzo at first base, but right-handed hitters Gleyber Torres, DJ LeMahieu and Josh Donaldson seeing action at the other positions.
LeMahieu hasn’t played in a couple days due to some left wrist discomfort, and designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton hit the injured list last night with ankle inflammation. Carpenter doesn’t have the defensive versatility of utilityman Marwin González, but he could offer a bit more punch at the plate. New York deployed Rougned Odor in a similar role last season.
As for Bañuelos, he’s back in the big leagues for the first time since 2019. The 31-year-old is set to make his first appearance in pinstripes, a debut many fans anticipated a decade ago when the southpaw was ranked among the Yankees’ top prospects. Unfortunately, he experienced some injury trouble on his way up the minor league ladder, and the Yankees dealt him to the Braves in advance of the 2015 season. Bañuelos made seven appearances with Atlanta as a rookie, then didn’t pitch in MLB again until a 16-game stint with the 2019 White Sox.
Between those two seasons, the Mexico native tossed 77 innings of 6.31 ERA ball. He spent a couple years out of affiliated ball, including a stint in Taiwan’s Chinese Professional Baseball League. Bañuelos returned stateside on a minor league deal with his original organization over the winter, and he’s earned his way back with a strong start in Scranton.
Over seven appearances (five starts) for the RailRiders, Bañuelos has a 2.35 ERA through 30 2/3 innings. He’s posted roughly average strikeout, walk and ground-ball marks and will presumably add a multi-inning arm to a bullpen mix that has lost Chad Green, Jonathan Loáisiga and Aroldis Chapman to injury recently.
The Yankees had two vacancies on their 40-man roster, so no additional move was necessary at the moment. Donaldson will require a 40-man spot whenever he’s ready to return from the COVID-19 injured list, however. Rob Brantly, recently designated for assignment, has cleared outright waivers and been assigned to Triple-A. The veteran has the right to refuse the assignment in favor of free agency, having been outrighted in the past.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Worried DJLM is heading to the IL.
Was hoping he would make it to the bigs With the Rangers, I might have actually bought a ticket to watch that horrible team play had he made it.
No room. With mitch coming back to do primarily DH just simply no room.
Why not just keep Sears on the roster? Banuelos has never done anything spectacular in his MLB chances.
Signing Matt Carpenter is the absolute dumbest move the Yankees have ever made!!!
The guy is toast. Had a few great years with the Cardinals until he began thinking of himself as Babe Ruth the Home run hitter!!!
He’s a temp replacement while Donaldson is out. Relax and try to breathe.
Of course they would do that
If I were a Carpenter & you were a lady, would you play third base, and hit .130?
This deserves more love
good luck with that
You know the injury bug is bad when you give this dude a call.
Remember when ManBan was seen as the surest of the Yankees Killer B’s prospects to stick in the majors? He was an undersized lefty with quirky mechanics but seen as a future #2 behind Brackman, with Betances being a solid #3. Manny was a strikeout machine until his elbow fell off. We all remember Betances and will wonder what he could have done as a starter without his shoulder issues. Brackman? Well, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear he is in prison serving 20 years for fraud and robbery, Taking millions from the Yankees and requiring them to keep him on the 40 man was a heist for sure. I think they got just over an inning out of him for all those millions. Boras strikes again…
Best of luck to Carpenter. That short porch could work for him.
Loving the sweet stache!!
Interesting that they gave him a major league deal.
As I noted at top, they may have done this because LeMahieu is about to hit the IL so they want to add depth until he returns.
LeMahieu possibly to IL and Donaldson down with covid and even Stanton now on the IL. Depth is getting thin on the so reinforcements were needed
Wishing the best for Carp in New York
Does he have anything left in the tank?
Completely unknown. He’s been beyond bad at the plate the last few seasons, although he supposedly made changes during the off season and was hitting well in AAA. I guess we’re about to find out.
I guess .275 in AAA is okay but it isn’t like he was killing it.
Actually, he was killing it. In 21 games he hit 6 HR, 2 triples, and 5 doubles, scored 15 runs and drove in 19 with a .991 OPS.
I Hadn’t heard those stats.
I believe fumes…………
Probably can’t do worse than he did for the cards at the end of his tenure there.
He reinvented the mendoza line in his last 2 years with the Cardinals. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him hit .250 with a .300 OPS though I’ve seen crazier things
a hole
Why Did They Need To Sign Matt Carpenter?
Ever heard of insider trading?
Someone might be heading to the IL?
I would have rather just seen Dietrich promoted but either way this is a stop gap, DFA in a week or 2 move.
Message to Peraza and Cabrera “Do better”
Exactly why you can’t plan a future around prospects!
Amen to that!!! Cardinals are a prime example. The Organization prides themselves to have a .500 winning percentage at the end of each season. Occasionally making the first round of the playoffs is all gravy to them.
The organization will not ever upgrade with an impact player anymore at the trading deadline!! Walt Jockerty was the person who’d do that. Not John Mozeliak!!
He is one who depends on prospects—-unless he’s on the hot seat. Been there twice!!!! Goldschmidt and Arenaldo.
Yankees love those declining and old players. Not a dig on them, but they have had some luck with declining and the elders of the game the last 6-8 years. From McCutchen to Gardner (granted he was with the Yankees for several years, but they resigned him for another year or two on his decline), they ended up doing fairly well in a limited role. So if this helps Carpenter for a one year contract for DH role next year, might as well get the starting chance with the Yankees.
If they ban the shift next year, he could be a very good pickup next year.maybe he makes a good impression and they pick him up next year too
Next year? I guarantee you this is not a “next year” pickup. It’s barely a “next month” pickup. It’s a depth for the depth move. Carpenter is unlikely to be playing next year at all. He’s done.
@Cosmo2
Yep, HOME RUN, “he’s done”. No matter which way you look at it, he hit a home run and scored a run in a 2-0 game and helped them win, so how exactly is “he done”?
In terms of overall value, once a larger sample size accumulates, he will likely be a replacement level or below player. That’s what I mean by “done” and I stand by it.
This is how you have to stay competitive when the farm system is trash. Cashman has been grossly incompetent developing prospects. I honestly can think of Judge, Gardner and Cano and nobody else in the 20 plus years he has been GM.
Cashman is a genius but signing a completely washed up vet like Carpenter has nothing to do with how you have to stay competitive.
Cashman is a great politician who knows how to strategically place himself next to the one in power. Nothing more, nothing less. All talk, no bark. Has the biggest budget in baseball and has developed 1 player since Brett Gardner. I don’t need to argue this point the proof is in the pudding. Also read the comment I responded too and you’ll realize it has nothing to do with signing a washed up Carpenter. He was referring to how the Yankees always bring in guys past their prime. Which is why the Yankees wind up with old stars from teams who aren’t competitive looking to dump salary because they have no young players to bring up because, full circle, Cashman is incompetent in developing prospects.
@Yanks4Life22 Yankees still have a talented system and Pirates have been trying to dip into it each year. That Tallion trade is starting to show right now on how much talent is/was in the Yankees system. There are still plenty of young guys in the system worth noting for the Yankees. You guys have what, 3 guys in the Top 100? I just think Cashman is to reluctant to bring up young prospects for fear of them not panning out immediately. What Cashman gets is “immediate” fix through free agents or star caliber power. He’s never gave any talent a shot outside of Judge. I have a hard time believing Cashman can balance prospects with already major league talent. He plays it safe and gets players that blocks away for a near ready MLB prospect. Before the Tallion trade for example, Contreras was 3 years away from the majors. Cashman went with a “sure thing” with Tallion and let go a guy that can turn out to be an Ace. There are more examples and I am sure you are aware of it. As long as the Steinbrenner brothers stay blinded, Cashman will keep his job. George is rolling in his grave at what is being done right now. I may hate the Yankees with a passion, but it’s disappointing to watch what’s going on with the Yankees. It’s so bad the Mets are looking better and that was never the case in my whole life. Mets were always the present day Yankees.
Here comes the hate messages from those Mets fans. Wait for it….
Cash gets the talent but it just never pans out. Every “can’t miss” prospect they have had some how missed. He’s been at it for 20+ years so you would think it would finally start to even out and produce some players but it never happens.
Think about this for a second….
They haven’t developed a 1b since Don Mattingly
They haven’t developed a 2b since Cano
They haven’t developed a SS since Jeter
They haven’t developed a 3b at any point in my life so if anyone can help me out here I’d appreciate it
They haven’t developed a catcher since Jorge
They have developed two outfielders (Judge and Cano)
That really isn’t a great resume for 20+ years at the helm.
That Judge fella seems to have panned out fairly well.
I don’t believe Cano is an outfielder.
Meant Gardner. And yes Judge panned out well which is why I mentioned him. Care to add any more to list of players Cashman has developed in 20+ years besides Judge, Cano and Gardner?
In the last twenty years the Yankees have been to the WS, twice, won once, came within a series of being AL champs five times and only missed the playoffs four times. That’s success by any reasonable standard.
Matsui was a better player than Gardner and a career Yankee I believe.
Godzilla!!!!!! The press was sooooo bad around him – they flooded him. I recall at a Pirates game, he set his glove down and they crowded around him so much, he couldn’t even find his glove. He walked over to go toward the clubhouse and they stuck right with him. Relentless, man. But he was fielding media from two countries & a superstar in both.
Who cares if a player was developed in the Yankee system or acquired from another team, as long as the player performs well for the Yankees? In the last 20 seasons, the Yankees have been to the postseason 17 times.
True story, as long as we win. Although development from inside is the key to success because of the budgetary constraints.
My chief complaint as a true Yankee fan: We should’ve been to the postseason 20/20!!! Because we are the Yankees and we can….. deal with it, other sucky teams. (For effect I crushed a can against my head).
I hope it was empty . . . the can, I mean, not your head.
Lot’s of pretty laughable takes on the best team in baseball especially coming off a great win against a fierce competitor. Smh nothing is ever enough for some of you.
you really don’t have a clue what you are talking about! have your husband explain baseball to you!
sevireno
montgomery
melkey
melancon
robertson
kennedy
This brings us back to the age-old debate, which do fans prefer? Being in the postseason nearly every year, but almost never winning a championship (current Yankees, past Braves)? Or winning it all every 5 years but being God-awful for half of the other years (Red Sox)?
There is no right or wrong answer, it’s strictly personal preference.
Nice list nyy42. As other bloggers have said what’s important is success on the field, which has been achieved. As a Yankee fan we can hope for and cheer for perfection, we know we will never receive it but we have been successful enough to at least contemplate it. That’s why we are hated by most other fans.
No 3B since Mike Pagliarulo
3B – Mike Lowell but he was traded.
@FPG I’ll take playing meaningful games and the dice roll in the playoffs.
YBC – That’s the way I’d lean toward as well, from an enjoyment aspect.
I’d enjoy following a playoff contender nearly every year more than I would enjoy having a bunch of non-contending years wrapped around a championship season … as long as there’s no lengthy championship drought going on.
3B Mike Pagliarulo
Well, my head is definitely empty, the can…not so sure, I’ll check.
The Trotsky: “ Smh nothing is ever enough for some of you.”
Yes, exactly! That’s true Yankee fandom, my friend. You get us!
Like, the win for example: you’re right! Good win, amazing a great team. My take? We should’ve beat them by 10 runs more!!!!!! We are the NY Yankees!
Just think of how my young son feels…… lol.
I got an 11 yo and he just wants to see the wins.
Melancon ex closer, correct? I swear he was in the Red Sox organization when the Pirates traded Joel Hanrahan and Brock Holt to them. After I looked, I saw he was drafted by Yankees, dealt to Astros and dealt to Red Sox before landing in Pittsburgh. Yankees, Astros, and Red Sox all three developed him with 4 years with Yanks, 1 year each with Astros and Sox (later making to the bigs) before getting a shot regularly with the Pirates. Either way, Yankees do seem to trade away the good ones for “fix now” mentality.
George Steinbrenner built his clubs around a “core” and built around them. Bernie Williams, Jeter, Soriano, Rivera, and Pettite we’re all his “core” players. Then built guys around them like, A-Rod, Giambi, Clemens, Randy Johnson, and so on. Yankees haven’t done it since then. Judge and to some degree German and Severino being their core from within. Nothing like what George did and Cashman is too comfortable flashing the cash instead of building a core and adding around them. The Steinbrenner brothers don’t have 1/3 of the intelligence to run an organization like their late father. God rest his soul
Bro you keep say Steinbrenner bros but Hank has been dead for awhile. Damn boi.
I haven’t heard of his passing. Been busy and that Hal and Hank both were running the organization still. Plus I don’t follow exclusively of the Yankees News the last 5 years. Been busy working, dealing with this pandemic, and trying to keep the family a live.
Mine is the same age, Trotsky! Cool. Well, enjoy every moment with him. We are lucky to have that. Blessed really, beyond what we deserve, man.
They had a top 10 or even top 5 farm system very recently.. TF you on about?
Hum. Guess they need an extra pitcher for their upcoming road trip, otherwise, I don’t know why they would send Sears down. If Manny can help at all, this could be one of the greatest comebacks of all time!!
Like some of the other bloggers, I wonder if this means DJ has a more serious injury than we were led to believe. Carpenter is really takin a shot, good luck to him though. Hope he doesn’t steal at bats from Miggy.
I didn’t expect Sears to stay up. They just needed a spot start and I doubt they would want to just put him in the pen. He’ll likely be up and down this year unless there’s an injury to a starter.
He’d be a good arm out of their depleted pen too, but you’re right as they’ll need an arm stretched out at AAA. That should have been Gil, so that role probably falls to Sears now.
Yeah LordD99 , I thought they would just add Sears to the bullpen .
they should of sent Hicks to somewhere! Just play Florial, give the guy a chance to get regular at bats,but no they keep Hicks and sign another no hit specialist, just what they need !!
Perhaps a Donaldson DFA to follow..
This is said in jest, right?
Loved Carpenter when he was a Cardinal except for his last 5 years.
TBH, I was kind of hoping Pirates either A) Brought up Mason Martin and released/waive Cole Tucker or VanMeter or B) Sign Carpenter and release/Waive Tucker and VM. Option B would have Carpenter DH as Yoshi sat for a few weeks to figure out his game. It wouldn’t help defensively to have Vogelbach at 1B, but to squeeze Carp in, that would be one option. Gamel could always squeeze in at 1B too
I honestly can’t think of any player who makes less sense for the Pirates right now than Matt Carpenter.
Makes more sense than signing Yoshi for 2-3 years. And probably a lot cheaper than what Bucs are paying Yoshi. I think Pirates should do an Angels move and release him. Cut their losses
You could get the negative WAR at the DH position that Carpenter would provide from any random AAAA scrub. Pirates have no need.
Cano
You win.
Matt Carpenter hopes “We’ve Only Just Begun”. Seems like “Only Yesterday” when we would all “Sing” his praises and he was a borderline “Superstar”.
Why did they option Sears, who’s looked good in limited time, for a guy who hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2019?
Because Sears made a spot start and they want him to continue pitching in AAA
What Is The Best Case Scenario For D.J. LeMahieu,Plus,What Is It That Makes Matt Carpenter Like A Left Handed Hitting Version Of Him & What Is The Best Part About Manny Banuelos,Once Again,Being Part Of This Organization?
Whats a million bucks to the Yankees……………….
Thanks to the Yankees’ sillyass pseudo-military/prep school ban on facial hair, this man is going to look very different in pinstripes.
I think Clipper was onto something when he said Cashman was trying to get rid of every beard in MLB.
For the first time in a while, I’m worried about this team.
Hitting aside, I can’t imagine Carpenter making up for the loss of LeMahieu’s defense if DJ is out of the lineup. As much as the improved defense this year has helped, losing Donaldson at third and DJ around the diamond is likely to hurt.
Carpenter’s mustache is on point though!!
I prefer it. It’s a business and you shouldn’t show up to work looking like a mess. It’s a team sport not an individual sport so everyone should look presentable.
So the other 29 teams aren’t “presentable”?
It’s a wonder that Lincoln let Grant head the Union Army with that beard — but then, Lincoln wasn’t presentable either, was he?
That a 36-year-old man has to submit to the inherited whim of Hal Steinbrenner and tailor his appearance to suit him is asinine. And it’s probably cost the franchise in the free agent market.
@Fink Ployd
If I’m a top FA and the Yankees are offering me a big money contract, I’m pretty sure I’d be willing to live without the facial hair for the length of my career. It’s not like you can’t grow facial hair after your career is over.
cbssports.com/mlb/news/david-price-wouldnt-play-fo…
Hey, honestly seems like it saved us on the Price deal! He suuuuuuucks.
You got me there.
I’ll say this though, Old York — I don’t like the policy but the policy likes Carpenter. He looks better with the ‘stache.
Now Gallo should get with the program and grow a mustache too. He’ll probably start to rake.
He kind of looks like 1985 NYC misplaced a guy in a tracksuit…… hey, yo, hey, ya know?
“Do I amuse you?”
Best I’ve heard is he looks like when Bobby Valentine snuck back into the dugout.
“Are you lookin’ at me?”
@Fink Ployd
He got two runs and a walk today. Good start for him.
On a more serious note, I want to honor the memory of Ray Liotta, a fine actor with lots of charisma and stage presence who passed away in his sleep.
That scene with Joe Pesci in “Goodfellas” — “But I’m funny how? Funny like a clown? I amuse you?” — is one of the great scenes, played to perfection and never to be forgotten.
Rest in peace, Mr. Liotta.
Yes, Old York. And he took one for the team. His comments about being willing to carry the luggage earn him big points in my book. That’s a guy I can root for. Not taking anything for granted and full of gratitude for his shot.
Yeah, sounds like a clubhouse leader the younger guys need to pay attention to…. Maybe they learn a thing or two.
I just saw him die as George Jungs father in the 2001 film blow like two days ago….
Hey Joe: On second look, he actually reminds me of Daniel Day Lewis in any movie with a mustache
How do you die in your sleep when you’re only 67???
He grew near to where I now live, a couple of towns away. Seems like he was willing to take on just about any part. For me, Field of Dreams.
Yeah, he was Shoeless Joe if I recall correctly. But, as great as that movie was (and it was awesome), his best role has to be Goodfellas. His character helped make that movie what it is. He was awesome.
I don’t see Carpenter sticking with the team long term, unless LeMahieu and Donaldson are out for a while. No indication of that yet. They’re simply dealing with a lot of players missing. Feels more like a band-aid move.
More curious to see what Manny might bring. He picked up some velo and an added a pitch while in the CPBL, so he might play well out of the bullpen. Schmidt, Sears (he’ll be back), Manny and Marinaccio are more than capable to fill in the gaps.
Exactly this. It’s a temporary band aid move
I hope for one more glorious summer Carp can channel 2015 and mash. Then ride off into the sunset on his own terms. Hanging on the way he has the last few years makes for a sad ending to an otherwise proud career. Someone get that man some salsa!
Guess he have to shave his beard and stop trying to look like Abe Lincoln
If Florial has an agent, his agent needs to demand a trade. Estevan gets 11 AB and he’s back to Scranton. He didn’t hit in that minuscule opportunity, but it doesn’t matter. He hit .300 with a home run, two doubles, 5 walks and a .990 OPS last year with the big club, but he still got only 20 AB before they sent him down again.
This guy has no chance at a career with this franchise, and the decent thing for Cashman to do would be to trade him to a team that might give him a real chance.
He’s out of options after this season, so the Yankees will trade him before next season or he’ll be on their MLB roster. His time is coming, one way or another. In fairness, Florial has had a lot of injuries. What he needs to do is show he can actually hit AAA pitching for the season and the only way he can do that is to play regularly in AAA. He hasn’t done anything to be awarded a roster spot.
Cashman should definitely trade Florial for whatever he can get in return. Florial would be better off and so would the Yankees.
I don’t get it. As I said in the other article, what is their plan? They’re not trading him, & not giving him a shot. It simply make no sense at all from my perspective. Then, they acquire a washed-up Carpenter and send Florial down?! I know IF v OF, I get it, but goodness, what in the world are they doing here?
It’s called DJ isn’t available and Miggy is no longer a 3b.
This is true but they have IF guys in the minor leagues they can use and give a shot to – those same guys probably produce just as well, if not more.
It makes no sense to me. He can play a better CF than Hicks at this point and if he poops the bed he will be no worse than Hicks offensively. If something clicks maybe you can get some magic. I don’t understand the loyalty to Hicks, so what if him and Cashman won’t be best friends anymore after he gets released. Hicks would have no right being angry being Cashman forked over an unnecessary extension after get hot for a few months.
Yeah, that was more to my point. They keep trotting out Hicks whose been a perennial IL guy, which is the only area in which he’s been consistent. This year, he probably knows he’s on his last legs (literally & figuratively), so he avoids the IL vacations, but is simply terrible. His base hits are mostly luck, & his fielding has suffered this year.
This I don’t get. In the three years before Cashman gave Hicks the big extension, he was only good for 1 Out Above Average in center field according to Statcast. The leader, Ender Inciarte, had 60. In those three years, Hicks had a 110 wRC+ and 6.7 fWAR. Not bad, middle of the pack — but what told Cashman “We’ve gotta lock this guy up for seven years”?
Yeah, that was a bad evaluation. I seem to recall him saying they saw more potential in Hicks, that’s why they extended him. I think they were watching Buxton and mixed them up.
This should put them over the top as the favorites to win it all this year.
I guess this move fit into the budget.
The Future hall of famer lives on… Go Manny!
Carpenter is Tolleson
tinyurl.com/2e5y6whp
This seems like a move straight outta “Elf”, with Cash bringing an oversized poster board, with Carp’s hairless face on it, into Hal’s office and says (while struggling to turn the giant poster board around), “I’ve got the solution….. MATT F’ing, CARPENTER”
Is Estevan Florial ever going to be ready ?
brian “death to beards” cashman strikes again
In spite of all the Negative comments. About Cashman, the Yankees are in 1st Place. All the Off Season moves many were crying about and still are, they are in 1st Place.
You can Please some of the People some of the time and not please some of the People some of the time. You can never Please all of the People all of the Time…Don’t Try. Go Cashman and Yankees
Hey, you’re right, man. Some of us (me certainly included) openly acknowledge that Cashman seems to have done a great job with this team. I slammed Cash & Boone these past couple offseasons, worst than most. Couldn’t stand what they were doing with team & thought it was a plane that ran out of fuel.
It’s unfortunate that the team isn’t healthy at the moment, I still wish he would’ve acquired a SS, but I cannot argue with the performance or results. It’s also early, and although I’d love to brag on Cashman’s genius at the end of a great season this year, we have to wait to see the results.
Nonetheless, he and Booner both outperformed what [I] expected & gave them credit for. I readily admit that. I also hope they continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
Speaking for myself, I have nothing bad to say about how Cashman handled the offseason. My only negative comments here concerned a transaction in Feb. 2019 when he gave the oft-injured Hicks a 7-year extension. That one’s a head-scratcher for me.
For most of us.
7-2 . . . and the train kept a-rollin’.
Nestor Maddux, brilliant again.
I wouldn’t dismiss Carpenter as a short-term fix necessarily. I recall how most Yankee fans were saying “What the hell did Cashman want this guy for?” when he acquired Rougned Odor. Roogie ended up hitting 15 bombs and 12 doubles in 322 AB with good defense, and he ranked fourth on the team in fWAR. He was a great teammate and a sparkplug who brought some swagger.
I’m not without hope for Carpenter. He was raking in Triple-A.
Read your post above with his stats. Didn’t realize he hit {that} well, although not a large sample size. Still, if it works, better for us. So, while he’s in pinstripes: Go Matt!
i hope matt rakes for you guys, not to mention he’s a great clubhouse guy that works hard. it a shame he fell off here in stl but i hope he can recapture some of his old form and go out on top.
that’s exactly what he should be at this point in his career………a carpenter.
Left handed pull hitter in Yankee stadium? Can’t go wrong there… look at Joey Gallo.
When I saw they signed former Cardinal Carpenter, I thought it was Chris and that it was a “Julio Franco/Mexico” situation.
Good luck to Matt Carpenter, he may very well help especially with the right field porch.
But … What the Yankees need is an Outfielder!!! Preferred a CF and a left handed hitter, but they Really need an outfielder. Hicks is a best if he can stay healthy a 4th outfielder. Joey Gallo MIGHT work in Pittsburg or Cincinnati or another small market market with low expectations where his awesome power might drag a few extra fans through the turnstiles, but he will never be anything but a negative contributer in w
Sorry about that touched the wrong button. He’ll never be anything but a negative contributor in the BIg, Big, fun city. If he remains with the Yankees and continues to play nearly every day he will hit under 200 with less than 20 homers, maybe a lot less.
I guarantee you Gallo gives you more value than Carpenter.
Perhaps but I doubt Carpenter will ever play the outfield except in an emergency situation for the Yankees. So I don’t really see the comparison, it’s not like it’s Carpenter in left or Gallo?
True, I’m just saying that if you don’t like Gallo be prepared to absolutely detest Carpenter
Yes!
as the season goes on i expect to see a bunch of marginal lefties picked up in the hopes that banning the shift will lead to a rebirth in 2023
not saying this one of those but will be interesting to see how many careers are rescued/extended by the rule change
Gulp! Suddenly the offence looks as threatening as your mom’s slopitch team… if any of those injuries linger gotta think Cashman’s on the phone to Pittsburgh.
The Yankees are halfway across the country and the Red Sox are barely across the Delaware and panic is setting in. Maybe if the Yankees weren’t driving a VW bus they wouldn’t have to worry. Now they’re stopping at the junk yards and picking up spare parts. Do they realize the Ted Sox are on pogo sticks? Gosh, they live inside Cashman’s brain. What a hoot. Boing, boing, boing. Ruh roh.
Clearly, the Yankees live inside your brain, don’t they?
Well, duh.