The Yankees shuffled their outfield mix today, optioning Oswaldo Cabrera and Franchy Cordero to the Triple-A while activating Greg Allen and Jake Bauers from the 10-day injured list. Bauers has been out since the beginning of the month with a rotator cuff contusion, while Allen has been on the shelf since early June with a strained right hip flexor.
The club is surely hoping the duo can help revitalize a beleaguered Yankees offense that has delivered a wRC+ of just 84 that ranks bottom four in the majors since star slugger Aaron Judge went on the injured list back in June. In 49 games this season, Bauers has slashed .224/.312/.470 with a solid wRC+ of 114 despite a strikeout rate nearing 30% thanks to a fantastic .246 ISO. Allen, meanwhile got into just 10 games with the Yankees before his trip to the IL. While he posted an excellent wRC+ of 138 during that limited time, a 41.2% strikeout rate and measly .162 xwOBA indicate that production is unsustainable. Nonetheless, Allen can nonetheless provide the Yankees with a switch-hitting outfielder with speed and quality defense off the bench.
The return of Bauers in particular could help provide the club’s lineup with a boost prior to the August 1 trade deadline, which is just over a week away. That being said, it goes without saying that the Yankees are going to need their $360MM man back to have any hope of turning around a season that’s seen them sink to fourth pace in the AL East despite a decent 52-47 record. To that end, the fans received good news today as Judge took live batting practice this morning from right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga, as relayed by MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch. Judge had previously been reported as “close” to a return, but today’s exercise represents an additional step forward as he works his way back from the torn toe ligament that has kept him out of the lineup for nearly two months.
Loaisiga, himself, has been out for nearly three months since undergoing elbow surgery to remove a bone spur back in May. That he’s progressed to the point of facing live hitting represents a step forward in the rehab process for him, as well. The next step for Loaisiga appears to be a rehab assignment, which The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner relays could begin next weekend, per manager Aaron Boone. Despite the Yankees sporting an MLB-best bullpen ERA of 3.21 this season, a healthy and effective return from Loasigia, who sports a 3.04 ERA and 3.31 FIP in 145 innings of work since the beginning of the 2020 campaign, could provide a major boost to the Yankees down the stretch.
You know it’s bad when you’re happy to see Greg Allen and Jake Bauers.
It really is good to have Johnny Lasagna back.
Also good to see nonetheless used twice in the same sentence.
That being said, it goes without saying
You got that right. Doubt that Loisiga makes it to the end of season healthy.
AI wouldn’t have structured a funky sentence like that!
This is a mediocre team because they’re depending on names like Franchy Cordero, Greg Allen and Jake Bauers.
Thats a given. Not even major league caliber players..
@joe, it is rough times for sure. we used to have one guy outside of the regulars that was a nice to have and root for e.g. Sojo, Torreyes even Chris Young or Eric Hinkse. Its like 2013 or worse 1990.
I tell you what we are a lot better with Johnny Lasagna, then without him.
@jopeness
That 1990 team was stacked compared to this team.
Don Mattingly, Steve Sax, Roberto Kelly, Jesse Barfield, Mel Hall, Kevin Maas, Matt Nokes, Deion Sanders, etc. The one thing that team didn’t have was starting pitching. When Tim Leary goes 9-19 with a 4.11 ERA you’ve got a bad staff
@Rsox,
On paper the 90s team was solid but all were aging. Mattingly was out like a 1/3 of the season. That’s when Maas went crazy and everyone thought he was the next big thing. Roberto Kelly was really the only shining light. Deion didn’t play much and wasn’t anything to cheer about. But yes the pitching was horrible those years.
I mean, an OF of Mel Hall/Roberto Kelly/Jesse Barfield has to be more appealing than Jake Bauers/Harrison Bader/Billy McKinney…
But Allen and Bauers have solid wRC+. What a joke! LOL
It reminds me of BOS who were pining for the return of Yu Chang. With players like Chang, Allen, and Bauers you cannot avoid the reality that they’re never gonna hit with any kind of consistency, and players like that are always available for that reason.
While Chang will never be Rico Petrocelli or Nomar Garciaparra (maybe at best Luis Rivera?) he’s at least competent defensively at the biggest black hole position on the Red Sox roster.
anyone griping about chang must not have witnessed kiki hernandez attempt to play shortstop
Bauers has been good. Sometimes it takes guys longer to develop. If I’m not mistaken he’s still only 27 or 28 years old. Might be something there .
Garbage in garbage out
I always love it when they look at the metrics of a player like Greg Allen and say, you know what he’s done, he can’t do that. Too late.
Look out! Jake “the Snake” Bauers and Greg the Allen Wrench back at the same time! This season just got interesting!
Cashman better not make any drastic trades. It’s time to sell and start a youth movement immediately.
Including a new GM
It’s time to see what Peirea and Sweeney can do at LF and 3rd base. Trade Torres and play Pereza everyday
@mlb, Everson just got called up to Scranton and although he is performing well, he probably needs a cpl more weeks. Personally I’d like Glebyer to stay especially with all the young Venezuelan players like Cabrera, Peraza, Everson. I think its more likely they call up Westbrook
Estevan Florial must have slept with the GM’s wife.
Yeah what’s up with that? Dude’s raking.
Probably looking to trade him and don’t want to expose him before the deadline.
“provide a major boost…” Let’s hope they look to the future…and the future isn’t this year. A wRC of 84 is absurd, but they are playing folks who are at best reserves, and their high-paid regulars (Rizzo, Stanton, DJ, Donaldson) are all under 100 OBA+. How does that even happen? With Hicks that’s $100M in salary….
I’m just sayin Ronnie Lott would have cut the toe off.
Yankees bringing back Greg Allen and Jake Bauers to help “revitalize a beleaguered Yankees offense”; these sure aren’t George Steinbrenner’s Yankees, because he would have brought in the biggest names in the baseball business, not Greg Allen and Jake Bauers.
Do you mean big names like Stanton, Rizzo, and Donaldson?
Haha. But trey are incremental upgrades. A sad commentary indeed.
Despite the Yankees sporting an MLB-best bullpen ERA of 3.21 this season, a healthy and effective return from Loasigia, who sports a 3.04 ERA and 3.31 FIP in 145 innings of work since the beginning of the 2020 campaign, could provide a major boost to the Yankees down the stretch.
All this sporting sport going on, can’t believe they’re not undefeated this year.
And off “to the Triple-A” they go.
This Judge injury has revealed how incredibly thin the Yankees are without him. I wouldn’t say he’s all they’ve got but they sure aren’t as vaunted as they strut.
@grand, (non disclosed injuries aside) Stanton is the biggest disappointment. After returning in June, 9 HR, 24 hits in ~160 ABs.
The next step for Loaisiga “appears to be” a rehab assignment, which The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner relays could begin next weekend, per manager Aaron Boone.
Dr. Boonedoggle, always clear and forthright in his communications. I can just imagine him as a third base coach, “I mean go if you feel like it, or just take it easy and chill here, whatever.”
“Nonetheless, Allen can nonetheless…” You are under arrest – word police.
These are no longer George’s Yankees. If Hal wants to reduce payroll then begin a Youth movement. Rizzo at first, Pereza at second, Volpe SS, Sweeny at 3b, Peirea at LF, Dominez CF, Judge RF, Stanton DH and Wells Catcher. Any big free agents should be starting Pitching
Pitching is the only thing this team does well. They still need an impact lefty bat, hopefully named Soto. But I hope this youth movement happens, it’d be fun to watch.
Cole, Rodon, Nestor, German, and Schmidt/Brito/Vasquez should be enough for any youth movement. I don’t see the point in spending for another starter as they’re waiting for those guys to develop at the MLB level. If all of those position guys miraculously pan out, they can trade prospects for a controllable stud pitcher.
Can we trade Aaron Boone and Cashman for a beer and a hot dog?
You could but who decides the person that gets to consume the beer and hot dog?
Not a fair trade, just a hotdog is equitable
I actually have Everson Pereira or Trey Sweeney and Randy Vasquez going to the Cubs for Cody Bellinger or to the Cardinals for Brenden Donovan or Dylan Carlson. We’ll see what happens. My thinking is what Hal has said repeatedly “the Yankees will be buyers at the deadline”
Captain-Judge99;
Good one!
Then the Yankees can give Bellinger a multi-year contract for over $100m, and within 2 years you and other Yankee fans can come on here and complain about all their highly-paid players with long-term contracts that aren’t producing.
The guy has his first good stretch of play – 3.5 months in 4 years – and……
LOL
I say make a move for Carlson and call it a deadline. Let health and the underperforming veterans decide how this season ends.
@Capt why would the Yankees go after Bellinger. If Yankees really wanted him why not sign him last winter. The Yankees don’t need him or his impending high contract. It’s time to reduce payroll and try players the Yankees drafted and developed.
Carlson not Bellinger.
Duh, their players weren’t injured and underperforming last winter.
Fun fact: Arson Judge and Corey Seager both got injured playing the Dodgers ^_^
Go blue.
The yankees aren’t hitting. next to last of 30 teams
When your best hitter is Torres and not LaMaheiu, trouble a brewin.
Same as the twins. not hitting but but the era is good.
It is exciting,,,Yankees get a bust from Bauers and Allen. Very funeral news.
borat-esque use of language
i approve!
Give Elijah Dunham some run.
Jeez, this post is a travesty of punctuation and syntax. MLBTR needs and editor or Mr. Deeds needs to be canned. The guy is a joke of a writer.
Allen, meanwhile got into just 10 games with the Yankees before his trip to the IL.
No. Just no. Can’t even get your commas sorted out when you have “meanwhile” in the wrong spot, dingus. It has to be “Meanwhile, Allen got into just 10 games with the Yankees before his trip to the IL.”
“Loaisiga, himself, has been out for nearly three months since undergoing elbow surgery to remove a bone spur back in May.”
FFS. There should be NO commas around himself. Besides, why do you even need “himself” in the sentence? Redundant and adds nothing.
“That he’s progressed to the point of facing live hitting represents a step forward in the rehab process for him, as well.”
For the love of all that is holy, stop putting commas before “too” and “as well.” Completely and utterly unnecessary.
Must be infuriating to watch Aaron Hicks tear it up in Baltimore after being DFA’d.
.254/.351/.438 ISO .185, OPS .789, wRC+ 121, 13.2% BB vs. 23.2% K
I thought he was pretty well toast, but the change of scenery seems to have fixed him, though the batted ball stuff still raises questions about the sustainability.
martras;
The “change of scenery” meant going from a bad organization and fans that know nothing about how winning baseball is played, to going to a very good organization with fans that appreciate guys that [lay winning baseball.
Organizations, coaches, and fans matter.
the Orioles did not fix Hicks instantly. I’m sure there are a number of factors (including luck) which have worked for Hicks. I’m sure the sporadic play and the obvious lack of confidence the Yankees had with him could have led to Hicks pushing. Being hated by the fans, unwanted by the front office and playing for the next contract probably didn’t make for a great environment.
Now Hicks has eliminated 2 of 3 of those issues. Just have to see how it plays out the rest of the year. Regardless, Hicks isn’t going to get more than a 1 year deal.
Well now he’s injured, so Aaron hicks is back to being Aaron hicks.
Ha! sounds about right.