The Yanks Big Chance
We've talked about how the Yanks have sort of worked at crosspurposes for a few years now. For example, when they decided not to counter Seattle for Cano, they stood to go into the 2014 draft with three more first rounders. That sould have been their second year in a row of 3 firsts, and would have put them much closer to that next run than they are now. But, instead they signed Ellsbury, McCann and Beltran. And in case you count making the play-in game as adequate process, they've gotten no closer and are currently far away for making a serious run.
There are generally no do-overs in baseball, but the Yanks can get one this summer, but trading Chapman, Miller and Beltran and possibly even McCann. I don't think they'd want to trade Betances, but he's bring back a haul, too. Let's hope they have their old and current scouting reports ready and have dispatched the right scouts to the appropriate minor league affiliates.
Ideally, the Yanks would get some young players, and even more prospects that don't have to be added to the 40 yet throught this fire sale we're advocating. The Cubs, Rangers and Washington are all supposed to be interested in the relievers and they all have some pretty attractive assets if the Yanks want to rebuild on the fly and erase a lot of the team building mistakes of the past several years. They should be able to replace the three missing picks and perhaps even make up for some of the money they didn't spend on the draft and IFA before the pool rules were established.
There are no do-overs in baseball, but the Yanks are setup for an utterly redemptive one.
posted by Kalel9 @ 6:20 PM
16 Comments:
The opportunity is there if Hal seizes up, but based on the Cashman/Girardi history, I fear they will:
1) focus on staters with stuff but lack pitchability;
2) overvalue defense;
3) acquire hitters who don't walk or work the count.
Depends which scouts they use. The Amateur Scouts in both America and the International Market would get us traditional patience and pop Yankee Bats, and swing and miss stuff Yankee arms, and would let superior pitching take care of the defense.
If we use the Major League scouts we could end up with more crap like Castro.
Just looked at Castro's season stats — oof. It's entirely a product of him not walking. Gardner, who is only batting five points lower than him, looks much better with regard to his OBP.
It's obvious now McCann and Ellsbury were both mistake signings. Beltran has at least hit what he's worth for two of the three seasons he's been here, though his defense is awful (funnily he seems immune to the defensive prowess requirement the Yankees have for their prospects). But as a whole, that spending spree is a case study of what not to do, Tanaka excluded.
Assuming for a moment the Yankees actually would entertain selling at the deadline, I'm not sure how much could realistically be expected as far as the return goes.
Lots, those are elite bullpen pieces and the teams after them have never won a world series.
And I said that the time that the Tanaka signing was an indication that there were two plans at work even back then.
I'd want at least one "blue-chip" prospect for each, prospects who are close to major-league ready. I don't think the Yankees sell, but if they do, I guess we'll see just how desperate some teams are.
Look at what the Phillies got for their closer, three players. I'd want one who's either in the majors but young, one in AA or highr, and one in A, for each.
So far the Yanks have saved $1M on slot money and that's not counting anything saved on Solak. My hunch is that they may have deals with Rutherford and Martinez, but are keeping them face down until the last minute in order to keep the prep picks in the dark as to how much money they have available. Then they can play them off against each other with offers like "we offer you $X, but this offer is also being made to several others and is on a first-come-first-serve basis." If they play their cards right, they could land more than one of their prep picks.
That's certainly what they should do.
What is a Yankee bat anymore under Cashman. Castro, Didi, Headley, and McCann aren't, and those are his guys.
I agree that they should be able to get good talent. I merely question the GM and manager's mindset.
He's not an evaluator as he often has repeated. He is the guy who traded for ARod, a Yankee bat. Signed Tex (had to get special permission) a Yankee bat, signed Giambi (a Yankee bat). He's gotten some Yankee bats. They're just rarely avaiable under the current CBA. He also wanted Sano who has a Yankee Bat, but Hal wouldn't let him budge on their bid.
And the manager better not have anything to do with these trades.
Doesn't it make my point that what you cited as good moves are mostly ancient Yankee history, in a relative sense?
Even wanting Sano doesn't override his more recent track record.
Holliday made more sense than Teix. I thought you were one of the people who said it at the time.
As I have said, the Cashman of that era was humble and unaffected. He's a very different guy now, at least publicly, and the moves he takes credit for, like the ones I mentioned above, suggest a different outlook and value system, one he has said he shares with his hand-picked manager.
For example, he publicly disses Refs' defense. That's just dumb strategically, no matter what he thinks.
Solak to sign.
Beltrán is still a very productive hitter, and his numbers this year are remarkable. But at 39, how much is he likely to bring in a trade?
He'll be a rental, so maybe something useful, but AA or lower will come back.
I think Sweeny Murti suggested a Fullmer type for him was possible. Where do I sign?
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