DJ Lemahieu

Are the Yankees bluffing on their interest in Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg?

by
The New York Yankees could pursue Gerrit Cole this offseason.

New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner made it apparent that his starting rotation wasn’t the issue in the loss to the Houston Astros in the ALCS. He specifically mentioned his team’s scoring production with runners on base, failing to mention the struggles of the starters throughout the regular season.

However, as long as the starting rotation performs in the postseason, their efforts throughout the year don’t matter as much. Losing young pitcher Domingo German to a domestic violence case for the playoffs undoubtedly hurt the rotation’s efficiency, but he’s expected to return in 2020 after he serves a suspension.

With the rotation looking solid next year, Steinbrenner and general manager Brian Cashman don’t have to spend big money on pitchers like Gerrit Cole or Stephen Strasburg. Passing on both would leave the Yankees with this grouping of pitchers:

  1. Luis Severino
  2. James Paxton
  3. Masahiro Tanaka
  4. Jordan Montgomery
  5. J.A. Happ
  6. Domingo German (after suspension)
  7. Michael King/Deivi Garcia

This is a solid unit, but plugging in Cole at the top would give the Yankees the best in starting rotation in baseball, without question. A Cole, Severino, Paxton three-man rotation in the postseason would be deadly, and they would give the Bombers the best chance at reaching a World Series in over a decade.

The restraint from the Yankees will be in regards to price, as Cole is expected to ink a deal worth at least $200 million. Strasburg will also earn a substantial payday, but his injury history will limit his max-contract. Cole is set to break the record for the highest-paid pitcher, likely making over $30+ million per season.

The Yankees have the money to invest in Cole if they wish, and his stellar health makes him one of the most attractive options in recent memory. It ultimately boils down to the other weaknesses on the team, and aside from adding depth, every position as a bonafide starter readily available.

Catcher: Gary Sanchez

1st base: Luke Voit (re-sign on a cheap deal)

2nd base: DJ LeMahieu

shortstop: Gleyber Torres

3rd base: Gio Urshela, Miguel Andujar

Leftfield: Giancarlo Stanton

Centerfield: Aaron Hicks

Rightfield: Aaron Judge

The Yankees have a ton of youth player featuring on the team, giving them ample cap-space to go out and sign a premium free agent pitcher. If Cashman is keen on winning a World Series soon, signing Cole or Strasburg undoubtedly gives them a significant boost.

The Yankees can go one of two ways at shortstop, does it involve Didi Gregorius?

by
New York Yankees, Didi Gregorius

After the rejection of Didi Gregorius’ qualifying offer of $17.8 million, the Yankees now have to make a decision on the shortstop position. They can go several ways this offseason.

Either they elect to move Gleyber Torres into a permanent role at short or look into potential free agents to fill the void. However, the idea of re-signing Gregorius isn’t a bad one by any means. Not only is he loved in the Yankees clubhouse, but he’s been efficient on offense and defense for the club over his tenure.

Coming off Tommy John surgery, Didi finished the 2019 season with a .238 batting average, 16 homers, and 61 RBIs. His season was highlighted by his defensive quality and ability to pull balls over the short right porch at Yankees stadium. A Grand Slam in the ALDS against the Minnesota Twins attests to his value in clutch situations and overall production.

The 2019 season wasn’t Didi’s best, though, as coming off a significant injury undoubtedly played a part in his momentum. He seems to be 100% healthy and ready to return to a full-time role in 2020. The question for the Yankees is, do they bring him back on a multi-year deal or let him walk and move Torres into his natural position, where he struggled earlier in the year.

Torres’ progression makes the most sense, considering he’s the future at shortstop, but having DJ LeMahieu available for one more year makes that switch a bit less pressing. Ideally, LeMahieu would play his preferred second-base, and Gleyber would begin his tenure at short, but Gregorius offers a lot more than just production in the field — he’s an icon for the fan-base and leader on the team.

There isn’t much talent on the free-agent market for the Yankees:

The current shortstop market is stripped clean of any skill greater than or equal to Gregorius’. Adeiny Hechavarria, Jose Iglesias, Jordy Mercer, or Chris Owings headline the top options behind the lefty hitter.

Ultimately, it boils down to a decision in the infield — is Torres ready to make the jump to short? If he is, there’s no need for Didi on the roster, but if Cashman prefers quality depth, the answer should be simple. Signing him to a one-year deal in the $13-14 million range could be the answer, as the Yankees likely believed he would accept the qualifying offer, which was too expensive for the value he brings to the team.

The New York Yankees have had this plan for Gleyber Torres all along

by
New York Yankees, Gleyber Torres

With the New York Yankees electing to reject shortstop Didi Gregorius’ qualifying offer of $17.8 million next season, they have a decision to make. Do they go out and sign a top-notch shortstop to fill the void, or follow their original game plan?

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let’s take a moment to remember Didi’s accomplishments, he deserves that much. Over the past few seasons, Gregorius has been a staple for the Yankees at short. Coming up with big hits time and time again, the locker-room connoisseur will undoubtedly be missed, and after having Tommy John surgery, paying him $17.8 million just wasn’t in the cards.

However, a game-tying homer in the 2017 Wild Card game, two homers against Corey Kluber in the ALDS (2017), and a grand slam in the 2019 ALDS, all highlight what he meant to the Bombers and his best clutch moments. Didi has been a fan-favorite for years, but ultimately, baseball is a business, and spending far too much on a shortstop who the Yankees see as replaceable, doesn’t make much sense.

How will the New York Yankees replace Didi Gregorius?

Gleyber Torres is your answer. This season, the Yankees were able to inject Torress into the shortstop position to give him some much-needed experience will Gregorius recovering from Tommy John. That experience will now pay off, as DJ LeMahieu can slide into his preferred second-base position while Torres takes over at short.

Torres’ natural position is short, which is why this move makes too much sense. While the youngster’s offense is impeccable, his defense at the position needs a bit of work. His 11 errors over 77 games are unacceptable, but it’s part of his progression in the infield.

What the infield could look like in 2020:

First base: Luke Voit

Second base: DJ LeMahieu

Shortstop: Gleyber Torres

Third base: Gio Urshela

Catcher: Gary Sanchez

This is a solid group of infielders. However, Urshela and Voit scare me. Two combined seasons of decent play doesn’t scream efficiency. If they cannot replicate their production, the Yankees will suffer a reality they did not expect. Bringing in some capable reserves should be a priority.

Will the Yankees give Luke Voit another chance at first base and replace Edwin Encarnacion?

by
New York Yankees, Luke Voit

The New York Yankees can’t rely on utility player DJ LeMahieu to cover the first base position forever. Eventually, they will need to solidify the spot and give him the freedom to return to his favorable positions. That begs the question, is manager Aaron Boone keen on giving Luke Voit a second chance at life at first base?

Voit, who finished the season batting .263 with 21 homers, missed the last quarter of the year with a sports hernia. He also missed the entire postseason despite his desire to be a part of the active roster. His 2019 campaign wasn’t bad, and while his offensive production undoubtedly made up for his defensive mishaps, there could be a place for him on the team moving forward.

The Yankees signed Voit to a one year, $573,000 salary last season, which makes him more valuable considering his low price tag. If they can re-sign him for a similar amount of money, he would be a steal once again for the Bombers. Also, he fits their ideology and homerun centric mentality. He can be a reliable designated hitter as well if the Yankees manage to find a more defensive first baseman.

The New York Yankees could explore other avenues on the FA market:

There are several other options on the market, though. Howie Kendrick is one of them, and at 36 years old, he hit .344 for the World Series-winning Washington Nationals. Over 334 at-bats, he recorded 17 home runs and 62 RBIs (baseball-reference). He had a stellar campaign for the Nationals this year, and he is an attractive option in free agency.

Kendrick earned $4 million this past season and could hover around the same price tag despite his fantastic statistical year. His age is undoubtedly a factor, but 14 years of experience prove his worth.

If the Yankees want to bring in an established player that can help rally the troops, Kendrick could be their man. I imagine they will also keep Voit on the roster, especially after the departure of Edwin Encarnacion.

Kendrick isn’t a bonafide power hitter, but he makes solid contact and gets on base frequently. Also, his defensive abilities are stellar. Over 48 games for the Nationals, he only committed one error with a .997 fielding percentage at first base.

Inserting him into the starting lineup and keeping Voit as a reserve option is not a bad idea. I imagine general manager Brian Cashman will be observing all opportunities this off-season.

New York Yankees could stick with Greg Bird for the future…again

by
New York Yankees, Greg Bird

The constant appreciation for long-distance lover Greg Bird seems to be the pride-driven mentality for New York Yankees general manager, Brian Cashman. His obsession with getting the lefty hitter healthy has damaged the success of the team at times and has instilled unnecessary faith in a player that can’t go half a season without picking up an injury.

Bird enjoyed just 41 at-bats last season, logging a .171 batting average. The previous three seasons have been lackluster for the first-baseman as he’s failed to breach the .200 mark. Cashman seems convinced that Bird will reach his potential one day, though, despite Luke Voit emerging as a better offensive option. Bird is still a fantastic defensive player, but utility man DJ LeMahieu also proved he could weather the storm at first base, taking value away from the position.

What is Greg Bird up to now for the New York Yankees?

The “Bird” is the word some would say. I would say, how the hell is the”Bird” still the word? The Yankees’ first baseman made his Dominican Winter League debut Tuesday night, hitting in the cleanup spot for the Gigantes Del Ciabo. Quite the change of scenery from Yankee Stadium just last year.

The 26-year-old enjoyed just first action since April 13, just before going down with a surprising plantar fascia tear in his left foot. His ten games last season forced the Bombers to stick with Voit and eventually traded for slugger, Edwin Encarnacion.

Will the Yankees finally cut Bird?

MLB Trade Rumors projects that Bird will earn $1.3 million via arbitration in 2020. Cashman could finally elect to cut ties with his long-time favorite prospect, but the string is too thin to remain attached. Bird could be using this opportunity in the Dominican league that he’s still able to compete at a high level — an audition in a sense.

The Yankees should move on from him and open up a spot on the 40-man roster for next season. They’re better off testing out a talent like pitching Deivi Garcia than taking anther flier on Greg.

 

New York Yankees couldn’t have made the ALCS without one monster player

by
New York Yankees, DJ LeMahieu

Baseball is a team sport, but for the New York Yankees, it seems as if one player in particular completely willed them to the postseason and ALCS series. Utility-man DJ LeMahieu is the man of honor, finishing the year with an astounding .327 batting average, hitting 26 homers and 102 RBIs.

LeMahieu’s stellar campaign ended gloriously, attempting to drag his team back into the ALCS by the skin of his teeth. He blasted an opposite-field home run to tie the game 4-4 in the ninth-inning, giving his exhausted team a chance to fight back and find a way to secure the win.

“It kind of embodies his season — that at-bat, so good,’’ manager Aaron Boone said. “Off their closer, obviously. Just a really good battle and spoiled pitches, spoiled pitches, finally got one he could handle and ride out of there. As that at-bat’s going on, I just felt so good about him doing something. I knew he was going to put it in play hard somewhere and sure enough he did. What more can you say about the season he’s had?”

No more than 15 minutes later, Houston Astros mighty midget, Jose Altuve, hit a walk-off dinger to send them to the World Series and the Yankees back to the brisk Bronx. However, this doesn’t denounce the quality season DJ enjoyed and what he did for the team.

Ultimately, it was a harsh way to lose, and the entire tea believed they had a chance to reach the World Series. It boiled down to the bottom of the 9th inning, where Aroldis Chapman sealed the game with a hanging slider.

How impactful was DJ LeMahieu for the New York Yankees?

No matter what you say about the Yankees, LeMahieu was the best part of their season. General manager Brian Cashman struck gold on a two-year deal worth $24 million for the contact hitter. While his offense was a significant part of his success, the former Rockie’s defense is what made him a staple for the future.

Acting as a utility man, LeMahieu played nearly every position in the infield, even at first base, where he had never previously featured. Playing the entire back-end of the regular season at first with Luke Voit and Edwin Encarnacion out, DJ allowed two errors over 40 games.

Compare that to Voit, for example, who allowed seven errors over 83 games, and you see just how valuable the 30-year-old is. The Yankees grabbed a steal with the utility-man, and he will undoubtedly be a focal point moving forward. Cashman is preparing to splash the cash on premium pitching talent, which should give the team a leg up next season. Starting pitching was the downfall of the team this year.

How the New York Yankees can steal game six of the ALCS against Houston

by
New York Yankees, Didi Gregorius, Aaron Judge

The New York Yankees grinded out a phenomenal victory against Justin Verlander and the Houston Astros in their final home game before heading down south. Staving off elimination was no easy feat for the Bombers, who rode a four-run first inning to victory, thanks to a DJ LeMahieu leadoff homer and a three-run blast by Aaron Hicks shortly after.

Verlander was immediately stunned and will undoubtedly be disappointed in his performance Friday night, but he did manage to work his way into the seventh inning without allowing a run after his porous first-inning.

The Yankees have a tall task ahead of them in Houston; however, they may hold the advantage due to their solid bullpen. Game six of the ALCS will be what some call a “bullpen game,” as both teams will tap into their reserve pitchers to help either tie the series or close it once and for all.

The Yankees have the advantage in this category, as their bullpen has been stellar throughout the season, but the ALCS has imposed its will at times. The Astros have quality hitters up and down their lineup, which has proven to be difficult, especially in game four, when Chad Green allowed a three-run blast to Carlos Correa to secure the win for Houston.

Green, who has an 11-4 record when opening games this season, will help give the Yanks a running start on Saturday night, a quick turnaround due to a lost game on Wednesday (bad weather).

It seems, though, that starter James Paxton has been the catalyst for the Bombers, as he’s been at the forefront of both their wins, in games one and five. His 112 pitches across six-innings were the headline of the game, as he mowed down nine batters, allowing just four hits and one run. Unfortunately, he cannot pitch every game.

To win game six, the Yankees have to utilize their bullpen strategically. Green needs to take them into the third inning without giving up any significant damage. It’s also possible they elect to star J.A. Happ, despite his struggles this season. If he can step up to the plate and offer three good innings before handing the ball over to Green, that would be more than acceptable.

Here’s the predicted pitching order for the New York Yankees on Saturday:

1.) J.A. Happ

2.) Chad Green

3.) Zack Britton

4.) Tommy Kahnle

5.) Adam Ottavino

6.) Aroldis Chapman

This order will give them an experienced starter to open the game, a trusted relief pitcher to carry them into the latter portion of the contest, and then their primary closers to finish off the Astros. Now, it all comes down to Gary Sanchez catching the ball and not letting pitches fly by him at an astronomical rate. Sooner rather than later, manager Aaron Boone will need to plug LeMahieu in at catcher.

New York Yankees: Aaron Boone makes another huge batting order mistake

by
New York Yankees, Gleyber Torres

The New York Yankees and manager Aaron Boone took a different approach to their hitting order on Thursday night, slotting second-baseman Gleyber Torres into the cleanup spot. That move resulted in Torres going 0-for-4 on the night, and striking out in a bases-loaded situation early on in the contest.

Boone has continuously fielded Edwin Encarnacion, who’s parrot has a better chance of making contact with the baseball than he does. The designated hitter finished the night with two strikeouts (0-for-3) and a groundout. Outfielder Cameron Maybin would have been a more suitable option for the DH spot in the scenario that he didn’t replace Brett Gardner.

The ultimate reality of the situation is that the Yankees are down 3-1 in the series against a better team with more proficient pitching. Their starters are too powerful and efficient to bat around, despite the Yankees leaving plenty of men on base and opportunities missed.

To make matters worse for the Yanks, their bullpen has been putrid as well. Adam Ottavino has been torched by Houston, and Chad Green, who has been fantastic, allowed a timely three-run blast to give the Astros a 6-1 lead in the 6th inning.

Going into game five, Boone not only needs to make numerous changes to the batting order, but he needs to lift the emotions of his team. If Houston can win three straight games, the Yankees can surely do it too.

For the Astros, starter Zach Greinke pitched 4.1 innings, allowing just one run and three hits before handing the ball to the bullpen. The Bombers had their chances to strikes, especially in the first inning where they recorded only one run on a bases-loaded scenario with one out.

Who should the New York Yankees switch out in the batting order?

First off, Encarnacion should be benched for eternity. His 1-for-14 cold streak is hurting the team significantly, not to mention fellow slugger, Gary Sanchez’s issues hitting as well. At least Sanchez smashed a two-run homer in the bottom of the 6th to give the Yankees a glimmer of home.

Here’s a look at what the lineup could theoretically look like in game five:

1.) DJ LeMahieu

2.) Aaron Judge

3.) Gleyber Torres

4.) Giancarlo Stanton (?) –> Gary Sanchez

5.) Aaron Hicks

6.) Brett Gardner

7.) Cameron Maybin

8.) Didi Gregorius

9.) Gio Urshela

The defense needs to step up:

Aside from the offensive woes, the New York Yankees struggled defensively on Thursday. They allowed four errors, two coming from LeMahieu at first base and two from Gleyber Torres at second, which allowed two runs on separate occasions. Two of the mistakes occurred in the seventh inning, where the Astros recorded a run and put the game out of reach.

They must elevate their defensive quality and prepare to play a clean game in Houston on Friday night.

New York Yankees: Aaron Boone made horrific mistakes in game three batting order

by
New York Yankees, Brett Gardner

So let’s get this straight, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone not only kept the previously 0-for-9 Edwin Encarnacion in the cleanup spot, but he also featured Brett Gardner right in front of him at No. 3. Gardner is 2-for-9 over the last two losses to the Houston Astros and hasn’t made an impact in any significant way.

The fact is, Gardner could barely even play the field as he crashed into the outfield wall trying to make a warning-track catch. His bat was off, his ability to track fly balls was off, and yet Boone elected to stick with the veteran through thick and thin. Was this a strange sentimental start on behalf of Boone?

Alternatively, Boone could have started speed-demon Cameron Maybin in right field and featured him in the batting order, likely moving him down the list and Gleyber Torres up to the three spot. Torres was the only real threat on Tuesday night against Gerrit Cole, who blanked the Yanks over seven innings despite several concerning innings that nearly resulted in run production.

The Bombers weren’t able to claw away at the Astros and their stellar starting pitchers, though, as Severino allowed two runs early on to dig the Yankees into a hole. The offensive power the New York Yankees featured during the Twins completely turned off due to opposing pitching, but there’s still hope on the horizon.

Based on the struggles of individual players, here’s a revised New York Yankees batting order for game four:

1.) DJ LeMahieu

2.) Aaron Judge

3.) Gleyber Torres

4.) Gary Sanchez

5.) Aaron Hicks

6.) Didi Gregorius

7.) Brett Gardner

8.) Cameron Maybin

9.) Gio Urshela

First off, Edwin Encarnacion has to go — 1-for-13 is despicable, and featuring him in the lineup any longer cannot be justified. Plugging Sanchez into the cleanup spot makes logical sense considering his power, despite his struggles. Since benching him is off the table due to his catching abilities, they can move him up just to take Edwin out.

The reality is, the Yankees need to maximize their effectiveness towards the top portion of the lineup, and stacking it through with high-contact hitters makes the most sense. Generally, the Yanks were in a scoring position more frequently when the top of the batting order was at-bat. Aaron Hicks, the outlier, earned two walks on the day and showed stellar patience against Cole.

Moving him up to the fifth spot in the order gives the Yanks a switch-hitting option that can contribute with discipline behind Sanchez. Also, Brett Gardner has got to GO. His lack of contact is continuous, and his frustration/emotion has taken its toll on his confidence. Unfortunately, the Yanks simply don’t have any other options with Giancarlo Stanton nursing an injured quad.

Putting Maybin in is a necessity for game three.

New York Yankees have power up and down the lineup and more in the tank

by
New York Yankees, Didi Gregorius

The New York Yankees power in the American League Division Series against the Minnesota Twins surged behind the bats of Gleyber Torres, DJ LeMahieu, and Brett Gardner and also adding power to the lineup were Didi Gregorius and Cameron Maybin. Gregorius’ Grand Slam in Game 2 was one of the highlights of the series. Heavy hitters missing from this list of home run hitters: Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Gary Sanchez, and Edwin Encarnacion.

In some ways, the top hitters of the ALDS are also a surprise: Torres, Gregorius, Judge, and Maybin. Torres, Gregorius, and Maybin flashing the power and Judge contributing with timely hitting, taking the walks and cutting down on strikeouts.

Judge and LeMahieu are just two of the heavy hitters who can turn it up a notch against Houston.

While LeMahieu went 4-14 with a home run, there is no way he emptied the tank offensively in the ALDS. He finished the season second in the league in batting average at .327. Against Minnesota, he batted only .286 with 4 RBIs. I hope to see him with even more opportunities to drive in runs during the next series. LeMahieu, arguably the MVP of the Yankees regular season, will need even better numbers in the upcoming series to help the Yankees overcome what will be a tough series against the Houston Astros.

Judge’s performance in the ALDS was perhaps not spectacular offensively, but it was consistent with the kind of hitter he has become – which is not to say that his power stroke has gone missing – he just has become more patient at the plate, and it is unlikely he saw many pitches to take deep. Judge batted .333 for the ALDS, going 3-9 with four walks, one strikeout, and three singles. He was where he should have been if he’s not circling the bases, and that is on the bases.

The Yankees offense in the ALDS proved that the Yankees are poised to strike a balance between reliance on the long ball and playing small ball. If the Yankees can win series in which their power hitters fail to hit home runs, fans will take it, which means everything else is going right.

Against Houston, the pitching will be elite, and having a balanced offense against such elite pitching will be in the Yankees favor. Against pitchers like the Astros Justin Verlander or the Gerrit Cole, it is wise to have several lines of attack to beat them.

The Yankees now have their full complement of starting players back from injury, including Aaron Hicks, who is reportedly healthy and ready to play. The offense showed with its league-leading .324 average that at least so far in the postseason, it can meet any challenge. Woe to the Astros once the home run hitters join the fun.