James Paxton

New York Yankees got What They Traded for in James Paxton

by
New York Yankees, James Paxton

The New York Yankees broke the news that James Paxton was undergoing back surgery to remove a cyst on his spinal column. I wish him a speedy recovery, as learning from my dad’s back problems (shards of ruptured vertebrae lodging into his other vertebrae) that this is no joke. But we got exactly what we traded for in James Paxton, an injury-prone pitcher.

Yes, He Truly is Injury Prone

Last year saw him sidelined for 3 weeks due to a sore knee. We guess it was due to the clay used to make up the mound at Yankee Stadium. He also suffered a glute injury on his final start of the season. But, while listening to the Michael Kay Show on ESPN radio yesterday, this cyst popped up and started bothering Paxton throughout the postseason run the Yankees had. But before he developed this cyst, Paxton was on and off the IL in Seattle for injuries like a strained pec, strained lat, trouble with his forearm and elbow, and a strained tendon in a finger on his pitching hand. I’ve said it before, he’s a seven-year veteran, who has yet to make 30 starts in a season. As long as we hang onto him, we will see him miss several starts per year due to injury.

Do We Really Have Enough Depth?

True, we do have depth at the starting pitching position. But will it be sustainable depth until we get Paxton AND German back?

The New York Yankees are notorious for being overly cautious with their starting pitchers. And that hyper caution resulted in several promising pitchers to completely implode on themselves (Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes for starters). Montgomery pitched all of 4 innings last year. Severino will start his first full season since 2018. Happ is hopefully going to be a step above mediocre. Loaisiga and Luis Cessa were average at best as starters for the Yankees, and Devi Garcia may need to adjust his stuff at the major league level. Not to mention the fact Paxton and German will undoubtedly only be back by the All-Star game because they’ll have to throw a few tune-up games in the minor leagues.

We still have Gerrit Cole, is he m and a diminishing regular season Tanaka going to be enough when there are so many question marks surrounding the rotation going into Spring Training?

Yankees’ Aaron Boone expressed his biggest concern in 2020

by
New York Yankees, Aaron Boone

The New York Yankees suffered more injuries than any other team in baseball last season, seeing 30 players hit the injured list 39 total times, indicating that some players landed on the list more than once.

Alleviating concern over soft-tissue injuries was addressed this offseason when the Bombers fired Matt Krause, the former head of strength and conditioning within the organization. Since then, they have hired renowned coach Eric Cressey, who has worked with some of the biggest names in baseball.

The 2020 season has already started with a troublesome bang, though, as star lefty pitcher, James Paxton, was forced to undergo surgery and will sit out for the first three months of the season (minimum). Luckily, initial reports had him sitting out until May, but new information suggests a shorter timetable for recovery.

While this early hit to the pitching rotation is unfortunate, the Yankees signed Gerrit Cole to a $324 million deal, helping to solidify the unit in case of situations like this.

Here’s what Yankees’ Aaron Boone had to say about his concerns going in spring training, per NJ.com:

Q: What is your biggest challenge or concern?

A: Obviously last year was a year in which we dealt with a lot of health issues, but also had a lot of people step up and got some really good answers on a number of people that were required to step in and contribute. My concerns are just the day to day. My focus right now is on spring training. Spring training entails trying to get individuals ready. We’re not trying to win games, obviously, down here, we’re trying to get individuals ready, and everyone’s a little bit different. Some guys are coming off injury, some guys are veterans that you’re gonna slow-play a little bit more in spring. Some guys are trying to compete a little bit more for a job. So my focus right now is on making sure we’re getting the proper work in behind the scenes as far as our defensive work, our work in the weight room, and in the bullpen, in the batting cage, all those things, that we’re paying attention and really making sure we’re getting after it each and every day so that we can lay that foundation that puts us in a good position to go out and potentially win a championship.

Preparation this spring will be tailored around the previously injured players being ready to play at full capacity come the regular season. Giancarlo Stanton, Miguel Andujar, Luis Severino, Jordan Montgomery, and Luke Voit will all be testing their abilities to ensure they’re ready to go on opening day.

New York Yankees: J.A. Happ is here to stay for now

by
New York Yankees, J.A. Happ

Back in early December, I wrote a piece about how New York Yankees Starting Pitcher, J.A. Happ, was definitely going to be traded. In fact, I said that the trade was inevitable. The Yankees had just signed Gerrit Cole to a record deal and found themselves over the third threshold for the luxury tax. Happ was horrific for most of 2019 and was due to make $17 million in 2020. Assuming everyone was healthy, the Yankees could slide Jordan Montgomery into the fifth spot in the rotation which would leave Happ without a spot. This was the likely scenario as Happ has a vesting option for 2021. No way the Yankees would let that option vest which would force them to pay another $17 million to Happ in 2021. However, one piece of news has come out in recent days which has changed the entire narrative.

Two Key Pieces Missing

James Paxton, who was the Yankees best pitcher down the stretch last season, had to have surgery which will keep him out of action for 3-4 months. Scott Boras, Paxton’s agent, has come out and said that Paxton would likely be back in the first 1/3rd of the season, but his loss will definitely be felt in the Yankees rotation. In addition to Paxton’s injury, Domingo German is suspended for essentially the first half of the season due to his domestic violence incident. With that in mind, only three spots are guaranteed in the Yankees rotation right now: Gerrit Cole, Luis Severino, and Masahiro Tanaka. With the injury and suspension, the proven veteran Happ will now slide into the fourth spot in the rotation. GM Brian Cashman has said a competition will occur for the fifth spot in the rotation with the overwhelming favorite being the returning Jordan Montgomery.

Yankees Options With Happ

So, is Happ here to stay? I’m still not convinced he’s a Yankee once the 2020 season ends. I could see a few scenarios playing out for the Yankees and Happ:

  1. The Yankees keep Happ for all of 2020 but manipulate his innings/games pitched in the second half of the season to ensure that his option doesn’t vest.
  2. The Yankees keep Happ for all of 2020, and they let Happ stay in the rotation allowing his option to vest for the 2021 season. However, in this scenario, they would desperately look to move Happ next winter.
  3. Trade Happ at the trade deadline.

None of these scenarios have J.A Happ playing for the Yankees in 2021. There is no way that Happ will be on this roster after this season. The New York Yankees have Cole and Severino locked in, but they will likely look at bringing back Tanaka or Paxton. In addition to those guys, you have Jordan Montgomery, Domingo German, Clarke Schmidt, Deivi Garcia, Luis Gil and more young guys who are going to be vying for spots. There is no place for a 38-year-old J.A. Happ on the 2021 Yankees. Happ is going to start the season a Yankee, but he might not finish the season with the Yankees. One thing is for sure, if that option vests, he won’t be finishing this current deal wearing pinstripes.

New York Yankees receive good news on the James Paxton front

by
New York Yankees, James Paxton

When the New York Yankees officially released the news that starting lefty pitcher James Paxton would miss 3-4 months of the season after having a cyst removed from his lower back, optimism regarding the beginning of the 2020 season took a hit.

Luckily, the signing of Gerrit Cole and return of Jordan Montgomery offers the team much-needed support in the pitching rotation.

According to MLB Insider Jon Heyman:

“We’re very optimistic he’ll back in the first third of the season,” agent Scott Boras said, via Heyman.

The initial recovery timetable ended in June, but it’s possible Paxton return in April at some point, which gives the Yankees more comfort. Having a top lefty pitcher is an essential part of the Yankees’ rotation, considering the top four pitchers are now all righty.

Behind Cole, Paxton is arguably the second-best pitcher with Luis Severino close behind. In “Big Maple’s” first season in the Bronx, he finished wit a 15-6 record with a 3.82 ERA in 29 starts. Over the second half of the season, he showed ace potential, winning 10 of his final 11 games. His 2.51 ERA was tremendous, along with his 69 strikeouts in 61 innings. While his postseason form was jittery, he performed well enough for the Yankees to win, but their run-support fell off due to fatigue and injury.

The Bombers and manager Aaron Boone will rely on Paxton moving forward to help lead the rotation, along with Cole and Severino, who are both considered ace-level pitchers.

As per NJ.com:

Dr. Andrew Sama, co-chief of spinal surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, said he believed the 31-year-old Paxton should make a full recovery. Sama has performed the surgery before, but on other athletes, and hasn’t seen Paxton’s medicals.

“If the thing that’s slowing someone down is — this cyst or disc or whatever it is pressing on a nerve — and that offending agent is removed, then once they heal from the surgery, theoretically, they should be good to go,” Sama said. “Now, there is a possibility that the cyst or the disc or whatever it is can come back, but that’s pretty rare. It’s less than three or 4 percent.”

Yankees: Paxton surgery explained and spring training to decide the fifth Yankee starter

by
New York Yankees, James Paxton

After New York Yankee’s General Manager Brian Cashman announced that the fifth starter for the Yankee rotation would be J.A. Happ, the rotation seemed to be set.  However, upon the notification that James Paxton underwent surgery for a Discectomy with the removal of a periodical cyst, it opened up what some see as an open competition for the last spot in the rotation.    J.A. Happ will undoubtedly be moved up to fourth in the rotation.

The Paxton surgery is best described by USCspine.com: Microdiscectomy, also called Microlumbar Discectomy (MLD), is performed for patients with a painful lumbar herniated disc. Microdiscectomy is a very common, if not the most common, surgery performed by spine surgeons. The operation consists of removing a portion of the intervertebral disc, the herniated or protruding portion that is compressing the traversing spinal nerve root.  A 1-2 centimeter longitudinal incision is made in the midline of the low back, directly over the area of the herniated disc.  A few millimeters of the bone of the superior lamina may be removed to fully visualize the disc herniation. The nerve root and neurologic structures are protected and carefully retracted so that the herniated disc can be removed.  Paxton also had rare cyst removal.

USCspine reports:  Patients may return to heavy work and sports as early as 4-6 weeks after surgery if the surgical pain has subsided and the back strength has returned appropriately with physical therapy.  Because of the demands caused by the twisting and strain on the back, pitchers like Paxton usually can’t return to pitching earlier than 12 weeks.   So fans will likely not see Paxton on the mound until just before the All-Star Game at the earliest.

Before Happ’s appointment to be the fifth starter, it seemed to be a competition between him and Jordan Montgomery, who didn’t pitch last year as he recovered from his June 2018 Tommy John surgery.  It’s been quite a long time since he has pitched, and many may not recall how good he was as a rookie in 2017.  He was 9-7 with a 3.86 ERA and 144 K’s in 29 games started and finished sixth in the AL Rookie of the Year voting.  In 2018 before the surgery, he was 2-0 in 27 innings pitched.  It would seem that he deserves the position, but spring training will determine if he gets it.

Other contenders for that fifth spot are starter Jonathan Loaisiga, prospect Deivi Garcia, and mid-reliever Luis Cessa.  The 25-year-old Loaisiga in his short career is 4-2.  Last year he started four games for the Yankees and relieved for a total of 31.2 innings.  MLB.com projects he will pitch this year with an even number of wins and losses probably due to his higher than average ERA.   Loaisiga is nasty when he’s on.  Garcia is untested in the majors, and so far in the minors, he seems to tire as he pitches.  Cessa has been a reliable short and long reliever.  In 2019 he appeared in 43 games as a reliever or opener for a 2-1 record and an ERA of 4.11.  These writers guess is that unless there are some unforeseen surprises in spring training, that fifth spot will be Jordan Montgomerys to lose.

New York Yankees: Three fifteen game-winning pitchers

by
New York Yankees, Aaron Boone, Gerrit Cole

Back in July, the New York Yankees front office came under a lot of fire for their lack of acquiring a starting pitcher at the trade deadline. Luis Severino was hurt, James Paxton was struggling, Masahiro Tanaka was inconsistent, and J.A. Happ was a dumpster fire. It was a frustrating time to be a Yankee fan. On top of that, the biggest competition in the AL, The Houston Astros, went out and acquired Zack Greinke to pair with the top two pitchers in the league, Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander. For many Yankee fans, they could see the October writing on the wall. The Yankees were going to come up short against the Houston Astros and the lack of starting pitching would be a key factor. Sure enough, the Yankees fell short of making it to the World Series and lost to the Houston Astros. After another crushing defeat, Brian Cashman convinced Hal Steinbrenner to open up the checkbook to go out and get arguably the best pitcher in the game, Gerrit Cole. The Yankees signed Cole to a record-breaking 9 year $326 million contracts and the whole outlook on the rotation has changed.

The Yankees should be expecting big things from Cole, but I think the expectations should be high for the top three spots in the Yankee rotation. You read the article title right, I think that the Yankees could/should have three fifteen game-winners this season on their starting staff if everyone remains healthy. Ironically, this article was originally going to feature four fifteen game-winners, but it was announced that James Paxton had to undergo surgery and might not be back until the All-Star break. Considering that, hopefully, there are no additional injuries to the New York Yankees staff as we begin 2020. With that, let’s go through each of those three potential fifteen game-winners I was alluding to.

Gerrit Cole

This is the easiest one to write. There are not even words that I need to say about this one. Gerrit Cole is a monster and I think he is going to be motivated to prove he’s the best pitcher in all of baseball. Better than Justin Verlander and better than fellow New York standout Jacob DeGrom. Cole had a monster in 2019 where he should have won the AL Cy Young. If Cole remains healthy, he can walk to fifteen wins this year.

Luis Severino

To me, this one is going to come down to his health. If you take out his injury-plagued season in 2019, Luis Severino had a combined 33-14 record in the previous two seasons with an ERA sitting just above three. Sevy has the potential to be an ace and now he has none of the pressure. I wrote a while back that Gerrit Cole is Severino’s new secret weapon and I think we are in for a big year from Luis Severino. It wouldn’t shock me to see Luis Severino and Gerrit Cole have the same kind of year that Cole had with Verlander in 2019.

Masahiro Tanaka

Masahiro Tanaka got the ball on opening day last year. He’s gotten the ball on opening day a few times since he joined the Yankees. He also took the ball in Game 1 of the ALCS last year against Houston which saw the Yankees win. Tanaka has been viewed as the most “clutch” when it comes to the pitchers on the Yankees staff in years passed. However, a big flaw with Tanaka is his lack of consistency in the regular season. In the last three seasons, he has a 36-27 record with an ERA over four in the regular season. Yet, at times, he looks absolutely sensational in the postseason. Tanaka is in his walk year and facing the least amount of pressure he has faced since he’s worn the pinstripes not having to be one of the top two guys. Tanaka has never won fifteen games in the regular season, and I believe that will change this year. I think Masahiro Tanaka will flourish in his role in this rotation and be the Yankees third fifteen game-winner of 2020.

Yes, I’m predicting that the New York Yankees top three pitchers will combine for over 45 decision wins in 2020. I believe in the starters, I believe in the offense, and I believe that the best bullpen in baseball will be able to contribute to those victories. Time will tell if I’m right, but if they stay healthy, the Yankees staff is going to be absolutely nasty in 2020.

Yankees: Paxton out 3-4 months after surgery, Steinbrenner on the Astros, and Torres receives award

by
New York Yankees, Hal Steinbrenner

A daily look at New York Yankee News/Rumors of interest to Yankee Fans

Paxton out 3-4 months after surgery:

New York Yankees pitcher James Paxton will be out for 3-4 months, according to the Yankee General Manager Brian Cashman, after having back surgery.  Paxton was supposed to be the number 3 starter for the Yankees. Paxton underwent a microscopic lumbar discectomy and also had a peridiscal cyst removed. Dr. Andrew Dossett in Dallas performed the surgery.  According to Cashman, Paxton started having some back problems at the end of the past season but responded well to treatment until a setback last month.  The surgery on his back was performed yesterday.

Last season Paxton, 31, went 15-6 with a 3.82 ERA in 29 starts, his first with the Yankees.  He won his previous ten starts in a row.  He was 1-0 with a 3.46 ERA in three postseason starts, allowing five runs in 13 innings.

This dramatic announcement further utilizes the Yankees depth.  J.A. Happ that was to take the five spot in the rotation now will move up, and Jordan Montgomery will surely hold up the end of the rotation.  The Yankees must look at this as a return to last year when they had an unprecedented number of players injured while being hopeful that they won’t have to deal with that again.  The Yankees will now start the season with two fewer pitchers, Paxton and last years 18-4 ace Domingo German who is under suspension for violating the domestic violence policy.

Steinbrenner, a time to heal!

Baseball Commission Rob Manfred issued his report on January 13, that convicted the Astros of illegally, electronically stealing signs at Minute Maid Park during the 2017 postseason against the New York Yankees.  Heretofore Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner has remained silent on the scheme.  However, at the baseball owner’s meeting, he made his first statement: “When (Rob Manfred’s) report came out, I was (as) upset as anyone, clearly there were direct implications to my organization, our team, our 2017 team.

He went on to say: “But at some point, I think we all, for the sake of the game and the good of the game, need to move on. Everyone needs to make that decision themselves as to when that point is. Me, standing here on February 5, I am moving forward, looking forward, up the hill that is the 2020 season. That’s my focus right now.”

In other news regarding the owner’s meeting, Jim Crane, owner of the Houston Astros, was not in attendance.  It is assumed that he already feels the animosity other clubs continue to hold toward the Astros and their sign-stealing scheme.  Upon the release of the Manfred report, Crane immediately fired the general manager and the field manager, A.J. Hinch.  Crane, in a move to restore the reputation of the club, hired longtime highly respected Dusty Baker to manage the 2020 team.

Gleyber Torres receives the Thurmon Munson Award:

Michael Kay hosted the 40th Annual Thurmon Munson Dinner at Chelsea Piers in New York.   With Diana Munson in attendance, Gleyber Torres was one of the honorees.  The honor is given to recognize success and inspiration on the field of play as well as community spirit off the field.  Torres, upon receiving the award, said: “I will continue to do my best for the New York community”.  Also receiving the award was former Yankee and longtime big league player and manager Lou Piniella.  Piniella played in the outfield for the Yankees between 1974 and 1984 and managed the club from 1986 to 1988.

The Thurmon Munson Awards Dinner was set up after the death of the famous Captain of the Yankees.  Munson died in a crash of his own plane he was piloting near his home in Ohio forty years ago, in 1979. The dinner benefits a not-for-profit organization that supports programs for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Torres has been active in the community. He has visited schools and made a significant donation to students at PS. 55 in the Bronx that allowed each student to receive a Christmas gift.  This past spring, he spent time with Zack Schwartz, a 13-year-old, making his dream come true as part of the Make-A-Wish foundation.

New York Yankees: Likely Candidates to Replace James Paxton

by
New York Yankees, J.A. Happ

James Paxton, the southpaw of the New York Yankees, will be out three to four months due to a surgery to remove a periodical cyst in his back (BleacherReport). Now with the German suspension of eighty games and Paxton’s injury, the Yankees are down to four starters to begin the 2020 season.

The Yankees, as of now, have Cole, Severino, Tanaka, and Happ as potential starters for their rotation. Cole and Severino will likely be one and two, Tanaka three, and Happ as the fourth starter. The Yankees also have the option of using an opener, such as Chad Green or Luis Cessa, to replace the injured Paxton.

A Few Options for Boone to Use in the Rotation

Jordan Montgomery

After a very limited season in 2019, Jordan Montgomery will now have a bigger role in the Yankees rotation this season. With the Paxton injury, he will need to round out the rotation and give at least five innings a start. Hopefully, the Yankees offense will put up around five runs a game to help the banged-up rotation gain confidence.

Deivi Garcia

The 20-year-old Yankees’ top pitching prospect may now see some time in the big leagues this year. With Triple-AAA Wilkes-Barre, Garcia went 1-3 and posted a 5.40 ERA in 40 innings (Baseball-Reference). The Yankees will monitor his progress in spring training, but will most likely be optioned to Double-AA Trenton to start the year.

Chad Green/Luis Cessa

The Yankees have two possible candidates in Chad Green and Luis Cessa to open games until German comes off suspension or Paxton fully heals from his injury. The Tampa Bay Rays have been very successful in using young arms to open games against the Yankees. Luckily, the Yankees have caught on to the openers trend in baseball and have two quality pitchers to fill that role.

Paxton’s potential success this season is now a little unclear, after going through this surgery. He was a tale of two different pitchers last season. In the first half of the year, he looked lost and a back of the rotation starter at best. In the second half of the year, he became the Yankees ace and placed second for team most valuable player behind LeMahieu.

This surgery has its pros and cons for Paxton’s outlook on this season. The pros are: he misses out on having a repeat of his performance in the first half of last year. The cons are: he leaves a hole in the rotation, he may not be the same pitcher when he comes back and is a free agent in the 2020-2021 offseason.

New York Yankees: Starting Pitching Situation Makes Sense Now

by
New York Yankees, Jordan Montgomery

The New York Yankees announced earlier today that starting pitcher James Paxton will miss three to four months after removing a painful cyst.

We found out that this pain appeared last season, and was still there in January when he began his offseason throwing program. There was no other option but to remove the cyst now.

The injury is all beginning to make sense for the New York Yankees and their pitching staff.

Earlier in the offseason, there were rumors about the possibility of trading JA Happ. A few weeks ago, Brian Cashman shut down those trade rumors by saying that Happ will be the fifth starter. Cashman knew about the surgery concerns for Paxton, so that’s why he ended trade talks for Happ and shot down rumors.

There were also debates about if the Yankees kept Happ, whether it would be him or Jordan Montgomery as the fifth starter. But with Paxton gone until May or June, it appears as if both Montgomery and Happ will be in the rotation. It’s just a matter of who is fourth and who is fifth. The current starters are now:

-Gerrit Cole

-Masahiro Tanaka

-Luis Severino

-Jordan Montgomery

-JA Happ

Now, when Paxton gets healthy, it could still be possible that the Yankees trade Happ. Other teams need him more than the Yankees, especially if Jordan Montgomery is pitching as well as he did in 2017. Happ has one year and $17 million left on his contract.

With James Paxton injured, the Yankees starting pitching situation is beginning to make sense.

 

Top three pitchers in Yankees starting rotation will dominate in 2020

by
New York Yankees, James Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka

Signing Gerrit Cole this offseason was undoubtedly the highlight for New York Yankees owner, Hal Steinbrenner. Writing all of those zeroes at the end of Cole’s abnormally long check might have been the lone negative to the deal, but the quality of pitching he brings to the team will pay off.

The $324 million could probably feed an entire country in Africa, but for Yankees fans, it will bring them the satisfaction of a Championship, so we hope. The 2020 campaign represents the best opportunity for the club to reach the finale of the postseason for the first time in over a decade. The reality is, the Yankees need to win. Otherwise, the enormous amount of money they spent on starting pitching this offseason will go to waste.

Luckily, their top three starters are arguably all in the “ace” category, or just below. Cole is arguably the best pitcher in baseball, hoisting a 2.50 ERA and 326 strikeouts in 2019, both career-highs. Luis Severino is another stellar pitcher, missing virtually all of 2019 with injuries. His presence in the postseason helped the Yankees climb to the ALCS, though, and he will be a force once again in 2020.

Severino’s last impressive campaign was in 2018, when he started the season on fire, earning an All-Star appearance before falling off in the second half of the year. His 3.39 ERA with 220 strikeouts would indicate that he didn’t miss a beat, but compared to Cole’s stats, those numbers look average. The quality that Severino contains far surpasses the finishing totals he amassed in 2018, and that’s an encouraging reality heading into the upcoming season. His limited action and success last season proves to us that he’s coming in with a full bill of health, and Cole’s presence should take off a bit of pressure.

Aside from the No. 1-2 pitchers, James Paxton, will slot in at the 3rd spot. Paxton is arguably a No. 1 pitcher on most teams, so given he’s a 3rd option in the rotation on the Yankees should give you a good idea of how talented this group really is. Just for giggles, manager Aaron Boone left Jordan Montgomery off the 5-man rotation in recent days, naming J.A. Happ, the 5th starter. Considering Happ enjoyed two consecutive seasons of sub-4.00 ERA baseball, it’s incredible how deep the rotation is.

Paxton enters 2020 coming off a fantastic second half of 2019, logging a 3.82 ERA with 186 strikeouts. The lefty arm is two years removed from a 2.98 ERA performance, so replicating that performance isn’t out of the question, especially with his newfound comfort in Yankee Stadium.

Overall, the Yankees have one of the best starting rotations in baseball with their top three, and that’s without mentioning Masahiro Tanaka, one of the more consistent arms for the Bombers over the past few seasons.