NY Yankees

Yankees News: Star Japanese free agent shuns the Red Sox, former Yankee signs with Korean team

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Seiya Suzuki, yankees

The New York Yankees were recently listed as an aggressive player in the sweepstakes for Japanese stud outfielder Seiyu Suzuki. General manager Brian Cashman was rather quiet before the lockout, but it is possible he comes out guns blazing once things return to normal. The expectation is that Suzuki will be one of their primary targets after a stellar season with Hiroshima in the Japanese League.

Suzuki posted a .317 batting average with 38 homers and 88 RBIs, striking out 89 times over 439 at-bats. He’s primarily a right fielder, which could force Aaron Judge to transition to centerfield, a spot he played flawlessly during the 2020–21 season with the absence of Aaron Hicks.

At this point, relying on Hicks to be an everyday option in the outfield may be a bit optimistic given his injury history. If the Bombers are willing to replace him as a starter and relegate him to second-team duties, they could get a bit more value out of his seven-year, $70 million contract.

Suzuki has incredible power as a lefty, showcasing quick hands and a smooth swing. Featuring him as one of their slugging outfielders would likely produce stellar results. The Yankees have had great success in the past utilizing Japanese talent, notably Hideki Matsui, Masahiro Tanaka, and even Ichiro Suzuki.

The expectation is that Suzuki will cost about $55 million over five years, but he could earn a bit more if teams begin a bidding war. Luckily for the Yanks, Suzuki unfollowed the Boston Red Sox on social media, throwing a bit of shade toward one of the “aggressive” teams targeting him post-lockout.

One former Yankee is heading overseas to play in the Korean league:

Former fan-favorite Mike Tauchman signed a new deal with a Hanwha Eagles of the Korean Baseball Organization, receiving a $300K signing bonus and salary of $700K for a total of $1 million. After being selected in the 10th round of the 2013 draft, Tauchman served a major purpose for the Yankees before Covid struck. With his flexibility in the outfield and adequate contact-hitting qualities, he will make the move across the ocean to cash in one last time.

How do the Yankees save a dead off-season as lockout pushes on?

by
carlos correa, yankees

For fans of the New York Yankees and the other 29 MLB teams, it was an exciting few weeks after the World Series was won by the Atlanta Braves, as teams prepared for the 2022 season. Most teams did everything they could to bolster their chances to make the postseason by adding key pieces to their teams. Then came the big funk; the owners and players couldn’t agree on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The result was Commissioner Rob Manfred locking out the players.

The old CBA expired on December 1, and the hot stove frenzy came to an immediate halt. Before the expiration, 25 of the top 50 free agents went to new teams, but now with the lockout, all of that has come to a halt. Owners and players can’t even talk to each other. No new contracts, no trades, no nothing until a new agreement can be reached. With the sides still far apart and not negotiation in good faith, it could spell for a long lockout and even a delay in spring training.

Much to the chagrin of Yankee fans, their team didn’t really take part in all the fun. Yankee GM Brian Cashman remained mostly inactive as other teams, some making major moves to improve their teams. The Yankees hired a few coaches and picked up a couple of pitchers in the Rule 5 draft, but that was just about it. Now the Yankees have to wait until there is a new CBA. Although many of the best free agents have already been signed, there still are options for the Yankees, but they will have to act quickly.

“As a team and as an organization, we must grow, evolve and improve. We need to get better. Period,” chairman Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement after the Yankees re-signed manager Aaron Boone to a new three-year contract. But that has not happened; it’s just been talk and not much of it. Instead, the Yankees have taken a wait-and-see attitude, and some insanely huge contracts have been signed by some of the best free agents available.

The Yankees could still salvage the offseason if they are smart and act quickly. Even though they have not supplemented their need for a shortstop, number two starting pitcher, help at first base, and an upgrade in center field, there is still time to make those needs a reality.

Looking at the shortstop situation, Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, and Javier Baez, three of the best shortstops in free agency, are already gone to new teams, some for some incredibly big contracts. That leaves Trevor Story and Carlos Correa, who likely will not go to the Yankees. The Yankees seem to be centered on Andrelton Simmons, who is pretty washed up, and the better choice of Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who would be a definite upgrade to Gleyber Torres. The Yankee might be able to get him on a short contract while they await the development of Anthony Volpe or Oswald Peraza.
However, the Yankees could still surprise with a mega-contract for the services of Carlos Correa, much like they did with Giancarlo Stanton and Gerrit Cole.

One thing we have learned is never to try to outguess Brian Cashman. To make that happen, owner Hal Steinbrenner will have to open the purse, knowing that a hefty contract extension will soon have to be offered to superstar Aaron Judge.
On the pitching front, the Yankees let two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber go to the Tampa Bay Rays, leaving them without a one-two punch that will be needed going into the postseason. However, the Yankees did make a play for the Astros Justin Verlander, who was coming off Tommy John surgery. The Yankees offered a one-year deal, but he apparently has accepted an offer for the same money ($25 million) from the Astros for two years and a third-year option.

Just like shortstop, some of the best starting pitchers are already gone. Noah Syndergaard has gone to the Angels, Robbie Ray has gone to the Mariners, and Kevin Gausman has signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. Max Scherzer went to the cross-town Mets. Eduardo Rodriguez went to the Tigers. Cashman will have to work his magic with those big names off the market.

As far as center field is concerned, they already have an everyday center fielder in Aaron Hicks; the problem with Hicks is his injury history and ability to stay on the field. The Yankee front office has more than mentioned a backup if he can’t remain healthy. There are still several center fielders available that the Yankees should consider. Kevin Pillar, Brett Gardner, and Odubel Herrera are all available. The smart move would be to trade for Bryan Reynolds or Cedric Mullins; both would cost plenty. One free-agent target, the Yankees, were actively pursuing is Japanese star outfielder Seiyu Suzuki. However, he isn’t the perfect fit.

Likewise, at first base, the Yankees have holdover Luke Voit who is at best adequate, but he too has health problems. So the Yankee should upgrade that position by re-signing Anthony Rizzo. If they want to go big, Freddie Freeman is the best first baseman out there, but it will cost big bucks.

The big question for the Yankees and its fans, is once a new CBA is agreed upon, will owner Hal Steinbrenner open the purse to allow the rebuilding of a championship team? They have the money if they want to spend it. The other is, will Brian Cashman pounce early enough before his options are gone?

Yankees: CC Sabathia torches Clint Frazier after ill-advised exit

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New York Yankees, Yankees, CC Sabathia

Once upon a time, New York Yankees outfielder Clint Frazier was expected to be the next big thing. Frazier was an up-and-coming prospect with a lightning-fast bat, presenting surprising power and solid athleticism. However, Frazier dealt with concussions symptoms and vision issues throughout his tenure in pinstripes, playing in a career-high 69 games back in 2019.

This past season with the Yankees, Frazier played in just 66 games, earning a .186 average, .317 slugging percentage, and a measly five homers and 15 RBIs.

General manager Brian Cashman made the tough decision to cut ties with Frazier after years of trying to rely on him as reserve and starting level player. His injury history forced Chasman’s hand. Frazier ended up landing with the Chicago Cubs on a one-year deal but took a few friendly shots at the Yankees on his way out.

Former Yankee CC Sabathia had a few harsh words to send in the way of Frazier, who received plenty of attention for his departure despite doing little to nothing for the team during his tenure.

“If I see another Clint Frazier story, bro, I’m gonna punch somebody in the f–king face,” he said on the R2C2 Podcast, per Audacy’s John Healy. “S–t is ridiculous. That kid played 15 games in the f–king big leagues. Get the f–k out of here with all these stupid ass f–king stories.”

Sabathia is known for his rather hostile approach these days, but Clint’s exit plan was a bit wayward considering the chances and opportunities the Yankees provided him with before signing a new deal with the Cubs. While Sabathia indicated he “hopes” Frazier bounced back with Chicago, the unwarranted shot Frazier took at his former team makes little sense.

The Yankees will now look ahead to replace him with either a prospect from their farm system or a free agent acquisition.

Yankees can land two star infielders for the price of one in free-agency

by
freddie freeman, yankees

In a perfect world, the New York Yankees would walk away from free agency with an elite shortstop, but they may have to settle for a tier lower, which still isn’t a bad compromise. Carlos Correa was and remains the best SS option on the market, and after Corey Seager signed with the Texas Rangers on a massive deal, Correa is likely salivating at his future contract.

However, the Yankees don’t need to tie themselves at the hip with a 10-year deal worth $300+ million, and for a good reason, they have two stud infielders climbing the ranks of their farm system. That isn’t an excuse to save money but rather a smart move to avoid a frustrated Correa down the line who may refuse a move to thrid-base.

Instead, they can allocate the years and money toward two solutions in the infield at SS and first base. Aside from Correa, the next best option is Trevor Story, who’s a solid defensive player and is plenty productive on offense. The Rockie slashed .251/.329/.471 with 24 homers and 75 RBIs this past season, a down year by most accounts. Nonetheless, he’s only one year removed from hitting .289 and two years removed from launching 35 homers, a number he could replicate in Yankee Stadium with short porches.

Story is undoubtedly an upgrade over Gleyber Torres, who struggled considerably at SS. The Colorado infielder posted a .975 fielding percentage with 10 defensive runs saved, compared to the -10 Torres posted this past year. He allowed just 14 errors over 1,175 innings, indicating efficiency and consistency.

With the money the team would save from paying Correa over 10 years, they could also look to sign star 1B Freddie Freeman to a 5-6 year deal, which would pay him out about $25-30 million per season, but on a far shorter contract. Freeman finished the 2020-21 season hitting .300 with 31 homers, 120 RBIs, and a 15.4% strikeout rate. He would be a welcomed addition to a Yankee lineup that struck out more than 23% on average.

Paying both Story and Freeman would take up a significant portion of the Yankees’ funds, if not all, but the contract would be about half the length of Correa’s, giving them more flexibility down the line for the same total cost. Brian Cashman also has plenty of resources at his expense, including prospects to add more starting pitching talent or take a page out of “Moneyball” and target players who serve a specific purpose for a fraction of the cost. The Tampa Bay Rays have been doing this for years and finding far more success than a Yankee team spending ridiculous money on sluggers.

Yankees already have their long-term shortstop, catcher, and relief ace in the system

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anthony volpe, yankees

The New York Yankees have big plans for the future, most of which revolve around their youth prospects rather than lucrative free agent signings and trade acquisitions. It’s unlikely GM Brian Cashman spends big money on a player like Carlos Correa, and trading for a new catcher already seems to be off the table as the Yankees tendered Gary Sanchez for $8 million.

However, if their elite prospects develop into starting talent, they will be in great shape for the future with the flexibility to spend big money with important positions locked up for cheap.

The Yankees have three premium prospects climbing the ranks:

SS: Anthony Volpe

The Yankees’ No. 1 prospect is none other than Anthony Volpe, who hit .294 with 27 homers this past season with Hudson Valley and Tampa. Volpe has sparked interest from around the league for his incredible bat and efficient defense at shortstop.

“He had a very impressive year,” Cashman said recently. “He certainly caught the attention of the entire industry. It really reinforces and justifies everything we heard from our amateur department when we drafted him, and so we’re excited about his future.”

Volpe isn’t only a fantastic player, he’s also humble, indicating his desire to be the best player he can be but understanding he has a long way to go.

“I don’t really pay too much attention to the stuff outside of my control,” Volpe said on YES Network. “It’s definitely an honor and one I don’t take lightly, but at the same time, I just want to be the best player I can possibly be. Whether that’s an unranked bottom-of-the-order prospect or where I am now, the Yankees’ No. 1 prospect, I think I still have a long way to go to reach my potential.”

At this rate, Volpe is about two years out from making an on-schedule MLB debut. His performance in Low-A ball was encouraging, but the Yankees want to see consistency across the farm system, brewing optimism he can perform at the MLB level.

C: Austin Wells

Another premium-level prospect for the Bombers is catcher Austin Wells, taken in the 2018 June Amateur Draft. Wells was phenomenal, posting a .264 average, 16 homers, 76 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases. With incredible athleticism Wells has the ability to be the Yankees’ next big thing at catcher, surpassing Sanchez and his inability to progress at the top level.

“Those two guys continue to reinforce — one, as expected (Wells), and the other, that he’s the real deal (Dunham),” general manager Brian Cashman said on Sunday, via NJ.com:

While Wells has plenty of development left to do, he’s expected to make the jump to AA ball at some point in the near future; that much closer to a debut with the Yankees’ MLB squad. Wells and Volpe seem to be on a similar timetable.

RP: Luis Medina

Whenever you have a prospect hitting 100 MPH out of the bullpen, you know you’ve got something special. Luis Medina is one of the Yankees’ most valuable prospects in the pitching department, and he could earn an opportunity to feature in the MLB this upcoming season.

Medina recorded a 3.39 ERA this past season with Somerset and Hudson Valley over 109 innings. As a strong-armed relief pitcher, the Yankees are extremely high on him and his velocity.

Yankees Analysis: Revenues rise, spending drops, the Yankees need to spend more

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hal steinbrenner, brian cashman

The New York Yankees have gone without a World Series Championship since 2009. But at the same time, they have come oh so close. The Yankees have gone 419-289 in the “Baby Bomber Era” (last five years), reaching the Wild Card three times while losing once. They have reached the ALDS four times and reached the ALCS twice, losing both times. Yankee fans are among the most demanding baseball fans in the game, and they are tired of not winning while the team makes more and more money.

The message to owner Hal Steinbrenner is that he must reinvest more into the team to get them over the hump; they have done it before. In the past twenty years, they have reinvested as much as 75% of revenue back into the team, but that figure in 2021 dropped to just 33%, 2020 was even worse at 29.5%. What infuriates Yankee fans is that during the period, the Yankee revenues have risen from $215 million to $689 million in 2019.

There is always the argument that you don’t have to spend the most to win, as evidenced by the Tampa Bay Rays and this year’s World Series-winning Atlanta Braves, but that is a subject for another article. This article is focused on the revenue to payroll issue. The Yankees have the money but fail to use it to gain that 28th World Championship. The common complaint is that if deceased owner George M. Steinbrenner was still running the team, they would be spending with all the money available and winning more Championships.

Throughout the last two decades, the decision-makers for the Yankees have made a conscious effort to keep payroll relatively constant even as they have tripled their revenue from 2001 to 2019. If you fast forward to 2019, when the Yankees won 103 games, they slashed their reinvestment to just 33%. One must understand that revenue is not profit, but there indeed is plenty of money to improve the team. At this point, the fans are saying the hell with the luxury tax, give GM Brian Cashman the money to build a team that can win.

Looking at the same numbers for baseball as a whole, the Yankees are reinvesting less back into the team than all of its rivals. Those self-imposed limitations have made them miss out big time in the postseason. When the Yankees last won the World Series in 2009 they reinvested 50% of revenues back into the team.

Going into the 2022 season, the New York Yankees have glaring needs. They desperately need a shortstop; they also need a valid number two starting pitcher, help at first base, and center field. With what you have read here, all facts, it is hard to imagine why the Yankees don’t spend big to solve these needs, while they still have a fan base to continue to raise those revenues and win Championships.

New York Yankees Player Profiles: Aaron Hicks, can he fill the bill in center?

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New York Yankees, Aaron Hicks

The New York Yankees’ third Aaron is Aaron Michael Hicks, the Yankees’ center fielder. Hick was born on October 2, 1989, in San Padro, California. Hicks played baseball as a child and for Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California. He ranked No. 72 among Top 100 Prospects by MLB.com entering the 2012 season.

Ranked as the fourth-best prospect, best defensive outfielder, and best outfield arm in the Minnesota Twins’ system by Baseball America following the 2011 season. He was selected by the Twins in the first round (14th overall) of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft.

Hicks stayed in the Twins’ system for five years until he made his major league debut on April Fools Day, 2013. He was the starting center fielder for the Twins. Unfortunately, he did not impress and was sent down to AAA on August first. But despite his underwhelming 2013 performance at the plate, he was back up in the majors in 2014 due to his excellent outfield defense. However, his battles at the plate continued, and he was again sent down, this time to AA. 2015 would show a dramatic improvement hitting .256 with eleven home runs and 33 RBIs in 97 games.

After the 2015 season, Hicks was traded to the New York Yankees for catcher John Ryan Murphy. The Yankees citing an aging Brett Gardner wanted Hicks due to his excellent defense and better than average throwing arm and his switch-hitting ability, something the Yankees were sorely lacking.

In Aaron Hicks, six years with the Yankees, they have not been able to consistently enjoy his abilities in center field or at the plate. However, during his time back and forth between the Stadium, Trenton, and Scranton Wilkes/Barre, he has shown signs of power behind the plate and excellence in a cannon of an arm in the outfield. The main obstacle to Hicks showing his stuff is his injury history. 

After an injury-plagued 2017 season when he hit .266, he started the 2018 season on the IL with a right Intercostal Muscle Strain. In 2018 he played in 133 games after being reinstated from the DL on April 12 and hit an inside-the-park home run against the Detroit Tigers on the next day. Hicks would hit another inside-the-park-home run against the Kansas City Royals on May 19, becoming the first Yankee since Mickey Mantle in 1958 to hit two inside-the-park home runs in a single season. On July 1, Hicks hit three home runs in one game against the Boston Red Sox, which endeared him to Yankee fans. Hicks ended the season with 27 home runs, 79 RBIs, and 119 hits, all career highs.

2019 would be another season marked by three injuries, both back and elbow problems. Those injuries caused him to play in only 59 games. The elbow became the main issue that caused him to have Tommy John Surgery immediately after the season concluded. The Yankees’ decision to keep Brett Gardner on the team reaped its rewards as Gardner had a career year. The absence of Hicks did not hurt the team as a whole, Although his switch-hitting was missed in the lineup.

Hicks was initially expected to be out rehabbing for as long as 10 months following the surgery. However, his better than expected rehab, and with the season delayed, he missed little or no time.

During the offseason of 2018/2019, the Yankees signed Hicks to a seven-year $70MM contract extension. Even in that shortened season, the Yankees needed Hicks to recover well and perform well. They did have Brett Gardner for another season as he signed a one-year deal with a 2021 option. They did this as they needed a backup if things didn’t go well for Hicks upon his return. 

2021 was his worst injury season. First, in April, he had an undisclosed injury, followed two weeks later with back problems, followed by the wrist injury that required season-ending surgery. He ended playing in only 32 games. Hicks, during the last three years, has never played in more than 59 games. That record has caused the Yankees to look for help in center field. Before the MLB imposed lockout, the Yankees were pursuing Japanese outfield star  Seiya Suzuki, who was posted by the Hiroshima Carp last month. 

With the Yankees having Aaron Judge, Joey Gallo, and Giancarlo Stanton already in the outfield, Suzuki is not the perfect fit as he has little time in center field. If the Yankees land Suzuki, they could move Aaron Judge to center as he played adequately there last season in Hicks’s absence. That would allow them to play Suzuki in his natural position in right field. Suzuki is praised for his speed and base stealing. He stole 25 bases two seasons ago — but what they like most about him is his power (38 homers and a 1.072 OPS with Hiroshima last season. After the lockout, they still have three weeks to secure Suzuki if they decide to do so.

Hicks has had a slow start in Dominican Winter Ball. Hicks, in 44 plate appearances, is hitting .250 with only one home run. The fact that he is playing winter ball is encouraging, but at the same time, it says he is not as good as new. The Yankees will hope that Hicks will shake the rust off in winter ball, but they also want to be prepared if Hicks can’t stay healthy. With the loss of Starling Marte to the Mets, the Yankees don’t have many options left in center field. 

Like many New York Yankee players, Hicks is pretty tight-lipped about his personal life. Hicks is an accomplished golfer. We do know that Aaron Hicks’ fiance is an American golfer called Cheyenne Woods, the niece of the American professional golfer Tiger Woods. To date, they are not yet married.

The shortstop the Yankees will likely end up with when it’s all said and done

by
yankees, trevor story

The New York Yankees are in hot pursuit of a shortstop this off-season, but while some fans believe they will spend big bucks on Carlos Correa, it is unlikely general manager Brian Cashman goes that route. With several young prospects climbing the system, Correa simply will cost too much over a long period of time to justify his contract.

With that being the case, the Yankees have a few options on the free-agent market that could suffice, including Andrelton Simmons, but notably Trevor Story.

The Bombers were connected to Story at the trade deadline this past season, but they reportedly “soured” on him, sticking with their own talent to supplement deficiencies by Gleyber Torres.

Torres recorded 18 errors this past year, logging a .952 fielding percentage with -10 defensive runs saved above average. He became a significant liability at the most important infield position, which is why the Yankees are keen on replacing him with an upgrade.

The Yankees would get better signing Trevor Story, even if he’s not as splashy:

Story would represent a significant upgrade at SS, slashing .251/.329/.471 with 24 homers and 75 RBIs during the 2020-21 season. While most would agree this was a down season for the Colorado star infielder, he is just one year removed from hitting .289 with 11 homers and 28 RBIs in just 259 plate appearances.

It was just three years ago that he hit 35 homers in a season, and with short porches in Yankee Stadium, he could replicate that production. The thin air in Colorado undoubtedly helps hitters, but DJ LeMahieu made the transition smoothly and would likely have a few tips for his former teammate.

On defense, Story posted a .975 fielding percentage with 10 defensive runs saved above average, a 20 run differential compared to Torres. He allowed 14 errors over 1,175 innings, showcasing much-improved defense.

Given Story is an established player with a long list of statistical numbers to justify his value, Yankees will likely view him as a solution. In addition, he would be far cheaper than acquiring Correa on a 10-year deal, with a potential to move him to third base at some point in the future. Ultimately, Cashman’s plans heavily revolve around the development of Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza.

New York Yankees pick up two pitchers today in the Rule 5 Draft

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The New York Yankees, as well as the other MLB teams, can’t have any transactions during the lockout. But, the no transaction rule does not include the minor league players that are not members of the Players Association, nor are they on the 40-man rosters. So today, the Rule 5 Draft went on unabated, and the Yankees took advantage of it.

The Yankees got some work done. Entering the day with only 36 of 38 spots on their Triple-A roster filled, the Yankees could fill two spots, and they did. The Yankees had the 24th overall pick, and they chose Steven Jennings, a right-handed pitcher who is 22 years old from the Pirates.

Last season he spent time with both A and AA ball. He was a second-round high school pick in the 2017 draft. Jennings had a 4.99 ERA, 1.392 WHIP, and 2.6 BB/9 in 74 combined innings out of the bullpen in 2021.

The Boston Red Sox were not quiet either, in a Garrett Whitlock-like move when the Yankees took a pitcher from the Yankees, today they took Triple-A Scranton’s Brian Keller from the Yankees. Keller at Scranton pitched to a 2.77 ERA, 4.37 FIP, and 1.608 WHIP in 26 games (11 starts) and 55.1 innings last year. Keller didn’t exhibit much control (7.5 BB/9), but he did strike out over a batter an inning (10.6 K/9). Whitlock was big for the Sox going down the stretch.

Please hold the jokes, but in the Yankees’ last splash of the day was picking up Manny Ramirez from the Houston Astros. Unlike the other Manny Ramirez, this one is not a hitter but another pitcher for the Yankees to add. The 22-year-old right-hander, between 2017-19 season fanned 126 batters in just 95.2 innings.

The Dominican has a live arm. Baseball America ranked him one of its Top 30 Astros prospects of 2019. However, the pandemic in 2020 kept him in the instructional league. Because of an undisclosed injury that the Yankees must be aware of, he did not pitch in 2021.

The Yankees already have their long-term solution at catcher in the system

by
austin wells, yankees

The New York Yankees tendered catcher Gary Sanchez this off-season, providing him with a pay increase to $8 million for the 2021 season. However, the team has not decided on their long-term future at catcher, and Sanchez continues to struggle both offensively and defensively.

This past season, Sanchez hit .204 with 23 homers and 54 RBIs. While he remains a solid slugger, he posted just a .730 OPS and 0.7 WAR. While it is entirely possible to Yankees roll with him for one more season, they have one young prospect climbing the ranks that looks like the future at a spot of weakness currently.

General manager Brian Cashman gushed about their first-round pick from 2018, Austin Wells, attesting to his growth.

“Those two guys continue to reinforce — one, as expected (Wells), and the other, that he’s the real deal (Dunham),” general manager Brian Cashman said on Sunday, via NJ.com:

Wells, who has spent the last three years in the Yankees’ farm system, played in 103 games this past year at 21-years-old. At Low and High-A ball, featuring with Hudson Valley and Tampa, he posted a collective .264 average with 16 homers, 76 RBIs and 16 stolen bases.

The young prospect presents not only a slugger with awesome batting attributes but is also a freak athlete with awesome speed on the base paths. His fielding percentage was equally as impressive, recording a .993 success rate and 16 passed balls over 585 innings. He will be looking to reduce his past-ball number and only posted a 13% caught stealing percentage, allowing 98 stolen bases. This could be due to poor pitching and transition to his hand, but as he makes his way through the system, that number will likely increase.

At this point in time, Wells is likely two years away from making his debut at the top level, so the Yankees will likely stick with Sanchez for one more season, potentially extending him for another year or finding a stopgap until Wells is ready. They clearly have a few young prospects in mind, with Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe making their way through the system as well. They featured on the same team as the young catcher this past season, so they could all make the jump at a similar time. This would provide the Yankees with an incredibly young team and awesome talent to work with.