NY Yankees

The Yankees have 2 lowkey stud prospects climbing the ranks, Cashman gushes

December 6, 2021 by Alexander Wilson

The New York Yankees have had trouble developing young players the last few years, seeing Gary Sanchez and Gleyber Torres plateau with their growth. Sanchez is on the cusp of being released after the 2022 season, signing an $8 million tender which gives him a significant pay increase despite his deficiencies.

General manager Brian Cashman waited as long as possible to make Sanchez the long-term solution at catcher, but his awful strikeout rate and inconsistent defending have made him a liability at times. Luckily, the Yankees have a stud prospect climbing the ranks, but at just 21-years-old, he’s at least two years away from reaching the majors.

Former 2018 MLB June Amateur draft pick Austin Wells spent time with Hudson Valley and Tampa this past season, hitting a combine .264 with 16 homers and 76 RBIs over 382 at-bats. He also recorded 16 stolen bases, showcasing speed and athleticism. He’s a bit different than Sanchez, who is a heavier player that lacks mobility.

Wells isn’t the only prospect impressing the Yankees front office, as Elijah Dunham, a 23-year-old outfielder, has also sparked the interest of Cashman.

“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:

Dunham enjoyed 339 at-bats this past season, hitting .263 with 13 homers, 57 RBIs, and a crazy 28 stolen bases. His stats are eerily similar to Wells, but given he’s an outfielder and even faster, the Yankees could look to him as a potential supplement for Clint Frazier down the road.

“Austin Wells and Elijah Dunham crushed it,” Cashman said. “They did a great job. Austin Wells being a No. 1 pick, not surprising. But I think we’re really proud of also what Elijah’s done because he doesn’t come with that blue chip pedigree. But ever since he’s signed into pro ball he’s been a pro’s pro. He’s excelled at every level and he continues to make a name for himself as he did in the Arizona Fall League.”

Dunham also spend time in Hudson Valley and Tampa this past season. Along with Wells, they both dominated in the Arizona Fall League. Dunham finished with a .357 average, including two homers and 14 RBIs over 84 at-bats. Wells hit .344 with two homers and 18 RBIs.

Both prospects still have a while to go until they’re considered major league talent, but they are on the right path given their dominance of Low-A ball in 2021.

Yankees eyeing stud Japanese outfielder in free agency

December 6, 2021 by Alexander Wilson

The New York Yankees have had success bringing players over from Japan in the past, notably Masahiro Tanaka and Hideki Matsui. I would be remiss not to mention Ichiro Suzuki, who signed with the Yankees after a phenomenal career with the Seattle Mariners, posting 10 All-Star appearances and an MVP award.

There’s another awesome prospect on the horizon who is looking to make the transition to major league baseball. Seiya Suzuki, who spent last season with Hiroshima in Japan’s Central League. He was preparing to negotiate with teams in the MLB before the lockout.

Unfortunately, the lockout has stalled his progression to make a move, but it is entirely possible that his transition takes place in the spring when the lockout is expected to end. The Yankees are reportedly one of the few teams aggressively pursuing his talents, and at 27-years-old, he has plenty of time left to develop into a phenomenal major league player. Considering Ichiro made the move at 27 as well, Seiya has similar potential, but he’s not comparable to Ichiro, of course.

General manager Brian Cashman declined to comment about the Yankees considering Suzuki would be a free agent acquisition, given the lockout rules.

Brian Cashman (as expected) couldn’t comment on the report saying the Yankees were among the teams with interest in Japanese OF Seiya Suzuki.

— Brendan Kuty (@BrendanKutyNJ) December 5, 2021

What would the Japanese star bring to the Yankees?

Nonetheless, Suzuki is projected to earn a contract worth $55 million over five years, and for a player of his talent, it could end up being a steal. Suzuki posted a .317 batting average over 435 at-bats this past season. He recorded 38 homers, 88 RBIs, and nine stolen bases.

Suzuki predominantly features in the outfield but has the capability to play at shortstop and third base. The super-utility player is most comfortable in the outfield, and with the Yankees looking to acquire another talent after allowing Clint Frazier to walk this off-season and rejecting the club option for Brett Gardner, he could fit the bill.

While the Yankees will have plenty of competition for his signature, his phenomenal bat and quality defense make him an attractive prospect and one that has flown under the radar.

Yankees could pursue one bonafide ace in free agency when lockout ends

December 5, 2021 by Alexander Wilson

The New York Yankees failed to make a big splash before the lockout in free agency, but that doesn’t mean they’ll stay quiet after the fact. General manager Brian Cashman likely planned to wait until after the lockout to spend, but he did miss out on several big names that would’ve helped improve the team.

The starting pitching rotation remains a liability, especially since Gerrit Cole needs another top player to play Robin to his Batman. Cashman offered Cole’s former teammate, Justin Verlander, a one-year, $25 million deal. We know that the Yankees are willing to spend on a sufficient starter, but they also missed out on Robbie Ray, who just won a Cy Young Award with the Toronto Blue Jays.

There are a few quality options left on the market, one of them being Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw. At 33-years-old, Kershaw is still pitching well, hosting a 3.55 ERA this past season with 10.65 strikeouts per nine and a 48.5% ground ball rate.

Kershaw’s ability to generate ground balls is perfect for Yankee Stadium, and considering he hasn’t dipped above a 3.55 ERA since his rookie season in 2008, there’s no question he has a bit of gas left in the tank.

With that being said, he’s not a high-velocity pitcher by any means, hovering around 90.7 mph with his fastball. He only throws his fastball on 36.8% of his pitches, based on last season’s metrics, but saw a big increase in slider usage and still incorporates a curveball into his repertoire.

Given his lack of power, the Yankees may overlook him for a more strong-armed approach, but it is clear he can still offer value at the right price. Of course, there’s always the question of whether Kershaw is even willing to move to the East Coast after spending his entire career in California. Given the Dodgers didn’t extend a qualifying offer to their Ace, it opens up the door for a potential move.

Some may say that Kershaw is headed into the final years of his career, but he’s only two years older than Cole and is coming off a solid campaign where he pitched 121.2 innings. He’s had a myriad of injuries in the past, but that may give the Yankees a bit of leverage to drive his price down.

Is the idea of signing Clayton Kershaw of any interest to you? Comment here!

Yankees expected to sign No. 1 international prospect (video)

December 5, 2021 by William Parlee

The New York Yankees are the odds on favorites to sign number one international prospect Rodrick Arias, who has been likened to Jasson Dominguez and advertised as the next Wander Franco. Just like Dominguez, he is called a monster at the plate.

The Yankees feel that Arias is one of the greatest young prospects to come along in years and the best since Dominguez. Dominguez was signed with the Yankees in July of 2019. He has progressed nicely and has been the Yankees’ number one prospect for some time until he was surpassed by SS Anthony Volpe late this summer. The Yankees have been taking their time with Dominguez as they don’t want to rush him before he is ready.

In 2021, he earned 206 plate appearances with 52 hits and a batting average of .252. Jasson will be 19 this coming spring training. Although he has only played to Tampa Low A, expect him to be promoted this season. Dominguez will likely be ready for the big time in 2023.

The Yankees have never been big on starting kids young. Mickey Mantle was the youngest ever Yankee in the modern era (1900). We all know how that baseball career turned out. Mantle started with the Yankees at the age of 19, 179 days. The youngest pitcher was Cornelius Joseph Brady at the age of 18. More recently, Derek Jeter debuted with the Yankees at the age of 20.

The Yankee scouts have had their eyes on Rodrick Arias for the last few years. The 17-year-old is from San Pedro de Macoris, the Dominican Republic, where he played sandlot baseball near his home. Since then, he has grown and is now 6′ 1″ and weighs 180 pounds. As a result, he has drawn comparisons by scouts to Jasson Dominguez for his size and strength. Particularly interesting to the Yankees is that he is a switch hitter with success from both sides of the plate.

Arias is an up can coming shortstop, and the Yankees are expected to sign him on January 15, 2022. This would be the most exciting international signing since Dominguez. Scouts tout him as being the next Wander Franco.

Top international prospect Roderick Arias, who is expected to sign with the Yankees, hits an absolute bomb 💣

🎥: Roderick Arias pic.twitter.com/3T43FFXs0P

— Eli Fishman (@elijfishman) October 30, 2021

Yankees could reunite with old friend in the outfield once again

December 5, 2021 by Alexander Wilson

There’s nothing sexy about the New York Yankees reuniting with old friend Brett Gardner in the outfield, but at the very least, he has proven to be reliable in the health department. Over the last eight years, Gardner has played a minimum of 140 games, aside from the Covid abbreviated season, showcasing he can be relied on to play in the outfield every day.

However, the Yankees would prefer to have a better option starting moving forward, but Gardner does present a bit of value at this point in his career. At 38-years-old, Gardy will be going into his 15th season, given he signs a new contract with the Bombers.

This past year, he featured in 140 games, hosting a .222 batting average with 10 homers and 39 RBIs. While his efficiency has decreased as father time takes hold, Gardner still has leadership qualities and a ton of experience to help his team in multiple ways. Whether it be on the base paths or a supplement to injury, general manager Brian Cashman knows that Brett will answer the call no matter the scenario.

Gardner wasn’t expected to be a focal point in the outfield this past season, but injuries to Aaron Hicks, Clint Frazier, and even Giancarlo Stanton at times forced him into action. With Gardy’s foot speed ranking in the 83rd percentile, per StatCast, he still has a bit of value on the base paths, which can’t go unnoticed. He’s more or less an average defender at this point in his career, which is all the Yankees need for a supplemental and reserve piece.

Most would agree that moving on from Gardner is a positive, but Cashman was unwilling to spend big money before the lockout, so it is possible he retains Brett for one more season on a cheap deal. This past season, Gardner earned $2.3 million with a player option for 2022, which he declined. That left a club option at $7.5 million, which the Yankees rejected as well, making him a free agent through a $1.5 million buyout.

Ultimately, I wouldn’t put it past Cashman to bring him back for one last season on a cost-effective deal. With the outfield still thin after letting Frazier walk in free agency, the likelihood of a reunion with Gardy is probable.

Yankees News: Is Cashman being cheap? Tanaka’s future plans, Freddie Freeman on the horizon

December 4, 2021 by William Parlee

Yankees hire coaches on the cheap

The New York Yankees already being accused of being cheap, not scooping up any of the star free agents available to fill needed pieces, are again being called cheap. This week although in a lockout, the Yankees hired two new coaches.

At the end of the season they parted ways with hitting coach Marcus Thames and his assistant. They also got rid of third base coach Phil Nevin. Nevin has since been replaced by ex-manager Luis Rojas. Now the Yankees have replaced Thames, by promoting Dillon Lawson to the post. Social media is all over this move, citing that the former University of Missouri and Houston Astros farm coach never hit a ball in the major leagues. After the Yankees lack of hitting in 2021, fans were hoping for a big name like, Paul O’Neill the “warrior” or other star hitter.

In another criticized move, the Yankees promoted Desi Druschel, a minor-league manager of pitch development to an assistant pitching coach to assist Matt Blake. Both of these moves are seen as cheap moves by the Yankee, and itt does signal that manager Aaron Boone will have a bunch of new coaches to work with.

Masahiro Tanaka; his future plans

Masahiro Tanaka was awarded a $155 million contract in 2014, to remain with the Yankees for seven years. Tanaka won 78 games with the Yankees, earning a 3.74 ERA. At the end of the 2020 season after winning only three games, he wasn’t offered a new contract and moved his pitching skills back to Japan. As it appears the Yankees made the correct decision as he went 4-9. There was some talk of Tanaka returning to the Yankees, but that will not be the case, as he is returning to the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles for the 2022 season.

Manfred institutes lockout, when will the season start?

The New York Yankees and all of major league baseball went into lockout when the owners and the players couldn’t come to an agreement on a new CBA (collective bargaining agreement). This is the first work stoppage in baseball in 27 years. Although there are some differences, it is like 1994 all over again. This is a lockout by the owners; in 1994, it was a walkout by the players; nevertheless, the result is the same, no baseball interactions by any of the parties involved until a new agreement can be reached.

With the sides still very far apart, and neither side willing to work in good faith, it spells for a very long work stoppage, as seen by most industry insiders. Most baseball writers from The Athletic think the work stoppage will last until the start of spring training.

Freddie Freeman and others still tangling out there for the Yankees

MLB players may be on lockout, but for the Yankees, they find themselves with as many holes to fill as the beginning of the postseason. Now, not being able to even talk to players or their agents until a new CBA can be signed. Once it is, Yankee manager Brian Cashman will have to pounce if he hopes to upgrade the team.

As it stands right now, the Yankees have no solid first baseman, no shortstop, no true number two pitcher, and needing help in centefield. In short, Marcus Semien and Corey Seager are already off the market, leaving Carlos Correa and Trevor Story as the only two big names left. After apparently failing to get Justin Verlander to the Yankees, they still need that one two punch. As of this moment the only first baseman available to the Yankees is Luke Voit, who is not the best choice. They could resign Anthony Rizzo, but the big name out there is Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman, who would be the best first baseman for the Yankees since Mark Tiexiera.

LeMarr Hoyt and his connection to the Yankees, that led to the Yankees first Championship in 15 years

LeMarr Hoyt, that was once a Yankee passed away this week at 66, after a long battle with cancer. He never pitched in the majors for the Yankees, but may be responsible for the end of a 15 year drought in winning a World Series. The Yankees traded Hoyts to get Bucky Dent, who then GM Gabe Paul really wanted, the Yankees also picked up Reggie Jackson, and the Yankees won the 1977 and 1978 World Series.

It was a good move for Hoyt too. He would go on to win the 1982 Cy Young Award with the Chicago White Sox. He also lead the AL in 1983, but his pitching soon regressed, and his career was over after the 1986 season. He was plagued by a shoulder injury and began abusing drugs and painkillers, leading to his exit from baseball.

New York Yankees News and Rumors: Could Justin Verlander still become a Yankee?

December 4, 2021 by William Parlee

The New York Yankees, in one of the few moves they made before the MLB lockout, was instituted, made a play for the Astros’ Justin Verlander. The Yankees made a one-year, $25 million offer which was rejected, as he apparently took the Astros offer for the same money, but for two years. Now that may be in question.

With the MLB lockout in full effect, the Houston Astros and New York Yankee fans are left with a big question: Is Justin Verlander an Astro?

Almost two weeks ago, Verlander’s brother announced that his brother Justin had come to deal with the Astros for a two-year contract at $25 million a year, after coming off Tommy John surgery. The question lies in the fact that the Astros never officially announced the signing.

Although not likely, it could mean that Verlander could end up in pinstripes. What makes the whole situation so interesting is why the Astros never acknowledged the signing or even made any comments on Verlander’s future. Verlander also has not commented. Jon Heyman on Twitter chimed in on the Verlander story.

Free agency mystery: Justin Verlander’s $50M, 2-year Astros deal (w/opt out) never was announced and presumably is not official. That means Verlander and Astros have to wait to finalize until a new CBA is done. It is unclear why the deal reported 2 weeks ago is now in limbo.

Verlander has had a great career with the Detroit Tigers for 13 years, but when the Tigers thought his career was on the downside, they sent him to the Houston Astros for prospects. The Houston Astros immediately turned his career around. In 2017, he won all five of his games. In 2018 he was 16-9. In 2019 he had a Cy Young Award-winning season, going 21-6. In each year of Verlander’s time with the Astros, they reached at least the ALCS and won it all in 2017.

The question for the Astros and the Yankees is if he will return to the pitcher he was before his Tommy John surgery. The Yankees took that bet on Corey Kluber and Jameson Taillon in 2021. They were willing to take the same chance with Verlander by offering a $25 million contract for one year. That offer is still in place. According to his brother, he instead accepted a deal with the Astros for a two-year contract at the same annual dollars. Now with the lockout, we will have to wait possibly months for an answer to the question.

Yankees could have sneaky loop-hole to pry Justin Verlander away from Houston

December 4, 2021 by Alexander Wilson

The New York Yankees failed to make any big moves before the lockout commenced on December 2, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t preparing to spend big money once the owners and PLayer Union come to an agreement on a new CBA.

However, the days leading up to the lockout were intriguing, as team’s spent over $1.4 billion to bolster their squads further. One player who was plucked off the market early was starting pitcher Justin Verlander, who agreed to return to the Houston Astros on a two-year, $50 million deal. The contract included an optional second season, giving him more leverage in the situation.

Reports indicated that Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman had a one-year, $25 million deal on the table for Verlander, which would pair him with his former teammate, Gerrit Cole.

Nonetheless, Verlander elected to stay in Houston, but the contract was never finalized before the lockout, meaning he is still a free agent.

According to Emma Baccellieri, Justin Verlander’s deal was never finalized before the lockout commenced on December 2:

Most intriguingly, Justin Verlander and the Astros never finalized their two-year, $50 million deal—even though it was first reported two weeks ago.

The Astros have stayed mum on the situation, although they did appear to clear a roster spot for Verlander. But he wasn’t on their 40-man when the lockout came down, which means that, technically, he’s still a free agent.

Verlander is coming off two seasons of rehabilitation, recovering from Tommy John surgery in 2021, failing to make even a single appearance. During the 2020 season, Verlander pitched just 6.0 innings at 37-years-old. Presenting him with a lucrative two-year deal for $50 million was undoubtedly a sign of optimism he could return to full health, and after hitting 97 mph in a bullpen session this past fall, plenty of teams are intrigued by the possibility of him reaching ace status once again.

The loophole is simple for Cashman, if he is willing to raise the stakes and present Verlander with an even more attractive offer, he could shift his attention from Houston and back out of the deal. While it is unlikely this happens, clearly, crazier things are currently underway in the world of baseball.

The last time Verlander pitched a full season was back in 2019 when he hosted a 2.58 ERA over 223 innings. He recorded a 12.11 strikeout per nine rate and 88.4% left on-base percentage. He is still capable of being an incredible player, and pairing him with Cole would give the Yankees one of the best starting duos in baseball.

The change in protocol after the owners and union come to a revised agreement could shift the way team’s view spending, which could open the door for a few different avenues regarding player contracts.

Yankees make two coaching hires to fill out Major League staff

December 3, 2021 by Alexander Wilson

The New York Yankees may be in the middle of a lockout, but they promoted two player development staff members this week, according to Lindsey Adler of The Athletic.

Former University of Missouri and Houston Astros farm coach Dillon Lawson joined the Yankees three years ago, working in their minor-league system as a hitting coordinator. Lawson was elevated to a major league hitting coach spot this week, with his contract expiring this off-season and in need of a new deal. The Yankees clearly didn’t want to lose Lawson, providing him with a promotion instead.

In addition, general manager Brian Cashman elected to elevate Desi Druschel, a minor-league manager of pitch development to an assistant pitching coach. Skipper Aaron Boone signed a new three-year deal this off-season, and he will gain a bevy of new coaches to work with this upcoming season, given the lockout ends at some point.

The Yankees need all the help they can get after a tough 2021 campaign where they struggled in both hitting and pitching. The team finished 17th out of 30 in slugging percentage, 19th in runs scored, and 23rd in batting average, all far lower than anticipated for a team that relies on their explosive bats.

Based on these numbers, that is why Cashman remaining quiet in free agency was a bit of a surprise. However, it was clear he was instructed to remain patient throughout the lockout, and the expectation is that he will come out guns blazing once things return to normal and players are once again able to sign new contracts.

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