yankees news

Yankees: Good news and bad news after first win of spring training

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New York Yankees, Gerrit Cole

The New York Yankees faced off against the Detroit Tigers on Monday afternoon, securing a 5-4 victory in their first win of the 2021 spring training. The Yankees have a busy schedule ahead, as they take on the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday afternoon. However, this victory featured plenty of faces, including two starting pitchers for the Yankees who will have a significant impact on the season ahead.

Coming off a loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday, they rebounded nicely, with some depth pieces showing up offensively to give the Yankees a late lead.

Good news for the Yankees:

The good news for the Yankees comes in multiple ways. Gerrit Cole survived his first outing of the off-season, despite giving up a run and three hits in his lone inning. To see him walk away with some preparation under his belt and no injuries suffered is a positive sign, especially since he was batted around during spring training last year as well. Cole turns up the notch once the regular season starts, so I wouldn’t feel any discomfort from this small sample size.

One of the more exciting outings of the day was Jamison Taillon, who recorded one strikeout and enjoyed a 1,2,3 inning in the 2nd. Nestor Cortes Jr. was also solid in relief, recording two strikeouts in the sixth inning.

However, it was catcher Gary Sanchez who stole the show in the third, launching a 429 foot home run to dead center. Sanchez has obviously been mentioned quite frequently this off-season, especially coming off a disappointing 2020 campaign. Last year, he hit .147 with 10 homers and 24 RBIs. He recorded a career-high 36% strikeout rate and logged a negative WAR for the first time as a Yankee. This HR will hopefully start a new trend, one more positive and productive than in recent years.

We can’t forget about Chris Gittens either, who hit a Grand Slam in the bottom of the fifth to give the Bombers a 5-3 lead.

The Bad News:

The bad news for the New York Yankees is minimal, with most of it coming in the pitching department. Jhoulys Chacin allowed two earned runs and two walks over just one inning, watching his ERA spike to 18.00. His disappointing performance was accompanied by Cole, and Albert Abreu, who both allowed an ER in their lone inning of work. Offensively, Tyler Wade failed to get on base, but the batting order was composed mostly of reserve options.

With an extremely condensed schedule, the Yankees will have plenty of reps to iron out their depth pieces and starting roster.

Yankees News: Mike Tauchman a trade candidate, but should they pull the trigger?

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Mike Tauchman, New York Yankees

The New York Yankees brought on several outfielders to compete during spring training this year, and it could create a more difficult situation for Mike Tauchman to make the active roster. From signing Jay Bruce to Derek Dietrich, the position bottle for a depth spot in the OF will be ongoing during spring training.

Currently, the Yankees have Aaron Judge, Clint Frazier, and Aaron Hicks as their expected starters for the 2021 season. The depth pieces include Giancarlo Stanton, Brett Gardner, and a bevy of alternatives. Tauchman could be considered a trade piece given his value over the last two seasons, as he hit .277 in 2019 with 13 homers and 47 RBIs. An outrageous boost in slugging, Mike had never hit a major league homer until 2019, which could be coughed up to juiced baseballs.

The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal believes that Mike Tauchman could be cut due to depth in the outfield:

Brett Gardner, 37, would appear a lock to make the club after agreeing to a one-year, $4 million free-agent contract. Jay Bruce, who turns 34 on April 3, is in camp on a non-roster deal, but he offers one thing Gardner and Tauchman do not: the ability to play first base … Tauchman is out of options, so the Yankees cannot send him to the minor leagues without first passing him through waivers. A trade might be possible, particularly to a lesser team that could give him regular playing time. But the Yankees would need to be sure about Gardner and Bruce, both of whom are signed for only one year, to give up Tauchman’s four remaining years of control, including a salary in the range of the $570,500 minimum this season.

With the Yankees’ style of play, Jay Bruce may offer them a more productive alternative. He has hit double-digit home runs for the majority of his career, landing 26 two years ago. While he only played about half of the 2020 season, he recorded six homers.
Defense isn’t the hallmark of his game — he can contribute offensively and offer a lefty bat in the lineup. At 33 years old, Bruce is no spring chicken, but he might be a more beneficial add than Tauchman based on scheme fit.

Yankees’ Aaron Judge speaks out on long-term contract extension

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New York Yankees, Aaron Judge

Sooner rather than later, the New York Yankees are going to have to deal with Aaron Judge and his mega-deal. Judge, who signed a one-year, $10.175 million contract for the 2021 season, is arbitration-eligible in 2022 and a free agent in 2023.

It might be in the best interest of the Yankees to wait this upcoming season to see if he can remain healthy. Judge played in just 28 games last year out of 60, hitting nine homers and 22 RBIs.

Ultimately, Judge has struggled with injuries over the past three seasons, failing to play a healthy season’s worth of games. The most he’s played is 112 out of 162 in 2018, but that number has quickly decreased.

The hope is that new strength and conditioning director Erika Cressey is able to flip the script, utilizing more stamina-building workouts than muscle building and heavy lifting. That is what Matt Kraus was utilizing for the Yankee sluggers, who struggled to remain on the field for that reason.

Judge was asked about his future with the team and whether his representatives have spoken about a long-term extension. Judge didn’t seem to be phased, indicating that they had bigger fish to fry this off-season.

“Great question,” Judge said on Tuesday during a video conference call. “No we haven’t. Nothing on our end. Nothing from the Yankees.

“I think they had more important things to focus on this offseason, especially getting back DJ (LeMahieu), getting back (Brett Gardner), adding some special arms. Our time is coming down the road. It’s something I don’t really want to focus on right now. I’m focused on trying to win and that’s it. Just do my job and like I said, they’ve got other things to focus on right now, things that are going to help us be a better team.”

Considering Aaron has a portion of Yankee Stadium carved out for him, remain the face of the franchise is probably ideal. He is a moneymaker, but they must make sure he’s actually influential on the field before they offer him a monster extension. Judge understands the business aspect of things and knows that he has to put together a solid campaign before asking the big question.

Yankees News: Aaron Judge returns with ‘gaping’ difference, Estevan Florial visa issues

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New York Yankees, Aaron Judge

The New York Yankees have reported to spring training, and while things seem to be going smoothly thus far, one major difference has bubbled to the surface. Slugger Aaron Judge reported to camp with a ‘gaping’ difference compared to 2020, he got his teeth fixed!

One of the Judge’s primary characteristics is the gap between his front two teeth, which has now dissipated. With a brand new smile and a changed strength and conditioning program, Judge is expected to make a significant impact on the 2021 season.

Last year, he played in just 28 of 60 games, logging a .257 average with nine homers and 22 RBIs. New strength and conditioning coordinator Eric Cressey brings a different approach toward preparation and staying in shape.

With Judge in line to begin negotiating for a monster deal next season, remaining healthy is a priority. He’s arbitration-eligible in 2022 will become a free agent in 2023. He’s currently on a one-year, $10.175 million deal for the upcoming season, but expect that number to take an astronomical jump if he signs a long-term extension with the Yankees.

One youth player for the Yankees is still stuck in the Dominican Republic:

Estevan Florial is currently dealing with visa issues, barring him from entering the United States and joining his team in Florida. Apparently, a number of players are also dealing with this issue, but eventually, it will be solved.

According to CBS, the issue revolving around Florial is also having an impact on other players:

Florial has yet to arrive at camp due to visa issues, Brendan Kuty of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

A large number of players around the league have been held up for similar reasons while trying to get back into the country. If Florial is able to arrive soon, he’ll still have plenty of time to get up to speed by Opening Day, though he’s unlikely to spend that day on the big-league roster regardless of when he shows up.

Yankees News: Corey Kluber provides fantastic injury update

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New York Yankees, Corey Kluber

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman took significant risks this off-season trying to stay under the $210 million luxury tax threshold. With the Yankees trying to be financially responsible after the COVID-19 pandemic cut the season short, Cashman went after players coming off injuries.

Starting pitcher Corey Kluber was one of the players he targeted. Considering Eric Cressey was rehabilitating him following injuries in 2020, the Yankees had an inside scoop on how far along he was in the process.

Kluber signed a one-year deal worth $11 million this offseason, and the Yankees now have a two-time Cy Young award-winning pitcher on the roster. However, he’s only pitched 36.2 innings of the last two years, meaning he has barely featured on the mound since 2018.

Nonetheless, Kluber says he’s feeling great and should be ready for the start of the regular season in a few months.

“I feel really good right now. No issues with [my shoulder] now or anywhere along the rehab process. That’s encouraging,” he said. “I feel like I’m in a normal spot for spring training. I don’t feel like I’m still working on improving the shoulder or anything like that. I think it’s in a spot where, obviously, any part of your body, it takes maintenance throughout the year, but I’m not putting any more emphasis on that than anything else on this point.”

“Everything in the last few months has checked a lot of boxes as far as the things, first from Eric’s eyes, and then we got scouts’ eyes on him, now we’re getting our coaching staff and strength and conditioning and training staff on him. It’s February, but I would say we’re encouraged certainly and yesterday was another step in that regard.”

Manager Aaron Boone was optimistic that the starting rotation will come together nicely, but he expects Kluber and new acquisition Jameson Taillon to ease their way into shape this spring training.

As far as Kluber, he was extremely bullish on Kluber’s recovery:

“We have a lot of first-hand knowledge about where he was in his recovery and his training, kind of the measurables coming back from different injuries,” Boone said.

If Corey can return to form, he will likely slide into the second starting pitcher spot right behind Gerrit Cole. If all goes well, the Yankees could have one of the more intimidating rotations in baseball, but that would require a lot of things to go right, and historically over the past few seasons, the opposite has occurred.

Yankees: Gary Sanchez news you may or may not want to hear

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New York Yankees, Gary Sanchez

The Gary Sanchez we witnessed in 2020 is one the New York Yankees would like to leave behind. Ever since leaving his mark on the 2017 season with a .278 average and 33 homers, the Yankees have been chasing Sanchez’s ghost. While their faith remains constant, he consistently disappoints with below-average defense and increasingly liable offense.

To finish the 2020 campaign, Sanchez earned a .147 average with 10 homers and 24 RBIs. If there’s any saving grace over the last few seasons, it’s that he’s hit double-digit home runs each year. The Yankees love his slugging ability, but his strikeout rate continues to balloon, as he landed at 36% last year.

Manager Aaron Boone spoke with the media during his opening press conference on Wednesday afternoon, and he expressed his confidence in Sanchez, who seems to be in a better place at this point in time.

“We had some really good conversations and put some really good things in place that will hopefully allow him to grow,’’ Boone said. “We demonstrated with our actions we believe in him. He can be a game-changer at the plate when he’s right. Hopefully, this is the year he puts it all together. We have a lot of confidence in that, but we’ve got to get it out of him, too.”

Surprisingly, the Yankees actually offered Sanchez a raise in 2021, seeing his contract to $6.35 million over one year. This seems to be their final throw of the dart, and if Sanchez can’t elevate his game, they will have to make a difficult decision to move on in 2022. At 28 years old, there is reason to believe he can pick up where he left off in 2017, as consistent injuries and a lack of confidence have influenced him significantly.

To finish last year, Kyle Higashioka actually played more postseason games and even became Gerrit Cole’s personal catcher. Boone was reluctant to name the starting catcher for the 2021 season, but it seems as if Sanchez will have a fresh shot at claiming the rights. However, it is fair to believe he is on a short leash, and there will be a good position battle moving forward.

“I don’t have a plan of pairing [Cole and Higashioka],’’ Boone said during his Zoom call with reporters from Tampa. “We’ll come in with the idea of Gary or Kyle will both work with all pitchers this spring in bullpens and into spring games.”

Yankees News: More relief support could be on the way

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New York Yankees, David Robertson

Spring training might be starting in two days, but the New York Yankees are still looking for players to add to the roster. Eventually, the Yankees will have to cut down after gauging position battles, but adding players on minor-league deals can only benefit the team as a whole. With injuries being so prevalent the past few seasons, having reinforcements is as important as ever.

General manager Brian Cashman has been considering many different options, but one pitcher the Yankees have been keeping tabs on is David Robertson. Having spent time on two different occasions for the Yankees, Robertson is familiar with the expectations that come with wearing pinstripes. He last featured on the team in 2018, when he pitched 69.2 innings and recorded a 3.23 ERA. He has only pitched 6.2 innings over the last two years, so the Yankees would be getting a cost-efficient player with some upside.

According to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, David Robertson could be a good fit for the Yankees as a bullpen option:

As expected, the Yankees were among the teams who scouted Robertson’s showcase at the University of Alabama this week, where he was said to have touched 91 mph. A return to the Yanks would be a fitting bookend for Robertson, who turns 36 in April and has already served two tours with the club.

A non-roster invitation and incentive-laden contract seem appropriate if that’s something Robertson would consider. Given the Yankees’ apparent intent to remain under the $210 million luxury tax threshold and with more items still potentially on the shopping list, a guaranteed deal may not be available.

At 35 years old, Robertson is running out of juice, but given how cheap he will likely be, the Yankees should consider him. He recently pitched in a bullpen session at the University of Alabama, in which plenty of teams were in attendance, including the Bombers. If he can return to his previous form, he could be a solid depth player. He’s always hovered in the 11 strikeouts per nine area, indicating a high strikeout ratio coupled with a career-average 43.5% ground ball rate.

With the bullpen a bit thin and unproven, bringing back an established player with a good history is never a bad move.

Yankees News: 5th starter in pitching rotation might surprise you

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New York Yankees, Deivi Garcia

The New York Yankees took a risky approach toward solving their starting pitching problem this off-season, as three starters hit free agency and were not retained. Losing James Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka, and JA Happ left a major hole in the rotation, one that general manager Brian Cashman did his best to fix without spending too much money.

In fact, he was able to cut his costs significantly, saving about $52 million from the three departed starters. In exchange, he signed Corey Kluber to a one year, $11 million deal and traded for Jameson Taillon, who is only sent to earn about $2.1 million for the 2021 season.

The starting rotation is composed of several wildcards, but the Yankees feel confident they will be 100% healthy for the start of the regular season. With spring training just four days away, we will get a look at how far along some of these options are. However, one major question is who will fill the fifth starter spot, especially with Domingo German returning from suspension and a bevy of youth pitchers vying for starting time?

Projected starting rotation:

1.) Gerrit Cole

2.) Corey Kluber

3.) Jameson Taillon

4.) Jordan Montgomery

5.) Deivi García, Domingo Germán, Michael King, Jonathan Loaisiga, Luis Medina, Clarke Schmidt

According to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, the Yankees could roll with 21-year-old Deivi Garcia as their 5th starter in the rotation:

That sets up a fifth starter competition that would include Deivi García, Domingo Germán, Michael King, Jonathan Loaisiga, Luis Medina and Clarke Schmidt.

Given that group and based upon their performances last season, I would have to imagine that García enters camp as the favorite, but he’s by no means a lock. García’s big league service was accelerated last year. Even though he largely succeeded in that trial by fire, it wouldn’t be a shock if the Yankees believe that more development time is necessary.

Garcia was thrown into the fire during the 2020 season to supplement injuries. After spending only two seasons in the minor-league system, García posted a 4.98 ERA at the top level. Over 34.1 innings, he recorded a 33.3% ground ball percentage and 8.65 strikeouts per nine.

While he did have a few tumultuous performances, others were not nearly as liable. He was fantastic against the New York Mets last August, lasting six innings and allowing four hits and zero runs. He has the capability of being a quality starter, and I believe he’s earned the right to the fifth spot in the rotation.

While it is certainly possible players like Domingo German make a big comeback and take over the fifth spot, Garcia will likely enter spring training as the favorite given his most recent performance. German hasn’t pitched in over a year in the MLB, so it will take him some time to shake off the rust.

Yankees News: Surprise rookie projected to make the active roster come Opening Day

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New York Yankees, Nick Nelson

The New York Yankees took multiple risks this off-season regarding starting pitching, acquiring Corey Kluber and Jameson Taillon. With both pitchers coming off serious injuries, we should be cautiously optimistic when formulating our expectations for the 2021 season.

Both starters are above average when 100% healthy, there’s no guarantee they will return to full form and dominate at the level we know they can. With that being the case, the Yankees have several youth options that can fill roles in a worst-case scenario.

Last season, they were forced to elevate 21-year-old Deivi Garcia to the active roster, injecting him into the starting rotation despite minimal experience in the minor-league system.

Garcia finished the 2020 season with a 4.98 ERA and 1.194 WHIP. He secured three wins and two losses over 34.1 innings pitched, logging 33 strikeouts and 19 earned runs allowed. While he was batted around a bit at times, García showed he can compete at the highest level, and at such a young age, his ceiling is sky-high. However, there is one other youth arm that could get the call before García in 2021 under normal circumstances.

The Athletic’s Jim Bowden predicted which rookie will likely make the active roster in 2021:

The Yankees have five rookie pitchers who all have a shot of making their pitching staff out of spring training, but their preference would be to park them all in the starting rotation at Triple A. Nick Nelson might have the best chance of making the team in a bullpen role, thanks to his nasty fastball/changeup combination and how well he pitched in 2020. However, Clarke Schmidt and Deivi García could easily make the team’s starting rotation if Corey Kluber, Jameson Taillon or Domingo Germán have some type of physical hiccup. Michael King could be valuable in a swing role as a sixth starter or long reliever. Luis Medina is a real long shot, but he actually has the best ceiling of any of their rookie pitchers; he dominated winter ball, leading most scouts to label him the best pitching prospect they saw.  Yankee fans can expect to see all five of these rookies at some point in the 2021 campaign.
Nelson, a 25-year-old native of Panama City, Florida, pitched 20.2 innings last season. He recorded a 4.79 ERA and 1.500 WHIP, striking out 18 batters and allowing 11 runs. While he had his ups and downs over a small sample size, Nelson is more prepared for the MLB compared to Garcia. Having been drafted back in 2014, he has been working his way through the minor-league system, spending time in Tampa, Trenton, and Scranton during the 2019 campaign.
In AAA ball, he recorded a 4.71 ERA over 21 innings but had a larger sample size of 65 innings with Trenton, where he secured a 2.35 ERA. The expectation is that he will be elevated at some point in the season, as injuries and fatigue inevitably take their toll.
He is a good option to consider, given his experience and the time he’s paid in the minor leagues.
Nonetheless, it is a surprise that the Yankees would consider Nelson over Garcia, and I would actually assume the opposite. García showed enough that I would rely on him as a back-end starter if necessary. His devastating breaking ball and solid velocity on his fastball can only be a positive influence. Giving him more experience and time at the major-league level will only spur his growth even further.

Yankees News: Bad Luis Severino injury news, as Cashman is vague on his return

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New York Yankees, Luis Severino

The New York Yankees starting pitching rotation has been bolstered significantly off over the past few weeks, thanks to moves by general manager Brian Cashman. However, the moves he’s made are considered risky since both Corey Kluber and Jameson Taillon are coming off significant injuries.

“Hopeful is certainly an appropriate word,” Cashman said in a zoom call this past week. “We made the commitment because we believe, despite the risk, it was a position worth taking. Now we’re going to test drive that, for better or for worse. By placing a bet, we’re going to count on the better than the worse, but I can’t dismiss there is risk. I believe and hope they’ll have a positive impact.”

Both starters haven’t pitched over 40 innings in the past two years, so the Yankees are hedging their bet that they will escape without any serious injury complications moving forward. Cashman seems confident in what he’s built, despite not having the financial flexibility he’s usually accustomed to.

Despite their moves to improve the rotation, the Yankees are also looking to gain back Domingo German and Luis Severino for the 2021 season. With the addition of these two homegrown players and their acquisitions, they should be in good shape, but Cashman’s latest comments on Severino’s injury and rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery aren’t exactly motivating.

Cashman stated that the Yankees expect to gain Severino back in late July, but that timeline is a bit vague. He also mentioned late summer as a possible return point, which wouldn’t even give Severino half a season to regain his form to prepare for the playoffs. Considering he hasn’t pitched more than 12 innings in two years, I wouldn’t depend on Severino being a focal point and big contributor in 2021.

Now, if you feel comfortable rolling with Kluber and Taillon as your number two and three starters, you might either be a genius or a simple fool. Cashman has done his best with limited funds, but both pitchers seem to be healthy and prepared for the season ahead. Kluber stated after signing with the Yankees that he was looking for a contending team, as he feels good physically, but mentally he needs to find his way out of the rehabilitation mentality.

As for Taillon, he asserted he feels 100% healthy, and he should have a normal workload going into spring training, which is a great sign. The evidence reveals that Cashman made two stellar acquisitions, but most expected Severino to be ready earlier than the timetable given. That will be a major blow for the Yankees, as they look to hold the latter portion of the rotation together with youth and inexperience.