2020-2021 Yankees Offseason Discussion
- Thread starter jon abbey
- Start date
Not that Bob Klapisch is always right (more towards the opposite), but also this shouldn't surprise anyone if it ends up being the case, written Nov. 29:
"Industry officials are growing increasingly worried that spring training will be delayed, which in turn will impact Opening Day. The insiders’ current guess is a 4-to-6 week hold-up. Camps wouldn’t open until mid-March. The regular season would be forced to wait until May, leaving room for only 130 or so games. The timetable is dependent on how rapidly the virus continues to spread and, conversely, how quickly the vaccines begin rolling out."
https://www.nj.com/yankees/2020/11/mlb-faces-delayed-spring-training-shortened-season-strained-negotiations-and-vaccination-day-klapisch.html
"Industry officials are growing increasingly worried that spring training will be delayed, which in turn will impact Opening Day. The insiders’ current guess is a 4-to-6 week hold-up. Camps wouldn’t open until mid-March. The regular season would be forced to wait until May, leaving room for only 130 or so games. The timetable is dependent on how rapidly the virus continues to spread and, conversely, how quickly the vaccines begin rolling out."
https://www.nj.com/yankees/2020/11/mlb-faces-delayed-spring-training-shortened-season-strained-negotiations-and-vaccination-day-klapisch.html
I can't find box scores anywhere, but Gary Sanchez was DH for all three games this weekend in the Dominican Winter League, 5-11 with 2 HRs, 2 2Bs and 2 walks. The HR he hit yesterday was off Jimmy Cordero, who is on the White Sox.
View: https://twitter.com/Jomboy_/status/1335726144650403840?s=20
View: https://twitter.com/Jomboy_/status/1335726144650403840?s=20
Have you seen something recent regarding the bolded? Last I saw was this announcement from MLB in September that seemed pretty final. Spring training games starting on 2/27 with Opening day being on April 1.
View: https://twitter.com/DanJFederico/status/1336037057165205510?s=20
"DJ is asking for 5-6 years at $20M+. The Yankees are staying at 4 as of now. "
"DJ is asking for 5-6 years at $20M+. The Yankees are staying at 4 as of now. "
Who else would swoop in and give a 32 year old 5-6 years at $20m+ in this economic climate. Yankees aren’t going to outbid themselves.
"Heard today from a couple sources that the Pirates and Yankees have had conversations involving Jameson Taillon and Josh Bell. Unsure on seriousness or scope, but it’s an interesting match. " - Pirates beat writer
View: https://twitter.com/JMackeyPG/status/1336822853052805120
View: https://twitter.com/JMackeyPG/status/1336822853052805120
I'd hate to seem them give up much for Taillon without seeing him throw some game innings first. Seems like the Pirates could get more for him after the season starts.
Edit: Maybe "selling low" isn't the right phrase for a guy recovering from his second Tommy John and approaching 30. Possible back-of-the-rotation guy with some upside?
2nd Edit: Weird. I had the thought "selling low" in my head, but didn't type it and then thought I had. I'm losing it.
Edit:
2nd Edit: Weird. I had the thought "selling low" in my head, but didn't type it and then thought I had. I'm losing it.
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Bell is a switch-hitter with pretty big career splits favoring him hitting lefty (.845/.725 OPS), so an immediate thought might be some kind of platoon with Voit, but Voit's career OPS against RHP is .889 (.895 against LHP). I guess Bell could make sense as a backup 1B/DH, the roster spot that I was previously marking for Schwarber as a sixth OF.
Nestor Cortes Jr. announced on his Instagram that he signed a minor league deal with NY.
It seems so long ago but it was just 2019 that he was a somewhat integral part of NY (his numbers were bad but he was the bulk guy behind Chad Green for a bunch of wins down the stretch), then they traded him to SEA where he was quite terrible (a 15 ERA and 6 HRs allowed in 7 innings) so they released him and now he is (kind of) back.
It seems so long ago but it was just 2019 that he was a somewhat integral part of NY (his numbers were bad but he was the bulk guy behind Chad Green for a bunch of wins down the stretch), then they traded him to SEA where he was quite terrible (a 15 ERA and 6 HRs allowed in 7 innings) so they released him and now he is (kind of) back.
Yanks lose three prospects, including Garrett Whitlock, a pitcher, in Rule 5 draft. Roster down to 39.
https://nypost.com/2020/12/10/yankees-lose-three-prospects-in-rule-5-draft/
https://nypost.com/2020/12/10/yankees-lose-three-prospects-in-rule-5-draft/
"Gap between Yankees and LeMahieu larger than $25M, sources tell The Athletic. LeMahieu is Yankees’ No. 1 priority and the two sides continue to talk, but the free-agent infielder also plans to start engaging with other teams. " - Ken
View: https://twitter.com/ken_rosenthal/status/1338475927748050946?s=21
View: https://twitter.com/ken_rosenthal/status/1338475927748050946?s=21
It seems like the main issue is DJ and his agent want 5 years and NY won’t go past 4, but underlying it all is the issue I keep talking about, that both DJ and Gleyber are by far the most valuable for NY as second basemen, and there are a ton of shortstops available now and next winter.
I love DJ and what he accomplished in pinstripes but the smarter play is to build around Gleyber, sign Didi, use saved money on a pitcher. Cashman recently noted how Gleyber came back for second ST out of shape, which was noticeable to us watching at home. But Gleyber is 8 years younger than DJ. He needs someone to tell him it’s his team. Grow up and lead.
Or could they yet get Lindor out of Cleveland and pair him with Gleyber?
Do they still call off-season chats “Hot Stove League” material?
Lot of good Cashman quotes just now:
“I am not pursuing any plan of trying to trade Luke Voit to sign LeMahieu to play first,” Cashman said. “That's not part of my plan. My plan is, if we sign him, he’s playing second base.”
"Cashman said he’s “confident” the Yankees will again have the highest payroll in MLB."
"Brian Cashman reiterates that D.J. LeMahieu is the Yankees’ priority this winter & that they’re trying to re-sign him. Cashman said re-signing LeMahieu is “driving the bus” on the Yankees’ offseason. “We’re not going to all of a sudden have a lightning strike of something different that takes us out of our interest in D.J.” Said Yankees wouldn’t go another direction until checking with LeMahieu."
"Brian Cashman mentioned that he gets a lot of trade inquiries on Mike Tauchman, said his cost control was part of the appeal. Also said he thinks that being a role player and losing playing time to Clint Frazier compounded his short-season issues."
Cashman says he's talking to the agents for Masahiro Tanaka and Brett Gardner. "Generally, we'd love to have them back." But "we'll have to see how it plays out."
“I am not pursuing any plan of trying to trade Luke Voit to sign LeMahieu to play first,” Cashman said. “That's not part of my plan. My plan is, if we sign him, he’s playing second base.”
"Cashman said he’s “confident” the Yankees will again have the highest payroll in MLB."
"Brian Cashman reiterates that D.J. LeMahieu is the Yankees’ priority this winter & that they’re trying to re-sign him. Cashman said re-signing LeMahieu is “driving the bus” on the Yankees’ offseason. “We’re not going to all of a sudden have a lightning strike of something different that takes us out of our interest in D.J.” Said Yankees wouldn’t go another direction until checking with LeMahieu."
"Brian Cashman mentioned that he gets a lot of trade inquiries on Mike Tauchman, said his cost control was part of the appeal. Also said he thinks that being a role player and losing playing time to Clint Frazier compounded his short-season issues."
Cashman says he's talking to the agents for Masahiro Tanaka and Brett Gardner. "Generally, we'd love to have them back." But "we'll have to see how it plays out."
One thing is (now this is me talking, not Cashman) that NY needs to choose between Tauchman and Gardner, assuming rosters are 26 and not 28 again (this is still up in the air, I believe). They do need one of them as a backup CF to Hicks but Tauchman is out of options and both on the roster (along with Judge/Hicks/Frazier and Stanton) would be six guys who can only play OF/DH, leaving just five spots for infielders. This makes more sense if the sixth OF is a guy like Schwarber as the lefty power hitter NY hasn't had in a while, but I think Cashman has to decide between Tauchman and Gardner.
Who knows how it will work out, but I'm encouraged by hearing Cashman's views on DJ's importance and place on the team. At 2B, not 1B.
Edit: just seeing Jon's latest post, I agree with the choice that has to be made. I love what Gardner has meant for the team over the years, but I'd hate to see Tauchman go. I know he struggled a bit in the short season, but I believe the talent is there.
Edit: just seeing Jon's latest post, I agree with the choice that has to be made. I love what Gardner has meant for the team over the years, but I'd hate to see Tauchman go. I know he struggled a bit in the short season, but I believe the talent is there.
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The interesting thing is to try to reconcile these statements with the ones Cashman made last week about Gleyber:
"On Torres, Cashman admitted that he thinks Torres is better suited at second base, and also offered a reason for why Torres’ numbers were down in 2020.
“I think he can do both. I think he’s a better second baseman than shortstop,” Cashman said. “I think that he can play shortstop.""
Combine that with the 'if we sign DJ, he is the second baseman' and it gets very tricky.
Yeah. You've laid it out previously pretty well. Cashman has options if he can't sign DJ. If he does, the pressure is on Gleyber to improve at SS. Hopefully he wants to and can.
Maybe (probably) I'm overreacting to Gleyber showing up out of shape after the shutdown last season, but I have a feeling if he doesn't arrive at camp fit and ready to work at SS, the Yankees might move him pretty quickly.
Again, assuming a deal is reached with DJ. And I really hope they do. Consistency and professionalism are underrated.
Maybe (probably) I'm overreacting to Gleyber showing up out of shape after the shutdown last season, but I have a feeling if he doesn't arrive at camp fit and ready to work at SS, the Yankees might move him pretty quickly.
Again, assuming a deal is reached with DJ. And I really hope they do. Consistency and professionalism are underrated.
got this from mlb.com
Yankees' current goals: Sign DJ, add pitching
Dec 16, 2020
·
2:15
Cashman on LeMahieu's future
By Bryan Hoch @BryanHoch
6:53 PM EST
Cashman reiterated the Yankees’ strong interest in retaining DJ LeMahieu, the reigning American League batting champion and the team’s Most Valuable Player for two straight years. Moving the needle with the 32-year-old LeMahieu is atop Cashman’s to-do list as baseball conducts its first virtual Winter Meetings.
“I promise you that we’re working on it,” Cashman said. “He’s a priority; he’s this winter’s priority. The overall priority is to make sure that we somehow find a way to field a team that can push through and ultimately represent the American League in a World Series and find a way to win it.”
Discussions have continued with LeMahieu’s agent, Joel Wolfe, as well as the representatives for the Yankees’ other free agents. Published reports this week suggested that LeMahieu and the Yanks may be more than $25 million apart, with LeMahieu seeking a five-year deal in the $100 million range.
Outfielder Brett Gardner and right-hander Masahiro Tanaka are also on the club’s radar, according to Cashman, who has spoken to their representatives -- Joe Bick and Casey Close, respectively. Cashman acknowledged that LeMahieu’s unsettled situation is “driving the bus” within the Yankees’ offices.
“Clearly, he’s put himself in a great position and has a lot of opportunities, I’m sure,” Cashman said. “I think he’s going to be doing the best thing for him and his family, with the hopes of staying here, but at the same time having to evaluate the landscape. We’re trying to navigate our current commitments as well.”
Nov 2, 2020
·
0:29
2020 Free Agent: DJ LeMahieu
It is not clear how much the Yankees intend to spend this offseason, one year after they landed ace right-hander Gerrit Cole with a nine-year, $324 million contract, then said that they lost more money than any other team due to the pandemic-shortened 60-game regular season.
But managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner typically puts dollars back into the payroll when players become free agents, such as LeMahieu, Gardner, Tanaka and others have.
“I feel confident that we will again have the highest payroll,” Cashman said. “Our commitment to fielding a tremendous team is always still going to be intact.”
Starting pitching is an area of interest for the Yankees, who would like to supplement the rotation behind Cole. Tanaka, left-hander James Paxton and left-hander J.A. Happ are all free agents. The Yanks have also dabbled with the relief market, expressing interest in right-hander Ryne Stanek, a former Rays reliever who spent the past two seasons with the Marlins.
“Of course, I would like to add, if I can,” Cashman said.
Cashman said that he views Gary Sánchez as the front-runner to serve as the Yankees’ starting catcher in 2021, coming off a disappointing offensive season in which he lost playing time to backup Kyle Higashioka.
“Going into Spring Training, I think he would be the heir apparent, even though the season ended the way it did,” Cashman said of Sánchez, who is currently playing in the Dominican Winter League. “We’re going to bet on him returning to form as the All-Star-caliber player he was prior to the 2020 season.”
Cashman also said that he is not interested in trading first baseman Luke Voit, a move that has been suggested as an avenue to free LeMahieu to play first base while permitting Gleyber Torres to move from shortstop to second base.
“[LeMahieu’s] best position is second base, without a doubt,” Cashman said. “My plan, if we sign [LeMahieu], is to play him at second base. His true value is at second, which takes advantage of the defense and the offensive profile he brings for that position. That’s our interest.”
Yankees' current goals: Sign DJ, add pitching
Dec 16, 2020
·
2:15
Cashman on LeMahieu's future
By Bryan Hoch @BryanHoch
6:53 PM EST
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Cashman reiterated the Yankees’ strong interest in retaining DJ LeMahieu, the reigning American League batting champion and the team’s Most Valuable Player for two straight years. Moving the needle with the 32-year-old LeMahieu is atop Cashman’s to-do list as baseball conducts its first virtual Winter Meetings.
“I promise you that we’re working on it,” Cashman said. “He’s a priority; he’s this winter’s priority. The overall priority is to make sure that we somehow find a way to field a team that can push through and ultimately represent the American League in a World Series and find a way to win it.”
Discussions have continued with LeMahieu’s agent, Joel Wolfe, as well as the representatives for the Yankees’ other free agents. Published reports this week suggested that LeMahieu and the Yanks may be more than $25 million apart, with LeMahieu seeking a five-year deal in the $100 million range.
Outfielder Brett Gardner and right-hander Masahiro Tanaka are also on the club’s radar, according to Cashman, who has spoken to their representatives -- Joe Bick and Casey Close, respectively. Cashman acknowledged that LeMahieu’s unsettled situation is “driving the bus” within the Yankees’ offices.
“Clearly, he’s put himself in a great position and has a lot of opportunities, I’m sure,” Cashman said. “I think he’s going to be doing the best thing for him and his family, with the hopes of staying here, but at the same time having to evaluate the landscape. We’re trying to navigate our current commitments as well.”
Nov 2, 2020
·
0:29
2020 Free Agent: DJ LeMahieu
It is not clear how much the Yankees intend to spend this offseason, one year after they landed ace right-hander Gerrit Cole with a nine-year, $324 million contract, then said that they lost more money than any other team due to the pandemic-shortened 60-game regular season.
But managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner typically puts dollars back into the payroll when players become free agents, such as LeMahieu, Gardner, Tanaka and others have.
“I feel confident that we will again have the highest payroll,” Cashman said. “Our commitment to fielding a tremendous team is always still going to be intact.”
Starting pitching is an area of interest for the Yankees, who would like to supplement the rotation behind Cole. Tanaka, left-hander James Paxton and left-hander J.A. Happ are all free agents. The Yanks have also dabbled with the relief market, expressing interest in right-hander Ryne Stanek, a former Rays reliever who spent the past two seasons with the Marlins.
“Of course, I would like to add, if I can,” Cashman said.
Cashman said that he views Gary Sánchez as the front-runner to serve as the Yankees’ starting catcher in 2021, coming off a disappointing offensive season in which he lost playing time to backup Kyle Higashioka.
“Going into Spring Training, I think he would be the heir apparent, even though the season ended the way it did,” Cashman said of Sánchez, who is currently playing in the Dominican Winter League. “We’re going to bet on him returning to form as the All-Star-caliber player he was prior to the 2020 season.”
Cashman also said that he is not interested in trading first baseman Luke Voit, a move that has been suggested as an avenue to free LeMahieu to play first base while permitting Gleyber Torres to move from shortstop to second base.
“[LeMahieu’s] best position is second base, without a doubt,” Cashman said. “My plan, if we sign [LeMahieu], is to play him at second base. His true value is at second, which takes advantage of the defense and the offensive profile he brings for that position. That’s our interest.”
The thing is that NY knows so much more about all of their young pitchers than we do, and much more so this year than others since there was no 2020 minor league season. I personally think it's time to move on from Tanaka and am not thrilled about a semi-lengthy commitment to Sugano, I do like Odorizzi (although he would give up a lot of HRs in NY) but I think he will be too pricy for what he brings. I would be very happy with just Kluber and the kids, maybe add another reliever.
Cole
Kluber
Montgomery
German
Garcia
Schmidt/Vizcaino/Medina/King
Plus Severino coming back in June or so.
Fans are so hung-up on veteran pitching as if that is a sure thing, but pitching staff flexibility is crucial too. TB's postseason bullpen entirely consisted of guys with options remaining (except Loup), HOU used nine rookies on their postseason staff and came one game from the WS. If NY doesn't add multiple SP veterans, I think it's much less about money and much more about giving their kids a chance because they believe in them, either collectively or a couple of specific guys.
The thing that scares me about Tanaka is that he has always been so reliant on his splitter, and since MLB started messing with the ball in 2019, his splitter has been far less effective. Maybe he can reinvent himself, but he’s not the same guy he was before that.
This is big, this is NY’s biggest strength currently.
View: https://twitter.com/bykristieackert/status/1340014174634717184?s=21
View: https://twitter.com/bykristieackert/status/1340014174634717184?s=21
3rd start today, these numbers would be impressive in Little League:
4.2 1 0 0 2 10
Total:
11.2 4 0 0 4 25
There's a real chance for NY to go for it here, while still retaining all of their untouchable prospects. I am not going to figure out the money precisely but I think this would put NY right around $240M, which would still keep them under the highest penalty level of $250M where your first round draft pick gets moved back.
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Trade prospects for Joe Musgrove, this is a great fit both ways as NY has pitching prospects to spare and needs to make a bulk deal, and Musgrove is in the perfect range of good but not great, under contract through 2022. Maybe something like Alex Vizcaino, Yoendrys Gomez, and one of Nelson/Yajure/Abreu would do it?
Sign Corey Kluber (1/12 plus incentives?)
Sign DJ to a 4/84 deal plus a 5th year at 1/21 as a team option with a $6M buyout.
Trade Gleyber and a prospect or two for Lindor and Triston McKenzie.
Sign Schwarber to 2/12.
Cole
Kluber
Musgrove
Montgomery
German
(Severino, back midseason)
Garcia
Schmidt
McKenzie
bullpen: three of Loaisiga/Nelson/Yajure/Abreu/Heller, Cessa, Ottavino, Green, Britton, Chapman
DJ 2B
Judge RF
Lindor SS
Stanton DH
Voit 1B
Hicks CF
Frazier LF
Urshela 3B
Sanchez C
bench: Schwarber, Tauchman, Wade, Higashioka
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Untouchable prospects for me are Jasson Dominguez, Luis Medina, Deivi Garcia, Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt. That doesn't actually mean they're untouchable in any scenario, but I would be very very hesitant to move any of those five.
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Trade prospects for Joe Musgrove, this is a great fit both ways as NY has pitching prospects to spare and needs to make a bulk deal, and Musgrove is in the perfect range of good but not great, under contract through 2022. Maybe something like Alex Vizcaino, Yoendrys Gomez, and one of Nelson/Yajure/Abreu would do it?
Sign Corey Kluber (1/12 plus incentives?)
Sign DJ to a 4/84 deal plus a 5th year at 1/21 as a team option with a $6M buyout.
Trade Gleyber and a prospect or two for Lindor and Triston McKenzie.
Sign Schwarber to 2/12.
Cole
Kluber
Musgrove
Montgomery
German
(Severino, back midseason)
Garcia
Schmidt
McKenzie
bullpen: three of Loaisiga/Nelson/Yajure/Abreu/Heller, Cessa, Ottavino, Green, Britton, Chapman
DJ 2B
Judge RF
Lindor SS
Stanton DH
Voit 1B
Hicks CF
Frazier LF
Urshela 3B
Sanchez C
bench: Schwarber, Tauchman, Wade, Higashioka
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Untouchable prospects for me are Jasson Dominguez, Luis Medina, Deivi Garcia, Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt. That doesn't actually mean they're untouchable in any scenario, but I would be very very hesitant to move any of those five.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30588020/i-know-why-playing-gary-sanchez-getting-benched-playoffs-future-new-york-yankees
Great interview with Gary Sanchez. Seems very honest and open about where he's at as a player.
Edit: The headline doesn't really capture the overall impression I get from the article. More humility than complaining, I think.
Great interview with Gary Sanchez. Seems very honest and open about where he's at as a player.
Edit: The headline doesn't really capture the overall impression I get from the article. More humility than complaining, I think.
Yeah, people are being dicks about this interview, it's funny to me how Yankee fans (and maybe most fan bases) are so eager to dump their own players because they see their warts game in and game out in favor of other players who have just as many warts. There must be some clever play on 'the grass is always greener' here, but it's not coming to mind.
It’s an amazing interview that we don’t often get to see from a player. He still sounds oblivious to how bad he has been at times, which is where the headline is accurate. He fell completely off a cliff offensively and it started in 2019. Gary Sanchez has absolutely no value to this team if he isn’t hitting. Sure, the Yankees changed catching coaches on him and he had to make adjustments for probably the 9th time, but his catching problems weren’t the main issue. Unless there is an acquisition, he gets a short leash next year. Unfortunately for him, if he goes the Joba Chamberlain route, he’s done and will wind up DH for the Royals.
Reason #10 million I should not be an actual GM is that I think I would have found it impossible to not top the Darvish offer from the Padres. That kind of prospect depth deal is the exact kind that NY needs to make to thin out the 40 man some, Cashman is really holding back so far this winter. Since too many Yankee fans seem to think that NY is a mess as currently constituted, it's worth noting that Fangraphs right now has the Yankees with the highest collected projected fWAR for next year, 40.6 to HOU's 38.9, and that is with Tyler Wade at 2B (eek) and Michael King as the 4th starter, neither of which have any chance of happening, barring injuries of course.
I have always liked Darvish a lot, I think easily my favorite Japanese pitcher, but also NY needs a guy with #2 potential behind Cole and there are not so many of them out there and even fewer who get traded.
I have always liked Darvish a lot, I think easily my favorite Japanese pitcher, but also NY needs a guy with #2 potential behind Cole and there are not so many of them out there and even fewer who get traded.
This starts to fall apart the more I look at it. ATL at 12 and Boston at 13? The Angels are the 6th best team in baseball? I think 2020 stats are hurting the projections.
You can see the specifics at the link, they have ATL getting almost no OF production currently except for Acuna.
Right, current roster makeup is the cause of the outliers but I'm still surprised to see some of the projections.
Also, Hicks at 2.9 WAR to Stanton's 2.8. Yikes.
Marly Rivera owns the Latin player market when it comes to in-depth interviews. She gets players comfortable in their own language, without a translator in between. This is as deep an interview as any of us have ever read. And I will agree with Jon’s take. Fans are too hard on their own players. It is up to the Yankees to salvage Gary’s hitting. You do not give away a player with his talent for the long ball.
It's hard to build WAR at DH and very easy in CF, NY is #2 in DH production there as of now (behind HOU with Alvarez) and #8 in CF production.
Are you saying you expect a healthy season from Hicks? I'm not so sure about that.
On a scale of 1-10, how worried are you that the Dodgers give Lemahieu whatever he wants after all the Padres moves?
3.
I love DJ, but obviously the Yankees can move Gleyber to 2B. If the Dodgers want to break the bank for DJ, moving on won't bother me too much.
But I don't think DJ is as valuable to the Dodgers as he is to the Yankees. Not in that park.