Player development gets credit and I imagine Cashman advocated keeping Severino as a starter. But one thing we must consider after firing the manager and his coaching staff is Girardi and Rothschild did a really nice job with the pitching staff this season, except for Betances. This team peaked in September and October, not an easy thing when pitchers can be overworked so easily. I guess it was July and August that sewed the seeds of Joe's demise.
Actually I think it's a legit thing to bring up in this context, other teams might have been hesitant to commit 4-5 years to him, and maybe more importantly, a new contract might be uninsurable.
I don't think it had much to do with on-field performance, I think Cashman is just looking for someone longer-term and Girardi was fairly clearly getting close to burnt out.
Right thanks for amplifying my point. Also this may not be an active signing season for big market clubs with 2018 on the horizon. So he was at considerable risk of losing out. That said I’m a little surprised that he couldn’t at least squeeze out an extra year.
Well, the original deal was signed and presumably insured before the tear was discovered, so if that was the issue, he maybe didn't have a choice really.
Great post, Jon. After Joel Sherman, you are my favorite Yankee writer.
I think he'd be very attractive, both for his leadership and his reinvention as a pitcher. I'd take him in a second.
Bob, you're probably old enough to remember Robin Roberts, who reinvented himself as a junkballer with Baltimore in the early 1960s. And Frank Tanana. CC might have two more effective years left until that sore knee locks up for good.
Roberts, no, Tanana for sure. I think CC would be fine going year to year at this point.
The Dodgers used the DL like I don't remember any team using it before. And I'm not really sure how MLB can stop it, even though it's bound to be copied.
With Tanaka, the payroll is at $144m (w/ estimated arb numbers). That leaves probably 40-45M Cashman would comfortably spend to stay under the $197 mark while leaving some room for the deadline. There's also a strong possibility he tries to save money on Ellsbury. There is a good amount of payroll flexibility here IF Cashman did want to spend on the market.
I don't see why or where he would except for upgrading backup catcher. They have too many outfielders, too many infielders once Torres and Andujar are deemed ready, a very full bullpen (I suppose they could overpay for a lefty like Jake McGee) and a very full rotation once they make it official with CC, even before possibly getting Otani. DH is open but Andujar and Clint Frazier and possibly Otani can take those ABs, plus maybe 30 games for Sanchez there, some for Judge, etc.
I have advocated for them to pick up an experienced bat elsewhere in this thread, and I still maintain they will need one.
Has anyone seen a timeline on when that is expected to happen? I'm sure the information is out there, but either I've missed it or forgotten.
Right now, the MLB union is holding it up, there needs to be an agreement in place between the two leagues before he can declare his intentions. This was also the case (agreement in limbo) when Tanaka came, and that year the agreement was settled on in mid-December and Tanaka posted about a week later.
Sure, I don't mind this strategy. Blocking out Otani is obviously not worth it. But, getting a solid bat to sit in the DH hole, and Holliday was that bat before falling ill, is such a huge asset especially in the playoffs. Rather than a patchwork of guys like Headley and Ellsbury.
Yea, there's no question about this. The DH spot being used to rest guys was great when our team was old. Now that they're young, we should be able to get an everyday DH who can spot start in a utility type role.
Clint Frazier is a hefty price to pay for Felipe Rivero, who doesn't have a lengthy track-record. I agree that he is extremely attractive but Clint could bring something better back than a reliever.
If you are bringing up a Stanton acquisition, I would rather ship Frazier and Betances to Miami in a deal for him.
I am assuming they will bring back CC, so then maybe a six man rotation and still seven relievers and twelve hitters (plus Otani)? He would be a part-time DH so it’s more of a partial extra roster spot than a full one. Hopefully we get the chance to see...
It's not really new. I think I mentioned earlier in this thread that Sherman said that was the plan.
