2020-2021 Yankees Offseason Discussion

EvilEmpire

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Huh. I had no idea he is only 33 (almost 34). I think you're spot on about a possible Ford replacement.

It makes me wonder how open the Yankees are to Stanton playing in the OF more. Having more options for lefty DHing if they aren't convinced Ford can get it done would be nice.
 

terrynever

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Justin Wilson always reminded me of Mike Stanton. Two lefty relievers who came right at hitters.
 

jon abbey

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I think that's probably correct, but not for the obvious reasons. O'Day and Wilson seem pretty solid, but last year's team had Kahnle and Ottavino in those spots. The difference is that this team has a bunch of young arms on the 40 man, many of whom will likely be given bullpen shots at some point.
 

jon abbey

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Wilson is being reported as $4M for 2021, wondering what that means for Gardner. He could almost certainly get more elsewhere if that's what he decides.
 

jon abbey

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Ooh, that’s a great signing, the third string Erik Kratz waiting at Scranton role. Chirinos played with Cole in 2019, he has caught him 16 times with a 2.46 ERA.
 

jon abbey

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NY announces their full list of spring training invites, including Derek Dietrich and Nick Goody on minor league deals. Dietrich might be a better fit than Jay Bruce for the Mike Ford bench spot.
 

jon abbey

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Dietrich evidently assigned #12, strong sign he has the inside track to make the team.
 

Murderer's Crow

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And that is the right move. If you're willing to go over the threshold for Gardner, then you better have frikkin gone over it for other players too.
 

jon abbey

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That means Tauchman is gone if everyone stays healthy until Opening Day, bench of:

Gardner
Dietrich or Bruce
Wade or Estrada
Higashioka
 

EvilEmpire

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I think if Gardner takes too many ABs from Frazier, it will be because Frazier can't hold down that big LF.
 

jon abbey

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I think that will depend on Clint, especially his defense. No one is saying it but his improved defensive numbers last year mostly came in RF, his LF numbers were dreadful again. That being said, Boone made a point of calling Clint the starter this week.

Edit: Crosspost with EE, yup.
 

jon abbey

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Cash's hard-on for Gardy continues.
He's produced a remarkable amount, just under 4 bWAR on average between 2013-2019 and a 1.079 OPS in last year's postseason (24 PAs). His foot speed somehow has basically not dropped at all even though he is 37 now, he would have done well on the open market if he had given anyone else a real chance to sign him.
 

EvilEmpire

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Yeah, I don't think that option is happening.

Getting back to Frazier, it sure seems like they're confident he can manage LF. I still wonder if they're trying to trade him.

Edit: Given how productive Gardner still is, I'm going to plan on not being shocked if Gardner winds up being the starter and Tauchman sticks as the fourth OF. But of course that only happens if Frazier is gone.

2nd edit: I dunno, Frazier's bat could be special and maybe he is still steadily improving in the OF.
 
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jon abbey

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Only the 12th position player to ever play 14 seasons for NY:

20 Derek Jeter
18 Yogi Berra
18 Mickey Mantle
17 Frankie Crosetti
17 Bill Dickey
17 Lou Gehrig
17 Jorge Posada
16 Bernie Williams
15 Babe Ruth
15 Roy White
14 Don Mattingly
14 Brett Gardner
 

jon abbey

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Clearing 40 man spots will not be hard, Wilson and Gardner on, Severino to the 60 day IL, Greg Allen gone.
 

jon abbey

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Also Wilson's contract hasn't been announced, but Cashman basically shoehorned all three of O'Day and Wilson and Gardner into Ottavino's salary slot. They lost Frank German but should get something back when they trade Tauchman.
 

jon abbey

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The most relevant part of this article is the mental state of Domingo German, which seems to paint a really uncertain picture about where his head is at.
Eh, I read elsewhere that his girlfriend dumped him for good and that's what that was about. I wouldn't jump to conclusions based on social media.

That being said, NY does have a good bit of pitching depth now and Severino seems ahead of schedule, so I wouldn't be too surprised to see German traded before the season.
 

terrynever

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Eh, I read elsewhere that his girlfriend dumped him for good and that's what that was about. I wouldn't jump to conclusions based on social media.

That being said, NY does have a good bit of pitching depth now and Severino seems ahead of schedule, so I wouldn't be too surprised to see German traded before the season.
Once an athlete becomes a distraction to the team, his days are numbered. Yanks should have released him but Cashman was hoping to get something in return. German was a really good pitcher for one year and a helluva prospect before he screwed up.
 

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I'm a little late, but the prior post reminded me that as a baseball fan, I wanted to say what I love about Darren O'Day.

I love that he throws an 86 mph fastball exclusively on the upper edge and can get a whiff % of 30% on it.

I love that his 4-seamer has more horizontal movement than his slider, and his slider is still dominant.

I love that he can throw a slider with 10" less horizontal movement than Bauer, who also has an extra 8 mph on his fastball, and get a better whiff rate with it (35.1% to 33.7% on sliders in 2020). (Yes, I know there is a mountain of difference in volume for a reliever and starter, but I still love it.)

I love that he always ends up with a K % around 30% and a walk % better than league average.

I love that his slow velocity still leads to a better than average pull % by hitters, meaning less pulled balls (32.8% vs. league average 36.6%).

I love that he lives on the edge of the zone (48% vs. league average 42.6%) and rarely throws middle-middle (5.3% vs. league average 7.2%).

I have a soft-spot for side-armers, but what he can do with his stuff is a good example of what makes baseball fun. An 86 mph fastball up in the zone sounds like a recipe for disaster, not dominance. Health is an on-going problem at this point in his career, but when he is on the mound, he does some great stuff in an untypical fashion.
 

jon abbey

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Since I talked for months about NY going after Joey Gallo, I wanted to note that today he hit his 4th HR already this spring, this one off Walker Buehler. He has a 1.962 OPS currently. :)