2022-23 Yankees Offseason Discussion

E5 Yaz

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2022 bWAR:

Yelich: 2.7
Woodruff 2.7

Torres 4.1
Donaldson 2.4
Hicks 1.6
Montas 1.1

Plus NY would be taking on more money overall.
I was responding to the first post with just said "Donaldson, Montas and Hicks for Yelich and Woodruff plus maybe some cash." If Torres is involved, that does change the equation
 

jon abbey

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Why would we want Yelich? Average defender, average offense, expensive...Is he a shift improvement candidate? Also, super K prone.
Who would you like to be NY's LF next year? All of the candidates seem really flawed, maybe Yelich would be rejuvenated with his old buddy Stanton. And Rodon and Woodruff at 2/3 would bump Cortes and Severino to 4/5, an ace every night if they stay healthy. And it consolidates NY's dead money into one roster spot and would free up 2-3 roster spots for other hopeful upgrades.

But I haven't come up with a LF answer I like yet, honestly Joey Gallo would be the best fit if he hadn't played (bombed) here already. Benintendi I think is going to be a Hicks-like millstone deal almost immediately, maybe they really should just sign Brett Gardner until Pereira or Dominguez is ready (this is like 80 percent a joke but there really aren't options I like).
 

jon abbey

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Also they could just play Cabrera there and let IKF be the utility guy until one of Pereira/Dominguez is ready but they have shown zero signs that they consider that a possibility, they want to add someone to play LF. My man Matt Carpenter is still out there too...
 

jon abbey

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NY has 39 guys on the 40 man currently, and still need to officially add Judge, Rodon and Kahnle, so more moves are coming.
 

jon abbey

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Deivi Garcia has to go soon, he has no options left and he is nowhere near being able to help a big league team right now.
 

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OK, on to LF. After getting Judge back and strengthening the rotation, I'm pretty OK if they want to assume a little risk and think Cabrera can handle. it.

Beyond LF, I'm still hoping Matt Carpenter comes back.
 

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OK, on to LF. After getting Judge back and strengthening the rotation, I'm pretty OK if they want to assume a little risk and think Cabrera can handle. it.

Beyond LF, I'm still hoping Matt Carpenter comes back.
I am OK with Cabrera in LF if they can get better production at second, short and third.
 

EvilEmpire

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I am OK with Cabrera in LF if they can get better production at second, short and third.
I'm still hoping to see DJ full time at 2B, assuming he's healthy, and Peraza at SS. I'll sign up for that. Not sure what they'll do with Donaldson, but I suspect we may all be living with good defense and hoping for a offensive rebound.

If they can find Donaldson a new, probably subsidized home, maybe we'll see DJ at 3B and they keep Gleyber around. But I still hope they move him.
 

jon abbey

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That rumored blockbuster to the Brewers maybe, that wouldn’t add salary. Yelich and Woodruff for Donaldson, Gleyber, Montas and Hicks, possibly prospects and/or cash to balance it out. Then sign Carpenter for the bench.

LeMahieu 3B (R)
Judge RF (R)
Rizzo 1B (L)
Stanton DH (R)
Yelich LF (L)
Bader CF (R)
Trevino C (R)
Peraza SS (R)
Volpe 2B (R)

bench: Cabrera, Higgy, Carpenter, IKF

Cole
Rodon
Woodruff
Cortes
Severino
 
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Scoops Bolling

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That rumored blockbuster to the Brewers maybe, that wouldn’t add salary. Yelich and Woodruff for Donaldson, Gleyber, Torres and Hicks, possibly prospects and/or cash to balance it out. Then sign Carpenter for the bench.

LeMahieu 3B (R)
Judge RF (R)
Rizzo 1B (L)
Stanton DH (R)
Yelich LF (L)
Bader CF (R)
Trevino C (R)
Peraza SS (R)
Volpe 2B (R)

bench: Cabrera, Higgy, Carpenter, IKF

Cole
Rodon
Woodruff
Cortes
Severino
Maybe I'm missing something, but I cannot see why the Brewers would do this; one would think they could do far better than the Yankees' spare parts given the current market.
 

jon abbey

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Maybe I'm missing something, but I cannot see why the Brewers would do this; one would think they could do far better than the Yankees' spare parts given the current market.
Baseball Trade Values has this as a decided overpay for NY FWIW, although they certainly could be wrong. Those guys are indeed spare parts for NY but Gleyber was a 4.1 bWAR player last year, Montas was considered to be just behind Luis Castillo as recently as last deadline, Donaldson was a spectacular defender at 3B next year.

But yeah, I have no real idea obviously (not sarcastic).
 

Scoops Bolling

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Baseball Trade Values has this as a decided overpay for NY FWIW, although they certainly could be wrong. Those guys are indeed spare parts for NY but Gleyber was a 4.1 bWAR player last year, Montas was considered to be just behind Luis Castillo as recently as last deadline, Donaldson was a spectacular defender at 3B next year.

But yeah, I have no real idea obviously (not sarcastic).
Your post said Torres, not Montas. Montas would change the equation in my estimation.
 

jon abbey

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Don’t want to give up good prospects for one year of Happ, that would be the third LF they’ve traded prospects for since 2021 (Gallo, Benintendi).

If Cashman doesn’t have something major in the works, just sign Matt Carpenter to a 1 year deal. They have Cabrera behind him and Dominguez/Pereira ready late this year or next.
 

EvilEmpire

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With Joey on the Twins, and assuming they haven't soured on Kirilloff, I wonder what they're doing with Kepler.

I don't know if Kepler can play LF or not, but if so, I wouldn't mind seeing him on the Yankees at all. Left-handed and doesn't strike out too much is plenty enough to work with even though he's fallen off a bit over the last couple of years.

But yeah, I realize the Yankees have wasted a lot of trade bait on LF lately.
 

jon abbey

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Matt Carpenter looking better and better, very thankful NY did not commit to Benintendi who I think is going to crater.
 

EvilEmpire

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Kepler has never played LF for MIN.
Yeah. I know. Not in the majors. A little time there in the minors. Doesn't mean he isn't capable of it at the major league since he's decent at RF and they've even thrown him into CF a couple of times, but it is an open question, which is how I framed it.

Let's put it this way, if Kepler is comfortable that he can do it, I'd have more confidence in him out there than Carpenter, who I love, but who has like 6 games started in LF since 2011. Old dogs can learn new tricks, but I have more confidence in a younger guy doing so when they've already been playing the OF regularly.
 

jon abbey

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Defensively definitely, but Cabrera could play defensive caddy if NY thinks Carpenter’s offensive success is anywhere close to repeatable.
 

EvilEmpire

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Defensively definitely, but Cabrera could play defensive caddy if NY thinks Carpenter’s offensive success is anywhere close to repeatable.
FWIW, I'm fine with Cabrera in LF and am OK with him as a defensive caddy for Carpenter in LF, especially if they only mess with that on the road.

But honestly, assuming the Yankees don't pick up an experienced outfielder who can easily handle LF at the stadium, what I'd really like to see is Cabrera acting as a caddy for Stanton in LF the way you suggest, Gleyber gone, DJ fulltime at 2B, and Mr. WB Mason-Carpenter settling in as the backup 1B, which he has some time at and that I think he might be better suited for.

Stanton a little time in LF, Carpenter a little time at 1B, and both of them splitting up most of the time at DH.

That's what my dream of dreams looks like. I know there are too many moving pieces for everything to fall into place that way, but I'd love to see it.
 

Harry Hooper

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Just FYI, the mid-day radio show on WEEI in Boston had a little fun with the Yankees failing to update their 40-man roster on the team website. I wish it could stay that way with Judge not listed on it.
 

E5 Yaz

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Matt Carpenter looking better and better, very thankful NY did not commit to Benintendi who I think is going to crater.
Man, I was stunned by the size of that deal ... and this comes from a fan of a team that gave $90 million to Yoshida
 

jon abbey

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Man, I was stunned by the size of that deal ... and this comes from a fan of a team that gave $90 million to Yoshida
At least Yoshida is healthy, Benintendi looked like he had zero power for NY last year (just 5 HRs all season) and that was before injuring his hamate again.
 

jon abbey

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Let's check some DRS numbers for LFers, 2022 numbers and innings played there:

Hicks 4 (995.1)
Benintendi 2 (1041.1)
Brantley 2 (249)
Cabrera 0 (70)
Stanton 0 (32)
Carpenter 0 (20.2)

Kepler has never played LF in MLB, Conforto didn't play anywhere last season and hasn't played LF since 2018 but has played a few hundred games there.
 

jon abbey

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Still waiting on NY to make their signings official and clear two 40 man spots, they have so many infielders:

Rizzo
Gleyber
Peraza
Donaldson

DJ (maybe hurt to start the season)
IKF
Volpe
Cabrera (may end up in LF but a career middle infielder in the minors

Chaparro (incredible numbers down the stretch in AA last year, Steamer loves him)

Deivi Garcia really has no business with a 40 man spot anymore either. Sorry, dude, dunno what happened there.
 

terrynever

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At least Yoshida is healthy, Benintendi looked like he had zero power for NY last year (just 5 HRs all season) and that was before injuring his hamate again.
That was the injury that took away Roger Maris’s power. He was still a winning player in St. Louis. But I am also glad he is going to Chicago.
 

jon abbey

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What about Gleyber, IKF and Luetge to the White Sox for Crochet and a secondary piece? The White Sox have no middle infielders behind the oft-injured Tim Anderson and are trying to move relievers (although they'd prefer to move the pricy Hendriks), both of those guys would be nice upgrades for CWS and Luetge is solid too. BTV numbers:

Gleyber 11.6
Luetge 3
IKF 0.3

total 14.9

Crochet 13.5

Sign Matt Carpenter, DFA Deivi, then the 40 man would be:

SP (11): Cole, Rodon, Cortes, Severino, Montas, German, Crochet, Schmidt, Brito, Krook, Vasquez
RP (15) : Holmes, Loaisiga, King, Kahnle, Marinaccio, Peralta, Trevino, Weissert, Abreu, Cordero, Fernandez, Garcia, Gomez, Effross, Gil

C (3): Trevino, Higashioka, Rortvedt
IF (5): Rizzo, LeMahieu, Peraza, Cabrera, Donaldson
OF (6): Stanton, Bader, Carpenter, Hicks, Florial, Pereira

LeMahieu 2B
Judge RF
Rizzo 1B
Stanton DH
Carpenter LF
Bader CF
Donaldson 3B
Peraza SS
Trevino C

With Volpe up midseason to 2B, DJ to 3B, Donaldson dumped.

Cole
Rodon
Severino
Cortes
Montas

German
Crochet
King
Kahnle
Peralta
Trevino
Loaisiga
Holmes

Schmidt, Marinaccio and Weissert all in AAA to start if everyone is healthy.
 

E5 Yaz

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What about Gleyber, IKF and Luetge to the White Sox for Crochet and a secondary piece? The White Sox have no middle infielders behind the oft-injured Tim Anderson and are trying to move relievers (although they'd prefer to move the pricy Hendriks), both of those guys would be nice upgrades for CWS and Luetge is solid too. BTV numbers:
Heck, at this point we might give you Ryan Brasier or even Matt Barnes for IKF
 

jon abbey

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NY has plenty of relievers, Crochet is more like a lefty Schmidt, who can relieve, maybe start, and can be optioned if absolutely necessary.
 

jon abbey

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Judge said at his press conference just now that "there might be a couple more moves down the road", with a bit of a smirk, which to me means they're not going with the status quo in LF and something at least semi-big will be coming there. Bryan Reynolds will be pricy but that seems like the most logical fit (and he did ask for a trade, and he does supposedly want to come to NY).
 

EvilEmpire

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Judge said at his press conference just now that "there might be a couple more moves down the road", with a bit of a smirk, which to me means they're not going with the status quo in LF and something at least semi-big will be coming there. Bryan Reynolds will be pricy but that seems like the most logical fit (and he did ask for a trade, and he does supposedly want to come to NY).
Seems like it has to be something going on with LF. I'm conflicted if it is Reynolds. I like him well enough as a player, meh defense and all, but I'm dreading what the prospect package will look like since I don't think he'll be a difference maker.

Honestly, I think I'd rather have them give a bigger-than-I-really-want-to-see offer to Conforto. Would rather see dollars + QO penalties than a prospect haul, unless the prospect price is more reasonable than I think it will be.

Edit: I know he was nothing special last season, but he's young enough that I don't think that is his new baseline going forward. Hate the idea of giving him a bunch of years, but maybe shorter years at a higher AAV. I dunno.

Edit2: I'd be excited if the one of those over-the-top Milwaukee deals discussed earlier was in play, which I don't expect. That might be worth a smirk from Judge.
 
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jon abbey

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FYI, EE, Conforto's down season was 2021 and he missed all of last season after a Boras fuckup (he turned down $100M from the Mets) and then an injury. It seems like there is a lot of interest in him, and he will probably get well paid unless he specifically wants a one year cushion deal.

I didn't expect Luetge to survive the winter, NY needs more flexibility in the pen and Luetge (like Fernandez) is out of options. Luetge I'd expect will be traded this week, Fernandez they're hoping won't be claimed so they can send him to AAA.
 

EvilEmpire

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Heh. I guess it's obvious that I pay zero attention to the Mets and didn't realize his most recent season on BRef was 2021. Way to pay attention there.

Wonder if the Yankees are in on him or not.
 

jon abbey

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Luetge was one of NY’s only lefty relievers on the 40 man, now just 2 in Wandy and the untested depth guy Matt Krook.

Maybe NY is bringing back Britton cheaply at some point (he has said he feels he owes them for the last few pricy years when he contributed close to nothing)?
 

Petagine in a Bottle

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Would love to see the Sox land Luetge but I am sure the Yankees will deal him for something; he seems like he has value. Although I’m shocked he’s 35.
 

jon abbey

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Cashman is I'm sure pushing hard to add a LHH LF going into the spring, either the much discussed Reynolds (actually a switch-hitter) or maybe someone no one is thinking of, like his out of nowhere Bader for Montgomery deal.

But even if NY doesn't add anyone (and then I will be more bummed they didn't bring Carpenter back for that spot), Fangraphs has them currently in 15th of the 30 teams in projected WAR from the position, interesting the Dodgers are 21st and the Braves are somehow 30th.

https://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=LF

NY right now can go to spring training with Judge in RF, Bader in CF, Stanton as the primary DH but maybe 40-50 OF games, and in-house LF candidates:

Oswaldo Cabrera: He burst onto the scene last summer, less heralded than fellow middle infield prospects Peraza and Volpe. He had been the 2021 league MVP in AA, then hurt and ineffective for the first half of last season in AAA, but then came back, crushed AAA and NY promoted him very quickly, and he was somewhat of a season savior for NY, playing everywhere and well, especially RF (he was +9 in DRS in just 208 innings there, by comparison Betts' full 2022 in RF was +15 in 1154 innings). Ideally NY would like him to be an actually good and young Marwin Gonzalez, the 10th guy with incredible positional versatility, but him starting the spring as the starting LF, you could do worse.

Aaron Hicks: The groan goes up from the crowd, but as with Joey Gallo, this is a case where if the player had never played for the Yankees before, he would be one of the guys people are talking about in the Max Kepler range. Negatives we know, positives are he had a superb DRS number in LF last year (+8 in 413 innings), is a switch-hitter, and, um, isn't Joey Gallo?

Estevan Florial: Another guy we'd be eyeing with interest as a possible candidate to blossom if he was on another team. NY fans have prospect fatigue with him but he is still just 25 and had a .850 OPS in AAA last year, 39 SBs in 101 games, and strong defensively,
 

jon abbey

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I think NY is continuing to try to find a Reynolds match, maybe a Reynolds/Bednar combo if NY includes both Dominguez and Peraza (oof) plus a few more players. This situation seems to me a bit like Luis Castillo last deadline, NY made a fair offer including Dominguez but SEA topped them with a huge offer. I think Cashman will end up figuring out a match unless someone goes nuts like that. The Dodgers could easily outbid NY if Reynolds is a priority for them, but they need a CF and his defense there is mediocre and likely fading.

For NY, Reynolds would give them what should be a very good defensive LF and a backup CF for Bader, a switch hitter with a career .842 OPS for his cost-controlled seasons of 28-30.

This is how I handicap NY's quest for a LF currently:

Reynolds: this only makes sense both ways if Bednar is also included, then NY can include both Dominguez and Peraza plus three others, a 5 for 2. 20% chance.

Kepler: he shouldn’t cost much, probably just unwanted vets, and he doesn't really block anyone. 30% chance.

Someone we're not thinking about, a la the Bader/Montgomery deal. 30% chance.

Stick with the current guys, hope for bounceback seasons and/or prospects to jump up. 20% chance.

I'm kind of hoping for Kepler, I think.
 
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