NY in 2015: Looking Ahead

[jon abbey]

Update with the Capuano signing, I moved Warren back to the bullpen even though he almost certainly would be more helpful as a rotation option:

C: McCann
1B: Teixeira
2B: Prado
SS: Gregorius
3B: Headley
OF: Gardner, Ellsbury, Beltran
DH: A-Rod
 
SP: Tanaka, Pineda, Sabathia, Phelps, Capuano
RP: Esmil Rogers, Lindgren, Warren, Wilson, Kelley, Betances, Miller 
 
bench: Young, Romine/Murphy, Ryan, ????

 

[RedOctober3829]

Update with the Capuano signing, I moved Warren back to the bullpen even though he almost certainly would be more helpful as a rotation option:

C: McCann
1B: Teixeira
2B: Prado
SS: Gregorius
3B: Headley
OF: Gardner, Ellsbury, Beltran
DH: A-Rod
 
SP: Tanaka, Pineda, Sabathia, Phelps, Capuano
RP: Esmil Rogers, Lindgren, Warren, Wilson, Kelley, Betances, Miller 
 
bench: Young, Romine/Murphy, Ryan, ????

If the Yankees are serious about Scherzer, you could put Capuano in the pen as the long reliever.

 

[jon abbey]

Sure, but again, another big signing would kill any flexibility they have left probably until the 2016 trading deadline, and that is a long ways away. I think I am about as likely to suit up for NY next year as Scherzer is. 

 

[rembrat]

Can you guys stop. Rodriguez isn't going to help out the Yankees and the Yankees aren't going to eat his entire contract.

 

[jon abbey]

David Phelps should get a little more respect than this IMO, but very informative as to where Cashman thinks the rotation stands currently. Also clearly they don't want to put pressure on Severino, but he is an option at some point too if he continues to dominate in the minors:
 
"The Yankees have officially announced the Chris Capuano signing, and general manager Brian Cashman has made it clear that Capuano is meant to fill a rotation spot, not simply add a rotation possibility.
“He’s coming in as one of our starters,” Cashman said.
So that’s four spots essentially filled right now: Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda, CC Sabathia and Capuano. The Yankees expect Ivan Nova back from Tommy John by June at the latest, and for now, they’re looking at a list of predictable candidate to fill the fifth spot.
Cashman specifically named David Phelps, Adam Warren, Bryan Mitchell, Chase Whitley and Jose De Paula as rotation possibilities. Esmil Rogers, Cashman said, could also emerge as a rotation candidate. There’s a chance Manny Banuelos could pitch his way into that mix in spring training, but the Yankees aren’t counting on it."
http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2014/12/16/cashman-capuano-spot-rotation/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

[jon abbey]

Also I would be in favor of letting Boras know that NY would be willing to offer Scherzer a massive one year deal, maybe $32M, if he can't find the long-term one he's looking for this offseason. I think there's close to no chance of them agreeing to that, but it doesn't hurt to offer, I guess.

 

[jon abbey]

This post from RAB today explains in great detail what I've been repeating here for months now, NY's 2015 payroll is already probably in the $220-230m range, and while they don't say it there, it's not far below that for 2016. That's why they're not in on Scherzer or Shields:

http://riveraveblues.com/2014/12/2015-payroll-breakdown-part-two-112082/

 

[soxhop411]

RT @JackCurryYES: Source: Yankees are on the verge of acquiring P Nathan Eovaldi from Marlins for Martin Prado.

 

[soxhop411]

Barry Jackson ‏@flasportsbuzz 5m5 minutes ago
Marlins and Yankees have been discussing trade that would send Eovaldi and Garrett Jones to NY for Martin Prado and P David Phelps.

 

[jon abbey]

That would save NY something like $8M this year and would free up 2B for Refsnyder or Pirela. 

 

[E5 Yaz]

That would save NY something like $8M this year and would free up 2B for Refsnyder or Pirela. 

 
But do you like giving up Phelps?

 

[jon abbey]

 
But do you like giving up Phelps?

 
I'm still thinking about this and researching it. They do have a bit of a logjam of those type of swing guys, and my guess is that they might take that saved money and sign another pitcher (maybe even Kuroda?). 

 

[jon abbey]

Update with the Prado/Eovaldi trade:

C: McCann
1B: Teixeira
2B: Refsnyder
SS: Gregorius
3B: Headley
OF: Gardner, Ellsbury, Beltran
DH: A-Rod
 
SP: Tanaka, Pineda, Sabathia, Eovaldi, Capuano
RP: Esmil Rogers, Lindgren, Warren, Wilson, Kelley, Betances, Miller 
 
bench: Young, Romine/Murphy, Ryan, Jones

 

[jon abbey]

https://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/546009490110562304

 

[jon abbey]

Thankfully this has already been answered in the negative, I agree fully with this:
 
"There is a CBS report, the Yankees recently checked in on Troy Tulowitzki. 
A source said the Yankees are not in pursuit of Tulowitzki. 

Here are the some of the reasons why -- unless something drastically changes --- they are not going after him. 

1) He just had hip surgery. 
2) He is owed $114 million. 
3) He has averaged only 88 games per year during the past three seasons. 
4) They acquired Didi Gregorius to be their shortstop, possibly in a platoon. 
5) They want to get younger and healthier. Tulo is 30 and has a bad hip. 
6) Unless the Rockies are going to give him away, the Yankees would have to sacrifice top-end talent from a farm system they are attempting to rebuild."
 
http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/81943/no-tulo-trade-in-works

 

[jon abbey]

And that doesn't even mention that Coors inflates his numbers, .962 career OPS at home and .818 on the road, 1.246 at home/.811 on the road last year. I'd have to think long and hard before taking on his deal at all, let alone giving up any real talent for it. 

 

[StuckOnYouk]

Sounds like Kuroda is staying in Japan per Japanese newspapers, although NY says they haven't heard anything offical
 
http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasybaseball/update/24917806/report-rhp-hiroki-kuroda-heading-back-to-japan

 

[jon abbey]

He would have been an ideal addition on a 1 year deal in NY, but on the other hand, he turns 40 in February and both sides had to move on sometime. He always wanted to pitch for his hometown team in Hiroshima before retiring, and it looks like that's what he's doing. Sayonara, Hiroki, and thanks for some quality years. 

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

Korean media also reporting Kuroda has decided to return to Japan: http://sports.media.daum.net/sports/worldbaseball/newsview?newsId=20141227070304407&RIGHT_SPORTS=R9
 
It's a very Asian thing to do -- go back to an athlete's "mother" (directly translated) team to finish out a successful career. Quoted Kuroda as saying "it was the hardest decision" he ever had to make. 

 

[benhogan]

My bad, just read the article where it says the Yanks are at $220-230MM for 2015.
 
I'm guessing they go with this?
 
SP: Tanaka, Pineda, Sabathia, Eovaldi, Capuano
RP: Esmil Rogers, Lindgren, Warren, Wilson, Kelley, Betances, Miller 
 
 Wow, thats a big roll of the dice, what's Nova's ETA?

 

[mauidano]

Korean media also reporting Kuroda has decided to return to Japan: http://sports.media.daum.net/sports/worldbaseball/newsview?newsId=20141227070304407&RIGHT_SPORTS=R9
 
It's a very Asian thing to do -- go back to an athlete's "mother" (directly translated) team to finish out a successful career. Quoted Kuroda as saying "it was the hardest decision" he ever had to make. 

Just what Daisuke Matsuka and Hideki Okajima have recently done as well. "The prodigal son returns." It's surely not about the money.

 

[jon abbey]

My bad, just read the article where it says the Yanks are at $220-230MM for 2015.
 
I'm guessing they go with this?
 
SP: Tanaka, Pineda, Sabathia, Eovaldi, Capuano
RP: Esmil Rogers, Lindgren, Warren, Wilson, Kelley, Betances, Miller 
 
 Wow, thats a big roll of the dice, what's Nova's ETA?

 
Late May or June, but those always seem to be on the optimistic side. I got into the current rotation situation a bit more in that thread last week:
 
http://sonsofsamhorn.net/topic/87219-ny-rotation-2015/

 

[jon abbey]

Update with the Kelley trade:

C: McCann
1B: Teixeira
2B: Refsnyder
SS: Gregorius
3B: Headley
OF: Gardner, Ellsbury, Beltran
DH: A-Rod
 
SP: Tanaka, Pineda, Sabathia, Eovaldi, Capuano
RP: Esmil Rogers, Lindgren, ????, Warren, Wilson, Betances, Miller 
 
bench: Young, Romine/Murphy, Ryan, Jones
 
===================================
 
Warren should really be in AAA stretching out as the 6th starter, so that leaves probably three bullpen spots up for grabs if you count the one I gave to Lindgren above. 

 

[jon abbey]

Update with the Banuelos trade:

C: McCann
1B: Teixeira
2B: Refsnyder
SS: Gregorius
3B: Headley
OF: Gardner, Ellsbury, Beltran
DH: A-Rod
 
SP: Tanaka, Pineda, Sabathia, Eovaldi, Capuano
RP: Esmil Rogers, ??? RHP, Shreve, David Carpenter, Wilson, Betances, Miller 
 
bench: Young, Romine/Murphy, Ryan, Jones
 
===================================
 
Warren is off this list now as I am bumping him to 6th starter in AAA, and also I took Lindgren off since there are three other lefties ahead of him (Miller, Wilson, Shreve) and they don't need to add him to the 40 man roster yet. 

 

[jon abbey]

https://twitter.com/Joelsherman1/status/550793489802600450

 

[jon abbey]

Update with the Drew signing

C: McCann
1B: Teixeira
2B: Drew
SS: Gregorius
3B: Headley
OF: Gardner, Ellsbury, Beltran
DH: A-Rod
 
SP: Tanaka, Pineda, Sabathia, Eovaldi, Capuano
RP: Esmil Rogers, ??? RHP, Shreve, David Carpenter, Wilson, Betances, Miller 
 
 
bench: Young, Romine/Murphy, Ryan, Jones
 
=============================
 
Now I have Refsnyder and Pirela both in AAA if everyone is healthy, Adam Warren also (as 6th starter). 

 

[jon abbey]

Yankee beat writers are saying maybe Ryan gets DFAd for Drew and Pirela is the utility guy. 

 

[jon abbey]

https://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/552746515438268416

 

[jon abbey]

Some late night research (procrastinating my real work) shows that using the current MLB.com depth charts, there aren't many LH starting pitchers left in the AL East now that Lester and Price are gone. BOS has Miley, BAL has Chen, TOR has Buehrle, and TB has Smyly plus Matt Moore once he's back. 

 

[jon abbey]

Buster a few minutes behind me coming to a similar conclusion (leaving out Matt Moore, who is aiming for a May return):
 
https://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/552755827074166784

 

[jon abbey]

Also interesting to note that NY seems loaded with lefty relief guys who aren't just LOOGYs (Miller, Wilson, probably Shreve, maybe Lindgren), and that their left side defense should be stellar, so they'll be pitching to the big side of the park a lot at home, but on the flip side, teams like TOR and BOS are overflowing with RHH power. 
 
It's not just the left side, this should be NY's best defensive team in a while at full strength, especially on days when Chris Young plays RF: McCann, Tex, Drew, Gregorius, Headley, Gardner, Turncoat Dreamboat and Young. 

 

[No Guru No Method]

https://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/552746515438268416

 
I'll Fix that for 'ol Buster. 
 
NYY can roll out lineup with nine hitters who can hit left-handed stand in the left—handed batter's box. McCann, Teixeira, Drew, Didi, Headley, Gardner, Ellsbury, Beltran, Jones,

 

[jon abbey]

OK, just for curiosity's sake, I am going to check OPS of those nine vs. RHP (last year/career):

McCann (.633/.831)
Teixeira (.718/.866)
Drew (.584/.779)
Gregorius (.706/.743)
Headley (.693/.769)
Gardner(.775/.748)
Ellsbury (.711/.797)
Beltran (.777/.844)
Jones (.749/.811)
 
Career numbers there are impressive throughout, 2014 less so. 

 

[No Guru No Method]

OK, just for curiosity's sake, I am going to check OPS of those nine vs. RHP (last year/career):

McCann (.633/.831)
Teixeira (.718/.866)
Drew (.584/.779)
Gregorius (.706/.743)
Headley (.693/.769)
Gardner(.775/.748)
Ellsbury (.711/.797)
Beltran (.777/.844)
Jones (.749/.811)
 
Career numbers there are impressive throughout, 2014 less so. 

 
Since most of these guys are in there 30's I think the '14 splits are most relevant (and predictive). Here it is by OPS+. It's really, really unimpressive for something that's supposedly a strength.
 
McCann (80)
Teixeira (100)
Drew (63) LOL
Gregorius (97)
Headley (94)
Gardner (116)
Ellsbury (99)
Beltran (117)
Jones (109)
 
Here's the Sox projected starters for comparison sake in '14. Most of these guys bat right.
 
Vazquez (88)
Napoli (117)
Pedroia (109)
Bogaerts (82)
Sandoval (131)
Ramirez (135)
Betts (97)
Castillo (204) very few AB's
Victorino (90) few AB's
Ortiz (140)

 

[EvilEmpire]

Who thinks the Yankees lineup is a strength? I think the hope is that a bunch of left-handed hitters helps mitigate that weakness in an AL East full of right-handed pitchers. As noted, there is plenty of room for skepticism.

As of right now, the strength of the Yankees is in relief pitching and defense. That's it. Starting pitching may be OK depending on health. Offense is a weakness, and has been for a while.

 

[No Guru No Method]

Who thinks the Yankees lineup is a strength? I think the hope is that a bunch of left-handed hitters helps mitigate that weakness in an AL East full of right-handed pitchers. As noted, there is plenty of room for skepticism.

As of right now, the strength of the Yankees is in relief pitching and defense. That's it. Starting pitching may be OK depending on health. Offense is a weakness, and has been for a while.

 
Not me.

 

[NYCSox]

*cough" 240 foot pop fly HRs to RF *cough*
 
That's really all it is about.

 

[cromulence]

 
Not me.

 
Yeah, we sort of got that. Again, no one said the lineup is a strength so you're arguing against no one. Thanks though.

 

[No Guru No Method]

 
Yeah, we sort of got that. Again, no one said the lineup is a strength so you're arguing against no one. Thanks though.

 
I dunno it seems like somebody in this thread thought that the Yankees who stood on the left side of the plate might be good hitters. Sorry (not fuckin sorry) to use up the limited amount of bits and bytes in the world to discuss it. 

 

[jon abbey]

Yeah, no one thought that, but the discussion was all still valid, and while I hate to ever agree with NYCSox on anything, he is right that it is just about trying to maximize the short RF. 

 

[ThePrideofShiner]

 
Not me.

 
Actually, combining this post and your tagline: "I just need somewhere to dump all my negativity."
 
[SIZE=13.63636302948px]Sums up your contribution to this thread.[/SIZE]

 

[jon abbey]

No, his points were fully valid, and we're not exactly drowning in posts right now, so let's keep things on topic and leave out the personal crap. 

 

[jon abbey]

Obviously not NY-specific, but this is who everyone has been waiting for NY to spend big bucks on this winter:
 
https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/562709541620834304

 

[mauidano]

 
This is still entertaining...you'd think someone could find a clean shaven pic to photoshop.

 

[Murderer's Crow]

Read a piece on MLB network about Shields price dropping to the point where it may become an option for the Yankees. I'd be quite happy with his 200+ innings and +4 wins.

 

[jon abbey]

Read a piece on MLB network about Shields price dropping to the point where it may become an option for the Yankees. I'd be quite happy with his 200+ innings and +4 wins.

 
The one I read was the Dodgers, Joel Sherman says still no for NY:

https://twitter.com/Joelsherman1/status/562804051906420737

 

[TheYellowDart5]

Heyman agrees with Sherman on Shields.
 
https://twitter.com/JonHeymanCBS/status/562953821585149953

 

[jon abbey]

NY held a 3rd private workout for Moncada yesterday, second straight day with one:
 
http://riveraveblues.com/2015/02/king-yankees-held-third-private-workout-yoan-moncada-114722/

 

[jon abbey]

Roster decisions left to be made before Opening Day (six days away now):
 
5th starter: They haven't officially announced Adam Warren yet, but it's got to be him.
 
Backup catcher: John Ryan Murphy is better than Austin Romine, but Romine is out of options and Cashman traditionally dislikes DFAing guys who he thinks may be assets in any way. Murphy hasn't done much in camp, but if he goes back to AAA, then Gary Sanchez has to go to AA again. This one's tough to call. 
 
Last two relievers: The first five are Miller, Betances, Wilson, Carpenter and presumably Esmil Rogers. Then two of these four: Whitley, Shreve, Bailey and Chris Martin, with the faves probably being the first two. 
 
There are also some role decisions, like closer and the lineup, but those obviously can continue to be in flux after Opening Day. 

 

[jon abbey]

Brendan Ryan looks like he just messed up his calf, is Pirela back from his concussion yet?