Source: NY Post
Austin Romine has been a fixture of continuity for the Yankees since coming up through the ranks with their farm teams beginning in 2011. That same year, he made his major league debut in the Bronx in September. And since then, he has been a part of the Yankees in some way, contributing when needed, and evolving into one of the best back up catchers in baseball. But with free agency staring him in the face, the question becomes, can Austin Romine take on a starting catcher role somewhere else?
"Catcher Travis d’Arnaud bagging a two-year deal for $16 million from the Braves will help Austin Romine no matter where he lands," reported the NY Post. But d'Arnaud has been a starting catcher for several clubs at this point. Romine has played for one team all these years as a back up. Could Romine be the Nick Foles of baseball?
Source: USA Today
"A talent evaluator believes the Yankees should find a way to hold onto Romine, whose toughness, pitch calling, ball blocking and clubhouse presence would be missed," reported the Post. And with Gary Sanchez falling to injury multiple times a season over the last couple of years, would losing Romine expose a real weakness in the Yankee clubhouse? This weakness is more than just that the backup would like be Kyle Higashioka who has hit .164 for his partial seasons over the last three years. It is that the Yankees can't count on Sanchez to be healthy and quite frankly, be at the top of his game when it comes to both his offense and defense.
Source: Elite Sports New York
"In the past two years Romine has played in 149 games, hit 18 homers, drove in 77 runs, batted .262 and posted a .730 OPS," reported the Post. Losing him is more than just that though. He contributes leadership and a positive mindset to the team. Losing him, is like losing a foundation to a house. And that is not something the Yankees should give up.
Here's hoping that the Yankees at least pay Romine what he is worth on the free agency market, which could be close to or more than what d'Arnaud is getting. He should be getting much more than 1.8 million, which is what he earned this year. Let's hope the Yankees do the right thing here. We need Romine. It is just that simple.
--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof
I like Romine and I think the Yankees should anti up.Say 3 years 24 million. He will end up starting half the games bwcause of Samchez injuries.
ReplyDeleteThe Yankees should let go Sanchez and make Romine the Starter. I truly believe he is better than Sanchez in every aspect of the game, but power and arm strength.
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