Bleeding Yankee Blue: THE STRANGEST "PLAN B" FOR THE YANKEES THAT YOU'D NEVER GUESS

Monday, December 7, 2020

THE STRANGEST "PLAN B" FOR THE YANKEES THAT YOU'D NEVER GUESS

Maybe you are like me and asking...."what happened to Plan A?" Nothing has changed there. This year for Christmas, Yankee fans all want a new deal for DJ LeMahieu all wrapped up in a big pinstriped bow. He's still on the market and I really do think the Yankees are going to sign him. I'm not thinking about "Plan B yet", but Buster Olney has some insights on what that could look like.

Anyone else scratching your head? I never considered an outfielder to be "Plan B" to getting DJ back. Not at all. I mean, we've already talked about other infield options for the Yankees in case we don't get DJ back. Shouldn't a "Plan B" involve finding an actual shortstop so we can move Gleyber Torres back to second base? So that could mean signing someone like Didi Gregorius or Andreltonn Simmons.

But Buster Olney says Michael Brantley is "Plan B." Interesting. I'm not saying I wouldn't like his left handed bat. We could definitely use one especially if Brett Gardner is not coming back. He has a great swing, is one of the best left handed hitters in the game and has been a four time All-Star. There's a lot to like but....where does he fit WITHOUT a trade?

He doesn't. If the Yankees were to sign him he's not playing center field, he's playing a corner outfield position which means someone has to be dealt. What if that someone is Clint Frazier? More trade speculation for the player that never fit in until now after a break out season. Why deal him instead of seeing if he can finally produce in a full season?

And if you do deal Frazier I am killing the "Frazier for Francisco Lindor" idea right now. The Yankees would be crazy to trade Frazier with all of that team control and after the season he just had for one year of Lindor. That would be a bad move for us but the Indians would definitely like that trade once the Yankees sweetened that trade even more. If there is no extension, it makes no sense. Oh and, Frazier alone also won't bring us a number two or three type starting pitcher in case you were thinking about that instead.

I like rumor season, it gives us all something to talk about but "Plan A" is still getting DJ back. "Plan B" doesn't make a lot of sense right now. We have more pressing needs than Brantley in our outfield....you know, like quality starting pitching. Unless Brantley pitches now....he should be more like Plan L-ish.

You don't just walk away from talent like DJ, and then piece together a random strategy. Sorry Buster, but we still need to be all-in on "Plan A." We want and need DJ back on this team right now, he's the priority....let's focus on that instead of Brantley "Plan B."