I'm struggling to find where Mike Tauchman fits right now, and I think the Yankees are also. I didn't expect Jay Bruce to be this productive in Spring Training. He's looking to rebound after an underwhelming three-year contract with the Mets and Tauchman looked good in 2019, and even with a short 2020 season he regressed.
A week from today Bruce can opt out of his contract. On the same note, Tauchman is out of minor league options and has four years of team control before he can become a free agent. Neither of these players can be sent to the minors without passing through waivers which seems unrealistic so the Yankees will likely lose one of them....unless there is a trade.
Considering the Yankees are giving Bruce a look at first base and he has had a productive Spring, I think that is a good sign that the Yankees like his versatility. Tauchman also has versatility, you can't ignore an outfielder who has the ability to all three positions. As much as we would like to forget, we can't ignore the Yankees have a brutal injury history in recent years especially with Aaron Judge and Clint Frazier so it would be smart to keep him for the extra versatility.
So, who gets the last bench spot, Bruce or Tauchman? Do the Yankees go with Bruce's experience or Tauchman's versatility? Considering that the Yankees are cursed by the injury bug I'd rather keep them both in a perfect world. Of course this isn't a perfect world so.....if you can only keep one, who do you keep?
Comment and tell us.
I don't understand the fascination with 13 pitchers.
ReplyDeleteCole, Kluber, Tallion, Monty, German and Garcia (6)
Chapman, Green, Wilson, O'Day, Loaisiga, Luetge(6)
Time to cut Cessa
Sanchez , Higgy (2)
Voit, D.J., Torres, Gio, Wade, Bruce(6)
Frazier, Hicks, Judge, Stanton, Gardner, Tauchman (6)
That said I would try and package a deal with Cessa and Tauchman for a too utility guy.Wade just can not seem to hit MLB pitching.
Use a semi 6 man rotation with someone doubling as the long man if the starter leaves early. Almost all of these pitchers will be on an I Kong's limit.
Not a big fan of Wilson though.Bold the fort until Britton returns.
I would think Jay Bruce has already made the roster. Tyler Wade however has not earned his spot and the fact that Urshela can fill in at shortstop - as evidenced by his performance there when the team shifts -- putting up defensive numbers that actually are comparable to Wade and Estrada both, It's a foregone conclusion that the final roster spot for the first month anyway will go to either Deitrick or Tauchman.
ReplyDeleteGiven that the Yankees are extremely thin in the infield, we are probably looking at Tauchman getting traded. Wade has options & quite frankly he needs to hit if he's going to be a big leaguer.
Gardy provides the ability to play all three outfield positions also so Tauchman is redundant, though also useful.
There are plenty of teams who could use Tauchman