The news broke just before first pitch and the chatter on Twitter was fierce. But it was all true. I am sad to see Mike Tauchman go across the country as the Yankees appear to be covering for lackluster starting pitching with a middle reliever and a player to be named later.
Yankees pick up Wandy Peralta, a 29-year-old left-handed pitcher who is 2-1 with two saves and a 5.40 ERA in 8.5 innings of play this season. Peralta is the third left-hander in the Yankees' bullpen after closer Aroldis Chapman and Justin Wilson. Recall that Zack Britton is on the 60-day IL following elbow surgery and is expected back in June. The Giants appear to have gotten the better end of the deal as Tauchman has been a great pinch runner with his speed, plays all outfield positions and began training at first base after Luke Voit's injury. Voit is also expected back in June.
"The Giants were in search for an outfielder with Mike Yastrzemski -- who like Tauchman also bats left-handed -- dealing with an oblique injury. Yastrzemski had an MRI on Monday, which revealed "a very mild oblique strain," according to manager Gabe Kapler," reported ESPN.
To fill the void left by Tauchman's exit, the Yankees recall Tyler Wade from their alternate site. Wade who can play both outfield and infield positions, has been a great defensive replacement in the late innings. Wade also puts some speed in the Yankee lineup but he simply cannot hit, which has been a liability for the Bombers.
Well, the Yankees beef up their bullpen but lose one of the good guys, and hard workers. He will be missed, particularly by my son, who always felt that the Sockman got a raw deal and little opportunity to play with Clint Frazier and Brett Gardner splitting time in left field. Good luck, Mike. I hope you do well out in San Francisco and you get a lot of playing time. I look forward to catching you when you play on the east coast against the Mets and the Phils and be sure I am rooting for you from the stands.
--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof
Nice post, as always Suzie & I share your sentiments. The Giants definitely got the better end of the deal.
ReplyDeleteThat said the Yankees really weren't playing Tauchman much & maybe when they signed Gardy this past off-season, a trade was inevitable.
I'm actually surprised that Cashman couldn't get more for him. He would have been a pretty neat piece to put into a larger package, perhaps at the deadline, for a legit #3 switch hitter or left-handed bat.
Boone is really struggling trying to balance the lineup and get a few left-handed bats in the right spots. Hicks batting #3 clearly wasn't the answer and neither is batting Gardy there, so now basically we have four or five right-handed hitters in a row at the top of the lineup & That's not going to cut it in the postseason and it certainly hurts the team more often than not when they face quality right-handed relievers and/or starters.
Tauchman was one of the few left-handed hitters the Yankees have so I just have to scratch my head here on this trade.
Perhaps the rest of the league didn't value him based on his terrible season last year and maybe the Yankees had kind of lost that warm fuzzy feeling they had for him.
In any regard, it's a great pick up for the Giants & Cashman continues to blunder as he attempts to patch the roster together with his blinders on as he talks about winning a World Series. ZOWY!
I'm starting to wonder at what point will Hal Steinbrenner be forced to intervene? He's got a lot of money invested in these Yankees.
Another point I didn't mention is...perhaps Estevan Florial just inched slightly closer to getting a cup of coffee. If one of the Yankee outfielders gets injured, or if Clint Frazier continues to struggle badly, we might be seeing Florial soon. Tauchman was absolutely blocking him and deservedly so but now the path is a little more open.
ReplyDelete