BILLY MCKINNEY COULD PROVE TO BE A GOOD FIT IN NEW YORK... AGAIN

I've always been a big Billy McKinney fan. He's got the look, he's got the ability and years ago I was pretty annoyed that the Yankees let his get away from us.  In fact, I am one of the few that sees the decent athlete McKinney is.  Now back in 2018 the Yankees had him but traded him away for JA Happ.  Back then fans were slamming me because I called it a panic move. Read BEING A FAN IN THE WORLD OF DUNCE. Lucky for me, I documented the whole BS between fans that thought I was crazy and fans that just liked to bitch and moan.  Bottom line, the Yankees really didn't get much out of the Happ trade, did they? And in the end, McKinney is back in New York, this time competing for an outfielder's gig.  

Yup, you got it... McKinney is back. McKinney will start in the minors, but I can bet we will see him this year.  MLB Trade Rumors writes:

"The Yankees have signed outfielder Billy McKinney to a minor league deal, according to MiLB.com’s official transactions page. McKinney has been assigned to the team’s Triple-A affiliate.

...McKinney and Brandon Drury were traded to the Blue Jays in 2018 for J.A. Happ.

McKinney has played in each of the last five Major League seasons, suiting up at the MLB level for 263 games with six different teams. Only two of those games were in the Yankee pinstripes, which also marked the very first two games of McKinney’s big league career.

Once seen as a top-100 prospect and a possible future center fielder, McKinney has mostly settled into a role as a corner outfielder and even a part-time first baseman. "

And as we look at the depth chart, the Yankees could use a backup first baseman, and, they definitely need a left fielder and trust me, this stirs up some competition out there, between he, Hicks and Calhoun.

Whatever the case, dare I say I am thrilled that McKinney is back. Will he get a shot at the bigs again? Hey, we know he can do it, why not? I think the strategy however is to see him at spring training, let him get work in the minors and if they need a guy and believe he can contribute, we will see this guy on the big club... and that's the bottom line.

YANKS PANIC, TRADE MCKINNEY FOR J.A.HAPP

I'm sorry, the only name I saw in this entire trade was Billy McKinney, and he's on his way to Toronto. What kind of fool sends a prospect like that away from a rental like J.A. Happ?

Are you kidding me?

Brandon Drury? Buh-Bye. We don't need him. We didn't need him when we signed him and we sure as hell don't need him now.

Billy McKinney? He's the future folks and he's a solid future player. And you know what? I hope he goes to Toronto and turns into a superstar because the kid has heart and mad potential. And you know what? I'm pissed about it.

Anyway.  In the process, the Yanks get J.A. Happ to win now. Fine!  We'll get Mark Feinsand do the honors:

Source: Yankees sending Brandon Drury and Billy McKinney to Jays in the trade for J.A. Happ. Congressman @JonHeyman was first to report them as potential return.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 26, 2018

And now we wait. Will J.A. Happ be our savior? Will he help turn the Yankees around? Will he turn into an uncertainty in the rotation? A Jaime Garcia... a Sonny Gray.

Or will he be that Shawn Chacon, Aaron Small wild card-sure thing when we need it most.

We'll have to see.  One thing I do know is this... Billy McKinney is a major loss in this entire scenario.  We loved McKinney here at BYB.  Don't worry though... we'll keep an eye on him for you all.

Welcome to the Bronx, J.A. Happ.  Make it a good one... or else.

ANOTHER CRAZY TRADE IDEA...

Photo: SL Today

It's the All-Star break and until there is baseball to watch again on Friday boredom takes over. With boredom comes crazy ideas as we all try to fill our time. So as I tried to fill my time I found a rather silly trade idea.

Photo: Getty Images

I guess once news broke on Tuesday that Manny Machado was about to become a Dodger people started looking for new trade ideas and rumors. So straight out of St. Louis HERE is a new idea post Mike Matheny getting fired. New, yes.....but is it any good? You be the judge.

Photo: Sporting News

Everyone knows the Yankees are looking for pitching, but I think the author of that trade proposal values all players mentioned a lot differently then Yankees fans. The trade proposal mentioned is this: RHP Carlos Martinez to the Yankees for LHP Justus Sheffield, 3B Miguel Andujar, RHP Domingo Acevedo and RHP Cody Carroll. Interesting, right?

Now, the author makes the point that we all know to be true, behind Luis Severino and arguably CC Sabathia the rotation is an area of weakness and yes Sonny Gray can't be trusted. There have been rumors that the Cardinals may consider moving Carlos Martinez if they don't turn things around. They are 7.5 games behind the Cubs in the NL Central and may decide to sell. If so, that would make him an interesting option in a non-existing pitching market. He's not the biggest name but apparently he might be worth a king's ransom according to the trade proposal.

So what is so great about Martinez? He had good years from 2015-2017 and he was an All-Star in two of those seasons. He is a work horse, and has averaged 176 innings in his career hitting his highest 205 innings last season and is a strikeout pitcher. Last season he had 217 strikeouts. He also doesn't give up a lot of home runs except last year he gave up an unusually high amount of home runs at 27, this season he's only given up four. He also doesn't have a long injury history. This may he had a right lat strain that put him on the 10 day disabled list and in September of 2015 he had a right shoulder strain where he was out for 60 days. Nothing too alarming.

So on paper he looks pretty good. It would be interesting to see if he could keep the home runs down at Yankee stadium. He's definitely got some value, but I would argue so do Sheffield and Andujar which the author doesn't seem to be as convinced as we are at BYB. In the proposal, the author is very stuck on their rankings. Sure, Andujar barely cracked the top 100 and Sheffield isn't in MLB's top 25 but as I have stated in other pieces.....rankings are just a number.

Not all top prospects live up to the hype as previously stated in another piece, read THAT ANDUJAR FOR JACOB DEGROM TRADE IDEA IS BACK AGAIN. The ranking stat is completely meaningless after 120 major league at bats and he has been a big reason why the Yankees have been so successful. He's the reason Brandon Drury lost a starting role....and he is a successful big leaguer now, forget about being a prospect.

As for Sheffield, who cares if he isn't in MLB's top 25? The Yoan Moncada comparison comes back again. He was once a top prospect and he didn't pan out. The Red Sox were so unimpressed they shipped him off to the White Sox. Rankings don't mean anything! I will tell you what does mean something though....the Yankees confidence in this kid. The Yankees need pitching right? So trading him for Martinez doesn't accomplish getting and keeping quality pitching long term. Sheffield could be a long term solution for the Yankees and he could be a damn good pitcher.

So, interesting trade proposal, right? I wouldn't say it makes the most sense with the players proposed in the trade but that's what keeps us so interested in the rumor mill. Sorry St. Louis.....if I were a betting woman I would say the best chance that you have at getting a Yankee right now is Joe Girardi as you new skipper.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

COLE HAMELS TO THE YANKEES? NOT SO FAST....

Sean M. Haffey/Getty

That Cole Hamels guy is back in Yankee headlines again so we are writing about him....again. Will Hamels ever become a Yankee? Do we even want him to be at this point? Depending on which news source you picked up over your holiday you could be hopeful or skeptical.

So now what? Back in May we wrote HAMELS TO THE YANKS? HE SEEMS INTRIGUED and so were a lot of fans. The trade deadline is coming up fast, and some sources still say that Hamels will be a Yankee. Former Mets and Orioles GM Jim Duquette thinks Hamels becomes a Yankee with a very interesting trade package, read more HERE.

Source: NJ.com

Now assuming that Cole Hamels doesn't veto a trade to the Yankees thanks to his no trade clause I think the package Duquette suggests is strange. He picks Brandon Drury as a trade piece but he doesn't make any sense for the Rangers. Drury is a very versatile guy and could play second or third base for them but the Rangers already have s roster crunch at those positions. They don't know what to do with the guys they have now so it makes no sense to add Drury and make it even more complicated.

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Then there is the addition of either Chance Adams or Justus Sheffield which is an interesting either/or scenario there. Adams has definitely regressed since last year so we aren't talking about the same guy that the Yankees were considering packaging to acquire Gerrit Cole. Sheffield on the other hand is a top prospect and even if the Rangers ate all of Hamels salary (which is a lot to get the deal done) seems like a long shot. I don't see Hamels playoff experience a great reason to deal him for Sheffield.

But maybe none of this will even matter because if you read Jon Heyman yesterday it sounds like Hamels could possibly be heading home. 

Maybe he is headed for a reunion in Philly. He started his baseball career there and he helped them win a World Series there in '08. He was an NLCS and World Series MVP and he finished is time in Philly by pitching a no-hitter against the Cubs.

Maybe Heyman is right, he as roots there and memories. It could be too good to pass up. If he had an opportunity to go home again....why wouldn't he? The Phillies have rebuilt and are going to be a dangerous team going forward. Why not go back and have a chance to do it all over again? It could be a story book ending.

Photo: The Sporting News

Who knows if either Duquette or Heyman are right at all. It's been many years of waiting to see if Hamels will ever wear a Yankee uniform. I guess we will wait and see if it happens this time....we will have our answer soon enough.

Stay tuned.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH BIRD?

Photo: Getty Images

I heard Paulie O'Neill say it last night. Paraphrasing here, he said how it's gotta be frustrating for Greg Bird and him hitting a couple dingers the other day, but he's really struggling with that low average otherwise.  It is frustrating. Frustrating for him... definitely for the fans too.

NJ.com writes this about Bird and it's eye opening:

Photo: Getty Images

"The Yankees have to be close to losing their patience with first baseman Greg Bird, who’s hitting .198 in 31 games since coming off the disabled list following ankle surgery. After hitting two homers in Saturday’s win, he’s 1-for-8. He entered Monday hitting .171 (7-for-41) in his previous 15 games. 

'I've just got to do better,' he said late Monday night."

Photo: Getty Images

Losing their patience. Definitely. But what will they do? Will they send him to AAA? Will they replace him with Tyler Austin? Drury? Neil Walker? My son? Anyone else? Will they even move him?

That we'll have to see.  I know the Yankees want Bird and like him, but the concern now is do they just hope he's gonna pop and become the Bird they want him to be? Or... will they eventually just snap and remove him all together.

Personally, if it was me, I bench him for a few days, do a reset, let another player play and then give him another shot down the road a bit. Sometimes walking away helps a player tremendously. I think that could be good for Gregory.

HEY O'HARA! BIRD'S NOT THE WORD!

Bird was SUPPOSED to be the word, right? UGH.....no. Just, no.

Photo: Getty Images

I have been trying to stay positive about Greg Bird. I know a lot of people are down on him and have been for awhile now. I have tried to give the benefit of the doubt and wait it out because some guys just need the extra time. I think Bird has had plenty of time.

I've been patient, fans have been patient and Bird says he is capable of more, read that HERE but we have been waiting since 2015 to see it. Bird wants to impress us all. He has the right attitude about it but he just hasn't been able to execute and DO it. As much as I like the attitude I want the results. It's time. Maybe it's time to MOVE ON from Bird.

Photo: Getty Images

I guess this brings me back full circle. If you have been reading us for awhile now, you may remember THIS, THIS and THIS just to name a few.

Photo: Getty Images

Mike O'Hara... if you are out there reading this HOLY COW this is all too familiar, right? For the last couple of years of Mark Teixeira's time as a Yankee we used to pretty frequently discuss Tex. He would talk about how he was done, he wasn't a fan and he was ready for Bird to takeover. I would answer back with my own piece and defend him. At one point, I called myself his lawyer since it sounded like he was putting Tex on trial. It happened a few times and it was always in good fun! The banter was great.

Well Mike... now I am looking at you. Now I am you. It's time to turn back time. I am ready to end this experiment with Greg Bird. Tex is retired, just like you said his game was TIRED but now so is Bird. I will admit that Tex wasn't perfect and he had a ton of faults but he was my guy. He had a lot (A LOT A LOT) of frustrating moments but he also had some big, never forget moments. I mean....how can you forget that walk-off home run in the 11th inning against the Twins back in 09? CLASSIC and eventually it ends with a championship. That's a HUGE moment. Bird doesn't have a moment as epic as THAT.

And what about Tex and his constant "boo-boos" as you once wrote? (It was funny as hell).

Photo: Getty Images

Bird is just as bad. In fact, I call him glass man. The guy can't stay healthy. He has missed sooooo much time. He teased us with a great debut in 2015, missed all of 2016, played in 48 games last year and 27 so far this year. WILL THE REAL GREG BIRD PLEASE STAND UP....PLEASE STAND UP?! He's Tex 2.0 without the experienced resume. How is he an upgrade? He only frustrates me like Tex frustrated you.

And come on, Bird doesn't have the most amazing numbers either. Tex struck out, popped up a ton and hit right into the shift (constantly!) but at least he had some power numbers (Bird has 3 home runs....3!!!).

Photo: Getty Images

Tex got the nickname Teixecutioner once upon a time (OK, a LONG time ago) and Bird well....he was supposed to be "Bird's the word" but he's just glass man. WHOMP WHOMP. Guys who have a .193 BA don't deserve a nickname. In fact, they really don't deserve to be a starter. He should be riding the pine like Jacoby Ellsbury was (and will be if he ever comes back) if not sent packing back down to the minors.

Photo: Getty Images

Maybe Bird needs to embrace Tex's old Gluten free diet? I don't know. The only thing I do know is Bird is just BAD and he hasn't earned his spot. It sucks to see guys down in Triple-A right now who are doing well like Brandon Drury. He may not be the experienced first baseman GLASS MAN is but he's at least producing something unlike Bird. The Yankees shouldn't be rewarding Bird with a starting role right now. He's doing the team no good and certainly not helping my sanity!

Just like O'Hara wanted to see Tex succeed I want to see Bird succeed. He's a great kid and I love the attitude. I just don't love the results. Bird was supposed to be the future, but he hasn't hit or stayed healthy enough to be that future. You have to know when it's time to say "enough's enough" and move on. So if it's not time to move on now.....when do we reach that point?

Okay, O'Hara....you ready for another go-round like we used to? I'm game if you are!

--Jeana Bellezza
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

TIME ALMOST UP FOR WALKER & PATIENCE THINNING FOR BIRD

Source: Al Bello/Getty Images North America

With the Yankees back to back losses to the Rays, the spotlight turns towards players who have not been producing.  Arguably you could say that Neil Walker just hasn't gotten enough playing time, and that may be, but if he had been productive in the playing time he has had, wouldn't the Yankees consider platooning him with Greg Bird?  And speaking of Greg Bird, why is he still playing first base?  He has been nothing more than a rally killer at the plate, batting an abysmal .193.  Why keep guys in the lineup or on the roster if they are simply not pulling their weight?

Source: Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images North America

According to CBS Sports, "The Yankees have acknowledged that (Brandon) Drury deserves to be in the majors, but there's currently no room for the infielder with Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres both mashing for the big club. He'll get some reps at first base moving forward in an attempt to provide him with another path to the majors."  So if Drury, the International League Player of the Week batting .471, can in fact play first base, he could dismantle both Bird and Walker in one swoop, perhaps also making way for beloved utility player, Ronald Torreyes.

Source: Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images North America

Torryes was sent back down to Scranton-Wilkes Barre when Brett Gardner had some knee inflammation and needed to take a few games off.  Skipper Aaron Boone called on Clint Frazier to replace Gardner, making Toe the odd man out again.  "The best guess is that Torreyes spends 10 days in Triple-A and then replaces Frazier. By rule that is the quickest the Yankees can bring Torreyes back without another player going on the DL," reports NJ.com.

Source: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images North America

Playing everyday is something you earn by producing. Sure, players hit the wall and have slumps intermittently throughout the 162-game schedule, but what is happening with Bird is just unacceptable and the Yankees should not be rewarding him with a starting role or even a roster spot if he is not going to produce.  Bring back Drury, bring back Torreyes and send Bird and Walker to the minors. These losses to the Rays are unnecessary and could come back and bite us later on. If Walker and Bird stay as is for one more week, I will lose my mind!

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

THAT ANDUJAR FOR JACOB DEGROM TRADE IDEA IS BACK AGAIN

Photo: New York Post

This Jacob DeGrom to the Yankees talk just won't go away. The Yankees definitely need some pitching and baseball fans want to see the trades happen. Baseball writers everywhere also seem to want to see the Mets and Yankees finally make a trade. I don't care for the crosstown trade hype, if it works fine.....but it has to make sense.

Photo: North Jersey

Right now some of the reasons to trade Miguel Andujar do not make sense to me but NJ.com had a piece HERE giving a bunch of reasons why they should. I get that the Mets are not a contending team and are likely to listen to offers but should the Yankees really be as interested in getting rid of Andujar?

Just being realistic here, if the Yankees and Mets even started talking about this trade DeGrom is worth a lot more than just Andujar and if I am the Mets right now considering giving him up, it better be for one hell of a haul back. The Yankees better be prepared to start including other names like Justus Sheffield since Gleyber Torres is definitely untouchable according to Brian Cashman. DeGrom is one of the best starting pitchers in the game right now and the Mets should be interested in rebuilding around him, especially since he is under team control until 2021.

Photo: New York Post

One thing I definitely disagree about is the idea that Andujar lacks plate discipline. How can a guy with an 18% strikeout rate have a plate discipline problem? The Yankees already have plenty of guys on the team who swing and miss (Giancarlo Stanton, anyone?) so it's nice to have a guy in the lineup that will wait for his pitch and be hard to strike out.

And what about Andujar's track record? There's nothing to dislike about his performance. Andujar has earned his spot on this team. He's hitting .290, has had some big hits an stepped up for the Yankees when they got in a pinch and Brandon Drury needed time on the disabled list. The "never being ranked in the top 50 prospects" doesn't bother me either. That stat is meaningless once you reach 120 major league at bats and he's an everyday player so obviously the Yankees aren't worried about that either.

Photo: Sporting News

We all know not all top prospects live up to the hype. Remember Yoan Moncada? He was 2016-2017 top prospect and was signed by the Red Sox. He finished his 2016 season with a .211 average and was then traded to the Chicago White Sox where he currently has a .230 BA, 100 strikeouts, five fewer RBI's and only one more home run. The "top prospect" argument by NJ.com proves to be irrelevant here.

And what about Brandon Drury? Sure, Drury is a luxury like the article says. He's versatile and looking at Greg Bird's injury history he may be an even nicer luxury for us to have. He's also been unlucky because he has been blocked by another player in Arizona and now he is blocked again as a Yankee. Even when he recovered from his injuries the Yankees chose not to call him back up. Drury also doesn't have all of the extra base hits Andujar has and since "track record" was a concern with Andujar.....why isn't it with Drury?

It doesn't sound like Brian Cashman considers Andujar to be "untouchable" but I think just like the Mets would need to be impressed to move DeGrom, it would be the same case for Andujar. It never hurts to listen to the offers, but the Mets and the Yankees matching up for this trade? Not likely, and I don't think we should be so concerned on Andujar, he's doing just fine.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

WONDERING IF FRAZIER & DRURY WILL BE TRADED

I feel like Clint Frazier is the Rod Refsnyder of this team this year.  Not because of talent level or anything like that.  I just feel like Frazier is a player without a home and the Yankees need a pitcher. And so... wouldn't it make sense to let him go to get one?

I don't want to do that, trust me, I like Clint. I want him in the Bronx.  But I've seen this movie before when it comes to the Yankees... and I feel like it's coming.

Photo: NJ.com

When it comes to Brandon Drury... trade him.  Do whatever you need to do and get rid of him. Yes, I see the potential talent. Yes, he can be good for the Yankees. But we have mad depth and he can also be good for another team, and so I say it again... trade him.  Find a pitcher... do it. We'll be happy when we do.  If I had to choose between the 2.... I'd hold onto Frazier tight, because he's the Yankees future... but I'd get rid of Drury.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes this:

Photo: New York Post

"'No question, you can’t keep them all,' Brian Cashman said. 'You have to constantly manage your roster and you don’t just want to lose someone in the Rule 5 draft. Another team will take the talent out of you and you might never see it again. You either make the best trades you can or you run a real risk of losing them for nothing.'... 

The Yankees also had 13 players they had traded among the top-30 prospects of other organizations (via MLB Pipeline). Some would not have made the Yankees’ top 30. One team’s organizational depth is another’s gem. Taylor Widener was ranked the Yankees’ 14th-best prospect when he was part of the offseason trade for Brandon Drury. He is fourth with Arizona....

Drury (.999) and Clint Frazier (.947) rank 1-2 in the International League in OPS (minimum 160 plate appearances). They are essentially major leaguers who are blocked with the Yankees and thus viable trade candidates over the next few weeks. This is quite different from most of Cashman’s two-plus decades as Yankees GM, when they were top-heavy but lacking in organizational depth."

Look, whatever the case, it's going to be an interesting summer, whether these are the guys that are shipped out of not. I do know this, as Sherman wrote.... the Mariners are coming to town, and the Yankees and Mariners have a great relationship when it comes to trades.  I'd be curious to see what they discuss this week.

Stay tuned.