SITTING ON A GOLD MINE

The Yankees miraculously held on to Brian McCann through the August waiver deadline but just because he is still here doesn't mean the trade rumors are over. If anything, it's only heating up. I am convinced now more than ever that McCann will be on the move this winter.

The Yankees are infatuated with Gary Sanchez and so is the rest of Yankee land. The Yankees have the next big thing waiting in the wings after a successful first taste in the big leagues. We want to get younger, and stop spending so much money and part of the remainder of the old Yankee equation is still on the team.

I have absolutely nothing against Brian McCann. I was excited to have him sign with us but he is the next player to fall to the youth movement. The Yankees have Sanchez waiting in the wings for a full time job and Austin Romine can easily be a back up. The Yankees don't need McCann to be a backup catcher or a designated hitter. In the meantime, other teams out there NEED a catcher and the free agent market this season is thin for catchers.

The Yankees were strategic this season. The Cubs and the Indians are going to battle it out in the World Series starring two former Yankees. The Cubs had an enormous hole in the bullpen until Aroldis Chapman arrived. Without him, who knows if the Cubs would've made it this far. The Indians have an amazing closer in Andrew Miller....and they have him on a very friendly team contract to continue to build around after this season. The Yankees know what they are doing....and McCann is up next.

The Yankees are sitting on a gold mine named Brian McCann. There are teams who really need a catcher out there and he has an impressive resume. Teams will call for McCann's leadership and his six silver slugger awards.

Aside from McCann, Wilson Ramos was the most interesting free agent but he will be out 6-8 months recovering from knee surgery. This leaves Matt Wieters, Jason Castro and Carlos Ruiz for free agents and they don't have the same skills to offer as McCann does.

So not to sound repetitive but BRIAN CASHMAN WINS AGAIN! He is going to sit back and let his phone ring all winter. He is going to get a ton of phone calls all asking about McCann and he is going to wait and pick through all of the offers until the best one comes through. The Yankees are going to remain firm on their price because they know they don't NEED to trade him away and they can wait until they get the highest bidder. I have never praised Cashman so much until this year, and he just keeps coming out on top.

In the end, I am not saying that I want to see the Yankees trade McCann away but I know at this point if and when we do the Yankees are doing so because it only helps us in the Youth Movement. The Yankees have a reputation for winning in the past and now the future. The Yankees have helped someone else win a World Series ring this year and soon it will be our turn again. Someone is going to come calling for McCann.....the question is who and what do we get in return? I know Cashman is ready and waiting for that call.

 --Jeana Bellezza, BYB Senior Writer & Editor
  Follow me on Twitter: @NYPrincessJ

CONTRACT HITMEN

"Hitting is the most important part of the game. It is where the big money is, where much of the status is, and the fan interest." ~ Ted Williams 

Who will hit for the Yankees in 2014? Too many names are in question on the roster. New York is sure to lose some stars. The Free Agent Pool will have to be a factor for the Bronx. As we did with Pitching Fits, when we examined pitchers available in the off-season for the best fits, we will do it again for batters.

To do this, we need to look at who will be staying and who will be going. The Yankees are sure to lose either Robinson Cano or Curtis Granderson. Losing both is also a possibility. Those are two very big bats and two very big holes to plug. And they are just the start.

Kevin Youkilis shouldn’t be back. The Bombers will probably also let go of Travis Hafner and Mark Reynolds. Lyle Overbay should be hung onto. Alex Rodriguez is a smoking crater of a hot mess. It is hard to believe he will ever wear the Pinstripes again.

Examining Free Agents, certain names stand out. Most names should be discarded. These are the players most logical to pick up:

Ben Zobrist. This guy is capable of playing Second Base and Outfield. He is defensively sound, with a career Fielding Percentage of .983. He hits around and about .270, and can surprise with power. He could potentially reach 20+ homers with the short porch in Right.

Can he replace Robbie or Grandy? Of course not. But he would be a solid option to play either of their positions. He will be expensive, but he should be a priority for the Office to sign up.

Michael Young. This guy’s name just keeps coming up. He was attached to New York several times this season in trade rumors already. Writers at this very site, including myself, have pointed out he would be a good fit.

Young sports a Fielding Percentage of .979, can hit .300, and will be good for 15 or so dingers. As mentioned in Undercover Yankees, he is an impressive player to watch in person. Most importantly, the Hot Corner is thin in the Free Agent Pool. Other than Martin Prado, there is nothing out there. The Yankees need to shore up Third Base. No excuses.

Behind the plate this season, the Yankees used not one, not two, not three, but four catchers. Francisco Cervelli might end up working out, but his injuries and suspension make him a question mark. Austin Romine and JR Murphy are waiting in the wings. Chris Stewart is amazing defensively, but isn’t consistent offensively.

Once the Yankees know what’s going on with Second and Third they should address who will be Catcher. Mike Napoli is going to be available. But he should be approached with caution. These last few years he has been injury prone. The last thing New York needs is another fragile player.

Yes, Napoli is having a good season this year, but his previous campaign was miserable. He would be a gamble, and an expensive one. But it might be worth it to pick him up just to get him to shave that beard off.

Carlos Ruiz is someone to take a hard look at. He is experienced with All Star pitching staffs, is watertight defensively, .995 percentage, and will hit for around a .275 average. The Phillies will want to bring him back, but the Yankees should keep him on the back burner for now.

Other Free Agents that catch our eye include Justin Morneau, Stephen Drew, and Raul Ibanez. Drew is lower priority until we know what is going on with Derek Jeter. He is still The Captain, and deserves the chance to show us he is capable of playing Short. Take a flyer on Drew and bookmark him, just in case.

Morneau has returned to elite form, and regular readers of this site know that we like him. If he can be picked up at a reasonable price, Justin would be a very good addition. Raul Ibanez is already beloved in the Bronx. He has not missed a beat in Seattle.

Other major names in the Free Agent Pool should be ignored. Chase Utley, Jacoby Ellsbury, Shin-Soo Choo, Brian McCann, Hunter Pence, Kendrys Morales, Kelly Johnson, Jason Bay, Carlos Beltran, Nelson Cruz, Corey Hart, and Lance Berkman. All of these names will be expensive and risky. Many of these players are aging, susceptible to extended slumps, and/or injury prone. They should all be avoided.

The real questions are who stays and who goes in the Bronx. As long as the Yankees make sure they have their bases covered, particularly Second and Third, they will be fine.

New York is infamous for contracting hits. This year should be no different.


Chad R. MacDonald
BYB Features Writer
Facebook: New York Yankees the Home of Champions
My Blog: ChadRants


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BATHROOM HUMOR & GUYS THE YANKS ARE PURSUING

The Yankee offense is in the toilet.  I've actually never used that term.  I usually go with "shit the bed", but recently my wife looked at me and said "What the hell does that mean anyway?" Baffled that she clearly didn't hang with "my type" of people in college... I thought maybe I'd clean it up a bit.  I like bathroom humor... sue me... I also married up... so good for me.

Here are some guys the Yankees are already pursuing. If they aren't, they are fools and they deserve to lose this year and not make the playoffs.  Let me also state that the Yankees are still my team and I am NOT bailing.  This is a reality check.  When a team sucks the life out of Yankee fans, you need a shake up.  There will be hard decisions, sometimes drastic decisions... all for the better of the team.

Russ Canzler: He was just designated for assignment by the Balitmore Orioles.  He plays 3B, and with Alex Rodriguez possibly getting suspended 100 games, (He's meeting with MLB Investigators Friday, HERE), we are in desperate need of help.  Canzler can help.  Canzler shouldn't have been sent away in the first place...

Michael Young: Young is solid.  He's also being dangled by the Philadelphia Phillies and if the Yankees can make a trade match... we must get the job done here.  Joba Chamberlain was scouted by the Phils and to be perfectly honest with you, if the Phils wanted Phil Hughes too, I'd swap for Young and Carlos Ruiz... we need to bring some life to the Yankee club right now. They would do it. The irony to all of this? Young would take the spot from Alex Rodriguez... for the second time.  Don't forget, when ARod left Texas, it was Young who finally blossomed.  Fascinating.

Ty Wigginton: I don't want this guy, but he's on the Yankees radar.  He plays 1st and 3rd.  There is no doubt in my mind that Ty is getting a good look, but out of the 3 listed, he's my least favorite.  He was recently released by the Cardinals, read HERE, so he's out there.  We'll have to see.

Here comes the overhaul... get ready.

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TIME TO TRADE JOBA TO THE PHILLIES

Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News reports today, HERE, that the Phillies are interested in Joba Chamberlain. We've reported in CARLOS RUIZ IS ON THE YANKEES LIST that with Carlos Ruiz and Michael Young being dangled by the Phillies... it would make perfect sense for the Yankees and Phils to be perfect trade partners here. Strike while the irons hot! Make a move! Do something! All of that!  

Now I have no idea what the Phillies are willing to take, but assuming they take Chamberlain for say, Ruiz. If that happens, we could then move Phil Hughes to the pen, utilize Ivan Nova in the rotation, and/or pick up another starter somewhere, and when Alex Rodriguez comes back... assuming he does and he's healthy, he will return to manning 3rd base. Several different moves but doable here... and I like the sound of this.

Look, as much as I love Joba... it appears his time could be up.  Don't forget, the Braves were just looking at him last week.  Read JOBA COULD BE ATLANTA BOUND, for information on that one.

Things are starting to heat up in Yankeeland... we'll keep an eye on it for you. Believe me... things are going to happen... if they weren't, these rumors wouldn't be out there. You know what I mean?


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CARLOS RUIZ IS ON THE YANKEES LIST

According to Jayson Stark of ESPN, Phillies Catcher Carlos Ruiz is currently on the Yankees radar.  He tweeted that below:

First appearance of the weekend by a #Yankees scout in Philly. Michael Young & Carlos Ruiz could both be on NY radar screen this month.
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) July 7, 2013

Now he also Tweeted that Michael Young, the Phillies 3rd baseman is also a possibility, but you guys are smart enough to know that we already told you that a week ago in BIG TRADE RUMORS IN YANKEELAND.

We wrote then, "George King III of the New York Post (HERE) has the best nugget so far this year.  With Kevin Youkilis out, and Alex Rodriguez still out, he's suggesting maybe the Yankees would be interested in Young.  King says: "One feature that makes him a good fit in The Bronx is that he isn’t signed beyond this season, when he earns $16 million. The Rangers are paying $10 million of that. Essentially, the Phillies owe Young $3 million for the rest of the season."

I am a huge Ruiz fan and would love him in pinstripes.  In fact, I may be at the Phillies-White Sox game this upcoming Friday night.  If I am, I'll let you know what I think.  Could be fun.

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IS CARLOS RUIZ DUMB OR JUST STUPID?

I shouldn't be shocked anymore when the "good ones" have all turned into drug users in one way or another to tarnish this great sport of "'base', a certain game of ball", as Garrison Keillor narrated in Ken Burns Documentary BASEBALL.

Now Carlos Ruiz, the Phillies catcher, who've I've always liked for his grit, has tested positive for amphetamines. Read about it HERE. Ruiz will now be suspended 25 games.  The suspension starts when the 2013 regular season starts.

I don't get it.  Why do these players still use drugs that violate the baseball drug policy? Isn't it obvious now that eventually these guys get tested and caught? Maybe not or maybe they don't care.  

Oh Hell, I give up.

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LAST MINUTE TRADE OPTION FOR THE YANKEES

The Trade Deadline clock is about to strike midnight, folks. There are only several hours to go until the non-waiver trade deadline ends and the Yanks have some holes to fill. Teams are scurrying to their phones, calling up various GMs to see what’s available. In fact, there may be trades going down right now, so let’s quit wasting time and get to the scoop…

Carlos Ruiz: OK, this one’s a little more far fetched, but hear me out. The Phillies seem to be in sell mode, and the Yankees could definitely use a catcher. Ruiz has been incredible this season for the Phils, as he’s hitting .342/.407/.569 on the year. The Yanks would likely have to give up a top prospect or two (Think Mason Williams or Manny Banuelos) to acquire the services of Ruiz, though it’s definitely worth it. Ruiz would be the primary catcher in place of Russell Martin, and that would be pretty nice. This trade likely won’t happen, but we’ve seen stranger things before, right?

Ty Wigginton: The Phillies are clearly in sell mode. Hunter Pence, Shane Victorino, Jimmy Rollins, and Juan Pierre have all been linked in the rumor winds over the past several days, and you can add Wigginton to that list. The Yankees could sure as hell use a third baseman with ARod out for the foreseeable future. Wigginton isn’t that great (hitting .230/.300/.366 on the season), but he’s versatile and the Yanks could get him for table scraps. He would likely replace Jayson Nix, though that would be basically a lateral move as far as I’m concerned. I don’t know, I may be splitting hairs, but I have a feeling Wigginton would work out in the Bronx.

Edinson Volquez: Though most believe the Yankees need a starting pitcher due to Andy Pettitte’s recent setback, I’m on the other side of that fence. For now, I think the Yankees’ rotation is fine, though if there’s an upgrade out there the Yanks should at least look into the situation. Edinson Volquez is quietly resurrecting his career out in San Diego, posting a 3.30 ERA and strong home run (0.6 HR/9) and strikeout (8.2 K/9) rates, though he leads the National League in walks allowed (73), which is definitely a cause for concern.

  


--Jesse Schindler, BYB Lead Staff Writer
Follow me on Twitter @SchindlerJesse

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