BRANDON MOSS IS A YANKEE OPTION

(Sept. 29, 2016 - Source: Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images North America)

Several publications are talking about this Yankee bat option, and I think it all started with Jon Heyman.  Whatever man... the guys gotta start the clicks somehow, although, truth be told, it's a great idea and it turns out the Yankees have in fact reached out about the services of Brandon Moss.  The question is, is it something they really want, or are they just checking out everything before they narrow it down. 

I'm telling you... I am hearing more and more that Carlos Beltran will be the guy the Yankees will get back for a few reasons.  They're familiar, the money dulled out will be cheaper and ultimately they know he can help them with his bat from both sides of the plate. Read BYB's exclusive nugget on that. It's called THAT CARLOS BELTRAN REUNION IS REAL.  But hey... back to that Brandon Moss story, right?

(Aug. 10, 2016 - Source: David Banks/Getty Images North America)

Jon Heyman writes: "In addition to the previously mentioned Chapman and Kenley Jansen as Yankees targets, plus hitting stars Carlos Beltran, Edwin Encarnacion, Yoenis Cespedes and Jose Bautista, the Yankees have called upon several more top free-agent hitters, including Dexter Fowler, Matt Holliday, Mike Napoli and Brandon Moss..."

That's how it started.   Now everyone has something to say about it.  I'm not gonna go down that list. I will however give you this nugget from ESPN on the Brandon Moss line:

(Aug. 27, 2016 - Source: Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images North America)

"Moss, 33, slashed .225/.300/.484 with 28 home runs and 67 RBIs, although he struggled down the stretch -- hitting just .091 over his final 110 plate appearances. The 10-year veteran outfielder/first baseman owns a career .241 batting average."

I'd be curious to see what happens next.

YANKEES EYEING MATT HOLLIDAY

(Sept. 29, 2016 - Source: Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images North America)

I say that loosely.  I feel like it's more like... they know he's out there...

Yes, it's true the Yankees have inquired about Matt Holliday, but they are also very much in the mix for guys like Carlos Beltran and Edwin Encarnacion as well.

According to Jon Heyman...

(July 27, 2016 - Source: Rob Foldy/Getty Images North America)

"In addition to the previously mentioned Chapman and Kenley Jansen as Yankees targets, plus hitting stars Carlos Beltran, Edwin Encarnacion, Yoenis Cespedes and Jose Bautista, the Yankees have called upon several more top free-agent hitters, including Dexter Fowler, Matt Holliday, Mike Napoli and Brandon Moss, and are believed to have checked in with the better starting pitchers on the market, including Rich Hill and Jason Hammel."

(Oct. 29, 2016 - Source: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images North America)

Yeah, that's right. Dexter Fowler of the Cubs is on that list as well as Mike Napoli.  We wrote about Napoli in MIKE NAPOLI IS NOT A NEW YORK YANKEE. Check it out.

But Holliday is an interesting one.  I mean, he still has pop in his bat, he's 36 years old  though.  You gotta wonder if this is just another Travis Hafner type situation all over again.

(July 3, 2013 - Source: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images North America)

Bronx Baseball Daily writes of Holliday: "Holliday finished the season with the St. Louis Cardinals where his average dipped from 2015. In 110 games, Holliday hit .246/.322/.461. However, his home run total was up from 2015, hitting 20 home runs and driving in 62 versus four homers and 35 RBI.

(Aug. 6, 2016 - Source: Michael Thomas/Getty Images North America)

Holliday has experienced health issues in the past; he last played at least 150 games in 2014 where he hit .272/.370/.441. However, Holliday would be a powerful bat in the lineup at DH should the Yankees choose to go that route."

Bottom line, I'm kind of over the old guys, although this is intriguing.  We'll keep an eye on this though, just in case.

IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE #WORLDSERIES

From the first pitch, to the last, it has been an incredible #WorldSeries.  No one could have predicted this kind of excitement when we experienced the first pitch of the season back in April.  As Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo said prior to Game 7, “If you’re a fan of baseball, this is the best outcome that you could possibly hope for in a World Series anyone’s been alive for,” reported the New York Times.  You are talking 1908 and 108 year-old drought for the Cubs and 1948, a 68 year-old drought for the Indians.  It's been a wild ride. Here's a recap of the 2016 World Series.

Game 1: Lived up to the hype with more than three generations of Cubs fans and at least two generations of Cleveland fans looking to quench their thirst for a World Series Championship. As SB Nation reported, "Cleveland was in control throughout, as it put up two runs against Jon Lester in the first inning to give Corey Kluber and the Indians’ bullpen plenty of breathing room for the rest of the game." Kluber was nearly flawless in his 6 innings pitched, charting a franchise record of nine strikeouts and four hits.  The Tribe took Game 1,  6-0 behind the dominating offense of Roberto Perez. Cleveland leads the series 1-0.

 Game 2: It was the Cubs' turn to strike and it was the comeback kid Kyle Schwarber's night to shine.  Behind the dominance of Jake Arrieta, the Cubs built back their confidence from dropping Game 1. "In many ways, it was a game of gumption, and Chicago moved ahead early by scoring once in the first inning on a long double off the right field wall by first baseman Anthony Rizzo. Designated hitter Kyle Schwarber then singled in a run in the third to double the lead," reported The Guardian.  The Cubs flew the W in Game 2, tying the Series 1-1 with a 5-1 victory over the Indians.

Game 3: After making the Series even at 1, the Cubs headed home with the Indians hot on their trail. The first World Series game in Wrigley since 1945 ended with a 1-0 deficit for the home town crowd. Tribe pitcher Josh Tomlin allowed only three base runners all night long and shut out the Cubs.  This was not the welcome party Chicago hoped for when they jetted back toward Murphy's Bleachers, a fan favorite for the locals.

Game 4: The Cubs needed a win here after dropping in the Series 2-1 much to the dismay of fans in Wrigleyville, but behind the Game 1 winner, Corey Kluber, it just was not happening.  This time the Indians called upon Jason Kipnis to get the job done offensively and he didn't disappoint.  Kipnis beat up the Cubs with three hits and scored two runs as Cleveland took Game 4, 7-2. As our local news NJ.com captured in a post game interview, "We've got one more to get and it's probably going to be the hardest victory of the year, but this is a special night for me and this team to take the first two here," said Kipnis, who grew up a Cubs fan on the north side of Chicago.

Game 5:  The Rocky Theme prevails; Anthony Rizzo hyped up the team with Rocky movies in the clubhouse and the theme was his walk up song for his first at bat.  Rocky made his way from Philly to the North side of Chicago and gave the Cubs the much needed kick in the butt to help them take W for Game 5.  Cubs’ offense demonstrated multiple ways of scoring with a Kris Bryant homer, a bunt single by Javier Baez and a David Ross sacrifice fly to take the lead in the 5th.  Then it was lights out with Aroldis Chapman giving his team 8 outs.  3-2 Cubs taking Chicago back to Cleveland for Game 6.

Game 6: Was all Chicago- almost too much Chicago based on Joe Maddon's expression who looked concerned even after the Cubs handily beat the Tribe 9-3, with Chapman coming in to be sure in the 7th.  Addison Russell's grand slam solidified the lead for the Cubs, who looked confident heading into the 9th inning.  Perhaps Kris Bryant's post game interview said it all, "You dream for this."

Game 7: It was a winner takes all Game 7, the 37th Game 7 in World Series history.  Dexter Fowler got things going with one swing of the bat, and just like that, a home run  against the sparkling Kluber, who has silenced Chicago bats up to this point, dominating in Games 1 and 4, was down 1-0 in the first inning.  As Fox announcer John Smoltz reported in the game last night, the Cubs picked the right time for their bats to get hot.  Down 3-1 in the Series the Cubs battled for the chance to win it all in Game 7.  Chicago picked and picked at Kluber and they finally knocked the Indian hurler out of the game in the 5th inning.  The Cubs weren't afraid to test outfielders' arms and kicked their running game into full force.

Fox Sports asked David Ross to wear a microphone to listen in on the sounds of the game.  They captured the anxiety and excitement on the field from the vantage point of the young players that played their hearts out in front of millions of viewers across the world.  It was Rizzo who leaned on Ross's shoulder and said, "I'm a nervous wreck."  This emotion from a guy who drove the comeback bus for Chicago and carried his team into this Game 7.  But it was veteran Ben Zobrist that broke up the 6-6 tie in the 10th inning and allowed the Cubs to go ahead, 8-6.  More drama in the bottom of the 10th as Cleveland came within one run, 8-7, but a slow roller ended Cleveland's night and World Series hopes as the Cubs held on and became the 2016 World Series Champions of Baseball.

According to the Chicago Tribune's rules for flying “The W” Cubs "fans are supposed to take down the flag at the end of the season unless they win the World Series; then they get the entire off-season to fly it high."

Fly the W Chicago.  Congratulations and thank you for a great Series!  It's been an incredible #WorldSeries and an incredible end to the MLB 2016 Season.  107 days until pitchers and catchers report.  It will be here before we know it, but right now, I am happy to share my excitement for the Cubs who are goatless in 2016...Go Cubs Go!

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Senior Staff Writer
BYB Hot Stove Columnist
Twitter: @suzieprof

THE CUBBIES ARE ONE GAME AWAY!

There is no other way of saying it... history is being made.

My oldest kid has been in a pretty grumpy mood lately.  It has nothing to do with his personality. Usually he's a pretty good kid, but for a 14 year old... these hours of watching these late games are killing him.  He wakes up later than he should after going to bed later than he should and, he's a grouch.  He goes to school... comes home, does his homework and then, for hours he reads his phone until game time looking at stats of these post-season players, watches video of highlights over and over and over again and in some instances, recognizes some of these dudes who played for other teams of years past and is just fully engaged to the point where it almost looks like a job for him.  I should have him write for BYB for crying out loud! 

Once these games are over, he's gonna have to go to bed earlier and re-program himself. Are we bad parents? No.  History is being made and he wants to witness it and I love every minute of it. It's all baseball for him, and he's rooting hard to see the Cubs in the World Series.  I'm happy it's clicked for him. He's a good ballplayer and a big baseball fan now to boot. I'm happy to see he really enjoys the game, and I'm not gonna lie; I love the fact that he follows all the players and teams and has no allegiance to 1 club right now. I'm fine with it.

Anyway, last night the Cubs won again, and are now just 1 game away from headed to the World Series which would take place in Cleveland Tuesday night.  Just for kicks I wish they would have Jake Taylor or Ricky Vaughn throw out the first pitch in Cleveland.

Then when they go back to Chicago, have Henry Rowengartner throw out the first pitch before that game.  Yup, I'm a pop culture nerd... what do you want from me?
 

The big inning last night for the Cubs was the 8th when they scored 5 runs.  It was then that the Cubs were just up 2-1 and it was then that my kid was screaming happiness into the TV.  Guys like Dexter Fowler, Kris Bryant and Javier Baez got hits when needed and when that happened, runs scored, the way baseball is supposed to be played.

Jon Lester was awesome and even though Chapman gave up 2 runs, he was able to shut down the Dodgers.  And just like that, the Cubs now head back to Wrigley field Saturday night for a game that could mean history for Chicago. Good for them. I hope they do it.

Final: Cubs 8 - Dodgers 4

THE JORGE SOLER TRADE THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN

Disclaimer: This is purely speculation and wishful thinking on my part. A friend from a Yankees Facebook group, Scott, would be the happiest man alive if this happened! So this one's for you Scott!

The Cubbies appear to be the favorite to sign Dexter Fowler and after already signing Jason Heyward this off season, a Fowler signing would create a backlog of outfielders on the Cubs roster. Also with one of their top prospects, Albert Almora, who is a defensive stud in centerfield and not far from the Big's, Jorge Soler might not have an everyday position.

So should Brian Cashman make a couple phone calls and see if he can get a hold of Theo Epstein? I say yes. Soler would fit the bill of the youth movement and has a very high ceiling.

Soler will be just 24 when the season begins and has some serious power potential in his bat. Some speculate he could be a 30 home run guy. His downfall is he is not seen as a great defensive player. But if you can hit 30 home runs, an improvement from just 10 in 2015 over 366 at-bats, a couple defensive miscues can be overlooked.

The problem is the Yankees have a ton of money invested in their outfield right now and not much young controllable pitching they are willing to part with. Andrew Miller would likely be the leading candidate Cashman would try and sell.

Besides Miller, Gardner has been a topic of trades as we all know, but the Cubbies would be looking to deal an outfielder, not acquire one.

A three team trade could be plausible and the Rays have reportedly been in contact with the Cubs discussing a starting pitcher for Soler or infielder Javier Baez. Crazier things have happened.

Realistically it would be very difficult to get this deal done at least from a perspective outside of the organization. Obviously Cashman and Hal know better than me.

This is likely just a pipe dream really, but who doesn't enjoy one of those once in a while?

The Yankees seem content on standing pat for the meantime and as much as some of you despise it, I don't. They need to wait until after the 2016 season and 2017 season, free up some payroll, continue getting younger and start filling in the pieces.

So maybe a miracle happens, maybe not. Either way speculation is fun and even a blind squirrel finds a nut occasionally.

We shall see!


 --Dan Lucia
BYB Senior Writer
Twitter: @DManLucia








 
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