BRITTON'S A YANKEE & WHY NEWSPAPERS ARE NO LONGER IMPORTANT

Photo: USA Today

It was a stealth move by Brian Cashman and a suggestion made by non-baseball insider Mike Lupica.  We wrote about it the other day on Bleeding Yankee Blue in a piece titled LUPICA SAYS MAYBE IT SHOULD BE ZACH BRITTON...

And then it actually happened.

I must point out that Lupica is a non-baseball insider because it's the baseball insiders that typically throw all kinds of crap at the wall and see how many clicks they get. Lupica has a following, this is true, but he's not looking for all that garbage.  He's looking for quality.  One of the last good ones I must say.  After all... what the publications like the New York Daily News, Newsday, New York Post don't seem the realize that in their haste to cut back on solid sports writers salaries... they have cut the meat and quality from their sports pages as well. In other words, they are killing themselves.  I'm a sports reader. But me and thousands of others have no reason to go to those newspapers anymore as long as guys like Harper, Marchand, Klapisch and Matthews are gone.  Now sure, the icons like Davidoff and Caldera are still there in their respected publications, but it's them I seek, not their companies pages.  Lupica is still kicking, but reality will tell you that these guys, all of them, have the following because of their quality of work... not because the paper has backed them.  In this day and age, these genius and witty writers can run the table by putting out independent columns and tweet them to their fans.  To hell with big time papers.  Truth be told, I told both Wally and Marchand when they first were released from their respected papers that if they ever want to write a guest column on BYB... they can. Why? Because they are iconic in New York and it would be an honor.

Why am I telling you this? Simple. I didn't find that Lupica nugget about Zach Britton because I wanted to read the Daily News.  I read it because I wanted to read Lupica.  Point being... these papers, while saving a few bucks are losing readers rapidly and they are too stupid to realize that.  All because some big wig in a corner office can get their bonus at the end of the year because he kept costs down.  Whatever man.  Remember this... it's the people that make the sports stories great... never the paper.

Anyway... where am I? Oh yeah... Zach Britton is a Yankee. Lupica had it first last week... here's my man Jack Curry of YES now.

Britton to Yankees is a done deal, says @JonHeyman. Dillon Tate is reportedly one of the players the Yankees will send to the Orioles. https://t.co/quE0w8sH3B

— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) July 25, 2018

It's a big deal.  Remember Dillon Tate? Yes... he's now gone.

Yanks bolstered their pen even more.  And now Yankee starters don't need to go 7 innings... they can go 5... or 4, depending on the day.

Nice move Cash.  I wonder if there will be more. Stay tuned.

SHEFFIELD SHINES IN AFL DEBUT & THAT'S NOT ALL

Photo: MLB.com

In the Arizona Fall League, the Scottsdale Scorpions are off to a great start and a lot of it has to do with a couple of Yankee prospects. I know... many of you are watching the playoffs, and you should be.  Well, that's why BYB is here... to fill you in on the stuff you might be missing.

Getting the start on opening night was Justus Sheffield, and he looked unhittable. In fact, on October 10th in the first inning, Sheffield struck out the side on 12 pitches. He finished his night going 5 innings giving up just one hit 0 runs allowed with six K's and 0 walks. Read more HERE.

(Reinhold Matay | USA TODAY Sports)

Let's not forget, Justus Sheffield missed the bulk of two months with an oblique injury and was sent to the Arizona Fall League to make up innings. Luckily for us, he began doing so in dominant fashion on Tuesday night.  Sheffield is the Yankees' No. 4 prospect, so it was great to see him get the win last week in that 7-4 game.

Photo: Charleston RiverDogs

On the fielding/hitting side of the game, the Yankees started a trio of players. Thairo Estrada got the start at short, while Estevan Florial manned RF and Billy McKinney handled the DH duties.

Estrada finished the game going 2-4 with an RBI and 2 Ks while Florial went 1-4 with 2 Ks. The big at-bat came as McKinney hit a 3 run home run bomb in the bottom of the 3rd. He finished the game going 1-4 with the 3 RBIs, 1 run scored and 1 K.

At end of the Scorpions Opening night, the Scottsdale Scorpions had Yankee farmhand Cody Carroll come in the 8th inning. He ended up recording a 2 inning save. He gave up 1 hit and a walk while getting 3 Ks.

Photo: Bryan Green. Pinstriped Prospects

Oh yeah, and side note... Dillon Tate who was supposed to be part of the Scorpions again this season, was removed. HIs replacement... Albert Abreu.

Look, over all, there's so much going on in the AFL.  I was excited to bring the info from Opening night, as the world is watching the playoffs.  Once we get through the ALCS and World Series... we'll have more to talk about in the minor leagues.  For now though... just a taste of what you're missing.

   

--Michael Carnesi
BYB Writer
Follow me on Twitter: @sevn4evr 

GEARING UP FOR THE ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE!

(Mike Janes/AP) 

Besides early spring and prepping for the baseball season, my other favorite time of year is early fall when I get to witness the spectacle of the Arizona Fall League. I'm really excited for it, as I just ordered my season pass and the preliminary rosters were announced earlier in the week. As of right now, there are six Yankee prospects that have been assigned to the Scottsdale Scorpions. Of those six kids being sent to Arizona, the most notable are Estevan Florial and Justus Sheffield. How exciting!

Our guy Bryan Hoch writes this of the boys: "Estevan Florial and Justus Sheffield have earned recognition among the best young talent in the game, and the promising duo is among a group that will be rewarded with the opportunity to wear Yankees pinstripes in the upcoming Arizona Fall League.

Florial and Sheffield are among 11 of MLBPipeline.com's Top 100 prospects who will participate in the AFL, suiting up for the Scottsdale Scorpions.

A speedy left-handed-hitting outfielder, the 19-year-old Florial played for the World Team in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game and is currently ranked as the Yanks' No. 4 prospect (87th overall). He has batted .294/.371/.469 with 22 doubles, six triples, 12 homers, 51 RBIs and 22 steals in 105 games between Class A Charleston and Class A Advanced Tampa...

(Mike Janes/AP)

Sheffield, 21, is New York's No. 5 prospect (89th overall). Currently rehabbing from a left oblique strain with the Gulf Coast Yankees, Sheffield is 7-5 with a 3.09 ERA in 16 starts for Double-A Trenton this season, walking 33 and striking out 79 in 90 1/3 innings."

We've all heard plenty about Florial and Sheffield, yet I really haven't had the chance to watch them perform. I really look forward to October. Sometimes what you hear and read and what you see can be totally different things.

(Buck Davidson/MiLB.com)

Along with Sheffield and Florial, Dillon Tate returns to Scottsdale for his 2nd go around in the AFL. He was on the Scorpions roster for a part of last year's season. When he was here, he was named to the Arizona Fall Stars team, yet did not pitch in the game and all of a sudden was gone. Initially, I thought he might have gotten hurt, but it turned out to be nothing more than an innings limit thing.

Photo of: Kyle Holder

The other Yankee prospects being sent are infielders Thairo Estrada, Chris Gittens and Kyle Holder. I imagine they might also add another late add too, as each team is allowed to send 7. They might even add a Taxi Squad player that is only allowed to play on Wednesdays and Saturdays. We will see. 

Photo: Charles Wenzelberg

But to me, this one of the best things about living in Arizona. I really enjoy this time as it is one of the most intimate ways to watch baseball. You get to hear the sounds of the ballpark as there are usually not a lot of people in attendance. Plus, you actually get to meet the players and talk to them, and that adds extra fun of going to a baseball game. I highly suggest that if you happen to be in Arizona between October 10th and November 18th, you catch a game or two.  Heck... I'll sit with ya!

--Michael Carnesi
BYB Writer
Follow me on Twitter: @sevn4evr 

A PHILLIES / YANKEES NUGGET THAT MAKES YOU GO HMMM...

The fun of the All-Star break is over officially over. Our monster that roams right field returns as the HR Derby Champ and Robinson Cano goes creeping back into obscurity in Seattle. All talk will now turn to trades, rumor and what each team should do. And the Yankees, will be a huge part of the conversation.

Looking around, you can find all kinds of rumors and chatter that is basically just that. Ultimately, you need to be careful with the rumors, because many times you just don't know if anything will actually pan out.  In fact, I just recently came across this from NJ.com and I found it interesting for personal reasons.   

"In theory, the Yankees and Phillies are a good MLB trade deadline match.

With a variety Phillies players on the block, a multi-player blockbuster involving All-Star reliever Pat Neshek and power-hitting first baseman Tommy Joseph to the Yankees could change the balance of power in the AL East race."

Photo: Presswire

Now look, any help the Yankees can get in the bullpen at this point would be a true blessing. Same goes for the first base slot. After all, the Yankees have no timetable for return of Greg Bird, and yes, while they just got a kid like Garrett Cooper, is that enough. There are a ton of ideas floating around right now, but to be honest, this NJ.com rumor is cool to see on a personal level...

Photo: Getty Images

Tommy Joseph attended and played for the Horizon High School Huskies here in Phoenix, Arizona where I am from.  That happens to be the same High School I attended. I know his High School coach and one time had a conversation with him about Tommy.

Bottom line, he's a good kid, a talented athlete and for me personally, I'd love to see him in pinstripes.  

Would it happen? Who knows, but I do know this... the rumors are flying, and much of it is fun.  I do wonder what will happen with this rumor.  Here's the catch... 2 names the Yankees may have to give up to make this a reality...

Photo: Pinstriped Prospects / Mark LoMoglio

Dillon Tate... Miguel Andujar.  Now... the question.  Do you really want to part with those guys? Something to think about. 

What do you think? Comment.



--Michael Carnesi
BYB Writer
Follow me on Twitter: @sevn4evr

STEINBRENNER SPEAKS! THE FUTURE IS HERE, FOLKS!

How many years have we screamed here at BYB about giving the kids an opportunity to shine? Geez, I remember writing feverishly about Dellin Betances, Andrew Brackman and Manny Banuelos years ago. 

Now... we are finally seeing movement in the Yankee organization. I mean REAL MOVEMENT!

Hal Steinbrenner said a lot about the Yankees and our future, the youth movement, and how their time is now! Right now!  The Associated Press has the story and I wanted to share portions from it. Check it out:

Photo: NJ.com

"Baby Bombers mean a lower payroll but higher expectations for the New York Yankees.
Owner Hal Steinbrenner believes the Yankees’ youth movement will pay off this season, and not just with a reduction in spending. He anticipates an abundance of precocious talent will return the Yankees to the postseason...

'We know from our fans this is as excited as they have been in a while,' Steinbrenner said. 'Maybe it’s because we did not do a good job for a number of years getting kids from Single A all the way up to the varsity club... Every spring training brings new hope. But this one feels different, and there’s no doubt the kids are a part of it...

But these young players are going to have to pan out. That’s going to be part of the equation.'”

Photo: NJ.com

A lot of good things were said there from Hal. I mean look, he's right in some regard... there is a lot of energy right now. The kids are gonna make it exciting. Do I see the Yankees winning the whole thing in 2017? No.  In 2018? I think our chances are better.

But this is a guy that I believe is being honest here and I like that he mentions the fans and what WE want.  I means they're paying attention.

I have a good feeling, gang.  Bird. Judge. Austin. and before you know it... Frazier, Torres, Tate and Kaprielian.

The future is here, folks!

YANKEE PROSPECT WATCH: KAPRIELIAN & ACEVEDO

Photo: USA Today

After breaking into the Top 10 last week in BYB’s Yankee Prospect Watch with #11 Dillon Tate and #10 Albert Abreu, we continue with two more young hurlers making their way through the Yankees farm system.

Coming in at #9, according to MLB.com rankings, is RHP James Kaprielian, followed by fellow RHP and #8 Yankees prospect, Domingo Acevedo.

Scout.com

At this time last year, James Kaprielian was seen as a guy who could possibly make his way to the Bronx in short order after being drafted 16th overall in the 2015 amateur draft. Unfortunately for James, his season was cut very short after making just three starts for High-A Tampa in April with elbow inflammation. The rest of the spring and summer did not go much better as he was diagnosed with a flexor tendon strain while rehabbing in June.

Photo: Los Angeles Times

Coming out of UCLA in 2015, Kaprielian was one of the most polished pitchers in the draft commanding three plus pitches, his fastball, curve and change up to go with an average slider. At UCLA Kaprielian’s fastball sat between 88-92 but after being drafted in 2015 was able to average 94 mph and even maxed out at 99.

As I mentioned earlier, the Yankees had big plans for him in 2016 and he got off to a hot start striking out 22 over 18.0 innings with a 1.50 ERA over his outings in Tampa. The injury bug put a damper on 2016 but as James has said it was a setback that will only strengthen him mentally.

The Yankees added Kaprielian to the Arizona Fall League roster where over 27.0 innings, James struck out 26 while allowing 22 hits and posting a 4.33 ERA. The most important part of the fall for James though was being able to get back on the bump, get some work and compete again as he prepares for 2017.

Kaprielian has the kind of stuff to be a number three starter and maybe more if his velocity and command hold up in the mid-90’s range he showed in 2015. This summer James could again find himself in position to make his way to the House That Jeter Built if he can keep moving in the right direction with his development and obviously maintain his health.

Drafted the highest out of any college arm in Yankees history, once James makes it to the Bronx, we should expect him to be there for a while. It very well could be as soon as this summer.

Coming in one spot ahead of Kaprielian is fellow RHP, and flame thrower, Domingo Acevedo. With a fastball that has touched 103 and regularly sits between 96-100, Acevedo is one of the hardest throwing pitchers in the minor leagues. Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2012, the 22 year-old didn’t even start pitching until he was 16!

Armed with a fastball with a scouting grade of 80 (the top possible score) and a plus change up, Acevedo has a very, very high ceiling, one that the Yankees are very excited about. Vice President of player development, Gary Denbo, believes Acevedo will move quickly through the organization and so far there is no reason to think he won’t.

In 2016, Acevedo made eight starts in A-ball for Charleston in the South Atlantic League posting a 1.90 ERA, striking out 48 over 42.2 innings before quickly being promoted to the high-A Tampa. While in the Florida State League Domingo made another 10 starts striking out 54 over 50.1 innings while posting a 3.22 ERA. For the course of the season, Acevedo fanned 102 over 93.0 innings while posting a 2.61 ERA.

One other great skill that Acevedo has is his fairly good command. While he averaged 9.9 strikeouts per nine, he only averaged 2.1 walks per nine.

Acevedo will likely end up in either Tampa briefly before being promoted to Double-A Trenton or go directly to Trenton where he will face his most difficult test yet. Double-A is the level that makes or breaks many a good ball players but Acevedo has the tools to be a frontline starter if his slider develops into a plus pitch and with his velocity, he could end up a closer as a backup plan.

As we continue our march toward the top Yankee prospect, next week we will cover #7 prospect, 3B Miguel Andujar, an exciting young infielder who is quickly working his way up the minor league ladder.

We are now inside of six weeks from the day pitchers and catchers report and the excitement will continue to build as we approach Spring Training.

Stay up to date with everything Yankees here at #BYB and keep following the Yankees Prospect Watch.

It’s only getting better.

--Dan Lucia,  

BYB 'Series' Writer
Follow me on Twitter: @DManLucia

YANKEE PROSPECT WATCH: TATE & ABREU

Photo: USA Today

Following up last week’s Prospect Watch piece on Dustin Fowler and Wilkerman Garcia, we head for the top 10 with two newly acquired Yankees prospects. 
At #11 comes Dillon Tate acquired from Texas in the Carlos Beltran deal on August 1, and cracking the top 10 is Albert Abreu, the newest member of the top 20 Yankees prospects after being acquired in the Brian McCann deal in which the backstop was shipped out to Houston.

Selected with the number four pick in the 2015 amateur draft out of UC Santa Barbara, RHP Dillon Tate was at the time seen as the top starting pitching prospect in the 2015 draft. Converting from a reliever to a starter his junior year in college and commanding a high 90’s fastball, the Rangers were thrilled to select Tate and signed him for $4.2 million. But after a rocky start to the 2016 season, Texas was willing to part ways with Tate for the veteran Beltran in a buy low move by the Yankees.

Photo: MiLB.com

After his relatively heavy workload in college in the spring of 2015, the Rangers only allowed Tate to throw nine innings in his first summer of pro ball before letting him open up in the spring of 2016. But 2016 was not a kind year for Tate as he injured his hamstring in April and never was able to succeed in A-ball with Texas. After posting a 5.12 ERA over 17 games (16 starts) and seeing a significant drop in his fastball from the upper 90’s to the high 80’s and low 90’s, Texas sent him to New York.

The Yankees chose to utilize Tate in a relief role in which he would throw multiple innings and he did see some better success posting a 3.12 ERA over seven games in Charleston before heading to the AFL for more work this fall.

While it’s unclear whether Tate will stick in a rotation or be most effective out of the bullpen, some scouts don’t see him as a starter. It’s been noted that he is fastball reliant, has a decent slider and is trying to develop a change up. You typically need at least three good pitches to make it as a starter.

According to an October NJ.com article, one scout familiar with the Yankees system, who did not want to be named, believes he has a better chance to flop than he does to make it to the big leagues:

'I can't get into too much of why I know this, but if Tate doesn't change his pre-game and if he doesn't change how he goes about his work, he'll never succeed ... period.' He added he doesn’t know how to pitch and although he works hard, 'It's not his work ethic. It's how he works. It's what he does and his stubbornness in it. If he doesn't change that, he won't succeed.'

Photo: NJ.com

Tate likely will be seeking redemption this year and as with many other high profile prospects, many eyes will be on him. Even if he has a good season, whether as a starter or a reliever, Tate is still several years away from the Bronx. Keep an eye and ear out for Tate as the return of his velocity will be watched as will what his role will be.

Photo: MLB

Cracking the top ten, newly acquired RHP Albert Abreu is a just 21 years-old with a power fastball that has topped out at 99 and sits in the 93-97 range. Abreu signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2013 and made his stateside debut in 2015 striking out 51 in 46.2 innings while posting a 2.51 ERA.

In 2016 Abreu made the jump to A-ball where he struck out a 104 in 90.0 innings while posting a 3.50 ERA over 24 games including 14 starts. Abreu was promoted to high-A ball late in the season and made two more starts and added a relief appearance.

Photo: MiLB.com / Ben Sandstrom

For the 2016 season, Abreu combined to strike out 115 over 101.2 innings utilizing his above average fastball, slider, curve and change up. Some scouts really like his slider while others think his change up is his best secondary pitch. Either way, he has multiple pitches and appears to have good enough command of them to stick as a starter as he has a smooth delivery, although he is not polished and needs to work on repeating it.

Abreu’s biggest obstacle will likely be his command as he has just a 2.04 strikeout-to-walk ratio over three professional seasons. He has averaged 9.2 strikeouts per nine, including 10.2 in 2016, while also averaging 4.5 walks per nine, including 5.1 in 2016.

Abreu has the upside to be a front of the rotation mainstay in the long-term but does need work on polishing his delivery and minimizing free passes. Although a ways away from the big leagues, Abreu is, again, just 21 years-old and will be for the entire minor league season in 2017.

Photo: MiLB.com / Photo of Justus Sheffield

Abreu was a very good add by Brian Cashman and along with Chance Adams, Justus Sheffield, James Kaprielian and others, the Yankees are stacking up their high ceiling pitching prospects.

Up next on the Yankees prospect watch are two exciting arms in #9 prospect James Kaprielian and #8 Domingo Acevedo, two RHP who we will be seeing and hearing more about over the next couple of years.

Stay up to date with all the Yankees top prospects all winter here at BYB as we continue our countdown to the top Yankees prospect for the 2017 season.

 

--Dan Lucia,  

BYB 'Series' Writer
Follow me on Twitter: @DManLucia

CASHMAN'S WILLING TO TRADE PROSPECTS...

 Let's just hope that some of the big ones stay.

(July 31, 2016 - Source: Rich Schultz/Getty Images North America)

Look, the Yankees need a starting pitcher just to help give them some stability. So, it's not totally surprising that hours after Bleeding Yankee Blue puts out THE UNTOUCHABLES. YES..  yesterday, Brian Cashman goes on MLB TV's High Heat and let's the Yankee Universe know that there is a plan in place... or something.

(Sept. 10, 2015 - Source: Rich Schultz/Getty Images North America)

NJ.com has the story, I will take the nuggets from them on this one:

"Here's what Cashman told MLB Network's "High Heat" on Thursday:

'I think the most important currency to have nowadays is high-end prospects, and I think we -- by everyone's evaluation -- have collected a number of those,' Cashman said. 'So I think we can easily [trade them]. It's just, will we do that?

I think we'll stay engaged in the marketplace, and over time if we do match-up favorably with somebody where we can get what we want and they get what they want, then yes, we'll try to get something,' Cashman added. 'But we're very protective of the work we've done thus far, and we don't want to do anything at the expense of a short-term gain. We want to make sure it's for long-term efforts as well. And as we've seen since last winter, the price of doing business trade-wise is extremely high.'"

Photo: Getty Images

And so yes, I know that your next question is about Jose Quintana and all that talk about trying to acquire him too.  NJ.com has some more on that too:

(Aug. 6, 2016 - Source: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images North America)

"It's likely the Yankee go into spring training with just about the same roster they have now. They've been linked to the White Sox's remaining ace, lefty Jose Quintana, and there's been chatter about their willingness to deal third baseman Chase Headley and left fielder Brett Gardner. But those are secondary moves. The roster you see is likely the roster you'll get come mid-February."

Photo: Baseball America

Now while Kuty didn't give much there, he actually gave a lot. If come the trade deadline Quintana is still being floated, the Yankees could very well trade a prospect of 2 away. Maybe it's Jorge Mateo... and a few lower level prospects. Maybe they even convince the White Sox that Headley could help them... I'm spit balling, but that's the reality.

Bottom line, as Dan Lucia said yesterday in his piece THE UNTOUCHABLES. YES.. , there needs to be a few prospects that are totally untouchable. Clint Frazier. Justus Sheffield. Gleyber Torres... Dillon Tate even.  Guys that we know can blossom.  After all, there's a reason why we traded for them in 2016 in the first place.

Bottom line, Cashman is flowing right now and he's not sleeping.  He's trying to make the Yankees a better club, but he's cautious... and smart... and I like that.