YANKEES ADD OTERO, ACEVEDO & HALE

Sounds like a powerful law firm.

I know what you're thinking... aren't the Yanks done with their roster? Kind of... but not really.  The great Pete Caldera with this nugget:

"( David) Hale, 32, posted a 3.11 ERA in 20 relief appearances for the 2019 Yankees, but missed most of the second half with a lumbar spine strain. 

(Domingo) Acevedo, 25, had a combined 4.70 ERA in 32 relief appearances for Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Class AA Trenton last season. 

(Dan) Otero, 34, has a 3.39 ERA in eight big-league seasons, spending parts of the last four years with the Cleveland Indians."

These guys are non-roster invitees.  Nice! Let's see how it goes.

TWO YANKEES WIN AWARDS

Quick note about 2 Yankee prospects that have done everything right this spring... Miguel Andujar and Domingo Acevedo.  They have each won the 2018 Kevin Lawn award.

That comes from Yankees PR...

The Yankees announce that 3B Miguel Andújar and RHP Domingo Acevedo were named winners of the 2017 Kevin Lawn Award as the Yankees’ minor league “Player of the Year” and “Pitcher of the Year” today.

— Yankees PR Dept. (@YankeesPR) March 18, 2018

Now everyone is thinking... that's great, but who the hell is Kevin Lawn.  Great question. NJ.com has that info for us!

"The annual awards are dedicated to the memory of Kevin O'Brien Lawn - the son of longtime Yankees Vice President and Chief of Operations Jack Lawn - who passed away in 1999."

And with that context... the award makes perfect sense.  Happy Monday folks!

TRENTON THUNDER: GREAT NOW & ONLY GETTING BETTER!

If you've been reading me here at BYB, you know I've been checking in on the Yankees minor league clubs.  Here's some info on the Trenton Thunder on this cold Wednesday morning on the east coast.

Source: NJ.com Mercer

The Trenton Thunder is led by manager Bobby Mitchell.  This year they rolled their way to a franchise-best 92 game win season. Not too shabby! They also finished the season with a franchise-best 2.83 ERA.  Despite the record and ERA, the Thunder were swept in the Eastern League Championship Series by the Altoona Curve. Doesn't matter, Milb.com news has this nugget...

"The .657 winning percentage is the highest regular season winning percentage in franchise history."

Photo: Milb

For these efforts, Bobby Mitchell was awarded the Eastern League Manager of the Year.  More here:

"The Thunder, Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, and the Eastern League are pleased to announce that Manager Bobby Mitchell has been voted as the league's Manager of the Year in 2017. Mitchell is the third Thunder Manager to earn the league's Manager of the Year award following DeMarlo Hale in 1999 and Tony Franklin in 2012."

Photo: David Fenster

When all was said and done, there were 3 Thunder players that took home season awards. Domingo Acevedo, Zack Zehner and Cale Coshow.  All deserving. All played their hearts out.  More from Milb.com news on that:

John Blaine — File Photo — For The Trentonian

"...starting pitcher Domingo Acevedo has been named the winner of the Smith's ACE Hardware Pitcher of the Year award, outfielder Zack Zehner is the recipient of the 2017 OxiClean "Dirtiest Uniform of the Season" award, and pitcher Cale Coshow is the recipient of the 2017 Samuel J. Plumeri, Sr. Community Service award."

Photo: NJ.com

With the Thunder, Acevedo was 5-1 with a 2.38 ERA.  He was promoted to Scranton during the season.  Coshow, from Edmond, OK like former Yankee, now Ray... Ty Hensley, struck out 72 and only walked 22 in his Thunder season.  Zehner batted .260 with 11 homers for the Thunder.

It was a beautiful season for Trenton.  We tip our cap to this team, and hope they can win the whole thing next season.

--Michael Carnesi
BYB Writer
Twitter: @sevn4evr

CHECKING IN ON JAY BELL & THE TAMPA YANKEES

(Mark LoMoglio)

For my next installment through the Yankee farm system, I head down to Tampa, Florida where we find the High-A Tampa Yankees led by Manager Jay Bell. Though they fell in the championship to the Dunedin Blue Jays, the Tampa Yankees had one a hell of a season finishing with a league-best 85-50.  This piece discusses the final game and just how great things went:

Domingo Acevedo ©Mark LoMoglio/Yankees

"Despite falling short of repeating as North Division Champions, the T-Yanks enjoyed a historic 2017 season. The Yankees tallied a franchise-record 85 wins and Tampa pitchers collected 1,215 strikeouts to break the FSL single-season record. The T-Yanks look forward to returning to action in 2018."

Because of their season, Jay Bell was named the FSL Manager of the Year. You gotta love that.

"Jay Bell earns 'Manager of the Year' after guiding the T-Yanks to a first-half North Division Title, with a record of 39-31.

Tampa has also clinched the second-half of the North Division, with a record of 40-18 as of August 28th. It is the first time the Tampa Yankees have ever won both halves of the FSL North Division."

Though there was no championship this was a well-deserved honor for Jay as he works his way up the ladder.  To be honest, I really thought he might have had a chance at being the next Yankee manager after Joe Girardi left. I know it sounds nuts, but Bell has the experience. Regardless, congratulations to Jay and the rest of the crew in Tampa.

Stephen Tarpley  ( Rick Ferry)

By the way, this is the last piece I'll ever write on the Tampa Yankees, as they no longer exist. They seem to have had a name change in Tampa, and starting in 2018 they will now be known a the Tampa Tarpons. You can read that HERE. Here's some info on that...

"When the Single-A affiliate of the New York Yankees takes the field for the 2018 season, it will mark the return of Tarpons baseball to the Florida State League after a 30-year absence.  The Tampa Tarpons played in the league from 1957 through 1987, winning titles in 1957, 1959 and 1961."

I love tradition of old team names are finding their way back.  It just shows how rich in history baseball truly is.

-
-Michael Carnesi
BYB Writer
Twitter: @sevn4evr

YANKEE PROSPECT WATCH: MIGUEL ANDUJAR

Photo: MiLB.com

Now firmly into the top 10 of our Yankees Prospect Watch series, we follow up the piece on RHP James Kaprielian and Domingo Acevedo with another very young and developing player. His name is Miguel Andujar, and he's a third baseman.

Miguel Andujar was signed for $750,000 out of the Dominican Republic in July of 2011 at just 16 years-old and has since steadily progressed through the minor leagues, making it to Double-A Trenton during the summer of 2016.

Photo: Credit: Donten Photography

Andujar spent 2012 and 2013 in rookie ball where he progressed from a .232/.288/.299 slash line in 2012 to a .323/.368/.496 slash line while adding four home runs and 25 RBI over just 34 games.

2014 saw him in A-ball, while in 2015 and 2016 he was in high-A ball before heading to Trenton in June of 2016.

Photo: Beverly Schaefer The Trenton Times

This past spring Andujar tore up the competition down in Tampa in May and early June slashing .283/.343/.474 with 10 home runs and 41 RBI over 58 games forcing the Yankees to promote him (and upsetting Jorge Mateo which we will cover in the next couple of weeks). Andujar stayed red hot for the rest of June combining between the two levels for a .364/.412/.485 slash line.

But, as I’ve said several times, Double-A is a big challenge for many ballplayers and Andujar struggled mightily in July before rebounding some in August and September. Due to his upside, the Yankees added Miguel to the Arizona Fall League roster where he had a good showing slashing .284/.364/.373 over 19 games.

Some say Miguel got tired as the summer wore on and he was not as sharp in the field late in the year as he has shown in the past. Known for his soft hands and cannon of an arm that some scouts believe would translate into a 95 mph fastball, Andujar charges the ball well but must show some more consistency at the hot corner.

Photo: Beverly Schaefer The Trenton Times

At the dish, Miguel has shown some above average power as proven by his 12 home runs in 2016 to go along with a very respectable 26 doubles and 83 RBI. Interestingly enough, the right handed hitting Andujar has some much better power and overall numbers against right handers and has struggled some against left handers.

Miguel makes good adjustments and is learning to read the breaking ball more and more as he continues to develop and move through the minor league system.

As really the only solid third base prospect in the Yankees organization as of right now, Andujar has a chance to push Chase Headley for playing time perhaps as early as late in 2017 or in camp in 2018.

A loyal BYB follower gave his opinion on Headley and Andujar in November stating:

@BleednYankeeBlu I think Headley isn't getting traded unless Andujar gets to AAA early AND mashes. Mid season at the earliest

— Bobby From The Bronx (@newkingofmedia) November 21, 2016

While there is still speculation that Headley and others are being shopped, if Chase is on the Opening Day roster, he most likely will command the majority of the playing time at third base more or less by default. If Andujar does mash, and Headley continues his mediocrity, then I think everyone in the organization and Yankees Universe would be thrilled to see Miguel playing third in the Bronx. Time will tell there!

In Photo: Jorge Mateo

But there could be a bit of a hitch to this plan. The Yankees are stacked with SS prospects and have several 2B prospects as well, including Jorge Mateo who they are giving more time at 2B.

The issue with this is that there is speculation that the Yankees could try and utilize Gleyber Torres, or others, at third base this season to build some depth at the hot corner within their system. This could make Andujar a backup type player if overtaken by Torres (who has stated his goal is to make it to New York by September) or any other prospect, or it could give him the kick in the ars he may need to rise to the next level as he fights for his chance to end up in the Bronx.

Photo: Presswire / Gleyber Torres

Andujar isn’t quite the top tier level prospect that Gleyber Torres and Clint Frazier currently are, but he is a promising young ball player slightly ahead of where Torres is, but also slightly older as he will be 22 in March.

Once again Andujar is a player to follow this spring and summer. Most of us Yankees fans struggle with watching Chase Headley play third base every day. Jeff Santora for one, not to name drop or anything. Many of us are hoping these young guys force their way to the Bronx sooner rather than later.

The new core four, or five or six is forming and they don’t seem far away!

Photo: MiLB.com

Next week we will cover the number six Yankees prospect, and a personal favorite of mine, LHP Justus Sheffield. Until then, stay warm and enjoy the NFL playoffs as we are just five weeks away from Spring Training!

--Dan Lucia

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

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

UM... IT'S JOSE QUINTANA, NOT CY YOUNG

(July 23, 2016 - Source: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images North America)

Jesus man, everybody relax, you know what I mean?

One brief whiff of Yankee interest of a lefty pitcher from Chicago by FOX guy Jon Morosi and suddenly Yankee blogs everywhere are hot and heavy for this dude like he's the next coming of Jesus.  I mean, I know it's almost Christmas, but let's face facts... while we need a few Yankee starters, Jose Quintana is just another pitcher.  I mean, my God, we don't HAVE to trade for this guy. In fact, I can't believe we're still talking about this 2 days later.

Look, Jack Curry of YES said it best the other day:

While Yankees have contacted White Sox about Quintana, chances for a deal are slim. Sox want a ton and Yankee plan is keep best prospects.

— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) December 19, 2016

And then I added to that in INTEREST IN QUINTANA THERE, BUT SLIM with the following:

"You don't collect a slew of top prospects just to trade them away... you slowly build your future... and that's what the Yankees are doing."

(Sept. 6, 2016 - Source: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images North America)

So why in the world are blogs writing stories like this? The Yankees Should Trade These Five Prospects for Jose Quintana

In Photo: Chance Adams

I love 'Yanks Go Yard', but I totally disagree with this one: "...The White Sox want Justus Sheffield, Dietrich Enns, Chance Adams, Domingo Acevedo and Albert Abreu? Have at it..."

Also mentioned are fielders, and in a nutshell, and I encourage you to read their piece, YGY is suggesting a mix and match. Pick 5 from all those prospects and trade for Quintana. Read below:

(Sept. 8, 2016 - Source: Rich Schultz/Getty Images North America)

"...the Sox can have Tyler Wade, Rob Refsnyder or Hoy Jun Park. My preference is Billy McKinney..."

But my question is why? WHY?  Jose Quintana is not some superstar stud that gonna suddenly fix the Yankee rotation, and I go back to what Jack Curry said... it's damn slim, so why try to force it?

(Aug. 20, 2016 - Source: David Banks/Getty Images North America)

Quintana is a career 3.41 ERA pitcher with a 46-46 record.  Nothing there alone is blowing me out of the water.
 

Photo: The Trentonian

If I had to upgrade my rotation right this second, I would rather just see if Justus Sheffield can hack it before I ship my farm off to Chicago on a guess.

Right now the Pirates are trying to get Quintana.  The Yankees are not.  Hey... as far as I'm concerned... the Pirates can have him. At this very moment.... I'll stay.