IS GEORGE SPRINGER A GAME CHANGER FOR THE BLUE JAYS?

This just got more entertaining for me. The AL East just got a little more interesting now that George Springer is a Toronto Blue Jay. It took the Blue Jays a long time to finally get a big name, but now does it make them more of a contender?

Last season I was concerned about the Blue Jays. There were times where they were heating up and winning while we were blowing some games. They made it interesting for a while, they made it a race for second place in the division which I didn't like. They looked good last season, so with Springer they can be even better....maybe.

Personally, I think the Blue Jays overpaid for Springer. In full disclosure, I wasn't a huge fan BEFORE we all found out he was a cheating ASSTRO. The year the Astros stole the World Series he hit 29 doubles and has a .283 BA. In 2019 he hit 39 home runs and had a .293 BA but the rest of his numbers are outliers. He hasn't been consistent. No batting titles, he hasn't had a 100 RBI season or 200 hits in a season. I don't see how he is worth 6 years and $150 million, but I guess if you are the Blue Jays you have to spend big to attract the big names.

The Blue Jays did well without him, so I think he will help improve the team overall....but there's one thing Springer can't fix and that's the rotation. Just like the Yankees needed some rotation help and still due despite signing Corey Kluber, the Jays are relying on Hyun-jin Ryu to continue to stay healthy and pitch effectively. They are also counting on a bounce-back season from Robbie Ray which is a gamble.

While I don't feel comfortable with our current rotation, I don't think the Jays is any better than ours. So is Springer a game changer? Maybe a little, but unless he is going to pitch too they also have more work to do.

It's going to be an interesting season and I can't wait to see what happens when we see Springer. We all know the Yankees have overpaid before but it's nice to see the Blue Jays do it instead. 

  --Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

     BYB Managing Editor

    Twitter: @nyprincessj

RUMOR: SEVERAL TEAMS ARE INTERESTED IN J.A. HAPP

It was a rocky season for J.A. Happ. He started off shaky, got better but also had some obvious frustration with his role on the Yankees. The Yankees were treading on a dangerous line of mediocrity so I wrote HAPP ISN'T HAPPY & I DON'T CARE because I was over the distraction. There was a lot of drama this season, and now it may continue into the winter.

The Yankees have several areas to improve on for next season, and pitching is an area of concern. Behind Gerrit Cole there is a giant question mark. Who are the next four starters behind him? After reading a weekend full of trade rumors I have to wonder....is Happ going to be part of the Yankees pitching plan? Maybe not.

The Angels are Rangers would be interesting landing places for Happ.

The Angels pitching staff finished with the third-worst ERA in the American League at 5.09 ERA. The Angels new General Manager Perry Minasian is familiar with Happ because they spent time together with the Toronto Blue Jays and adding another familiar face to the team could help the team move forward. The Angels are the team that can never get Mike Trout to the playoffs is constantly in need of starting pitching. Minasian said that pitching will be the top priority of the team so it sounds like their new GM is ready to make a splash, and if Happ is still upset about his usage during the 2020 season he may appreciate a new opportunity on the West Coast.

The Rangers also struggled with their rotation and finished near the bottom of the American League with a 5.02 ERA. The Rangers are in a rebuild mode and are still a few years away from being contenders again. 2021 will be the last year in Lance Lynn's contract and have to figure out what

to do going into the season. Adding a veteran like Happ to the rotation could be what they need to help rebuild their team and add some needed leadership.

We can't forget about the Blue Jays. Honestly they are the team I am going to watch closely this winter. They will probably be one of MLB's most aggressive teams this winter, and they are rumored to be interested in a reunion. Happ had two prior stints with the Blue Jays and was an All-Star for them back in 2018. The Blue Jays already addressed one hold in their rotation by signing Robbie Ray but they are still looking for more to add behind ace Hyun-Jin Ryu. The Blue Jays gave us a run for our money last season, and they think Happ could do it again. I don't think the argument of "they are in the same division it will never happen" matters as much as it used to. I think anything is possible especially now in a pandemic world - I just don't think the Yankees would want to give him up unless the Blue Jays are willing to stupidly overpay for him.

So will Happ still be a Yankee next season? I really didn't think about before. I guess anything could happen, but it's hard to imagine unless the Yankees make some good pitching upgrades. 

  --Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

     BYB Managing Editor

    Twitter: @nyprincessj

GERRIT COLE'S SURPRISE RANKING BY MLB NETWORK HAS US ALL TALKING!

MLB Network has an offseason tradition that some prople really like. On Saturday, the top ten starting pitchers were revealed and Gerrit Cole was on the list, but some Yankee fans may not like where he was ranked.

Our new ace was unranked last season which is crazy to think about. The Yankees have been in love with Cole for a long time because baseball fans everywhere consider him to be one of the best (if not THE best) in the game. The Yankees have been trying to get Cole for years, so how could he have been unranked until now? So I guess finally getting on this list is recognition he deserves, but should he be ranked third best?

That's where MLB Networks "The Shredder" has ranked him. If you are unfamiliar with "The Shredder" it is a tool that factors Statcast data with a mix of analytics and traditional statistics. So those of you who like to talk about WAR, it is factored into the rankings. It is also important
to know that the rating formula used focuses on player performances from the past two seasons and a variety of offensive and defensive numbers and no human bias is incorporated into the ranking process.

Even though there is no human bias in the rankings I still find the lists to be debatable. I've never been a huge fan of MLB Network's "The Shredder" specials that list the top 10 "right now" as they call it but my husband loves them. Here is the rankings that came out this weekend.

Are there any names missing on this list but are included on yours? I have a big one that isn't included. How did World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg not make the cut? He dominated during the playoffs and then got a big fat payday during the offseason but doesn't get a ranking. It doesn't make sense. And if these rankings are based on two years of stats I would think Chris Sale should also land somewhere on this list (as much as I hate to admit it).

And how is Hyun-jin Ryu number five in the rankings above Zack Greinke? And Mike Clevinger and Jack Flaherty are on this list? They are absolutely good pitchers. They are difference makers for sure, but top 10? I think that is a stretch. They would not crack the top in my rankings.

As we said before, human bias plays no part in these rankings but it makes me sick to my stomach that a disgrace to the game of baseball is ranked number two right now. Justin Verlander complained about cheating when he was a Detroit Tiger but two months later when he was traded to the Houston ASSTROS he became a hypocrite and participated in a massive cheating scandal that proves he has no integrity and compromised the game. He should not get recognition for being a top ten pitcher in baseball for that especially after VERLANDER POKES FUN ABOUT THE ASTROS CHEATING & FAILS.  He's a disgrace to the game we all love.

At any rate, here is a complete list of "The Shredder" top ten right now for every position. Even if we had no bias about Cole, would you still rank Cole as number three? Tell us what you think.

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

BREAKING DOWN THE AL EAST COMPETITION

The Yankees have re-established themselves as the Evil Empire this winter. The defending AL East division champs are reloaded and ready to go, but what about the rest of the division?

It's hard to compete with a splashy signing like Gerrit Cole, but this free agent class has been once of the most exciting in recent years. There were a lot of good names out there, so what did the rest of the division do? Spring Training is around the corner and judging by off-season moves so far, the Yankees look like they have a large gap between them and everyone else.

Even if the Yankees are finished making anymore moves, we should all feel confident in the team we have to start the season. So far, the Rays and the Blue Jays are the only teams that have tried to make moves and improve their roster. It's weird to say that because we have quite the history with the Red Sox....but they have been quiet.

The Rays were a thorn in the Yankees side last season and managed to win 96 games. I think the Rays will still be a team to watch and they have made significant moves this off-season including letting Travis D'Arnaud leave for free agency and trading Tommy Pham, a clubhouse veteran to the Padres for Hunter Renfroe and infield prospect Xavier Edwards....but was it an improvement? I don't know, it doesn't seem that way right now. I am skeptical about Renfroe because he can hit a lot of home runs but he also strikes out a lot. Last week they also traded a top pitching prospect to the Cardinals for left-hander Matthew Liberatore, and big bats Jose Martinez and Randy Arozarena. The extra offense look like a nice boost for now but it will be interesting to see if it pays off long term. The Rays will be a team to watch again and could win 90-plus games again if they have good seasons from top starters Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow.

The Blue Jays also had a busy winter and are another team to watch. They added more arms to their starting rotation including Hyun-Jin Ryu, and got Chase Anderson in a trade with the Brewers. They also signed Travis Shaw to replace Justin Smoak at first base. The Blue Jays new additions added to their exciting young group of Vlad Guerrero Jr, Bo Bichette and Cavan Biggio will be a fun team to watch. They will be much improved compared to their 2019 season where they only won 67 games.

As for the Red Sox and Orioles....well, they haven't made any big moves. The Red Sox and Mookie Betts came to an agreement to avoid arbitration but other than that, nothing. They are caught in a scenario where they are rumored to want to cut payroll but John Henry backtracks and claims they will remain competitive HERE. Not sure how Henry expects to remain competitive when he isn't making any moves to keep up with the rest of the division....minus the Orioles.

And as for the 2020 Orioles they are still 2019 the Orioles. They lost 108 games last season and will probably have a similar season again. They haven't made any  additions and last season they traded away their best player and then the Orioles fired their scouts. This franchise is in an embarrassing free fall.

The Yankees have made the right moves this winter. There's a lot of distance between them and everyone else. Now the just have to stay healthy and play good baseball and the wins will come. Is there another AL East team that you will be watching closely this season? Comment and let us know.

In the meantime, let's see if any other moves are made. I can't wait for Spring Training....I'm having serious baseball withdrawals.

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

WHO WILL THE YANKEES SIGN FIRST?

As we know, A FOUR HOUR MEETING WITH GERRIT COLE MEANS SOMETHING! Does this mean a signing is in the works?

With no bias to the west-coast and a long meeting with Gerrit Cole, could the Yankees become the landing spot for the ace? It is up to the Yankees if they want to give him upward of $250 million. His performance the past two seasons definitely earns this payout, going 32-10 with a 2.68 ERA  in 65 starts.

Source: Sports Illustrated

“Let me just say all options are open as far as I am concerned,’’ the managing general partner said. “Anything that rolls across my desk I am going to be looking at real seriously. We are going to be active in the free-agent market.’’

One player the Yankees should keep their eye on right now is Hyun-Jin Ryu. He had an incredible season, finishing second behind Jacob deGrom in the CY-Young race. Could this be an arm the Yankees need in their rotation?

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

Didi Gregorius is still on the market. Right now the Yankees do not necessarily need Gregorius, as they have Gleyber Torres to replace him at shortstop, but fans do not want to see him go. Even though he is injury prone, he could rebound to his performance back in 2017-2018 if he stays healthy. Let's hope we don't see Didi in another uniform next season. 

The Yankees are still optimistic about a reunion with Brett Gardner, which Brian Cashman has been open about.

"I wouldn't compromise our efforts to re-signing a player," Cashman said when asked about the potential length of contract Gardner could receive. "He just clearly put himself in a great position this free-agent winter because of the year he's had. We've known how good Gardy has been and is for a long time. ... We'd love to have that continue."

Let's hope big moves are coming soon for the Pinstripes.

--Missy O'Rourke
BYB Contributor
Twitter: @missy_orourke

A VERY EARLY LOOK AT THE YANKEES BIGGEST NEED

Pitching, of course.

Summer is coming to an end soon. Labor Day has come and gone. Pumpkin spice is everywhere. A co-worker of mine from Montana said her hometown got their first dusting of snow yesterday, it will be the first in a VERY long fall and winter season. So soon the postseason will be here and then it will be gone. Hopefully it ends with a Yankees championship but no matter what free agency will be here soon after.

So I am already looking at potential Yankee targets. The Yankees need more starters and we all know this. Question is, did Yankee brass learn a valuable lesson after not signing Patrick Corbin? Time will tell. Lucky for us, there is a pretty good free agent market to look forward to.

1. Jake Odorizzi

The Yankees checked in on Odorizzi in the past but after 8 years in the majors he's had a breakout year. Odorizzi made his first All-Star team this year and has a 3.60 ERA through 147.1 innings. He will be thirty in march and could get a big contract if he ends the second half strong, and does well in the postseason. He could be a good middle of the order guy for the Yankees.

2. Zack Wheeler

I really don't want to even think about this name but...the Yankees were tied to him just before the trade deadline read more HERE. He hasn't handled pressure well in Queens and it seems questionable that the Mets would even extend a qualifying offer according to reports before the trade deadline. I don't see Wheeler as an upgrade but maybe the Yankees see some potential there somewhere. I'd be okay passing.

3. Hyun-Jin Ryu

Ryu has spent all 6 years of his MLB career with the Dodgers. He has a crazy 2.45 ERA which as good as that is, his ERA was lower earlier in the season. He's stumbled recently and even had one bad outing against the Yankees. He has the talent, but this is his first season pitching more than 150 innings since 2014 and at 32 years old his injury history is something to consider. Thankfully none of his injuries have involved his arm or his shoulder. The Yankees should be cautious when considering contract length if they want to make a run at him. 

4. Madison Bumgarner

No secret here, the Yankees have been connected to Bumgarner for a long time. We know what he is capable of. We know what he can do in the postseason and that experience is invaluable. That could be a huge asset to the Yankees for years to come if he stays healthy and consistent. Those are big "IFs" but any team will give him consideration this season. Question is how interested are the Yankees and how interested should they be?

5. Stephen Strasburg

This could be a bit of a wild card but rumor is Strasburg is considering an opt-out of his contract after this season, read more HERE. He could opt out for more leverage in getting a bigger deal, we've seen that before. The 16-6 record and 3.50 ERA could help bring him a bigger payday. 

6. Gerrit Cole

The Yankees have been chasing Cole since they drafted him back in 2008. His 16-5, 2.73 ERA and 281 strikeout this season make him a priority for every major league team, especially the Yankees. He's an ace on a stacked Astros rotation and would definitely be the same for the Yankees. He's durable, he's dominant and going to get a big payday. Hopefully it is the Yankees that finally get him they've been chasing after him forever. I love the idea of him in a Yankees uniform.

The Yankees passed on Patrick Corbin over the winter, but with a more attractive free agent class coming this winter I doubt they pass on pitching again. Who would you like to see the Yankees sign?

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

STOMP THE YARD!

The Yankees came into Dodgers territory and really owned the Dodgers last night, huh?  Gotta love the way this New York Yankees team is playing this season. My goodness it is amazing.  And once again, it doesn't matter who... every single night, someone new is contributing.  Last night in that hideous Black uniform, it was Didi Gregorius with a grand slam.  Love it!

The Los Angeles Times writes:

"No conversation was necessary. His head lowered in defeat, Hyun-Jin Ryu started to descend the mound before manager Dave Roberts reached him. 

The journey to the bench was unlike any Ryu had made at Dodger Stadium this season, with the packed house shocked into silence."

On paper, James Paxton should have lost that game. But not last night... last night the Yankees picked up Paxton.

More from the Times:

"The “savages,” as Yankees manager Aaron Boone refers to his hitters, can conquer their opposition a variety of ways. Ryu hadn’t given up more than a single home run in any of his home starts. The Yankees blasted two in the third inning. 

Aaron Judge was the first to punish him, depositing one of his trademark changeups into the left-field pavilion. Two batters later, Gary Sanchez sent a cutter over the same wall to double the Yankees’ lead to 2-0. 

Between the two home runs, Gleyber Torres worked a nine-pitch at-bat that ended in a strikeout. Torres’ approach was part of a concerted effort to fatigue Ryu. The left-hander’s pitch count was at 58 through three innings and 77 through four. That set the stage for Ryu’s fifth-inning collapse.

With the Yankees holding on to a 2-1 advantage, DJ LeMahieu and Judge started the inning with consecutive singles. Torres grounded out to short on a slow roller that permitted Judge and LeMahieu to advance to second and third base, respectively. 

Ryu intentionally walked Sanchez to load the bases, but the plan backfired spectacularly when Didi Gregorius redirected a down-the-middle fastball into the right-field stands. 

Game over."

Damn straight!

THE PRESSURE NOW FALLS ON MATTINGLY

"If we lose, we're failures."

That quote above came from Dodgers manager and Yankee Icon, Don Mattingly. This is a guy that played for George Steinbrenner, a guy who never played for second place. George has been quoted saying "Second place is really first place loser." also been quoted as saying . Randy Levine, has been quoted as saying "When you don't win the World Series, it is a bitter disappointment."  Our captain Derek Jeter was brought through the same farm system as Don Mattingly was before him and subscribes to the same mentality.  They speak the same way because they grew up the Yankee way... and so do we, so I get Mattingly and his important quote. The Dodgers made big moves with guys like Hanley Ramirez and Josh Beckett and Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford during the season, and Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu now.  They have plenty of money and their eye on the prize.

The Yankee way has been pounded into our players heads for years and us fans follow the philosphy. We love our Yankees, but we love them to win the whole damn thing. That's why 1996 through 2000 were so damn special. The only downside was Don Mattingly never won a ring with us and now, the Dodgers have handed him the keys to win it all next season...no pressure right?

Mattingly needs a ring, the Dodgers have the dough to give him all the parts he needs to do it. No doubt a few years under his belt as a manager have made him more experienced and while I rarely root for another club, I root for Don Mattingly and always will.

I often wonder about if Donnie's back didn't crap out on him, if he would have been part of that 1996 team, or even maybe 1998, you never know. Nothing against Tino Martinez, but as Yankee fans, everybody feels for Mattingly...Everybody.

Well, now he has his chance in another shade of blue, and with the same type of make-up of talent that the Yankees used to pull off in the offseason. Look, the Dodgers have a shot. And Donnie's right saying what he said to Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports, HERE, if they don't win it all, with the talent they have, the season will be a true failure. Unfortunately, as a manager, it will all fall down on Donnie and he'll be to blame. Is it fair? No. No one needs that.

Hey look... Maybe it will work out in our favor. Maybe if things don't work out OR they do in Dodgertown, it will be right about the time Joe Girardi ends his contract in the Bronx. Then, maybe Donnie comes back to New York to manage our club. I see it now... Donnie Baseball's the Manager, Jorge Posada's the bench coach, Derek Jeter is the hitting coach. The pitching coach is Andy Pettitte and 1st and 3rd base coaches are Bernie Williams and Mariano Rivera.  It's like the band never broke up...or maybe this is all just wishful thinking.

Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.

DODGERS SIGN HYUN-JIN RYU. NEXT UP? ANYONE THEY WANT

Who can't the Los Angeles Dodgers sign right now? Magic Johnson is Don Mattingly's angel because they have done it again.  The latest is the Dodgers just signed South Korean lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu to a 6 year, $36 million contract.  That is coming from CBS Sports.com's Jon Heyman HERE and HERE from Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports.

I'm not sure why any Yankee fan would care, but I guess it's just a satisfying reminder of what the Yankees used to do when we had a few bucks.  I have no problem with the Dodgers collecting players as they push toward a common goal in baseball... put the players on the field you think are the best to win it all for your club.

Most of all, I smile when I think about Donnie Baseball heading the team.  While I want my Yankees to be champions again, I can't help but want to root for Donnie... this is good thing for the Dodgers. 

(In Photo: Clayton Kershaw)
The Dodgers now have a rotation of Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Josh Beckett, Chad Billingsley, Chris Capuano, Ted Lilly and Aaron Harang and now they add Ryu... Stockpiling arms... holy crap.  You have to wonder who's about to be shipped off to make room in that rotation...maybe a Ted Lilly? A New York Yankee reunion maybe? I'm kidding... I guess I'm just blah right now...

Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.

BLEEDING YANKEE BLUE PLAYER TRACKER #4

Hideki Matsui: There is talk from the Houston Astros that Hideki Matsui could be a nice edition to their club considering the 'Stros will be moving to the American League and could use a DH.  You can read about it HERE.

Torii Hunter: The Dodgers appear to be "pursuing" Torii Hunter according to ESPN. Read about it HERE. Buster Olney speculated that Hunter would be a good edition on the Tigers.  That's actually an interesting idea.  He tweeted that yesterday, HERE.

Melky Cabrera: Reports are that five teams have expressed interest in Melky Cabrera. That's coming from the New York Post's Joel Sherman HERE. Dude, don't think that Melky's coming back to New York to play with the Yanks... I strongly doubt it.
 

Jeremy Affeldt: The Giants and Affeldt trying to hammer out a deal that's 3 years and between $15-20 million.  are in talks about a three-year contract worth $15-20MM. Read about that HERE.

Shane Victorino: The Boston Red Sox appear to be interested in Victorino but that's not all. The Rangers, Reds and Indians need an outfielder too.  Let's see what happens with this one. Read HERE.

Hyun-Jin Ryu: The Los Angeles Dodgers have won negotiating rights with Korean lefthander Hyun-Jin Ryu with a $25,737,737.33 bid. That news comes from Major League Baseball HERE.  Ryu is a Scott Boras client and they will have 30 days to try and hammer out a contract. 

Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.