YOU GOT ALL WORKED UP FOR NOTHING

We ended up with JA Happ.  No Machado. No Harper. No Syndergaard. No nothing.  The Twitter experts don't know anything as we stated here on BYB. Just a lot of hot air.  Do we want a few big names? Sure we do. I for one would like to secure David Robertson and Ottavino. I stated that yesterday on Twitter.

I’d love @DRob30 and Ottavino. Just sayin’ #BYB

— Robert Casey (@BleednYankeeBlu) December 13, 2018

That being said, I have no knowledge they will... and that's the thing. It's all speculation and guesses. And in the end, the Yankees' Brian Cashman spent a week in Vegas and walked away with a familiar face... JA Happ.  And we all look like fools.  Many of your "sourced" stories were stupid. Face it... many of you know absolutely nothing. As my kids will tell me when I fill in for their mom on lunches or drop-offs at school... "You're doing it wrong."

On a side note, my favorite tweet was Andrew McCutchen, who quietly signed a 3 year deal with the Phillies.  It may have been the funniest video Tweet I've seen in a long time.

That moment you reportedly sign a new $50 Million deal with the Phillies 😂😂😂

(via @TheCUTCH22) pic.twitter.com/IisNuHKS0D

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) December 11, 2018

Love that dude. I wish him well.

And yes, Lance Lynn is on his way to the Rangers... but who cares. He was the Jaime Garcia of 2018. No one wanted the guy... we just needed him "in case".

Now look, there's no question Cashman laid the groundwork.  There's no question that moves will happen eventually. But what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas... until it's revealed at a later date.
We are seeing this now with Cash... the stealth genius.

Yankees need a few things. I personally love the Happ deal. But I do wonder if he'll pitter out at some point.  Did I want a more successful starter? I did, but I'm a fan, not an owner. I root for the uniform. It is what it is.

With the securing of Happ, the Yankees have now pivoted and rumors are flying that now they want to secure their pen.  No more starters... it's about relievers now... keep up. That's why I liked the idea of Robertson and Ottavino.

Bolster that pen. Make it unstoppable and more importantly, do NOT let DRob go to the Red Sox or the Mets.

If I had to predict, which I hate to do, I feel like a big fish is coming, but I don't know who that is.  The Yankees still have Sonny Gray I'm pretty sure he won't be there on opening day.

Will the Yankees get Machado? I doubt it.  But will the Yankees get Tulowitzki?  Makes better sense believe it or not.  That's usually how the Yankees operate. Plus, with Didi coming back, it makes better financial sense.  The downside? Troy gets hurt like...all the time... so I'm not sure it's smart. But there is no question that the Yankees are thinking about it.

But what else will happen? Let's be honest... NO IDEA.

And you know what? When it happens, we at Bleeding Yankee Blue will tell you.  We're not going to make up stories or get crazy. We will give it to you straight.

Enjoy your Friday. Don't get crazy. You've getting yourself all worked up for nothing.

ADAM WARREN GONZO

Adam Warren never felt like a permanent Yankee.  Even when he game back after leaving the first time, you just had a hunch that it wouldn't take long and he'd be shipped out again... and he was.  Mainly to make room, but reality will tell you that the Yankees just didn't want him around. An upgrade needed to happen. Whatever... he's gone now.

The AP writes:

Photo: Getty Images

"Yankees have traded right-hander Adam Warren to the Seattle Mariners for $1.25 million in international signing bonus pool allotment. 

The 30-year-old Warren, often used as a long reliever, was 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 24 appearances this season, interrupted by a stint on the disabled list from April 21 through June 3 caused by a strained back. He has a $3,315,000 salary and is eligible for free agency after the World Series."

Photo: Getty Images

There you have it. Hey, who knows.  Maybe one day he comes back. For now, the Yankees really needed an upgrade on pitching and that's why moves like Zach Britton, JA Happ and Lance Lynn happened.  I'd even suggest they were better moves than last year's Jaime Garcia and Sonny Gray.

It's good folks, even though we all liked Warren... it's good.

Now we play ball.

YANKS PANIC, TRADE MCKINNEY FOR J.A.HAPP

I'm sorry, the only name I saw in this entire trade was Billy McKinney, and he's on his way to Toronto. What kind of fool sends a prospect like that away from a rental like J.A. Happ?

Are you kidding me?

Brandon Drury? Buh-Bye. We don't need him. We didn't need him when we signed him and we sure as hell don't need him now.

Billy McKinney? He's the future folks and he's a solid future player. And you know what? I hope he goes to Toronto and turns into a superstar because the kid has heart and mad potential. And you know what? I'm pissed about it.

Anyway.  In the process, the Yanks get J.A. Happ to win now. Fine!  We'll get Mark Feinsand do the honors:

Source: Yankees sending Brandon Drury and Billy McKinney to Jays in the trade for J.A. Happ. Congressman @JonHeyman was first to report them as potential return.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 26, 2018

And now we wait. Will J.A. Happ be our savior? Will he help turn the Yankees around? Will he turn into an uncertainty in the rotation? A Jaime Garcia... a Sonny Gray.

Or will he be that Shawn Chacon, Aaron Small wild card-sure thing when we need it most.

We'll have to see.  One thing I do know is this... Billy McKinney is a major loss in this entire scenario.  We loved McKinney here at BYB.  Don't worry though... we'll keep an eye on him for you all.

Welcome to the Bronx, J.A. Happ.  Make it a good one... or else.

GARY SANCHEZ ACTIVATE!

It's true... Gary Sanchez was just activated from the DL.

Anyone know that picture at the top of this post? It's from Super Friends. That was what our super heroes were called before they were officially called Justice League and it was a simpler time.  I remember it as a kid.  Anyway... when I read that Sanchez was activated from the DL, I fondly remember the Wonder Twins clinging their rings together saying Wonder Twin Powers Activate! And then hilarity ensued.  Whatever happened to them anyway?

Photo: Getty Images

NJ.com has that nugget about Sanchez...

"Catcher Gary Sanchez is off the disabled list after being sidelined since June 25 with a right groin strain and the 2017 All-Star likely will be in the Yankees' starting lineup for the first of three against Mets... Whether Sanchez's swing is back is another matter."

Photo: Getty Images

This is true. While many of us love Sanchez, this is a guy that doesn't hustle too well behind the plate.  His bat is a dream come true, when it's working.  That being said, I hope some at bats can get this guy right and back in the lineup when we need him most.

Gleyber Torres is expected back soon as well.  These 2 are vital. BUT... and there's a big one... We still need pitching.

Who will be that big pitcher we will pursue?  Guys like Jaime Garcia will not cut it.  We need something bigger.  I have a hunch Cash is working on it.  I just don't know who it will be.

Stay tuned.

By the way… this is that Wonder Twins stuff I was talking about...



Those creators had access to a lot of good weed in the 70's.

Happy Friday.

YANKEE PITCHING PROBLEMS INDEED

As of right now, I'm not so sure I can trust any pitcher on the Yankees staff not named Luis Severino. I'm serious! Something needs to change in the Bronx if the mighty New York Yankees are going to win a championship.  Unless Aaron Boone and coaching staff have some kind of magic potion, I predict a potential collapse. Something needs to change from within.

Photo: New York Post

There have been many signs this year that the Yankees need to improve their pitching. This piece by John Harper from Monday in the New York Daily News gives us just the latest example. It's a good piece... check it out:

"October is a long, long way off, but it seems clear that if the path to a World Series goes through Houston, the Yankees are going to have to outpitch the Astros to beat them, starting with Justin Verlander.

If this were the postseason, of course, Luis Severino would have been matched up against the Astros' ace, and they'll take their chances with that matchup every time. "

Photo: AP

I want you to think about that for a second, because believe it or not, it's powerful. Offense makes the game fun, but it's pitching that ultimately wins championships. Right now the Houston Astros have pitching and the Yankees staff is not exactly up to par with them. Sure, they won a few against the 'Srtros, but this is the regular season.  I worry about the playoffs. I really do.

While the four pitchers that follow Severino in our rotation have all shown promise, they don't leave much confidence at the end of the day and perhaps at the end of the season.

Remember, the "Yankees need pitching" people were saying that last year like it was some kind of revelation. But Cash listened and at the trade deadline, Cashman went out and got pitching. Needless to say, those same sentiments are being said again this year. Last year Jaime Garcia was not the answer and so far Sonny Gray isn't what we thought he was. That just leaves me to wonder what Cashman and the Yankee brass will do for an encore.

Many ideas have been floating around for months. Something has got to give, and unfortunately I have a feeling it is going to cost the Yankees dearly. Some of these prospects we don't want to let go of will have to be let go eventually.

Pitching is important to this Yankee team.  The Yankees are good, but with that extra "big" arm, they could really be great. Especially down the stretch.  Let's hope we get smart here.

--Michael Carnesi
BYB Junior Writer
Twitter: @sevn4evr

JAIME GARCIA GONZO...AND I'M FINE WITH THAT

Photo: Getty Images

I didn't really know why we picked up Jaime Garcia in the first place. I mean, I know, he's a lefty and all teams need lefty pitching... but we didn't really need the dude. But now... officially he's on another team.  Cool.

The Associated Press has the story:

Photo: Getty Images

"Left-hander Jaime Garcia and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a $10 million, one-year contract that includes a 2019 team option. Garcia gets $8 million this year as part of the deal announced Thursday and Toronto has a $10 million option with a $2 million buyout.

He can earn an additional $2 million annually in performance bonuses based on innings and would get the full amount at 180."

Good luck Mr. Garcia.

By the way...

Here's Gonzo.

STARTING PITCHING: A HISTORICAL YANKEE BLUNDER

Photo: New York Daily News

Okay, maybe not a blunder but it certainly hasn't been a "win" for the Yankees when it comes to recent free agent signings. It's certainly not exciting but it is accurate. Think about it...

The last time the Yankees decided to spend big money on starting pitching was the year we last won the World Series. Not to say that we need to spend big again on a starter or two to win, but we haven't made a big splash on a starter since.

Now do you miss the days of not only CC Sabathia but AJ Burnett? Yeah, there is a name you haven't heard in a while.

The Yankees haven't signed any big name starters since and have since signed one or two guys that they expected to make significant contributions to the rotation. Going back this far is going to sound like a history lesson but maybe it's an important one. Maybe the Yankees are about to do it again?

2009-10: Yankees acquire Javier Vazquez (again)
The Yankees reunited with Vazquez for a second time with Boone Logan after trading with the Braves. The Yankees were getting him back when his stock was high. Some baseball experts considered him to be one of the best starters in the game and was coming off one of his best seasons. It didn't continue with the Yankees though. I still remember the bad appearances, the 10-10 record with the bullpen demotion and the eventual release after the season ended.

2010-11: Yankees lose out on Cliff Lee
And now it doesn't seem so bad. At the time it sucked but the Yankees signed veteran pitchers Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia to minor league contracts but it paid off big. At the time Ivan Nova was a rookie and had an impressive year. The Yankees got results out of three unexpected arms that helped them win the division.

Photo: New York Daily News

2012-13: Aces and failures
Yankee fans were happy to have Andy Pettitte and Hiroki Kuroda return but even back then the Yankees were trying to get under the luxury tax so their pitching additions stopped there and so did their postseason success. The lack of depth with CC's struggles and Phil Hughes failures ultimately made the miss the postseason for the first time in five years. Pitching wins (or looses) ballgames. You can never have enough pitching.....

Photo: NJ.com

2015-16: A risky move
With no rotation improvements the Yankees try to bolster the bullpen to make up for their starting weakness. The idea of a super bullpen of Aroldis Chapman, Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller didn't work as hoped though. The lackluster performances of Nathan Eovaldi, Ivan Nova, Michael Pineda and Luis Severino's sophomore slump doomed the Yankees. The offense didn't score enough runs so the super bullpen fell flat and Chapman was traded. The Yankees also sat home in October for the third time in four years.

Photo: Getty Images

2016-17: Saving it for the end
Chapman came back to the Yankees as a free agent but once again the Yankees made improvements to the bullpen while the starting rotation was still in need of help. Finally in July they traded for Sonny Gray and Jaime Garcia which helped the Yankees get within one game of a World Series berth.

(Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

Garcia will be long gone, but Gray is back to see what this season will bring. If history teaches us anything it's that if we don't land a starter before spring training kicks off it's "normal" for the Yankees and it's not time to panic. There's still time though. Just like Cashman says the market could change and a deal can still be done.

Anything is possible, but if a deal doesn't happen the Yankees still have a long season and a lot of pieces to pull off a successful season. History doesn't scare me. We've still got this.

--Jeana Bellezza
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

KEEP 'EM OR DUMP 'EM LIST

Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America

As we enter the week of Thanksgiving, approximately one month since our last game of the ALCS,  I could not think of a better time to put together what I am touting as the KEEP 'EM OR DUMP 'EM LIST.  And let me preface this by saying that fans have been asking me to write a piece like this and I overheard a group of Wegmans' employees chatting it up about who should stay and who should go as they organized the carts in the parking lot on a busy Saturday morning.  The conversation was entertaining and they had no idea I was eavesdropping or that I would have an clue what they were talking about...BYB undercover reporter!

Source: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images North America

If we start with our pitching staff, I would absolutely offer CC Sabathia a reasonable contract and make an attempt to keep him, but I would be happy to see Sonny Gray and Jaime Garcia go.  Dump them both- they have no business here, really.  Promote Chad Green to a starter and bring up Justus Sheffield and give him a whirl.  Masahiro Tanaka?  Depends.  I would try and keep him but if he is way too expensive, I would dump him along with Caleb Smith, Jonathan Holder, and Chasen Shreve.  See what we can get for them along with Luis Cessa who has already been in trade talks for a potential trade with San Francisco.  Dellin Betances should also be part of the trade talks.  Not in love with what he gave us during the later part of the season.

Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America

Our catchers are staying, although I caution Gary Sanchez with this warning...figure out how to be a better defensive catcher, use your resources to improve and don't be so cocky.  That's all I have to say about that.  Turning my attention to the rest of the infield or the position players, Chase Headley needs to go already.  I would figure out how to keep Todd Frazier and Ronald Torreyes but I would dump Tyler Austin and Garrett Cooper and even Tyler Wade, especially if we pick up Joe Panik.  We should think about trading Starlin Castro as well.  He offered nothing to us in the post season and a lot of days of the DL during the regular season. Greg Bird holds his own at first base. Just stay healthy, Bird!

Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America

The outfield is stacked with a lot of talent at the corners in Brett Gardner and Aaron Judge but center field, well, that's up for grabs.  Like my comment about Castro, I was very disappointed with Aaron Hicks' performance during the post season and his number of long trips to the DL this season.  He needs to prove himself worthy of the starting center field position before I think about trading Clint Frazier.  If I could design my own Christmas gift, I would figure out how to gift wrap Jacoby Ellsbury and ship him right out of the Bronx.  Hey, Brian Cashman has shown us his black magic before when he dumped Tyler Clippard (dare I say his name) and we picked up Frazier and Tommy Kahnle and David Robertson (all of whom I would absolutely keep).  Let's not lose faith that he can pull off some kind of Ellsbury exit.

Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America

Anyway you look at it, we have some moves to make and a championship team to fine tune.  Some guys are with us and fit this vision and others clearly don't.  What are your thoughts on "the LIST"?  Give us a shout out and weigh in on your KEEP 'EM or DUMP 'EM LIST.

--Suzie Pinstripe

BYB Managing Editor

Twitter: @suzieprof 

YANKEE PLAYOFF THOUGHTS

Sept. 14, 2017 - Source: Abbie Parr/Getty Images North America) 

Boston has played an unbelievable 17 extra inning games this year.  They have gone 14-3 in those games, including winning 6 in a row since July 29th. They are very, very good.  That being said, I have not yet given up on the New York Yankees winning the AL East!

But look, I think realistically, it is time to start thinking about the Wild Card.  At least the Yanks will be going back to the playoffs! Right? I mean, come on, many did not expect that, so it is exciting when you think about it.

(Photo: Getty Images)

It's my opinion looking forward that the Yankees will lose the 1 Game wild card playoff to the Twins or Angels based on an 8th inning blown 1-run lead by Dellin Betances (all on walks/hit batters/wild pitches). In fact, I fear that. But if the Yankees make it through that wild card game, I think things get interesting in the ALDS vs. Cleveland. 

Photo: Getty Images

I assume the Yanks will set things up to have Severino pitch the 1 game wild card playoff. After all, he is scheduled for Wednesday night, tomorrow, which sets him up for one more start next week vs. Tampa.  If they are still alive for the Division, Sevy could start last game of the season on October 1st. Otherwise he will start the wild card game on October 3rd.  This means that if the Yankees win the wild card, they need to decide who (aside from Severino) will start Game 1 vs. Corey Kluber.  Honestly, the choice is between Tanaka or Gray.

(Photo: Getty Images

Now, I assume the Yankees will use Tanaka and Gray in Game 1 and Game 2, although it will be interesting to see who they use in Game 1.  The Game 1 starter is lined up to also start Game 5.  I think I would go with Tanaka over Gray in G1, but it’s a close, close call.  Oh yeah, and Severino will come back to start Game 3 on regular rest.

Photo: Getty Images

Game 4 could be crucial.  The Yanks will either be facing elimination at home or will be trying to close out the Indians and avoiding a trip back to Cleveland.  Would the Yanks use the Game 1 starter on 3 days rest?  Or will they use CC Sabathia? Or how about Jaime Garcia? 

I would expect CC to start Game 4, but not impossible for the Yanks go in a different direction. Please, there are other things to think about. Would the Indians use Kluber on 3-days rest in this game?  What did they do last year?  

(Sept. 16, 2017 - Source: Ron Schwane/Getty Images North America)     

The Yankees probably need to win this series in 4 games if they want to win it, as I do not like their chances in Game 5 in Cleveland against Kluber.

Also... side note as we appear to be heading to the playoffs in some capacity. It will be interesting to see how the Yankees deal with some of the guys coming back from injury.  

Photo: Getty Images

When Aaron Hicks and Clint Frazier both got hurt, it put Ellsbury back into the starting lineup and he's actually played well.  Now, Frazier is back and I hear Hicks should be back by next week.  I wonder who starts in the OF and who DH's in the playoffs. 

Photo: Getty Images

Also, with Todd Frazier playing third, it appears Chase Headley is now in a platoon with Greg Bird at 1B.  Headley could also play DH instead of Holliday, so, the bottom line, the Yanks have options.

Whatever the case, I hope my ramble put some stuff into perspective as we inch closer.  This season has gone far better than many expected.  I just hope the Yanks can hold on and do something great in October!

--Douglas Solomon

BYB Guest Writer

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