COULD TANAKA REMAIN A YANKEE?

Source: AP

The sun could come out for Masahiro Tanaka in the Bronx, maybe. As the latest Yankee pitching prospect heads to San Diego, the Yankees and Tanaka could work out potentially work out a deal that would keep the pitcher in New York.

Source: Chicago Sun Times

On Tuesday, the San Diego Padres acquired Pittsburgh Pirate pitcher Joe Musgrove, a guy the Yankees had their eye on to fill a much needed starting rotation hole and who was also in line with their salary guidelines. According to ESPN, "Musgrove will be the third starting pitcher acquired via trade by the Padres this offseason. San Diego picked up left-hander Blake Snell and right-hander Yu Darvish in separate blockbuster trades last month with the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago Cubs, respectively." 

Source: San Diego Union Tribune

Shut tightly is door number three for Tanaka. It was presumed that Tanaka would head out to a California team a few years back before the Yankees resigned him. With former pitching coach Larry Rothschild. and buddy Yu Darvish, Tanaka could have settled in well with the Padres and gotten the salary he is seeking. Now with that option off the table, the Yankee starter has presumably two choices, the Yankees or back to Japan.

Source: Japan Times

"MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reported Monday that “while the Yankees and Masahiro Tanaka are still in contact, there appears to be a good chance he pitches elsewhere. There’s said to be strong interest in Japan, and the likelihood of a much bigger deal there," reported NJ.com. 

Tanaka has been consistent for the Bombers over the years. He alway pitched well when he need to, he always suffered some sort of set back and he always needed an extra day's rest to be his best self. He would be welcomed back to New York and to the arms of fans. I would say sign him for one year and see what happens. Go over the salary cap, pay the penalty and win the pennant. C'mon Yankees, the options are very limited and why not go with a sure thing. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

GOT DJ, NOW WHAT?

I was as relieved as you when word came through that the Yankees finally signed DJ LeMahieu on Friday.  Text messages came in as early as 7:30 a.m. on Friday morning and they all lauded the much needed move by the Yankees. But now what? How will signing LeMahieu and now Corey Kluber set up the Yankees for the success? What else do they need to do to position them to not only win the AL East but the World Series in 2021?

Source: The New York Times

According to CBS Sports, "Hypothetically, the Yankees could spend around $25 million and avoid that additional surtax. If they wanted to save around $10 million, for in-season additions and as a general rainy-day fund, then that number is closer to $15 million. The Yankees, then, could fit another Kluber-like deal into their budget with room to spare."

Who is that Kluber-like pitcher for the Yankees? Well it's not Masahiro Tanaka unless he is going to take pay cut which is not likely. It could be James Paxton but I know I am a little sick of his lackluster performance, but maybe the Yankees take another chance on him.

Source: Pittsburgh Gazette

"On the trade front, the most realistic option is Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Joe Musgrove. The Yankees have reportedly also had past interest in Musgrove's teammate Jameson Taillon. Beyond them, the Yankees may have to gamble on someone without a great track record, like Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Vincent Velasquez," reported CBS Sports. Who do Bombers give up for one of these pitchers? Depends. Could be some built around Clint Frazier, Miguel Andujar and even Mike Tauchman. 

Source: Corey Sipkin

As far as other free agents whose salary would be inline with the Yankees' budget, you could go with "Adam Wainwright, Jake Odorizzi, Taijuan Walker, Jose Quintana or Trevor Cahill," reports CBS Sports. I am in alignment with Joel Sherman that if the Yankees are going to stay under the luxury tax, they will have to get creative. And I will give Brian Cashman credit for being creative in his role as GM. 

So we got DJ, we got Kluber, what's next for the Yankees? We will soon see and hopefully whoever else the team adds, it will be more than enough to get over the World Series drought and then some. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

ASTROS GET COLE, YANKEES HAVE STRATEGY & PIRATES GET LAUGHED AT

“I’d rather have Clint Frazier and anybody else I could get from the Yankees than that package. I don’t get it.”

- an American League Scout

Anyone else share that same sentiment besides me? I couldn't agree more, a Yankee scout said it best HERE. I was never "mad" about the Yankees not getting Gerrit Cole. Personally, I was never completely sold on him but he would've been nice to have. You can never have enough pitching. At the same time, the baseball enthusiast in me can't stop scratching my head and thinking....

"Really Pirates? You said no to us but said Yes to the Astros?!"

Photo: Getty Images

I'm glad Astros owner Jim Crane is celebrating his great victory, read that HERE. Yeah you sure did "beat" the Yankees with this trade didn't you? An offseason championship ring is in route to Houston. You may have "won" Cole but only because the Pirates gained a lot of nothing. It as underwhelming package. It's a comedy.

The Pirates sold themselves short. They gave up a valuable starting pitching for four average joes (no pun intended).

Here's what they got:

Photo: Tim Warner/Getty Images

Joe Musgrove: 4.77 ERA. 25 years old, a failed starter who now pitches out of the bullpen.

Michael Feliz: 5.63 ERA. 24 years old, only three years experience. Not much to critique here besides the high ERA.

Colin Moran: third basemen, 25 years old and was the Astros Ninth best prospect.

Jason Martin: A 22 year old outfielder, called a "fringe" prospect. That sounds.....scary.

Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire

Like the opening quote says, I'd rather have Frazier. The Pirates did too but they wanted at least one of Frazier and Miguel Andujar but then the Yankees and Pirates couldn't agree on the remaining pieces. If the Pirates would've taken Frazier with virtually any other players packaged in the deal they would've received a better return for Cole than the Astros gave.

I guess the Astros should feeling like they are #winning, but only at the Pirates expense not ours. This trade is pretty comical.

Meanwhile, Cashman isn't crying over spilled milk while the Astros celebrate their offseason victory. I like Cashman's "onward and upward attitude" here as he continues to check in on Yu Darvish I just don't think he will be able to get Darvish for as cheap as he hopes. Yes, the market is stalled, but it isn't dead and some team out there will be willing to pay more than $90 million for him.

Photo: SI

And now that Andrew McCutchen and Cole are gone Pirates fans aren't too happy. In fact, fans made a petition asking MLB to force Pirates owner Bob Nutting, read that HERE. It's getting ugly out there, with a good chunk of MLB teams in "rebuilding" modes, fans and players are frustrated. It looks like Nutting is in the same company as Derek Jeter. See? Funny.

I don't know what reasoning other than being completely intoxicated the Pirates had regarding the Cole trade. I guess it doesn't matter though, because it's funny. They passed up a prize in Frazier for.....duds and probably won't live that one down anytime soon.

Laugh on....I am.

--Jeana Bellezza
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

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