MAYBE THE YANKEES CAN DUMP ELLSBURY AFTER ALL....

It would be the best breakup story I have ever heard. Breakups normally suck, but not this one. The idea of cutting all ties with Jacoby Ellsbury would be epic. It may not be realistic, but you know what? It's not going to stop me from fantasizing about it.

The Yankees won 100 games last season without Jacoby Ellsbury. He never made an appearance. Not one at bat or defensive replacement. Their third most expensive contract literally had ZERO impact on the team. He's a non-factor who is just taking up roster space.

Ellsbury had season-ending hip surgery in August and is questionable for an Opening Day return. His agent Scott Boras said he would be ready HERE, but last we heard from Brian Cashman back in October he didn't sound so optimistic. That was a while ago at this point, but we have nothing else to go off of.

Despite Ellsbury's missing year, there has miraculously still been some interest in him this winter. At one point it was rumored that the Mariners and Yankees were talking about a Robinson Cano-for Ellsbury trade that obviously didn't go anywhere and now more recently the San Francisco Giants have interest. Serious interest? Who knows, but Buster Olney tweeted it:

Why on earth would either side be interested in this? (IF they are). Here are some thoughts:

1. Both sides would trade from areas of depth to address areas of weakness

Basically the Giants and Yankees would be swapping bad contract for bad contract. We all hate the Ellsbury contract, it's a horrible deal for the Yankees. As bad as it is, the Giants have several bad contracts. They have a lot of money tied up in declining players on a rebuilding team. The Giants are not going to be contenders. They lost 98 games in 2017 and 89 games last season. I don't see 2019 being a drastic improvement.

That being said they have a few bad contract for bad contract candidates that they could try to tempt the Yankees with....but I think only two make any sense.

I disagree with Olney about Johnny Cueto. He's still recovering from Tommy John surgery and he's not even expected to pitch this season. He would be a pickup for 2020 or 2021 and he has an extra year on his deal compared to Ellsbury. I am sure the Giants would love to get rid of him, but he makes no sense for the Yankees.

But what about Brandon Belt? Buster Posey will likely see more time at first base for the Giants going forward due to his hip surgery. That could make Belt expendable so maybe they would trade him. He would be another alternative to Greg Bird and give us a better lefty bad we desperately need.  If I am being honest though, I would take just about anyone over Bird. I'm known to be his toughest critic here. Heck, maybe the Yankees could throw in cost effective Bird with Ellsbury and get it done. Probably not though....realistically the Giants could get more for Belt.

There's also Jeff Samardzija. The Giants have been shopping for an outfielder. We have a surplus of them, and the Giants have pitching depth so a swap would make sense. I don't think you can ever have enough pitching, so the Yankees would get another arm they can use however they need. Still seems a little far fetched though.

2. There's insurance money to consider

Last year Ellsbury made $21 million, but the Yankees were able to recover over $15 million from insurance thanks to his missed time, read more HERE. Maybe we haven't heard an update on Ellsbury because the Yankees don't expect him to miss enough time for the insurance payout to kick in. He would have to miss a certain amount of time before they can collect insurance again. It's crazy to think about but if Ellsbury does miss considerable time again this season he could be more valuable for the Yankees to keep because of the insurance payout and less valuable to a potential trade partner thanks to his diminished value.

3. What about that 'no-trade' clause?

We all know Ellsbury has one, but will he waive it? I don't know. He has two motivating factors to waive it. Realistically, Ellsbury is a bench guy at best. The Yankees have a bench spot open, but the outfield is set and has a waiting list (Clint Frazier, anyone?)

If Ellsbury wants playing time he's going to get that with the Giants who are actively shopping for outfielders. Also, Ellsbury has a home in Arizona so playing in San Francisco could be appealing. Then again.....it's the Giants instead of the Yankees. Potential postseason berth versus nothing (likely). Ouch.

This sounds like a long shot but if the Giants are willing to talk it's worth an honest conversation. Sometimes rumors just don't make sense. There are cheaper free agents out there. They could easily sign Marwin Gonzalez or Adam Jones for far less money so this rumor is strange, but if the Giants really have interest in Ellsbury then the Yankees should be all ears. I know I am.

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

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

"I hate losing more than I love winning" - Billy Beane in Moneyball

Photo: Getty Images

And I really do. I hate the word "hate" but it's so true. I'm too competitive for my own good. In a lot of ways I think I identify with Billy Beane in Moneyball. We came so close. We were almost there, but sadly 'almost' only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades so as good as this ear was I am ready for 2018 to finish what we started. To come this close and not win it all hurts but the future is bright. As bright as it may be, there are still a lot of unknowns.

1) Are Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman coming back to the Yankees in 2018?

I think Cashman is a more obvious "YES" here. The Steinbrenner's trust him and believe in his judgment. If they didn't, we wouldn't have sold off our big assets at the end of last season. Not only that, what other GM is out there that can do what Cashman has done for this team? He has been the mastermind behind the "rebuild" phase that has paid off for us so far. I can't think of another GM that can so what Cashman has done and be as successful.

But what about Joe Girardi? Some fans really like him and some may think it is time for the Yankees to find someone new. No matter how the fans feel, the Yankees may go a different direction but not be their choice. Girardi is the third longest tenured manager since October of 2007 behind Mike Scioscia (1999, Los Angeles Angels) and Bruce Bochy (2006, San Francisco Giants). Who knows exactly what his plans are going forward but Girardi as much as he loves baseball, he is a family man. That comes first, read HERE and he may decide he is ready to be a family man. It's too soon to tell at this point but it is hard to imagine the Yankees without Girardi.

2) Should the Yankees bring CC Sabathia back?

Photo: New York Post

It seems like CC has been on the team forever now. Some fans may be ready to move on but he has been invaluable both on and off the field. He has been a consistent innings eater for the past two seasons and he has shown us he still has that competitive drive. I still think he has enough left in the tank. As the Yankees continue their rebuilding they are going to need a good veteran leader in the clubhouse and he can still be a good arm for the back of the rotation. CC says he still has unfinished business with this team. When I think about the current state of the rotation for 2018 he could still be a big asset and help guys like Jordan Montgomery, Luis Severino and Sonny Gray out. If Chance Adams makes his way on the team he could be that veteran leader for another new group of young kids. CC says this is his home, and he wants to finish what he started. I am on board with giving him a one year deal, maybe an option for a second. We know he wants to stay here.

3) Will Masahiro Tanaka opt out of his deal?

Photo: MLB.com

Unlike CC, we don't know if Tanaka wants to stay he and be part of this team's future. He's been inconsistent this season but he really showed everyone that he is a postseason pitcher with a 2-1 record and a 0.90 ERA that can be trusted. Some people say his regular season stats like his wins and ERA would be a turn off for some teams. However, the free agent pitching class this season isn't very deep. Aside from Johnny Cueto, Jake Arrieta, and Yu Darvish there aren't many other attractive names out there. Who knows if another team wants to offer more money than we are paying him now or if he wants to stay with the Yankees who have a legitimate chance at winning a ring for years to come. If he wants to win he should stay but his answer was a little cold toward the media on Saturday. He sounded a little eager to find out if there were other options out there.

There is a lot to figure out now. As we move past the burn of just falling short it's time to start thinking about improving this team and making it stronger for seasons to come. Will any of these guys be a part of it going forward? I sure hope so.




--Jeana Bellezza

BYB Managing Editor 
Follow me on Twitter: @NYPrincessJ

GETTING INSIDE CASHMAN'S HEAD

Yes, it's true... I am now anticipating that the New York Yankees will trade for a starter before the July 31 trading deadline.  I have spent years trying to get into Brian Cashman’s head and understanding how he thinks.  The David Robertson, Todd Frazier deal came out of nowhere, but I get it totally.  And now I've been thinking about starters as well.

Photo: Getty Images

The Yanks have 4 decent starters already in Tanaka, Severino, Sabathia, and Montgomery.  When they had Pineda as well, they were all set and would find difficulty upgrading any of their 5 starters enough to make giving up prospects worthwhile.  Now, with Pineda gone, it's my opinion their best option is Chance Adams.  I think Adams could step in now and likely do as well or better than most starters that the Yankees would be able to trade for.  Thus, for 2017, it is not worth giving up prospects to get a starting pitcher.

However, Cashman will also be thinking about 2018 and 2019.  Looking ahead to 2018, the Yanks will likely have Tanaka back.  I doubt Tanaka will opt out of 3 years, $68M given the year he's had.  While it's true he could reels off an amazing second half, I doubt it strongly, and so, he'll be back next year.  And so, that gives us Tanaka, Severino, Montgomery and Chance Adams for 2018.  But who will be the 5th starter? 

Photo: Newsday

Kaprielian is not ready yet given his surgery.  I doubt any of our other pitching prospects (i.e. Justus Sheffield) is ready.  So the Yanks will either need to re-sign CC to a 1-year deal or they will need to go out and get a starter via trade or free agency.  And so, let’s look at each of those options:

Free Agents:

Looking at the 2017-18 free agent class, I think the I would rule out the free agent possibility.  The only decent starters that are going to be free agents are all over 30 years old and will be looking for long-term deals.  Those options are:

Photo: Getty Images

Yu Darvish: The Yankees are not going to give $20M per year to a 31-year old pitcher coming off TJ surgery.  Yes, someone will pay Darvish, but I don’t see Cashman doing it.  The Yanks are looking only at younger players these days.  They are not giving out $100M contracts to guys that are already 30+ anymore. My opinion of course....

Jake Arrieta: See above.  Arrieta will be 32 next season.  He will want big money, but he is not even performing well this year with an ERA of 4.17.

Photo: Getty Images

Johnny Cueto: Cueto can opt out of his last 4 years and $84M of his contract with the Giants.  If he does that, he will obviously want at least a 5-year deal for $20M per year.  But he will be 32 and currently has an ERA of 4.59.  No thanks.

CC Sabathia: If CC continues to pitch well down the stretch, I think this could be an option.  But if he continues to pitch well, CC may be able to get more than a 1-year deal, which would rule him out.  I believe Cashman would consider CC more of a fall back option though, not a primary.  That's because Cashman doesn’t know whether CC will continue to pitch well enough to warrant a spot in the 2018 rotation, or that CC will be willing to accept a 1-year deal even after having pitched well.

Personally, I don’t think that the CC, 1-year deal option will impact Cashman’s decision concerning whether to make a trade for a starting pitcher that the Yanks can use in the 2018 rotation. 

Now let's look at trades, because that's where I'm going with this.  If Cashman has already concluded that he will not be signing a free agent starting pitcher, which I believe he has, then his only primary option to fill the 2018 open rotation spot is via a trade. 

Photo: New York Daily News

With a trade for a starting pitcher that is under control for 2018 and possibly beyond, Cashman can solve the 2018 rotation problem now.  Of course, it is possible he would wait for the Winter, but some of the guys that are available now will no longer be available in the Winter.  While I don’t think Cashman is going to give up #1 Gleyber Torres, #2 Clint Frazier, #5 James Kaprelian, #6 Justus Sheffield, or #7 Chance Adams, I do think he will give up a few other prospects to get a good starter that is under control for at least 2018. 

I think #4 Jorge Mateo could be dealt if the price was right.  I also think that #9 Miguel Andujar, #11 Tyler Wade, or #14 Tyler Austin are all players Yanks might deal to get a starter. 

And this is now me in Cashman's head.  With all I've now stated, I believe a trade will happen... and here are the options:

Photo: Getty Images

Sonny Gray: I think Gray is a good possibility for the Yankees.  He is under control through 2019 and is only 27 years old and is pitching decently this year.  The difficulty in getting Gray is that I don’t know that you can get him without giving up a top prospect.  The Cubs gave up their #1 prospect (#8 overall) plus more to get Jose Quintana, who had an ERA over 5.00.  Teams will give up good prospects to get a young starter that has years of control.  So the Yankees may fall short in trying to acquire Gray if other teams step up, which is likely.

Gerrit Cole: Another young starter (26) who is controlled through 2019.  Cole might make sense as his 4.35 ERA might have lowered his value enough that Yankees could get him without giving up top prospects.

Photo: Sun Sentinel

Dan Straily: Marlins may be having a fire sale.  Straily put up a 14-8 record in 2016 with an ERA of 3.76 with the Reds, and has continued to pitch well starting for the Marlins this year (7-4, 3.32).  He is under control through 2021.  I believe the Yankees might be interested.

Julio Teheran: Julio is 26 and signed through 2019.  Braves are actually in the race, but may realize it is not realistic that they can contend.  Teheran had a 3.21 ERA in 30 starts in 2016, but he is not pitching well this year (4.69) so he could be had.

Look, in the end, I think I have finally cracked the code to Cashman's brain.  I think I was able to really pick apart the options, and really come to some decent options for our Yankees.  Will any of this happen? Who honestly knows... really. I do know this though... we need to get back on track, and a starter that can really help our club.

But enough about my thoughts. What do you think? Comment.

--Douglas Solomon

BYB Guest Writer

TRADE PROPOSALS THAT MAKE YOU SAY, WTF?!

(July 1, 2017 - Source: Jon Durr/Getty Images North America)     

I love the rumor mill. I have to admit though, I liked the rumor mill more when the Yankees were winning and on a roll. Right now, the rumor mill isn't as fun and some of these ideas smell like desperation and insanity as I read through them. Some of them are just completely crazy!

I was reading a rumor piece from a major news source talking about two pitchers the Yankees should go after. The names weren't new, we have talked about them here on BYB but the trade proposals made to get these guys were new....and rather ugly. The name Jose Quintana still won't go away and Johnny Cueto looks more appealing with everyday that passes, but the Yankees are looking to deal and build for the future and not be robbed which is exactly what these proposals were....highway robbery.

Photo: Getty Images

1) Yankees Gain: Jose Quintana AND Todd Frazier
    Yankees Lose: RF Clint Frazier, RHP Justus Sheffield, RHP Zack Littell, 1B/OF Tyler Austin and SS Wilkerman Garcia.

We've talked about Quintana for months but here's a quick breakdown on WHY we and many other teams are talking abut him. He's attractive because he is cheap, offers team control to the Yankees, he is an innings eater and he's a consistent starter. All things that sound great. However, the proposal made above is not great.

Photo: Pinstriped Prospects

First of all....I am not trading two young top prospects in Frazier and Sheffield for Quintana. Frazier is a five-tool player and I'm not giving him up for a number three starter. I like what Quintana offers, but not enough to give up a five tool guy who is younger. You can't discredit Sheffield either, this is a guy that will probably be a starter for the Yankees at some point next season.

(June 2, 2017 - Source: Leon Halip/Getty Images North America)

So Todd Frazier may make sense on paper. He can play first and third which we all know are HUGE problems for the Yankees right now. Those are the cornerstone pieces in any infield and should be major offensive contributors. The Yankees have not had any luck at first with injury plagued Greg Bird and Tyler Austin and then Chris Carter with his lack of offense, defense and habitual strikeouts. Chase Headley is no better, he just happens to be healthy. Frazier may sound like a guy the Yankees could use but he is also barely batting above the mendoza line. He's not an upgrade no matter how you look at it. Oh and....Austin is injured again so why would the White Sox want him? The logic is missing here.

Source: Getty Images

2) Yankees Gain: Johnny Cueto
     Yankees Lose: OF Dustin Fowler and SP Chance Adams

We've talked about Cueto before also, and sooner or later he is going to be on the move. The Giants are 22 games behind in their division and he has an opt-out clause waiting for him to exercise at the end of the season so the Giants have no reason to keep him. The Giants are also needing a major influx of young new talent. Their farm system is weak, and the Yankees is just the opposite and we all know what had to happen to give us a strong farm. Knowing that, why give up a strong farm for a rental?

Giving up Adams is a no-go for me. This kid has a future spot pitching on this team and he has been doing well down in Triple-A. Some fans are already petitioning for the kid to be called up to the Bronx despite not logging enough innings down in Triple-A. I'm not giving up a young pitcher with a high ceiling for a short term rental. Not to mention, Cueto has allowed 18 home runs in pitcher friendly AT&T Park. I don't want to imagine how ugly those numbers can get in hitter friendly / short right porch Yankee stadium. Not to mention, the guy is 31 years old and is having his worst season since 2009. It makes no sense to trade the future for a guy like Cueto.

Oh and not to harp again but Fowler has a pretty bad injury. He won't be back this season so that really doesn't make any sense.

Photo: SI

The Yankees need to stick with their plan and build towards the future. Guys like Adams and Frazier are players you build around. The Yankees will have a very strong team with these guys playing for years to come. Do we want to win now? Of course, we are Yankee fans....but we aren't dumb either. We know what we have, and it's much better than the trade proposals above. Some things you just can't make up.

--Jeana Bellezza
BYB Managing Editor 
Follow me on Twitter: @NYPrincessJ



#BYB Merchandise

YANKEE RUMORVILLE: ARE THESE PITCHERS ON THE YANK'S LIST?

(April 25, 2017 - Source: Brandon Wade/Getty Images North America)

Not to get ahead of myself here, but they Yankees have proven that they are better team than many have predicted. The Yankees look like a potential playoff team now rather than the two years some predicted, like Vegas. They may not believe in the Yankees....but we do and if they make the right moves they will too.

I usually don't pay attention to Vegas odds because honestly, their predictions and thought process seem ass backwards sometimes. But this time, I found something to be rather interesting. In May the Yankees had 16/1 World Series odds, read that HERE. Now all of the sudden we have a legitimate MVP candidate and one month later we have a 12/1 odds. It's amazing how much someone like Aaron Judge on a winning team suddenly changes everything.

(May 29, 2017 - Source: Patrick Smith/Getty Images North America)

As I sit back and watch the league now that we are one-third of the way into the season we can all see the Yankees have one area they need to address in order to win it all in October. The Yankees are going to need pitching, plain and simple. Masahiro Tanaka has not been an ace, Luis Severino has rebounded from a disastrous 2016 and Michael Pineda is inconsistent and still cannot be trusted. If the playoffs started tomorrow, the Yankees would be in trouble.

The Yankees have the offense but need some more pitching depth if they want to compete in the post season. As the trade deadline approaches there are some names the Brian Cashman could call on.

1) Jose Quintana - White Sox

Photo: Getty Images

2017 stats: 2-7, 11 starts, 5.60 ERA
Contract Status: Owed $38 million through 2020 (If options for 2019 and 2020 are picked up).
The Yankees have been tied to Quintana since the off season. He was one of the most consistent, underrated pitchers of the last four years. He threw at least 200 innings from 2013-2016 and never had an ERA over 3.51. He's had a rough start but history shows he is a better pitcher than what his current stats are. He's pitching on a fourth place team who isn't helping those stats. The numbers may not be pretty but he will still be a hot commodity on the trade market this season. He would still require a good prospect package to get him but knowing Cashman he is at least going to make the call and see where the conversation leads.

2) Gerrit Cole - Pirates

Photo: Getty Images

2017 stats: 3-5, 12 starts, 4.27 ERA

Contract Status: Free Agent after 2019
The Yankees drafted Cole as a first round pick back in 2008, but he attended UCLA instead of signing. The advantage with Cole would be getting another young, solid pitcher under team control. The Yankees would then be able to save more money to get under the luxury tax which has been a goal for awhile now. The Pirates are also in fourth place in their division and will be looking to sell by the deadline. It would be a good fit for the Yankees.

3) Johnny Cueto - Giants

(May 11, 2017 - Source: Jason O. Watson/Getty Images North America)

2017 stats: 5-5, 12 starts, 4.38 ERA
Contract Status: Owed $21.8 million per year through 2021 with an opt out option after 2017.
The Giants are 12.5 games out in the NL West and are bound to be sellers. Beat writers already recognize that he is an impact player for a contending team....the question is whose? If Cueto can have a good season behind a bad team exercising his opt out option only makes sense and would give the Yankees another ace on a rental. If the Yankees can keep him it's a fair price to pay for another ace in a playoff berth.

4) Cole Hamels - Rangers

Photo: Getty Images

2017 stats: 2-0, 5 starts, 3.03 ERA
Contract Status: Signed through 2018 with a 2019 team option
The Rangers are 15 games out in the AL West. Hamels is currently out with an Oblique strain and unlikely to return by July so he likely wont have enough innings pitched for his 2019 option to vest. That's good news because it would mean that the Yankees or any other team could get him at a deep discount and would be a longer term rental for a good pitcher who has some experience in big game situations. It's more of a low buy, higher risk option but if the price is right it's worth a phone call.

5) Yu Darvish - Rangers

(June 1, 2017 - Source: Ron Jenkins/Getty Images North America)

2017 stats: 5-4, 12 starts, 3.13 ERA
Contract Status: Free Agent after 2017
The Rangers have plenty of trade chips, and Darvish may be the rental that every contending team wants. He would be the rental that could make a difference. Early rumors predict that the Yankees and the Cubs are two favorite destinations for Darvish, read that HERE. The Yankees may be a suitor for him in the off season anyway, so it could be a good test to see if he can handle the New York pressure.

6) Matt Harvey - Mets

Photo: Getty Images

2017 stats: 4-3, 11 starts, 5.43 ERA
Contract Status: Under team control through 2018
This name is out there in the rumor universe. The Mets are open to trading him.....but all I can think is "NO! Please baseball gods, no!" The guy is a mess.

The trade deadline is still a ways off but I love all of the speculation. It's interesting to read all of the rumors and then look back on everything later. Who knows if any of these names and rumors have any merit to them, but it's still all part of the fun of being a baseball fan right? Let the trade rumors roll!

--Jeana Bellezza
BYB Managing Editor
Follow me on Twitter: @NYPrincessJ

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION

It happens every year.  We decide that THIS is the year we change up the old routine.  We may want to kick a habit, lose a few or pick up a new hobby.  The New York Yankees are having their own “NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION” of sorts and we have to get used to it…like it or not.

Gone are the Day of Old Uncle George and his checkbook of magic.  If there was a problem the Old Lion would wave his pen, sign a check and fix it…or at least we all hoped.  Thanks for nothing, Kevin Brown.

As Yankee Faithful we endured the jabs of Small Market Martyrs, “You buy your wins while we suffer through the real baseball seasons.”  What a bunch of nonsense…but that’s another story.

Here’s the odd silver lining for those who need one…WE DON’T DO THAT ANYMORE.  The Yankees have decided to slim down.  They don’t go long term.  They don’t sell off young talent for short-term gains.  The Bronx Bombers are now the Bronx Bargain Hunters.  Cashman is like my Nana.  He is at TJ Maxx looking for the hidden deal in the bin full of junk.  Brian is like your Uncle Frank when you ask for 5 dollars.  “5 dollars?! What do you need 4 dollars for? You gotta be kidding. 3 dollars.  You gotta be outta ya mind!”

But!  Is it for the best?  Are we smarter?  Will this truly be the way to go?  Ask Stick Michael and I’m sure he’d say, “Cueto? 100 plus million?!  HAHAHAHAHAHAH.”

I am not all that upset with the Yanks and their new frugalness.  David Price would have been nice, but at that number…. NO WAY IN BOSTON…or hell to the layman.

Look, we are below the radar like the teams in the early 1990s.  I dig it; we are becoming the 6 Million-Dollar Man…Faster, Stronger (Hopefully) Better than he’s ever been before!  It can happen.  Let’s make like Cubs’ fans and say, “You GOTTA believe”.

I try to always look to the New Year with hope and optimism…guardedly when it comes to the Yankees.  But hey, why not? What do we have to lose?  We weren’t a great team the last few years.  Let’s let it ride!

Happy New Year to the New Look New York Yankees!  Let’s give it a go.

** Here’s to the Late, Great Uncle George! …But Papa Hal’s GOT A BRAND NEW BAG! **





 
--Mike O'Hara Senior "Features" Writer
Twitter: @mikeyoh21
















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