GREG BIRD IS ON THE PHILLIES NOW GUYS

Not a big story, but we like to keep track of former Yankees and so that's why we're telling you this.  Looks like Greg Bird was able to latch onto a new team... the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports:

"...the Phillies announced the signings of veteran catcher Jonathan Lucroy and first baseman Greg Bird to minor-league contracts, and assigned them to the Lehigh Valley training site....

Bird, 27, is a familiar name to manager Joe Girardi. Once a top prospect with the Yankees, he hit 11 home runs and slugged .529 in 46 games as a rookie in 2015 while Girardi was managing in New York....But Bird missed the 2016 season after having shoulder surgery and parts of 2017 and 2018 with ankle injuries. He tore the planta fascia in his left knee last year and was released by the Yankees in November. He signed with the Texas Rangers, who designated him for assignment in August."

And there you have it... no biggie.

We wish Bird luck.

ARE AUSTIN ROMINE'S DAYS NUMBERED?

Source: Bob Levey/Getty Images North America

It's weird to think about right now but as the Yankees look to make improvements to their roster and managing staff they could look at the free agent market and make one more addition to the team. I'm just not sold that this would be a big upgrade BUT....could the Yankees also be looking for a new backup catcher?

I like Austin Romine, I think he's a good guy but truth is he is really just an okay defender with a lackluster bat. He actually barely cracks the top thirty in defensive stats and when you aren't a great defender and are a sub-par hitter that just makes it worse. Romine doesn't really stand out as having one great standout skill, which is a problem when you are on a rebuilding and young competitive team.

Photo: Getty Images

So I guess the question is....do the Yankees stick with Romine or look for someone else to backup Gary Sanchez? The Yankees know what they are getting with Romine, he's been around for six years now. He outlasted names like Jesus Montero and John Ryan Murphy and even looked like the more appealing option for catcher back in September when the Yankees were preparing for the Wild Card game against the Twins. Several media sources like NY Daily News and Newsday even wrote pieces calling for Joe Girardi to start Romine instead of Sanchez.

Source: Stacy Revere/Getty Images North America

So if media outlets had so much faith in Romine in a must win game, is there anyone else out there that could be considered an upgrade? There are two catchers that are free agents, Jonathan Lucroy and Alex Avila. I doubt Lucroy would sign with the Yankees for a backup catcher role but Alex Avila is used to a backup role already and could be intriguing.

If the Yankees want to improve their offensive production in their backup role Avila would give more of that then Romine. This season in 376 plate appearances he had a .236 BA, hit 14 home runs with 49 RBI's. It certainly beats Romine's 80 plate appearances and .218 BA with 2 home runs and 21 RBI's. His left handed bat would also come in handy at Yankee stadium. Offensively, he has more to offer than Romine does. Defensively though, he's not a significant upgrade over Romine and his bat outshines his defensive skills.

Could the Yankees make the call and try to sign Avila? Maybe, but he is going to want a lot more playing time and behind Sanchez that's not likely. Honestly who wants to be stuck behind one of the games most exciting young catchers? I am willing to bet it's not Avila.


--Jeana Bellezza

BYB Managing Editor 
Follow me on Twitter: @NYPrincessJ

BYB Posada Original
This is a wonderful image I took of Jorge Posada, available on Laptop cases and Phone cases.

"MUNSON-LIKE" McCANN IS BEING SHOPPED

The Yankees like Brian McCann, but it's pretty clear that with this latest situation, he's not as "Munson-like" as Brian Cashman sold him as, and so, they will see what they can get for him.

It is being reported that McCann has gone through waivers. We'll use Yahoo Sports and their report:

"New York Yankees catcher Brian McCann cleared waivers Sunday and is now eligible to be traded this month....McCann still has $34 million to go on the five-year, $85-million contract — with an option for a sixth season at $15 million — he signed in 2013, so it’s not surprising he went unclaimed on waivers....

The Texas Rangers had shown interest in McCann before the July 31 trade deadline, but they acquired Jonathan Lucroy from the Milwaukee Brewers on deadline day. McCann has a full no-trade clause, which means he could veto any trade."

So what does it all mean?  Well, it means that while McCann is still a good catcher, and personally I love the guy definsively and how he works with his pitchers, but the reality is, his hitting isn't exactly what any of us expected.

"The short porch at Yankee stadium was build for McCann's swing."  I remember hearing that being said about Brian McCann when we signed the free agent a while back.  But it really isn't.  McCann looks tired at the plate.  He doesn't appear to be some big slugger at all.  Early on when he came to New York, I was excited for him to be in pinstripes.  After all, my kid loves the guy and loved his fiery demeanor he presented in Atlanta, but if my own kid is now telling me, "McCann's done".... hey, maybe he is. You know what I mean?

Look, expect rumors about McCann the next couple weeks.  There will be activity surrounding him.  After all, the Yankees now have Gary Sanchez and Austin Romine up and there isn't a real need for McCann anymore.  If the Yankees took a chunk of that salary and Cashman did his best to get us another top prospect... I'm all in.  Will it happen? We shall see.

Stay tuned.

THIS IS WHO DILLON TATE IS!

In their last big move of the trade deadline, the Yankees found a landing spot for Carlos Beltran with the Texas Rangers. It was sad to see Beltran go, but he understood it’s business and hopefully for his sake, the Rangers make a run and he gets to show his postseason brilliance once again.

Meanwhile, the Yankees got alot in return... prospect Dillon Tate.

Dillon Tate was the number four overall draft pick in 2015 out of UC Santa Barbara. The good is that Tate was topping out at 98 in college and successfully transitioned form a reliever to a starter, throwing 103 innings his junior year in 2015. The bad was that he has regressed this year to the tune of a 5.12 ERA in Single-A ball while allowing 78 hits in 65.0 innings.

Tate’s fastball was up to 96 MPH in spring training and the Rangers were excited for what their first round pick was going to accomplish this season. Lately however, the young man has been clocked in the low 90’s, according to Fangraphs. There have even been reports he was sitting in the high 80’s in some starts which was obviously disappointing for the Rangers.

So when the Yankees came calling trying to flip Carlos Beltran, the Rangers figured they’d go all in acquiring both Beltran and C Jonathan Lucroy from the Brewers. In doing so, the Rangers had to pay the piper and give up on Tate which will hopefully be a blessing for us Yankees fans.

Tate showed off his moves when he found out he was being traded to the Yankees.

When you hear you've been traded to the @Yankees #TradeDeadline #dillonTate pic.twitter.com/FGmCwtS8za

— Kevin Rodriguez (@krodrig22) August 1, 2016

New @Yankees prospect Dillon Tate celebrates trade to NYY with #RunningManChallenge (WATCH): https://t.co/6lJN2O1o01 pic.twitter.com/zIWWvNHvKU

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) August 2, 2016

While Tate has the high profile of being a top four draft pick, he has only been a starter for two years and hamstring issues could have played a part in the drop in velocity as John Manuel has reported.

According to Andrew Marchand, one scout at least was “very surprised” that Brian Cashman was able to pry away a top pick from just 14 months ago!

The YES Network’s Jack Curry tweeted that the Yankees plan on moving Dillon Tate back into the bullpen to try and get his stuff figured out. They aren’t saying it’s permanent but as Curry said ‘just slowing the kid down’.

Cashman said Dillon Tate will be moved from rotation to bullpen at Class A Charleston. Not saying it's permanent. Just slowing the kid down.

— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) August 1, 2016

That logic makes sense since Tate was a reliever turned starter his junior year at UC Santa Barbara. He threw just 43 innings in 2014 before upping it to 103 his junior year at the school. Perhaps the move back to the bullpen will allow his velocity to return as well as his confidence. At that point a decision whether to move him back to the rotation or not can be made. Spring Training could be a good time frame for that decision.

Overall, Brian Cashman did take a chance on Tate. He gave up his best bat for a guy who has regressed. However a two month rental for a top draft pick is not a bad gamble.

With any luck and through hard work, we hope to see Tate return to his senior year form and force his way through the minor league ranks before pitching in front of 40,000 fans at Yankee Stadium.

While only time will tell how well this trade turns out, I’m sure happy to have a guy with tremendous upside in the Yankees system.

Welcome to the Yankees Dillon Tate!

--Dan Lucia, BYB Senior Writer
Follow me on Twitter: @DManLucia