BOSS MAN

Kim Klement-USATSI

There are a lot of things that Brian Cashman could have done. He could have given away top Yankee prospects that were valuable to the Yankees right now, but he didn't. He could have given away Clint Frazier, Aaron Judge, Luis Severino to upgrade the Yankees starting rotation... but he didn't. He could have flipped Gleyber Torres or Chance Adams, but no.  Cashman stuck to his principles, his commitment to strengthening the Yankees farm, all while keeping the Yankees as competitive as possible right at this moment. 

I mean sure, losing guys like James Kaprielian and Jorge Mateo and Dietrich Enns hurts, because we all wanted to see these guys flourish in pinstripes. But look... you can't get quality pitching and upgrade your existing team without giving away some prospects. And when you look at it,  guys like Dustin Fowler and James Kap are hurt anyway, and we still were able to unload them for a kid like Sonny Gray.

Photo: Getty Images

I'm not sure what type of potion or shell game Cashman played with 'friend' Billy Beane, but it was pretty damn incredible to see how that played out.

Sonny Gray is a good, solid, strong pitcher and he's young.  He could be truly great in the Bronx.  Add him to Sevy and the rest of our crew... and throw in a guy like Jaime Garcia, and Brian Cashman is a friggin' boss.

Photo: Getty Images

Upgrading a very weak part of our team, as he promises to not give away the likes of Justus Sheffield and company.  It's brilliant and it makes me happy.

Will Gray help take us to the World Series? Who knows. I do know he's solid and will do great things in New York, and we needed him. We needed him real bad.

Photo: Scout.com

Many hate Brian Cashman.  They feel like he doesn't do what we need to help our team win and stay competitive.  While I used to get angry at Cash, I noticed about 3 years ago a significant change in his style.  He went back to the days of Stick. He realized that our farm didn't have the talent that we needed and so, he found it last year and really started to build us up.  And for the first time in a while, we had kids come up ready for the Bigs. 

Photo: Getty Images

Judge. Bird. Sanchez. Frazier. Severino.  It's a wonderful thing to watch the kids work out the kinks and succeed in the Bigs.  It's outstanding actually.

And now we have to pieces of the puzzle to move forward... that's the bottom line here.  Our starting rotation has been strengthened.  Our pen... strengthened. We have some extra power in the hitting department, and we did it without giving away top quality, Bigs-ready talent.  It's genius.... and it's exciting, because it shows me that yes, the Yankees are building for the future, but we're not interested in letting 2017 slip away either.

That's a solid GM folks... you better be finding Cashman's email address right about now... because he deserves a 'thank you' note.  I'm writing mine now....

WELCOME TO THE BRONX, SONNY GRAY!

Done deal, or that's what it appears.  Sonny Gray is a New York Yankee. Jack Curry tweeted this:

Source: Sonny Gray will be traded to the Yankees.

— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) July 31, 2017

Word is the Yankees gave up 3.  MLB Trade Rumors has this:

"The Yankees pulled off a long-awaited rotation upgrade today, acquiring righty Sonny Gray from the Athletics for three prospects: outfielder Dustin Fowler, infielder/outfielder Jorge Mateo, and righty James Kaprielian.  In addition to Gray, the Yankees will receive $1.5MM in international bonus pool money. "

Nice work Cash! Sad to see some of our future go, but it is what it is.

SONNY GRAY TALKS PROGRESSING NICELY, BUT AT WHAT COST?

Photo: Getty Images

You know the Athletics are asking for every prospect the Yankees have, AND Aaron Judge... AND Luis Severino... just because they can.  Look, we here at BYB have been writing about this Sonny Gray rumor for a while now, and it's one that appears to be a real thing.

(July 10, 2017 - Source: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images North America)     

A lot of talk today about how the Yankees and A's are getting much closer to a possible deal for Gray and first baseman Yonder Alonso. In fact, BYB wrote about Alonso a while ago as being part of a Gray package if it was to happen.  Read THE YANKEES CAN'T IGNORE THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM ANYMORE.  Jeana Bellezza wrote:

"...the Yankees could consider Yonder Alonso from the A's. He is having a breakout season and rumored to be interested in signing an extension with the team but are rarely successful in retaining high-dollar free agents. The A's are likely to make Alonso available on the trade market and his one-year, $4 million salary will make him easy to move..."

Nailed it, Sista.

MLB Trade Rumors writes today:

Photo by: Charles Wenzelberg

"...the Yankees are “making progress” toward a deal that could send both players to the Bronx..."

And of course the big question is for who.  Jon Morosi of FOX Sports tweeted this about Yankee Prospect Estevan Florial:

Source: In Sonny Gray talks, #Athletics prioritizing young center fielders. They have interest in #Yankees prospect Estevan Florial. @MLB

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 25, 2017

All of his is interesting, but you gotta wonder if by young centerfielders, someone like Clint Frazier would be in the mix.  And what about the other prospects? What about Jorge Mateo? How about pitching? Would they want Justus Sheffield or is he untouchable?

We are following this very closely.  I do leave you with this though.  This comes from Mark Feinsand:

Not surprised Sonny Gray is making his start in Toronto. Though sources say Yankees are making progress, they didn't expect a deal tonight.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 25, 2017

We will see what happens tomorrow I guess.

Stay tuned...

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

STATUS OF YANKEE PITCHING & THE PROSPECT GIVEAWAY

Photo: Getty Images

The Yankees need pitching... and everybody knows how to fix it, even if it means giving all the prospects away. Come on, man! Stop!

Not a fan. Never been a fan, and that's on me.  Maybe I'm wrong, but Cashman didn't collect all these prospects just to blow his load on a few starting pitchers in 2017.  We need them to develop.  It's important to the franchise. Bottom line, this is two-fold.  There's a way to report rumor from a journalist standpoint that's responsible, and there's a way to be responsible from a Yankee standpoint and not undo what you did in 2016 to help a team win... not immediately, but over time. 

Photo: Getty Images

The latest comes from this ongoing rumor that the Yankees are attached to Sonny Gray of the Oakland Athletics.  Now we've heard it a lot. We've even written about it here on BYB. (Read READY FOR SONNY GRAY? for more.)

Here's the Sporting News:

"Could that big move be for the Athletics' Sonny Gray?

Brad Penner | USA Today Sports

It's possible, and the Yankees are certainly interested, but they are hesitant to move their top prospects to get him. Guys like Clint Frazier, Gleyber Torres and maybe even a Justus Sheffield may be untouchable, but to get Gray it's likely going to take at least one of them to get Oakland's ace who tossed six innings of one run ball Friday night....

Throw in a Chance Adams, Jorge Mateo and an Albert Abreu and the deal might possibly have some legs. It just depends on if the Yankees want Gray enough, and right now they certainly need help considering the recent injury to Michael Pineda..."

Photo: Getty Images

You know, just give them all away for a kid like Gray who is clearly talented, but not worth the farm. I don't like it!

Look, there is no question the Yankees need help, but we have a plan in place now.  Why ruin it?  No one said this was the season to win the whole thing.  No one.  While we want to win the whole damn thing every year, we need to be realistic.

Giving away the farm for a young starter who could or could not be good for the New York Yankees? I'll pass.  In fact, let's let Cashman handle it.

MATEO IS KICKING BUTT

Photo: The Trentonian

We haven't heard a ton from Jorge Mateo lately. But don't worry... the kid's doing fine and it's pretty exciting actually.

William Boor of MLB.com writes of yesterday's contribution to his Trenton Thunder game:

"Jorge Mateo only had six innings to work with as Double-A Trenton's 13-4 win over New Hampshire was completed early due to rain.

Photo: Pinstriped Prospects

However, the abbreviated game proved to be more than enough as the Yankees' No. 4 prospect (No. 37 overall) matched his career high, set in 2013, with four RBIs. Mateo was also 4-for-4, his third four-hit game of the season, and also stole his 30th base in the process."

It's clear this guy is the future for the MLB real soon. My concern is someone like Mateo may be part of a package if the Yankees decide to upgrade their pitching as we near the trade deadline.  It's something that has happened many times before.

We'll have to see about that, but for now, I'm really happy for this kid.

BYB 'Family Member' Merchandise (2017)

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE DREAM- IT'S ABOUT GRIT

Source: Kim Klement | USA TODAY Sports

I am drawn toward individuals who exhibit what University of Pennsylvania professor and researcher Dr. Angela Duckworth defines as grit.  "Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality. Grit is living life like it's a marathon, not a sprint." And in baseball, this means that the athlete who has grit is someone that educational leader Corey Radisch says avoids three very specific fears that hinder success. "Fear of failure, fear of criticism, and fear of hard work."

Source: Associated Press

We've talked a lot about the importance of grit many times in our posts.  You've read the blogs and you know what we need to do.  And as we said in our post OUR SUCCESS LIES IN OUR FUTURE back in September 2015 "If Girardi and Cashman could simply see the forest through the trees, they’d realize the chemistry and life these youngsters provide and let them move the team forward from here on.  If we are to be successful, it won’t be on the tired backs of ARod, Beltran, or Teixeira.  It has to be on the shoulders of our Baby Bombers.  Their time is now, and the Yankees’ time could be now too if our manager would set his binder down and simply open his eyes."  It's time for the management to stop dreaming and get gritty too.

According to CBS New York, "The Yankees may not be able to buy championships — not that they ever did, aside from 2009 — but they cut some fat, traded some high-end talent and spread some seed across what’s now the most fertile farm system in the game."  But as the article quickly points out before you can crack an optimistic smile across your winter-scorned face, "Kudos to beleaguered general manager Brian Cashman, who gets no credit when the club wins and all the blame when they lose. The Yankees are not quite ready for prime time, as they smooth the fur of their young colts and address the ultimate baseball axiom: Pitching wins championships."

Source: CBS New York

We may have gritty players on the field, willing to sprint and dive for extra base hits, punch clutch situational hits into the gap and run down smoking line drives, but we are lacking depth, endurance and grit up on the hill.  "We know the Yankees have a decent lineup, if healthy, and a nuclear bullpen that will shut an iron door down after the seventh inning. They just don’t have nearly enough starting arms to get them the ball."

Source: The New Yorker

So how do we build the grit in our young pitching staff without over extending their arms and without worrying about the three iconic failures that hinder success?  Well, I hate to say this but we may need to look at the Mets' track record in the pitching column.  "The Mets’ rotation is the envy of the sport, a conveyer belt of 20-somethings who throw gas. And unlike the Yankees, whose season hangs on the once-torn elbow of Tanaka, the Mets can lose Matt Harvey and still trot out Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom. And if Harvey returns to 2014 form in 2017, then the Mets will win 90-plus games by default. Which leaves the Amazins twice as likely to win the World Series, a 12-to-1 shot, according to Westgate."  We are talking young arms, cheap arms, identified by scouts, signed, groomed and coached for success.  We need a better eye for these kinds of pitchers and we need the gritty pitching coaches to mentor them.  We just don't have the right guys in the right places to do this work.  And we need them, fast.

And all this talk about trading prospects Clint Frazier and Jorge Mateo is utterly ridiculous. According to an article in NJ.com, "White Sox pitcher Jose Quintana can change everything. Get him and the Yankees can be a playoff team, maybe even win the AL East if favorite Boston doesn't get anything this season from ailing ace David Price." Not at the price of losing our youth.  Not at that price at all. If we can recruit guys like Frazier, Mateo, Blake Rutherford, Gleyber Torres and Gary Sanchez than why can't we do the same when it comes to identifying the best in young pitching and mentor them to grow and sustain success?

Source: NJ.com

So, not to be a glass half empty kind of person, but it's not about the dream, it's about grit and it's about grit in getting the job done from identifying, recruiting, molding, mentoring and home growing the arms to match the strong and youthful fielders and hitters who are anchoring our team for success. We need more than management is giving us.  And we need it now.  It's time to get gritty about scouting for success instead of just dreaming it.




--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

YANKEE PROSPECT SPRING UPDATE

(AP Photo | Matt Rourke)

We are past the halfway point in spring training and the Baby Bombers, and the whole spring training roster has been fantastic. Heading into Friday’s action, the Yankees have posted an MLB best 16-6 record. While spring training records don’t be a thing, it has been fun to watch the ball club win some games and the prospects have been very impressive!

To date, some of the big prospect names have made a big impact and today seems like a good day to take a look at the top ten entering Thursday’s action. Note: #3 prospect Blake Rutherford is not in big league camp.

Photo: Newsday

Gleyber Torres: The Yankees top prospect, in some people’s eyes, was over-hyped heading into the season due to his impressive AFL performance but all that talk has been silenced as Torres has torn up the spring with a .478/.480/1.043 slash line, two home runs, five doubles, a triple and seven RBI through 23 at-bats. Torres has some his versatility by playing both second base and short stop and although he has made three errors, he has shown off his cannon of an arm and has more than made up for it with his bat. Torres is about as exciting as any prospect in baseball right now and he very well may find himself in the Bronx this summer if he continues at this pace, but will start the season off in Double-A Trenton.

Clint Frazier: The Yankees number two prospect has had a good camp as he has a .323/.323/.548 slash line with two doubles, a triple, hit his first home run on Thursday and has added seven RBI. He has shown he can use all fields and his impressive bat speed has been on full display. He has struck out nine times, but that is something to be expected based on the scouting reports. Frazier will start the season in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre but could be just a phone call away this summer depending on his success in Triple-A and the Yankees needs.

Aaron Judge: A-A-Ron has impressed this spring as well as he has a .265/.359/.500 slash line while adding two home runs, a triple and three RBI while adding five walks. His five walks are tied for the team lead and that is an encouraging sign that Judge is becoming more disciplined at the dish. He has struck out nine times but, much like Frazier, is to be expected. A strikeout rate of less than 20% would be a success for Judge. On top of his offense, he has played well in right adding an assist as he gunned down a runner trying to stretch a single into a double. He and Aaron Hicks are competing for the right field job, but if Judge continues to perform at this level, he has himself a good opportunity to earn the Opening Day job in right.

Jorge Mateo: Through 22 at-bats, the speedster has accumulated just three hits, including a double and a home run while adding a stolen base. Mateo was sent to Class-A advanced Tampa and reassigned to minor league camp on Friday. Many people, including myself see Mateo as a great candidate to convert to a centerfielder where he can really showcase his speed. This is a big bounce back year for Jorge and the staff at spring training has said nothing but kind things about him so far, even though the stats didn’t show great things. Mateo is a must follow this season.

Photo: Newsday

James Kaprielian: Kaprielian made his spring debut on Thursday and was dominate by all accounts. He tossed two scoreless innings, allowing just one walk while striking out three. Kaprielian topped out at 96 after being a low 90’s guy at UCLA. The Yankees plan on taking it slow early in the year with their top pitching prospect as he comes back from a 2016 season in which he was sidelined in April and didn’t pitch again until the AFL. It has been speculated that Kaprielian will likely start the season in Tampa, where it’s warmer, before getting a promotion to Double-A Trenton, if all goes well. Kap could be fast tracked to the big leagues this year but the Yankees will have to keep an eye on his workload after missing so much time last year. Watch Kap throw whenever you have the opportunity!!

Justus Sheffield: Although a very small sample size, LHP Justus Sheffield has struck out four through 3.2 innings while allowing five hits and issuing one walk. His stuff was impressive, especially a couple of his off speed pitches I saw last week. Sheffield was optioned to minor-league camp this week but impressed manager Joe Girardi. Sheffield is another guy likely be start in Trenton in April and with a good performance, he could find himself in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before the summer ends.

Photo: USA Today Sports

Chance Adams: One of the pitchers I’m most excited for, RHP Chance Adams got his feet wet in camp and over three games and four innings allowed just one run on three hits while striking out five. Adams did walk six batters though but it is still early in the season and this is only Adams second professional spring training and first big league camp. After a terrific 2016, his first year as a starter after pitching out of the bullpen in college, Adams looks to keep rolling this summer. Adams is another guy who could earn a stop in the Bronx this summer with continued dominance in the minor leagues.

Photo: New York Daily News

Dustin Fowler: Fowler has been fantastic this spring, slashing .280/.367/.440 through 25 at-bats. He has legged out two triples, added three RBI and swiped two bags thus far after a very impressive 2016 campaign where he led all Yankee minor leaguers with 88 RBI. Fowler is a potential 20-20 guy who has really caught the eye of the staff. Fowler plays good defense and hits well but will need to work on getting deeper in counts and drawing more walks, something Dustin is aware of, if he wants to be a top of the order hitter. I really like what Fowler offers and we should expect him to make his big league debut sooner rather than later.

Miguel Andujar: After a solid performance over 13 games and 23 at-bats, the Yankees reassigned Andujar to minor league camp and optioned him to Double-A Trenton. Andujar produced a .304/.333/.478 slash line with two doubles and a triple in camp but did have some difficulties in the field. Miguel still needs some work harnessing his powerful arm and some more time for him in the minor’s is in store this year. Many Yankees fans would love for Andujar to take over third base in the near future, but he still needs a little more time. He will start the year on a stacked Trenton Thunder team.

We are now just under three weeks away from Opening Day. The season is all but upon us and the Yankees are looking good.

2017 is going to be a really fun and exciting year!

--Dan Lucia

BYB 'Series' Writer
Follow me on Twitter: @DManLucia