JOSE BAUTISTA RELEASED

Photo: Getty Images

Jose Bautista was a superstar a few years ago. Now he's out of a job. The Braves released him... on his request.

The Star writes:

"Atlanta GM Alex Anthopoulos, with whom Bautista has a long and mutually respectful relationship, announced on Sunday morning that the ersatz third baseman had been released.

'We took a shot,' Double-A told reporters. 'Certainly (there) was a lot of upside for us if it clicked … We certainly didn’t feel like there was any downside.' But it was, if not an act of charity (there’s no crying in baseball), a $1-million U.S. experiment that the first-place Braves could no longer justify and money had nothing to do with it, a million a mere financial bagatelle these days. They, unlike Bautista, have roster options."

Photo: Getty Images

Now it looks like the Mets may be interested in him.  Makes perfect sense actually. The New York Post writes:

"The Mets’ need for a right-handed outfield bat with power has team officials interested in veteran slugger Jose Bautista, industry sources told The Post on Monday."

If he goes to the Mets, I'll dislike him alittle more than I do now.

Stay tuned...

2 & A HALF BACK!

(Sept. 3, 2017 - Source: Patrick Smith/Getty Images North America)

Yankees won in an electric game.  It wasn't a 'must win', but sure... it kind of was!  Not only that, the Blue Jays beat the Red Sox... I guess Joey Bats read Suzie Pinstripe's tweet...

Let's go @BlueJays beat @RedSox #pennantrace #ALEast @BleednYankeeBlu

— Suzanne (@suzieprof) September 4, 2017

Nice.

The key guys in this one were Didi Gregorius and Starlin Castro.  But it's more than just them. What we are starting to see is the Yankees turn it up... big time as a freaking unit.

Photo: Getty Images

Veterans like Matt Holliday,  Chase Headley and CC Sabathia mixed with youngsters... guys turning into leaders... not one guy... a different one every night.  It's a truly wonderful formula and one that we have been looking for since 2009.  The Yanks are made for a run.  And last night with their win, and the Red Sox losing to the Jays... there was moving.  2 1/2 back now.

ESPN's Marchand writes:

"Starlin Castro homered and drove in three runs, Didi Gregorius also went deep and New York rolled to a 7-4 victory Monday.

After spotting the Orioles an early lead, New York bounced back for its fourth win in five games. The Yankees enhanced their position atop the wild-card race and remained relevant in the AL East after starting the day 3 1/2 games behind division-leading Red Sox. New York took three of four from Boston over the weekend.

Photo: Getty Images

'You want to keep it going,' manager Joe Girardi said. 'The other teams are chasing us and we're chasing the Red Sox. Every day we win it makes it easier for us to try to accomplish our goals. So we've got to play good again (Tuesday).'

Aaron Judge drew a career-high four walks, singled and scored a run to help New York extend its wild-card lead over Baltimore to 4 1/2 games."

Photo: Getty Images

I kept that Judge stat in there because it goes back to what I was saying... not only 1 guy.  Judge, who's been struggling, didn't try to hit it out of the park. He instead made adjustments, and used his brain to get on base.  Any way you can do it to help your team win.

That's the New York Yankees team I'm seeing these days.  It's glorious.

Just need to keep going! Go Yanks!

Final: Yankees 7 - Orioles 4



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YANKEE BRASS CAN BUILD A WINNING TEAM, BUT NOT A PROFIT

Credit Elsa/Getty Images        

The New York Times dropped a big story last week HERE and it shows just how clueless some of the brains in the Yankees front office really are. This isn't rocket science.

The Yankees have a young, exciting and winning team. It should be a new economic boom for an organization that is finally getting younger and getting some big expensive contracts off of the books. It should be bringing in a ton of fans to watch this new Yankee team win. The Yankees are undeniably better than last year. They win and they are fun to watch so that should have people running to the ballpark.....but they aren't. So, what's the problem?

Well, there seems to be more than one, actually and the Yankees think they have the answers, but they don't.

1) Since the end of 2009, Yankee suite and ticket revenues have decreased by more than $166 million.
The Yankees open their new ball park, and win a World Series championship but have since lost out on profits. Despite the Yankees winning and successful season so far, they have brought in LESS money than the same time last year. Even with a dreadful start to the season, the Yankees were making more in ticket sales. Fans paid more to see a losing team then a team leading the way with superstars like Aaron Judge.

2) The Yankees’ per-game decline of 3,793 over the same number of games last season is the third-sharpest in baseball, according to BaseballReference.com, trailing just Kansas City and the Mets.

The Yankees have the third sharpest decline in attendance after recent World Series winners Kansas City and the circus side show New York Mets? That's sad. The Yankees have a young and dynamic team that even Yankee haters pay attention to. Fans finally have that younger team they have wanted for YEARS, but aren't paying money to go see them. The Yankees just can't put butts in the seats even with a winning lineup....and that's a big problem.

3) A recent May game in the Bronx against the Toronto Blue Jays drew an announced crowd of 25,556 -- the smallest for a Yankees home game in 13 years.

A winning team playing a division rival with some big names on it should draw in a crowd. Fans still remember the days of Russell Martin and want to watch a talented hitter like Jose Bautista. Sure, the Blue Jays may be an underachieving team in last place but to get the lowest attendance in 13 years? That is an ugly stat.

Those are the three major problems. Instead of looking at the one thing that all three scenarios have in common the Yankees are making some CRAZY statements.

"Baseball, I think, has somewhat struggled with the millennial problem. We recognized in looking at our fan base, we recognized in looking at our viewers on YES, that that age group is not what it could be and not what it should be" according to Hal Steinbrenner.

The fact of the matter is that as much as society may like to blame millennials for a lot of things....the Yankees decrease in ticket revenue is not one of them.

Or how about the Yankees pricing strategy with their premium seats? The Yankees set high pricing in their seats behind home plate to keep the available to the rich, and out of reach for those of us who can't spend that kind of money, and Yankees Chief Operating Officer Lonn Trost was quick to justify that HERE.

“The problem below market at a certain point is that if you buy a ticket in a very premium location and pay a substantial amount of money,” Trost said. “It’s not that we don’t want that fan to sell it, but that fan is sitting there having paid a substantial amount of money for a ticket and (another) fan picks it up for a buck-and-a-half and sits there, and it’s frustrating to the purchaser of the full amount. And quite frankly, the fan may be someone who has never sat in a premium location. So that’s a frustration to our existing fan base.”

I think Trost is extremely out of touch. There is definitely a pricing issue here, but it's not the one that he is describing.

And what about Randy Levine? He's already been under fire recently with Dellin Betances, but Randy seems to think that the players are a big reason why fans spend money on the games.

"Right now, there’s no LeBron in baseball, there’s no Tom Brady. Derek Jeter was, maybe David Ortiz. But I think these young guys on our team and some of the other ones have the breakout ability, and I think that’s what’s exciting and what our fans are looking at.”

Ummmm NO Randy! What your fans are looking at is the insane prices of your tickets right HERE. Clearly you already have a LeBron or a Brady....if you didn't you wouldn't have taken out seats to accommodate your "Judge's Chambers" section at Yankee stadium.

Sure, you can get some cheap seats at Yankee stadium. Some fans may be okay with a "Pinstripe Pass" and stand in a "fan gathering" section for a few hours with a drink included and just stand....but that's not most of us. What about mom and dad that want to take their kids to a game? They are going to want a memorable game with decent seats. Ones that they don't have to squint to see or sit on dad's shoulders just to see Gary Sanchez off in the distance. Try taking a family four to a game and pay $40 for parking and $15 for a beer and $12 each for a few hot dogs after spending money on those expensive seats. It's not affordable!

Yankees ownership is just clueless at this point. They have a winning team on the field but can't figure out how to get people to come and watch them play. A winning product isn't good enough if people don't actually come to see them. They just don't get it...they have priced fans right out of their ballpark and kept them at home....watching the game on TV for a lot less money. It's not rocket science, just stupidity.

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

SEVERINO, CONFIDENCE & A NEW CHANGE-UP

Photo: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

Leave it to Pete Caldera of the Bergen Record.  He's got a nice nugget about Luis Severino you'll love.  Sevy's got a new change-up, and he's showing some confidence throwing it.  That's a good sign.

"During his 2.1 innings on Friday afternoon, Severino threw the change-up with conviction against a representative Blue Jays lineup.

"'Confidence is going to be a big thing with him. And I think today we built some confidence in his change-up,’ Romine said after Toronto’s 3-2 win at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium...

Photo: Times Union

'I thought it was progress,’ manager Joe Girardi said after Severino yielded two runs on four hits and a walk, with four strikeouts. 'Because we’ve got to get him comfortable with (the change-up).’

A reliable third pitch is essential to Severino’s quest to earn one of the Yankees’ two vacant rotation spots. And in a 47-pitch outing, the right-hander said he threw 'maybe 9-10’ change-ups against the likes of Kevin Pillar, Russell Martin, Kendrys Morales, Melvin Upton and Bautista."

Photo: Newsday

Now you don't think about this stuff, because many of us just assume that Severino deserves a starting role on this club, but it's very true... it's about command, and if you have control of the pitches you throw... CONFIDENCE will be gained.  I mean, how many times did we see Sevy frustrated with himself last season.  He's gotta get over it... he's in the major leagues now!

It's incredible to think about major leaguers who still aren't confident on what they throw.  I mean, in our society today, even with youth baseball... we are constantly dealing with motivating and trying to keep the kids confident in what they do. It's just amazing that it still happens, even when you make it.

Anyway, I thought I'd share. Nice work again, Caldera.

MATT WIETERS GOT A 2 YEAR DEAL

(Aug. 1, 2016 - Source: Greg Fiume/Getty Images North America)

While this isn't a Yankee thing, I think it's important to report this.  Matt Wieters was one of the bigger free agents this off season and it took until now for him to be signed.  That's pretty interesting as teams are not jumping immediately to sign big time players to big deals as much anymore.  I mean, look at Jose Bautista for crying out loud.

Photo: Getty Images

The Washington Post as the story about Wieters:

"The Washington Nationals agreed to terms with catcher Matt Wieters on a two-year deal on Tuesday, one that allows the 30-year-old to opt out after this season and hit free agency again next winter, and therefore amounts to a one-year deal with the possibility for a second.

The deal is not official, as it is pending a physical to be held Wednesday, but would include $5 million in deferred money, a recent staple of the Nationals’ more high-profile free agent signings."

(July 15, 2016 - Source: Joseph Garnett, Jr./Getty Images North America)

The Nationals have a great group of talent and are always on the brink of making the World Series only to don't.  Maybe a few more extra players can do it.  The Wieters signing is significant in my opinion.

Anyway, just wanted to keep you in the loop.  Good Stuff.


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WATCHING BASEBALL IS BETTER THAN PREDICTING

In a few days it will be February, and before you know it, pitchers and catchers will be reporting to Tampa! By the 24th, Steinbrenner Field will become the Mecca for Yankee fans everywhere as Spring Training games begin. Everybody will be looking at the New York Yankees and wondering what to expect this upcoming season.

Photo: NJ.com

As Yankee fans, it's safe to say that we expect to be in the World Series every year. We're that bratty kid in the Best Buy kicking and screaming because we want all the new PlayStation games... and we've gotta have it now!  Everything I've been reading and, trust me, it's been a lot... is about the Yankees future.  The future indeed looks bright but, here's a good question; What about now? How will the Yankees look when they take the field in 2017?

(July 6, 2016 - Source: Jason Miller/Getty Images North America)

Looking around the Internet, there are a ton of predictions. Even Chase Headley chimed in. The New York Post has this: “I think we’ve got a great chance to compete in this division."

Long time BYB reader Frank Gentry, a former BYB writer by the way... recently tweeted Casey this:

@BleednYankeeBlu Behind on my reading but did see Sporting News Baseball Annual. They pick Yanks as 4th in #ALEast.

— T. Frank Gentry (@yankeefrank23) January 25, 2017

It's true. But look, trying to predict a baseball season is like walking through a field of landmines. You can't do it. So many things could happen.

(Sept. 8, 2016 - Source: Rich Schultz/Getty Images North America)

Maybe the pitching staff does better than predicted. Maybe Michael Pineda is lights out this season. Maybe Chris Sale or David Price get hurt or don't have the season's they are supposed to have. 

(Oct. 17, 2016 - Source: Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images North America)    

Maybe Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista have bad years as well. Maybe I'll get signed at mid-season and pitch a perfect game.

I can't tell you if the Yankees will compete this year or not.

I can tell you though that come April 2nd, it sure will be fun to watch!

--Michael Carnesi
BYB Writer

GARDY "A FIT" FOR THE BLUE JAYS?

Nah! It's crap!

May 10, 2016 - Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America

It's funny how when the world is now waking up with hangover, this story (or non-story) just tends to slip through the cracks. That truth is, it's interesting, but I'm just not sure there's a lot here.  For one, the Yankees want something big in return for Brett Gardner. For 2... last time I checked the Blue Jays kind of needed a big bat.  Isn't Jose Bautista still out there?

Yahoo Sports offers this nugget that actually came from Hardball Talk:

"Two days ago, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported that the 36-year-old outfielder had engaged in contract discussions with the Blue Jays. It appeared to be a logical choice for both sides, as Bautista has a lengthy history in Toronto and the club wouldn’t have to forfeit a draft pick to re-sign their former slugger."

Oct. 13, 2016 - Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America

Then, there was more that happened. The Toronto Star wrote about the relationship between the Jays and Bautista:

Sept. 19, 2016 - Source: Michael Reaves/Getty Images North America

"The sides did meet face-to-face at the winter meetings in early December, with the understanding that the Jays have other trade avenues to explore involving outfielders Jay Bruce and Curtis Granderson of the Mets, Brett Gardner of the Yankees and more before a Bautista alternative can be considered. Nothing has changed there."

Photo: Getty Images

So... you're saying there's a chance that Gardy could be a Blue Jay? Duh. Obviously, right? But what are the true chances of this happening.

OK, in all honesty, the Jays have no real reason to dismiss Bautista other than spending way too much money on him.  The Star's Griffin continued it's reporting with this:

Oct. 8, 2016 - Source: Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images North America

"...if the 36-year-old finds that his best option is to return for one more season and then try it again, he can rationalize the short-term decision and make it sing. He can explain that:

1. He wants to be with a contender, and he has been a big factor in the Jays reaching the post-season for two straight years.

2. There are few power options expected to come out as free agents in 2017, and under the new collective agreement there would be no compensation required for a team that wants to sign him, because the Jays can’t make another qualifying offer...

...Bautista has not fallen off a cliff. His offensive numbers in 116 games in 2016 were better than people give him credit for. "

(May 19, 2016 - Source: Getty Images North America)

And so really the Gardner connection was more of just a mention, because as everyone knows in sports off seasons, all options are on the table until they're off.

Then go back to Hardball Talk who kind of buttons this nugget up as a waste of your last 2 minutes. Read the part in red:

"Without Bautista, however, the Blue Jays have several options going forward, including veteran Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner. Gardner is slated to receive $25 million through 2018, with a $2 million buyout on his $12.5 option in 2019...Whether the Blue Jays have serious interest in Gardner remains to be seen, and Griffin points out that Toronto could be in danger of losing its status as an “elite offensive team” if they can’t snag a hitter of Bautista’s caliber."

And so... sorry to make you read that during your hangover! hey, I did... I decided to make you suffer too.

It is interesting how these things escalate though, huh?

Happy 2017... a whole lotta that I guess...

CLEVELAND ROCKS FOR ENCARNACION APPARENTLY...

 Indians get their man. Done deal.

(Aug. 7, 2016 - Source: Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images North America)

Edwin Encarnacion didn't get what he wanted... but he got something good anyway.

News has broke that the Cleveland Indians have signed the big bopper and that news will come to us by Yahoo Sports and Jeff Passan in a tweet:

Source: Edwin Encarnacion's deal is actually $65M guaranteed. The $5M option buyout is on top of $20M a year he's getting for three years.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 23, 2016

Now, the years are lower than Edwin wanted but the money per year is pretty ridonk.

(July 11, 2016 - Source: Harry How/Getty Images North America)

Whatever the case, everyone team can cross him off their list now.  Next up will be Mark Trumbo, who, the Rockies are looking at pretty closely. After that will be Jose Bautista who is currently homeless.

More to follow I am sure. Time to go wrap some presents....

DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THIS WELCOME MATT

Photo Credit: USA Today

Good morning, Yankee Universe. It’s Day 3 of the winter meetings where you surely have heard by now that Brian Cashman has already taken a Holliday from his search for a DH this coming season. Get it? Read THE YANKEES SIGN MATT HOLLIDAY! for more. Anyway...  

MLB.com

Apparently, the $13-million welcome Matt was rolled out as soon as it became clear switch-hitting ex-Yank Carlos Beltran was a $3-million bridge too far for Hal’s wallet. And so, he flew south for $16 million to swing his big hairy for the 'Stros who knocked the Bombers out of the postseason in their brief one-and-done October two years ago.

Here’s hoping the Yankees have the good sense to keep the former Cardinal who turns 37 next month and has played in just 183 games over the last two seasons miles from a first baseman or outfielder’s glove as some suggest.  That's right, let's keep the dude healthy, not hurt.

Chris Lee/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/TNS via Getty Images

Now, for those bumming about losing out on Beltran, or perhaps still scratching their heads over our recently departed DH-in-waiting Brian McCann, here’s some sneaky geeky stats to keep in mind about this new bird that should help ease your mind. Casey hate stat nerds... but I got permission on this one... that's because these are fun. Check it out:

The first is that, unlike the aforementioned Bombers that got away,Holliday's power translates to all fields, as the attached Home Run Tracker charts from last year illustrate. And, to put it delicately, his big balls are better because they go further quicker, which translates to superior hard contact that over a full healthy season should translate into big numbers on both sides of the wall more befitting a career .303 BA and .897 OPS that has averaged 25+ dingers and 100+  RBIs over more than a decade spent in a power-draining ball yard. 

Indeed, last month in his Top 50 Free Agents piece, when Fangraphs’ Dave Cameron listed him among his top 10 rated position players (and 16th highest available free agent overall) he wrote: “His downturn in offense is almost entirely BABIP-driven, and while he’s going to have to transition to 1B/DH, he’s not that much worse of a hitter than the expensive guys at the top of the list. For a team looking for a good right-handed bat on a short-term commitment, Holliday could be a steal.”

In other words, he was extraordinarily unlucky when it came to the number of batted balls he hit in fair territory that happened to be right at the guys wearing gloves. A strong indicator all his offensive stats are likely to rebound. Interesting, right? And as for those "expensive guys at the top of the list” Cameron compared him with, you know who they are, right? 

(Oct. 4, 2016 - Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America)

(Looking at you Cespedes, Turner, Encarnacion and Bautista.)

So, let’s all finally move on from this whole DH convo, shall we? Let's get the next two to-do’s on Brian’s winter meeting list over with pronto as outlined in Suzie Pinstripe’s recent piece, 3 GOALS FOR CASHMAN AT THE WINTER MEETINGS..., which were, and please pardon my personal spin, Suzie: 

(Sept. 29, 2016 - Source: Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images North America)

1. Hire a DH that hopefully does NOT do anything Zobrist-like other than hit the snot out of the ball – ESPECIALLY if he’s a fragile injury-recovery case named Holliday 
2. Get Chapman locked up because, frankly, there’s no excuse not to as both team and player have raised the expectation. And anyone else would never survive the backlash unless they became the next Mo. 
3. Dump Brett and Chase for what he can get, because it’s inevitable... the waiting only reduces their return value and hinders the rebuild... and hurts this year’s competitiveness.

(Sept. 10, 2015 - Source: Rich Schultz/Getty Images North America)

If Cashman can take care of those three little chores before he checks out of Gaylord National Resort on Thursday, then he can spend the next 115 days before Opening Day devoting all his time to fulfilling MY "3 Goals For Cashman AFTER The Winter Meetings"….

1. A big arm.  
2. An even bigger arm.
3. The biggest, hairiest arm out there.

 --Barry Millman
BYB Writer
Follow me on Twitter:  @nyyankeefanfore

 

BELTRAN SIGNING WILL HAPPEN 'SOON'

(Aug. 1, 2016 - Source: Greg Fiume/Getty Images North America)

Anyone who reads BYB knows that I was able to offer a great nugget about Carlos Beltran and the Yankees the other day. It was a BYB exclusive of sorts, but don't call me a 'baseball insider'... that would be stupid.

If you missed it, read THAT CARLOS BELTRAN REUNION IS REAL, but if you're hasty, read these magical words...

(July 19, 2016 - Source: Al Bello/Getty Images North America)

"...my source tells me "Beltran and the Yankees have an understanding that he wants to end his career a New York Yankee.  While the trade to the Rangers was business, ultimately the Yankees know Beltran can help their club as a DH, and in the end, he gets to finish his career in the Bronx."

...while Beltran won't come SUPER cheap for his services, a one year deal with Carlos works out a helluva lot better than 4 years, $55 million with Edwin.... you know what I mean?"

Now comes word from Joel Sherman of the New York Post the following... "The executives say that beyond the obvious – Beltran, even with his 40th birthday approaching in April, remains a high-end switch-hitter – he is attractive because he has no draft pick compensation attached to him and probably could be had on a one-year deal that falls in the $15 million-to-$18 million range."

Sounds familiar.

Now, many things run through my mind here.  For one... would it kill Joel Sherman to just give me the tout on that story? I mean, we all know Bleeding Yankee Blue had the info before this came out. Sherman had to make it his... come on man.

(June 17, 2016 - Source: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images North America)

Secondly.... this.... It's true, a 1 year deal with Beltran makes the most sense, and the Yankees are right there to make it happen.  Doing it would make he and Aaron Judge platoon at DH, or maybe Beltran who is 40 could just be the DH all together and Hicks would platoon with Judge in right.  For a one year deal, Beltran's bat is the only reason why we'd have him anyway.

(Oct. 13, 2016 - Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America)

Now the Red Sox are looking at Beltran too.  So are the Astros.  But I gotta tell ya, my money's on the Yankees.  I just have a feeling based on that extra conversation that ONLY BLEEDING YANKEE BLUE HAS.  It's a relationship thing between Carlos and Yankee brass... and he's cheap... much cheaper than a Bautista or Cespedes or Encarnacion.

Will it happen? Right this moment I'm gonna say 'yes'.  When? Soon.  That's all I can say right now... and again, I'm no 'baseball insider'... whatever that means. I'm just a guy with a source and a nugget that was floated to me, and I'm floating it to you.  I'm using my opinion to tell you that I think a Yankee-Beltran reunion is gonna happen.

Let's see who's right in the end...