FREAK ACCIDENT K.O.'s SALVADOR PEREZ

I've heard of some stupid accidents, but this one will no doubt hurt the Royals this season.

According to MLB.com's Jeffrey Flanagan, the Royals catcher got hurt, slipping while carrying his luggage and doing some damage. Check this out:

Salvy Perez slipped last night carrying his luggage and has MCL tear. Out 4-6 weeks.

— Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) March 28, 2018

Wow!

What happened next from fans is pretty hilarious:

OK then.

Perez is a major piece of the Royals.  You gotta feel bad here for him and that team...except for when we play them of course.  MLB Trade Rumors writes:

"Perez’s accident may well lead to a career low in games played this season for the 27-year-old, who has been eminently durable throughout his Kansas City tenure. Since 2013, his first full season, Perez has appeared in no fewer than 129 games in any regular-season campaign. He logged that total last year during a season in which he hit .268/.297/.495 (103 wRC+) with a personal-best 27 home runs across 499 plate appearances. On the defensive side, Perez threw out a league-average 27 percent of would-be base stealers – a significant decline from the 48 percent he caught in 2016 – and ranked as one of Baseball Prospectus’ worst pitch framers. Statistics aside, Perez is arguably the heart and soul of the Royals, which brings value that’s impossible to quantify. "

He and Moose are the leaders.  Remember Eric Hosmer is gonzo. Same with Lorenzo Cain.

Oh well.  This is just nuts. I had to share it.

PLAYERS ARE THREATENING A STRIKE....BUT IS IT REAL?

I don't know what to think. On Sunday social media was blowing up with a ton of conflicting reports. Some sources say yes and others say no and tries to refute the other statements. It's just nuts. Whether reports of a strike are true or not something is going on.

We've all heard the frustration on the lack of the free-agent movement. Fans are frustrated and now it sounds like the players are finally speaking out also. According to an initial report by MLB Trade Rumors and also Newsday there's a cold war going on between players, owners and agents.

After two decades of peace could we really be talking about another strike? This offseason has been incredibly slow but are tensions really so high that words like "collusion" and "strike" be a reality?

Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

The combination of more than 100 free agents still available as well as the top contract given so far to Lorenzo Cain at five years and $8 million dollars certainly doesn't paint a nice picture. So maybe that is why agents are hinting at collusion without actually using the word.

But how can players think that MLB teams are colluding against them? The game is in an unusual state with at least half of all teams not chasing free agents like they usually do. A lot of teams are rebuilding. Some are in the beginning stages like Derek Jeter's Marlins who have obliterated the team and others like the Braves are looking to be competitive again.

Then there are other teams like the Giants who made big additions to their team after finishing dead last in their division but made their upgrades by trading for Andrew McCutchen and Evan Longoria.

Then there are teams who are more interested in ever than managing their money like the Yankees who are determined to get under the luxury tax this season and there are other teams who just don't have the money to spend, so they are waiting for the price tag for these players to fall. There are contracts out there to sign, just not the ones these free agents want to sign. The market just isn't what they like, but it's not collusion.

So now players supposedly want to strike? Jeff Passan had an interesting article yesterday too.  There are guys out there who HAVE contracts right now making noise about this. He sited Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, who calls for a "radical change" and "a fight is brewing" but yet we have yet to hear statements like this from guys like Jake Arrieta, who are still unsigned.

Photo: Chicago Tribune

And then we have the no-name complainers, “The owners have to realize they’re about to jeopardize an unbelievably good thing,” said a source on the players’ side. “If they don’t recognize it, they don’t see where this is going. Everybody’s going to be in unison. And we’re all going to walk right off the cliff together.” Is a fight really brewing though? According to a update late Sunday afternoon now some beat writers are saying NO.

So which is it? Are these guys really making legitimate calls for a strike.....or are they making idle threats? I don't see how this could possibly be advantageous for the players. The MLBPA has already warned players that an unorganized strike would violate the current CBA and lead to the league filing an injunction against them and then players would then have to return to work, and it’s also possible they’d have to pay damages. Union lawyers have warned them of those consequences also, so it sounds like if the players are looking for a war....it's an uphill battle with a bleak outcome.

Does the market suck? Yes, but teams aren't spending money like they were before. Next year, this will all be a thing of the past as teams try to outbid everyone else for Bryce Harper and Manny Machado.

It's two weeks until pitchers and catchers report.....lets put an end to the cold war and the madness and get back to business, shall we?

--Jeana Bellezza
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

PREDICTION TIME! WHERE ARE THESE GUYS GOING?

Photo: Getty Images

It's two weeks until Spring Training starts! Two weeks....and the biggest names are STILL sitting on the market. This off season has been ridiculously boring. So instead of searching for new rumor that don't exist or rehashing the same David Robertson trade story and trying to put a new twist on it let's play a game. Where are the big names going?

Photo: Getty Images

1) Jake Arrieta - ???
I could see two possibilities here. If you ask my fiance who definitely has a good following on the baseball world in general he will tell you Arrieta is going to be a Brewer. It's a possibility, the Brewers are rumored to have made an offer but I also wouldn't count out the Phillies at this point. It's crazy to think that the Phillies are one of the top spending teams this off season. It's true! The Phillies are making that transition from rebuilding to contending. They aren't there yet but will be soon and you can't ignore the connection between the two. Phillies outfielder Nick Williams has been a workout buddy with Arrieta over the winter and it sounds like he's been trying to sway him to Philly according to reports like THIS ONE. Is it true? Who knows, but since the Phillies are spending money I wouldn't count them out.

So much for Boras and his huge BINDER he sent to every team with a sales pitch for a $200 million dollar deal. LOL!

Source: Christian Petersen/Getty Images North America)

2) J.D. Martinez - Red Sox
The Red Sox have been far too quiet this season. Let's face it after the Yankees got Giancarlo Stanton there has been no response. They always have to make their own splashy move and it hasn't happened yet. I can't see them waiting until the trade deadline. The Red Sox need some more pop in their lineup. Of course, if they don't get him I am perfectly fine with that....really.

Source: Ron Schwane/Getty Images North America

3) Mike Moustakas - Kansas City?
This is a hard one. He's the best left-side infielder available in this years free agent market but his market has been pretty dry. Just thinking from a business standpoint it might be in Kansas City's best interest to sign him after they let one of their other big names Lorenzo Cain leave in free agency. The Royals are only a few years removed from a World Series Championship and may need that familiar face to keep fans more motivated as they continue to rebuild.

Source: Tom Pennington/Getty Images North America

4) Yu Darvish - Cubs?
So the Phillies, Brewers, Twins, Yankees and Cubs are all considered to be serious suitors for Darvish. I would love to sign him, especially if we could get him at a discount now that the market is dropping faster as Spring Training gets closer....but I am not going to hold my breath. According to Jerry Crasnick HERE, the Cubs are considered to be favorites. I tend not to put so much weight on that because look at what happened with Shohei Ohtani. We were the favorites and yet we didn't make it out of the first round. Who knows. All of these teams make sense but the Cubs do have the need to sign a starter, the money to do it and the desire to get back to the World Series again. I wouldn't count them out.

And just for fun...

Source: Scott Cunningham/Getty Images North America

5) J.T. Realmuto - Nationals?
Yes, he's not a free agent BUT he is the last big name standing in Derek Jeter's gut job in Miami. Everyone else is gone! The Nationals are interested and should be. With one last push to win a World Series before Bryce Harper likely leaves in free agency they want more reinforcements to help their cause. Matt Wieters is still a starting catcher but he had a down year last season and adding a young 26 year old catcher under team control through 2021 who had a good season last year seems like a no-brainer. Jeter is going to ship him off somewhere soon. Washington seems to make a lot of sense.

No news means game time. Hopefully some of these guys sign soon because I am beyond restless!

--Jeana Bellezza
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

WHAT THE YANKS ARE WILLING TO DO TO GET RID OF ELLSBURY

The Yankees are still determined to try and get rid of Jacoby Ellsbury, but are they desperate enough to do what it takes?

Kathy Willens/AP

According to Jon Heyman HERE the Yankees are willing to eat at least half of contract. Keyword here appears to be "at least" and even if that is just a starting point for negotiations it's not enough. The Yankees are having a hard time finding anyone that is interested and the clock is ticking....

The slow moving market is making a tough challenge even harder. There are still a lot of free agents out there, namely some big name outfielders like J.D. Martinez and Lorenzo Cain who are younger and don't have the declining track record that Ellsbury does. It's not hard to see why the Yankees can't find that obvious trade partner.

Ellsbury has $68.5 millon left on his contract that ends in 2020, even if a team does bite and take him for half that is still $11.5 million a year he is owed. If I am any other major league team I can see the current talent in the free agent market, recognize it is better than Ellsbury, not much more expensive and I get more for my money. Jay Bruce just signed for three years and $39 million. I'd rather sign and pay him, the younger and better player.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

The Yankees are fighting an uphill battle in a slow moving market. There are other "Ellsbury like" players out there like Heyman said. Other free agent outfielders Carlos Gomez, Jon Jay and Jarrod Dyson offer teams the same speed element and they are still waiting for a job. Pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training in 4 weeks and until the market starts to move, Ellsbury will sit stale on the roster.

If I am the Yankees and a team does come around willing to make a deal I may sure to have the right game plan. The Yankees should go in and say they will pay half, but be ready to pay more. It would be nice if half got the trade done but it isn't likely. If the Yankees want to move Ellsbury the price tag will likely be more than they want to pay. At this point, the Yankees need to decide if they pay a little more and get him off the bench....or do they pay for him to be a seat warmer?

I know it's not my money so it's easy to say I'd pay more to get rid of him but I hate the idea of paying him a bunch of money to sit in the dugout. It's a bad contract that the Yankees and fans need to move on from. His roster spot is too valuable to just waste away.

--Jeana Bellezza
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj 

WILL WE BE STUCK WITH ELLSBURY?

Photo: New York Post

All of this Jacoby Ellsbury possible trade talk recently has been driving me nuts! It makes perfect sense for the Yankees to try and move him. They have too many outfielders and all of them are better options than Ellsbury who is expensive and not needed to be blunt. It makes sense for the Yankees to try and move on, but for Ellsbury it makes no sense to leave.

Photo: New York Post

Now don't mistake me here...I WANT Ellsbury to be moved. I just think all of this trade talk hasn't been as advanced as some sources may like for us to believe. The best outfield for the Yankees would be based around Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Hicks and....Brett Gardner? If he truly isn't the one who is trade bait here. Let's face it Ellsbury has the job security here compared to Gardner and Hicks just continues to improve so the Yankees aren't ready to give up on him either.

Through out all of these Ellsbury talks I have always had a hard time believing that he would be AS WILLING to waive his full no trade clause to play with the San Francisco Giants as rumors have stated. Sure, I can see him waiving it because he is a fifth outfielder and would be a bench warmer. I can see his desire to want to play would be a great motivator to be traded but....to the Giants?

If you break it down, the Giants were a bad team last year. It's hard to go from a contending team who have even higher expectations this year to go play for the last place NL West Giants. Maybe another appeal to get him to go would be to play with an improved team now that they have Evan Longoria and be back in an everyday role since they need an outfielder. Or maybe the idea of playing so close to home would be intriguing too since the Giants spring training home is in Arizona and Ellsbury has a home there.....but maybe once again, it makes more sense for one side than the other.

On paper, Ellsbury and the Giants match up well but the Giants have been chasing two other options. The Giants have been talking to Jay Bruce for awhile now and now according to MLB Trade Rumors HERE the Giants and Reds are active in talks that would send Billy Hamilton to the Giants. I could see why the Giants would prefer Hamilton. He is one of the best defenders in the game and he has speed. He could cover a lot of ground in AT&T Park and be a great fit. On paper, he may be an even better fit than Ellsbury especially since the Reds have interest in one of the Giants prospects.

I think it is going to be even harder to trade Ellsbury than we already knew it would be. If Ellsbury is traded it won't be until late in the off season after all of the outfield free agents like Lorenzo Cain, Carlos Gomez, Jon Jay, Jarrod Dyson, and Austin Jackson sign. Any teams that miss out on those guys could check in on Ellsbury and see how much salary the Yankees are willing to eat but by then they likely won't have any extra money to spend and stay under the luxury tax threshold. I guess at this point the Yankees just have to assume that they will still have Ellsbury at the beginning of the season.

This contract sucks and it is going to be harder than hard to get rid of.

--Jeana Bellezza
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

BLOCKBUSTER! YANKEES COULD MAKE TRADES WITHIN THE WEEK

 Source: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images North America

There is speculation that the Yankees could make some trades with the San Francisco Giants, which may excite you and derail you at the same time.  The GM Meetings begin in Orlando this week and there is talk that the Yankees could come away with some new players, which could significantly improve their infield and batting order but we may lose something in the process.

Source: Ralph Freso/Getty Images North America

The Yankees could send Starlin Castro, Luis Cessa and Tyler Austin to the Giants in return for power in the line up and in the field with Joe Panik making his way to Bronx.  According to the Joel Sherman of the NY Post on Saturday, "The Giants are looking to add power, specifically righty power. Panik loses homers at AT&T Park that I believe he adds with his lefty stroke at Yankee Stadium. Just as attractive is that no qualified hitter struck out a lower percentage last year than Panik, and the Yankees might have been too susceptible to the whiff in the past playoffs. He’s a better defender than Castro. He grew up a Jeter/Yankees fan, went to St. John’s and lives in Duchess County in the offseason. In the short term, he plays second with Gleyber Torres becoming the regular third baseman."  

Source: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images North America

Panik completed the 2017 season with a .288 ERA, 10 home runs and 53 RBIs.  Not all that impressive when you just look at the numbers, but if you take into consideration what Sherman says about Panik losing home runs to the parameters of AT&T Park, we may be able to double or even triple his home run numbers and therefore increase his RBIs at Yankee Stadium.  His on base percentage is .347 and he only struck out 54 times.  Panik is 26 and could be a good fit for the Yankees.

Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America

Sherman believes that because the Yankees have traded this early in the past, they are likely to strike early this year.  Now here's the part you may not like. "The Giants badly want to add a center fielder, so (Aaron) Hicks would be more their desire, and I think they are the early frontrunners for free agent Lorenzo Cain. I also keep wondering if there is a bigger trade between the Yanks and Giants with Jacoby Ellsbury (as a salary counterbalance) and more significant power prospect — Clint Frazier perhaps — going to San Francisco for Jeff Samardzija, especially if the Yanks fail to land Shohei Otani and need to put sure innings into their rotation."  Yea, I was skeptical of that part too except for the Ellsbury dumping.

Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America

I like Clint Frazier and I feel like he has an energy and a potential not realized quite yet.  He has not had enough time to prove himself and I don't quite know why the Yankees keep dangling him out there.  Do they not like something about him?  It's peculiar for me.  Samardzija has been struggling as of late but he is a power pitcher who could find himself performing at his best in a power house team like the Yankees.

 Source: Mike Stobe/Getty Images North America

So, I think it is safe to say that we have some trades brewing for us as soon as this week with the GM meetings set to start on Monday.  It will be interesting to see what happens for the Yankees and baseball as the Mets may make a play for Jason Kipnis, which could add something to their lineup for the spring.  Count on us to bring you the best coverage and analysis for the off season happenings.  Let's hope for a great week of trading!

--Suzie Pinstripe

BYB Managing Editor
Follow me on Twitter: @suzieprof

A PITCHER YOU DIDN'T KNOW WAS "CONNECTED" TO THE YANKEES

(Aug. 18, 2016 - Source: Ed Zurga/Getty Images North America)    

Well this one is coming out of left field....and I certainly didn't see it coming. I don't know where Richard Justice of MLB.com got this idea because I just don't see the Yankees being interested in this but if nothing else it is a compelling idea. After all, there isn't a whole lot of new information out there and Brian Cashman did say on Monday that he is "99.9 percent plus" sure that the Yankees are done making any moves for the upcoming season.

(July 26, 2016 - Source: Ed Zurga/Getty Images North America)    

According to MLB.com HERE, Danny Duffy is a trade chip that the Kansas City Royals are willing to deal and he would fit in well for the Yankees. This connection does make SOME sense when you look at the challenges facing both clubs right now, but I'm not so sure there is enough common ground there to make a trade. Let's look.....

The Yankees are currently transitioning to get new young blood into the organization, and the Royals on the other hand are preparing to transition as they lose six of their prominent World Series players to free agency. I don't envy Royals fans right now. The players that brought them a ring all hit free agency together, and the Royals just won't be able to afford them.

(Lorenzo Cain: Aug. 28, 2016 - Source: Ed Zurga/Getty Images North America)    

If I were the Royals (which I am glad I'm not!) I would be looking to move some of these guys to not only save on payroll, but to get some young promising talent into the organization before they walk away and may end up with nothing. As it stands now Lorenzo Cain, Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Alcides Escobar, and Danny Duffy are all entering free agency, and should be considered possible trade targets.

Now, here is where the Yankees come in to play. Cashman says he is out of money but to address the questions that Justice asks in his article...it could be a match.

1) How good are we right now?
Offensively, I would say we are okay. We have some good young bats. Pitching though does not look good.

(Sept. 23, 2016 - Source: Jason Miller/Getty Images North America)

2) Is there one more acquisition that makes sense?
More than one. The Yankees need pitching. Jose Quintana? Jason Hammel? Danny Duffy?

3) Are we letting an opportunity pass?
Possibly, and even Brian Cashman knows that and is still keeping tabs on it.

The season hasn't started yet and you can't predict baseball but right now pitching could be the "make or break" for the Yankees this season especially with how good Boston's rotation looks on paper. The Yankees really need another starter and an experienced veteran wouldn't hurt.

(Sept. 22, 2016 - Source: Duane Burleson/Getty Images North America)

Duffy had a great season with a 12-3 record, 3.51 ERA, 188 strikeouts in 179 innings. It looks great on paper but that is not consistent with his prior years so the Yankees would have to count on him continuing with his hot streak which doesn't seem likely. It would also be nice to have another lefty in the rotation but if the Yankees don't want to give up prospects for Quintana the more desirable lefty why would they for Duffy?

And what about the cost? Teams know how much talent the Yankees have in the farm system now so it is no surprise that the Yankees lost seven players in the 2016 Rule 5 draft. The Yankees need pitching, but given how unpredictable Duffy has been in his career giving up any big names would be too risky. I would rather see the Yankees hold on to all of their top prospects, let the kids battle it out in Spring Training and round out the rotation that way. Duffy just isn't worth it in my opinion.

Justice certainly gave us all a compelling idea....but unfortunately I think it makes more sense for the Royals going forward than it does the Yankees. I do like the rumor mill though! It makes these boring winter days go by a little bit faster. Is it time for Spring Training Yet? No?! Wake me up when it is time or when the Yankees get a pitcher.



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

WHY CAN'T THE YANKEES BE MORE LIKE THE ROYALS?

As I sit here almost a month into fall and long for the Yankees to be in the 2014 Postseason, I am lifted by the energy and determination of the Kansas City Royals.  I ask myself this poignant question, "Why can't the Yankees be more like the Royals?"

Let's start with their energy.  "There’s just an amazing energy in the city. Everybody loves an underdog," stated Matt Baldwin, the designer of Baldwin Denim and Collection, sold at Barney's New York and loved by celebrities like Jay Z.  His original KC powder blue hat is the hottest selling item since the team blew passed the Oakland A's and Los Angeles Angels and now are up two games in their first ALCS appearance since 1985.  But what about the energy on the field.

According to ESPN, "The fun thing about Kansas City's outfield defense is that its greatness isn't hidden in defensive metrics that are difficult to understand or process. We can see it -- game after game, play after play."  Guys like Alex Gordon, Norichika Aoki, Lorenzo Cain, Jarrod Dyson, and Josh Willingham have been getting it done.  And what about pitching?  They have that covered too with James Shields, Yordano Ventura and closer Greg Holland lighting it up.  I am also impressed with the hustle and drive of infielders Omar Infante, Alcides Escobar, Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas.  And not to be out done, but Billy Butler is showing he still has it too.  He even stole a base to get the team this far.

I think the most important part of the team is the chemistry of these guys together.  They exude grit and determination.  They play hard and they play to win.  Perhaps they are modeling some of George Brett's gritty play that got him into the Hall of Fame with over 90% of the vote.  Brett, the team's vice president of baseball operations, exudes polish and prestige and gave the All Star Game an extra lift when the Royals hosted the iconic game a couple of years ago.

Whatever it is, the Royals are making more than headlines, they are making fans across the country with their prime time, late inning wins against formidable teams like the A's, Angels and now the Orioles.  And they are doing it with hustle, determination and the will to just win.  Charging outfielders making spectacular plays, hard throwing pitching and an equal combination of small and long ball hitting from everyone on the team make up a team who has a real chance at the top prize of baseball come late October. "Once I got over here, though, these guys embraced me with open arms. The chemistry has been great from my teammates and I'm having a blast right now. To be on this run is a lot of fun," stated Cain in an interview USA Today.

As the Royals get ready to host the Orioles in their house, I sit here shaking my head and say "why can't it be us?"  I am hopeful for the Royals, not just because I want the Orioles to lose, (Sorry @SupermanRob2914) but because I believe in their style of play- the "All-In" nature of the team that I long for in our 2015 Yankees. I hope they are watching because this is what they need to do in order to contend next year.

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Senior Staff Writer
Twitter: @suzieprof






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