COULD MARK MELANCON BE A FIT?

The Yankees are always looking for extra help in their pen. I didn't think much about this, but recently there was chatter about maybe adding a guy like Mark Melancon. Remember that dude? He was with the Yankees in 2006, but eventually was traded and then he became a journeyman. But something else happened... he became a better pitcher.  

A nice write up by Empire Sports Media appears to put us both in agreement. Check this out:

"Melancon is a perfect fit for the Yankees and Yankee Stadium’s short right porch. Hitters can’t take advantage of the short porch if they can’t get the ball in the air. Mark is a ground ball pitcher, getting ground balls 56% of the time. He has an excellent curveball and cutter and will throw an occasional fastball and changeup.

Because this is a good season to take advantage of the depressed market for free agents, the Yankees could get a good deal on Melancon, particularly on a one-year deal."

Look, I think we can all agree that we were underwhelmed by Adam Ottavino last season. If he can't get back to solid form, we're gonna need a guy like Melancon. Really... it's something to think about.

CLOSER OPTIONS NARROWING FOR YANKS

(Aug. 28, 2016 - Source: Drew Hallowell/Getty Images North America)

If the Yankees decide they don't want to give a guy like Aroldis Chapman a 5 or 6 year deal hovering around $100 million,  a good idea would be to get Mark Melancon. But they're too late.  Turns out Melancon just signed with the San Francisco Giants... and just like that, the Yankees are down a free agent closer.

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

Hardball Talk writes of Melancon that the Giants have a deal in place. Buster Olney just tweeted this:

Sources: The Giants and Mark Melancon have agreed to a deal, pending a physical; Melancon is going through his physical.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 5, 2016

Jesus Buster, we're right in that physical room with Melancon, huh? Your tweet is so dramatic.  I guess that's what baseball insiders do.

(Photo Credit: Chicago Tribune)

But the point is this, The Yanks have money to spend, and if Mark's gone, Aroldis Chapman and the Yanks, really need to try and work things out.  Look, the Cubs want him back, and he won with them, so no doubt they'll aim to snag him. But will any team offer Chapman 5 or 6 years? Seems steep.

MLB Trade Rumors wrote this of the Yankees:

(Photo Credit: Los Angeles Times)

"The club is also talking to Kenley Jansen and looking at trade opportunities, so the Yankees are clearly flexible in their search for back-end relief help if Chapman’s bidding gets too high."

So this is where we're at... to be honest, it's the same as it was yesterday, except that the Giants got Melancon and come to think of it, I don't even know if the Yanks were ever truly "in" on Melancon... it was more like he was an option.

NJ.com File Photo

Don't worry Yankee fans... Hal Steinbrenner put us all at ease last week when he said this: "He said he believes in Dellin Betances as a capable closer, but "that doesn't mean we're not going to strengthen the bullpen in one way or the other." That comes from NJ.com.

Let's see what happens next.

HOT STOVE CRAZINESS: McCANN & CHAPMAN

Just a small nugget here but something we have been talking a lot about when it comes to Brian McCann and Aroldis Chapman.

First off, there has been plenty of stories out there that would have you believe that McCann is about to get traded to the Braves, the Astros, and really...who knows at this point.  The reality is, while the Yankees don't NEED to trade him, they probably will, but the big thing is finding the right fit.

The second guy we talk about a lot is Chapman. Chapman was traded from the Yankees to the Cubs this past season. We got Adam Warren and Gleyber Torres. The Cubs got a World Series win.  Now, Cashman wants him back and I hope we get him, because he was terrific in the playoffs for the Cubs down the stretch. Plus with Hal Steinbrenner saying he wants to improve our bullpen, you gotta know that Chapman could get an enormous pay day from the Yankees... at least that's what I think.

NJ.com has this about both McCann and Chapman and the Yankees wants and needs:

"If Yankees GM Brian Cashman has his way this winter, he'll get free agent closer Aroldis Chapman back in his bullpen and deal catcher Brian McCann to free up money for another big piece. 

Cashman was surprisingly open about his plans Thursday during a call-in interview on WFAN's Boomer & Carton Show. When asked if the Yankees would be spending a lot of money this offseason after not signing any free agents last year, Cashman said, 'I think it depends on how our trade discussions go. Our plan is to dip our toes in the water this year and we'd love to bring a Chapman back. He liked it here.'

 'He's going to have a nice bidding war, as you'd expect for high-end relievers ... him and (fellow free agent closers) Kenley Jansen and (Mark) Melancon,' Cashman said. 'We have to wait and see how that market develops, but it would be nice to have him back..."

I'd say Cash, who's never this vocal, is gearing up for a nice off-season.

Stay tuned.

CASHMAN IS OUT WHEELING & DEALING!

So the dealing part may not have happened yet but it sure sounds like things are heating up and we may see some names come, or even go soon.

According to the New York Post HERE, and us here at BYB (Read THE ASTROS WANT BRIAN McCANN...) the Yankees are busy trying to match up with other teams and yes Brian McCann is still being shopped out there. Brian Cashman and his agent B.B. Abbott are talking about possibly options but even Cashman said that even McCann would "have the final say" thanks to his no trade clause.

If McCann does agree to a trade then the Yankees will need a full time DH, but if he stays the Yankees will not need one. The Yankees have already looked at DH options if they are able to move McCann and according the the New York Post again HERE the Yankees have inquired about Kendrys Morales.

If the Yankees are serious about signing Morales they will have some competition, the Red Sox are also looking at Morales to replace David Ortiz. The Blue Jays are also interested because they are likely to lose Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion, and Michael Saunders who hit a combined 88 home runs this season and would give them a left handed hitter with power.

Morales is an intriguing option for the Yankees. He is a switch hitter and just finished a two year contract with the Kansas City Royals and had a successful season with a .263 BA and 30 home runs in 158 games.

He could also play first base in an emergency if needed so he would give the Yankees some versatility in the field. He would likely be a cheaper option compared to other DH options like Carlos Beltran and last years home run leader Mark Trumbo.

Cashman is also looking at options for their top priority, pitching. Earlier this week Cashman checked in with the Agent for Aroldis Chapman again as well as Kenley Jansen of the Dodgers and former Yankee Mark Melancon. Remember him? The Yankees drafted and signed him back in 2006 and now he is the Nationals closer.

The Yankees are also looking at former Royals closer Greg Holland who held a showcase earlier this week. Holland is recovering from Tommy John surgery and half of the teams went to watch him pitch. He could be a good low risk high reward if the Yankees could get him at the right price and could take some pressure off of Dellin Betances.

 The off season is really getting interesting. I like the names that Cashman is checking in with and I love the strategy. Do the Yankees keep McCann after all? Do we get a big name bullpen guy? I know I can't wait to see what happens. Cashman has been busy! Stay tuned....good things are happening. I can feel it!

 --Jeana Bellezza, BYB Senior Writer & Editor
  Follow me on Twitter: @NYPrincessJ



 

CHAPMAN HIGH ON YANKEES LIST

The New York Daily News has a great nugget about something we have been talking about for weeks here on Bleeding Yankee Blue.  They really, really, really want Aroldis Chapman back.  And you know what? I would love to have Chapman back as the Yankees closer next season.  Apparently Brian Cashman is already making his move:


"Cashman said Monday that he has reached out to Chapman's agent — along with the agents for several other free agents — as the baseball offseason kicked off with the start of the general managers’ meetings.

Cashman appears focused on pitching above all else this winter, both in the starting rotation and in the bullpen. Chapman, Kenley Jansen and Mark Melancon are the top relievers on the free-agent market, while Rich Hill, Bartolo Colon and Ivan Nova are among the best starters available.

'There are certainly some names out there that are pretty good,' Cashman said. 'It's probably a thin starting pitching market, there are a number of different relievers in the market; certainly more relievers in this free agency than there are starters of quality. The trade route is obviously an area we'll see what develops over time.'"

I always hate when the Yankees are that opened about who they are going after because obvious you worry about rival division teams cock blocking the Yanks. Plus, when it comes to this signing, you gotta worry if the Cubs will try and have Chapman come back too.  Whatever the case, we will have to see. No question this is an interesting one, and I don't want to see the Yankees lose this!

Stay tuned...

 

YANKEES CLOSER SEARCH IS ON...

(In Photo: Greg Holland)
The Yankees are looking around for a 'top' closer, and according to the always great George King III of the New York Post, they appear to be looking for something very similar to before they traded away Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman:

"With the Yankees’ offseason focus on improving the pitching staff, they will be represented Monday when former Royals closer Greg Holland throws for scouts in Scottsdale, Ariz.... Holland, 31 on Nov. 20, had Tommy John surgery on Oct. 2, 2015, and missed all of the 2016 season.

Though the back-end reliever won’t command the money Kenley Jansen and Chapman ($16 million to $18 million per year) and to a lesser degree Mark Melancon will, Holland could land a two-year contract.

Until needing surgery, Holland was among the game’s elite closers. He saved 47 games in 68 games in 2013, 46 in 65 games in 2014 and 32 in 48 games in 2015.

If Chapman returns, he would close and Dellin Betances would work the seventh or eighth inning. Adding a healthy Holland to a bullpen that includes Chapman and Betances would give the Yankees a very deep late-game trio."

Now it's pretty clear, Yankee brass is not 100% sure that Betances can be the Yankees closer... YET.  I mean, over time, alittle confidence, he can and will be successful, and this second part of the season was that test.  No harm, we weren't exactly running away with getting to the playoffs.  And so, now Cashman will give it a shot and try to bring back Chapman, or look into others to make that successful bridge again, and find the closer that will help them in 2017. 

I'm glad.  I'm glad Cashman sees the need to do this. Nothing against Betances,  but as I wrote a while back in my piece  DELLIN BETANCES MAY JUST NOT BE READY...

"I believe that Betances back at the set up role would be huge for his confidence and helpful for the team, especially if we could get a guy like Aroldis back. Then D could hand off of Chapman and then, over time, he would take over that closing role for the New York Yankees again."

I think I'm right.

THE CLOSER MARKET: WHAT THE YANKEES COULD DO

The conversations I've been having about Dellin Betances are interesting. Apparently, lots of people are convinced that he cannot handle the closer role. I tend to disagree. Still, I see the point that maybe his blown saves were higher than we would have liked in 2016 - 5 blown saves in 17 opportunities. While this year's free agent market is pretty thin, there are a few Closers that may get the attention of the Yankees.

The obvious one is Aroldis Chapman. Even when the trade was a lone little rumor, the talk was that the Yankees could trade him and then go after him again in the winter. That may still happen, but it will be a bidding war when he's on the mound for the save in the World Series clincher. There is no question that he has lethal stuff. His 2016 stats - K/9 of 14, a BB/9 of 2.8, a WHIP of .862, and 2 home runs over 58 innings work - paint an amazing picture of his capabilities. Someone is going to lock him in to a long-term deal, probably at 13-15M per season. With the Yankees' eye on the luxury tax savings of getting under the limit, I don't see that happening.

Then there is Mark Melancon. Remember him? Yeah, we drafted him back in 2009 and we traded him when he faltered in a deal that brought us Lance Berkman. Remember him? Yeah, I don't want to either. But Melancon found his groove as the Pirates closer. He led the NL in saves with 51 in 2015 and he's been converting saves at the rate in the mid-90% range. He played a key role in helping the Nationals make the playoffs and had a good individual postseason. This one is my favorite option, if only because he was one of ours.

The last one the Yankees may consider is Kenley Jansen. He accumulated 189 saves in his 7 years with the Dodgers with a save conversion rate of 88%. In 2016, of the 14 runners he inherited coming into games, only one scored. The thing that makes him appealing is a long track record of success and helping them get to the postseason. The downside on him will be his price tag. I expect him to sign a long-term deal at around $12M per year. At age 29, he will be a catch.

It's not clear that the Yankees will even go shopping for a closer. They could easily go with Betances and support him with the young players coming up from the farm. If you listen to Brian Cashman, his interest in his young talent is still pretty high. Still, it's nice to have options.

--Ike Dimitriadis, BYB Senior Staff Writer
Follow me on Twitter: @KingAgamemnon

MY 2017 FREE AGENT REPORT

I went through the trouble and did a quick analysis of  the free agents that will be available after this season in case we are not patient enough to wait for all these future starters, some of whom won’t be ready until 2018 or 2019.  Let me be the first on BYB to say... it is a very thin free agent class this year. 

There is literally not one good starting pitcher available in my opinion... so absent of a trade, it looks like Yanks will continue to go with Tanaka, Severino, Sabathia and Eovaldi (if he doesn’t need TJ surgery).  

Now, to be honest, I couldn’t tell you right now who our #5 starter will be, but likely either a trade or we go with a young guy like Jordan Montgomery. That's all I got for that. But there's more...

Here are other potential free agents that could have an impact:

· Relief Pitchers: Aroldis Chapman or Mark Melancon

· 1B/DH: Edwin Encarnacion (34)

· Outfield: Yoenis Cespedes (33), Ian Desmond (31), Michael Saunders (30), Jose Bautista (36), Mark Trumbo (31), or Josh Reddick (30).

Now, I looked at every single free agent.  Trust me, there is nobody else worth signing. So the above are the "better" options. Given the youth movement, I am fairly certain the Yankees are not looking to sign a free agent catcher, plus, would stick with Castro/Didi at 2B/SS. 

I also think out Yankees will ride out Headley’s contract at 3B (and there are no good third baseman available anyway).  So the only spots that they can sign would be for the OF, 1B or DH. If they can’t trade Ellsbury or Gardner, I would assume that Aaron Judge and/or Tyler Austin will be used in RF regularly. This leaves 1B/DH as the only other spots, and that seems like a possible upgrade. 

If Yanks want to add offense in 2017, then the only real move to make is to sign Edwin Encarnacion. He can play 1B if Bird struggles or can’t recover from injury and would otherwise DH. He has hit 30 HR and near 100 RBI for the past 5 straight years. That's power.

Even if they could trade Gardner or Ellsbury, I don’t see the Yanks giving any other free agent OF more than a 1-year deal, as they won’t want to lock up outfield slots with Clint Frazier and Judge expected to eventually become starters in the outfield.  Austin can play OF as well and Blake Rutherford may be up by 2018 or 2019.

Plus, Cespedes, Saunders, Trumbo and Reddick will all be getting big multi-year deals, so that won’t work, although I guess whoever they get can move to DH once the outfield is established, and assuming they don’t sign Encarnacion,by the way, I can’t see a scenario where they add more than one free agent hitter.

Anyway look... this is just me blabbling, but it's thought out, I swear.  

So... what do you think? Comment.

   

--Douglas Solomon, BYB Guest Writer
 

TIME TICKIN' 'TIL TRADE DEADLINE, BUT IT'S STILL MILLER TIME IN BRONX!

Could the Dodgers move Yasiel Puig? Will the White Sox be selling off parts of their team prior to the deadline? Are the Yankees in the hunt this year or not? Could Brian McCann go back to Atlanta? These are the puzzling questions I have in my head thanks to the MLB beat writers' Tweets. The one question that has been answered as of late Saturday afternoon, which has brought sweet music to my editor's ears, is that Andrew Miller is staying put and I think for good with the Nationals-Pirates deal. Pittsburgh's closer Mark Melancon is headed to DC in a three-player deal. Heading back to Pittsburgh will be young lefties Felipe Rivero and Taylor Hearn. Inhale and slowly exhale.

According to the NY Post Saturday, "Teams such as the Indians, Dodgers and Rangers could still play for Miller. But the Nats were seen as the most viable player — another sign that Miller is going to stay a Yankee."  So, it's still Miller time in the Bronx, at least for now.  But could the exit sign be lit up for catcher Brian McCann?

According to Jon Heyman, "The Texas Rangers and Atlanta Braves are believed to be two of the teams that have talked to the Yankees. Rival GMs say they like McCann for “makeup” reasons, but the Yankees would have to pay his contract down significantly. He has a full no-trade clause." Not sure the Yankees want to do something like that, but it certainly would allow for more playing time for Austin Romine and open the door for top prospect Gary Sanchez to enter more quickly.  There are also a number of other Yankee catcher prospects in the farm system that could make their way up the ladder more rapidly with McCann's exit.  I like the way this sounds.

Now what about Texas? Are they going to put all of their efforts into the White Sox's rotation?  This could happen as they remain in hot pursuit of the post season.  According to CBS Sports,  "The Rangers are hot after a rotation upgrade, and as Ken Rosenthal tweets they continue to talk to the White Sox about not only ace Chris Sale but also No. 2 man Jose Quintana. The price for either would of course be high (each hurler is excellent and locked up long-term), and as Rosenthal indicates the two sides right now seem to be far apart in discussions. There's still time, though."

Finally as our buddy, Los Angeles Sports Writer Howard Cole, writes "The bidding of farewell to Puig is not something that I dream about, however. I will miss him when he’s gone. If he is gone. I’ve been entertained by his performance, and I see all kinds of potential going forward."  With Clayton Kershaw sidelined for the rest of the season or more, the Dodgers need to freshen things up but as Cole writes, hopefully not with the Division rival Giants.  Again the curse of Daniel Murphy enters my busy head as the Mets continue to plummet in the standings.  They may be looking to pick up Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy, who was rumored to be a piece in the proposed trade that would send Miller to Milwaukee. Oh God, all things come back to that nightmare.

I'm not a beer drinker, but I may have to have one to celebrate Andrew Miller's canceled trip to DC and Milwaukee.  He has been a rock, a constant in a Yankee club that has so much disarray.  Between him and Starlin Castro, I have hope that maybe we can put something together between now and next April.  But for now folks, things are a changin' and no one's safe in this seller's market!

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