WHEN THE MIGHTY FALL...

They stir the pot a little.

The Winter meetings are over and the hot stove was in full gear and even though it's over the rumors are still flying. The Gerrit Cole and Manny Machado rumors are still flying out there but now after the Yankees won the Giancarlo Stanton sweepstakes new rumors are brewing....

The Yankees "Evil Empire" is back in action again so now maybe the Boston-New York rivalry is revived on a larger scale. If Boston has their way it just might be. After this past weekend it certainly looks like Boston may take troublemaker to a whole new level.

Willie J. Allen Jr / AP Photo

According to multiple sources, most notably the Boston Globe and NESN the Yankees recent acquisition of Stanton is only going to be a temporary residence. Hmmmm....interesting angle.

So basically both publications see Stanton playing in New York for 2018 and then getting shipped off to play in LA with the Dodgers, his number one choice. Now that the Dodgers shipped Adrian Gonzalez, Brandon McCarthy, Scott Kazmir and Charlie Culberson to the Atlanta Braves on Saturday my initial thought was "Well, the Dodgers just offloaded a ton of payroll so it looks like they are going to all out to get Bryce Harper."

I still think that. The Dodgers just shed 47 million dollars in payroll and have set themselves up to comfortably get under the 2018 luxury tax threshold. I think they will throw a large amount of money at him and "sell" him on getting back close to home in Las Vegas. He will also be wooed by the idea of playing across town from Mike Trout and playing in the freeway series against the best player in baseball and being the confident guy he is.....he will probably buy into that. I really think Harper wears a Dodgers uniform next year.

Patrick McDermott-USA TODAY Sports

But those Boston publications see Manny Machado as the answer to their prayers and the Yankees wanting Harper over Stanton because of his left handed bat. Boston wishes the Yankees would unload Stanton to get in a bidding war with the Nationals, Dodgers and undoubtedly Boston too.

I don't know who this "longtime major force" in baseball is that NESN sites but there is already a major force with a potential hell of a trifecta in the top of the Yankee lineup that hasn't been seen in a long time. Oh and why the hell would the Dodgers send the Yankees some of their top prospects to get Stanton when they an just go spend money, keep their prospects and sign Harper who is younger? Nick Cafardo didn't think that one through...

Kim Klement/USA Today Sports

Once Stanton gets a taste of the Bronx and hitting with Aaron Judge the Dodgers may be an afterthought....just like Boston and their crazy rumors. I guess you can't blame Boston for making up BS. They are green with envy at this point.

--Jeana Bellezza
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

SOMETIMES SHOTS IN THE DARK HIT THEIR TARGET

It kind of baffles me sometimes when I see fans complain about their team... in our case the Yankees, especially when it comes to going out on a limb and signing certain guys. The guys I’m talking about are "minimal salary, minor league contract, non-roster invitee" kind of guys. All the organization is trying to do is see if they can hit a target in the dark, and you know what? There's nothing wrong with that.

Each off season and through the course of the regular season, our Yankees sign young and old players and give them an invite to spring training, or in a more recent case sign Nick Swisher off the street and send him to Triple-A. The goal? To see if he's got anything left.  All of these little moves that cost next to nothing really carry no risk.  All they are doing are trying to fill holes.  Should there be an uproar? Not really.

Look back to 2011. The Yankees signed a pitcher to a minor league contract, good for $900k in the Big League’s if he was on the roster. It also included an opt-out if he wasn’t on the Opening Day roster.  Bartolo Colon ended up starting 26 games for the Yankees that season, pitching 164.1 innings and sporting a 4.00 ERA.

These kind of things happen when you take chances. Sure, some don't work out, but many times, they can.  Look at a guy like Scott Kazmir, a guy that did not pitch in the majors in 2012 but Cleveland gave him a shot in 2013 when they signed him to a minor league contract. He, very similarly to Colon, started 29 games, threw 158 innings and compiled a 4.04 ERA.

Look at Ronald Torreyes.  I'm a fan! Ronald Torreyes transactions can be found HERE. Yes, all 15 of them over the past 12 months. He was on the 40-man roster heading into spring training and carried no real risk but with potential reward. He earned his spot on the roster and has helped the Yankees to several wins over the first week. He was just one of the ‘bums’ over a month ago.

My point here is that the Yankees, and all other teams in all sports, sign guys who have potential to help the club. Some help as fillers in the minors while others compete for jobs in the Bronx. Some pan out and some opt out and some end up disappearing.  While most of these signings don’t pan out to be much, every so often an inexpensive gem is found and that shot in the dark hits its target.

Well worth the gamble if you ask me!

 
 --Dan Lucia
BYB Senior Writer
Twitter: @DManLucia


 



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THE DODGERS ARE LEFTY LOCO!

Stop the presses, because I think the baseball world has seen a new version of insanity. I like unconventional methods and I am a fan of the idea of "trying anything once" but the Dodgers new strategy is either going to make them look like a bunch of amateurs or revolutionary geniuses. Only time will tell....

The Dodgers just signed left hander Scott Kazmir, and we wrote about the idea of signing Kazmir earlier this week in A LEFTY PITCHER WE NEED TO CONSIDER. The Yankees are definitely lacking that second lefty and while we could start the season with CC Sabathia as out only left handed pitcher, the Dodgers could have a FIVE MAN ROTATION with nothing but lefties. Hey Dodgers, quit being so greedy!

It's a crazy idea, and one that could be disastrous. I think about all of the stadiums in the NL West, mostly Chase Field in Arizona which is my backyard. It's definitely more hitter friendly and after watching the damage that a power righty could do against an all lefty rotation could quickly hurt the Dodgers.

I can already see Paul Goldschmidt launch a bomb to the left side of Chase Field. The Dodgers are probably going to have to make some adjustments, otherwise home games are going to be "must win" for them.

I tip my cap to the Dodgers though to try and be strategic here....but has this ever been done? It has, and we actually had success with an all lefty rotation back in 1983. We hold the highest number of starts with an all lefty rotation with 127 out of 162. Surprisingly, we still won 91 games but finished third in the division. So we have shown that it can be done, but a lot has changed since 1983.

Back in 1975 the Chicago White Sox also had a lefty heavy rotation and started 120 games this way. The White Sox aren't afraid of pitching with a bunch of lefties, after all they are tied for third of all time for lefty starters according to baseball-reference.com.

So maybe the Dodgers aren't completely crazy, but the game has changed so much over the years. It will be interesting to see how things change once Brandon McCarthy rejoins the team mid season from his injury. Then again, maybe this is a ploy for them to make a trade. Think about it, the Dodgers have a staff full of lefties, maybe then can use one as trade bait for a right hander. Maybe a team like the Yankees could make things interesting here.

Not to get too crazy here but maybe it could happen. We need a lefty, and the Dodgers need some righties. We have plenty of those. Would you be willing to give up someone on our staff for say....Scott Kazmir?

Do I think the Dodgers are crazy? Yes. Two of their rival teams have hitter friendly ball parks so that is a lot of strategy and pressure to perform on the road. I don't see or understand what the Dodgers are trying to do here if they indeed intend to keep an all lefty rotation. What do you think?


   

--Jeana Bellezza, BYB Senior Writer and Editor
Twitter: @NyPrincessJ 

 


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A LEFTY PITCHER WE NEED TO CONSIDER

Why not someone like Scott Kazimr? Statistically speaking, he is one of the best available starting pitchers left on the free agent market. He's got the experience, and he opened up a lot of eyes this season, including mine. He could be a diamond in the rough for the Yankees. Question is, will the Yankees roll the dice and gamble?

I have to admit, this year Scott Kazmir looked different to me. I'm not sure what it was, but I think the Yankees would be crazy not to consider him. The Yankees have been far too quiet this off season and while I understand they wanted to stay away from the big names, this isn't a name like David Price and this price tag is more reasonable.

Kazmir has a lot of positives he can offer the Yankees. First, and probably most needed by the Yankees is that he is a left hander. The Yankees definitely need another lefty to add to the rotation and backup CC Sabathia. He is also durable, this season he pitched 183 innings and the previous year he pitched 190. The Yankees could use someone that can be dependable and pitch deeper into games so they don't burn that bullpen out. In his last five seasons, he has started in at least 28 games. How can you not like that?

One thing that really caught my eye this season was how strong Kazmir started the season. He ended the season with a 3.10ERA and it would've been even better if he had not struggled the last two months of the season. In September he started in six games and had an ugly 6.52 ERA. If he would have ended stronger, I bet Kazmir would have been a bigger target during the winter and he probably would've scored a big contract.

I will admit that the late season struggles are a concern, but a bigger concern for me is not getting another lefty that can eat innings. Kazmir is rumored to have some three year deals on the table, and could possibly be holding out for a four year contract. While I am not crazy about a four year contract, he would still be rather affordable and give the Yankees another solid arm in the rotation.

So will the Yankees take a chance? Maybe, if not now....will they ever? Stay tuned, maybe we could get a New Years day present instead.


   

--Jeana Bellezza, BYB Senior Writer and Editor
Twitter: @NyPrincessJ 

 


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YANKEE FRUSTRATION, O'DAY, CHAPMAN & THE GREAT PETE CALDERA

When it was revealed that Jeff Samardzija signed his deal to pitch for the Giants, read SAD BUT TRUE for more, I came to the realization that the Yankees were most likely not gonna do much as far as starters and free agents go. Couple that with Pete Caldera's piece in the Bergen Record today (Thrifty Yankees won't splurge at Winter Meetings) and yup, the Yankees won't splurge.  He would know, Caldera covers the Yankees better than anyone.

"Yankees general manager Brian Cashman’s off-season marching orders can be summed up in two words: get creative."

And that's really where we're at. Being creative. Wonderful. 

I guess if Cash can figure out a way to bring in a starter via trade, an upgrade if you will, he'll do it.  I just don't know who though.  Caldera brings up Carlos Carrasco of the Indians as a possible idea. He's a starter that would need to be acquired through a trade.  Another one, and a guy I  have always liked is Scott Kazmir.  I know, you groaned just now. Hey, you know I love my lefties.

When he was working his way back to the majors a few years ago, I even suggested this lefty would be a huge asset in the Yankee pen.  Read WHY THE YANKEES ARMS RACE HAS STARTED from 2011. It was there that I wrote:

"...Scott Kazmir: Yes, I believe his starting days are over right now and I have this ridiculous idea to bring him into our pen to face a few lefties once in a while..."

Whatever the case, I love where Caldera's heads at and be sure to read his piece in the Record today, it's great.

But if the starter stuff doesn't work out, may I suggest bulking up that Yankee bullpen a bit.  May I suggest, the Yanks should try and snag Darren O'Day.

Now, word on the street is the Yankees are NOT even attached to him at all. You gotta wonder why. I say they should be.  According to Hardball Talk though, it may be too late:

"Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun reported earlier this weekend that the Nationals were the favorites to sign O'Day, but the O's must have stepped up their offer. The terms of the deal aren't known at this time, but O'Day was expected to net a four-year deal for around $30 million. He's put up a 1.92 ERA across 263 innings over the last four seasons with Baltimore."

If that's true, shame on Cash for not jumping in. A perfect opportunity to "get creative." 

And what about Aroldis Chapman?  The guy's a freaking stud. Well, Caldera brings up a great point about Chapman:

"Pursuing Chapman might only make sense if the Yankees were to utilize closer Andrew Miller in a separate trade for a controllable, young frontline starter."

Look, clearly my wheels are spinning.  In this off season of nothing, clearly we want something, but none of us know what the hell is going through Cashman's mind.  Yes, it's clear they want to keep the kids, and that's great... but we still need to upgrade somehow.  Who will it be?

P.S. Read Pete Caldera every day.  It's good for your brain...



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THE STORY MEANT TO ANNOY YANKEE FANS

Not sure why the media does this. Oh yeah... I actually do... clicks.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post has a great piece today about how the Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopolous was basically better at his job than Brian Cashman was when it came to the A's sending Josh Donaldson to Toronto. 

"... Cashman called Oakland general manager Billy Beane to check in on this, and one of Cashman’s best friends in the game assured him Donaldson was going nowhere.

Here comes the except.

Except Alex Anthopoulos just would not stop calling. He wanted Donaldson, wanted him so badly that “no” was not an acceptable answer.

'Alex is and was certainly relentless,' Oakland assistant GM David Forst said by phone. 'That is his personality. But we didn’t trade Josh to make Alex go away.'

In arguably the key moment of the 2015 season — certainly when it comes to shaping the AL East — Anthopoulos’ untiring efforts were rewarded. If he called about Scott Kazmir or Jeff Samardzija or just to gab, he eventually inquired about Donaldson, dropping hints about what he might be willing to surrender to obtain the third baseman.

Eventually — in the A’s way of thinking — he made an offer that could not be refused. An offer so good that Oakland never shopped Donaldson to a single other team. Not the Yankees. Not anybody."

Here's the reality. First off, it's over now, we can't go back and so what does it matter? Secondly,  while Cashman appears not aggressive here in his pursuit of Donaldson, let's not forget, the Yankees were doing their best to not part with the kids in our minor league system...something the Yankee fans really, really wanted! It was the off-season and there was much to be said about Luis Severino, Aaron Judge, Greg Bird and Rob Refsnyder. 

As you probably remember, the Rockies were very interested in many of our prospect players for Troy Tulowitzki as we reported from my source inside the Rox camp. 

Read SOURCE: ROX WANT "A LOT" OF TOP PROSPECTS FOR TULO for a refresher. That article was all about the names they were throwing around. Good nugget on that internal chatter.  In the end, trading our kids would have been a deal breaker and nothing happened... rightly so.  But now apply it to the Yankees and Josh Donaldson.  It's a combination of us being unwilling to give up prospects and Cashman's lack of aggressiveness that was the result of nothing happening.  It happened for the Blue Jays however.  They landed Donaldson and ironically, Troy Tulowitzki too.

But what does this story do now for us Yankee fans? It annoys us... or, it at least annoys me. Donaldson is tearing it up in Toronto and you gotta wonder if he'd be tearing it up if he was in New York.  Then again, if Donaldson was shitting the bed right now and sucking... would this story even come out?  Probably not...

We Yankee fans like the hot players... we always covet what the other teams have after the fact and the media knows this.  This one we can't do anything about, other than be mad and feel bad about ourselves... DAMN YOU SHERMAN!

Anyway... I just wanted to share it.  Good, interesting piece.

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THE YANKEES WALK DOWN BAKER STREET. SIGN SCOTT BAKER

When I was a kid, there was a song that always comforted me. The song was Baker Street, and everytime I hear it, even to this day, it brings me back to my childhood. When I hear it... life is good.



Now truth be told, while I am a big fan of Baker Street... I am not so much a fan of Scott Baker.  Not now at least.  Was I ever? Hell yeah. Baker had a nice run with the Twins and he was always a solid pitcher.

Here's the deal. The Yankees signed Scott Baker to a minor league deal today.  That news comes from Matt Eddy:

#Yankees become latest team to try to reclaim value from veteran RHP Scott Baker, signing him to minor league deal, like #Rangers last year.
— Matt Eddy (@MattEddyBA) January 30, 2015

Now look, if it was 2009, I'd love Baker on the New York Yankees.  Back them, he was 15-9 and just a very good pitcher.

These days though, he's recovering from Tommy John surgery and he's bounced around. He was on the Cubs and his last team was the Texas Rangers in 2014 where he went 3-4 with a 5.47 ERA.  Is that great? Not really.  But here's my take on Baker signing with the Yankees;

It's a "stock-piling of arms" situation.  Much like the Jeff Francis, signing Banker simply does this; it let's the Yankees get a look and see if he can offer anything.  If he can, that's great! Trust me, there is nothing better than watching players fight their way back to the Bigs. I love watching that! 

Remember what Scott Kazmir did? It was a long road, but he did it and those types of stories are great; Great for the fans and great for the players that push themselves.    And look... if it doesn't work out for Scott Baker, it's not a big deal for a team like the Yankees... they just move on.

So... If you're asking me my opinion of the Yankees going after Baker, I really don't have one. I just hope the guy personally bounces back and if he helps the club in the process... it's a good thing.  But that's it...

Welcome Scott... good luck to ya pal. Go get'em!

Now, if you'd excuse me... I'm going to go listen to Baker Street on my iPod now... and back to 1978 we go...

 

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ALL THAT... FOR NOTHING

You know what? We looked good last night.  Both the Yankees pitching and the hitting was decent.  We were IN the game.  Tip your cap the Hiroki Kuroda. 

He went 6.2 innings and only gave up a run.  Tip you cap to Scott Kazmir... he's back. Wow. It was a pitchers duel. It was a good, clean game. only a few runs each and then, when the Yankees pen came in... it all fell apart.  It's unfortunate and I'm alittle pissed about it.

The Yankees and A's were knotted at 2 each until the 10th. Mark Teixeira did the heavy lifting. Teixeira singled home a run in the first and it was Tex who homered in the 6th.

But now at 2-2, you would think that we'd homer and just shut the A's down.  It didn't happen that way at all. Adam Warren, who, I admit, has been pretty good this season, alllowed the A's the take the lead when he gave up a homer, a run scoring double and a run scoring single.

It was then that I was tired, pissed and disappeared into the bathroom to puke my freaking guts out. It's one thing to be angry as a fan when you stay up in extra innings just to be disappointed.  It's another to watch it all unravel after a great game.

There is no doubt in my mind that these types of losses kill a team's morale. Teams like the Yankees, with what we have, do NOT lose like this, but this is exactly what's happening. 

We need to get it together... Wake up!

Final: Athletics 5 - Yankees 2

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WHO WANTS JIMENEZ & KAZMIR?

According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, a few pitchers may be available in Cleveland Indians land.

Paul Hoynes writes:

"No. 1: Reborn right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez is expected to turn down his $14.1 million qualifying offer before Monday’s deadline. The Indians can still negotiate with him if he does reject it.

No. 2: Reborn left-hander Scott Kazmir and his agents have given no indication that he will return to the Indians. He’s looking for a multiyear deal, while they prefer another one-year arrangement."

Now, my next question is... if the Yankees are looking to bulk up their pitching staff after guys like CC Sabathia and Ivan Nova... who will it be? There are plenty of guys out there, but I am still having a tricky time trying to understand if the Yankees are looking to save money or break the bank.  Sure, we need to sign Robinson Cano and that will be expensive, but we also need to get negotiating rights and nail down Masahiro Tanaka, a guy they plan to be "bold" with.

What type of dough will they have left?  Will they sign a lefty reliever like Clay Rapada? Will they re-sign Boone Logan in the pen? I personally want Rapada back, but I had mentioned a few years ago that Kazmir could be a brilliant lefty specialist too. Read WHY THE YANKEES ARMS RACE HAS STARTED from back in 2011. The only problem with that scenario now is he's got the taste of being a starter again, it won't happen...but hey, would Kazmir be a good 5th starter on the New York Yankees? It's actually a good question.

Look, Jimenez and Kazmir are 2 names that should be considered.  Whether or not the Yankees will piss around their hydrants is another story.

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