YANKEES SIGN THE FOUNDATION OF THE FUTURE

Source: Paul J. Bereswill; Charles Wenzelberg

This offseason has been all about getting things buttoned up as far as starting pitching and scaffolding the foundation of the future.  Friday was a milestone day for the New York Yankees.  On this day, they finalized contracts with their keystone players and one of them was #99.

Source: Newsday

"The New York Yankees and their star outfielder settled on a new deal Friday to avoid arbitration, the team announced. The deal is for $8.5 million, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. His 2019 salary was $684,300," reported NJ.com.  Aaron Judge is locked up for 2020 and the Judge's Chambers will be vibrant and loud once again in right field.

"Judge, 27, is entering his fourth full season with the Yankees, having blossomed into one of the game's best players. He has 110 homers and 246 RBI in his career along with a .273 batting average," reported NJ.com.  Also getting a big bump in pay was starting catcher Gary Sanchez.  "Sanchez led all catchers with 34 homers last season while making $669,800 and agreed to a deal worth $5 million, according to a source," reported The NY Post.

Also avoiding the web of arbitration were starting pitcher James Paxton and Gio Urshela "In the bullpen, Tommy Kahnle settled at $2.65 million and fellow right-hander Luis Cessa at $895,000. Chad Green, Jonathan Holder and lefty Jordan Montgomery also settled on one-year deals," reported the Post.

Brett Gardner's one-year contract was finalized on Saturday.  Gardner will receive $12.5 million including a club option for 2021.  Relief pitcher Stephen Tarpley was designated for assignment to free up the 40 man roster, and enabling Gardner's spot on the Yankee team.

According to Sports Illustrated, "With CC Sabathia's retirement, Gardy will now be the only remaining member of the 2009 World Series champion Yankees. While New York can rely on him to produce statistically, his presence and leadership off the field, with a knack and experience for winning, makes the 36-year-old invaluable."  I could not agree more.

The team is assembling with just over a month before the start of 2020 Spring Training.  If you are in the New York area, you might think it is actually spring now with the unseasonably warm weather.  It may just be a reflection of the pendulum swinging in the Yankees' favor this year.  This is the Yankees' year as their foundation is set for the future.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

IT'S SEPTEMBER CALL UP TIME!

Happy Labor Day, everyone.

Photo: Getty Images

If you are celebrating the end of summer where you live (I'm not in the desert, it is almost never-ending) please take a moment to reflect on all of the hard work and sacrifice of the labor movement that made this weekend and many other of life's pleasures possible.

I love this time of year! I get excited to see rosters expand and the Yankees reward their promising up and coming talent with a month long audition for next year. It's like a sneak preview of a movie coming soon that you are just dying to see! We have so much talent, it's always fun to try and predict who is about to come up.

Photo: Getty Images

The Yankees already called up Stephen Tarpley, Tyler Wade and Luis Cessa, so who else might be coming up?

Photo: Getty Images

1. Domingo German
I'd say it is highly likely that we will see German again. He was on the Triple-A disabled list since July 27 with inflammation of his ulnar nerve, but he started playing again recently. German had two rehab starts for Tampa since being reinstated on Aug. 25 and worked three shutout innings each time. The Yankees are pretty high on German. They did give him a few starts as a fill-in number five starter this season. He has some big league experience so it wouldn't be surprising if the Yankees gave him another shot some time this month. If Lance Lynn continues to struggle it may make even more sense to give him another try.

Photo: Getty Images

2. Chance Adams
If I were a betting woman, I'd say it's 100% likely the Yankees call Chance up again. Remember, we recently saw Adams for a spot appearance when CC Sabathia went down. He's had two call ups this season. He's had his struggles and he may not pitch much but getting some one on one time with Larry Rothschild could really help. His last few appearances have been in relief roles so clearly the Yankees are prepping him for some bullpen help. Maybe this will finally help the Yankees decide on whether to keep him around long term or package him in a trade during the off-season.

Photo: Getty Images

3. Jonathan Loaisiga
Johnny Lasagna is back in action! I've just heard too many mixed rumors on whether or not he will be back in the Bronx again this year. Loaisiga was on the disabled list from July 7th to August 11th with shoulder inflammation. There were rumors the Yankees may want to shut him down due to his recent shoulder issues, but he's made four appearances since coming off of the disabled list and he really hasn't pitched much this season. I think the Yankees do call him up, but they wait awhile longer. The Yankees have limited options here. One, send him to Instructional League in Tampa for more innings and more work on a set schedule which he could get since Trenton Thunder have already snagged a postseason spot. Or two, call him up and put him in the big league bullpen which would still be a huge benefit for the Yankees. Unless a catastrophe happens and we see more injuries, I don't see the Yankees giving him a big league start....until next year. Maybe next year we see him win a starting role.

Photo: Getty Images

4. Justus Sheffield
This one is a no-brainer. It's inevitable. I am excited to see Sheffield in action. He's definitely had success as a starter down in the minors. This year he has given up two or fewer earned runs in 16 of his 20 starts, 12 of 15 of those starts were in Triple-A. Towards the end of August Aaron Boone confirmed that Sheffield was shifted to the bullpen down in the minors to prepare him to work out of the bullpen for the Yankees in September. We've all been waiting to see Sheffield in action. Earlier this ear Brian Cashman hinted that Sheffield would be called up, now Boone has and he's pitching in relief. He's groomed, the question is how much longer until he gets the call up?

Photo: Getty Images

5. Clint Frazier
Well....possibly....maybe? If he continues to progress from his migraine and concussion symptoms?  He did start a rehab assignment, so let's hope it is one step closer to a return. He would definitely be a big addition especially if Aaron Judge doesn't come back. I don't even want to think about that right now though. Let's just keep our fingers crossed.

I love this part of the season. It's time to get some fresh blood and energy into this team for the final stretch. Who do YOU want to see get a call up?

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

YANKEES TRYING TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE

Source: Rich Schultz/Getty Images North America

I liked the way the YES crew used the phrase "change the narrative" during Saturday evening's coverage of the Detroit Tigers vs. the New York Yankees. Truth be told,  they were using it in reference to Greg Bird, but I would say the line absolutely applies to the entire team.  And if things were moving in slow motion through the trade deadline on July 31st, it certainly picked up force heading into September as the Bombers made some moves for key components to ignite their pennant run, which ironically Pittsburgh Pirate Hall of Famer Willie Stargell said starts September 1st.

After Stargell's passing in 2001, his friend and colleague Joe Morgan said this of the ultimate optimist, "In the 40 years I knew Willie, he never said anything negative. And you couldn't say anything negative around him because he was such a positive person. No matter what, he was always able to turn negatives into positives." And that's exactly the narrative the Yankees are writing.  They know they are down without guys who are critical to their pennant race, but they want a different ending to a story that could be one without a playoff beth.

Source: Rich Schultz/Getty Images North America

In one swift, comprehensive move, Yankees GM Brian Cashman made some moves as the roster elevated to 40 men with the start of September. Clearly, the Yankees believe that Aaron Judge could be out through the end of September, which led to the strategic pick up of Andrew McCutchen.  Now, it is believed that Aroldis Chapman could be out even through the potential post-season, so Cashman created some depth in the bullpen with the call up of right-hander Stephen Tarpley who has been used as a multi-inning reliever with great impact in both Double and Triple-A.

Source: Rich Schultz/Getty Images North America

We will be relying on our Baby Bombers to get things done and certainly, Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar have answered the call.  We will need veterans Brett Gardner, Giancarlo Stanton, Didi Gregorius and newly acquired McCutchen to have a heck of September.  And the bullpen has to come back to life, a life most likely without Chapman.

Source: Paul J. Bereswill

If Chapman's replacement is Zach Britton, he has a lot to work to do. “I can’t have the mindset where not getting results is acceptable. That’s not the way I look at it,” Britton told The Post. “I want to be good every time. I’m honest with myself. I know where I’m at, physically and with a different role. I feel like I’m getting better, but it’s not good enough. I can throw strikes, but I need put-away pitches, too," the pitcher said as reported by the NY Post, after the Yankees near loss Friday night following Dellin Betances's abysmal performance on Thursday night.  Britton's quote is a far cry from cocky Sonny Gray's, who in my mind, has no role on the roster.  If the Yankees want to truly change the narrative, they need to consider getting Betances, David Robertson and Britton in a real grove to close out games.

Early Saturday morning, a fan texted me this, "Get mad on Sunday. You write too nice."  I guess I can't help but be positive when it comes to the Yankees. And now that they are in the midst of changing their narrative, even more reason to stay optimistic.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

CHECKING IN ON JAY BELL & THE TAMPA YANKEES

(Mark LoMoglio)

For my next installment through the Yankee farm system, I head down to Tampa, Florida where we find the High-A Tampa Yankees led by Manager Jay Bell. Though they fell in the championship to the Dunedin Blue Jays, the Tampa Yankees had one a hell of a season finishing with a league-best 85-50.  This piece discusses the final game and just how great things went:

Domingo Acevedo ©Mark LoMoglio/Yankees

"Despite falling short of repeating as North Division Champions, the T-Yanks enjoyed a historic 2017 season. The Yankees tallied a franchise-record 85 wins and Tampa pitchers collected 1,215 strikeouts to break the FSL single-season record. The T-Yanks look forward to returning to action in 2018."

Because of their season, Jay Bell was named the FSL Manager of the Year. You gotta love that.

"Jay Bell earns 'Manager of the Year' after guiding the T-Yanks to a first-half North Division Title, with a record of 39-31.

Tampa has also clinched the second-half of the North Division, with a record of 40-18 as of August 28th. It is the first time the Tampa Yankees have ever won both halves of the FSL North Division."

Though there was no championship this was a well-deserved honor for Jay as he works his way up the ladder.  To be honest, I really thought he might have had a chance at being the next Yankee manager after Joe Girardi left. I know it sounds nuts, but Bell has the experience. Regardless, congratulations to Jay and the rest of the crew in Tampa.

Stephen Tarpley  ( Rick Ferry)

By the way, this is the last piece I'll ever write on the Tampa Yankees, as they no longer exist. They seem to have had a name change in Tampa, and starting in 2018 they will now be known a the Tampa Tarpons. You can read that HERE. Here's some info on that...

"When the Single-A affiliate of the New York Yankees takes the field for the 2018 season, it will mark the return of Tarpons baseball to the Florida State League after a 30-year absence.  The Tampa Tarpons played in the league from 1957 through 1987, winning titles in 1957, 1959 and 1961."

I love tradition of old team names are finding their way back.  It just shows how rich in history baseball truly is.

-
-Michael Carnesi
BYB Writer
Twitter: @sevn4evr

CLOSURE TO THE IVAN NOVA TRADE

The Yankees got their guys!

(In photo: Stephen Tarpley)
Outfielder Tito Polo and left handed pitcher Stephen Tarpley have been sent to New York from the Pirates to complete the trade that sent Ivan Nova to Pittsburgh.

Now don't forget, when we wrote IVAN NOVA LOOKS BETTER AS A PIRATE, we suggested that the Yanks should look at some decent Pirates prospects, including Stephen Tarpley.

(In Photo: Tito Polo)
Well, good for us, we got Tarpley.  We also got Polo, who, fellow #BYBHub writer Jon Calvagno of Notes from the Sally tweets:

@BleednYankeeBlu @YankeeSource #Yankees
I only got 1 look at Tito Polo this year but he can playhttps://t.co/RO8l7X03za

— John Calvagno (@AshevilleSoxFan) August 30, 2016

It's true, John wrote:

"Polo stood out in BP, despite not being a big guy, he was putting a charge into some baseballs and showed terrific bat speed. After he hit,  he shagged fly balls in center and showed very good range seemingly gliding to the baseball, he also went back on a ball and made it look easy.

At the plate he hits with an upright closed stance, a linear swing that’s a little on the long side and utilizes an aggressive approach. Polo jumped on a Anderson Espinoza 1st pitch fastball the other night, lining the pitch into the left field corner for a double.

It was just one look but he was impressive, someone I’ll be keeping an eye on."

The Associated Press reports on Polo and Tarpley:

"Pirates have sent outfielder Tito Polo and left-hander Stephen Tarpley to the New York Yankees to complete the Aug. 1 deal in which Pittsburgh acquired right-hander Ivan Nova. In five starts with the Pirates Nova has gone 4-0 with a 2.87 ERA and one complete game. He has struck out 22 and walked one...

Polo, 22, hit .289 with 16 homers in 109 games between Class-A Bradenton and West Virginia this season and was selected as a South Atlantic League Midseason All-Star.

Tarpley, 23, was 6-4 with a 4.32 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 100 innings in 20 starts with Class-A Bradenton."

And so now the trade is complete... and that's that.

IVAN NOVA LOOKS BETTER AS A PIRATE

Some players just look better in other uniforms.  Ivan Nova is one of them. He looks bad ass as a Pirate. Just saying.  I never disliked Nova, I just didn't like the inconsistency.  As you know, Nova was traded to the Pirates for players to be named.  We still don't know there names, but I have info...

Follow News writes:

"Ivan Nova was traded to the Pirates for two players to named later, and after the trade, Brian Cashman told reporters the Yankees will pick those players from a list after the season. They’ll spend the next few weeks scouting before making a decision."

Cashman has revealed that the players will be "legitimate".  Who knows what that means, but if you check out the Pirates prospects, there are several that Cashman will choose from. Click HERE.

(In Photo: Austin Meadows)
I'm personally a fan of Austin Meadows who's an outfielder, although we don't really need any of those anymore.  Other guys I'd like to see in pinstripes are righty pitcher Chad Kuhl, or even lefty Brandon Waddell or Stephen Tarpley, another lefty.

(In photo: Chad Kuhl)
I guess we'll have to see, but I am curious and excited to see who they will be.

And good luck to Nova, by the way.  Maybe that black and gold and change of scenery will help out with his consistency.  I wish him well.

SAVE $50 NOW on this Michael Phelps Autographed NY Times Cover Reproduction only at SteinerSports.com! No code needed!