YANKS PANIC, TRADE MCKINNEY FOR J.A.HAPP

I'm sorry, the only name I saw in this entire trade was Billy McKinney, and he's on his way to Toronto. What kind of fool sends a prospect like that away from a rental like J.A. Happ?

Are you kidding me?

Brandon Drury? Buh-Bye. We don't need him. We didn't need him when we signed him and we sure as hell don't need him now.

Billy McKinney? He's the future folks and he's a solid future player. And you know what? I hope he goes to Toronto and turns into a superstar because the kid has heart and mad potential. And you know what? I'm pissed about it.

Anyway.  In the process, the Yanks get J.A. Happ to win now. Fine!  We'll get Mark Feinsand do the honors:

Source: Yankees sending Brandon Drury and Billy McKinney to Jays in the trade for J.A. Happ. Congressman @JonHeyman was first to report them as potential return.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 26, 2018

And now we wait. Will J.A. Happ be our savior? Will he help turn the Yankees around? Will he turn into an uncertainty in the rotation? A Jaime Garcia... a Sonny Gray.

Or will he be that Shawn Chacon, Aaron Small wild card-sure thing when we need it most.

We'll have to see.  One thing I do know is this... Billy McKinney is a major loss in this entire scenario.  We loved McKinney here at BYB.  Don't worry though... we'll keep an eye on him for you all.

Welcome to the Bronx, J.A. Happ.  Make it a good one... or else.

YANKS GETTING CLOSE TO A STARTER? HOPEFULLY. MAYBE.

"You've got to laser-focus on what you're comfortable doing and who you're trying to acquire. If you're able to do so, great, under the circumstances that you're able to live with. But our opponents are going to do something also. You understand it and keep plowing forward regardless." 

-Brian Cashman

Photo: Forbes

I sure hope that "laser-focus" Cashman was talking about means another deal is in the works and more reinforcements are on the way. The pressure just increased even more now that the Red Sox traded for ex-Yankee Nathan Eovaldi. So what will the next move be?

Photo: New York Post

Some Yankee fans are waiting and hoping that Jacob deGrom to the Yankees will happen....but it doesn't sound like Cashman is using his laser-focus on him. Multiple sources reported late in the day yesterday that the Blue Jays appeared to be close to dealing J.A. Happ to the Yankees.

MLBTradeRumors also has a timeline of rumors going here. The Yankees are supposedly the "favorites" for Happ but we've heard that before.  And even Casey is alittle worried, but excited... I think:

Imagine the Yanks get J.A. Happ. And the imagine he turns into Sonny Gray. I’ve seen this movie before. I hope it all works out in a good way for the NYY. #BYB #Yankees

— Robert Casey (@BleednYankeeBlu) July 26, 2018

The Rockies, Cubs and Brewers are also in the mix and interested, no surprise there since all contending teams seem to be making calls as they should be. The Blue Jays are reportedly motivated to make deals and don't want to wait too close to the deadline and stress about moving players. Sounds like Blue Jays are ready to clean house.

Photo: NJ.com

The Yankees are also checking in on Cole Hamels (again) according to MLB.com HERE. Cashman says they are going to continue to "evaluate" and see. I'd rather have Happ because I don't understand the fascination with Hamels anymore. His last five starts have been pretty ugly with a 1-3 record and 10.23ERA. He's throwing batting practice and not worth his expensive remaining contract.

Photo: NBC Sports

At this point, The Rays and the Orioles have sold some rentals. Now I guess we wait and see what happens with the Blue Jays. It's an AL East internal trade market I guess. I'm hoping for Happ if these are our two options. Let's see how motivated the Blue Jays really are.

For now, I am focused on Cashman's laser-focus. Stay tuned.

--Jeana Bellezza
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

deGROM IS ESSENTIAL- THE END

Source: Al Bello/Getty Images North America

I have spent the last five days in Boston at a conference.  I have had to endure Red Sox on the television, Red Sox in the stores and Red Sox on the streets.  I watched them win, despite the hex I put on them as I intentionally walked up to Fenway Park my first day here (they did drop two games since my arrival however).  And I have come to this conclusion- Jacob deGrom is essential.

Source: Al Bello/Getty Images North America

"He doesn't have (Justin) Verlander's full resume. But he is five years younger, is a dazzling talent in his prime, is pitching better than he ever has. And deGrom has been handed the ball in October and delivered; he has a 3-1 postseason record with an ERA of 2.88. Now the Yankees and everybody else looking for pitching waits to see if they will even get the chance to overwhelm the Mets with goodies," reports Mike Lupica for MLB.com.

 Source: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images North America

The Mets' gift bag can include a variety of goodies like Gary Sanchez, Neil Walker (yea they can have him back), Greg Bird, Clint Frazier and we will even throw in Jacoby Ellsbury.  I would rather not part with Miguel Andujar but I would in order to get deGrom.

Source: Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images North America

"The Yankees want what the Astros have, they want to stay out of an AL Wild Card game and they want the World Series back. They want their own Verlander, and don't have to look far, because the guy's pitching in the next borough over. There are a lot of Trade Deadline dramas. The biggest involves Jacob deGrom," writes MLB.com.

Source: Getty Images

Zach Britton is only one component.  It will ease the pressure on Aroldis Chapman who apparently just had a bad day.  He can support the pitchers we have right now who are only able to go four or five innings.  We need a starter in order to win the World Series.  We need deGrom. Now.  Drop him off in the Bronx and no one gets hurt.  The End.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

BRITTON'S A YANKEE & WHY NEWSPAPERS ARE NO LONGER IMPORTANT

Photo: USA Today

It was a stealth move by Brian Cashman and a suggestion made by non-baseball insider Mike Lupica.  We wrote about it the other day on Bleeding Yankee Blue in a piece titled LUPICA SAYS MAYBE IT SHOULD BE ZACH BRITTON...

And then it actually happened.

I must point out that Lupica is a non-baseball insider because it's the baseball insiders that typically throw all kinds of crap at the wall and see how many clicks they get. Lupica has a following, this is true, but he's not looking for all that garbage.  He's looking for quality.  One of the last good ones I must say.  After all... what the publications like the New York Daily News, Newsday, New York Post don't seem the realize that in their haste to cut back on solid sports writers salaries... they have cut the meat and quality from their sports pages as well. In other words, they are killing themselves.  I'm a sports reader. But me and thousands of others have no reason to go to those newspapers anymore as long as guys like Harper, Marchand, Klapisch and Matthews are gone.  Now sure, the icons like Davidoff and Caldera are still there in their respected publications, but it's them I seek, not their companies pages.  Lupica is still kicking, but reality will tell you that these guys, all of them, have the following because of their quality of work... not because the paper has backed them.  In this day and age, these genius and witty writers can run the table by putting out independent columns and tweet them to their fans.  To hell with big time papers.  Truth be told, I told both Wally and Marchand when they first were released from their respected papers that if they ever want to write a guest column on BYB... they can. Why? Because they are iconic in New York and it would be an honor.

Why am I telling you this? Simple. I didn't find that Lupica nugget about Zach Britton because I wanted to read the Daily News.  I read it because I wanted to read Lupica.  Point being... these papers, while saving a few bucks are losing readers rapidly and they are too stupid to realize that.  All because some big wig in a corner office can get their bonus at the end of the year because he kept costs down.  Whatever man.  Remember this... it's the people that make the sports stories great... never the paper.

Anyway... where am I? Oh yeah... Zach Britton is a Yankee. Lupica had it first last week... here's my man Jack Curry of YES now.

Britton to Yankees is a done deal, says @JonHeyman. Dillon Tate is reportedly one of the players the Yankees will send to the Orioles. https://t.co/quE0w8sH3B

— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) July 25, 2018

It's a big deal.  Remember Dillon Tate? Yes... he's now gone.

Yanks bolstered their pen even more.  And now Yankee starters don't need to go 7 innings... they can go 5... or 4, depending on the day.

Nice move Cash.  I wonder if there will be more. Stay tuned.

DL FOR SANCHEZ? I AIN'T BUYING IT

Photo: Getty Images

The Yankees can say it's a re-aggravated groin injury on big Gary Sanchez all they want. I don't believe it.

I believe it's a temporary vacation for a guy that doesn't play his position well, and received an avalanche of criticism because of it. It's an easy fix folks... say he's hurt, make him disappear and you really don't lose much with Romine behind the plate.  Bad press goes away and the Yanks can continue playing baseball.

And all the while, behind the scenes a constant reminder to Gary that he is in "time-out" to reset and to let him know that the future looks bright with him as their starting catcher... but he's really have to want it.

Look this is my demented mind playing tricks, but I don't care what anyone says... that's the first thing I thought of when the whole, "Sanchez, back to the DL" broke today.   AP writes:

"...Sanchez was put back on the 10-day disabled list Tuesday because of a strained right groin, a day after failing to hustle on a pair of key plays in a 7-6 loss to Tampa Bay... 

'We had an MRI yesterday and it showed the same injury, same spot, same location,' Sanchez said through a translator. 

'So, re-aggravated the injury.' 

Sanchez offered no timetable for when he might return. 

After Monday night's game, Sanchez said that the groin issues were 'definitely behind me' and that 'it's about doing a better job overall.' 

'Being tight in a certain part of your body, I'm used to that,' Sanchez said. 'You keep playing and eventually they go away. I mentioned it after the game it felt a little tight.'"

Photo: Getty Pages

And that is why I'm suspicious.  Groin injuries behind him? Nah.  'You keep playing and eventually they go away?"?  Interesting... he's not.

Look, it may be on the level and that's fine. I'm not trying to be some detective and solve the crime and I certainly don't want to be the "called it" guy. I'm just saying... hey... maybe it's time for a Sanchez reset and maybe that's what the Yanks are looking to do.  That's all.

Right or wrong about my theory, I don't care.  I do think the timing is incredibly interesting though.

Let well soon Gary.  wink... wink.

YES, THE PROBLEM IS SANCHEZ IS TOTALLY LAZY

Photo: Getty Images

Yup, but we knew that already.

The question is can he fix it, because it sucks.  Or, let me guess... is this just a strategy once supported by that Peter Keating guy of ESPN the Magazine, when back in 2013 I called out Robinson Cano for non-hustle and Keating, being the genius he is, tried to call me out in his publication suggesting that not hustling was a way to pace yourself and have a long career? YUP, I SWEAR!

It's right here...

My piece hitting Keating back was HUSTLE TO BE NUMBER 1... NOT 2. Read it. It's glorious.

Hustle isn't important to Peter Keating and the point of me telling you this is that must mean he's in love with Gary Sanchez, who, has amazing talent, but does not work hard behind the plate.  If you are a major league catcher, while an incredibly difficult job, you need to work back there... the ball isn't gonna come right to you.

Photo: Getty Images

That brings me to NJ.com's piece about Sanchez.  Check it out:

"The Yankees have been downplaying catcher Gary Sanchez’s laziness since he joined them for good around this time two summers ago. 

We’ve all seen his lollygagging behind the plate and his lack of hustle running out groundballs for three years and it cost the Yankees big-time in Monday night’s 7-6 loss to Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. In the first inning, Rays first baseman Jake Bauers scored a two-out run from second base because Sanchez didn’t initially hustle to chase down a passed ball that bounced off his glove and rolled about 15 feet up the third-line line in foul territory. 

Sanchez looked bad taking his time going for the ball until he finally sped up when noticing Bauers had rounded third and broke for the plate. To top off this ugliness, Sanchez’s weak throw home hit Bauers in the back. 

Sanchez looked worse jogging all night to first base in his five of his at-bats, and his final display of dogging it prevented the Yankees from scoring the tying run with two outs in the ninth inning."

OK enough… you get the idea. The dude is lazy.

It's non-hustle, but what's the difference? ESPN's Peter Keating thought it was great to rip a young writer like me on a major publication back in 2013, but what, where is he now that Sanchez doesn't jog? I'm sure he'll defend him.

You need to run, Gary.  You need to work.  There are plenty of young, energetic catchers that would love that role.  Austin Romine works his tail off.

I can't wait to hear from Peter Keating to tell me that Sanchez is pacing himself to stardom.  That worked for Cano, huh? For him it was about just being lazy and taking performance enhancing drugs to get the edge... not preserving energy for his edge.

Love guys like Keating... they couldn't be more wrong.  That's why Bleeding Yankee Blue and fan sites like it are so important... because emotion many times trumps statistics and theory.

Buh-bye.

TEAMS WANT SONNY GRAY... HIP HIP HOORAY?

Photo: Getty Images

Can you believe it? Yes, it is true not even an inconsistent starter like Sonny Gray will generate some interest from at least one team out there. Pitching is always in high demand, even guys like Gray who have been a disappointment.

Maybe Gray's last two starts have opened some team's eyes. He didn't have a meltdown on Saturday so I can call it somewhat successful. I guess teams who are out there watching may think he is turning the corner but I am not ready to call it a comeback. I just think the guy had two starts that he didn't tank in. They were starts against bad teams, it's not like he pitched a gem against the Red Sox so forgive me for not throwing cartwheels and round offs.

Photo: Getty Images

Yet there are teams out there that think the Yankees are ready to move on from Gray and deal him away, read more HERE. I'm not really sure why they would think that but Gray is an intriguing buy-low kind of candidate. He's good on the road and of course bad at Yankee stadium. Perhaps a team out there with a pitcher-friendly stadium would want to take a gamble on him. He has some good history before coming to the Yankees and he is healthy. He is also under one more year of team control as an arbitration-eligible player. Someone out there would take a chance.

But why should the Yankees do it? I'm not the biggest Gray supporter and if things were different I would say deal him for whatever you can get. The problem here is the Yankees need to make some additions to the starting rotation and not subtractions. It makes no sense to trade Gray, be down two starting pitchers and then on top of that if we want to be realistic it would be impossible to trade him for anything that would help the Yankees going into the post season. The Yankees need an immediate upgrade, and Gray won't get them that.

Photo: Getty Images

Honestly, I think we are going to be stuck with Gray at least until the end of the season due to the weak pitching market out there. At the end of the season they can decide if they want to retain Gray into 2019. Who knows, maybe by then we can watch Justus Sheffield instead. That sounds nice right about now.

I guess like everything else, we wait and see what happens. Do you think there is a trade involving Gray that is realistic and makes sense? Tell us about it.

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

LUPICA SAYS MAYBE IT SHOULD BE ZACH BRITTON...

And I like it.

Photo: Getty Images

Yes, it really is something to think about.

Here's what Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News wrote:

Photo: Getty Images

"So do they go for another Sonny Gray, at a time when there are a bunch of Sonny Grays out there? Or do they add another arm like Zach Britton to what is already a deep and talented bullpen, which would be the bullpen equivalent of adding the kind of stick they would have added with Machado? Maybe you add somebody like Britton and tell everybody you’re not even looking for five solid innings for your starters in October, but even less than that. 

It’s worth mentioning again that if you add Britton, you keep him away from the Red Sox, Astros, or even the Cubs."

Photo: Getty Images

But is Britton the answer, and will the Orioles pass him around the AL East? Sure, we all heard the rumors about the Orioles and Yankees and Manny Machado, but to be honest, if the Yankees were REALLY in it, they would have grabbed him.  Cashman is a genius because Cashman knows what he wants and will not bend over to give up solid young talent anymore.  At least the good ones.  So far, it has worked out wonderfully.

Photo: Getty Images

But back to Britton.  Is Britton like Sonny Gray... just in a reliever's body? Is he better in a smaller market, and filled with pressure of coming to a place like the Bronx?  I guess the honest answer is we won't know that until we pull the trigger.  Bottom line though, it does worry me because you all know how I feel about Gray and his inconsistency… it's mind numbing.

Photo: Getty Images

This season Britton is 1-0 with a 3.45 ERA. He's struck out 13 and has walked 10.  This is all in 16 games.  But, he's 30 and with Jeurys Familia and Brad Hand not on the market as MLB Trade Rumors has suggested, Britton is the next logical get.

The question is will the Yankees do this, and make it alittle easier on their starting rotation? The bullpen has been good and helpful this season with a few hiccups along the way, but still, I like them better than any other pen out there.  Add in Britton and it just gets better.

Add in Britton and it could really pick this team up.

Look, we all know Lupica is an opinion writer and not a baseball insider by any means.  I'm a younger, more novice version of that.  That being said the idea makes sense.  We will just have to see.

Stay tuned.

Nice column, Mike.

DON'T LOOK NOW, BUT SONNY GRAY IS GOOD

Photo: Getty Images

Sonny Gray was good.  In fact, the Yankees won against the Mets. And now, when you look at Sonny Gray, something significant has happened, and the YES Network tweeted it out late yesterday:

"Sonny Gray's last two starts: 2-0, 1.59 ERA, 14K"

Now for you and I that is great and all, BUT will it stick?  The biggest problem with Sonny Gray is that he is mad inconsistent and each time he's out there... you never know what you're gonna get.

Photo: Getty Images

There have been calls to trade Sonny Gray... calls to bench him, the send him down.  That's not gonna happen, folks.  I really don't think it will.  Now look... if Sonny can stay in this zone he's in right now, we have something.  But if he starts to unravel again, we'll need to have an emergency meeting with Cashman or something.

Here's alittle on what went down in yesterday's game:

Photo: Getty Images

"It had been a while since Sonny Gray walked off the field to cheers in the Bronx, but on Saturday afternoon the 47,102 fans in attendance handed the Yankees' starter a loud ovation as he made his way from the rubber to the dugout after striking out Asdrubal Cabrera with two runners on to end the fifth inning. The right-hander came out to face three more batters in the sixth before ending his afternoon after 5 1/3 solid frames, permitting three runs (two earned) on three hits in the Yankees' 7-6 victory over the Mets at Yankee Stadium."

I love the way Mandy Bell at MLB.com encapsulated that.  It was really a great display, and Gray did good.  With the fans behind him, let's hope he can keep it up.  I am not that hopeful, especially with the trade deadline coming.  We will see though.

For now...Gray's doing the job.  I appreciate that. Let's keep going.