In a piece for Sports on Earth, MLB.com’s Jim Callis ranks the top dozen players from this year’s crop of rookies by their anticipated future production. In spite of his questionable elbow situation, Masahiro Tanaka of the Yankees leads the way, with shortstop Xander Bogaerts of the Red Sox occupying the second slot.
Here’s more from the AL East:
- Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia is “probably likely” to sit out the remainder of the year and could be headed for another hand procedure, manager John Farrell said today in an appearance on WEEI (Twitter link). News of the increasing difficulty with Pedroia’s left hand and wrist emerged last night, with MLB.com’s Quinn Roberts among those reporting that a surgical option was on the table. “Surgery is one of [the options],” said Pedroia. “I could rest or continue to play or surgery. There’s three things we could do. We’ll come up with a plan the best we can that’s best for the team.” It is incumbent upon the team to act decisively to resolve Pedroia’s impairments, writes WEEI.com’s Alex Speier, especially since he is already entering the tail end of typical peak years of production. The star 31-year-old is mired in his worst season at the plate since becoming a regular (.278/.337/.376). On the other hand, he is still an elite defensive player and has racked up over 4 wins above replacement. Pedroia is owed $97.5MM (some of it deferred) over the next seven seasons under the extension he signed just over a year ago.
- Blue Jays outfielder Melky Cabrera once again presents quite an interesting free agent case, as Mike Petriello of Fangraphs explores. Heading into his age-30 season, Cabrera is very well-placed in the upcoming free agent market, and Petriello thinks that a three or four-year deal makes sense in spite of Cabrera’s baggage. Some clubs will be willing to forgive his previous PED issues, and Petriello notes that a qualifying offer may not be a major impediment if teams with a protected first-round pick — he suggests the Phillies, White Sox, Astros, and Padres, and potentially the Reds and Mets — make a run at Cabrera. Ultimately, his value could settle somewhere in the range of three years and ~$40MM up to Curtis Granderson‘s four-year, $60MM deal.
- The Yankees are not far off from facing yet another round of questions with regard to embattled third baseman Alex Rodriguez, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Though simply cutting him loose surely has some appeal, given the uncertainty of his ability to perform (to say nothing of off-field considerations), Sherman notes that doing so would prevent any chance of recovering some portion of the remaining $61MM owed Rodriguez if his hip issues ultimately trigger an insurance payout. Sherman argues that the club should have Rodriguez report for training in October, ready to learn first base. The Yankees could then begin to see what he has left to offer, opening the possibility of using him on either side of the diamond and recouping what value there is left to be had from his ill-fated contract.
I think making Arod learn first base is smart, if he’s gonna be stuck there he may as well provide what little versatility he can. Ultimately, I think they should give him a month or two to prove that he can play at least somewhere in the realm of average. I’d really like to see Headley back though, he’s a great defender.
Teix is a gold glove 1st basemen, no need for A-Rod to move over there. He won’t play more then 140 games at max and even that’s a stretch. He can split time at 3rd with Prado and DH.
Tex has a negative dWAR this year and is also fragile. A-Rod learning first base just gives them more options.
I can’t imagine A-Rod would be any better then Teix at 1st. Beltran can play 1st too, I think he’d be more serviceable then A-Rod there.
I don’t anyone’s suggesting he replace Tex there. It’s more about having another option should he get injured, which he seems to do every year now.
If the Yankees could trade A-Rod for lets say Ryan Howard, or another bad contract then I’d say its a good idea, especially to get some NL teams interested for swapping bad contracts, but if the Yankees plan on keeping him, I’d just keep him at 3rd. Yes it gives them more options but at his age and coming off an injury I wouldn’t risk it.
Risk what? First base is easier to play than third.
It’s not his natural position though. Also if he moves to 1st then that pretty much cements Prado at 3rd and I think the Yankees want to keep Prado mobile on the field to give guys routine days off while keeping an above average fielder and hitter at those positions. Having Prado eliminates having a below average utility man on the roster.
Pretty much any player can play first. That’s really not an issue. And having him take reps at first doesn’t need to change anything. It’s about options…
Options are a beautiful thing I agree but it seems more of a waste of time (in my opinion). A-Rod needs all the reps he can get at 3rd to get back in order. We have McCann to backup at 1st and Beltran in an extreme situation. I would much rather see them at 1st then Alex. I’d rather Prado be used to give guys like Ellsbury and Gardner time off (both somewhat fragile) then cement Prado at 3rd.
A-Rod isn’t going to play 3rd full time and Tex isn’t going to play 162 games. McCann is obviously the better option at 1st, but 1st is a less stressful position than 3rd and it gives them more flexibility.
I agree neither will play 162 games, not many players do even with the DH factor. Last season only 2 players in all the majors did. Still doesn’t mean A-Rod should see time at 1st, I know its easy but if that’s the only reason besides depth (which Beltran and McCann would see before A-Rod) then why not just have everyone on the roster audition for it.
Beltran?
He played 1B once, and that was because it was basically him or Ichiro to play it since no one was left.
A-Rod has never played it so why not include Beltran in the conversation?
I think he sticks at 3b for now. Otherwise I much more faith in Arod who played ss and 3b for years making the transition to 1B than an outfielder.
Wasn’t Pujols an outfielder once? 1st base as stated earlier is an easy position to pick up. Beltran has a game under his belt and might possibly DH alot, if they want to experiment they can go with him, especially since he may not be able to be in the OF which the Yankees have Gardner, Ells, Prado and other depth that would better equipped to play RF then Beltran.
3B originally. He kind of bounced around the field alot, until he settled at 1B.
Berkman and Swisher also come to mind.
GOOD options are a beautiful thing. BAD options….lead me to drink.
Absolutely not, and I doubt his NTC gets him moved to Philly. Howard is guaranteed $12MM more, and even if it was even I wouldn’t do the deal. Arod has still been well above average when he has stayed healthy. Howard has had injury problems too, but he has been so bad I wouldn’t even want him playing at 1B if healthy. Arod has been worth 3.4 more fWAR over past 3 years, and he hasn’t even played this year.
If A-rod can play 1 game at first per MONTH I’d take it as an extra off day for Tex.
“prove that he can play at least somewhere in the realm of average.”
Don’t want Arod to be a 2015 version of Jeter, huh?
They could put him back at short. I’m pretty sure that would make the Yankees the first team in history to start 2 different 40 year olds at shortstop 2 seasons in a row.
TBH I’d probably sign up for Jeter’s .258 for arod next year.
But his .258 probably comes with more walks, fewer dp, and more power.
I barely have enough confidence in A-Rod to dress himself, so my expectations are very low when it comes to performance.
Those Rookie Rankings are terrible
I sort of got the idea that it wasn’t meant to be a ranked list, but I agree. It’s basically clickbait with little rhyme or reason.
It was meant to be ranked, in Abreu’s write up it mentions “the only reason he’s ranked seventh….”
But yes, it is bad.
Yikes.
That is bad considering Abreu is the MVP discussion and had been at certain points in the season in Triple Crown contention.
They are rankings of going-forward value, not current season performance. But yeah, they didn’t do a good job of making that clear in headlines, etc.
Oh yes I understand that. I just still think it’s poor overall.
Fair enough. I definitely read something into your comment that wasn’t there.
I should have been more clear too. Hey we will know in the future if he’s right or wrong but man I just think it’s awful. Then again……”you can’t predict baseball ”
Pedroia has been more fragile this year this Ellsbury.
Dustin’s injuries is another reason to keep Mookie around. Dustin, Nap, Vic, Cespedes, and Craig have all had injury issues in the past. If they don’t trade Vic or Betts you have a lineup of. Lots of injury risks and uncertantty there no reason to trade guys until you know who is legit, who can be above average, and who can play what.
CF- Castillo/Betts/Vic
2B- Dustin/Betts/Holt
DH- Ortiz/Nap/Craig/Cespedes
1B- Nap/Craig/Nava
RF- Cespedes/Betts/Vic
LF- Craig/Betts/Nava
SS- Bogaerts/Holt/Betts?
C- Vazquez/Swihart(Or Ross)
3B- Holt/Betts/FA/maybe Castillo.
The Yankees are stuck with A-Rod and should make the best of a very bad situation. He should come to training camp, work out like everyone else, perhaps learn first base enough to play occasionally there, and get put in the lineup when he’s healthy and reasonably productive. The best well to deal with this guy is to do nothing special at all. If he’s adequate, they get something for their money. If he’s lousy, he sits. If he’s injured, he goes on the DL. Period. Pay him, pay his incentive when he makes it to 660 HRs, and pretend it’s just another expense. A-Rod will only be an all-consuming distraction if they let him be.
It’s not hard to figure out lol A-Rod/Headley will split time at 3rd/DH if Headley returns. with Prado at 2nd, Drew at SS if he’s back and Teix at 1st lol