A 2015 postseason appearance for the Yankees will likely hinge on improvements from costly middle-of-the-order hitters like Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann, and Mark Teixeira, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Barring a surprise, last year’s big spending leaves the club with few options to add significant run production to its lineup, explains Sherman.
Here’s more from the American League:
- Rays outfielder Matt Joyce says that he believes he will be dealt in the offseason, as Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. The 30-year-old is entering his final year of arbitration eligibility after earning $3.7MM this season. “I think there’s a good chance [of a trade], just knowing the organization and how they operate and how many young guys that they have in the outfield and coming up through the system,” said Joyce. The left-handed hitting outfielder owns a .252/.348/.379 slash over 477 plate appearances this year, continuing a trend of declining power numbers since he broke into the league.
- The top offseason priority for the Twins will be the rotation, GM Terry Ryan tells Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter link). Of course, that seemed to be the case last year, when the team made significant commitments to free agent hurlers Ricky Nolasco, Phil Hughes, and Mike Pelfrey. Only Hughes has been a hit, though he does look to be a legitimate bargain.
- For the Astros, meanwhile, the bullpen figures to receive the most attention this winter, MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart reports. GM Jeff Luhnow said that the club might have seen a significant jump had two of its expected pen pieces — Matt Albers and Jesse Crain — been able to contribute more innings. Looking forward, he said that the team has no choice but to take its chances adding relief arms. “We’ve reflected on our process last year and made some improvements and we feel good about that,” said Luhnow. “It’s always a risk with relievers because there’s a lot of variables year to year, but we feel good we’ll identify the right guys and go after them, and hopefully get a good roll of the dice this time in terms of the health side of the equation.”
Nolasco was a disaster! He has some serious work to do in 2015 cuz right now he drawing the dubious Carlos Silva signing comparison! TR, no more silva signings this offseason!!
Wow its almost uncanny similarities. 4/48, 1M and 2M signing bonus’s respectively. Previous years numbers better than just about everyone else on the staff. And of course the large fall off this year. Nice call.
I’d wait before judging the Nolasco signing a bust. He tried to pitch through arm issues most of the season instead of doing the right thing and speaking up. Hopefully he comes back healthy this spring and can contribute to the rotation.
If TR can find a way to fix his rotation this winter, with all the money he has already committed to long term deals, I will be amazed, astounded, shocked, surprised and happy. That being said, good luck.
The yankees dont have to worry to much about run production because they have someone on their roster that didnt play this year that will increase production greatly. His name is alex rodriguez
Want run production, use Rob Refsnyder, Jose Pirela, or John Ryan Murphy before your season’s over with Brian Roberts or Kelly Johnson
Alex Rodriguez is nearly 40 years old with a slow bat and a ailing hip. He is all washed up and if the Yankees are forced to keep him next year, they will find a comfortable place for him at the end of the bench.
You maybe right but I’d like to give A-Rod a chance to prove himself in 2015. Obviously he won’t be the A-Rod of 2007 but I think even a diminished A-Rod (PEDs or no PEDs) at 40 is better than most 3B options available.
He could help in theory, but not enough to alleviate any legitimate concerns.
That was incredibly insightful. In order for the Yankees to score more runs they are going to have to have their hitters hit better. Not sure I could have come up with that theory.
That’s why Sherman is paid the big bucks….
My son got a pack of baseball cards, and one of them was Jesse Crain, physically pitching, in an Astros uniform. I had to chuckle.
Luhnow might have a future closer in Folty, and he’s got a vet in Qualls and a really good lefty in Sipp (and maybe something in Josh Fields), but he needs a definitive shutdown guy in the pen, or he’s wasting all the talent he’s drafted in games blown by the bullpen.
The acquisition of Beltran was in my OPINION one of the worst the Yanks made in the off season. He is just an injury away from either being on the dl or a dh. When you look at it they could have 4 dh’s on the roster with Mccann, Tex, A Rod and Beltran. If the Yanks can find a way to trade Beltran then they should do it in a heart beat again in my OPINION.
Tex plays first just fine and McCann can catch fine.
Seriously. Yes they’re overpayed at this point but I wouldn’t call them true defensive liabilities yet. But yes, Arod and Beltran appear to be destined for the DH spot.
An alarming loss of bat speed this season by Beltran is what stands out for me.
I can’t deny that, but from a standpoint of physical ability, that’s where I see him. I think they could find someone better in the field even if the person had a light bat.
It’s an OPINION no wrong or right in a OPINION oh lordy.
Well OPINIONS have the right for criticism.
Well ya every player is an injury away from being on the D.L…
Why are McCann and Tex DH’s/potential DH’s?
I can see Joyce or DDJ being traded to MIL. Seems like a good fit and trading partner.
I don’t see any interest on the Brewers side for either Joyce or Dejesus. Where are they going to play? Davis is set in LF, Gomez is set in CF and Braun is set in RF. Neither Joyce or Dejesus is an upgrade over those 3. Either might have made sense as 4th OF but that was before Brewers acquired Parra from Arizona.
My intial thought was for platooning with Davis and to balance out the RH heavy lineup. After looking it up just now – I did not realize Davis has an OPS of 755 vs RH.
Nevermind. :)
I’d rather the astros focus on getting 2 hitters who can hit above 250…
The Twins’ top off-season priority has to be ending the Gardenhire era. Fire him, fire Rick Anderson, and get an entirely new training staff.
Look at all the players that have left Minnesota in Gardy’s “dog house” just to find success. An MLB manager’s job is getting the most out of his players, and nobody wants to play for Gardenhire. He doesn’t develop players, he doesn’t play to their strengths, and he can’t motivate them. Can you imagine how badly he’s going to bungle a prima donna like Miguel Sano?
It’s time for the Twins to admit that they’re giving their consumers an awful product. Firing Gardenhire and all the dead weight around him will send a clear signal that they’re taking things seriously, that they understand the realities of the league they’re in, and that they want the fans to keep coming to Target Field. Doing otherwise is bad, stupid business.
Who are you talking about!? I can only think of Carlos Gomez. The rest left for different reasons, mostly financial.