The latest on the Yankees:
- With the Aug. 1 deadline closing in, the 39-40 Yanks have arguably the most valuable rumored trade chip in the majors in left-handed reliever Andrew Miller. Nevertheless, indications are that he won’t even hit the market, reports George A. King III of the New York Post. The Yankees, who are currently three games out of a Wild Card spot, aren’t planning on moving the 31-year-old, a source told King. “They are saying no on Miller. But there is a lot of time left,” said the source. Miller, who’s signed through 2018 at a reasonable $9MM per year, has torn through the opposition with a league-best 21.33 K/BB ratio and a 1.30 ERA in 34 2/3 innings this season.
- The Yankees will sit Aaron Hicks on Saturday against Padres left-hander Drew Pomeranz, leading Chad Jennings of LoHud.com to wonder if New York’s confidence in the right fielder is wavering. When the Yankees acquired Hicks from the Twins for reserve catcher John Ryan Murphy during the offseason, their expectation was that he’d serve as an offensive asset against southpaws. Hicks has instead posted a horrid .167/.233/.242 line, albeit over a minuscule 66 plate appearances. In 334 career trips to the plate versus lefties, the soon-to-be 27-year-old has hit a usable .248/.332/.401.
- Given right-hander Nathan Eovaldi’s struggles since May ended, the Yankees will have to consider pulling him from their rotation if Triple-A call-up Chad Green fares well in his Sunday start, opines Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media. Eovaldi, who looked like a quality mid-rotation starter through May, has allowed 31 earned runs on 45 hits and 12 walks in 30 innings going back to June 3. He has also struck out just 19 hitters during that six-start span, which is a drastic decline from the 57 batters Eovaldi fanned in the 61 innings he amassed in his first 10 starts. The 26-year-old currently owns the majors’ fourth-worst ERA (5.58). Green, on the other hand, has put up a 1.54 ERA, 9.04 K/9 and 2.09 BB/9 across 81 2/3 Triple-A frames in 2016.
There are so many issues with the Yankees they’d be blind to not realize selling is in the best interests of the organization. No longer can a team claim that going for it is the correct move when they are only “three games out of the wild card”. There are several other teams positioned similar or better than that number who have a greater chance of competing this season. At the end of the day the Royals model of bullpen efficiency/dominance only works when you have other pieces (reliable starting pitching and position players) allowing it to excel. Simply having three good relievers and little else doesn’t make your a quality team.
Additionally, the Yankees refusing to talk to teams such as the Cubs if a singular player isn’t included is ludicrous. Specifically in the North Siders case there are many other alternatives to equal the value Schwarber can provide to the Yankees. Vogelbach has done nothing but hit at every level (to a level very similar to Schwarber) and would utilize the DH position as Schwarber would (he certainly wouldn’t derive his maximum value in the AL from playing LF/C when you can hide him as a DH) . Torres, Zagunis, McKinney, Jimenez, etc. all have the ability to contribute much needed youth and OBP floors a team like the Yankees should covert for both the near and long term. It would take a lot to get Miller no doubt, but ignoring negotiations when one name isn’t involved is a terrible notion.
As a Yankee fan I agree, what do you think the Cubs are willing to offer for miller
I think any of the aforementioned names (I neglected Happ who deserves to be in there if not at the forefront) is a great place to start. The Yankees FO worries me, though I have great respect for Cashman. The problem is strikingly similar to when George was making unreasonable demands, but that played in the steroid and burgeoning free agent era. Now Randy Levine and Hal seem to be pulling strings but instead of doling out money for what it takes to win, their willing to doll out (a bereft product with a few names) what it takes to make money.
Agreed!! The Yankees should have learned a 3 headed monster isn’t the only ingredient in a formula for success a couple of years ago when they had Robertson, Soriano and Rivera. They need to sell and sell big time. Also, Schwarber should be the last guy they should demand in a trade. Yes, he has a great bat but he is a DH. They will need that DH spot the next couple of years for Ellsbury and McCann. They should focus on Happ. Miller for Happ straight up would make Cashman look like a genius a year or two from now. Torres is probably the Cubs biggest trade chip right now but the Yankees already have too many SS prospects with Mateo surely equal to him in value. Imo Happ is the way to go.
The only season Robertson, Soriano and Rivera all pitched together was 2011. They lost that series to the Tigers simply becuase they were horrible with RISP in the games they lost. The Yankees even outscored the Tigers that series. They finished with the best record in the AL that year, and the Phillies finished with the best record in baseball. Both teams lost in the first round. The playoffs are a crap shoot.
They pitched part of 2012 together but Rivera tore his ACL in May and was out for the season then.
But for the rest of what you wrote, I completely agree with. This team needs to sell.
I concur with the DH argument, though Schwarber is a special bat. That said, he struggles against left handers greatly, and if that persists are you willing to waste a roster spot (as well as Millers value across the MLB) on some one who is a platoon DH? As far as the too many SS prospect goes, the Cubs and Red Sox have shown that a glut at a position is a good problem to have. It works itself out in the end, if nothing more than flipping said prospect (Torres for example) to another club for a need. You can’t play the organizational need game with prospects. If you’re able to acquire a talented player at a high value position for equal or lesser value, you do it regardless of organizational fit. That said, and as I’ve said repeatedly above, the Cubs are littered with quality hitting prospects across the diamond many of which, if packaged, would be of equal value to Millers dominance and appealing contract.
I’d hate to see Eovaldi turn into another Joe Kelly, but it just might be the only cure for his ills also. Both guys with explosive FB and just no real command of the zone after facing ppl 2nd time around, or really susceptible to that single melt down inning.
Think both could also add another tick-2 on top of sitting 96-98mph on their FB and touch 100, dump the splitter in Eovaldi’s case.. Which don’t think is working out and Think Boston is going to get Kelly to just lose the curve and change, then focus on his slider, or hope so.
Think that could make both decent setup guys their last 2 seasons of control. Also help with focus by just forgetting about 2 pitches that IMO, weren’t that good for either.
Once they move at least 1 of the 3, Eovaldi should be moved to the pen where he belongs. Remember: Betances was a failed starter.
For what it’s worth JR Murphy went 3-for-40 with no runs scored or batted in before going down to AAA, where he has increased his OPS by 381 points (it’s .600 now). On the bright side one of his 3 hits was a double.