Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner had a long and interesting chat the Michael Kay Show (audio link) in which he discussed his organization’s rare sale-side moves at the deadline. Carrying three ace closers, he said, was an “incredible luxury, but not a necessity,” which seemingly helped to ease his mind in parting with Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman. He further explained that the organization didn’t simply decide at some point that it would undergo a sale, but instead considered each individual move on its own merit as opportunities arose. Generally, he emphasized that he looked closely at every player in every deal and suggested that the group of trades has helped position the organization for the near-future and beyond. There’s plenty more in the interview, which is well worth a full listen.
Here are few more notes coming off of the trade deadline …
- As has been expected, the Yankees will call up catcher Gary Sanchez once again, per Shane Hennigan of the Scranton Times-Tribune (via Twitter). It’s not yet clear whether he’ll just provide a temporary DH option — as he did earlier in the season — or stick for good, but Steinbrenner did note that the organization believes he’s ready for extended big league time. The owner emphasized that fans can expect to see several fresh faces down the stretch as the Yankees look to see what they have in the upper-level prospects they have been developing — not to mention those just added over the last several days.
- The Giants have moved veteran righty Jake Peavy to the bullpen to accommodate the acquisition of Matt Moore, as Andrew Baggarly of the Mercury News reports. Though Peavy has worked almost exclusively in the rotation over his long career, he seemingly took the news quite well. San Francisco has liked what it has seen of late from Matt Cain, who was the other candidate to move to a relief role, and thinks that Peavy will be better able to handle the transition, skipper Bruce Bochy explained.
- Speaking of Moore, the Rangers turned their attention elsewhere given the Rays’ asking price on the lefty, per Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link). Texas would have needed to send not only Lewis Brinson and Luis Ortiz — each of whom were packaged to acquire Jonathan Lucroy and Jeremy Jeffress — but also Jurickson Profar, per the report.
- Part of the calculus for the Blue Jays’ acquisition of Francisco Liriano was the opportunity for him to work again with backstop Russell Martin, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca explains. Both GM Ross Atkins and manager John Gibbons noted the importance of that connection, and Martin offered glowing reports of Liriano’s stuff. As Atkins put it: “The experience of Russ and the familiarity, if we come up with a plan we should expect some correction. This is not on Russ Martin by any means, but we did see that as an added benefit.”
Surprised you guys didn’t mention A-Rod today (or at least I didn’t see it). Many reports are saying Yankees will release him possibly before season ends. Heck if Sanchez is called up tomorrow, I wouldn’t rule out A-Rod being released then. Over the past week and a half. A-Rod appeared in 2 games. Golden Sombrero on Sunday in Tampa , and a pinch hit pop up to end this evenings game against the Mets
Actually I just read Girardi’s post game notes saying we haven’t seen the last of A-Rod yet. I assume Yankees will send down Ben Gamel then.
While releasing ARod is the prudent baseball move, I just don’t think they will pull the trigger until the off season. ARod will probably strain an oblique in BP or claim his hip is bothering him and then go on the DL until rosters expand next month. The other scenario is that he works out a financial deal with NYY announces he will retire at the end of the season. Yankee brass hopes it keeps the ballpark filled for 2016 and Yanks opt to keep him on the roster. I think Texeira may be the one to get released. Refsnyder and McCann handle 1B and Austin joins the 1B mix in September.
I don’t see them releasing ARod until after the revocable waiver period this month. I expect Tex, CC and McCann will all clear waivers and be able to be traded.outright. If the Yanks end up trading either Tex or McCann, then they can use a guy like ARod’s bat off the bench down the stretch and as a part time DH assuming they were to deal McCann. Also, by holding on to ARod, they still have a chance at an injury to claim the insurence money or another failed drug test that will allow them to save all the money owed for next year.
A-rod is not going to get many chances to hit that 700Th HR. Yankees don’t want to pay the 6million$ bonus.
Love the Yankees moves and that Hal finally got out of Cashman’s way so that the baseball people could do what they are paid to do. But I think as far as this season goes the Matt Moore move is gonna be the move of the year. Dave Righetti is the pitcher whisperer as far as I am concerned and with how cueto who even though he pitched great in the World Series was clearly a bit shaky and now is elite. I think he turns Moore back to ace like again and then how does anyone score on them in the post season. I know everyone is already declaring the Cubs the champs but their rotation pales in comparison to that giant rotation. And as the adage goes, pitching wins in the post season and if they can’t get to chapman he is a non entity. We saw it last year against the Mets and their staff aside from Lester has taken a nose dive. And Cleveland, or Texas from the AL, I still love that giant rotation way more. And they can win a 7 game series on the road in October which no other NL team seems to be able to pull off.
How are the Giants going to win the World Series if their ace can’t even beat the Phillies?
Last I checked, an ace on a championship caliber team was not required to go 33-0 in a season.
Without checking the numbers, I’m pretty sure cueto has been elite pretty much every season
That Moore trade would’ve been highway robbery for the Rays if the Rangers agreed to it
And it’s funny because of the deal they agreed to. Fox and Santos, the prospects the Rays got from the Giants aren’t near top 100 prospects. They might crack 250, maybe. So it shows that the Rays liked Matt Duffy more than Profar, Brinston and Ortiz.
More likely what it shows is that they overplayed their hand so hard with the Rangers that the Rangers simply hung up and moved on, and that this was the level of deal they were willing to accept all along.
The rays wanted two top 100 prospects, one in the top 50, and a former top 10 prospect whos more productive than matt duffy at this moment.
They settled for a worse version of profar in duffy with 1 more year of control and guys not even in the top 100.
If anything the rays made their fromt office look like fools trading moore for that after asking what they did from the rangers. Wasnt even close in value.
They way overvalued moore and cost themselves a chance at either ortiz or brinson and a couple other prospects.
I have doubts as to how Duffy is going to perform after the league has figured him out. This isn’t someone with a great swing to start with and coming to the AL, tho a hitter’s league and parks may offset that some in the AL East.. His new home stadium of the Trop/thunderdome is nearly as atrocious for hitters as the one he just left..
If he can hold his own, it’s great news for the Rays, then they can move Longo and the expensive (to them) years of his deal while they have value via trade and get more prospects.
Duffy was a joy to watch and very easy to root for, but I get the feeling the Giants sold high on him. The Rays supposedly long coveted him, even before he broke into the majors.
I assume he’ll be playing his natural SS position with the Rays? He also played some 2B for the Giants, so maybe the Rays will take advantage of his versatility.
I think Peavy to the bullpen is a smart move. He tends to still have some dominance left in him, but only for a few innings. Am I crazy if I think he could revitalize his career as a closer?
He’s got the mentality for it if nothing else.
No- he could be the next Eckerseley. The reason you don’t see more of this is dollars. Starters get paid more so most guys will elect situations where they have the best chance of starting.
I think this offseason will determine how much a closer can really make on the market. May make it more enticing to make just as much to pitch one high stakes inning here and there.
So does anyone know what the immediate plan for Liriano is? Is he going to AAA until Sanchez is moved to the bullpen?
Liriano is scheduled for Saturday’s start. He’s gonna follow Sanchez, who pitched Friday. It looks like the Jays are using a 6 man rotation for the next turn or two through the order.
Pete
Yankees are or done
Tanaka and Elsbury with cash and both players waive no trade for Puig and a top prospect!
This would be interesting. Of course with the Dodger’s FO I’d be surprised if they didn’t just take on both contracts outright. I still can’t beleive that trade they made with Boston! They ate so much money for not much in return.
Only thing left from Boston trade is A-Gone
Is Drew Hutchison any good? Steve seemed to think it was an OK trade, but that only way that could be is if Hutchison is at least a #4, but he was in AAA for a team that needs pitching.
What’s the story there?
Scouts like his stuff still, he doesn’t have an injury history. For some reason he’s not been able to put things together for any real stretch in the majors. He’s probably a 4 or 5 starter but Benedict and Searage seem to have a good track record of fixing pitchers like this. Mostly, Pitssburgh wanted to get out of Liriano’s contract
Unfortunately, no. His wRC+ and wOBA against the pitches he primarily throws are dreadful. It seems to be a challenge for him to induce weak contact.
Braves would trade a nice prospect such as Daniel Castro or Gordon Beckham for Alex Rodriguez if the Yankees paid the remainder of his contract.