Based on comments he made in October, it seems a trade out of Baltimore wouldn’t surprise Orioles closer Zach Britton, who has two years of arbitration eligibility remaining. However, Orioles general manager Dan Duquette isn’t inclined to shop Britton on the heels of an incredible season in which he converted all 47 save chances and posted a 0.54 ERA and 80 percent ground-ball rate across 67 innings. “I’d rather see Britton on our team than trade him now,” Duquette told 105.7 The Fan on Thursday (via Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com). If Britton doesn’t receive an extension this winter and instead plays next season on his arbitration salary, he’ll rake in roughly $11.4MM, per MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz.
More from the American League East:
- Duquette might not want to trade Britton, but he should at least listen to offers, opines Steve Melewski of MASNsports.com. Placing Britton on the block would enable the Orioles to market him at a much lower price than the top free agent relievers – Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen and Mark Melancon – will command, though Melewski cautions that trading the soon-to-be 29-year-old could cripple the O’s playoff chances in 2017. Baltimore earned a wild-card berth by 2.5 games this past season, and it may have been on the outside looking in without Britton’s brilliance.
- At least one of the top two hitters available in free agency, Yoenis Cespedes or Edwin Encarnacion, will sign with the Yankees, predicts Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio (Twitter link). FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal suggested Saturday that the Yankees are in position to make a bold strike, and signing either slugger would certainly qualify. The team could use help at first base and designated hitter, where Encarnacion plays, as well as in the corner outfield (Cespedes’ domain). New York has already shown some interest both.
- While the Yankees boast a deeper prospect pool than that of the Red Sox, FanRag Sports’ John Perrotto argues that Boston has a clear advantage because of its young talent base already in the majors. When comparing the two teams’ youth, it’s hard to disagree. The Red Sox have AL MVP runner-up Mookie Betts, AL Cy Young winner Rick Porcello, Jackie Bradley Jr., Xander Bogaerts, Andrew Benintendi and Yoan Moncada among a group of 20-somethings controllable through at least 2019. The Yankees’ best 20-somethings under control for three or more more seasons include Masahiro Tanaka, Dellin Betances, Gary Sanchez and Didi Gregorius. That’s an impressive quartet, but it’ll take a hit if Tanaka opts out of his contract after next season and departs in free agency.
I mean it’s obvious the Red Sox youth has had more success, but I’m not sure what’s the point of comparing 2 teams when it’s the division has 5 teams (and the league has 30 teams). Might as well compare the Giants to the Dodgers , Cards to the Cubs, Mets to the Nats, etc
Also, if Jon Morosi makes a prediction , it’s likely not happening.
Why compare the Red Sox and Yankees? Did you read the article? “both franchises have set themselves up to stand at the top of the AL East in some order of 1-2 for many years to come.”
Yes I read it. Too bad games aren’t won on paper and too bad many top prospects have failed.
Then why write any article haha
Hey in fairness, it’s not like I said it’s a poorly written article, but I think it’s unfair to leave out other AL East teams. All 5 of the AL East teams have won the division at least once since 2010.
Nobody in their right mind actually thinks the Yankees have a better prospect pool than the Sox. This post is ludicrous.
Why does the link of Jim Bowden’s prediction for the Yanks getting EE and Bats instead say Yanks will get EE and Cespedes?
He said one of EE and Bats. Not both EE and Bats.
If you read the tweet it says, “they may get both”
Somehow I read Cespedes as Bautista when initially looking at Bowden’s tweet. That’s an embarrassing mistake, and I apologize. Thanks for pointing it out. It’s fixed.
All good I just don’t like hearing that it’s Cespedes being a Mets fan lol. Was hoping it was Bats.
I really hope we dont sign edwin or joey bats
Agreed!
Don’t want any of the three, but if they do sign one, I’d prefer cespedes.
Yes, please no EE or Bautista.. If they REALLY feel the need to spend $ on a big right handed bat, go after Cespedes.
Why is Cespedes a better hitter than EE? McCann, Teixeira, and A-Rod are all gone which means a lot of plate appearances need to be accounted for that EE would fill. Cespedes might prevent a run at Harper in two years and hasn’t been as consistent for as long as EE.
I don’t think Cespedes would prevent a run from any of the major FA hitting the market in 2 years. Both Cespedes and EE will require more than 2 year contracts to sign with anyone. EE is basically a DH at this point, sure he can stand out there at 1B, but what’s the point in that when Greg Bird will most likely be the full time 1B and would provide much better defense at that position? What I was trying to say is this; if the Yankees feel they need to sign 1 of those 3 power hitting, right-handed batters (Cespedes, EE or Bautista), I’d hope they go after Cespedes as the 1st option of those 3. He’s the youngest, he can play all 3 OF positions if needed (and be at least average if not slightly better), he hits for a better average, and the contract he’ll likely require will be similar in AAV to that of an EE contract, although there will probably be an added year or 2 (EE’s agent has said it will take a 5 year commitment to sign his client because he knows at 33/34 this will be his last contract.. He might go with 4 years depending on the situation apparently.) Would you rather sign Cespedes for 5/6 years or EE for 4/5? If they HAD to sign 1 of them that is.
Yankees need a DH but I’d rather Beltran than Bautista who will cost a draft pick, probably want a longer contract, and bitch and complain if he’s not playing in the field. Encarnacion is going to want a big contract and cost a draft pick. If they sign Cespedes they better be getting rid of Ellsbury.
Yanks have the flexibility to be competitive teams once again. Cashman has reloaded faster than expected. They will have a 100 million to spend if they move Gardner and Headley. I can see them in the hunt for some upgrades like Chapman, Hammels, and EE. I think they would also make a trade for another upgrade in a starter like Sale or Quintana. The Yanks lack star power and Cespedes would give them that.
Gardner and Headley will be tough to move though. Gardner is just a glove at this point and although Headley had a decent season in 2016 after a bad 2015 I still don’t see a great landing spot for him. Plus, who plays third for the Yankees in 2017 if they move Chase?
I don’t think so, and that would 11o million= in salary for 17. They could sign Cespedes , Chapman, EE, and trade for Sale and be under the cap. with prospects on the way. That’s a plus 10 WAR this winter, third behind the Dodgers and Cubs at 47WAR
so basically replace the bad contracts on their books with more bad contracts. e.e is 34 and cespedes 31 next year. in sure you would be one complaining in 2 years about how overpaid they are.
I think the Cubs will push to trade for a guy like Britton. Everyone has them “signing Jansen”, but I don’t think they go there.
Out of those 2…….Yanks probably sign Bats (or neither) because he can play the OF, plus a shorter contract length……….EE is 90% DH now……….and remember……Harper becomes a Free Agent after 2018, and is going to require a 15 yr, $400 million plus contract. (especially if he rakes for the next 2 years). They will want to keep some financial flexibility in place for that..
They need Cespedes. Trade Gardner and get a much better glove in LF not to mention the cannon YC has will be even better with less ground to cover. Jose won’t happen because he’s too old and doesn’t have the personality to deal with NY media. I can see EE if it’s for no more than a few years since Greg Bird is the 1B of the future.
You realize that Gardner won the gold glove right?
You realize that with Gordon injured there was no completion for the LF Gold Glove in the AL.
Name an available LFer with a much better glove than Gardner.
Name a full time LF who hit worse than .261 with 7 HR and 47 RBI. Left field is an offensive position. There are many CF/RF who could win a Gold Glove as a full time LF but most teams have defensive stiffs out there to get a bat in the game.
He had a .352 obp how’s that’s for a hitter power and rbis don’t always make a hitter someone has to be on base to get runs in
Howie Kendrick was worse.
As a LF Gardner had a 0.351 OBP which is really good considering he is not a middle of the order hitter.
Regarding fielding…. Céspedes is one of the worst fielders, he makes up some of his mistakes and wrong routes with his strong arm, but nonetheless his fielding will get worse as he ages leaving him with just his throw.
obp is great for a good defensive player at a defensive position ie. 2b/ss/cf
There is a reason almost all teams give up D & obp for power in LF.
Out of 146 mlb players, Gardner was 140th in slugging percentage.
And that’s without adjusting for the park effect of the short RF.
Cespedes is not a better glove. Cespedes gets raved about for his defense because of his arm. That play in Anaheim when he threw the guy out at the plate from the LF wall? Wouldn’t have been a highlight reel play if he ran the correct route. His arm is amazing, but let’s not act like his defense is that great.
Exactly, he takes really poor routes and often jumps too late for the ball or backtracks before realizing he has to run towards the front. I have seen him give up on flys and allow easy plays to drop in front or by running to the wrong part of the OF he allows a single to be an extrabase. His strong throw might help him sometimes but as he ages those wrong routes will get worse because he won’t have speed to try and get the ball and make a throw to nail a runner.
JT19 Exactly. The reason the runner (Kendrick) was waved home was because Cespedes misplayed the route, then kicked the ball, before unleashing that ungodly strike to the plate.
99 other times, the runner scores, but 99 other OF would probably play the ball better, and Kendrick is stopped at 3rd.
The Mets dont need Cespedes. I trust Sandy to go find the Mets another John Mayberry Jr or Pedro D’aza.
Alejandro De Aza knuckle nit-wit
Thanks for correcting, JELKOFF!
You seem to follow the Mets pretty closely sizzleneck
Yes I am a fan. I dont go down on the Ballplayers like you do.
Let’s trade Britton and machado for longoria, archer, and colome
Machado really
Duquette needs to suck it up and trade Britton. His value is higher now than it will ever be and he could bring the team back some solid players that will add more value to the lineup than Britton does as a closer. They can always move Brach (or someone else) to closer and sign or call up another bullpen arm.
With one WS in last 15 seasons, NYY should probably be thinking about just building. The FA model doesn’t really seem to work and dead money seems to be going the way of the dinosaur.
Well… 2001, 2003, 2009, there’s three world series. Sure winning it gives the players more money but just getting to the playoffs allows a team to have a wider exposure. They have failed to reach the playoffs 4 times in the last 15 years.
Now… free agency is where the money is right now, basically almost every single good team is built with free agents and a few homegrown talent, even the Cubs had a few free agents making enormous contributions towards their world series championship, specially Lester and Lackey, and while it might seem that all of their money they spent (one of the highest payrolls ever to win a world series), in a few years it might be regarded as “dead money”.
Lackey was their #4 starter.
You do realize the Yankees lost in ’01
And ’03…
Yankees have a need at 1B, a corner OF position and DH. Why not sign Trumbo who can play all 3 positions and he’ll come a lot cheaper for still solid numbers
The Yankees will use Bird at 1B and expect one of their outfield prospects to step in as the everyday right fielder. Still, having Trumbo around as the DH and to protect Sanchez in the lineup would be a solid move, albeit not on a crazy contract based solely on his power. Do you think he would he sign a Reddick-like deal?
Trumbo is over rated pretty much all he can do is hit hr but he strikes out too much and we already have a prospect like that in judge
I think Moss is a better all around player than Trumbo 9although he’s not fabulous either), and he can play 1B or OF……….nice to have that LH bat in NY…….Probably come cheaper, with a shorter term contract.
Completely agree would be interesting hat with the short porch
One thing is to be assigned to play a position and a different one is to play it good, with quality. Trumbo has been relegated to the OF because he can’t play the 1B very well. He makes the basic plays but that’s it, and since he seldomly risks going to his right he won’t cover much ground, that’s why he might end up with a high fielding percentage but just because he goes after easy plays (similar to how David Seguí played, regarded as the highest or among the highest fielding percentages in the history of first basemen and yet he didn’t cover nearly half of what Donnie could).
As a Red Sox fan, it would be a nightmare to have Encarnacion who everyone thought was gonna go to the sox, and who loves Boston, to not go there because “he’s not left handed” or because Hanley will DH in a year or two. News flash: both Edwin and Hanley can play first. Them not being interested in Encarnacion for a ridiculous reason and then him signing with the Yankees would kill me
Encarnacion would hit 30 homers at Fenway alone
Not one mention of Greg Bird. You’ll know him next year.
Is that the guy who hit .200 this year in the Arizona Fall League against average milb pitchers?
Bird isn’t mentioned because he followed a small and successful sample with an injury that knocked him out for the year. Zach Wheeler had just as much upside as Greg Bird (if not more), but no one is considering him a core player going foward because he hasn’t been healthy. Until Bird can prove he’s healthy and play at a level similar to, or better, than how he did previously, he can’t be considered a core player.
Starlin Castro should on the Yankee list. 25 and controllable through 2019 with an option for 2020.
He’s not that good though
It goes without saying…. Sanchez is better than any player on either team.
Sanchez had a great couple of months, but before we call him better than anyone else, let him at least see if his play can continue into this season. Its not that uncommon for rookies to crush it once they get to the big leagues, but that is sometimes followed by pitchers figuring out how to pitch to said rookies. I’m not doubting he can’t continue his strong play, but he’s not better than any player on either team YET.
lol that’s funny
Yes he’s definitely better than Mookie lol what a silly comment.
Sure, but he’s nowhere near as good as Trey Mancini. He’s a career .357 hitter who’s averaging 97 home runs per year.
Gary Sanchez looks like he has a bright career ahead of him. But he’s not going to maintain a .317 BABIP and a 32.3% HR/FB rate. Even the most extreme home run hitters (Adam Dunn, Pedro Alvarez, Mark Reynolds, Chris Carter, etc.) never put up rates above 22 or 23% over the course of a full season.
So let’s hold off on labeling him a better player than someone like Mookie Betts, who, by the way, is all but two months older than Sanchez.
I’d rather the Yankees hold onto the draft pick and the prospects while continuing to collect more prospects. Unleash everything after signing Bryce Harper.
Bryce Harper? The guy who chokes in the clutch?
I would sign Machado rather than Harper. I also hope they sign Otani.
Bryce Harper needs to put together consecutive good seasons without some kinda injury ruining his performance
His name is good on paper, but he hasn’t been consistent since his MVP year. Would spend money elsewhere.
Kinda interested in this lineup
Ellsbury
Gregorius
Sanchez
Cespedes
Beltran
Bird
Castro
Headley
Judge