Given their impressive contingent of young talent, the retooling Yankees likely could have put together a package to acquire ace Chris Sale, who’s now with archrival Boston after the rebuilding White Sox traded him for a prospect haul last month. Noting that “all of a sudden, you’re tearing down when you start to build up,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman unsurprisingly expressed an unwillingness to give up potential superstar catcher Gary Sanchez for Sale (via Randy Miller of NJ.com). Regarding auxiliary pieces, Cashman said, “Is it (a touted pitching prospect such as James) Kaprielian or Chance Adams or Justus Sheffield? It would probably be (Luis) Severino right now. So those are the two primers just to get the ball rolling with the other two players yet to be named to try to match up for Sale.”
Elsewhere around the American League East…
- The Orioles’ Zach Britton has been a premier closer since 2014, but he only developed into a lights-out reliever after a difficult run as a starter. In 48 appearances (46 starts) from 2011-13, Britton flashed his signature ground-ball ability (55.5 percent), though he otherwise underwhelmed with a 4.77 ERA and 5.94 K/9 against 3.92 BB/9 across 254 2/3 frames. Britton “had flashes of brilliance” as a starter, ex-Orioles pitching coach Dave Wallace told David Laurila of FanGraphs, but Wallace doesn’t believe the 29-year-old would have evolved into a high-end rotation piece had he stayed in that role. “He doesn’t have the… I wouldn’t say mentality, but the wherewithal to navigate,” observed Wallace. “When you’re a starting pitcher, and you give up a run — give up something — you have to maintain your composure and still make pitches, knowing you have quite a bit of the game to go. A lot of guys can’t do that, and he was one of those guys.”
- Although the Red Sox are making an effort to bolster their depth with minor league signings, they’re having trouble attracting players, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski explained to Evan Drellich of the Boston Herald. “We keep trying to sign minor-league guys to contracts with big league invites,” Dombrowski said. “We haven’t been very productive. Not for a lack of trying, but guys are still at the point where, first of all, they’re looking for major league contracts if they can. You can see this past week, they finally started to click where, they were accepting some (minor league) invites. But they’re going to other clubs rather than ours, because they don’t like the chances of making our major league club as much at this time.” While Dombrowski “wouldn’t mind” picking up extra pitching and outfield depth, he’s content with his third base possibilities and is “hopeful” Pablo Sandoval will rebound from a forgettable two-year stretch.
- As of earlier this month, Baltimore general manager Dan Duquette hadn’t ruled out signing the top starting pitcher available in free agency, one-time Oriole Jason Hammel. That was before the club re-signed pricey slugger Mark Trumbo, though, meaning it’s now more likely to add a cheaper starter, according to Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com. Baltimore remains interested in re-upping swingman Vance Worley, per Kubatko, who hears that the right-hander’s price will have to drop for a reunion to happen. The Orioles non-tendered Worley last month in lieu of paying the 29-year-old a projected $3.3MM via arbitration in 2017. Worley managed to prevent runs at a respectable clip with the O’s last season in spite of a subpar K/BB ratio (1.6, well below the 2.53 league-average mark), as he pitched to a 3.53 ERA over 86 2/3 innings and 35 appearances (four starts).
Why do so many writers want the Yankees to trade all their prospects
Was wondering the same thing. They’ve worked hard and done a great job of building towards a new young core while remaining relevant. It’d be very short sighted to trade the talent they’ve acquired, and I think Cash knows that.
The Astros had the same problem. “Why aren’t they trading prospects?” So annoying and scary.
Yankers need to keep building their young core just like Cubs and Red Sox did. It might take two or three years but they will only get better.
I don’t think it’s just the writers, a lot of fans seem to want that as well. Eventually, they’re going to have to trade some of their prospects.
The only fans that want to see that happen are the casual fans that do not really know what it takes to win in today’s game. They want to see the old days of the Yanks trading all their prospects for the flashy name to help them win, even though anyone that is a serious fan knows that the Yanks dynasty of the 90s was built from within, with accessory pieces here and there.
Thankfully, the casual fan is not in charge of the Yanks, and Cashman is doing a fantastic job in rebuilding the franchise for a sustained run in the hopefully near future.
Ya it’s a bit bizarre, they have some big expiring contracts after this year, and a more robust free agent market next year as well, makes sense to stay the current course.
The Yankees are well positioned payroll wise to take advantage of the FA market next year and the following year when guys like Machado could be available. They also have a nice crop of highly regarded prospects still to integrate into the roster come 2018 and 2019. The future looks very, very promising for the Yankees and fans.
Don’t rule the Red Sox out for Machado if Sandoval doesn’t work out.
Id bet the dodgers go hard at him.
I would rather have them get Donaldson in 19, Goldschmidt in 20, and Trout in 21. The Yanks sign Otani and win 3 championships in a row, 19, 20, and 21.
If…? One if the worst signings ever for the Red Sox
When Machado becomes a FA, watch out for the White Sox. Don’t laugh but they will have the money to sign him as well. Plus Frazier will be moved probably by July. They also don’t have a really good 3B in the minors unless they move Moncada there. Machado is still young enough for the Sox to go after and play with their young talent.
They just re-upped turner
Not going to happen. The White Sox have never given out a $100mil contract. No way in hell their first one is going to be a $300mil one.
And who will be pitching?
the red Sox have a lot of their own guys who need to be resigned. that’s why they aren’t mentioned often with the big free agent class.
Nice…
White SOX baby White Sox. Love to see it happen. Frazier’s gotta be traded b/c of contract/age hopefully they hang onto Abreu thru this process. Trade Melky, Robertson & Frazier see if you don’t get enough return for those guys to make this a short rebuild and keep Quintana. See if you can get a ham sandwich for Avi. JD Martinez would look nice in our OF
Because most writers want the Yankees to be the evil empire as they perceive them to be because it sells papers. Most writers hate the Yankees also and some are closet Red Sox fans so since the Red Sox traded a huge chunk of their farm they suggest we do as well for Quintana to compete when anyone with half a brain knows Quintana does not bring us close to where the Red Sox are now and by making the trade we weaken our farm and now our future as well. Not a conspiracy but it does appear that writers need the Yankees to be the big bad free spending evil empire to create news. Those days of not building from within are hopefully over but let them wait until 2019 and they will get what they want.
Does New Era make tin foil hats now?
So they have something to write about. Sale on this Yankee squad still isn’t a serious WS contender. Better to develop their next group of players.
It’s the market it’s in. They were calling for a retool all of last season, and then when they get it they want them to spend.
because the NY writers are ‘sexy name struck’, or however you want to phrase it. keep in mind, many of the writers were used to things when George was running the operations, so it’s also a mentality that’s been around for some time. Hopefully they realize they have ‘big names’ coming, just not names that they know of. Torres, Frazier, Rutherford, Sheffield, Kaprelian & Acevedo might be those household names soon.
Might
at least some
Because writers are looking for stories, and the Yanks used to give them stories.
Cause Cashman stole Torres from the Cubs as Castro was stolen with Warren as the Indians will find out when Miller return to the Yankees after next season it was in the works before all of them were ever traded from the Yankees
He wasn’t stolen. Chapman helped the Cubs win the World Series by being dominating for half a season. Worth it for a prospect.
Expecially when he had NO position. Not even utility was open
Oh jeez get over yourself. Fact is the Cubs didn’t want to spend the big money money on a closer. They had no need to as they had ton of arms on the backend. The Yankees were also his only true competitor.
The Cubs dealt a prospect that was redundant meaning they already had someone young they like better at the same position. They ended up wining the World Series I hardly think that was stealing. I don’t think they win the World Series without Chapman. The trade worked out very well for the Cubs and the Yankees.
They aren’t used to the Yankees having to rebuild like regular teams. They’re more used to the way the Red Sox are rebuilding now. Buy a bunch of overpriced malcontent FAs and hope they gel into a team.
These are the New Yankees. It’s good to see and in the long run they’ll be more competitive.
the majority of the red sox position players are homegrown talent or young/cheap pieces they acquired. Moreland, Young, Sandoval, & Ramirez are literally the only “bought” pieces and I wouldn’t call any of them malcontents.
Because historically it’s what the Yankees have done, and so it’s what people are used to writing about.
Win today, screw tomorrow. I hatethe Yankees but damn they have some young talent. In2 years they could spend a ton of cash on free agents to augment the young talent and they can be dominant again.
I thought Cashman sucked. He was handcuffed by George it looks.
The Yankees will need help at multiple positions as their older players age out of effectiveness and even contracts (contracts later). Trading multiple prospects for one pitcher, even one as good as Sale, doesn’t make that much sense on a macro level.
“he’s (Dave Dombrowski) content with his third base possibilities and is “hopeful” Pablo Sandoval will rebound from a forgettable two-year stretch.” By the Red Sox own home page their depth chart for 3B is: Sandoval, Holt and Rutledge. With all due respect none of those options should make either Dombrowski or Sox fans warm and fuzzy.
We don’t feel warm and fuzzy about Sandoval but are stuck with his contact for a couple more seasons till devers Arrives .
Devers will just be going to High A Salem this spring that probably means he is at least 2 years away at best and that’s assuming he continues to develop without any interruptions. Not always a safe bet.
He said a couple of years and fangraphs has devers’ eta at 2018 not sure why you felt the need to repeat most of what he said then say it’s not always a safe bet.
Devers spent all of last year in Salem. He’ll more than likely be starting at AA-Portland.
Devers was in High A Salem all of last year. He will most likely start at AA and could be in AAA by the middle of the season if he performs as expected at AA.
Even if sandoval struggles the red sox should be okay offensively
I’m sure they will be OK but I think you are severely underestimating the loss of Ortiz going forward and please don’t fool yourself into thinking Moreland even comes close to replacing his numbers. Need I remind you Bradley, Leon and even Bogaerts struggled the 2nd half of last year. Will all 3 recover to their pre 2016 ASB performance in 2017 probably unlikely.
Bradley and Bogaerts are probably going to perform similarly to what they did last year, but don’t expect Leon to do anything remotely close to what he did last year. He led the league in Avg on ‘soft’ and ‘medium’ contact last year, meaning luck had a huge role in his success
Sandoval will be ok in 2017!!! 270 15hr and 70 to 75rbi!!! Go redsox Go
Considering what the Red Sox have at the other positions, if they get some defense from the position, any offense is a bonus. 2b, SS, and CF all provide above average offense. Only C and 3B are questionable, and C worked out last year. Gotta look at the whole team.
I suggest you search a WEEI article by John Tomase dated Jan. 12, 2017 it might just make you think twice about some of the players and their potential performance in 2017.
You watch, Dave is good at coming in second to the Cubs!
Cashman is full of $#!+! BC wants us to believe it was “Sanchez AND Severino just to start the conversation.”
Yet, somehow, Boston COMPLETES the deal without TOUCHING Bradley, Betts OR Benintendi… Serve that crap on toast, Cashman!
But Boston gave up the number 1 prospect in baseball as well as another top prospect.
As MB923 said the Sox gave up 3 of their Top 10 prospects including the #1 Moncada in all of Minor Leagues. BTW a prospect that the Red Sox paid $63MM to sign as an International FA. They Also gave up their #1 minor league pitcher in Kopech one of the AzFL standout players this winter.
Learn something about who the Red Sox actually gave up before you talk.
Moncada and Kopech were much better prospects than those two ever were..
yes but being a better prospect does not translate to a better major leaguer, lmao. Sanchez is worth Moncada and that outfielder right now at the very least. Moncada is a below avg defensive player with a hitch in swing. No sure thing. Sanchez hasn’t played a full year either in the majors but for what he shown in that brief time at a premiere position it’s definitely worth the 2 I mention and perhaps more.
It’s funny to see some fans talk down Moncada’s value, not necessarily the ones here, now that he’s no longer with the Red Sox. I can honestly say that I do not recall a single negative comment by Red Sox fans about Moncada while he was with the Red Sox.
It’s amazing how fans perspective changes when the “prospect” is not longer with an organization.
Hardly..Sanchez literally had one completely ridiculous month, he was still really good, but hardly worth two elite prospects, if you take out his August (where he OPS’d 1.290, a completely unsustainable number).
Hes got a lot more to show before hes considered even an top catcher
Im not a Red Sox fan, in fact I think most of their fans are arrogant and annoying but they love their team and they have an amazing history and awesome ballpark. So I’m not bashing Moncada because he’s no longer a red sock but I’m just stating prospects are just that and even though he is listed as a top prospect how many top prospects become what we hope they are projected to become? When you read that scouts are questioning what position he will stick at and say he may wind up as a corner outfielder which will reduce his value and then read scouts question if he has the ability to adjust and fix the hitch in his swing it reveals even though the white sox got a haul it’s still a huge gamble. Sanchez for the last time is worth more then Moncada and that outfielder put together. I didn’t say Kopech because I value his arm tremendously but a catcher who can hit for power, has a rifle of an arm, and has learned how to frame pitches is such a rare commodity so his value should be more.
Let’s see what sanchez does over a whole year before claiming he’s worth more than moncada and “outfielder”
Kopech could be the prize in that trade.
The Kopech video shows he’s not too smart and neither are the Sox, or both Sox. He’s shown maxing out at 110 in Jan, John Smoltz was shuttering just looking at him.
Max out throwing is a normal training method for pitchers?
Don’t act like he actually hit 110. He hit 110 with a crow hop and no regard to a strike zone. He probably will live in the upper 90s, but he’ll never touch 110 in a game
True but Sanchez already has 20 HR in just 2 months and finished 2nd in ROTY. Am I saying he’s going to have a better career than Moncada? Of course not. But let’s not act as if Sanchez (or Severino for that matter) are scrubs.
I didn’t mean to come off like I’m saying Sanchez is no good, but he doesn’t go from top 50 prospect to elite everyday player based off of one great month, the same way Moncada doesn’t randomly take a huge hit because of like 10 bad MLB PAs.
The point is Sanchez value is worth more then Moncada and most on here would agree. In fact I don’t think any team would trade Sanchez who is a Catcher (premiere position) with a bat and defense like his for a second basemen and outfield prospect? The point is Sanchez has more value, if you refuse to admit that then I don’t think anyone on here can convince you.
I’m not sure most would agree with that at all.
They gave up Moncada (top 5 prospect) and Kopech (top 5 right handed pitcher according to Mlbpipeline). That’s a very hefty price. Cash an is right to stay put. They’re not an ace pitcher away from long term contention.
The Yankees should trade anyone on their roster this year not named Sanchez and maybe gregorius. They’ll be set to invest in one/some of darvish, Harper, machado, Donaldson, resigning tanaka in the next couple of seasons. And with there current or future prospects that they get, they can just allow them to progress or trade them for controllable talent.
Can you imagine the Yanks would have had to start by giving up Sanchez and Severino both in the majors and then 2 cursory pieces most likely one being a top 3 organizational prospect and another a top 10. Now who in their right mind doesn’t think thats wayyy more then what the Red Sox just gave and the Red Sox gave a ton? Sanchez alone is worth Moncada and the outfield prospect. Moncada is a blue chip prospect but he has some concerns like defense and a hitch that they are working on and if he doesn’t adjust you have an average major leaguer who plays below avg defense. Cash just keep doing what your doing and build a new dynasty and go hard in 2019 at the free agent class! If Ohtani becomes available next year start with him.
I’m a Boston fan…. The Yanks should stay with the young talent they have….. Don’t be like the old man and trade everyone for high priced players…..
The ole man won alot of series, more than the Sox. They traded for Papi, Pedro, Shilling,and other big stars. Few home growns on those teams.
The Yanks only won when the old man got out of the way. 77
A lot two words mate.
they signed Ortiz off the scrap heap and traded for a young/ controlable/cheap Pedro. There was plenty of homegrown talent on those rosters too.
Interesting Dombrowski comment, and it makes sense. If I were looking for a ML roster slot, I’d want to sign on with a team than was less deep and had less overall talent. An iffier team might take a shot, give IP or PA’s, maybe looking to fill a spot until someone came back from injury or a younger player more time to develop (and not start his service clock). With Boston, you could get buried.
When the discussions about Sale to Boston first came up, all the talk was: “There’s no way Boston lands him without trading one of Bradley or Betts.”
Then it was “Ok, it doesn’t have to be Bradley or Betts, but no way without Benintendi.”
Well, Sale is in Boston and ALL THREE of those players are still in Boston.
And for all those crowing about Moncada… Call up the ChiSox and offer them Gary Sanchez head up for Moncada and he’ll be yours… Any Yankees fans anxious to pull the trigger on that deal?
Hopefully chisox got a good one in Moncada. Time will tell Chris Sale is the meaning of a competitor with filthy unhittable with an oar stuff, he’ll be missed. The Eaton deal was robbery but the team who ends up with Sale wins that deal regardless of the return unless it’s Betts or Bogaerts plus top prospects