The Yankees would like to set aside roughly $10MM of payroll space to save for in-season promotions and additions at the non-waiver trade deadline, per MLB.com’s Jon Morosi. As such, the actual amount of money they have left to spend this offseason is less than it would appear on the surface. (Morosi suggests that New York has $15MM to spend, though they’re currently at about $176MM in luxury tax considerations, and subtracting the $10MM figure he mentions would leave them closer to $11MM to spend.) Rather than a significant splash like jumping back into the Yu Darvish mix, then, the Yankees are likelier to add some veteran complements either to their rotation or their infield; the Yankees have been oft-connected to free-agent second basemen in recent weeks as the team eyes a bridge to prospect Gleyber Torres, who is returning from Tommy John surgery on his non-throwing elbow.
Here’s more from around the American League…
- Tigers GM Al Avila said this week that his team could still make some additions to the 40-man roster, MLB.com’s Jason Beck writes. The GM didn’t cite a specific area of need, indicating that he could have room to add a starter, a position player or a reliever. What’s clear, though, is that the Tigers don’t plan on making any kind of move that would come with long-term ramifications. “I’m not trying to come across as saying we’re going to try to pick up a pitcher here, a pitcher there and it’s going to make us so much better that we have a chance to win a championship,” Avila stated. “At this point, we might try to pick up a player here or there to, quite frankly, get us through the season, and hopefully have a guy have a bounceback and be able to make a trade later on and acquire a younger player, a piece here, a piece there, to make ourselves better little by little.” Comments like that, of course, make the MLBPA and agents alike bristle, as they’re the type of non-competitive remarks that have often been cited as a reason for the historically slow free-agent market. The Tigers have spent a bit of cash this offseason, signing Leonys Martin and Mike Fiers to Major League deals, but they won’t come anywhere near their previous levels of spending as they embark on what figures to be a lengthy rebuilding effort.
- Right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma has been cleared to begin throwing as he rehabs from 2017 shoulder surgery, according to Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times (all Twitter links). Divish was among the reporters on hand when Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto spoke to the media about a wide variety of topics, including health updates on a number of Mariners. In addition to Iwakuma setting out on a throwing program, righty David Phelps and outfielder Guillermo Heredia are expected to be at or very close to 100 percent when Spring Training opens. Dipoto also said that lefty Marco Gonzales, who is out of minor league options, “will be given every opportunity to make our club.” Dipoto has taken some heat from fans for trading prospect Tyler O’Neill to acquire Gonzales from the Cardinals, though O’Neill’s .254/.304/.548 slash and 27 percent strikeout rate in Triple-A following the trade raise questions of their own.
- Blue Jays outfielder Dalton Pompey spoke with Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet about his lost 2017 season. The former top prospect was once heralded as the center fielder of the future in Toronto but struggled in his first exposure to the Majors and was scarcely able to play at all last season. Pompey suffered a concussion playing for Canada in the World Baseball Classic that effectively prevented him from any sense of normalcy for the first few months of the season. The outfielder explains that he had to wear sunglasses everywhere he went, wasn’t able to use his phone or watch television and, certainly, was not participating at baseball activities for several months. A knee injury in his first rehab game back from the concussion more or less ended his 2017 campaign entirely. Pompey still has a minor league option remaining, Zwelling notes, but he has a long way to go to prove he can still be a long-term piece for the Jays. The column is well worth a full look, as it features an in-depth look at concussion symptoms, featuring interviews with not only Pompey but also recently retired first baseman Justin Morneau, whose career trajectory was dramatically altered by a 2010 concussion.
if they really want that much for in season it more or less eliminate them from Darvish. because even if they were able to move Ellsbury which I don’t think they will, they would probably only save five million a year
I would personally prefer to go with what we have and focus on rounding out our depth BUT should they be inclined to take advantage of the slow market and can get Darvish for a bargain price then they can create more room by moving David Robertson although it SLIGHTLY weakens our bullpen depth. I think they can mitigate the loss by promoting someone to the 7th inning role (Khanle ?) and convert one of their hard throwing AAA starters into a lower leverage role. A guy like Domingo German can probably excel out the pen.
But as said, I’d rather go with what he have already and avoid any of the higher priced guys. I’d rather save the money and be in position to address needs mid-season as there’s always something that goes wrong.
What they should have done was not traded for Stanton, and stuck with Frazier Hicks for CF. then they could have concentrated on pitching and or infield depth. They have a good thing going with the young core, and bringing on Stanton making $25-30m a year, while Judge, Sanchez, Frazier, Bird make nothing could impact things in a bad way.
Not if someone takes on Ellsbury’s contract.
No ones take by in Ellsbury’s contract. I know he had a decent war last year. He overachieved, and he’s an aging player without much power that’s game is built around speed. They don’t age well.
Not quite. He’s overpaid before but I would not agree that he overachieved. Not sure if you can be overpaid AND overachieve at the same time. He was overpaid the day he signed the contract but he was a 9 WAR and 5 WAR player the two FULL seasons (2011 and 2013) prior to being signed as a FA. He even had a 4 WAR year in his first year. Him posting a 1.6 WAR is an underachievement imo,
That being said, he’s worth $5 mil-$6 mil max. I think you look at what Austin Jackson and Curtis Granderson signed for.and Ells is in that ballpark.
I honestly think the Yanks already have a buyer in mind if they paid his contract down to the $6 mil range. I think they are just waiting to see if there’s a player left that’s worth eating Ells contract in order to add a higher priced player. Meaning, they would deal Ells and eat his contract if they had a shot at fitting in a Yu Darvish type vs a less of an impact player.
Ells didn’t underachieve as a 1.6 WAR player. That’s who he is. He was worth a win and a half in 400 Pa’s that’s a little better than he was in his last 2 years. That’s about the player he is. If you’re going to commit to him it’s for 3 years and no one is doing that for anymore than 5-6 mil. Ajax got half that but I’ll bite that ells is a superior player. If ells was a FA this year I’m pretty sure he’d be looking at a 2 year deal max.
Posturing
First time I saw Pompey play he reminded me of a young Carl Crawford. Hopefully his injuries are behind him and he can get himself back to the level he once was. If so, he can be a very good player for the Jays.
Pompey has had a tough run at it. Feel for him.
When he is healthy he is great base stealer but he struggles at the plate and running outfield routes well.
I pray his health issues are behind him. He still has a ways to go to reach the skill level of an everyday MLB level player. Perhaps he has a breakout spring training.
Pompey off the bench to pinch run during the playoff run was dynamite. Was hoping for a return to at least that. Just some healthy baseball to get back to a comfort level would be nice! September callup would be a sweet goal for this year.
High number of teams in the same boat as the Tigers, trying to build through the farm system. Add to that the increased penalties for being over the CBT threshold three years in a row has even led free spending teams to try to hold down spending. And the current free agent market is not all that great. That, and a few more reasons for the s l o w winter on the free agent market.
I’d rather the Yankees save that 15 million for now as they are in fantastic shape heading into 2018 anyway
The Yankees have highly touted prospects being Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres slated for the future of 3B and 2B but don’t sleep on a Role for Tyler Wade. He’s a LH bat and is being groomed as a multi positional asset and although he struggled in his short time last season it wouldn’t be a surprise if he supplanted himself at 2B. He hit really well in AAA last year,has good speed,thought to have a good glove,and the kinda makeup akin to Gardy. So if he offers the value they think then it will help save money to maybe add a player at the deadline.
They are trying to groom him into a Ben zobrist type of player. His bat was overmatched last season but with more hard work I wonder what he can truly do at the ML level
How can he supplant himself?
Should of been…plant himself at 2B
From what I heard from Dipoto, he’s not to worried about the playoff drought as he said signing Darvish or Arrieta would help now, but Miranda/Gonzalez/Moore would be more helpful down the road. That kind of disappoints me.
Prospects help “down the road” too and he trades too many for too little… his arguments make no sense.
Let’s take a look at where the Mariners stand for 2018 and beyond, shall we?
*They have 5 years of control at 1B, 6 if you count Ford. Finding a replacement at the deadline if necessary wouldn’t likely be difficult nor expensive, either.
*Segura is under control for 5 years with an option for a 6th.
*Haniger, Gamel, Heredia, Diaz, and Pazos are each under control for 5 years.
*Seager and Gordon are under control for 4 more years.
*Leake, Paxton, and Zunino are under control for at least 3 more years, with Leake having an option for a 4th.
Vincent, Nicasio, Felix, and Ramirez are under control for just 2 years, but the salaries of Felix and Nicasio alone will free up roughly 37 million for 2020. You can probably figure in another 7-9 for Ramirez. I still believe Cruz is more likely to be extended, but an extension wouldn’t likely be for more than 2 years, which would free up another 14-16 million for 2021. Phelps and Rzepczynski’s salaries come off the books after 2018.
This isn’t even accounting for Gonzales and Moore, both of whom have full control, or Rumbelow, Altavilla, Marjama, etc. And while the farm is indeed thin, they have multiple relievers poised to slide in, such as Gillies, Warren, and Festa, as others phase out. I’m personally quite high on Festa. They also have White, who can play 1B or the outfield, Lewis, and Bishop all likely to integrate in over the next 1-3 years (Bishop feasibly being ready next season), and Carlson likely being ready in 2021 or 2022. Povse could contribute even sooner. He was thrown into the first last season and clearly wasn’t ready, but his pitches looked polished at times and the stuff is there. Just likely needs a little more seasoning.
As Cano phases off of 2B, Gordon could feasibly move back to 2B with Bishop or Haniger taking over CF. That leaves catcher as the only real bleak spot on the field for the long-term, though that makes an extension for Zunino all the more likely. Extensions would seem likely for a number of other players as well.
The point is that Seattle should get younger and stronger over the next 3 years with considerably more payroll flexibility and most of the holes filled internally, which buys time to restock the farm. What they lack with starting pitching could be addressed from other areas of strength or free agency. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a trade for a starter this season and a free agent or two on back-loaded contracts next season.
Jerry’s missed on his share of trades. But he’s had his hits and the overall plan appears to have Seattle in the right direction. They may be strong enough to do some damage in the post season this coming season and they may be at our peak just as Houston starts their decline and LAA struggles to find pitching and retain Trout at an astronomical price. Obviously there are no guarantees, and like everyone else, They’ll need to see a few things go right. But the overall status of the team and organization is much better than how it might appear on the surface.
good take stevil. I’m not a hardcore Mariners fan, so I can’t really chime in too much but I like the insight.
In daydreaming mode, I was looking at the Mariners payroll situation just for this year, and it doesn’t seem like there’s much flexibility based on the history from Cot’s? In their shoes, I’d be trying to flip Leake, but maybe even checking with Felix on a trade. I’m guessing Felix is just not a trade option. But moving Leake is a gamble that I could see as worth a try. Staying put for now, just minor tinkering might be most appealing though if I really looked around. Just a couple outsider thoughts for ya!
Dipoto is a terrible gm. His objective seems to be showing people he can make a slightly above average team out of a zillion trades and players you wouldn’t think could. Someone needs to tell him the objective is to make the playoffs and win the World Series, not to show people you were smart enough to see average talent in a player people thought was a nobody and get value out of it.
@24TheKid
You act surprised to hear something like this out of Mariners camp. I’ve seen your posts before and your user name indicates you are a long time Mariner fan so given their absolute shoddy decision making for many, many years, this really should be nothing new. This is truly the Cleveland Browns of baseball and until they get an ownership in here that cares about winning instead of ripping baseball fans off in Seattle, it will be the same thing year in and year out. It drove me away a couple of years ago and I’m sure there are many others that feel the same way. Not ripping your post of course. so please don’t take it that way…..
Yeah I am mainly surprised because Jerry has said he wants to win now but then he says stuff like this. So yeah it’s not surprising to see a Mariners gm not building a winning team, but surprised to hear Jerry say this after he says he wants to win now.
True, good point. That goes totally against what he’s been preaching for sure.
We have new ownership and all you guys hating on Dipoto he is the best GM we have had in awhile. The last owners where Nintendo of America they ran the team to make a profit and if we made the playoffs it was a bonus. The new owners are committed to making the playoffs which we almost did with a bunch of AA pitching last year. Like Stevil said there is some good coming up. Not a ton but enough if Dipoto holds the course and fills in holes and keeps the solid players we will be fine.
They say they are committed to winning now but then say that while a Darvish or Arrieta is going to help now, it will block the development of Moore/Gonzalez/Miranda. If they were really committed to winning now they would do what they literally said would help win.
Saying “Dipoto is the best GM we have had in a while” is like saying this pat of butter tastes so much better than the rotten milk I drank before…..
Interesting that the Yankee revenue is 536 million and they only can spend 197 million. It’s all good, for the Yankees these days! They are 23rd out of 30 teams in percentage spending, and first in revenue. That’s not counting selling a big portion of the YES network years ago. Cashman turned this team around in one year.
They can spend more when the luxury tax resets after this upcoming season if they want to
And they will next year with either Machado or Donaldson.
Don’t be so sure about that. We have Miguel Andujar
I’m pretty sure you and your friends don’t have Andujar. He’s a player for the New York Yankees.
Besides, while I have all the faith in the world he will be solid, it would be hard to argue that swapping him out for Machado wouldn’t mean immediately improving the roster.
I wouldn’t do it, but I also wouldn’t be against it.
You knew what I ment lol. While machado is a great talent seeing what you have within is a good idea too. It has worked out quite well since 2015 when bird and sevy were called up. Plus machado knees kind of scare me
The reason the situation is like that is because of the draconian luxury tax. The Yankees are penalized for being better than all the other teams, having a more developed and more loyal fan base, and their willingness to spend on a great on-field product. They are penalized ridiculously even though it is wildly expensive to operate in New York, and there are many factors keeping players away (such as crazy high taxes, frigid weather, a filthy and heavily regulated city, and rude people).
The luxury tax might have been a good thing for the Yanks and baseball, the big spenders are going to find other ways to build a team. Free agents are going to be paid for what the team thinks they will do, and not what they have done. Only the top players like Harper, Donaldson , and Machado will get long term contracts moving forward.
Ask the 100 unsigned free agents how the luxury tax is going for them. Ask real Yankees fans, who would have 1-2 more big pieces on the roster right now if not for the luxury tax. There is only one class that benefits from the luxury tax… Teams that refuse to pay for a good on field product and have their owners pockets lined by profit sharing.
I don’t see any players not wanting to play for the Yanks, they have some of the best facilities, and pack the place. There are always execptions like Greg Maddux.
Maddux never seemed like a nyc type of guy to me. Things worked out well for both sides in the end
If you don’t think a 15% state/local tax and bitter cold weather affect player decision-making you’re drunk.
beisbolista- good call. I’d expect that goes into negotiation though? From Jays fan perspective, there seems to be a need to pay extra to convince someone to play in Canada/cold/taxed compared to some of the alternatives. Similar to the cost of living in NY etc. would need to be factored for Yankees luring FA. Totally see the point, but I’m sincerely curious about how heavily this stuff gets factored in when negotiating. When competing with other teams, I’d say it simply comes down to offering more in most cases. Just speculating. Interesting take.
The team is what it is, because of the market they play in. If you swap any team with the Yankees and put them in NYC, they will have the resources to do what the Yanks do. Move the Yankees to Florida, and they might do better than the Rays or Marlins, but how they operate would change drastically. The Yankees get penalized for playing in the largest market, nothing more.
Why so focused on their spending?
I agree entirely with the writers initial paragraph about the Yankees how much they have left as of now and what they would like to do with that money, Use $10MM+/- of the money and save about $10MM for in season call ups and additions.
Cashman rarely does what is expected. I see the Yanks trading with the Braves for a young pitcher some time in the next year. The Yanks have Frazier blocked and the Braves have a few good prospects that might be blocked. I could see a Frazier for Anderson or Fried trade.
Thank goodness the Tigers will change uniforms this season. Last year they looked old and dirty. Gardenhire is no nonsense and will make sure there are washed up players in clean jerseys.
Glad he has his priorities straight.
Does a concussion have to do with Pompey not knowing how to play a position?
Not really, in 2015 when the jays handed Pompey an outfield job, he struggled running the routes and that was before the big concussion.
Good health to everyone’s team! I love this time of year. I hope that one of the last place teams get into this year’s playoffs, namely the Tigers! Fulmer and Fiers win 20 each. Cabrera, Candelario and Castellanos hit 100 HRs. 84 wins (and pigs fly, I know) and, hey, they haven’t lost one yet!
mmmmm pig wings!
duse is my kinda baseball fan. I don’t have any interest in the Tigers- sorry, but I always like the idea of a bottom feeder rising up.
Definitely love this time of year!
Dbacks and Brewers both won 10+ extra games over preseason expectations last year. My sleeper pick for this year is the Athletics. Quietly putting together a solid crew and room to add if they wanted to make a surprise splash.
I’m hoping for a healthy Tulo most of all (did someone mention flying pigs?) and as a fan, may all the stars be stars. I want at least 3 teams tied for the second AL wild card this year.
Jays have hope. Let the Tigers in too, why not.
84 wins maybe does it?
Indians/Astros/Yanks seem like they’ll all be in the 100 zone. Redsox likely have something up their sleeve still. Angels looking tough too.
Surprises will happen and I strongly believe we could have room for one sleeper to slide in that 2nd WC spot. More the merrier though.
Best time of year. Go Jays.