The latest from the majors’ East divisions…
- Yankees left-handed reliever Zack Britton’s arthroscopic elbow surgery on Monday went according to plan, manager Aaron Boone announced to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com and other reporters. Boone didn’t provide a timeline for when Britton could return, but it was initially reported that the Yankees might go three to four months without their integral setup man. Meanwhile, third baseman Miguel Andujar has “a muscle strain” in his right hand/wrist and “a bit of a nerve issue,” Marly Rivera of ESPN tweets. Again, though, there’s no official word on how long Andujar will have to sit out.
- Phillies righty Spencer Howard didn’t make his scheduled outing Monday on account of back spasms, per manager Joe Girardi (via Matt Breen of the Philadelphia Inquirer). While the severity of the issue is unknown, it may make it even less likely for Howard to win a season-opening spot on the Phillies’ roster. Howard could eventually emerge as part of the solution in the Phillies’ rotation, but he only managed a 5.92 ERA/4.87 SIERA during his 24 1/3-inning major league debut last season.
- Sticking with the Phillies, infielder/outfielder Brad Miller is dealing with an oblique strain, Matt Gelb of The Athletic relays. Girardi said the Phillies will re-evaluate Miller in five to six days, but the club has not ruled him out for Opening Day. Miller, who previously played with the Phillies in 2019, reunited with the team on a one-year, $3.5MM guarantee in the offseason. He earned that payday after slashing .232/.357/.451 with seven home runs in 171 plate appearances a Cardinal a season ago.
- Rays outfielder Brett Phillips will miss three to four weeks with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Phillips suffered the injury Sunday, and it now appears the 2020 playoff hero will sit out until at least the middle of April. However, the Rays still have Kevin Kiermaier, Randy Arozarena, Austin Meadows, Manuel Margot and Yoshi Tsutsugo available in the outfield.
Those Andujar ailments are going to hurt the Yankees’ ability to trade him straight up for Mike Trout.
C’mon man. Angels have to add Jo Adelle.
Well yeah I mean Trout is making the market rate so there’s no surplus value there. Probably need some cash heading in NY’s direction, too.
They sure would. Whoever takes on Trout is going to have to eat his enormous contract.
Don’t worry they can pivot Frazier, though they may have to ask for Adell or Otani to even things out
You couldn’t Trade him for Kevin Bass
What if they threw in Tim Salmon and Mike Carp?
It’s a little-known fact that Tim Salmon married Preacher Roe’s granddaughter.
Mets-guy, this joke is between Angels fans and Yankees. Stay out of it. We will all make fun of you at the end of the season. You wait your turn, patiently!
@Yankee Clipper.. as usual, other fans are telling us Yankees fans what we think. Odd that I rarely see the actual Yankees fans making such claims.
Though as far as Andujar goes, the Pirates wanted him for Cole. So he has trade value when not injured.
Yeah, very true, Joe. It’s almost as if they need us to be that for them. Strange…
The Halo’s would have to do a sign and trade for Refsnyder to sweeten a deal for Andujar. Trout isn’t enough…
Lagging hard
Thought this was going to be another Yankee player missing 2-3 months. Before Yankee fans come at me and say worry about your team…. I am hoping Strasburg stays healthy
@luc- Worry about your team!
Don’t worry, Luc, so did we…. so did we.
i hate to say this but i can see the nyy a league team winning the division love em or hate them (i fall in the latter) they find a way to win.
lucky for the Rays phillips got injured, otherwise he 3as probably going to be cut since hes out of options
My trade would be Trout, and 1bajillion dollars for Andjuhar. I think that’s fair.
Oh geez, the maroons are out tonight!
@Gothamcityriddler- they have nothing better to do, then non-stop trolling. Loser fans rooting for loser teams have way too much times on their hands. Nothing to talk out with their own teams. So they try to bash good teams. Their obviously bored. Smh
u mad bro?
“They’re” just having fun.
I’m mad, “bro.” Right now, outside!
Your team last won. When?
Angles gotta throw in Ohtani and Rendon and pay all of their contracts too if they want to even think about Andujar.
Bearded Texas Hulk Still not enough for Andujar. Angels would have to throw in their stadium to the deal too.
One flair hit is a postseason hero .. my gosh.. kid will be out of game in a year or two of aaa play
send him back to MIL so they can do more Wayne’s World reenactments.
There is no reason to start Howard in the OD rotation anyway. send him down and manage his innings.
@DarkSide830 Definitely. Starting pitching depth is going to be an issue this year, so I think Vinny Velo is going to have to start some games for better or worse, but Howard needs to develop. I think he’s going to be decent, but it doesn’t have to be now.
Strasburg isn’t worried about his calf strain. Says he’s fast healer. Really? His track record with injuries suggests differently.
Losing Britton for 3-4 months will hurt the Yankees. I wonder if they regret that Ottavino deal now?
Gosh, I doubt that, @mantooth.
According to Fangraphs the Yanks pen has the highest projected fWAR in MLB. If there’s a bullpen in baseball that can weather an injury it’s the Yankees.
Strong bullpens have been a hallmark of this core. This looks like – although maybe not possessing quite as much sizzle as some previous iterations – the deepest of the lot.
Ottavino was no longer allowed in the Circle of Trust. The End.
I am wondering – however – if Cashman is sniffing around Greene, D-Rob, Jeffress et al. Cash loves his relievers, man. Loves “value” more than life itself. I could see him adding one of those guys now that we know Abreu has an option.
Ducky, my man… you get my response in the other post? I appreciate your feedback brother; You’re the voice of wisdom… keep me in check here fella, but a muscle strain? I rethought your position on Andujar, and realized I may have jumped the gun on him; but, this doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence for me. Maybe I’ve finally gone to old guy status and just can’t relate to this from when I came up in baseball.
Spot-on with ZBrit, it’s not going to kill the Yankees like many say, although that’s not to diminish his value. This is Cash’s wheelhouse.
Yankees still finish #1, and face the LAD in the Series, man. It will be epic.
When I was in the Balkans, I saw how absolutely no one in the world was given the actual truth about what was happening. Everything – by every media in every country – was clipped, polished, & spun.
Ever since, I’ve viewed the fourth estate with much more amusement than trust.
Do you remember all the Clint Frazier takes from the last few years? “He’s immature”, “he’s not a Yankee”, “he should be traded for a bag of baseballs”, etc, etc.
I do.
Do you recall where all that started? Again: I do!
Suzyn “in Geowwrge’s BAWX” Waldman was incensed that this rowdy kid from Georgia admitted that he’d always dreamed of wearing #7.
Old Bat Suzyn “of awwl the dramatic things” Waldman spun it thusly; he was an arrogant kid & somehow tarnished the Mick by his admission.
Why not: “Clint Frazier has always dreamed of wearing number 7 for the Yanks. This young man understands Yankee history & tradition”.
Same story.
Different spin, uh?
But folks love their outrage & negativity $ell$.
& after he played the worst game of his life he decided he didn’t trust the local guys. Good for him! He called *his* guy that he *trusted* not to burn him. That’ll piss off Joel Sherman & whomever else.
Frazier got a raw deal for years.
So has Sanchez.
Now it’s Miggy, a kid whom by all accounts works like a Spartan.
Nope nope nope. Ain’t buyin’ it.
More NY media BS.
Bet.
@Ducky: Yep, you’re correct on those points. As far as the media, also true on every account. They do spin, everything, a lot.
I wasn’t ever down on Frazier – always believed in his work ethic. And heck, if I made the Yankees I’d love #7 too!
I see Sanchez working his tail off, get hit with the bat, stays in the game, etc. I’m truly beginning to think Sanchez may truly become the Kraken this year. I guess with Miggy’s it’s just time…. I still believe he has potent offensive potential, but not so sure where he fits; maybe LF with Gardy gone next year? I dunno…
How much for the session? Lol.
I think Miggy’s role for ’21 – as such – is: potent bat in AAA. Long term…man, I just don’t know.
But I’m not jumping on a media narrative.
I’m stoked to see Phat Sancho this season. Spent his winter playing ball working on his swing. I swear, every time I watch him hit it’s a 400 foot shot to dead center. After a year+ working with Tanner Swanson Gary looks a lot less awkward behind the plate.
Swanson was a huge steal for us. But, those radical overhauls take time. & last year wasn’t the right circumstances for all of that in the first place.
But: Sanchez going to have a Big Year.
Bet.
Good heavens. With just average luck with injuries this squad is going to score a stupid amount of runs.
Nuthin’. Trust me. I’ll run off the rails again here soon. Just keep my back.
:)
Ducky…..you forgot all the smart asses who have commented endlessly on this threadabout anything anti-Yankees they can possibly think up in their limited capacity cranial cavities.
They’re so cool ain’t they?
No.
I haven’t. They’re pretty obvious, uh?
Personally, I’m just sorta trying to rise above them.
Results have been mixed.
@Ducky.. yeah we can get by the first half of the season without Britton. Though he will surely be missed. With him coming back for the stretch run, along with Severino, the pitching should be in good shape.
As far as DRob etc. goes, I doubt Cashman goes after anyone else. Some of the bullpen arms that were not going to be counted on for very much has looked pretty good this spring.
I promise they don’t regret that deal, they were able to get 2 better relievers and bring Gardner back for the price one of one overpaid and overrated reviler. I am shocked however that Boston helped bail them out of that deal.
as an outside observer i think you guys will be fine, other than the rays and maybe tor who in that div is really going to change nyy. your farm may be “weak” but it generates enough replacement level players to keep you afloat. also zb is one bp arm if a bp is a make it break deal for your team, then your team has more problems than just a bp arm
What’s good, @brodie-bruce?
Man, I’m looking out my window & this is *not* baseball weather. Be tough to play football in this.
Can’t believe opening day is so close!
Toronto & Tampa Bay are definitely not going to make for an easy pennant.
But Hal will simply not let us miss the postseason. If he needs to go over the “cap” he will.
Bet.
This is the new Yankee paradigm. Make the playoffs every year, try to be the squad that gets hot at the right time. I think this arrangement hits Hal’s sweet fiscal spot. & – let’s face it – it could be a lot worse.
It’s not the all-in “championship or bust” mentality that I grew up with. So it took me a bit to acclimate to it. But – I won’t name specific teams – but lots of baseball fans have much more to complain about.
@Dorothy_Mantooth- losing Britton will hurt some. No reason why Justin Wilson can’t pitch the 7th inning in his absence. Ottavino should definitely help Boston. I heard they want to make him their closer. Wilson pitching in the 7th, Chad Green in the 8th, and Chapman in the 9th should be fine.
Dorothy Mantooth was a saint!!!
Don’t you know that relievers are genetically programmed to only pitch in specific innings? It’s in their DNA.
Gasu1 are you for real dude? Source, please? I haven’t read that yet and it’s a huge game-changer!
But, can they just change that when they’re 10 and they choose to be a different inning reliever because it makes them feel warmer inside?
No, every reliever has a “natural” inning. It’s like shortstop being someone’s “natural” position. Haven’t you ever heard of SABREugenics?
Lol…. nice, sir. Very nice.
No doubt that Boone will have options to form the bridge to Chappy and what may be the plan as they leave Spring Training, may not necessarily be the plan in June….and don’t forget, there will always be relief available at the trade deadline and the Yankees have the player assets to get a deal done for a reliever if necessary.
Besides, at this point, it looks as if Britton will be back by June/July for the mid to end of year push.
Yes, Rocky, exactly. Cashman’s not at all concerned because he has the luxury of waiting it out. If all else fails, he makes a move, we improve, and it’s all moot.
Strasburg isn’t worried about his calf strain. Says he’s fast healer. Really? His track record with injuries suggests differently.
Howard had a rough 2020. Probably best if he starts the year at AAA; gets five or six starts under his belt and if he’s both healthy and effective there, bring him up. No less than an authority than Bryce Harper said he’s got nasty stuff and is a pain to hit off. NL and AL East batters didn’t have that problem last year, but small sample caveats apply.
JMHO, but I think he’ll be a rotation stalwart in Philly well into his 30s.
I always though Andujar to Los Angeles mades sense for Bellinger, Buehler, Kershaw, Justin Herbert, Lebron, Anze Kopitar, and the entire Clippers roster.
You Yankee haters love giving yourselves a thumbs up when you say the dumb crap you say.
If memory serves me, you were a Frazier basher also….just like a cow, always following the herd to slaughter!
Did that comment actually upset you? Lmao
Man if you think folks unnecessarily and childishly rag on the Yankees and it really bothers you… all I can say is, never try to be a Mets fan
The Yankees won’t trade Andujar until the N.L. goes with the DH.
They don’t want him smokin the ball against them vs A.L. teams