Yankees Rumors

Yankees Notes: Miller, Beltran, Bullpen

By Mark Polishuk | July 3, 2016 at 7:10pm CDT

Here’s the latest on the Bronx Bombers…

Andrew Miller has been the subject of many trade rumors already this summer, though, Miller tells Barry M. Bloom of MLB.com that some Yankee executives have told him he won’t be dealt. “I’ve had reassurances from them at the times I’ve talked to them that [a trade is] something that hasn’t been discussed or planned for or anything like that,” Miller said. “I think that’s kind of nice….There haven’t been reach-outs or anything like that. But you run into people and they tell you not to read into anything you’re hearing.” That said, Miller also acknowledges that “there are situations and there are offers that could be too good to refuse. That’s the reality of the business. I can’t worry about it. I have zero leverage in the situation, but I came here to play for the Yankees.” It isn’t yet clear if the Yankees will trade any of their high-priced veterans at the deadline, though even if they do, Miller could stay since New York reportedly has a very large asking price on his services.
Carlos Beltran also wants to stay in New York, he tells MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch, since the veteran outfielder believes the Yankees are still capable of getting back into contention. Beltran has some control over his future in the form of a partial no-trade clause that allows him to block deals to 15 teams, and he is a free agent at the end of the season.
Scouts from the Rangers, Cubs and Nationals were watching the Yankees’ series in San Diego this weekend, George A. King III of the New York Post reports. The three teams have all been known to be interested in bullpen additions and have been linked to Miller, Dellin Betances and Aroldis Chapman on the rumor mill.
In other Bombers news from earlier today, the Yankees were one of many teams who scouted Rich Hill’s start on Saturday, and they also have some interest in Rays left-hander Matt Moore.

Cafardo’s Latest: Yanks, Rays, BoSox, Dodgers

By Connor Byrne | July 3, 2016 at 8:36am CDT

Surprisingly, Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia has revived his career to the point that he might actually have value in a trade, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. The soon-to-be 36-year-old has bounced back from multiple underwhelming seasons in a row to post an excellent 3.17 ERA in 76 2/3 innings in 2016, through his strikeout and walk ratios per nine innings (7.16 and 3.52) are each below average and he’s on a $25MM salary through 2017. In addition to Sabathia, hot-hitting 39-year-old right fielder/designated hitter Carlos Beltran, left fielder Brett Gardner, catcher Brian McCann, third baseman Chase Headley, and starters Michael Pineda and Nathan Eovaldi are Yankees who could have value around the deadline (not to mention their much-ballyhooed relievers, of course). The only member of that group who’s set to become a free agent at season’s end is Beltran. As Cafardo points out, it’s currently up in the air whether the playoff hopeful Yankees would move any of these players, though he wonders if clinging to postseason dreams is the right course for the 39-41 club.

More inside stuff from Cafardo:

Led by former Rays general manager and current president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers are in pursuit of Tampa Bay right-hander Chris Archer. The Rays aren’t planning on moving the 27-year-old as of now, though, which backs up FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal’s report from Saturday.
The presence of senior vice president of baseball operations Frank Wren, formerly the Braves’ GM, could lead the Red Sox to go after Atlanta right-hander Julio Teheran. Wren – who’s high on Teheran – is Red Sox president Dave Dombrowski’s right-hand man, Cafardo notes, and could push him toward putting together a package for the 25-year-old.
If they’re unable to swing a deal for Teheran, the Red Sox might turn their attention to Rays southpaw Matt Moore – in whom they’re interested. Moore, who has three more years of team control left via club options, also intrigues the Astros, Dodgers, Orioles, Royals, Yankees and previously reported Rangers.
With the possible exception of right-handed reliever Zach McAllister, the Indians aren’t going to give up pitching to augment their offense. Further, the organization has a reputation for keeping its payroll low and avoiding big-money acquisitions, which could take it out of the running to pick up a well-compensated trade chip. Athletics third baseman Danny Valencia, who’s on an affordable $3.15MM salary this season and has another trip through arbitration scheduled, is a potential target for Cleveland.
Hard-throwing Diamondbacks lefty Robbie Ray, who’s eighth in the majors in K/9 (10.42), is drawing interest from teams looking for starters. The 24-year-old has thrown 214 innings of 4.00 ERA ball dating to 2015 and won’t even become eligible for arbitration until after 2017, meaning he has four full seasons of club control remaining.
The Marlins are aggressively pursuing pitching, as evidenced already by their acquisition of reliever Fernando Rodney and reported interest in starters Drew Pomeranz and Jake Odorizzi. However, the Fish might not have the prospects to land a significant arm for their rotation, writes Cafardo.
Blue Jays scouts are keeping a close watch over the Astros’ system, so the two AL playoff contenders could have some kind of deal in the works.

Yankees Notes: Miller, Hicks, Eovaldi

By Connor Byrne | July 2, 2016 at 6:53pm CDT

The latest on the Yankees:

With the Aug. 1 deadline closing in, the 39-40 Yanks have arguably the most valuable rumored trade chip in the majors in left-handed reliever Andrew Miller. Nevertheless, indications are that he won’t even hit the market, reports George A. King III of the New York Post. The Yankees, who are currently three games out of a Wild Card spot, aren’t planning on moving the 31-year-old, a source told King. “They are saying no on Miller. But there is a lot of time left,” said the source. Miller, who’s signed through 2018 at a reasonable $9MM per year, has torn through the opposition with a league-best 21.33 K/BB ratio and a 1.30 ERA in 34 2/3 innings this season.
The Yankees will sit Aaron Hicks on Saturday against Padres left-hander Drew Pomeranz, leading Chad Jennings of LoHud .com to wonder if New York’s confidence in the right fielder is wavering. When the Yankees acquired Hicks from the Twins for reserve catcher John Ryan Murphy during the offseason, their expectation was that he’d serve as an offensive asset against southpaws. Hicks has instead posted a horrid .167/.233/.242 line, albeit over a minuscule 66 plate appearances. In 334 career trips to the plate versus lefties, the soon-to-be 27-year-old has hit a usable .248/.332/.401.
Given right-hander Nathan Eovaldi’s struggles since May ended, the Yankees will have to consider pulling him from their rotation if Triple-A call-up Chad Green fares well in his Sunday start, opines Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media. Eovaldi, who looked like a quality mid-rotation starter through May, has allowed 31 earned runs on 45 hits and 12 walks in 30 innings going back to June 3. He has also struck out just 19 hitters during that six-start span, which is a drastic decline from the 57 batters Eovaldi fanned in the 61 innings he amassed in his first 10 starts. The 26-year-old currently owns the majors’ fourth-worst ERA (5.58). Green, on the other hand, has put up a 1.54 ERA, 9.04 K/9 and 2.09 BB/9 across 81 2/3 Triple-A frames in 2016.

Nick Swisher To Sit Out Rest Of Season

By charliewilmoth | July 2, 2016 at 3:35pm CDT

Nick Swisher has announced via his Facebook page that he will sit out the rest of the 2016 season to be with his family following the birth of his second child. He emphasizes that he is not retiring — he will continue to train and will determine over the winter whether he will play next year.

This season must have been frustrating for Swisher. The Braves released him in late March, and he quickly signed a minor league deal with the Yankees, only to be passed over repeatedly as one Yankees first baseman after another went down with an injury. That said, it’s not hard to see why the Yankees apparently weren’t comfortable with Swisher as a big-league option — he batted just .196/.312/.320 with Cleveland and Atlanta last season, then hit a modest .255/.297/.377 in 236 plate appearances for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2016.

Swisher is making $15MM in the last season of a contract he initially signed with the Indians. (He has a vesting option for 2017 that obviously won’t be picked up.) The Braves are responsible for that total, although they were paid a significant sum by the Indians when they dealt for Swisher in an exchange of bad contracts last year. The 35-year-old Swisher is a career .249/.351/.447 over a dozen years in the big leagues.

Latest On Yulieski Gurriel

By Jeff Todd | July 1, 2016 at 4:20pm CDT

Yulieski Gurriel remains a fascinating piece of the transactional picture as the deadline approaches, and Jon Heyman of todaysknuckleball.com writes that his market is heating up. The Marlins held a workout with the Cuban star, per the report, with the Giants also showing “strong interest” — though they’ve yet to host him for an up-close look.

We’ve already heard of San Francisco’s possible involvement, which GM Bobby Evans downplayed in recent comments. Other reports have connected the infielder to the Dodgers, Astros, Mets and Yankees, all of whom have held workouts. Heyman notes also that the Red Sox have taken a look, though he adds that Boston isn’t seen as being a likely destination.

The 32-year-old Gurriel is a legend in his home nation, where he has been one of the best players since reaching Serie Nacional as a teenager. And he also showed well in a brief stint in Japan’s NPB two years back. With an advanced bat and polished glove that’s capable of slotting in at third, second, and perhaps the corner outfield, it’s not hard to imagine a fit with many organizations.

Gauging his value is another matter. While there’s some possibility that he’ll be viewed as a deadline addition of sorts, the expectation is that Gurriel will need a decent bit of time to get up to speed in the minors after a long layoff from competitive action. That uncertainty leaves some room for variability.

Rival executives tell Heyman that Gurriel is looking for a deal that would cover this season and four more thereafter. His camp seems to be seeking something in the range of $10MM to $12MM per year, with one source telling Heyman that it wouldn’t be surprising if the veteran could achieve between $40MM and $50MM in total guarantee over a three or four-year term.

MLBTR’s Mark Polishuk recently examined the possible market for Gurriel’s services, though that piece was written before the recent connections were reported. He and Steve Adams suggested that the contract given to Hector Olivera by the Dodgers (about $10MM annually) as a comparable. In this case, though, a shorter length (given his age) and perhaps a greater AAV (given his better pedigree and the market situation) are certainly possible.

Jay Bruce Willing To Waive No-Trade Clause In Deal To Contender

By Jeff Todd | June 30, 2016 at 10:43pm CDT

Reds outfielder Jay Bruce has a limited no-trade clause, but doesn’t intend to use that to hold up a deal to a contending club this summer, MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon reports. Bruce sits at the top overall spot on MLBTR’s most recent top trade candidates list.

The NTC would let Bruce reject deals to the Yankees, Red Sox, Athletics, Rays, Marlins, Twins, Indians and Diamondbacks. Jon Heyman of todaysknuckleball.com repored earlier today that Bruce would quite likely be willing to go to Cleveland, and it appears that he’d also be amenable to other hypothetical landing spots. Rumblings have connected Bruce to a variety of clubs, including the Dodgers, Giants, White Sox, and Royals since the start of the season.

Bruce, 29, tells Sheldon that he’s willing to “consider waiving the no-trade clause for all types of reasons,” with “no blanket reason I wouldn’t.” The veteran said he’d need to take each situation as it comes, with agent Matt Sosnick saying that such a choice has yet to be brought to their attention.

Bruce continued on to emphasize that he’d be quite interested in an opportunity to join an organization that has designs on contending. “If I am moved, which has seemed likely for the last year and a half, I’d like to go where the team is mostly likely to win,” he said. “Teams that want me are likely seeking somebody to help them win.”

Notably, Sosnick suggested that Bruce won’t necessarily be looking to utilize the clause for leverage with regard to his contract. “We’re not setting in stone any financial qualifiers,” he said. “If the deal is good for Jay and good for the Reds, he would consider anything — including waiving the no-trade. … There is no team that he would unequivocally not go to.”

Bruce has increasingly cemented his status as a premium trade piece, as he is once again hitting like the All-Star-caliber player he was from 2011 through 2013. The two intervening seasons are easier and easier to forget, as he carries a .279/.325/.568 slash with 17 home runs and a league-leading six triples into July. Bruce’s early-career extension is another asset: he’s earning $12.5MM this year and can be controlled for $13MM in 2017, which is particularly appealing with a dearth of young sluggers on the upcoming free agent market.

Heyman’s Latest: Yankees, Pirates, Teheran, Marlins

By Jeff Todd | June 30, 2016 at 8:45pm CDT

There appear to be different viewpoints in the Yankees front office about how to approach the deadline, Jon Heyman of todaysknuckleball.com writes. GM Brian Cashman may actually be more inclined to sell some assets than is the ownership and upper-level management, per the report.

After a long look at that situation, Heyman goes on to provide some other notes from around the game:

Some within the Yankees think there’s a very good chance that Aroldis Chapman will be around for the long-term, whether that comes about via extension or a re-signing over the winter. Meanwhile, a team official says the price on Andrew Miller is so high that the odds he’ll be dealt are miniscule.
The Pirates could sell off a few short-term pieces if the club isn’t in contention come late July, but a broader sale isn’t expected. Heyman suggests Francisco Liriano, Mark Melancon, David Freese, and perhaps Tony Watson as plausible trade chips. You could probably also throw names like Matt Joyce, Sean Rodriguez, and Juan Nicasio into the mix as well.
Julio Teheran may be pitching his way out of a trade for the Braves, says Heyman. Rival executives suggest that they see a trade as unlikely, and also gave some endorsement of his value. Heyman cites three who believe Teheran is a better trade piece than Sonny Gray of the Athletics at this stage.
There’s plenty of demand on the starting pitching market, which is perhaps one reason to think that some arms could end up being pried loose. Heyman lists the Orioles, Red Sox, Dodgers, Tigers, Rangers, Blue Jays, Astros, Mariners, and Yankees as looking for rotation pieces.
The Marlins are also reputed to be looking for starting pitching, with Drew Pomeranz on the wish list. But a Miami source tells Heyman that the team finds it “hard to trust Pomeranz” given his relatively thin track record.
The Padres “at least took a look” at Jose Reyes before he signed with the Mets, per Heyman. It isn’t clear what sort of opportunity San Diego was interested in offering, but it’s not surprising to hear that the organization is looking for low-cost ways to seek value.

International Notes: July 2 Preview, Maitan, Braves, Padres

By Jeff Todd and Steve Adams | June 29, 2016 at 9:07pm CDT

Baseball America’s Ben Badler has compiled scouting reports on the Top 50 prospects on the upcoming July 2 international market, in addition to providing projected landing spots for each player on the list. The exhaustive report on the international scene requires a BA subscription, but it’s highly recommended for those who wish to dive headfirst into learning about the upcoming glut of talent that will be injected into most clubs’ minor league pipelines. Those looking to learn more about the process can also check out this primer from Eric Longenhagen of Fangraphs, who also provides a ranking of the class (with further explanation here).

Here are just a few highlights from Badler’s excellent work on the topic, which deserves a full read:

Badler takes a particularly close look at top prospect Kevin Maitan, who he says may be a better prospect than Miguel Sano was as a teenager. The link comes with a lengthy and detailed scouting report, including discussion of the question whether Maitain will be able to stay at shortstop for the long run. Scouts are divided on the likelihood, but all seem to agree it’s at least a plausible outcome.
Maitan has long been said to be heading for the Braves, and we’ve yet to hear anything to change that expectation. Atlanta has lined up a big batch of spending, but Badler provides a bit of context for just how large: he says it “should look comparable to what the Yankees did in 2014-15.” (You can refresh yourself on New York’s shock and awe campaign here.)
The Padres appear headed in that direction, too, as Badler says that a $30MM to $35MM spend might be their floor. In addition to big activity on the Cuban market, San Diego is in line to add eight of the top fifty available players. As for the Nationals, who are also believed to be pacing the market in spending, it might not be quite that dramatic. But Washington could still come away with three of the fifteen best prospecs on the market.
The Astros, too, seem ready to drop some big cash — including a $3.5MM bonus for Cuban shortstop Anibal Sierra. Houston is eyeing five of the top fifty names on Badler’s list, he notes. One player that could be ticketed for the ’Stros is fifth overall prospect Freudis Nova.
Nova had been connected to the Marlins before failing a PED test. Now, Badler explains, Miami has a big chunk of pool availability and little in the way of commitments. The club could deal that away or see if it can find a nice price on the Cuban market.
It also remains to be seen what the Reds will do, but Badler explains that things could go in either of two directions. Cinci could trade for some added bonus pool space to add Cuban shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez and a few smaller signings without hitting the penalty. Or, the team could enter the broader Cuban market and blow past its limits.
The White Sox are expected to land slugging prospect Josue Guerrero — who, yes, is a part of the famous family. Despite being quiet in recent years, the Athletics are in position to add some talent, including George Bell, whose father (same name) was a quality big leaguer.
The Brewers aren’t believed to have any seven-figure bonuses lined up, but could still add a high number of interesting players with the fifth-highest spending availability in the game. Likewise, the Phillies are expected to spread their cash.
Of course, not every team will have the opportunity to spend lavishly this period; the Dodgers, Yankees, Cubs, D-backs, Angels, Rays, Red Sox, Giants, Royals and Blue Jays are each prohibited from spending more than $300K on international amateurs after incurring maximum penalties, though that doesn’t mean those organizations don’t have a chance to find some talent.

Yankees Sign Blake Rutherford

By Steve Adams | June 29, 2016 at 11:30am CDT

The Yankees announced today that they’ve signed their first-round pick Blake Rutherford. Terms of the agreement weren’t included with the announcement, but MLB.com’s Jim Callis reports (on Twitter) that the No. 18 overall selection will receive a significantly over-slot bonus of $3,282,000. That sum is $840K more than Rutherford’s slot value of $2,441,600.

An over-slot deal figured to be a requirement for the high school outfielder out of Chaminade Prep in California, however, as he slipped down the draft board a bit from where some earlier projections had him landing. ESPN’s Keith Law rated Rutherford as the No. 6 prospect in the draft, while Callis and Jonathan Mayo ranked him eighth at MLB.com and Baseball America rated him ninth overall. Scouting reports on Rutherford praise his hit tool and potential for above-average power in a corner outfield spot. All three of the reports referenced here note that some scouts are a bit down on Rutherford because he’s already 19 years old, meaning he offers a bit less projection than the typical high school pick, and he’s yet to fully tap into his power potential.

Certainly, those concerns didn’t seem to exist within the Yankees’ front office, and they’ll land a talent that many pundits felt should’ve been off the board by the time they selected. The Yankees added in their announcement that they’ve now signed all of their picks from the Top 10 rounds of the draft, meaning the vast majority of their work on the draft front is in the books. New York went considerably over slot on Rutherford and third-rounder Nolan Martinez, but the Yanks saved a good deal of money on picks five through 10, including four straight $10K signings of college seniors to close out rounds seven through 10 (as can be seen in the draft trackers at MLB.com and Baseball America).

Yankees fans seeking to learn a bit more about their club’s top pick can check out a Q&A that MLBTR contributor Chuck Wasserstrom conducted with the highly touted Rutherford back in late April.

AL East Notes: Miller/Chapman, Yankees, Floyd, Young, Sox

By Steve Adams | June 29, 2016 at 9:56am CDT

While there have yet to be any firm indications that the Yankees will shop Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman this summer, ESPN’s Buster Olney writes that some executives from other clubs are becoming more and more convinced that the Yankees will indeed hold a “two-tiered auction” on their imposing lefties. In Miller’s case, the belief is that the Yankees will name a specific price for interested organizations (e.g. Kyle Schwarber from the Cubs) and tell the teams to take it or leave it. Chapman’s status as a free agent at season’s end gives him a lower price tag, Olney notes. He goes on to list the Nationals, Dodgers, Rangers, Cubs and Red Sox as teams with potential interest in late-inning bullpen help, though I personally have a tough time envisioning the Sox and Yankees connecting for a trade of that magnitude.

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