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Yankees Fire Hitting Coach Dillon Lawson

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5:55PM: Speaking to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch (Twitter links) and other reporters, Cashman said that he hopes to have the new hitting coach in place when the Yankees begin their second-half schedule on Friday.  Cashman also said that the new hitting coach will come from outside the organization.  Dykes and Wilkerson will remain with the team in assistant hitting coach roles.

5:14PM: With the Yankees lineup continuing to struggle, the team has announced it has parted ways with hitting coach Dillson Lawson.  The New York Post’s Jon Heyman (Twitter link) first reported the move, and the Yankees confirmed Lawson’s departure in a press release.  Yankees GM Brian Cashman explained the reasoning behind the decision in the release:

“It has been well documented that I have been reluctant in the past to make changes to our coaching staff in the middle of a season.  I am a big believer that successes and failures are collective efforts.  However, I ultimately felt that a change was needed and that a new voice overseeing our hitting operations would give us the best chance to perform closer to our capabilities as we move forward into the second half of our season.

I want thank Dillon for all his efforts. He has a bright baseball mind that will continue to lead to a long and fruitful baseball career.”

As Cashman noted, in-season coaching changes aren’t his preference, and this indeed marks the first time since Cashman became GM in 1998 that the Yankees have fired a coach during a season.  Since there was no word on the status of assistant hitting coaches Casey Dykes and Brad Wilkerson, it would appear that both men will remain with the team, and either could be a candidate to take over the lead hitting coach role on at least an interim basis.  The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty reports that the Yankees have two finalists in mind for the job, and Lawson’s replacement could be known as early as tomorrow.

Though New York enters the break with a respectable 49-42 record, it is fair to say that the pitching (particularly a quietly outstanding bullpen) has carried the team.  The Yankees are near the bottom of the league in average and OBP, and are around the middle of the pack in home runs, slugging percentage, and wRC+.  While the club is still hitting lots of home runs, the one-dimensional approach isn’t leading to much offense overall, and the Yankees’ lack of hitting has become even more glaring in the month-plus that Aaron Judge has been on the injured list.

As Joel Sherman of the New York Post noted in a piece yesterday, the Yankees’ reliance on Judge extended back to 2022, when the AL MVP’s season for the ages helped mask the fact that the rest of New York’s lineup generally underperformed.  Blaming these struggles entirely on Lawson isn’t fair, of course, as Sherman notes that several veteran bats aren’t producing, and questions can be asked about Cashman’s decision to rely on these veterans rather than further bolster the roster with other position players.  As well, the Yankees’ offense was already showing some inconsistency even prior to Lawson’s hiring in the 2021-22 offseason.

With this in mind, a new hitting coach shouldn’t be expected to instantly revive the Yankees’ batters, especially with Judge’s recovery timeline still so uncertain.  Still, the timing of Lawson’s firing and the fact that it was made at all clearly indicates some extra pressure in the Bronx to get the season back on track.  The Yankees are currently outside the playoff picture, sitting a game behind the Blue Jays for the last AL wild card spot and eight games behind the Rays for first place in the AL East.  The Rays’ recent struggles have slightly kept the Jays, Yankees, and last-place Red Sox within striking distance in this loaded division, though it might be hard for any of these teams to really catch up to Tampa or the second-place Orioles, making a wild card perhaps the likeliest route to the postseason.

Lawson worked as the Yankees’ minor league hitting coordinator from 2019-21 before his promotion to lead hitting coach.  The 38-year-old previously worked as a hitting coach in the Astros’ farm system, and he has a long history of coaching in the collegiate ranks.

AL East Notes: Mountcastle, Yankees, Ryu

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The Orioles welcomed first baseman Ryan Mountcastle back from the injured list this morning, per a team announcement. 2023 has been a difficult season for Mountcastle, as the slugger slashed just .227/.264/.421 in 261 plate appearances before heading to the injured list with vertigo in mid-June.

Mountcastle spoke to reporters, including Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner, about his struggles with vertigo and how it impacted his hitting. He explained that he dealt with waves of dizziness that made baseball appear to be the size of a pea while he was in the batters’ box prior to going onto the IL, and that while he’s felt better in recent days, there’s no way of knowing whether the issues with crop up again in the future. For now Mountcastle figures to join the club’s outfield and DH mix alongside the likes of Ryan O’Hearn, Aaron Hicks, and Anthony Santander.

More from around the AL East…

  • The Yankees received a pair of positive injury updates today regarding their pitching staff. Right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga threw off a mound for the first time since going on the IL back in April, as manager Aaron Boone told reporters (including Max Goodman of NJ Advance Media). Meanwhile, left-hander Nestor Cortes threw a 20-pitch live bullpen session today, as relayed by MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch. Both Boone and Cortes indicated the session went well, with Cortes adding that his next bullpen session will take place this coming Thursday. While Loaisiga has thrown just 3 1/3 innings this season and Cortes has struggled with a 5.16 ERA across 11 starts this season, the return of both players before season’s end would surely provide a boost to the Yankees, given their past successes.
  • Blue Jays left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu is poised to take the mound for Toronto’s Single-A affiliate in Dunedin today, per an announcement by the minor league club. Ryu, 36, is rehabbing after undergoing Tommy John surgery last season and, per MLB.com, was sitting 87-88 with his fastball during his previous rehab outing in the Florida Complex League. That velocity isn’t far from where he’s expected to be at the big league level, and MLB.com indicates that Ryu could return “within the month” after building up to take on a starter’s workload. Ryu’s return could help shore up Toronto’s rotation depth down the stretch, an area that GM Ross Atkins highlighted as a focus ahead of the trade deadline on August 1.

Yankees Reinstate Carlos Rodon, Transfer Nestor Cortes To 60-Day Injured List

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The Yankees made a series of roster moves today, reinstating left-hander Carlos Rodón from the 60-day injured list and recalling outfielder Franchy Cordero. To clear two active roster spots, righty Deivi García was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and outfielder Jake Bauers was placed on the 10-day injured list. Bauers’ placement is  retroactive to July 6 and due to a left rotator cuff contusion. In order to open a spot on the 40-man roster for Rodón, lefty Nestor Cortes was transferred to the 60-day injured list.

Rodón will take the mound tonight against the Cubs. It’s his long-awaited Yankee debut. The two-time All-Star signed a six-year, $162MM free agent contract over the winter. He was expected to pair with Gerrit Cole as co-aces atop the starting staff. That’s taken longer than anticipated, as Rodón battled a forearm strain in Spring Training and dealt with back discomfort over the past couple months.

The star southpaw has made three minor league rehab starts, tossing 10 2/3 frames of one-run ball. He threw 58 pitches in his final rehab outing last Saturday. The Yankees will surely be cautious with his workload tonight and coming out of the All-Star Break, but they’ll get their first glimpse of he and Cole as a one-two punch.

Cortes was expected to be a key part of the rotation himself. The southpaw has struggled to a 5.16 ERA over 11 appearances after consecutive sub-3.00 seasons in 2021-22. Cortes then landed on the injured list, retroactive to June 5, after straining his left rotator cuff.

The 60-day minimum backdates to his original IL placement. Cortes is now officially out into the first week of August. It appears he could be back around when first eligible. Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News noted earlier this week (on Twitter) that Cortes got through a 25-pitch bullpen session without issue and is expected to throw live batting practice on Sunday.

As for Bauers, he’ll be out at least through next weekend. The left-handed hitter has filled in reasonably well since being called upon in late April. Over 154 plate appearances, he’s hitting .224/.312/.470 with seven home runs.

Yankees Claim Anthony Misiewicz From Tigers

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The Yankees have claimed left-hander Anthony Misiewicz off waivers from the Tigers, according to announcements from both clubs. The Yankees had an open 40-man roster spot due to Jimmy Cordero’s recent suspension. Misiewicz has been optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Misiewicz, 28, has been collecting jerseys at a rapid rate over the past year. He spent the early parts of his career with the Mariners and was with them until he was designated for assignment at the end of July last year. Since then, he was acquired by and subsequently DFA’d by the Royals, the Cardinals and the Diamondbacks. The latter club lost him to the Tigers on waivers, who now have lost him to the Yankees on this latest waiver claim. All in all, that’s six different organizations in less than a year.

Amid all those transactions, he’s only been able to toss 8 1/3 innings in the big leagues this year with an 8.64 ERA in that small sample. He’s managed to log 16 1/3 innings in the minors with a 4.41 ERA. Prior to this season, he had 127 major league appearances with a 4.74 ERA, striking out 23% of batters faced while walking 7.1% of them.

For the Yankees, they unexpectedly opened a roster spot this week with the news of Cordero’s suspension and have used it to grab a lefty with some solid results in his track record. He has less than three years of service time and a couple of options seasons, including this one, meaning he can be utilized as an up-and-down reliever for the foreseeable future if he hangs onto his 40-man spot this time around.

Yankees’ Jimmy Cordero Suspended Remainder Of Season Under MLB’s Domestic Violence Policy

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Yankees reliever Jimmy Cordero has accepted a suspension for the remainder of the regular season and the 2023 postseason under MLB’s domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy, per a league announcement. He’s been placed on the restricted list. Cordero will not be paid and will not count against the team’s 40-man roster while on the restricted list.

“The Yankees are fully supportive of Major League Baseball’s investigative process and the disciplinary action applied to Jimmy Cordero,” the team stated in a press release shortly following MLB’s announcement. “There is no justification for domestic violence, and we stand with the objectives, standards and enforcement of MLB’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy.”

Further details were not provided by the league, which stated that Cordero will “participate in a confidential and comprehensive evaluation and treatment program.”

The Yankees signed the now-31-year-old Cordero to a minor league deal in March 2022. He’s appeared in 31 games this season and posted 32 2/3 innings of 3.86 ERA ball, striking out 25.8% of his opponents against a 7.8% walk rate.

Editor’s Note: Prior polling of MLBTR readers has shown that a substantial majority does not want comments open on stories pertaining to domestic violence and sexual assault suspensions. Comments are closed on this post, and we respectfully ask that readers not spill the discussion into other comment sections.

AL East Notes: Rodon, Westburg, Hays, Whitlock, Paredes

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Carlos Rodon threw 58 pitches in a high-A rehab start on Saturday, and Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters (including MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch) that Rodon emerged from the outing in good health and in good form.  It was Rodon’s third rehab start, and the Yankees’ plan is for the left-hander to make his 2023 debut on Friday against the Cubs.  It’s better late than never for Rodon, who had both a forearm strain in March and then some back tightness that put his rehab work on pause.  A cortisone injection in early May provided some relief to Rodon’s back, and it has since been relatively smooth sailing as he has slowly built up his arm strength.

Rodon joined the Bronx Bombers on a six-year, $162MM free agent contract this winter.  The early injury scare certainly created some immediate second-guessing about the Yankees’ investment, yet if Rodon displays any of his form from the last two seasons, his 60-day IL stint might just be a bump in the road, though Rodon’s lengthy career injury history will always linger.  Rodon was a top-six Cy Young Award finisher in each of the last two seasons with the White Sox and Giants, posting a 2.67 ERA, 33.9% strikeout rate, and 7.1% walk rate over 310 2/3 innings in 2021-22.  While a lack of offense has been the Yankees’ chief problem this year, adding an in-form Rodon alongside ace Gerrit Cole atop New York’s rotation will certainly help in the run prevention department, and potentially allow the Bombers to keep grinding out wins until Aaron Judge can return to boost the lineup.

More from the AL East…

  • The Orioles’ 2-1 victory over the Twins today came with some pain, as Jordan Westburg was hit on the left hand with a pitch from Jhoan Duran in the eighth inning.  The bases were loaded, so Westburg’s HBP ended up scoring the game’s winning run.  Westburg will get testing done on his hand, while the O’s had another injury concern earlier in the game when Austin Hays departed with a hip contusion.  Hays collided with Twins first baseman Donovan Solano while running out a grounder in the second inning, and Hays remained in the game until the fourth before being replaced in left field.
  • Garrett Whitlock pitched just one inning in today’s start, as the Red Sox right-hander is dealing with elbow tightness.  Whitlock told reporters (including Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe) that he had been feeling some stiffness in the elbow even prior to taking the mound today, and his current issue feels differently than the bout of ulnar neuritis that put him on the injured list for a month earlier this season.  An MRI has been scheduled, and Whitlock and the Sox can only hope that the issue is nothing more than some inflammation.  Whitlock already has one major elbow surgery on his resume, as he underwent a Tommy John procedure in 2019.
  • Isaac Paredes also made an early exit from the Rays’ game with the Mariners today, due to what the Rays described as left rib discomfort.  Paredes was heading for third base while France was trying to field a grounder, resulting in a big collision between the two players.  Manager Kevin Cash told reporters (including Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times) that initial x-rays revealed no rib fractures, so Paredes may have avoided a serious injury.  One of many players emerging for first-place Tampa Bay, Paredes has hit .267/.372/.494 with 14 homers over 290 plate appearances this season.

Astros Open To Trading Outfielder

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The upcoming trade deadline seems slated to be different than those of the past. Due to the expanded playoffs and weak Central divisions, there’s a small number of teams that are truly out of contention and in traditional seller position. That could lead to more trades with contenders on both ends and the Astros are exploring that possibility, looking to move an outfielder to help out elsewhere, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

“We’re exploring trading major-league player for major-league player with teams that are contending that make sense,” general manager Dana Brown tells Rosenthal. “We have a lot of outfielders right now. If we could move an outfield piece for something that could fill another need, we probably would be interested in doing that. Player for player? Yeah. We have to get creative to open up the market. We’re definitely exploring that.”

The 2023 Astros aren’t quite as dominant as in previous seasons but they are still firmly in the postseason chase. Their 44-37 record has them just half a game behind the Blue Jays for the final Wild Card spot and Brown is adamant that they won’t be stripping the roster down to the studs. “I can’t see any scenario where we sell,” he says.

However, it does seem as though the club is willing to consider subtracting one of its outfielders in order to address other needs. Brown has been fairly open in recent weeks about how the club would ideally like to add a versatile left-handed bat or perhaps some pitching help. Traditionally, they might have been able to achieve those goals by dealing prospects. But since their theoretical trading partners could be contenders this year, the Astros may have to move a big leaguer.

With Michael Brantley and Yordan Alvarez on the injured list, the club has been using an outfield mix of Kyle Tucker, Chas McCormick, Jake Meyers and Corey Julks. With Brantley and Alvarez working their way back to health, it’s possible that someone in that group gets squeezed off the roster and onto the trade block.

Tucker is one of the best players in the league and wouldn’t be going anywhere, especially because he’s the only left-handed hitter in the regular lineup. Since Brown has been quite open about how the club would love to get more left-handed, it would make more sense to consider moving one of the other three, who are each right-handed.

McCormick, 28, debuted with the club in 2021 and has appeared in 270 major league games so far. He’s struck out 28.5% of his plate appearances but also walked at a 9.6% rate and hit 35 home runs. His .249/.327/.428 batting line amounts to a wRC+ of 112, indicating he’s been 12% above league average. He’s also stolen 15 bases and received positive grades for his glovework. He’s accrued 14 Defensive Runs Saved in his career, 21 Outs Above Average and a 7.2 mark from Ultimate Zone Rating. He’s played all three outfield spots but most of his work has been in center.

Competent center fielders are always in demand and McCormick’s above-average offense would only enhance his appeal. He’s also cheap, coming into this season with exactly two years of service time. He will get to the three-year mark at season’s end and have three years of arbitration control beyond this campaign. Rosenthal reports that the Yankees had previous interest in him but never got close to a deal.

Meyers, 27, also debuted in 2021 but hasn’t been able to hit at McCormick’s level. Meyers has a 29.8% strikeout rate and 7.2% walk rate, with his .237/.305/.380 batting line amounting to a wRC+ of just 92. But like McCormick, his outfield defense is graded well, primarily in center field. Overall, he’s racked up 12 DRS, 18 OAA and a 6.4 UZR. He’ll finish this year with less than three years of service time, giving him an extra year before he reaches arbitration and three more seasons of control beyond that.

Julks, 27, just debuted this year, cracking the Opening Day roster. He’s hit .265/.307/.398 through his first 225 plate appearances for a wRC+ of 95. He’s only played the corners but has been considered slightly above average there. He’s also stolen 12 bases already this year. Since he just debuted, he isn’t slated for arbitration until after 2025 or free agency until after 2028.

These players will each have varying degrees of interest depending on which club the Astros are talking to. Lining up a trade of this nature may be challenging because it will require the other team to have an outfield need but also an ability to part with something else that Houston wants. That might be a tricky tightrope to walk but it seems as though just about every contending club might have to give it a try this year.

MLB Announces 2023 All-Star Starters

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Major League Baseball announced the starting lineups for the 2023 All-Star Game this evening. This year’s All-Star Game will take place at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park on July 11. The starting pitchers and reserves will be announced at a later date.

American League

National League

* Currently on injured list with sprained toe

MLB Trade Rumors Podcast: The Angels Trade for Infielders, Indecisive NL Central Teams and Aaron Judge’s Toe

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The latest episode of the MLB Trade Rumors Podcast is now live on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts! Make sure you subscribe as well! You can also use the player at this link to listen, if you don’t use Spotify or Apple for podcasts.

This week, host Darragh McDonald is joined by Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors to discuss:

  • The Angels acquired Eduardo Escobar from the Mets and Mike Moustakas from the Rockies (1:25)
  • The Pirates and Cubs and Cardinals are thinking about their respective trade deadline approaches (7:20)
  • The Yankees’ hopes are hanging on Aaron Judge’s toe (16:05)

Plus, we answer your questions, including:

  • How do you think the Red Sox will approach the deadline? Will they try to toe the line like last season (which did not work)? (18:50)
  • I would like to know what you think the Padres are going to do? They have numerous holes in that lineup, they are selling out game after game at home? You think major trades forthcoming? Or what? (22:40)
  • What do you think are the chances that the Braves trade Vaughn Grissom at the deadline? What caliber of player do you believe a package built around Grissom would bring in? (25:35)

Check out our past episodes!

MLBTR Poll: Yankees’ Third Base Situation

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The Yankees put up a three spot in the bottom of the eighth this afternoon, pulling out a comeback series win over the AL West-leading Rangers. It was a solid weekend that puts New York at 43-35 and in possession of the second Wild Card spot in the American League.

Despite taking two out of three from Texas, the Yanks didn’t do much to quiet concern about their offense. New York scored a combined eight runs and hasn’t topped five runs in a game in nearly two weeks. With Aaron Judge still facing an uncertain timeline after tearing a ligament in his right big toe, the Yankees are trying to find more punch in the lineup.

The offense is struggling essentially 1-9. No team has scored fewer runs since Judge’s last appearance on June 3. Among the biggest problem areas: third base, where the Yankees have gotten a .111/.164/.317 line (not including today’s game) since Judge’s IL stint and a .189/.260/.351 showing on the season overall.

As recently as a few weeks ago, Yankee brass could’ve reasonably attributed that brutal production to injury. Josh Donaldson had an underwhelming first season in the Bronx, but his .222/.308/.374 slash last year was still markedly better than the production they’ve gotten out of the position this season. Donaldson had been limited to five games before suffering a hamstring strain that kept him out of action until June 1. Manager Aaron Boone indicated in late May the Yankees would plug Donaldson back into the everyday lineup upon his return.

They mostly did so, starting him at third or designated hitter for 13 of their first 17 games this month. Donaldson returned from injury with a huge slump, hitting only .128/.208/.447 in 53 plate appearances. An .033 batting average on balls in play obviously isn’t doing him any favors, but he has hit almost no line drives as he tries to get back into form.

Considering those struggles, Donaldson’s status as a regular is now in question. He wasn’t in the lineup for any of the three games against Texas. DJ LeMahieu took a pair of third base starts, while Isiah Kiner-Falefa got the nod in the other contest. Boone stopped short of declaring it a benching, at least publicly. “He’s going to (get consistent playing time),” the skipper told reporters after today’s game (link via Chris Kirschner of the Athletic). “This is just a stretch where I felt like I wanted to give him a couple of days to kind of work through. That was just kind of my decision on that through this little stretch, but I expect him to get consistent at-bats.”

How consistently the former MVP will find himself in the lineup remains to be seen, though the Yankees haven’t had any alternatives forcing their way into the mix. LeMahieu is having his worst year since landing in the Bronx, hitting .230/.286/.387 through 255 trips to the plate. Kiner-Falefa has been spending more time in the outfield this year; he’s not hitting any better than LeMahieu, posting a .239/.275/.358 line. Oswaldo Cabrera has been even worse and has bounced on and off the active roster a few times of late.

Aside from the rest of the primary starters — Anthony Rizzo, Gleyber Torres and Anthony Volpe — the only other infielder on the 40-man roster is Oswald Peraza. The top prospect impressed in a late-season cup of coffee last year but struggled in his limited MLB time in 2023. He’s having an excellent year in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, raking at a .292/.360/.563 clip with 11 homers and steals apiece in 34 games. He’s not walking much but has kept his strikeouts to a tidy 14.9% rate.

Peraza hasn’t played in a week with an undisclosed injury. Conor Foley of the Scranton Times-Tribune reported (on Twitter) yesterday that it’s a minor ailment and Peraza is expected back in the lineup before long. He’s only made seven starts at third base between the majors and Triple-A, but as a well-regarded defensive shortstop, he shouldn’t have much issue handling the hot corner.

One could also make a case for the Yankees to turn to Peraza over Volpe at shortstop. Boone, owner Hal Steinbrenner and GM Brian Cashman have all remained steadfast in their support for Volpe in spite of his tough rookie season. Perhaps third base represents a cleaner path for the 23-year-old Peraza, though there’d be risk in counting on rookies at both left side infield spots.

There’s also the possibility of adding an upgrade from outside the organization. Trade activity doesn’t typically kick off in earnest until mid-late July. The Angels jumped the market for a pair of stopgap veteran infielders over the past few days, so it’s not an impossible task. There aren’t a ton of clear targets for infield-needy teams, however.

Jeimer Candelario is the only impending free agent third baseman who’s performing well on a noncompetitive team. The rental market is similarly bleak at shortstop and second base, so there aren’t any obvious candidates for a post-acquisition position change. Unless the Rockies surprisingly listen to offers on Ryan McMahon this summer, there probably won’t be any marquee trade possibilities at the position.

Where does that leave the front office and coaching staff? Who should get the bulk of the third base playing time at Yankee Stadium?

(poll link for app users)

 

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