Good reads; http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/y...ankees-but-it-might-be-the-start-of-a-dynasty http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...york-yankees-manager-says-there-no-guarantees
When you have Judge, you sure don't need to sign Bryce Harper. Let Harper remain a big fish in the little NL East Pond. Most agree that Ellsbury has to get gone but I can't think of any takers given his low production and high salary. First order of business is keeping Girardi on board.
They have a chance at big things ahead if make the correct final moves like they did going into the 1996 season. 1) I think it's pretty clear Girardi and the Yankees are going to part ways. Who becomes the new Manager set to lead this young group? 2) Will have to eat money but move Ellsbury anyway you can. A hideous mistake of a contract. I'll take a full year of a healthy Hicks over this. 3) While they're at it move Gardner while there's still some value there. Just not on base enough to justify the leadoff spot. Gritty player and solid outfielder but time to move on. Clint can be every bit as good and hopefully much better. Unless Gardy wants to accept being a fourth outfielder it's time. Team option for 19 they wouldn't pick up so going into his finsl year. Should be easy to move. 4) Headley I actually don't mind back for his final year. Had a decent season and was one of the few who showed some balls at the plate in the ALCS. Depends on what they want to do with Todd Fraizer. 5) While their may not seem like there's a reason to resign Todd Fraizer consider this. Who is this team's DH next year with Holliday gone? He's a power bat who can also be put at third. If he's willing to stay on a reasonable deal and they move Headley along it could be a good fit. 6) Use the CC and Arod savings on a front line starter. Along with Severino, Tanaka and Gray this is the key along with the hopeful addition of Adams. That could form an incredible rotation. 7) Somebody work with Sanchez over the winter on his behind the plate defense. 8) Stay away from Harper and his .211 career playoff average. Unless it's Mike Trout not interested in deals like what Harper will want. 9) Decide on Castro. He was a disaster at second in the playoffs and they have Torres and Andujar in the wings. .300 hitter though so you have to consider that. If you don't want Fraizer Castro is a valuable bat. 10) Win the AL East next year.
...Bryce Harper is one of the most over-rated players in recent memory and as far as attitude, ability to stay healthy, production, and the kind of contract he'll be seeking, I'd rather not have him in pinstripes...let someone else pay him and deal with his act. ...I'd much rather over-pay for Trout than Harper.
2) I think the Yanx can package Gardner and/or Castro along with Ellsbury and get some takers...but yeah, the Yanx would likely have to eat some of his contract. 4) Headley simply does not give us enough production from the 3B position... an OPS of .758 while striking out every 3.88 at bats is pretty underwhelming...I just think the Yanx can do better...I believe Mike Moustakas will be FA. 5) Personally, I'd rather have a "DH by committee" and save the roster spot and give Sanchez and the other regulars a day off from time to time. 6) Agree, we need a bonafide ace or a front end starter who eats innings. 7) Agree, they also need to work with Sanchez and Judge and teach them how to recognize the low and away breaking ball and to stop flailing at it. ...also agree on 8-9-10.
Mess, I like your choices. Think Torres has to play 2nd next year and if I couldn't trade castro for more pitching I make him the dh and keep headley at 3rd till andujar ready which should be sometime next season. Frazier at 31 will want multi year pact which the yanks shouldn't do under any circumstances. He could end up with mets as their 3rd baseman. I think your forgetting montgomery being in the rotation as a young lefty pitcher who had a pretty good rookie year and was victimized a lot by girardi's early hooks. I think seve, grey, montgomery and tanaka who I don't think opts out ( if he does yanks will let him go are 4 guys in rotation. I think they'll make a big play for omani from japan or bring chance up finally to complete their rotation. CC is a good clubhouse guy but now injured a lot and you can't have a pitcher that can only give you 4 or 5 innings as it kills the bullpen. Yanks don't spend a dime this year on free agents outside of otani and depending how their young pitchers progress don't really see them spending big bucks in 18 either. The only big move I could see down the line (outside of trading guy like gardy, castro, betances etc) is if the angels continue to suck a big trade using multiple young prospects and yes the good ones for trout.
I've heard Machado as well as Harpers being written about as potential Yankee free Agents. Most of these writings ceased after the kids came up and got settled in. The Yankees have Judge so that cancels out Harper, Andujar is in the system ditto GT so cancel out Machado. Trout is another story, if he could be had fine, but I'm not sure if the Angels would let him go. Really don't know how much longer his contract with the Angels runs. He'd be the one F?A exception to the rule. Back in '00 a friend of mine came back from New York after the series and gave me a Yankees Cup. He mentioned seeing a marquee flashing that the Yankees had pland to to better in the future. Well we all know that one, 2009 excepted the Yankees core four left and were replaced by mercenaries whom in my view. only gave a damn about paychecks. Now the team is young, reasonably salaried by todays standards, and have the idea playing for this franchise is paramount. Keep the studs, shuck the duds. home grown stuff is great, make sensible trades, acquire an occasional F/F who is interested in being a team player.
...which IMO, is precisely why the Angels might consider dealing Trout, while his value is at its highest and because they need to acquire some young players/prospects in a trade.
Be a big feather in Cashmans cap if he could pull off a reasonable deal to get Trout. Damn Judge, Trout, Hicks, and Frazier that is one hell of a unit.
I like the young offensive talent the Yankees have along with the relief pitching. I would like to see them bring in another quality starting pitcher or two.
1- I think the job is Joe's to keep, IF that's what he wants after speaking with his wife and family. Imo, for a team that wasn't supposed to be in Post Season, Joe more than earned the wheel at the helm...... the job s/b his, if the Kids have a clue... 2- Addition by subtraction: Pay Dingleberry to sit at home, buy out his contract. The Bums paid Dan Haren and Brian Wilson their 10 Mil Salary to do just that, then Haren was picked up. Ntm- They ate approx 23 of Matt Kemp's 25 Mil $$$ conctract to play in Diego, do the same with the dead beat CF'r.... 3- I'd start Garnder next year, but let Clint Red play every other game in LF; & work Gardner out of the lineup, and trade him for s SP, by the trade deadline, someone will want him, and yeah he's got value for a decent SP, if bundled with say Headcase, Castro, Betances, .... with all 4 on the block, more than 1 SP s/b available; and a premium perhaps a veteran DH could be had.... 4- Headcase??? personally I'd rather see Andujar at 3rd, Torres at 2nd, Wade perhaps as a UT backup. I can't wait to see what Wade can do as a UT, what Solak can do at 2nd, and Garcia at 3rd as 2nd options; and/or Holder. I know this could be a big gamble if either prospects aren't ready; in such case the Yanx would need to keep Headley or Castro??? Go with whatever combo works out over the others.... 5- I'd exit T. Frazier, his B'avg sucks, but he hits his share of RBI's, even HR's, when he hits. Funny thing is the higher his average the less productive his offensive #'s are....See #4, bring on the prospects, maybe think about getting another DH.... #4 & #5 Pickup FA J.D. Martinez. He's better than what we have at 3rd base, and can DH too....such would allow for the prospects noted, to mature slowly on the bench, but someone(s) gotta' go.... ditto on 5-9.... and let's bring on Bartolo Colon.....meh- he can't literally/physically sit on the bench without displacing a valuable player, ....
I'd also like to see a lot more of the Yanx SP prospects, all of 'em that look ready in ST.... bring 'em on, but still look to obtain 2 top of the line Starter's, and NO to Kershaw, Harper. Trout would be interesting, he still lead the AL in: OBP%, OPS, and SLG. An off year by his standards, injured, able to play in only 114 gms in 017. If there is such a thing as a 34 MIllion $$$ player it'd be Trout over Harper, Kershaw. I'd not even want to hear of pandering with any thought of signing the latter 2....not to mention no too: Machado, Donaldson, et al....I fear paying any player that kind of money, wondering how it would effect payroll for increasing contracts of the Core 4 in years to come.... We may not want Trout in years to come, seeing how Judge worked out, and others will follow, not on the same scale, but they will come in time. But damn it, does Trout always look worthy of pinstripes....his career stats have been the most lucratively insane for any ballplayer....
Good reads; Yanx next year; http://nypost.com/2017/10/22/how-the-yankees-can-finish-2018-in-the-canyon-of-heroes/ ...Girardi; http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf...lutely_bring_back_joe.html#incart_river_index ...and oh, a big "FUCK YOU" to Scott Boras; http://nypost.com/2017/10/23/jacoby-ellsburys-agent-thinks-he-should-have-played-more/
