2K24: New York Yankees

[Don Quixote]

From Rotoworld--

"Yankees general manager Brian Cashman confirmed Wednesday that Dellin Betances has qualified for a fourth option.

Good news for the Yankees, otherwise they would have had to expose him to waivers if he didn't make the big club in the spring. Now they can send him back to the minors without the risk of losing him."

Well, that changes everything for every franchise.

[BuckyBuckner]

Now that the Yanks lost out on Infante I suspect they figure out a deal for Phillips. Maybe Gardner plus something for Phillips and Sean Marshall. They just lost Boone Logan so they could use a lefty in the pen. Plus I really like Marshall and think he's more than just a lefty specialist.

[madducks]

The Reds would be foolish to deal Bailey for Gardner. I really think this guy is on the cusp of going from being a good pitcher to being a great one. Both of his no-hitters have come in his last 34 regular season starts. In the heat of a tight 3-way NL Central race late last season, Bailey shut out St Louis in back to back starts. Including those 4 games, he hasn't allowed an earned run in 10 of his last 34 starts. This kid looks like he is finally putting it together and this may be the last year to get him at a reasonable price if he can eliminate those "clunker" games in between the good ones.

[Don Quixote]

The Reds would be foolish to deal Bailey for Gardner. I really think this guy is on the cusp of going from being a good pitcher to being a great one. Both of his no-hitters have come in his last 34 regular season starts. In the heat of a tight 3-way NL Central race late last season, Bailey shut out St Louis in back to back starts. Including those 4 games, he hasn't allowed an earned run in 10 of his last 34 starts. This kid looks like he is finally putting it together and this may be the last year to get him at a reasonable price if he can eliminate those "clunker" games in between the good ones.

I've seen his whole career, and I think he's a very good #3 starter, maybe a decent #2. Not an ace. He was miscast as the franchise's pitching savior when he was drafted and when he came up, and was the victim of unrealistic team/media/fan expectations. Now he's settled in. Some of your perception may come from the fact that at times he's just killed our Pirates, including one of the no-hitters.

There is no certainty that Bailey is going to sign an extension with the Reds. I think he may have a little lingering animosity about how some of the front office (and their media puppets) threw him under the bus when he struggled. Of course, a lot of resentment can disappear if the offer is big enough. Personally, I think he'd be a little foolish to take an extension; why not see what the FA market is like at age 28 with the numbers he's put up the last two years?

Getting back to the subject--With Infante off the market, the Yankees are in a perilous situation at 2B. Kelly Johnson just doesn't make it. I don't think the Reds would take just Gardner for Phillips, plus Phillips does have a no-trade clause that includes the Yankees. The latter would probably require some financial amplification to resolve, either more money per year or more years, the latter a very bad idea. So, what else do the Yankees have to offer in addition to Gardner, who will be a free agent at the end of 2014? And just as importantly to objective observers if not to the most intense Yankee fans, how do the Reds replace Phillips if he's dealt? All they have behind Phillips right now is Skip Schumaker, and that too just won't make it.

[Hornsby]

I've seen his whole career, and I think he's a very good #3 starter, maybe a decent #2. Not an ace. He was miscast as the franchise's pitching savior when he was drafted and when he came up, and was the victim of unrealistic team/media/fan expectations. Now he's settled in. Some of your perception may come from the fact that at times he's just killed our Pirates, including one of the no-hitters.

There is no certainty that Bailey is going to sign an extension with the Reds. I think he may have a little lingering animosity about how some of the front office (and their media puppets) threw him under the bus when he struggled. Of course, a lot of resentment can disappear if the offer is big enough. Personally, I think he'd be a little foolish to take an extension; why not see what the FA market is like at age 28 with the numbers he's put up the last two years?

Getting back to the subject--With Infante off the market, the Yankees are in a perilous situation at 2B. Kelly Johnson just doesn't make it. I don't think the Reds would take just Gardner for Phillips, plus Phillips does have a no-trade clause that includes the Yankees. The latter would probably require some financial amplification to resolve, either more money per year or more years, the latter a very bad idea. So, what else do the Yankees have to offer in addition to Gardner, who will be a free agent at the end of 2014? And just as importantly to objective observers if not to the most intense Yankee fans, how do the Reds replace Phillips if he's dealt? All they have behind Phillips right now is Skip Schumaker, and that too just won't make it.

Good points ll, which is why I think that most of the Phillips/Homer to the Yanks is nothing more than fanboy wishing. The Yanks simply don't have the bullets to pull off a deal like that, and the Reds are still a contender, so creating holes in THEIR club is certainly not what they need at this point. People are forgetting that they lost 200 innings pitched when Arroyo left, they certainly can't afford to lose another 200 if they deal Bailey. With the new TV contract, the Phillips deal is a sweetheart...4 years left at 50 million for a player of his calibre is not a problem.

The only real trade partner of need for the Yanks is up the road a bit in Boston...and I'm pretty sure that deal isn't going to happen.

[Don Quixote]

From Rotoworld--

"Yankees team president Randy Levine clarified Sunday that the team has "absolutely no intention' of trading Brett Gardner.
Speculation has run rampant since the Yankees signed Jacoby Ellsbury that they would have to deal an outfielder, but Gardner appears to be staying put. Levine noted that the organization likes the dynamic of Gardner and Ellsbury at the bottom and top of the lineup, and the tremendous defensive situation they provide together in the outfield.
Source: ESPN New York"

Yankee supporters must really hold their breaths every time Randy Levine "clarifies" something. Cashman must have a mini-stroke every time anyone puts a microphone near that guy's face.

I'm not saying the Yankees should trade Gardner, but he has the most trade value among all of their position players. Who else among their non-pitchers could bring a quality regular, other than the guys they just signed and presumably intend to keep?

Now, I have a question, and it is not intended to be at all sarcastic or snarky. In all seriousness and objectivity--What do the Yankees have to offer in trade besides Gardner? Are there any objectively-viewed top prospects in their system? Please enlighten me.

[Grinch]

What do the Yankees have to offer in trade besides Gardner? Are there any objectively-viewed top prospects in their system? Please enlighten me.

In the past the stock answer was "willingness to take on a bad contract" now I doesn't appear to be their M.O. They certainly do not have any top prospects. Guys like Betances, Banuelos, Heathcott and Williams have not developed as planned.

[Bodhizefa]

Guys like Betances, Banuelos, Heathcott and Williams have not developed as planned.

With the exception of Banuelos, I'd say pretty much all of them have developed just as many speculated

[Don Quixote]

With the exception of Banuelos, I'd say pretty much all of them have developed just as many speculated

Come on, Bodz. I did say "it is not intended to be at all sarcastic or snarky". I'm playing nice, trying to find out from those closest to the team in question how they objectively see it.

I may agree with you, but that's because it's fun, not necessarily because it's true. I CAN be convinced otherwise by a Yankees fan or observer.

[BuckyBuckner]

With the exception of Banuelos, I'd say pretty much all of them have developed just as many speculated

Isn't Williams young enough to still have a chance of being a solid leadoff hitter? A similar player to Gardner? Certainly not a great trade chip. I'd agree with you about Betances and Heathcott, though I think Betances has a chance of being a good reliever if he can get his control in check.

The other two guys not mentioned are Gary Sanchez and Tyler Austin. Austin is probably the best potential. But DQ, there isn't much there.

[Don Quixote]

Isn't Williams young enough to still have a chance of being a solid leadoff hitter? A similar player to Gardner? Certainly not a great trade chip. I'd agree with you about Betances and Heathcott, though I think Betances has a chance of being a good reliever if he can get his control in check.

The other two guys not mentioned are Gary Sanchez and Tyler Austin. Austin is probably the best potential. But DQ, there isn't much there.

To what do you attribute the barren landscape of their farm system? High draft position, poor developmental strategy, overwillingness to trade (which can severely deflate the confidence of the player development staff), just plain poor scouting/analysis (I can see where top evaluators wouldn't want to work for a team that always trades its "best" away), or a combination?

And is there any indication that the team is going to change its ways, other than drafting a little higher because they're not winning as much?

[revo]

To what do you attribute the barren landscape of their farm system? High draft position, poor developmental strategy, overwillingness to trade (which can severely deflate the confidence of the player development staff), just plain poor scouting/analysis (I can see where top evaluators wouldn't want to work for a team that always trades its "best" away), or a combination?

And is there any indication that the team is going to change its ways, other than drafting a little higher because their not winning as much?

It's bad drafting combined somewhat with losing picks for signing free agents.

Some amazing nuggets about the Yankees' horrific drafting skills:
- the Yankees ENTIRE drafts from 1997-2013 have been outhomered in their collective major league careers by Ty Wigginton. That's over 500 players drafted!
- over that same period, the player drafted by the Yanks who has the most major league HRs is Shelly Duncan, with 43
- if you go back to 1993, the player with the most HRs actually playing for the Yanks is Nick Johnson with 33
- since 1993, only 11 players drafted by the Yanks have actually hit a HR while playing for them
- there are only five active starting pitchers who were drafted and developed by the Yanks

Now of course, they were able to use their massive fiscal resources to sign and successfully develop international free agents, but if put on a level playing field like the draft, they're abysmal.

[TranaGreg]

- the Yankees ENTIRE drafts from 1997-2013 have been outhomered in their collective major league careers by Ty Wigginton. That's over 500 players drafted!

that is priceless!

[Don Quixote]

It's bad drafting combined somewhat with losing picks for signing free agents.
Some amazing nuggets about the Yankees' horrific drafting skills:
- the Yankees ENTIRE drafts from 1997-2013 have been outhomered in their collective major league careers by Ty Wigginton. That's over 500 players drafted!
- over that same period, the player drafted by the Yanks who has the most major league HRs is Shelly Duncan, with 43
- if you go back to 1993, the player with the most HRs actually playing for the Yanks is Nick Johnson with 33
- since 1993, only 11 players drafted by the Yanks have actually hit a HR while playing for them
- there are only five active starting pitchers who were drafted and developed by the Yanks

I am scared of your answer to this question--WHERE did you get those pearls of information?

Ty Wigginton. Wow. Talk about inconsistent. That guy made (2006-07-08) or broke a lot of Roto teams.

[Don Quixote]

Just saw this on Rotoworld--

"FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the Yankees are likely to sign Brian Roberts.
There's no word on the terms, but it'll likely be a one-year deal with a low base salary. Roberts would give the Yanks another option at second base along with Kelly Johnson, as the two could form a platoon following the departure of Robinson Cano. The 36-year-old is obviously a poor bet to stay healthy after averaging just 48 games played over the last four seasons."

Oh, yeah. A 36-year-old who's missed 70% of his team's games over the last FOUR years. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Look, the guy was good in 2003-04 and dynamite from 2005 through 2009. Has anyone told the Yankees that this is 2014? Should anyone?