NFT: Yanks stub their Toe

for a very cute player. A Walker/Torres combo have all of Toe’s positions covered. He got beat out by guys who can really hit. No crying in baseball.

Toe is one of those players that comes up big when needed, and a great locker room guy. But regardless, there are pros/cons to any of the guys that were being considered for assignment.

He was sent down because of #'s & because what he does can be covered by others.Plus,this is temporary as Yankee pitchers are pitching themselves off the roster as we speak & they'll go from 13 to 12 pitchers at some point.By these over-reactions,you'd have thought the Yankees sent Judge down!

the 25th/26th guy being sent to AAA is detrimental to the team, that is really nit picking. No doubt Toe served a important purpose on the team (and will again). But you cannot argue that Torres and Walker aren't better players than Toe and essentially can do everything Toe could do while opening up another spot on the bench. It also saves Austin's last option for another time. I believe Toe has a couple options left....

It was a tough call and they can't trust Bird yet, if ever. So Austin stays for a while.

to complain about whoever was sent down. There is no legitimate complaint to make about sending him down. He is a backup. I also think that the celebrated "clubhouse presence" is more of a media creation than anything else. Actually, I suspect that he is one who will talk to the media and that is driving any criticism, as they lose their access. Just a guess on that, but the overreaction strikes me as a personally-driven response rather than a meaningful one.

In comment 13976397 section125 said:

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the 25th/26th guy being sent to AAA is detrimental to the team, that is really nit picking. No doubt Toe served a important purpose on the team (and will again). But you cannot argue that Torres and Walker aren't better players than Toe and essentially can do everything Toe could do while opening up another spot on the bench. It also saves Austin's last option for another time. I believe Toe has a couple options left....

I think you might have a misconception about how options work. Austin does not have a "last option" remaining.

The situation is that the Yanks can bring him up/send him down as many times as they want this season. The team "option" is exercised the first time they send him down or bring a player up after adding to the roster.

Since Austin has already been sent down once this year, the Yanks have exercised the option year. You can send down/call up a player as many times as you want during that season.

With that said, teams generally get 3 option years. Keep in mind that Austin was originally called up to the Yanks in min-2016. He had a second short period in 2017. When they sent him to the minors early in 2018, that began his third option year.

Therefore, while the Yanks can exercise the right to send him down/recall him all of 2018, the issue is that when the season ends, he will be out of options.

That means that he cannot be sent back to the minors in 2019 without passing through waivers- which is a real risk.

This might mean roster trouble for him this winter. But none during the season.

In comment 13976417 rich in DC said:

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In comment 13976397 section125 said: Quote: the 25th/26th guy being sent to AAA is detrimental to the team, that is really nit picking. No doubt Toe served a important purpose on the team (and will again). But you cannot argue that Torres and Walker aren't better players than Toe and essentially can do everything Toe could do while opening up another spot on the bench. It also saves Austin's last option for another time. I believe Toe has a couple options left.... I think you might have a misconception about how options work. Austin does not have a "last option" remaining. The situation is that the Yanks can bring him up/send him down as many times as they want this season. The team "option" is exercised the first time they send him down or bring a player up after adding to the roster. Since Austin has already been sent down once this year, the Yanks have exercised the option year. You can send down/call up a player as many times as you want during that season. With that said, teams generally get 3 option years. Keep in mind that Austin was originally called up to the Yanks in min-2016. He had a second short period in 2017. When they sent him to the minors early in 2018, that began his third option year. Therefore, while the Yanks can exercise the right to send him down/recall him all of 2018, the issue is that when the season ends, he will be out of options. That means that he cannot be sent back to the minors in 2019 without passing through waivers- which is a real risk. This might mean roster trouble for him this winter. But none during the season.

Thanks rich. I completely misunderstood the term. The way the reporters have used it, I thought it was a defined number of times the team can send players to the minors.

First, Torres/Walker, as someone suggesred, don't fill his role. They don't seem to want to move Torres from 2B and I don't really blame them. So, they don't really have a backup SS right now. Second, I would rather have Torreyes at the platethan Walker right now. He's already proven he can hit in general and he's already been up enough in big moments for me to know I feel comfortable with him.

Do I think he should start? No. But, I think he is thetheir best bench player. He would stand to get more consistent ABs than Austin will.

I do understandthe options pktentially factoring in. But, the 13 to 12 pitchers not so much. We've been reading that for a couple of weeks now, dating back at least to the series in the NL park and it hasn't happened yet.

but i'd rather have Austin/Bird fighting it out for a week or two which is what I think this is about.

In comment 13976505 RasputinPrime said:

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but i'd rather have Austin/Bird fighting it out for a week or two which is what I think this is about.

If Austin was hitting I might agree. But, he's been a little cold. I think it's more important for him to get consistent ABs, which means AAA.

In comment 13976451 Matt M. said:

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First, Torres/Walker, as someone suggesred, don't fill his role. They don't seem to want to move Torres from 2B and I don't really blame them. So, they don't really have a backup SS right now. Second, I would rather have Torreyes at the platethan Walker right now. He's already proven he can hit in general and he's already been up enough in big moments for me to know I feel comfortable with him. Do I think he should start? No. But, I think he is thetheir best bench player. He would stand to get more consistent ABs than Austin will. I do understandthe options pktentially factoring in. But, the 13 to 12 pitchers not so much. We've been reading that for a couple of weeks now, dating back at least to the series in the NL park and it hasn't happened yet.

Something that maybe many here might not be aware of is how the Yanks are developing their INF prospects. They are no longer "locking in" players at a set position. Instead, they move them around on a near daily basis so that they become proficient at many spots.

For example, Torres was regularly used at 2B, SS and 3B in the minors. So are their other INF- Estrada, Wade, Avelino, etc.

Therefore, people should not get so concerned when the Yanks indicate that their INF will play multiple spots- this isn't a new thing for them- they have been trained to do it and even expect it.

In fact, depending on the matchup and how each player is doing, don't be surprised with Torreyes now in the minors if the Yanks try matchups where they put Torres at 3B and Walker at 2B- or even Torres at SS and Walker at 2B. Don't expect Walker to always be the one to move to 3B.