Brendan Kuty
Verified account @BrendanKutyNJ
5m5 minutes ago
Cashman on J.A. Happ: "He was a performer. He took the ball every five days. He was a competitor. He came as advertised, a real pro. Had a veteran presence within that clubhouse, knew exactly what was necessary and brought it every five days in the most competitive division ..."
1 reply 11 retweets 33 likes
He's a very competent 4th starter...most teams would be thrilled to have him as their 4th. Who cares about the 3rd year? If he's done they eat his money.
This is my thinking too. I'd much rather have him as our #4 and use the extra money elsewhere than pay 6/140 to Corbin who's NL era doesn't exactly scream confidence to me if he pitched in the AL East.
all feel if Happ signed elsewhere after we weren't able to land Corbin. I think we'd all be very worried about how Cashman was going to solve the SP problem. And there aren't a ton of SPs of competence in FA, certainly none who performed as well as Happ did in 2018.
Going two years plus an option is great news, but even at three years it would have been worth landing him because he's a competent starter. And one extra year with him is quite different than 6 with Corbin, regardless of their relative ages. Because if Corbin broke down in 2 years, for example, we'd still have 4 years left to pay him, while if Happ loses it suddenly, we're not committed as long term to him.
The #Yankees expected to finalize JA Happs contract tomorrow. It will be a 2-year deal with a vesting option worth $34-35 million
JP- What's a vesting option? Is that a team option with a buyout clause?
No details on Happ's deal yet but in general a vesting option is an optional year at the end of the contract that becomes guaranteed if the player reaches a certain performance incentive threshold.
Vesting options are typically based on playing time incentives such as plate appearances, innings pitched, games started or games finished.
It's a very good contract for the Yankees not giving 3 years without this "performance clause".
I guess my question is: is this a team decision on 3rd year? If team does not want third year, they have to pay some performance based buyout? Or is it a player option? Or is it just too early to ask?
When done, Happs deal will be 2 yrs at $34M $17M each season with a $17M 2021 option based on games started or IP threshold in 2020. So could be 3 at $51M if maxes out #Yankees
You're welcome, dunde69, but JP's answer was much clearer!
I had a feeling that something mutually agreeable would be worked out. Happ wanted to stay and he threw the Yanks a bone by agreeing to a two year deal with a vesting option. If Happ is able to trigger the option, he is probably pitching well enough that the Yanks want him to stick around anyway. Good job, Cashman!
year it seems like the market is taking slower and slower to develop. Even last year had more action at the Winter meetings than this year and last years market was historically slow to develop. Typically nothing gets done today either aside from the Rule 5 draft then everyone hits the road for home. Surprised we really haven't seen anything in way of a Sonny Gray trade; still really have no feel for what a trade package looks like for him. We've heard about a dozen teams who "may" be interested in him but nothing of any substance.
I don't mind Cash's patience in letting the bids develop, but these WMs have been awfully slow!
.
Cash should have not thrown Gray's name out there as soon
as the season was over. He didn't do himself any favors trying to move him.
I just don't see any advantage in announcing to the baseball world, that it didn't work here, and I'm moving him.
Sometimes Cash can be transparent to a fault.
He will move him eventually, just saying.
A bit odd on Cleveland's part. Save a few bucks this year, but add another year with Santana, albeit effectively at $12.5M when you factor in Edwin's buyout.
More oddly, leaves Indians with Santana, Alonso, Bauers all at 1B. I know that Santana has played OF in his career and CLE has a need there, but I can't imagine that they're penciling him in at OF on anything more than an occasional basis.
and beyond the Indians likely move Ramirez to 2b and Gorman the 3b but Ramirez is a 3b and they still have Kipnis on the roster. Internally Chang is probably MLB ready so conceivably they could move Ramirez back to 2b and Chang 3b.
don't pay for the Athletic but I heard Sarris had a piece up yesterday which basically implied it wouldn't be the worst idea for the Yankees to sell high on Andujar if another team thinks he's going to improve X amount.
I like Andujar's bat quite a bit. I think he's a legit now and could get better if he can adapt to a more selective approach. I have serious doubts that he's ever much of a third baseman, though, because his biggest problem is reflexes. He just always seemed to react a half-second late.
Never heard of the player but welcome another Tyler....
Not totally unreasonable, I suppose. He will be 33 in April. Probably 3 years of very good pitching. WOuld make for a heck of a staff and wouldn't need to worry about CC.
Per source, #Tigers have traded Rule 5 selection Tyler Hill to the #Yankees.
Remember that this is from the minor league portion of the draft- so the Yanks get to keep this guy no matter what. Since he played high A ball last year, might go to AA next year.
Interesting player to get for near nothing- good OBP, some speed- but no power at all and made 8 OF errors last year.
Everyone expects the Yankees to sign Machado (Passan was the latest to predict it).
The Indians have let it be known that they want to trade a starter.
Signing Machado would make Andujar expendable.
The Indians have a hole at third base.
Keep in mind that signing Machado doesn't require a second move. The Yanks COULD decide to just put Machado at SS for 3-4 months while Didi rehabs and keep everyone else where they are.
Machado's SS play improved dramatically when he went to the Dodgers. The O's didn't really use defensive positioning based on analytics- and the Dodgers do use it. Saves a guy a step or two when he's in the right spot based on the numbers.
Allows the Yanks to punt on any big decisions until August or so. If Machado at SS and Andujar at 3B doesn't work out, the Yanks could move Andujar for whatever they need at the trade deadline and move Machado to 3B, Torres to SS and whoever at 2B.
well, they graduated some propsects and traded a bunch
two relievers and either a SS or 2B. Was just reading RAB. I get the impression Mike doesn't feel they will go for Machado the way he talks about the luxury tax limit and current salary # situation.
Missing on Corbin was not good, but not getting Machado would be a kick in the gnads...
going to be good enough, and locked-up enough that they don't need a ton of graduation in the next 1-3 years. They have plenty of time to let the youth simmer - there are some real upside players in those lower levels. There will be some risers.
At this point, a trade for Kluber and signing of Machado has to make the Yankees about even money to win 1 of the next 3 WS, with the chance to really do better.
And even after that mini window, you have a an awesome corps of late-20s talent, with some other big salaries coming off of the books creating flexibility (Tanaka, Happ, Kluber, Chapman, Ells).
That's almost $100M/year freed up. Sure there are corresponding holes, but the flexibility is key...they'll be able to lock up the players that they want to. And hopefully at that point some of the now 17-19 year olds that are really raw have risen.
Verified account @BrendanKutyNJ
5m5 minutes ago
Cashman on J.A. Happ: "He was a performer. He took the ball every five days. He was a competitor. He came as advertised, a real pro. Had a veteran presence within that clubhouse, knew exactly what was necessary and brought it every five days in the most competitive division ..."
1 reply 11 retweets 33 likes
This is my thinking too. I'd much rather have him as our #4 and use the extra money elsewhere than pay 6/140 to Corbin who's NL era doesn't exactly scream confidence to me if he pitched in the AL East.
Going two years plus an option is great news, but even at three years it would have been worth landing him because he's a competent starter. And one extra year with him is quite different than 6 with Corbin, regardless of their relative ages. Because if Corbin broke down in 2 years, for example, we'd still have 4 years left to pay him, while if Happ loses it suddenly, we're not committed as long term to him.
Verified account @BNightengale
The #Yankees expected to finalize JA Happs contract tomorrow. It will be a 2-year deal with a vesting option worth $34-35 million
Verified account @BNightengale
The #Yankees expected to finalize JA Happs contract tomorrow. It will be a 2-year deal with a vesting option worth $34-35 million
JP- What's a vesting option? Is that a team option with a buyout clause?
Quote:
Bob Nightengale
Verified account @BNightengale
The #Yankees expected to finalize JA Happs contract tomorrow. It will be a 2-year deal with a vesting option worth $34-35 million
JP- What's a vesting option? Is that a team option with a buyout clause?
No details on Happ's deal yet but in general a vesting option is an optional year at the end of the contract that becomes guaranteed if the player reaches a certain performance incentive threshold.
Vesting options are typically based on playing time incentives such as plate appearances, innings pitched, games started or games finished.
It's a very good contract for the Yankees not giving 3 years without this "performance clause".
Verified account
When done, Happs deal will be 2 yrs at $34M $17M each season with a $17M 2021 option based on games started or IP threshold in 2020. So could be 3 at $51M if maxes out #Yankees
Cash should have not thrown Gray's name out there as soon
as the season was over. He didn't do himself any favors trying to move him.
I just don't see any advantage in announcing to the baseball world, that it didn't work here, and I'm moving him.
Sometimes Cash can be transparent to a fault.
He will move him eventually, just saying.
That is known as a vesting option in the business.
Just did a 3-way deal:
Indians get: Carlos Santana, Jake Bauers
Mariners get: Edwin Encarnacion
Rays get: Yandy Diaz
A bit odd on Cleveland's part. Save a few bucks this year, but add another year with Santana, albeit effectively at $12.5M when you factor in Edwin's buyout.
More oddly, leaves Indians with Santana, Alonso, Bauers all at 1B. I know that Santana has played OF in his career and CLE has a need there, but I can't imagine that they're penciling him in at OF on anything more than an occasional basis.
No matter how you cut it, Cleveland still has some chicken left on the bone.
The Indians have let it be known that they want to trade a starter.
Signing Machado would make Andujar expendable.
The Indians have a hole at third base.
? Jose Ramirez started 137 games at 3b in 2018.. what am I missing?
The Indians have let it be known that they want to trade a starter.
Signing Machado would make Andujar expendable.
The Indians have a hole at third base.
Greg and BBH, Andujar and +??? for Kluber? Is that your reasoned surmise?
Who would the ??? be. Would be more than one, maybe two prospects?
Bryan Hoch
Verified account @BryanHoch
1m1 minute ago
#Yankees Rule 5 Draft recap:
RHP Nick Green to ARI
C Chris Rabago to KC
RHP Gilmael Troya to PHI
RHP Anyelo Gomez to BOS
OF Mark Payton to OAK
RHP Alexander Vargas to CHC
NYY select RHP Adonis De la Cruz from SEA.
Quote:
effectively leaves Cleveland with no MLB-ready 3B on the roster. HMMMMMM.
? Jose Ramirez started 137 games at 3b in 2018.. what am I missing?
Thought I had read that they wanted to move him back to 2B. But 3B definitely an option for him, brain fart on my part.
Link - ( New Window )
@EmilyCWaldon
9m9 minutes ago
Per source, #Tigers have traded Rule 5 selection Tyler Hill to the #Yankees.
Not totally unreasonable, I suppose. He will be 33 in April. Probably 3 years of very good pitching. WOuld make for a heck of a staff and wouldn't need to worry about CC.
something like:
Andujar / Loaisiga / Frazier / King
for
Kluber / Kipnis or Kluber / Santana or Kluber / Alonso
If push really came to shove, I am a big enough Kluber fan that I'd go Andujar / Florial / King. I need to keep Loaisiga and Frazier in that case.
@EmilyCWaldon
9m9 minutes ago
Per source, #Tigers have traded Rule 5 selection Tyler Hill to the #Yankees.
Remember that this is from the minor league portion of the draft- so the Yanks get to keep this guy no matter what. Since he played high A ball last year, might go to AA next year.
Interesting player to get for near nothing- good OBP, some speed- but no power at all and made 8 OF errors last year.
something like:
Andujar / Loaisiga / Frazier / King
for
Kluber / Kipnis or Kluber / Santana or Kluber / Alonso
If push really came to shove, I am a big enough Kluber fan that I'd go Andujar / Florial / King. I need to keep Loaisiga and Frazier in that case.
Boy oh boy, the cupboard is getting very bare....
The Indians have let it be known that they want to trade a starter.
Signing Machado would make Andujar expendable.
The Indians have a hole at third base.
Keep in mind that signing Machado doesn't require a second move. The Yanks COULD decide to just put Machado at SS for 3-4 months while Didi rehabs and keep everyone else where they are.
Machado's SS play improved dramatically when he went to the Dodgers. The O's didn't really use defensive positioning based on analytics- and the Dodgers do use it. Saves a guy a step or two when he's in the right spot based on the numbers.
Allows the Yanks to punt on any big decisions until August or so. If Machado at SS and Andujar at 3B doesn't work out, the Yanks could move Andujar for whatever they need at the trade deadline and move Machado to 3B, Torres to SS and whoever at 2B.
Missing on Corbin was not good, but not getting Machado would be a kick in the gnads...
At this point, a trade for Kluber and signing of Machado has to make the Yankees about even money to win 1 of the next 3 WS, with the chance to really do better.
And even after that mini window, you have a an awesome corps of late-20s talent, with some other big salaries coming off of the books creating flexibility (Tanaka, Happ, Kluber, Chapman, Ells).
That's almost $100M/year freed up. Sure there are corresponding holes, but the flexibility is key...they'll be able to lock up the players that they want to. And hopefully at that point some of the now 17-19 year olds that are really raw have risen.
J.A. Happ: 17M in 2019, 17M in 2020, 17M vesting option in 2021. 34M guaranteed. #yanks
Yes, EAGER. That's how slow the Winter Meetings have been!
Happs $17M 2021 option triggers with 165 IP or 27 starts in 2020 #Yankees.
Quote:
for the third year.
Happs $17M 2021 option triggers with 165 IP or 27 starts in 2020 #Yankees.
Thanks, Cro. Pretty low bar.
Quote:
In comment 14217611 bigbluehoya said:
Quote:
for the third year.
Happs $17M 2021 option triggers with 165 IP or 27 starts in 2020 #Yankees.
Thanks, Cro. Pretty low bar.
If Happ loses velocity and becomes ineffective no reason he can't be quickly replaced in the rotation to insure the 3rd year option never vests
Quote:
for the third year.
Happs $17M 2021 option triggers with 165 IP or 27 starts in 2020 #Yankees.
That's fair. If he's not performing, he won't get the innings/starts. My guess is he'll be pretty good.