NFT: D-Rob to Phils

Wish Mets had been in on that.

Liked that they brought him back, but he wasn't quite as sharp last year so there was reason to suspect a decline, and he wants to close not set up.

Tough loss

signs Britton in short order. He's been a top my FA list.

In comment 14246082 JPinstripes said:

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signs Britton in short order. He's been a top my FA list.

This^^

Jeff Passan
‏Verified account @JeffPassan

With David Robertson off the board, Zach Britton looks like the next reliever to go. He and Yankees have been in discussions

I had a feeling Robertson was a goner all offseason. I think Britton and Ottavino will be the guys the Yanks target.

though I do agree he was a bit less effective last season, a bit under the radar.

which always seemed strange given his reliability in pinstripes. The thing about Playoff shares seems unlikely but...

Sad to see DRob go

Better options for Yanks.

But he's 34 the first week of the season and I don't think they want to be pay for his decline years.

Last season he was one of those guys whose stats look nice but just always seemed to come up short in big spots. I had much more confidence in Robertson, even a slightly diminished 2018 Robertson, than I ever had in Britton.

In comment 14246107 Greg from LI said:

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Last season he was one of those guys whose stats look nice but just always seemed to come up short in big spots. I had much more confidence in Robertson, even a slightly diminished 2018 Robertson, than I ever had in Britton.

Couldn�t agree more.

In comment 14246107 Greg from LI said:

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Last season he was one of those guys whose stats look nice but just always seemed to come up short in big spots. I had much more confidence in Robertson, even a slightly diminished 2018 Robertson, than I ever had in Britton.

I saw the same thing you did but I'm not sure where else they turn now besides him and/or Ottaviano. The bullpen is a bit short from a super-pen they strive for. Think Britton should be a priority and hope that he was just shaking off the rust for most of the season

I don't think Britton was all the way back last year - but it looked like he was getting closer.

The guy was virtually unhittable from 2014-2016.

I would bet on him having a really nice 2019 if he has no setbacks and I think he'll be back here.

Chance Adams' recent struggles spur the Yankees to move him back to the pen, and he forces his way to the Bronx and shines in the second half in relief.

I don't think Britton was anywhere near 100%. I am willing to bet he will return to form this year.

In comment 14246107 Greg from LI said:

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Last season he was one of those guys whose stats look nice but just always seemed to come up short in big spots. I had much more confidence in Robertson, even a slightly diminished 2018 Robertson, than I ever had in Britton.

Agree 100%. But, I'm still not tremendously upset over losing Robertson. I'm thinking it goes along the theory of better to get rid of a guy a year (or two) early than a year (or two) too late.

In comment 14246112 arcarsenal said:

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I don't think Britton was all the way back last year - but it looked like he was getting closer. The guy was virtually unhittable from 2014-2016. I would bet on him having a really nice 2019 if he has no setbacks and I think he'll be back here.

I lean this way with Britton in 2019 and forward.

In comment 14246107 Greg from LI said:

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Last season he was one of those guys whose stats look nice but just always seemed to come up short in big spots. I had much more confidence in Robertson, even a slightly diminished 2018 Robertson, than I ever had in Britton.

I sort of agree, maybe because we are totally familiar and comfortable with Robertson. And he was getting touched up a bit at the tail end of the year. Britton's control was just not there. Some days he was great; a couple he was lost.
I think moving forward, Britton is more likely to be more effective than DRob. Britton was 95-96 most of the time.

Nothing but best wishes to DRob and thanks for some very good seasons.

when it comes to Britton. I'm all about that bowling ball sinker, and I think he'll cut back on the walks as he further distances himself from the injury and gets that command back.

I absolutely love the profile for Yankee stadium.

and a tough loss. That said, going to let the offseason play out before opining on the loss.

Ottavino is 33 all of next season and has really only one excellent season. Subject to the Yankees really knowing the projectability of his arm vs. Robertson's through their mid-30s, i'd rather have kept Robertson.

with his injuries and his 40-man status the likelihood is they're going to move him to the pen and start him at Trenton or even SWB.

In comment 14246135 RasputinPrime said:

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and a tough loss. That said, going to let the offseason play out before opining on the loss. Ottavino is 33 all of next season and has really only one excellent season. Subject to the Yankees really knowing the projectability of his arm vs. Robertson's through their mid-30s, i'd rather have kept Robertson.

Robertson lived and died on the curve- and he was really struggling with command of it at several points last year. As good as he was in 2017, his walk and hit rates climbed back up in 2018 to the higher end of his career norms.

Robertson will be 34 in early April. Better to let him get paid elsewhere if the command is faltering.

can't blame him. He had a heck of a career here. One of the best examples of a long stride creating deceptive speed.

I'd like to see them go after Ottavino

were it is better to let a player go a year too soon, than a year too late. He is 33, and was solid but less effective last year.

But then again, the options floating around are both over 30 as well (Zach Britton & Adam Ottavino).

I assume he�ll be closing

In comment 14246146 Dunedin81 said:

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with his injuries and his 40-man status the likelihood is they're going to move him to the pen and start him at Trenton or even SWB.

I don't think he's that close. 52Ks in 64 innings at AA Trenton last year recovering from a blister.

German is the guy I think goes to the pen and excels this year. He has absolutely filthy stuff and should take a big step this year.

whereas I think with Acevedo the 40-man crunch obligates them to figure out what if any value they have there.

In comment 14246188 Dunedin81 said:

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whereas I think with Acevedo the 40-man crunch obligates them to figure out what if any value they have there.

I want to agree, but that K rate was down at AA last year and that's alarming. He probably is a starter at AAA to begin the year next year. He has a big arm topping out close to 100 on the FB and surprisingly good control for such a big guy. One of German, Adams or Cessa should win the long man role out of ST. My money is on German.

I think Loaisaga stays a starter and begins at AAA and is the 1st man up if injury.

Remember, he was a closer in college. The Yankees thought he might be able to make it as a starter so they moved him. He still offers plenty of promise as a reliever.

he was one of the multi-inning relief guys ala Miller's role a few years ago. But yeah, could definitely relieve.

As for Acevedo's K rate, his K rate was down but he wasn't healthy all year.

.

The Yanks have a bunch of young righty power arms on the way. Having lefties Chapman, Britton and Tarpley (who looked very good in limited duty) to go along with righties Betances, Green and Holder means the Yanks don't have a ton of room in the pen anyway. Domingo Acevedo could be Betances 2.0 and he should be knocking on the door in 2019. They will still have Kahnle, Adams, German, Cessa, Cole and Harvey trying to grab the last spots.

Jacob Lindgren wasn't the closer for Mississippi State, Jon Holder was (and was nowhere near the relief prospect Lindgren was). Not always the case, but usually.

.

I don't think he was completely healthy last year and would fully expect him to be much more effective.

Robertson wasn't nearly as good as he's been in the past and was somewhat a liability in those high leverage situations - much more so than in previous seasons. I'm not too upset about the loss.

In comment 14246249 Greg from LI said:

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.

Successive arm injuries, never came back. Was in the Braves system for awhile, may still be there. To my knowledge hasn't pitched professionally since 2016.

When they do they start to leak that they would "have gone 5 years on Harper/ Machado at X money didn't want to go past 5 years"?

It is a complete joke that they aren't in on either of these guys. And their outfield depth is very bad, and thats with Cespedes coming back....

have had a solid off-season so far IMV.

Adding Familia, Diaz, Cano and Ramos while dumping Bruce and Swarzak is good work from BVW. Still time to go.

I have NO IDEA how legit the source is so don't kill the messenger. Just figured it was worth sharing since Fox Sports Radio tweeted it out.
Link - ( New Window )

Jon Heyman
‏

yankees seem focused on Zach Britton for the pen. he is believed to have multiple offers. but nyy wants to bring him back.

has been deleted.

In comment 14246425 Dave in Hoboken said:

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has been deleted.

That's weird. It's still on their home page but can't click through. They also deleted the tweet. I think because the title was definitely over the top, as if he was breaking that they had signed Manny. Here's a tweet with a quote from the segment.
Link - ( New Window )

He looked good last year

the couple of unofficial yankees-related Twitter sources who have said previously that Manny to NYY is a certainty are basically doubling down in the face of the CWS stuff.

Feels like this balloon should get popped soon one way or the other.

In comment 14246456 BIG FRED 1973 said:

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He looked good last year

I like Tarpley, sits 94-95 and his FB dives down hard. He was one of the players sent back from the Bucs for Ivan Nova. Scranton - YS3 Shuttle the first few months of 2019.

In comment 14246474 bigbluehoya said:

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the couple of unofficial yankees-related Twitter sources who have said previously that Manny to NYY is a certainty are basically doubling down in the face of the CWS stuff. Feels like this balloon should get popped soon one way or the other.

All a guess.

unless the money is absolutely far beyond what anyone else is offering. That organization is pure dogshit.