signing Ottavino a Fwar 2.0 relief pitcher last year is a bad idea?
We should be signing Ottavino and keeping Betances. I'm not that skeptical about Ottavino because I understand why he was so much better last year (I posted it earlier) - he made actual changes to his approach, pitch usage, and the way he trains, etc. So I think it's probably mostly sustainable. If there's any regression, it should be marginal.
Betances has a better track record and is a guy we know we can trust in the 8th. 2.36 career ERA and 2.32 career FIP in 381 innings. If we're trying to win a World Series now, Betances helps us get closer.
Many here expect the Yankees to resign Betances and I severely doubt they do that. They won't give him what he'll ask for and like Robertson before he's going to take the best offer elsewhere with the Yankees not extending him a qualifying offer.
I do believe Betances to have great trade value especially to a team he might not want to play for long term. A team that can risk offering a qualifying offer that he will likely turn down. A team that will get better than a 4th round pick.
Right now the Yankees have Britton and Green as established back end relievers under team control for 2020. Betances will be free agent and Chapman with a big year most likely will opt out. Adding Ottavino now and trading Betances give the Yankees pen continuity going forward which is important for team building.
Now the question is what can the Yankees get for 1 year of Betances at maybe 7 million? The Yankees did very well in the past selling both Chapman and Miller. If say the Rockies lose Ottavino would they be interested in Betances? Would they give up Garrett Hampson plus?
I want the Yankees to maximize value instead of giving it away for free if Betances leaves as a free agent. I don't think there is all that much difference if the Yankees swap out Betances for Ottavino this season plus we get some 2020 security for the pen as well.
will get more than we can or should pay him. He's a fantastic reliever when he's right, but he can lose it for long stretches. Plus we have a lot invested in the pen, and we'll have other spending priorities in the next few years.
will get more than we can or should pay him. He's a fantastic reliever when he's right, but he can lose it for long stretches. Plus we have a lot invested in the pen, and we'll have other spending priorities in the next few years.
Keep in mind that Betances and his agent have butted heads with the Yanks over salary before. When Betances hits FA, he is going highest bidder- and that's not likely to be the Yanks.
Remember, unless Chapman opts out of his deal, Betances is going to be the best reliever on the FA market next winter. That means some closer hungry team is going to pay him like one. The going rate is now between $15-17M, depending on the years. Kimbrel is still on the market because his agent got greedy and was demanding 6 years- and teams appear to be unwilling to go more than 3.
Even if the yankees have no plans to resign Betances
regardless of whether or not Chapman opts out, I still wouldn't trade him now. If the pen is fully healthy, they sign Ottavino who pitches like he did last year and Britton returns to his pre-injury self I might consider it at the deadline but they're legitimate contenders this year and a year of Betances could go a long way towards that goal if he's on his game, especially if Chapman's knee flares up and/or Britton is solid but unspectacular (like last year).
RE: Even if the yankees have no plans to resign Betances
regardless of whether or not Chapman opts out, I still wouldn't trade him now. If the pen is fully healthy, they sign Ottavino who pitches like he did last year and Britton returns to his pre-injury self I might consider it at the deadline but they're legitimate contenders this year and a year of Betances could go a long way towards that goal if he's on his game, especially if Chapman's knee flares up and/or Britton is solid but unspectacular (like last year).
This.
If Betances walks, so be it.
The Yanks are trying to win a World Series now - they shouldn't make any trades that make the MLB team weaker.
Not only that - but it repeats the same issue as there was the last time people were talking about trying to deal him.
If you're looking at dealing Betances at the deadline, the pool of potential suitors will be limited to teams in the postseason hunt.
Since NYY won't want to help any AL teams, they are obviously not going to deal Betances to a team they may need to beat to get to the WS. That limits their potential suitors to NL teams with postseason aspirations.
So, if you want to swing a trade mid-season with him, you're going to be dealing with limited options in terms of teams who will be interested and willing to give up good compensation.
NYY should be looking to keep Dellin and add Ottavino.
NYY extends Betances. I want him to stay a Yankee.
Agreed. A New York guy who grew up in the system and is a true Yankee. He's a guy I'd love to keep. Not to mention he's our best reliever when he's on.
Did Cashman plan out his initial remarks about trading him or did he uncharacteristically say something dumb that maybe he doesnt want to see through right now? Lets just say they cant get the return for Gray that they want in a trade and hes on the Yanks this whole year. Hes a UFA in 2020 and what if, by some minor miracle, he is able to have a really nice bounce back year and ditch whatever mental issues hes had so far in NY and is able to ignore the fact that his organization publicly thinks hes a lousy player? Theres no chance he sticks around in 2020 after these shenanigans. In all likelihood this doesnt play out anywhere near as speculated, but even if theres a slim chance, Cashman has squashed any potential of Gray with this club going forward. What was the point?
I think he's traded within the next few weeks, if nothing other than to get NYY back under the Hal tax threshold again (unless Machado is signed and they are for sure blowing past it). Cots has the Yankees at 207M after the Britton signing. Gray is projected to count 9M for 2019.
Reliever Kelvin Herrera and the Chicago White Sox are in agreement on a two-year, $18 million deal with a vesting third-year option, sources tell ESPN.
The #Yankees are either playing it coy, trying to gauge the Andujar trade market, or simply have no intention of offering Manny Machado a $200 million-plus contract. The Chicago #WhiteSox and Philadelphia #Phillies remain the most aggressive teams for the prized infielder.
Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 7, 2019
Nightengale is the hackiest hack who has ever hacked...
I don't buy that shit for a second. Doesn't mean they're all in, but little to nothing he says tips the scales.
One of us is guilty of wishful thinking because I think the whole Machado pursuit was a bluff to bring Harper to the table at a more reasonable price. As bluffs go, it doesn't seem to be working. But maybe this is all about me preferring Harper to Machado by a wide margin (and thus assuming the Yankees see it as I do).
RE: If they didn't offer Machado a 200+ million contract, what could they
I just don't think Nightengale does/did either. It wouldn't shock me if they did sign him, but it wouldn't shock me if he went somewhere else and it came out that the Yankees never made a serious offer to him.
Harper signing with NYY would shock me. Stanton level of shock. I just can't see them paying what Ted Lerner seems willing to pay for a guy with a fantastic offensive skillset but one that is duplicative of what the Yankees already have on the roster twice over. Yeah handedness, but I can't see the Yanks valuing that at $300 mil plus, especially with a luxury tax bill on top of that.
The #Phillies are making it clear to marquee free-agent starter Patrick Corbin that they won't be out-bid, and teams still in the hunt for Corbin's services realize it, too.
RE: RE: If they didn't offer Machado a 200+ million contract, what could they
I could be dead wrong, but I don't see him accepting anything below 7 years (and only that length with the Yankees) or 29 million AAV unless it's 9-10 year deal.
I just assumed the Yanks were willing to go 203-210 million.
Harper signing with NYY would shock me. Stanton level of shock. I just can't see them paying what Ted Lerner seems willing to pay for a guy with a fantastic offensive skillset but one that is duplicative of what the Yankees already have on the roster twice over. Yeah handedness, but I can't see the Yanks valuing that at $300 mil plus, especially with a luxury tax bill on top of that.
I think it will come down to how badly Harper wants to be a Yankee. I don't know a lot about him, but he strikes me as a weird dude, given his Mormon affiliation and the fact that he doesn't drink booze but "admits" to drinking coffee. Someone like that with his sense of history is more likely to say to Boros, "your job is to get me a deal with the Yankees for the most amount of money possible....but it has to be with the Yankees." And so the Yankees only need to be in the "ballpark" of what the Senators--excuse me, the Nationals--offer. Of course if the Yankees aren't even close, Harper may consider it an insult and say fuck the Yankees.
p.s.--Don't know if it's meaningful, but in a gameshow style Q&A session, Boros was asked what's the best stadium to visit and he answered, Yankee Stadium. You have to believe that he wants his most valued client playing in the media capital of the solar system (if not the Univese!).
but I can't see them in on a guy with a redundant skillset anywhere near that price. And other than the "fully operational death star" crack, there hasn't been a scintilla of a whisper of a rumor suggesting the Yankees are actually in on him. Could Boras really maintain that level of radio silence?
In fact, sources within the Yankees organization tell me the expected range for a Machado deal will be between $220 million and $270 million, probably for no more than seven years, and there is no guarantee the Yankees will be in if the numbers wind up in the upper half of that range. And the Yankees signing of Troy Tulowitzki last week seems like an insurance policy in case they decide to bow out on Manny. Yainee could lead Manny Machado to the Yankees. Yainee could lead Manny Machado to the Yankees.
But there is hope, Yankee fans. According to another source, who knows Machado well, there is a wild-card to this negotiation who might tip the balance toward the Bronx: Machados wife, Yainee.
According to the source, Yainee Machado who is the sister of Yonder Alonso, the first baseman recently traded to the Chicago White Sox, one of the teams Machado visited on his sales tour is enamored of New York City and very much would like to live here.
Harper signing with NYY would shock me. Stanton level of shock. I just can't see them paying what Ted Lerner seems willing to pay for a guy with a fantastic offensive skillset but one that is duplicative of what the Yankees already have on the roster twice over. Yeah handedness, but I can't see the Yanks valuing that at $300 mil plus, especially with a luxury tax bill on top of that.
I think it will come down to how badly Harper wants to be a Yankee. I don't know a lot about him, but he strikes me as a weird dude, given his Mormon affiliation and the fact that he doesn't drink booze but "admits" to drinking coffee. Someone like that with his sense of history is more likely to say to Boros, "your job is to get me a deal with the Yankees for the most amount of money possible....but it has to be with the Yankees." And so the Yankees only need to be in the "ballpark" of what the Senators--excuse me, the Nationals--offer. Of course if the Yankees aren't even close, Harper may consider it an insult and say fuck the Yankees.
p.s.--Don't know if it's meaningful, but in a gameshow style Q&A session, Boros was asked what's the best stadium to visit and he answered, Yankee Stadium. You have to believe that he wants his most valued client playing in the media capital of the solar system (if not the Univese!).
We get it- you've been fixated on Harper forever and are REALLY having trouble letting go of it.
He's going back to the Nats- for a LOT more money than the Yanks will offer.
Milton often has trouble letting go of his "guy" once he's identified him. Bryce Harper is the new Josh Rosen... just a much more accomplished and expensive version playing a different sport. :)
Milton often has trouble letting go of his "guy" once he's identified him. Bryce Harper is the new Josh Rosen... just a much more accomplished and expensive version playing a different sport. :)
I was also all-in on Gerrit Cole going way back to June 2017 when there was first talk that he might be available at the trading deadline. And then after all the talk last hot stove that a trade was imminent and it was just a matter of when, not if. And then of course the Astros swooped in and got him for what looked like a bargain price to me. "Maybe this time I'll be lucky" - ( New Window )
Robertson is a better reliever than Britton and will be for the length of the contract. I love Mike, but he is absolutely nuts. Said you need to squint to see decline in Robertson last year. Again, he is nuts. Over the last 1/3 of the season you could see Dave lost a bit of control. I will say if the curve was snapping off, he was good. But sometimes he got hammered. Britton never got hammered. He was sloppy a time or two.
That said I wanted DRob back along with Britton. But I wanted Britton 1st. To me Ottavino is a 33 y/o 1 year wonder.
Robertson is a better reliever than Britton and will be for the length of the contract. I love Mike, but he is absolutely nuts. Said you need to squint to see decline in Robertson last year. Again, he is nuts. Over the last 1/3 of the season you could see Dave lost a bit of control. I will say if the curve was snapping off, he was good. But sometimes he got hammered. Britton never got hammered. He was sloppy a time or two.
That said I wanted DRob back along with Britton. But I wanted Britton 1st. To me Ottavino is a 33 y/o 1 year wonder.
Thoughts? RAB - ( New Window )
I agree. Don't get the Ottavino obsession. I'd like the signing probably but I'd rather DRob over Ottavino and I agree with you that DRob look descendent.
There's reason to believe Ottavino's 2018 wasn't smoke and mirrors. He basically scrapped his 4 seamer. Walk rate dipped, k rate jumped. Has a killer slider now.
He was actually even better @ Coors (2.10 ERA, 0.757 WHIP)
He really worked on his craft and I think what he's doing is fairly sustainable.
BUT...
There's one major issue with Ottavino and it's that he can't control the run game. He's very slow to the plate and the 25% steal rate against him was the highest in baseball.
I'm not concerned with regression as a pitcher - I am concerned with this.
$25 mill on a guy that at 33 y/o all of a sudden finds nirvana after years of mediocrity. But that is up to Cash and his scouts to believe it and take a chance.
Remember, Kahnle all of a sudden found 98/99 mph and then poof, it was gone and he was 27.
$25 mill on a guy that at 33 y/o all of a sudden finds nirvana after years of mediocrity. But that is up to Cash and his scouts to believe it and take a chance.
Remember, Kahnle all of a sudden found 98/99 mph and then poof, it was gone and he was 27.
Kahnle always threw hard- he was a mid-upper 90's guy when the Yanks drafted him years ago. It was control and command that eluded him for years.
Kahnle put it together under Cooper's tutelage in Chicago- and now he needs to prove that he is effective away from Cooper.
Ottavino was elite last year. Other than 2017 (when he stunk)
$25 mill on a guy that at 33 y/o all of a sudden finds nirvana after years of mediocrity. But that is up to Cash and his scouts to believe it and take a chance.
Remember, Kahnle all of a sudden found 98/99 mph and then poof, it was gone and he was 27.
Kahnle always threw hard- he was a mid-upper 90's guy when the Yanks drafted him years ago. It was control and command that eluded him for years.
Kahnle put it together under Cooper's tutelage in Chicago- and now he needs to prove that he is effective away from Cooper.
Yes, he threw in the mid/upper mid 90's but was wild, true. But all of a sudden he got to 98/99 and gained his control, yes. And then he lost velocity and control last year (injury?).
My point was Ottavino is not a sure fire certainty to repeat in 2019 after "finding it" in 2018.
Kahnle isn't a great comp - it's not a velo thing with Ottavino, it's approach. If the only thing that changed was that Ottavino was throwing harder, I'd be skeptical too - but that's not what led to his excellent 2018 season.
Kahnle isn't a great comp - it's not a velo thing with Ottavino, it's approach. If the only thing that changed was that Ottavino was throwing harder, I'd be skeptical too - but that's not what led to his excellent 2018 season.
Agree with this 100% on Ottavino.
The thing about Kahnle is he cost only 1.5M this year and if you get the player that averaged 98.5MPH on his FB in 2017 versus the guy that topped out last year at 97.5 it's a big win for NYY. The top FA relievers should all be off the board by Friday, so let's see where Ottavino lands - anywhere but Boston...
and Britton is a legit closer. Signing Britton makes sense simply because the Yankees have a group of hard throwing righties to vie for Robertson's innings. Green, Holder, Kahnle and a bunch of young guys should be able to fill Robertson's shoes.
if the Yankees are really pussy-footing the Machado situation or are lukewarm to a level that they're really willing to lose out on him...
sure, in a vacuum, not paying $250M-$300M can be defended.
But putting all of that aside -- do we really think Cashman is prepared to trot out a left-side IF of Andujar and Tulo for what could easily be 100+ games in a season where a WS title is the realistic expectation?
I have to think it's a "no". And that's what makes me think they do what it takes to get Machado or that there is yet another contingency plan for 3B/SS if he doesn't sign.
if the Yankees are really pussy-footing the Machado situation or are lukewarm to a level that they're really willing to lose out on him...
sure, in a vacuum, not paying $250M-$300M can be defended.
But putting all of that aside -- do we really think Cashman is prepared to trot out a left-side IF of Andujar and Tulo for what could easily be 100+ games in a season where a WS title is the realistic expectation?
I have to think it's a "no". And that's what makes me think they do what it takes to get Machado or that there is yet another contingency plan for 3B/SS if he doesn't sign.
I was thinking about this yesterday. We don't even know if Tulo's body can hold up at all, let alone to play short at an average level. Those two combined with Voit's defensive liabilities would make for one porous infield.
Recent history says absolutely not, but Tulo gives the Yanks another option to work with to piece it together until Didi gets back. Tulo along with Tyler Wade, Thairo Estrada and Hanser Alberto gives the Yanks four legit defensive shortstops to work with. If none work out, Cashman will have to swing a deal for a stopgap.
CC cleared to work out and resume baseball activities
What is the fWAR lifetime and Betances is 3 years younger?
We should be signing Ottavino and keeping Betances. I'm not that skeptical about Ottavino because I understand why he was so much better last year (I posted it earlier) - he made actual changes to his approach, pitch usage, and the way he trains, etc. So I think it's probably mostly sustainable. If there's any regression, it should be marginal.
Betances has a better track record and is a guy we know we can trust in the 8th. 2.36 career ERA and 2.32 career FIP in 381 innings. If we're trying to win a World Series now, Betances helps us get closer.
Many here expect the Yankees to resign Betances and I severely doubt they do that. They won't give him what he'll ask for and like Robertson before he's going to take the best offer elsewhere with the Yankees not extending him a qualifying offer.
I do believe Betances to have great trade value especially to a team he might not want to play for long term. A team that can risk offering a qualifying offer that he will likely turn down. A team that will get better than a 4th round pick.
Right now the Yankees have Britton and Green as established back end relievers under team control for 2020. Betances will be free agent and Chapman with a big year most likely will opt out. Adding Ottavino now and trading Betances give the Yankees pen continuity going forward which is important for team building.
Now the question is what can the Yankees get for 1 year of Betances at maybe 7 million? The Yankees did very well in the past selling both Chapman and Miller. If say the Rockies lose Ottavino would they be interested in Betances? Would they give up Garrett Hampson plus?
I want the Yankees to maximize value instead of giving it away for free if Betances leaves as a free agent. I don't think there is all that much difference if the Yankees swap out Betances for Ottavino this season plus we get some 2020 security for the pen as well.
Keep in mind that Betances and his agent have butted heads with the Yanks over salary before. When Betances hits FA, he is going highest bidder- and that's not likely to be the Yanks.
Remember, unless Chapman opts out of his deal, Betances is going to be the best reliever on the FA market next winter. That means some closer hungry team is going to pay him like one. The going rate is now between $15-17M, depending on the years. Kimbrel is still on the market because his agent got greedy and was demanding 6 years- and teams appear to be unwilling to go more than 3.
This.
If Betances walks, so be it.
The Yanks are trying to win a World Series now - they shouldn't make any trades that make the MLB team weaker.
Not only that - but it repeats the same issue as there was the last time people were talking about trying to deal him.
If you're looking at dealing Betances at the deadline, the pool of potential suitors will be limited to teams in the postseason hunt.
Since NYY won't want to help any AL teams, they are obviously not going to deal Betances to a team they may need to beat to get to the WS. That limits their potential suitors to NL teams with postseason aspirations.
So, if you want to swing a trade mid-season with him, you're going to be dealing with limited options in terms of teams who will be interested and willing to give up good compensation.
NYY should be looking to keep Dellin and add Ottavino.
Link below.
COTS Yankees 2019 Payroll - January 7, 2019 - ( New Window )
Verified account @JeffPassan
Reliever Kelvin Herrera and the Chicago White Sox are in agreement on a two-year, $18 million deal with a vesting third-year option, sources tell ESPN.
Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 7, 2019
It's very possible that the Yankees haven't made a formal offer.
The only seemingly confirmed offer to Machado is from the White Sox as reported a couple of days ago by Nightengale.
Harper signing with NYY would shock me. Stanton level of shock. I just can't see them paying what Ted Lerner seems willing to pay for a guy with a fantastic offensive skillset but one that is duplicative of what the Yankees already have on the roster twice over. Yeah handedness, but I can't see the Yanks valuing that at $300 mil plus, especially with a luxury tax bill on top of that.
5 years/$150M, 6 years/$174M, 7 years/$196M
I could be dead wrong, but I don't see him accepting anything below 7 years (and only that length with the Yankees) or 29 million AAV unless it's 9-10 year deal.
I just assumed the Yanks were willing to go 203-210 million.
12:17 AM - 9 Dec 2017
12:17 AM - 9 Dec 2017
Hahahahahahaha. Good one, thanks!
Harper signing with NYY would shock me. Stanton level of shock. I just can't see them paying what Ted Lerner seems willing to pay for a guy with a fantastic offensive skillset but one that is duplicative of what the Yankees already have on the roster twice over. Yeah handedness, but I can't see the Yanks valuing that at $300 mil plus, especially with a luxury tax bill on top of that.
p.s.--Don't know if it's meaningful, but in a gameshow style Q&A session, Boros was asked what's the best stadium to visit and he answered, Yankee Stadium. You have to believe that he wants his most valued client playing in the media capital of the solar system (if not the Univese!).
12:17 AM - 9 Dec 2017
Ummm- except that is exactly what happened- the Marlins took back Starlin Castro's bad deal to keep the Yanks below the luxury tax line.
A bad deal would have been Ellsbury.
Quote:
The #Yankees want to get under $197 million luxury cap so unless #Marlins take on Yankees bad contracts, Giancarlo Stanton is not coming
12:17 AM - 9 Dec 2017
Ummm- except that is exactly what happened- the Marlins took back Starlin Castro's bad deal to keep the Yanks below the luxury tax line.
Nightengale downplayed the possibility of a deal AS IT WAS HAPPENING because he didn't want to have to re-write a piece that was getting ready to run.
But there is hope, Yankee fans. According to another source, who knows Machado well, there is a wild-card to this negotiation who might tip the balance toward the Bronx: Machados wife, Yainee.
According to the source, Yainee Machado who is the sister of Yonder Alonso, the first baseman recently traded to the Chicago White Sox, one of the teams Machado visited on his sales tour is enamored of New York City and very much would like to live here.
Matthews: Why Manny Machado's wife, Yainee, could lead star to Yankees - ( New Window )
Quote:
Harper signing with NYY would shock me. Stanton level of shock. I just can't see them paying what Ted Lerner seems willing to pay for a guy with a fantastic offensive skillset but one that is duplicative of what the Yankees already have on the roster twice over. Yeah handedness, but I can't see the Yanks valuing that at $300 mil plus, especially with a luxury tax bill on top of that.
I think it will come down to how badly Harper wants to be a Yankee. I don't know a lot about him, but he strikes me as a weird dude, given his Mormon affiliation and the fact that he doesn't drink booze but "admits" to drinking coffee. Someone like that with his sense of history is more likely to say to Boros, "your job is to get me a deal with the Yankees for the most amount of money possible....but it has to be with the Yankees." And so the Yankees only need to be in the "ballpark" of what the Senators--excuse me, the Nationals--offer. Of course if the Yankees aren't even close, Harper may consider it an insult and say fuck the Yankees.
p.s.--Don't know if it's meaningful, but in a gameshow style Q&A session, Boros was asked what's the best stadium to visit and he answered, Yankee Stadium. You have to believe that he wants his most valued client playing in the media capital of the solar system (if not the Univese!).
We get it- you've been fixated on Harper forever and are REALLY having trouble letting go of it.
He's going back to the Nats- for a LOT more money than the Yanks will offer.
"Maybe this time I'll be lucky" - ( New Window )
That said I wanted DRob back along with Britton. But I wanted Britton 1st. To me Ottavino is a 33 y/o 1 year wonder.
Thoughts?
RAB - ( New Window )
That said I wanted DRob back along with Britton. But I wanted Britton 1st. To me Ottavino is a 33 y/o 1 year wonder.
Thoughts? RAB - ( New Window )
I agree. Don't get the Ottavino obsession. I'd like the signing probably but I'd rather DRob over Ottavino and I agree with you that DRob look descendent.
He was actually even better @ Coors (2.10 ERA, 0.757 WHIP)
He really worked on his craft and I think what he's doing is fairly sustainable.
BUT...
There's one major issue with Ottavino and it's that he can't control the run game. He's very slow to the plate and the 25% steal rate against him was the highest in baseball.
I'm not concerned with regression as a pitcher - I am concerned with this.
Remember, Kahnle all of a sudden found 98/99 mph and then poof, it was gone and he was 27.
Remember, Kahnle all of a sudden found 98/99 mph and then poof, it was gone and he was 27.
Kahnle always threw hard- he was a mid-upper 90's guy when the Yanks drafted him years ago. It was control and command that eluded him for years.
Kahnle put it together under Cooper's tutelage in Chicago- and now he needs to prove that he is effective away from Cooper.
Quote:
$25 mill on a guy that at 33 y/o all of a sudden finds nirvana after years of mediocrity. But that is up to Cash and his scouts to believe it and take a chance.
Remember, Kahnle all of a sudden found 98/99 mph and then poof, it was gone and he was 27.
Kahnle always threw hard- he was a mid-upper 90's guy when the Yanks drafted him years ago. It was control and command that eluded him for years.
Kahnle put it together under Cooper's tutelage in Chicago- and now he needs to prove that he is effective away from Cooper.
Yes, he threw in the mid/upper mid 90's but was wild, true. But all of a sudden he got to 98/99 and gained his control, yes. And then he lost velocity and control last year (injury?).
My point was Ottavino is not a sure fire certainty to repeat in 2019 after "finding it" in 2018.
Agree with this 100% on Ottavino.
The thing about Kahnle is he cost only 1.5M this year and if you get the player that averaged 98.5MPH on his FB in 2017 versus the guy that topped out last year at 97.5 it's a big win for NYY. The top FA relievers should all be off the board by Friday, so let's see where Ottavino lands - anywhere but Boston...
sure, in a vacuum, not paying $250M-$300M can be defended.
But putting all of that aside -- do we really think Cashman is prepared to trot out a left-side IF of Andujar and Tulo for what could easily be 100+ games in a season where a WS title is the realistic expectation?
I have to think it's a "no". And that's what makes me think they do what it takes to get Machado or that there is yet another contingency plan for 3B/SS if he doesn't sign.
sure, in a vacuum, not paying $250M-$300M can be defended.
But putting all of that aside -- do we really think Cashman is prepared to trot out a left-side IF of Andujar and Tulo for what could easily be 100+ games in a season where a WS title is the realistic expectation?
I have to think it's a "no". And that's what makes me think they do what it takes to get Machado or that there is yet another contingency plan for 3B/SS if he doesn't sign.
I was thinking about this yesterday. We don't even know if Tulo's body can hold up at all, let alone to play short at an average level. Those two combined with Voit's defensive liabilities would make for one porous infield.