Good morning all. Last season really put a damper on enthusiasm, hasn't it? No threads on ST or Yankees baseball. Even the addition of Juan Soto isn't enough to bring out the "faithful".
With pitchers and catchers reporting, I thought someone would have started a thread. With all this lack of talk, I suppose, most of you are not really expecting much this year. I know I am a bit disappointed with the offseason. Seems like pitching will be Gerrit Cole and some others. BP has a few arms and at least the team seems to find effective pitchers out of the pen.
As much as I love Nestor, I think adding that 3 or 4 mph really stresses his arm and he has trouble staying in the rotation. Schmidt was actually improving through the year and seems to be a reliable 4 or 5. Rodon, meh. Stroman - I liked him a few years back, but is he anything more than a 3 or 4 at this point? Anybody else you want to see from the Minors that could make the lineup?
Anyway, let's get the ball rolling on where we see them going this year. Have to believe Baltimore is still top of AL East with the Blue Jays not far behind.
From your lips to God's ears...this would change everything.
It doesn’t look like Torres will be moved, maybe they are just going to have him play out the contract. They are around 200M for payroll in 2025, you figure 50M for Soto I doubt they will throw 25M at Torres.
I read somewhere Peraza is hurt again. Use him at 3B if DJ can’t fins the fountain of youth. I wouldn’t mind packaging him and Pereira for pitching though. Maybe he just isn’t meant to play for the Yanks.
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obviously the pitchers looked good, the hitters not so much. DJLM struck out in both at-bats, he does not look good. Hope we're not counting on him too much.
You do realize it’s spring training. Basing DJLM performance on early spring training performance is ridiculous.
DJLM hasn't hit his career OPS in 2 full seasons now. He's just not the same hitter anymore. To me he's ideally suited as a utility player.
Lol not far off. I have learned when great talent meets hard work, prep and timing (FA walk year) exect a monster season more often than not. Soto is going to go bananas this season.
officially retires - ( New Window )
One could argue that he actually retired 2 years ago but only made it official today…
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hadn't heard that, but:
.462 .563 .692 1.255
small sample size, obviously
You put Jones in CF and Dominguez in LF. Try and re-sign Soto as the RF. If you re-sign Soto, you hope that Stanton has a good enough season to trade him and put Judge at DH or see if an off-season with the 1B glove takes.
After he cleans himself, I suspect that he continues to pursue Soto, starts looking for Stanton trade partners (usual caveat of how much money to include) and envisions an outfield/DH combo of Jones, The Martian, Judge, and Soto. Three plus fielders and all with strong arms
FYI
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Peraza
Cabrera
Pereira
Wells
Not looking like they belong.
On the other hand Volpe looks good so far. Spencer Jones too!
FYI Link - ( New Window )
I generally believe in the "Yankees can pull relievers out of thin air" mentality. But maybe it's time to be a little concerned? Right now they have Holmes, Loaisiga, Hamilton, Marinaccio....I think Effross won't be ready right away?
Considering that Lasagna is injury prone and Holmes is prone to blowups, I could see this getting ugly quickly.
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is a little behind schedule.
FYI Link - ( New Window )
I generally believe in the "Yankees can pull relievers out of thin air" mentality. But maybe it's time to be a little concerned? Right now they have Holmes, Loaisiga, Hamilton, Marinaccio....I think Effross won't be ready right away?
Considering that Lasagna is injury prone and Holmes is prone to blowups, I could see this getting ugly quickly.
I think you are forgetting about the two lefties they got from the Dodgers- Ferguson and Gonzalez- both experienced guys who will make the team. Luke Weaver MIGHT be the swing guy. Non-roster guy Nick Burdi has been amazing- though with him its always about health not stuff.
Peraza
Cabrera
Pereira
Wells
Not looking like they belong.
On the other hand Volpe looks good so far. Spencer Jones too!
They’ve only been playing for a week. Give it time.
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In comment 16417495 Semipro Lineman said:
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is a little behind schedule.
FYI Link - ( New Window )
I generally believe in the "Yankees can pull relievers out of thin air" mentality. But maybe it's time to be a little concerned? Right now they have Holmes, Loaisiga, Hamilton, Marinaccio....I think Effross won't be ready right away?
Considering that Lasagna is injury prone and Holmes is prone to blowups, I could see this getting ugly quickly.
I think you are forgetting about the two lefties they got from the Dodgers- Ferguson and Gonzalez- both experienced guys who will make the team. Luke Weaver MIGHT be the swing guy. Non-roster guy Nick Burdi has been amazing- though with him its always about health not stuff.
You're right, I knew I was forgetting someone. Still not pleased with the Kahnle news haha.
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DJLM (3B)
Soto (RF)
Judge (CF)
Rizzo (1B)
Gleyber (2B)
Stanton (DH)
Verdugo (LF)
L. Torrens (C)
Peraza (SS)
Rodon on the bump. I tend to think spring training games are 99% meaningless, but I'm working from home so will put this on in the background and am curious to see Rodon's velo. (But, again, it likely doesn't matter that much unless he's sitting at like 88 or 99 lol.)
Trevino should help the pitchers. Wells gets raves from the staff, but he's a rookie and has MUCH to learn about the big leagues. Trevino ought to be a very important teacher for Wells, while helping the staff with his framing and knowledge of the catching skills.
Trevino back this weekend - ( New Window )
Trevino should help the pitchers. Wells gets raves from the staff, but he's a rookie and has MUCH to learn about the big leagues. Trevino ought to be a very important teacher for Wells, while helping the staff with his framing and knowledge of the catching skills. Trevino back this weekend - ( New Window )
It will be good to get Trevino back behind the plate. Looking forward to he and Wells as the catchers this year.
What are you thinking with Stanton. He and DJLM are having slow starts at the plate, but I am less concerned about DJ. GS still looks terrible at the plate. I figure DJ will get it together, but even he may have lost enough bast speed to make himself ineffective. But I have zero confidence in GS going into the year...
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Pieces of the team are getting healthy. Now, let's see the guys struggling get over the spring plateau and get back to normal results.
Trevino should help the pitchers. Wells gets raves from the staff, but he's a rookie and has MUCH to learn about the big leagues. Trevino ought to be a very important teacher for Wells, while helping the staff with his framing and knowledge of the catching skills. Trevino back this weekend - ( New Window )
It will be good to get Trevino back behind the plate. Looking forward to he and Wells as the catchers this year.
What are you thinking with Stanton. He and DJLM are having slow starts at the plate, but I am less concerned about DJ. GS still looks terrible at the plate. I figure DJ will get it together, but even he may have lost enough bast speed to make himself ineffective. But I have zero confidence in GS going into the year...
Stanton is done and has been as a useful player. The slimmed down version isn't any better hitter. It sucks that he is almost untraceable and the Yankees are stuck with his contract. I hope next offseason, they just bite the bullet and eat the rest of his contract if they can't agree on some settlement. He's clogging up the DH position.
Stanton is done and has been as a useful player. The slimmed down version isn't any better hitter. It sucks that he is almost untraceable and the Yankees are stuck with his contract. I hope next offseason, they just bite the bullet and eat the rest of his contract if they can't agree on some settlement. He's clogging up the DH position.
Last year Giancarlo could not catch up to anything faster than a batting practice lob so I suspect that he is being strictly viewed as lineup insurance against a Jasson Dominguez setback. I can't imagine any scenario where he is back next year even if he does return to his old form because the Yankees won't have room.
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.083 .154. .083 .237
Maybe as your #8 hitter, but not leadoff please. I would go with Volpe there just for his speed if nothing else.
.083 .154. .083 .237
Maybe as your #8 hitter, but not leadoff please. I would go with Volpe there just for his speed if nothing else.
Me neither. If Volpe is back to being pre-homerun hunter Volpe, he should be leadoff.
Funny how his dad was once mentioned as the future boss of the Yanks- but got divorced and that was that (if I recall the story correctly).
.083 .154. .083 .237
Maybe as your #8 hitter, but not leadoff please. I would go with Volpe there just for his speed if nothing else.
MUCH too early to worry about it. I usually wait for the law of averages to kick in over a longer term- unless all you are doing is striking out, eventually some of those balls in play stop turning into outs and become hits.
Now, if those are the numbers in late May/early June- THEN you worry about it.
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Stanton is done and has been as a useful player. The slimmed down version isn't any better hitter. It sucks that he is almost untraceable and the Yankees are stuck with his contract. I hope next offseason, they just bite the bullet and eat the rest of his contract if they can't agree on some settlement. He's clogging up the DH position.
Last year Giancarlo could not catch up to anything faster than a batting practice lob so I suspect that he is being strictly viewed as lineup insurance against a Jasson Dominguez setback. I can't imagine any scenario where he is back next year even if he does return to his old form because the Yankees won't have room.
Something to keep in mind- the Marlins still have not yet begun the payments of $30M to the Yanks (due to begin soon). If Stanton can at least be a reasonable hitter with power (say .240 with 20+ HR), after this season he is due $32M, $29M and $25M over the next 3 seasons. If the Yanks were to throw that $30M into the deal, that's $56M over 3 years, or just under $19M a season. Not outrageous in today's market for a low AB high power guy. It also might help him mentally to get out of NY.
Sure he has the full no-trade clause. His favorite team, the Dodgers won't be trading for him since they need the DH slot for Ohtani. But what about the Angels?
Might be the best idea MLB has come up with in years.
Yankees breakout roster - ( New Window )
One of the biggest fumbles in sports history - imagine being next in line to run the freaking New York Yankees and you blow it with a DUI and subsequent divorce.
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In comment 16419678 GFAN52 said:
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Stanton is done and has been as a useful player. The slimmed down version isn't any better hitter. It sucks that he is almost untraceable and the Yankees are stuck with his contract. I hope next offseason, they just bite the bullet and eat the rest of his contract if they can't agree on some settlement. He's clogging up the DH position.
Last year Giancarlo could not catch up to anything faster than a batting practice lob so I suspect that he is being strictly viewed as lineup insurance against a Jasson Dominguez setback. I can't imagine any scenario where he is back next year even if he does return to his old form because the Yankees won't have room.
Something to keep in mind- the Marlins still have not yet begun the payments of $30M to the Yanks (due to begin soon). If Stanton can at least be a reasonable hitter with power (say .240 with 20+ HR), after this season he is due $32M, $29M and $25M over the next 3 seasons. If the Yanks were to throw that $30M into the deal, that's $56M over 3 years, or just under $19M a season. Not outrageous in today's market for a low AB high power guy. It also might help him mentally to get out of NY.
Sure he has the full no-trade clause. His favorite team, the Dodgers won't be trading for him since they need the DH slot for Ohtani. But what about the Angels?
I will be totally shocked Stanton is batting anywhere near .240 by the end of the season. His past MO is having a good season start batting, before the inevitable injury sidelines him, and he never gets his hitting back. I see him finishing another year hovering around .200.
Now, if those are the numbers in late May/early June- THEN you worry about it.
Gotta disagree with you there. First, DJLM *is* striking out a lot - he's striking out at a 33% rate this spring. Second, he's not passing the eye test - he's looked like crap at the plate so far. It's not like he's hitting the ball hard and being unlucky. Third, he's the slowest-footed player on the team.
This is who you want as your leadoff hitter? I think that's crazy. You need a higher OBP guy who's a threat to steal, to give the opposing pitcher something to worry about while pitching to Soto and Judge.
I'm not saying cut DJLM. I realize we're stuck with him at 3B for the foreseeable future. I'm just saying that a slow, weak-hitting infielder should bat 8th in the lineup and not lead off.
Might be the best idea MLB has come up with in years. Yankees breakout roster - ( New Window )
This does look very interesting - hopefully it will be televised somewhere
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Funny how his dad was once mentioned as the future boss of the Yanks- but got divorced and that was that (if I recall the story correctly).
One of the biggest fumbles in sports history - imagine being next in line to run the freaking New York Yankees and you blow it with a DUI and subsequent divorce.
I'm not sure I'd stay in a miserable marriage even to run the Yankees. (Although the DUI is obviously very bad behavior.)
I'm not saying cut DJLM. I realize we're stuck with him at 3B for the foreseeable future. I'm just saying that a slow, weak-hitting infielder should bat 8th in the lineup and not lead off.
Long story short, I realize that the Yankees have to be smart with their resources going forward so it makes sense to let him go but I am surprised that Torres hasn't gotten a short at third base. Maybe it's silly to switch him from a position he is comfortable at but I feel that he can handle it.
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I'm not saying cut DJLM. I realize we're stuck with him at 3B for the foreseeable future. I'm just saying that a slow, weak-hitting infielder should bat 8th in the lineup and not lead off.
Long story short, I realize that the Yankees have to be smart with their resources going forward so it makes sense to let him go but I am surprised that Torres hasn't gotten a short at third base. Maybe it's silly to switch him from a position he is comfortable at but I feel that he can handle it.
Well, his playing at SS really seemed to affect his offense (which remains odd to me), so I'm not sure he's the guy you want to mess around with. Plus, as you alluded to, I don't think he's in the long-term plans. (I suspect he's going to have a monster FA year and then we let someone massively overpay for him. Which is fine, he seems like a good kid, but not crucial.)
Volpe 2 for 3 from the leadoff spot tonight.
Kevin Smith (who?) started at 3B.
Peraza was seen leaving Steinbrenner Field around noon in street clothes Thursday as other players were arriving for a workout and then a night game against the Tigers.
Boone said that Peraza came to him Thursday morning and said the shoulder was bothering him again.
Eleven of the 13 position roster spots are a lock, with Grisham and the BUC adding to the nine starters.
Going in to ST, Peraza and Cabrera looked most likely to fill spots 12 and 13.
But Peraza has the bad shoulder and Cabrera (.048) is, thus far, going in the wrong direction from a disappointing 2023.
Jorbit Vivas is on the 40-man, but can't play SS and is hitting .143 himself.
Kevin Smith (Who? as Del Shofner says) can play SS, but isn't on the 40-man.
Everson Pereira is at .222 with 8 strikeouts and one XBH, (a homer) in 18 ST ABs.
Two of the named figure to make the OD roster. Jasson is in the wings to take a spot down the line, and Spencer after him, but the infield, which Cashman claims as an area of strength, is very thin. DJL is looking old and there is no depth.
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Peraza was seen leaving Steinbrenner Field around noon in street clothes Thursday as other players were arriving for a workout and then a night game against the Tigers.
Boone said that Peraza came to him Thursday morning and said the shoulder was bothering him again.
Probably the best thing for him- it would be bad for future development for him to sit on the bench in NY while Torres and Volpe play 150+ games each. He need to go to AAA- and either play every day or be on the IL there to start the season and then play every day.
I still think the Yanks backup middle INF isn't on the roster. But as the comments from Rosario in the NY Post today showed, the FAs out there are not sold on the Yanks because there isn't a plausible route to playing time outside of an injury.
I suspect that the Yanks will either have to make a waiver claim on a cut vet at the roster cut down time or make a last minute trade for a backup.
In the same vein, I think that Oswaldo Cabrera would also be best served going to AAA and playing the supersub role there to prepare him and allow him to re-focus his hitting.
The OF is set, backup C is set, just grab a supersub INF and maybe either a speed late inning guy or roll with an extra bullpen arm to start the season.
The drum that many (including me) have been beating for some time now, arguing that the focus on "launch angle" has been misguided and self-defeating.
I think Volpe has bought in. For Soto and Judge, it doesn't really matter because they are so good. Trevino is really a spray it around and hope it lands on the ground type. Rizzo looks back to normal and focused.
I hope that Torres got the message- but he's in a walk year and I think his focus will be to hit as many HR as he can in the hopes of a big multi-year deal somewhere.
I have no idea what to expect from DJLM or Stanton. I think DJLMs track record is that he will correct whatever went wrong last year and he is healthy. Stanton- I have no idea. At this point, I would take a .240 BA and power and call it a success.