Pinstripe Alley Jan 17, 2019
The Yankees will have some reshuffling to do if they make a major move
The signing of Manny Machado or Bryce Harper, or a trade for Corey Kluber, would leave the Yankees with logjam after logjam. While the Yankees’ offseason has often been frustrating, for the most part, it has at least been lively. They led off by bringing back their veteran stalwarts in Brett Gardner and CC Sabathia. They re-signed key trade additions from last year, J.A. Happ and Zach Britton. They traded for a high-upside starter in James Paxton, and shored up their infield depth with DJ LeMahieu and Troy Tulowitzki. Conspicuously, they haven’t appeared to aggressively pursue any of...
Pinstripe Alley Jan 11, 2019
Yankees avoid arbitration with all eligible players except Luis Severino
Good news: Severino is the only player heading to arbitration. The Yankees weren’t able to agree to terms with Luis Severino by today’s deadline, but we know that they’ve made agreements with Greg Bird, Austin Romine, and Aaron Hicks. News just broke that they’ve agreed to terms with Dellin Betances, Sonny Gray, Tommy Kahnle, and James Paxton too. Here’s a complete breakdown of the arbitration news: Bird - $1.2 million The first baseman had an injury-shortened and mostly ineffective 2018, but hopes to rebound this season. Betances - $7.125 million The right-hander is undoubtedly...
Pinstripe Alley Jan 9, 2019
Who could the Yankees sign as rotation depth?
Though the top of the rotation is set, there are a lot of questions near the bottom. Brian Cashman said he wanted to add to the rotation this offseason, but he has instead spent much of his time re-signing pieces from 2018 and trying to deal others. Although the addition of James Paxton was a big one, the Yankees haven’t done much to the rotation. Re-signing J.A. Happ and CC Sabathia is nice, but trading Justus Sheffield and likely Sonny Gray means that there will be very little quality depth waiting in the wings. Luckily, the MLB offseason has been moving at a glacial pace, which means...
River Ave. Blues Jan 8, 2019
Sabathia’s heart condition has allowed the Yankees to walk back their Sonny Gray comments
Spring Training is five weeks and one day away and, rather surprisingly, Sonny Gray is still a Yankee. The Yankees and Brian Cashman have made it crystal clear they want to trade Gray. That was the case even before they filled out the rotation with James Paxton, J.A. Happ, and CC Sabathia over the last […] The post Sabathia’s heart condition has allowed the Yankees to walk back their Sonny Gray comments appeared first on River Avenue Blues.
River Ave. Blues Dec 29, 2018
The Yankees Can Afford to Sign Both Bryce Harper and Manny Machado
When Brian Cashman called the Yankees a “fully operational Death Star” during the Winter Meetings, he wasn’t lying: the team’s talented young roster is fresh off of a 100-win season and back-to-back postseason appearances. If you factor in the acquisition of the often-dominant James Paxton and the rumor that the Yankees are believed to be […] The post The Yankees Can Afford to Sign Both Bryce Harper and Manny Machado appeared first on River Avenue Blues.
Pinstripe Alley Dec 27, 2018
Can J.A. Happ remain an effective starter for the Yankees?
Happ has found success due to a high spin rate on his fastball, but that rate has been trending downward. Last year’s ALDS loss highlighted the Yankees’ need for starting pitching help. Brian Cashman almost immediately addressed that by trading for lefty James Paxton early in the offseason. It was clear, however, that Cashman wasn’t done. He wanted to add two quality starters to the rotation by spring training. The second starter turned out to not be Patrick Corbin, but instead a returning J.A. Happ. The veteran agreed to a two-year, $34 million deal with an option on a third year if...
River Ave. Blues Dec 26, 2018
Sonny Gray is still a Yankee as 2019 approaches, and it could mean one of three things
Against all odds, Sonny Gray remains with the Yankees as New Years approaches. Brian Cashman all but shouted from the rooftops (multiple times, at that) that Gray would be traded this offseason, yet he’s still a Yankee, even after the team addressed their rotation needs with J.A. Happ, James Paxton, and CC Sabathia. I can’t […] The post Sonny Gray is still a Yankee as 2019 approaches, and it could mean one of three things appeared first on River Avenue Blues.
River Ave. Blues Dec 26, 2018
The Cardinals, the Athletics, and two recent moves that could potentially impact the Yankees
Baseball is a zero-sum game. There are only so many wins to go around and every win you add to your roster is a win you take away from everyone else. Everything is interconnected. The Yankees traded for James Paxton? Well, that impacted how the Mariners proceeded with the rest of their offseason, and thus […] The post The Cardinals, the Athletics, and two recent moves that could potentially impact the Yankees appeared first on River Avenue Blues.
Pinstripe Alley Dec 24, 2018
What should be on the Yankees’ wish list?
This Christmas Eve, let’s take a look at what the Yankees are asking Santa Cashman for. The Yankees haven’t really had a busy offseason. They added James Paxton to the rotation and re-signed J.A. Happ and CC Sabathia, but still have very much the same team that ended the 2018 season. There is definitely still room for improvement this offseason. Luckily, Santa Claus is coming tonight, and he will certainly bring a few gifts to the Yankees (if they made the nice list, that is). What should the Bombers ask for on their holiday wish list? Major Award: Manny Machado In A Christmas Story,...
River Ave. Blues Dec 23, 2018
Reaping and Sowing
With little sizzle to the Yankees’ stove since the James Paxton trade, I find myself thinking more about the Yankee organization more than the Yankee roster lately. Over the last few weeks of the offseason, I’ve expressed frustration at the Yankees for not going out and spending to bring in Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. […] The post Reaping and Sowing appeared first on River Avenue Blues.
Pinstripe Alley Dec 21, 2018
Are the Yankees better off with James Paxton instead of Patrick Corbin?
Did the Yankees choose the right starter? The New York Yankees had one big goal this offseason: to improve the starting rotation. While re-signing J.A. Happ and CC Sabathia were solid moves, they didn’t move the needle or actually improve the rotation that ended the 2018 campaign. The Yankees still had a Sonny Gray-sized hole in the rotation behind Luis Severino and Masahiro Tanaka. Enter James Paxton. The Yankees acquired the 30-year-old lefty shortly before Thanksgiving for a package of minor leaguers, although GM Brian Cashman indicated that the Yankees could continue adding to the...
River Ave. Blues Dec 21, 2018
Free agent spending is down again and that sets the Yankees up to get a bargain late in the offseason
With 2019 a little more than a week away, the Yankees have had a fairly active offseason so far. They brought back Brett Gardner and CC Sabathia, traded for James Paxton, then re-signed J.A. Happ to round out the rotation. The Yankees came into the winter needing three starters and they’ve already added those three […] The post Free agent spending is down again and that sets the Yankees up to get a bargain late in the offseason appeared first on River Avenue Blues.
