Today, according to the Internet, we should anticipate more waves. Cooperstown is said to be talking with Derek Jeter, the Miami Marlins functioning spirit animal, about J.T. Realmuto, generally considered the best young catcher in baseball.
To pull off such a deal, the Yankee GM would almost surely trade Gary Sanchez, Greg Bird and a busload of 20-year-old Latinos to the ever-tanking Marlins. It would also require Cooperstown to pull a complete reversal of his earlier winter comments that the Yankees were doubling down on Sanchez.
As a rule, I try not to shriek about trade rumors because a) they're always bogus, b) you can't measure a deal until it's done and c) life is too short. (I make exceptions for certain possible catastrophes, such as Jogginson Cano.) But today, several outlets have the failing New York
Anything can happen.
Should the Yankees stick with Sanchez? FukifIknow. I think Gary is a fine candidate for a bounce-back season at the plate. But can someone tell me why we'd think he'll conquer the passed ball thing, when he's failed to do so in the last two seasons? Is he going to work harder? Because that notion implies that he didn't apply himself to the problem thus far, and if you think about it, that's pretty damning.
There is a moral here, which we should never ignore: Like a certain president, Cashman clearly feels no obligation to be held to his previous public statements. If a good deal comes around, all he has said in the past means nothing.
A common thread this winter is that Sonny Gray is half-way out the door, as Cashman takes bids. But are we really thinking of CC Sabathia as our fifth starter? Why would we believe CC - giant as he is - can last 100 innings with anything below a 5.00 ERA? Let's remember: When he speaks about a player, Cashman isn't talking to us. He is baiting a hook in hopes that some GM on another team will make a call. And these days, Cashman is talking to everyone about everything.
The Yankees won 100 games last year and still finished a million miles behind Boston. Something tells me the waves of Nov. 11 were just an omen. A massive Yankee explosion is about to happen. It will start with Patrick Corbin - either he signs with us or goes elsewhere - and detonate across the Yankiverse. Winter is here, folks. Write this down:
By this time next week, the Yankees will be exploding with change. Brace yourselves. It's coming.
Annoyed as I was this season by Sanchez's regression, we saw the team regress as a whole, into a one-dimensional team: K-W-HR, marked by profound lack of attention to fundamentals.
ReplyDeleteAs a beer league manager, I can see a knucklehead like Sanchez needs a manager with a firm, clear hand and no time for BS. Pandering to his ego is the worst way to get the best out of him.
That said, he's got a much higher ceiling that Realmuto and he's 4 years away from free agency. While Realmuto is only 2 years away. Despite all the drooling over fundamentally-sound, Realmuto's defensive skills, he had a lower dWar than Sanchez, even though he played more games.
But it also needs to be noted, that Realmuto's offense was far better, precisely because he isn't a K-W-HR batter. But then Sanchez's 2017 oWar and overall WAR were comparable to Realmuto when the catcher worked under Girardi. Boone's Yankees pulled low grades on fundamentally sound baseball, while Girardi was renowned and respected by ball players for his commitment to for fundamentally sound baseball.
So is the problem Sanchez or management? I looked to me like the later, which makes trading Sanchez a bad idea and makes keeping Boone look like Einstein's definition of madness.
Much as I trash talk, curse and malign Crackhead Cash every goddamned day in these faux newsprint pages, this is one deal I would wholeheartedly embrace. I would happily give up Sanchez, Bird and a busload of players (provided I had never heard of them before) in exchange for a real catcher. (I'd also buy a Marlins hat just to keep on the side, just in case, even though I'm a Yankee fan till I die.) Fuck it. Let's do it. It's fun to jump off cliffs.
ReplyDeleteWHAT I DON'T WANT UINDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, though, is Manny "I don't give a crap" Machado.
We are all succumbing to possibility and hope, the manipulation of which is one of the most egregious things you can do to somebody, but it's how these criminals sell tickets - they make a few "moves," stumble onto a few "pieces," play the old MLB shell game with players from one team to another, and they suck us in again. Hope - it's what's for breakfast in Cash world. Dangle some more tasty shit before us, Brian. We'll suspend our disbelieve again and open our pockets to you.
I'm still not planning to give them any money this year - UNLESS we can organize an IIHIIF get-together at the stadium with the $15 Pinstripe Pass, so that we can all meet up, walk around, eat and bullshit, but not necessarily be tied to a pesky seat and have to watch the game.
I need coffee, motherfuckers! Winter is coming! Strap on your fire-retardant wetsuits and grab your blow dart tubes! We're going in, Captain!!!!
To Mediasavvy's point, if the Yankees are sticking with Boone and his cadre of cuckoo coaches it only makes sense to get rid of anyone who can't summon the fortitude to get better on his own. So if Ice Cream can't get it together with this bunch of bozos, sure, trade him away. Maybe Donnie Baseball could straighten him out. Same with Bird, although I have the sad feeling that Bird is just a lost cause at this point. Great promise derailed by injuries. Not a unique story, but still a shame.
ReplyDeleteI don't like Machado and never have, but if he actually wants to be a Yankee, I think he'll probably come in and be Manny Hustle. And stop with the shitty little actions on the field. That's A-Rod's territory, and leave it to him.
Corbin--great. Like I've said, sign 'em all and let the good Lord sort 'em out.
John, you have more optimism than I have. I do agree that a better coaching staff could have helped Gary, if not fixed him entirely. Boone's passivity and general dimness have been hard to digest.
ReplyDeleteONE THING I HAVE TO SAY IS WHEN WHEN MR. DUQUE SAYS SOMETHING IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN, IT USUALLY DOES.
ReplyDeleteLETS TAKE A MOMENT AND GET ON OUR KNEES AND THANK OUR LUCKY STARS WE ARE NOT MET FANATICS.
THEY JUST TOOK ON ABOUT $60 MILLION DOLLARS ON A 36 YEAR OLD, (OFF THE JUICE),LAZY JOGGER, AND A RELIEF PITCHER.
IT SOUNDS COMPLETELY INSANE TO ME, BUT I GUESS I COULD BE WRONG.
DIAZ MAY BE A STUD, BUT....
HE IS STILL A RELIEF PITCHER, AND WE ALL KNOW HOW THE WORLD WORKS WITH THESE GUYS FROM YEAR TO YEAR....
UNLESS YOU ARE MARIANO RIVERA.
I like Mediuasavvy's reasoning, though I come to a different conclusion.
ReplyDeleteIf the Yankees were an even vaguely functional team when it comes to nurturing and improving players, I would put Sanchez's problems last year down to his injuries, and I would not dream of trading him for Realmuto, or anyone else. At his peak, this guy looked like a young Johnny Bench.
But they're not. Functional, I mean.
The Yankees have been run by Brian Cashman for 22 seasons now, and in all that time they have never displayed any ability to do a sustained job of identifying, nurturing, and developing young talent.
That's just the reality. We can rail against it, but until Coops gets his plaque and retires, it's not going to change.
In the light of that, we are better off going with veterans who can get their own heads right, than sad cases such as Sanchez.
This means we may well see him reborn as a star in Miami...but so what? He wasn't/isn't going to be that in New York again.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that Manny's attitude is "I don't give a crap". He wants to win so much he'll do a dirty slide to take out an opponent.
In my mind The Johnny Hustle comment was more arrogance than anything else as in "I'm so good that I don't have to be Johnny Hustle (like a Gritty Gutty Brett Gardner who gets 110% out of himself to provide value.) In Machado's mind 80% of himself is plenty. The guy produces.
Is he a dick? Seems like it. But the guy produces. That's why the offers will be in the 300M+ range.
At this point I would sign him.
As to Sanchez - - As the Yankees seem committed to Boone (I guess winning 100 games in your rookie year as a manager is a major accomplishment) Even though, and I'm not kidding, we know better. This guy is NOT a good manager) Duque's point about his defense is spot on.
He won't improve under Boone and he won't improve on his own. So screw it... do it. Trade him and Bird and ONE other guy (maybe) I don't see why the price has to be that much higher. Sanchez is considered to be the top power hitting catcher in BB and most teams would love to have him. Do NOT trade mean Chad Green as part of the package. That's a bridge too far.
Doug K.
Yeah, we need more righty hitters, don't we?
ReplyDeleteYup, might as well trade him - - our very own champion Bubble-Blower will never straighten him out...and I agree, send Birdie with him, plus one or two lottery tickets.
ReplyDeletePlease, not Manny M., though - - I'd rather sign Mickey Mouse.
But, Pretty Please, just get Sunny Bunny outta; here, tout suite!! He's disgracing Hideki's uniform, and I can't abide that. LB (No J)
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