The NFL concludes, Congress boils, stars get awards, SI photoshops its swimsuit models, and we gird ourselves for Brian Cashman's trades. Meanwhile...
1. The strange, unknown visitor to our Yankee solar system, Junior "Oumuamua" Fernandez, has circled the sun and headed to Toronto. Fernandez is a 25-year-old RH bullpen lug nut whom Cashman claimed off waivers in November, waived in December, and has now been captured by the Blue Jays.
Thus, he slides into the bizarre dimension of "the unshod Pinstriper," a Yankee on paper, who never threw a pitch, swung a bat or wore a number. These are strange, alt-world, forest-pixie being things. Three years ago, SS Hanser Alberto was a brief unshod Yank. We dropped him, he signed with the O's and has consistently hit - last year with the Dodgers. Hey, ya never know.
When a guy gets picked up and let go, then gets picked up again, odds are he's got something. GMs treat the waiver while like the discard pile in a game of gin rummy. I wonder what Oumuamua will do in Toronto, or if his journey through the AL East is still unfolding?
2. The Death Barge has added another executive to its formidable, four-GM rotation, the deepest in baseball. Yesterday, they signed Omar Minaya, formerly of the Mets, Expos and practically everybody. Their water cooler stable of ancient wanderers includes Cooperstown Cashman, Brian Sabean and Jim Hendry, a former Cubs poohbah who came aboard in November.
The Yankees now function as MLB's official executive retirement plan.
Honestly... what should we make of this? Part of me says: Okay, Hal, you wanna sign these old guys? Go for it. These are old school baseball men, and if they help pull off one big trade, it'll be worth it. But then the other voice says: This is just cover for a bunch of deals that are coming.
This winter, Cashman has some big trades to make. For two years, the Yankees have sat on their hands, waiting for Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe to anchor their infield. This winter, they must start clearing the debris in their way.
Basically, that's Gleyber Torres.
If and when they trade Gleyber, it will instantly become Cashman's most controversial deal in years. Torres just turned 26, he's viewed as a lifetime Yank (even though he came as a minor leaguer in a trade), and he might have some great years left. I mean, he could still become a major star. If he goes somewhere and recaptures the power of his rookie season - well - the Yanks damn well better get somebody good in return.
Which leads me to wonder: Could Cashman be surrounding himself with fall guys, who will happily take his bullet if a deal go south? If so, it's a brilliant Machiavellian strategy, in terms of personal survival. And hasn't that always been Cashman's greatest talent - surviving?
3. Finally - with all respect to the emotions of Damar Hamlin's recovery - the always screaming, rather soul-less U.S. media has dusted off the old trope about sports. This sure puts everything into perspective, Mel.
Gee, ya think? Get well, Mr. Hamlin. And get ready. They're going to want your perspective.
I was mystified at how much coverage Hamlin was getting in the media, but then I remembered how good he was in "L.A. Law" and especially in "Clash of the Titans." Speaking of which, he also had a romantic relationship with Ursula Andress, who he met doing that movie. Any guy who had a relationship with Ursula Andress deserves all the media coverage he can get.
ReplyDelete"GMs treat the waiver while like the discard pile in a game of gin rummy."
ReplyDeleteThat's a great line.
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As far as the GM additions go. Trades are generally wishes and dreams but, much like guys in fedoras selling $5 tout sheets at the track, some are better than others. At a minimum, it's been proven that these are competent guys.
You know who is not competent? Brain Cashman.
We ended up with a version of our collective wish. We wanted Cashman gone. We all knew that wasn't going to happen. So instead we got two other former GMs to join the team.
The "Brain" Trust so to speak, because the Yankees no longer trust "Brain" to handle it himself.
It works for me because it's the best we were going to do and better than what we had.
Another take on the Sabean and Minaya hires by The Athletic regarding a possible change from analytics.
ReplyDeletehttps://theathletic.com/4063022/2023/01/06/yankees-analytics-rangers-free-agents/
ReplyDeleteThe article from The Athletic linked to by Carl J. above has extensive quotes from Brain that make him sound like he's a petulant asshole. Have we misread him all this time?
Trading Gleyber won't be controversial. Not a "capable left handed starting pitcher for a glove first centerfielder in a walking cast" controversy level anyway.
ReplyDeletePub -
ReplyDeleteAmazingly, that was the only part of the trade that worked.
Brain traded all of our high end pitching depth (BTW - What the Pirates are looking for in order to give up Reynolds) for two guys who were both hurt in short order and didn't help at all.
At least Bader had a good post season and will be our starting CF this year.
This organization has to be the weirdest one in all of baseball. Gotta be.
ReplyDeleteC'mon Hal...Bauer is gonna be a free agent...go sign him...
ReplyDeleteWhat's up?
ReplyDeleteI woke up this morning and the Yankees have not signed another former GM to their stable.
Is Hal decreeing that any additional administration staff will be expensive and thus irresponsible to his bondholders?
Perhaps he is scouting out former soccer GMs.
Inquiring minds want to know.
They should have traded Gleyber Torres at the trade deadline last year. We heard about those rumors that a trade with Miami got canned at the last moment. That's too bad for us. I guess Miami came to their senses before pulling the trigger.
ReplyDeleteAnother winter is moving by and still Gleyber Torres is here. I fully expect him to be the 2B this year.
Stanton will be the DH again.
We will play musical outfielders in LF for 2023.
Don't expect any big trade before the start of the season.
Cashman's off-season work was limited to re-signing Judge, which of course was a no-brainer, and throwing a ton of more money to haul in Rodon.
He should trade Torres and Stanton, even if he has to eat 95% of Stanton's contract. He should get another starting pitcher and a left fielder. He should try to make the lineup more left handed with at least a couple of lefty hitters. He should order Boone to play Cabrera at 2B and Peraza at SS. He should designate Donaldson for assignment and play IKF at 3B. But he won't do any of that.
The 2023 lineup and infield will look pretty much the same as 2022. Rizzo at 1B; Torres at 2B; IKF at SS; and Donald Duck at 3B. Stanton will DH. DJ LeMahieu will be the super utility man, rotating all over.
Great piece, Duque—and I agree with all of that Hammer.
ReplyDeleteThey are actually going to go with this inadequate lineup. Which will... once again prove inadequate.