It netted the Twin pariahs - Josh Donaldson, arguably NYC's biggest flop not called the Nets, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, breaker of the franchise hyphenation line. Amazingly, both could start for us on opening day, or wind up on any team whose owner will absorb their salaries.
But the deal brought us one other soul, catcher Ben Rortvedt, aka "Benny Biceps," due to his commitment to Joe Weider and protein shakes. Though he probably cannot salvage the magnitude of Brian Cashman's hell-bound trade, it's time to ponder Rortvedt's possible impact on 2023.
The reasons? Our feelgood, fan-fave, all-star Jose Trevino hit .177 in September/October, prompting whispery fears that his bejeweled carriage turned back into a pumpkin. And lifelong Yankee Kyle Higashioka did his best hitting in Tampa 12 months ago, when he led the team in meaningless HRs. We loved their late game heroics, but both are past 30 - (Higgy hits 33 this year) - and neither has a history of batting higher than 8th. (Higgy's lifetime OBP is a gruesome .245.) Neither bats LH, which is The Rort's advantage, assuming he can hit a lick (which maybe he can't.)
So who is this guy, and could he make the team?
Rortvedt is just 25, salad days for a catcher. He's brawny, a defense-first fireplug, and spent most of 2022 in an Ellsburian spiral of injuries, one begetting another, keeping him out of MLB dugouts. When a musclebound guy keeps getting hurt, you wonder if he needs yoga? He hit a meager .218 down on the farm, mostly in Joe Biden's home town, in 170 at-bats. But, hey, it's not like he's replacing Jeter, right? With the team desperate for LH hitters, and Cashman looking to salvage a rotten trade, Rortvedt will surely get his chances.
But here's the rub: If The Rort hits his weight in spring training - (he's listed at 5'10" and 205 lbs) - he could force a platoon with - well - somebody. Which means somebody else must go. I cannot imagine the Yankees trading Jose or Higgy, unless one is bundled into a package, or Rortvedt goes on a tear and leads the team in meaningless spring HRs, (though we've seen that movie before, eh?)
One last thing worth mentioning: 23 year old Austin Wells is a big (6'2, 220) lefty pipe wrench who could be ready by July. Guy played last year at Double A, dealing with a mashed gonad from a foul tip. (Just typing the words hurts.) He's no defensive whiz - below average - but everybody claims the guy can hit. If Benny Biceps hasn't staked his claim on a platoon, Wells - one of the top 10 prospects in the system - might shoot by him on the depth chart.
So, it's now or never for The Rort. And for chrisakes, people, wear a cup!
Calling someone "...one of the top 10 prospects in the system..."
ReplyDeleteIs the kiss of death around here.
It was nice to see Trevino get all the recognition he got last year, but he isn't the All Star he started 2022 being. (And the mangled syntax award goes to...) And Higgy is Higgy, which I'm fine with. And if a musclebound galoot shows up who can hit into the porch with regularity, that's fine. But remember what always happens to musclebound galoots. They get injured at the drop of a cap. Or they stop the PEDs and turn into Mr. Limpett, a la Giambi.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how good Rortvedt's backstopping skills are but one thing is certain: No one will kick sand in Ben's face on the beach.
ReplyDeleteAs for him or Wells, neither one will come up unless there are a rash of injuries because they haven't had enough Adolph's Meat Tenderizer showered on them. Or as Cashman likes to phrase it, "seasoning". Just like every other good prospect that eventually gets traded for a has-been.
Love the Adolph's reference. I think we should adopt that to note every time a young player is sent down to Scranton.
ReplyDeleteGood post, Duque. Another poor Genius Cashman deal. Rortvedt will be worthless when Robo Umps come in. He cannot hit and serves no other purpose than framing. He should stay on the DL and the IL.
ReplyDeleteAny chance that these robo-umps will actually be human sized, over weight androids with anger issues?
ReplyDeleteArgue with a robo-ump and they may blast you onto the IL
Or better still, why not make them all look and sound like the robot from Lost in Space.
>> 0 and 2 is the count to our 3rd baseman. <<
"DANGER, JOSH DONALDSON! DANGER! DANGER!"
Here’s the thing - Catchers break. We were unscathed by injury at the position last year, but normally you need at least 3 somewhat viable catching options. For now, Big Ben seems ensconced there, providing he can stay healthy. We don’t have Rob Brantley to kick around anymore. Carlos Narvarez (who he) is in camp, as a non-roster invitee. As for Wells, the knock on him has always been his defense. I think Carl J. is right, he seems destined to be trade fodder this year. Barring another trash heap pickup (always on the menu as a Chef Cashman specialty) the Rortvedt Test will be rocking #38 for us this year. Maybe the ghost of another #38 LH catcher, Johnny Blanchard, will possess him.
ReplyDeleteBiceptvedt is the very definition of muscle-bound. You remember the expression, "His muscles have muscles"? For Biceptvedt, his muscle pulls have muscle pulls...
ReplyDelete...Meanwhile, let's think back, back to 2018, the halcyon year when Brian Cashman drafted catchers 1-2 in the amateur draft.
ReplyDeleteHow are they faring?
No. 2, Josh Breaux, now 25, hit .219/.283/.422/.705 in a season split between Double and Triple A, and threw out 12 baserunners in 75 attempts.
No. 1, Anthony Seigler, now 24, hit .236/.405/.369/,775, in a season split between Single and Double A, and threw out 23 runners in 78 attempts.
You rock, Brian.
Don't forget that Wells has a below average arm as well.
ReplyDeleteWith the new sized bases, stolen bases may come back like 60's rock and that puts a shudder through the whole team is guys run rampant on your C.
I'm for trying him out in LF.
Wouldn't that be crazy if our much sought out LH left fielder has been catching in our system all along.!
This may sound silly, but Mike Ax over at River Ave. Blues has already suggested that possibility.
On second thought, Cashie Bear will just trade him to Oakland with our top ranked P prospect for a "solid Number 2 starter."
@ Arch....Cashman hasn't had a "solid # 2" since after he spent 5 days constipated.
ReplyDeleteEach of our prospects can do one thing, but not the other.
ReplyDeleteRortveldt can catch but not hit. Wells can hit but can't catch.
We should send a memo to our GM; Subject; Building a Winner.
Dear Mr. Cashman,
A prospect should have five tools. Four at the least. But one, is not adequate. Please re-visit your files, and only pursue prospects who can , at a minimum, excel at hitting and defense. How they do with crossword puzzles just doesn't matter.
Thank,
Yankee Fan Base.