Why the Wilpon's are a Disgrace to Baseball

Okay, so this is something that has been eating me up inside for a really long time. I am not a Mets fan so this is not a Met fan bitching about their owners, but this is coming from someone who has a problem with the way the Wilpon's run their team, First off, I know there is literally zero chance they sell the team unless Commissioner-Elect Rob Manfred steps in, but there are a plethora of reasons why they are disgrace to baseball and the New York Mets.

The biggest issue is of course, money. They have no money we all know that, but that's their personal fortunes, the team is in New York, baseball's largest market with a small-market payroll. For the past few years they make one minor to major move and then basically pack it in for the rest of the offseason. Last year it was Curtis Granderson who had a horrid year hitting .226 with 20 home runs and only 66 RBI's. I've never been the biggest Granderson to begin with, he strikes out way too much for my liking. I think he'll hit for more power this year but will still hit for a low average and strike out a ton. Enter Michael Cuddyer, a solid player, versatile, and a great clubhouse veteran but he isn't a player who is going to take this team to another level. He also has had trouble staying healthy the past few years.

Basically what i'm getting at is to compete in New York the Mets need to make more of an effort to try in bring players in, in positions of need. i.e. they can tell us till they're blue in the face that Wilmer Flores is going to be their everyday shortstop but we all know he cannot play the position in the big leagues. They could have gotten Stephen Drew for 5 million dollars and there wasn't even an inkling that they were interested. They could have signed Asdrubal Cabrera for one year and 8 million but again not even in the conversation. You cannot field a winning team when you have such glaring holes in high priority positions such as shortstop and the bullpen. We were told that they wouldn't sign anyone to a major league contract in the bullpen this season. So you're telling me they couldn't have gotten Craig Breslow for a few million dollars? They were satisfied with dumpster diving through minor league free agents instead of signing a proven reliever. They've been telling us wait until next year when all of our young pitching is ready. 2014 was supposed to be the year and then Matt Harvey got hurt, okay that's understandable one of the best young pitchers in the game had Tommy John surgery and Zack Wheeler was entering his first full season with Noah Syndegaard starting in AAA Las Vegas. But now in 2015, a healthy Matt Harvey, a Zack Wheeler who had a decent season, Rookie of the Year Jacob DeGrom, Bartolo Colon who won 15 games last year and of course Syndegaard, you would think they might actually try and spend some money and try and compete this year. Guess not. Which brings me to Ian Desmond, a personal favorite of mine a one heck a player. The reports from Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal among others was that the asking price for Desmond was Noah Syndegaard another top prospect, and the Mets had a similar deal in place for Ben Zobrist but balked at both of them. 

The Mets are a team with window, a great starting staff and a mediocre offense, Zobrist and/or Desmond would make them a legit contender. They wouldn't want to give up their top prospect for a player that has only one year of control left, but when you're a young team on the rise you take chances. You take the chance that Noah Syndegaard could become that ace everyone projects him to be, but he also could become a bust and if the Mets made a serious run in the postseason then giving up Syndegaard would be worth it in my opinion. Now that the Nats have traded for Yunel Escobar there is a possibility that Desmond could be moved and the Mets may be more inclined to deal Syndegaard. My guess is it's not Syndegaard they are worried about, it's Desmond 11 million dollar salary. You decide.

All stats provided by Baseball Reference

Follow me on Twitter- @TheDonnyFinkle

Thoughts on NYY Off season

As my partner Justin reiterated this has been a lack luster start to the off season other than Andrew Miller and Didi Gregorious but it's a good start. I also like Justin Wilson as well, another power arm from the left side. I have a different opinion the David Robertson saga than Justin does.

Bullpen- First off I love the Andrew Miller signing. I think the more high-leverage hard throwing guys coming out of the pen, the better. Guys with power stuff and strikeout secondary pitches like Betances' and Miller's slider screams lights out bullpen to me. Wilson had a 2.08 ERA in 2013 in just over 70 innings and didn't have as good of a year this year with a 4.20 ERA. Mainly because his walk rate went up from 3.4 to 4.5 and his strikeout to walk ratio was about 2 to 1. He is only going into his age 27 season and throws gas from the left side. As Justin pointed having potentially three hard throwing lefties in one pen could be something special. Rothschild is a really good pitching coach and I think he can fix Wilson's control issues and he too will become a huge part of the pen. Now on to David Robertson well, I have to disagree with Justin on this one. They already have Miller in the fold and it didn't seem smart to put 80 million dollars into two relievers when there are a plethora of relievers who are much cheaper on the free agent market. Jason Grilli would be my guy, has closing experience and still has good stuff. Put him in the closer role and let Miller and Betances stay in high leverage situations, that would be the way I think the pen should be constructed. I love DRob as much as the next guy but putting emotions aside, it was not a smart baseball decision to invest that much money in two relievers with so many other wholes to fill on this team.

Shortstop- I understand where Justin is coming from about giving up Shane Greene for Didi Gregorious but they weren't going to get a 24-year old controllable shortstop for nothing. Personally I hate that he is going to the Tigers, I would rather he gone to the DBacks but that's just me. I know he doesn't hit much right now and his defense is spectacular, but I think he can become better offensively. His problem really is he cannot hit against lefties. He has a career .490 OPS against lefties and .743 against righties. I know that it's not that simple but it's start, Cashman plans on platooning him with Brendan Ryan but we'll see how long that lasts. I hope he sticks but if nothing else I think he could be stop gap for a possible acquisition from the island of Cuba. Yoan Moncada. Listed as the best prospect to defect from Cuba since Yasiel Puig and Jorge Soler. According to Ben Badler of Baseball America he has a chance to be a legit five-tool player. There are some concerns as to whether he can play shortstop everyday but that remains to be seen, he is only 19. The Yankees are seen as the favorites to sign Moncada once he is cleared by US Department of Foreign Assets Control. Again, he is only 19 so having Gregorious in the fold makes sense even if they do sign Moncada. Moncada can also play 2B and 3B as well if Gregorious' bat plays with the Yanks.

Starting Pitching- The starting pitching is a huge whole for the Yanks. They need depth which does beg the question why trade some of that depth away? Well, I answered that already. First off, Brandon McCarthy is a must to bring back. I know he had a horrible start to the year with Arizona but once he came to the Yankees he was lights out. Thanks to Larry Rothschild re-introducing his cutter back into his repertoire. There are reports he wants 4 for 48. That's a lot for him considering Fransisco Liriano got 3 for 39 from the Pirates. I would be comfortable bringing him back for something in that range. He was great with the Yanks and loves New York, the marriage seems to perfect to break up. Also they need more than one just starting pitcher with the question marks surrounding Tanaka, Pineda, Sabathia, Nova, etc. Max Scherzer's name has been thrown out there and of course it's going to. Scott Boras said that Scherzer makes the Yankees have "World Series caliber pitching." Boras is going to the get the Yankees involved and he should it's his job to get the Yankees in the mix to drive up the price. If the asking price is 200 million and that's what he gets I would really like to stay away from that. I like Scherzer obviously he's one of the best pitchers in the game but that's a lot of money over possibly seven years. I also would like to see the Yankees involved in some trades as well for the right pitcher. I really liked the idea of Wade Miley but then the Red Sox swooped him away from me. That type of pitcher would to make a trade for. A guy coming off a bad year but still has promise. Right now I have no idea who that would be, but the Yankees have some prospects now that people like and for the right deal some of them might have to go.

Last but not least, Third Base- Oh well what are we going to do here? Don't get me wrong I love Chase Headley but 4 for 65 is out of the question. If it is in the 3 year range I would do it but I don't think it will be with the Giants turning there attention to Headley full force after losing out on Jon Lester. So that begs the question put Prado at third and let the kids battle it out at second? That's probably whats going to happen. It's win win for me I love Refsnyder, got to see him play against New Britain in April, also like Pirela as well. Pirela is a good utility guy and can play all around so either one at second would be fine by me. As long as the Yankees start giving prospects a chance. I think Refsnyder is ready and it's about time they give him a chance. Pirela regardless should be on the 25 man roster. His versatility alone is why he will be on the 25 man.

Not sure where the Yanks go from here, but I can tell you they are not done yet.

Follow me on Twitter- @TheDonnyFinkle

All stats used were from BaseballReference.com

Comments on the Yankees Offseason

Happy Sunday to all! I hope everyone is enjoying your holiday season in this windy, rainy winter so far. I've been fortunate enough to spend a lot of time with my family in the past few weeks, and it's nice to see everyone else doing so. But back to business. The Yankees have entered the postseason spectacular (Or Hot Stove, if you will) with a few off-season moves (and non-moves). Here are my thoughts.

1. I liked the trade for former Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Justin Wilson (besides the fact he has an excellent first name, of course). Trading an injury prone catcher in Francisco Cervelli in his final years of arbitration for a mid-90s throwing lefty under team control for multiple years is something you do every time. Wilson has his control issues; his walk rate inched up to 4.5/9 from 3.4/9 in his breakout 2013 season, but increased his K rate to 9.1/9 from 7.2. Wilson's FIP suggests some bad luck and an improvement to a mid 3's ERA from 4.20 last season and with pitching coach Larry Rothschild's magic of simultaneously improving BB and K rates, I expect him to be an under-the-radar pickup with big dividends, like Boone Logan a few years back.
2. Having potentially three dominant lefties out of the bullpen is something of a pipe dream. Wilson, top 2014 pick Jacob Lindgren and Andrew Miller could be lethal. Particularly so since all three can get batters out on either side of the plate with pinpoint control and sky high K rates. Lindgren has to be added to the 40-man roster and earn a bullpen spot, but Manager Joe Girardi and Rothschild have to be salivating at the prospect of having such an electric bullpen. Speaking of Miller...
3. I am just kind of "meh" about Andrew Miller. Sure, he's been electric since moving to the bullpen full time (ERA's trickling downwards of 3.35 to 2.02 since 2012), but should signing a pitcher with half the years of dominance of David Robertson take priority? I'd rather keep the guy the fan base is familiar with. If you're not going to keep the homegrown Robertson, who will they keep? Is Dellin Betances going to walk out the door too? Miller, I'm sure will be a stud, but Robertson should not be out as a result. Are the Yankees going to dump $90 million on two relievers? Probably not.
4. Who takes over the closer's role? I am pro-signing a 'proven closer' such as Jason Grilli, Sergio Romo or a personal favorite, Casey Janssen to keep Miller and Betances as multi-inning set-up men and making the bullpen even deeper. But I think the Yankees should try installing a familiar face: Shawn Kelley. The initial reaction is: he has his moments where he is hittable like a soft tossing lefty. I know. But, Kelley filled in at closer admirably at the beginning of the season. Kelley's stuff is way too good to be middle relief and he is best suited as a one inning specialist. If the Yankees want to save a couple of bucks, let one of the AAA kids earn a job. You could be looking at this:
1. Closer - Kelley
2. Set-up - Betances
3. Set-up - Miller
4. Multi-Inning - Warren
5. Middle Relief - Wilson
6. Middle Relief - Lindgren
7. Long Man - Phelps
5. Why isn't Chase Headley a Yankee? He's a rock solid fit. He's not the .286/31 HR/115 RBI guy from 2012. But, he is absolutely a .265/25/90, switch hitting, rock solid defending third baseman. How many 3B are truly better? Donaldson, Longoria and Rendon? Everyone is comparable at best. You cannot count on just keeping the seat warm for prospect Eric Jagielo. Martin Prado can play third just fine, but he's better at 2B or an everyday super utility guy. Unless the Yankees have a Todd Frazier trade in the works (Jersey boy! Grew up a Yankees fan! Intangibles!), stick with someone who played well in the Bronx. Bring him back.
6. A-Rod needs to be nothing more than the DH. Period. Stick him there and hope for the best.
7. I dig the idea of a second base 'competition' between Jose Pirela and Rob Refsnyder, but 1) Pirela is getting a little too much hype - his ceiling is literally his teammate: Martin Prado - not a bad thing! I'm a big Prado fan! But he would be an awesome UTIL/DH guy. Refsnyder is the long term answer at 2B once his defense gets honed - his bat is ready, but a little more seasoning at AAA would be nice. If Brendan Ryan could be of some use, it'll be helping him defensively learn the position - who better to learn from? Ideally, he starts in AAA with Prado at 2B and once someone gets hurt, Prado moves there and Refsnyder gets the call.
8. Speaking of Refsnyder; his former hitting coach, Marcus Thames, his now the Yankees Asst. Hitting Coach. I don't care for this trend of hiring assistant hitting coaches (much like I disliked infield shifts being adopted 3 years ago), but Refsnyder raved about him overhauling his swing, which allowed him to hit for more, harder contact. If Thames can have that effect on him, he could be of some use.
9. The Yankees need to bring in some starting pitching ASAP. Bringing back Brandon McCarthy is a no-brainer and if they can bring in another one via trade or free agency (either a small, shorter contract like a Jason Hammel or a big splash like Max Scherzer), they must do so. Scherzer, Tanaka, Pineda, McCarthy, Sabathia sounds solid!
10. And to wrap up: the big elephant in the room: the Didi Gregorius trade. My initial reaction and still: terrible. The Yankees need starting pitching, particularly young and not injury prone. Shane Greene fit that bill. And they send him away for a slick defending, no hitting SS. They have one in Brendan Ryan! If Gregorius was any good, Chris Owings would have been in AAA! Chris Owings can hit a little bit - why not go after him? Or if they wanted a 24 year old - why not Starlin Castro? Albeit, he would have cost more, but Greene in a package for a legit SS would not bother me as much. I don't expect Gregorius to hit .300, or 15 home runs. Just be decent. His MLB career suggests otherwise so far. Here's what is going to happen: he's going to stink, get calls for his head, and the Yankees are going to sign Ian Desmond next offseason. So why waste Greene? Prove me wrong Cashman and Gregorius. Prove me wrong.

Thanks for reading! All stats provided by Baseball Reference. Follow me on Twitter @JMFlorio

Jeter's Replacement? Not Who You May Think

This has been a lack luster off season to start off for the New York Yankees. A report from Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News explains that the Yankees were staying away from all of the big free agents this offseason. Recently, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported that we shouldn't sleep on the Yanks for Max Scherzer, and our friends at Bleeding Yankee Blue have been all over the Troy Tulowitzki saga. (Check http://bybhub.blogspot.com for more info) I'm here to bring my input into what I believe the Yankees should do this offseason.


Out of all the candidates to take over for Derek Jeter the easiest one coming into the offseason was JJ Hardy. Well, Hardy resigned before the offseason even started. Now onto the others, Hanley Ramirez is going to cost way too much for a player who gets hurt way too much.

Asdrubal Cabrera is a possibility. I think he would be a good fit, coming off a trade to Washington midseason. He will cost a draft pick which is always good in my eyes. I just don't know how much he is going to cost. I would imagine something like Hardy got, 3 years, $40 million. Hardy obviously could have gotten more on the open market but stayed with his Orioles on a hometown discount. Cabrera has fallen off the map after year in 2011 where he hit 25 home runs, drove in 92 runs and hit .273. His production had steadily dropped off since then but he is only 28 so it's not a stretch to say that he can still regain that form.

Another big name is obviously Troy Tulowitzki, he is the "Big ticket item" and according to BYB the Rockies "Know what they want" and "It's up to the Yankees as to how much they feel Troy is worth" basically what that means is the ball is the Yankees court. I don't know how I would feel about Tulo being in pinstripes. Yes, he is a great player and one of the top 5 in the WHEN HE'S HEALTHY. That's a big part of it he's only played 130 games or more three times in his career. For me it's a no as a writer looking at it objectively. It's too much money and to big of prospects to give up.

Now, the starting shortstop of the New York Yankees in 2015 (if it were up to me) Jimmy Rollins. You're thinking JIMMY ROLLINS?!?!?! Has he lost his mind? Well it makes more sense than you may think. He hit 17 home runs in 2014 at age 34. He hit only .243 yes, but got on base at .323 clip and he played solid defense. He's only signed through 2015 and he is way cheaper than any of the other options. Rollins is a pro, he's a vet who could handle being the replacement for Derek Jeter. Now, this is all apart of a bigger plan of mine, Sign the Cuban SS Yoan Moancada and have him in AA and maybe AAA to develop so he's ready at some point next year to take over. The Rollins deal works if they sign Moancada and even if it doesn't, it's as simple as not giving up the only good prospects they Yankees have really tried to develop, and they're not on the hook for a ridiculous amount of money i.e. Tulo, Hanley, Elvis Andrus.

Thats basically what I think, not that it matters but I believe it makes a lot of sense to carry out the offseason this way.

All stats were from Baseball-Reference.com

Follow me on Twitter @TheDonnyFinkle

   BYBHub.blogspot.com

What Could A 2015 New York Yankees Squad Look Like?

It has been literally months since I've posted, so: we're back!

While the 2014 season is only 1/3 of the way through, you can never put enough effort into future teams and what they can look like. This season has dictated some future glaring needs for the New York Yankees: some more stable starting pitching, and - most importantly - a stable, consistent, actually able to play defense infield. The Yankees always have money to burn, but let's take a look at who's coming off the books, and who can be fitting replacements.

Coming off the Books: These players are free agents after 2014:

• Alfonso Soriano, $19,000,000 (Not all paid by NYY)
• Hiroki Kuroda, $16,000,000
• Derek Jeter, $12,000,000
• Ichiro Suzuki, $6,500,000
• David Robertson, $5,215,000
• Kelly Johnson, $3,000,000
• Brian Roberts, $2,000,000

A total of about $64,000,000 coming off the books. There are some glaring holes, and with some wishful thinking in regards to the current roster (staying healthy and/or productive), the Yankees should be able to fill some current positions relatively easily.

Infield

1. C, Brian McCann
2. 1B, Mark Teixeira
3. 2B, Yangervis Solarte
4. SS, JJ Hardy
5. 3B, Chase Headley

McCann is going nowhere, neither is Teixeira. Recall the wishful thinking part you just read? Mainly in regards to Solarte continuing to hit. With a weak 2B free agent class and only one decent prospect pushing him (Rob Refsnyder, currently red hot at AA Trenton and destined for AAA Scranton soon), Solarte can hold on to the 2B gig. I really see the Yankees pushing for Hardy and Headley. Hardy and Headley are rock-solid defenders and when at the top of their game offensively, power and batting average threats. Unfortunately, they'll cost about half of the money coming up free. I can see 3/$45 for Hardy and 5/$80 for Headley. SS and 3B do have some intriguing FA's (Hanley Ramirez, Asdrubal Cabrera, Jed Lowrie, Pablo Sandoval, Yunel Escobar all possibilities) but Hanley is a likely Dodgers re-signing, Sandoval's weight is an issue, Escobar is an off the field concern, Cabrera has declined big time and Lowrie is an injury risk. 

Outfield/DH

1. LF, Brett Gardner
2. CF, Jacoby Ellsbury
3. RF, Zoilo Almonte/Ramon Flores
4. DH, Carlos Beltran

Gardner and Ellsbury aren't going anywhere for the next few seasons. The free agent OF class is more or less okay: Nori Aoki, Melky Cabrera, Nelson Cruz, Michael Cuddyer, Torii Hunter, Mike Morse, Colby Rasmus and Nate Schierholtz as top options. Do the Yankees want to lock up 4 OF in big contracts? Tough to say with a multitude of OF prospects coming through the system. Save some money and let Zoilo Almonte and AAA prospect Ramon Flores battle it out with the loser as the 4th OF.

Bench

1. C, John Ryan Murphy
2. INF, Brendan Ryan
3. INF, Dean Anna
4. OF, Ramon Flores/Zoilo Almonte

Self-explanatory bench. Ryan is under contract. Anna gets a full time bench gig. Murphy slowly works into a regular role as do Flores or Almonte.

Starting Pitching

1. Masahiro Tanaka
2. CC Sabathia
3. Justin Masterson
4. Michael Pineda
5. Ivan Nova

Tanaka is a boss. Sabathia's contract says he's going nowhere fast. How the rest of the rotation plays out depends on health and how much money the Yankees dump on starting pitching. The Yankees would have enough for 2 SP's if they do not want to bring back Robertson as a closer. They'll have to add payroll. On the plus side, not many future free agents after 2015: they can shop for 2 seasons. On the downside, Pineda and Nova are no bets for 60 combined starts and 400 innings. They'll have some internal depth with David Phelps, Chase Whitley and Manny Banuelos (again, if all goes well). I prefer Justin Masterson over some other names for the fact that he's cheaper and has more years left than say, James Shields. Max Scherzer and Jon Lester will cost too much for a decent return. Shields and Peavy's arms will probably fall off like Sabathia's. Brandon McCarthy is a bad fit. Josh Beckett is hurt and inconsistent too much. That leaves Hisashi Iwakuma and Jason Hammel as my top two options. Iwakuma would be a nice fit with Tanaka and Masterson up top.

Bullpen

1. Closer, David Robertson
2. Set-Up, Shawn Kelley
3. Set-Up, Dellin Betances
4. Set-Up, Adam Warren
5. Set-Up, Chase Whitley
6. LHS, Matt Thornton
7. Long Relief, David Phelps

I predict the Yankees re-sign Robertson. Even with Kelley and Betances able to step in and likely succeed as a closer, and a plethora of relief pitching at AAA Scranton, you stick with the proven commodity. The rest of the bullpen has been rock solid this year and returns next year.

The Yankees can bring in 4-5 free agents with the expiring contracts and get younger, more productive. With the farm system having a better season than last, the Yankees can set themselves up for the future with some solid off-season decisions during the 2014/15 Hot Stove.

Follow me on Twitter @JMFlorio

(Baseball Prospectus was used for a source for upcoming free agents).

Ode to Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter is one of the most well respected players in any sport, of all time. Not just for his greatness on the field, but how he carried himself off the field. This is not an article praising Jeter's greatness in any entity, this is more of a personal reflection on what Derek Jeter and the Yankees have meant to me during my almost 20 years on this earth. This is the opposite of what I have been taught about how to write as a "serious" journalist. I'm going to take off my future sportscaster hat and put on my fan hat for an hour or two. I haven't been able to do that much lately. I have trained myself to analyze every sports situation thoroughly that comes my way. Tonight, it's time to be a 19 year old sports fan and not a student who is scared to death that if everything he writes, tweets, or talks about involving sports isn't perfect that he will not succeed. I was born in 1994, two years after Jeter was drafted and one year before he made his debut. I was named after Yankee great Don Mattingly, so obviously my allegiances to this team goes before birth. Derek Jeter was "The Guy" of my childhood. He was my favorite player and a role model, someone I admired more than anyone. I wanted to be Derek Jeter on the diamond, but once an elbow injury and lack of determination ended my chances at that, I realized I still wanted to be involved in sports. Basically, why i'm writing this I guess. As I grew up there was two constants in my life, the New York Yankees, and Derek Jeter. I could be having the worst day ever and if there was a Yankee game on it made it seemed like nothing else mattered. I first heard the news of Jeter's retirement from my friend Joe Benzi. I got a text saying "NO DEREK DON'T GO" at that moment I knew. I quickly checked twitter and my worst fear had been realized, my favorite player and my role model was retiring after the 2014 season. Admittedly, if I weren't on the way to work, I probably would have started to ball my eyes out. Now I know some of you reading this might think I'm just overacting. "It's not like he died."
"He's just a baseball player."
Some of the responses coming out of your mouth right?. Well as I've illustrated Jeter is more than a baseball player to me. I've tried to be half the man he is. He carries himself the right way, he is confident not cocky, he is a hard worker and puts family first. He is reserved, but when he is needed he will produce. I hope that one day I will have "made it" and by then he will still be involved in the game because being able to interview someone like Derek Jeter is number two on my bucket list. Now I bet you're saying WHAT'S NUMBER ONE?!?!?! Easy, interviewing Don Mattingly. So as I sit here in my basement writing this, I just want to thank Derek Jeter for making my childhood that much better and best wishes in retirement. You have reached the pinnacle of the sports world five times and accomplished so much, inspired millions of kids including myself, and now will be able to have a well deserved summer vacation starting in 2015.

Thank You so much,

Don Matthew Finkle

Why the Yankees Need Stephen Drew....and He Needs Them

After a few months layoff, we're back! Hopefully you enjoyed your holidays with your family and friends. While the weather here in the northeast has been nothing short of miserable, the MLB Hot Stove is keeping us warm here at Florio Facts. Most recently, we have seen the Yankees complete another major deal, signing Japanese ace Masahiro Tanaka to a 7 year contract. This comes after fortifying one third of the lineup, with the signings of catcher Brian McCann and outfielders Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran. As it stands today, the Yankees lineup looks something like this:

1. CF Jacoby Ellsbury
2. SS Derek Jeter
3. RF Carlos Beltran
4. 1B Mark Teixeira
5. DH Alfonso Soriano
6. C Brian McCann
7. 3B Kelly Johnson
8. 2B Brian Roberts
9. LF Brett Gardner

A remarkable improvement, just on paper, of a lineup which included only Soriano and Gardner at the end of last season and featured the likes of Chris Stewart, Vernon Wells, Travis Hafner, Lyle Overbay and Brendan Ryan in everyday roles. While Johnson and Roberts are no slouches at the plate, the Yankees can still improve their infield with the acquisition of free agent INF Stephen Drew. Drew, younger brother of JD, played the 2013 season with World Series Champions Boston Red Sox. Drew remains, by far, the best infielder remaining on the market and arguably the best after Robinson Cano. The interest by both parties in each other is a hazy mystery, with some writers saying the Yankees are both interested in Drew and not interested. Signing Stephen Drew makes sense for the Yankees and for Drew. Here's why.

Yankees

1. Johnson should be a Super Sub: I like the Kelly Johnson signing for his versatility. Joe Maddon played him all over in Tampa Bay last season and Johnson averages about 20 home runs over a full season, which translates well to Yankee Stadium. Kelly Johnson's innings at third base, though, are limited. While he can likely be passable defensively, he's best suited playing around the diamond. At the plate, he's a left handed Mark Reynolds who'll K often, but for a one year deal, low-risk and decent reward. The Yankees would be much better off rotating he, Drew, Roberts, Ryan and Jeter around 2B/SS/3B.
2. Roberts is no picture of health: Brian Roberts has had a rough go of it since 2010 (almost like Drew himself). Between his bodily injuries and struggling to shake off post-concussion symptoms, he went from one of the elite 2B's in the league to essentially an Orioles cheerleader from the bench. He was able to play 2B everyday August and September last year and put together a .254/6 HR/31 RBI line in 60 games post-AS break. While finally having a normal offseason for the first time in 4 years will help, expecting even 130 games out of Roberts is a long stretch. 
3. No other options: Brendan Ryan is a bench/late inning/UTIL guy at the most. Eduardo Nunez isn't the answer either. Dean Anna is intriguing, but if he couldn't break through for the offensively starved Padres, he's no guarantee to do it in New York. And no, Corban Joseph and Ronnie Mustelier aren't answers either.

Drew

1. No Internal Threats: See bullet point three, above. All the Yankees top INF prospects are at Rookie Level or A Level. You're not going to see Eric Jagielo in the Bronx anytime soon. Drew will play everyday at either 2B or 3B and likely get a large number of games at SS too to keep Cap'n Jeter healthy.
2. A Job for Next Year: (This could be #4 above as well) Mark Teixiera is the only guarantee for the 2015 infield. Jeter, Roberts and Johnson have contracts up for next year. Drew would return to his natural SS position with the Yankees trying to push Jeter to DH if he wants to play beyond this year.
3. Who else is going to sign him? Look around the league. Who will legitimately spend $10-$15 million a year on Stephen Drew to play SS? Boston is a fit, but Bogaerts and Middlebrooks are cheaper, healthier and likely to put up bigger numbers. Houston isn't going to spend that money on offense. Neither is Minnesota. Arizona has too many young SS' as it is. I doubt Cincinnati is going to spend $ with Zack Cozart around. Miami sure isn't spending $ on him. Neither is Pittsburgh or they would have signed him. That leaves the Mets. If the Mets haven't done it by now, they're not going to. 
4. Drew's 2013 is a mixed bag: He hit righties well, but only hit .196 (.196!!) against lefties. He hits at home, but only .222 on the road. He hits well in Fenway and Camden Yards, but struggled at Yankee Stadium, in Toronto and Tampa. BUT: He hit much better after the All-Star Break, hitting .277 with an OPS .115 higher than the first half. Plus, Drew would likely hit 7th in a standard Yankees line-up; his best stats from 2013? When he hits 7th. 

Drew has a mixed bag from 2013; Sure he stayed healthy, but at the cost of not hitting until the playoff run (a good time to turn it on, I guess) and not hitting lefties. If he doesn't mind playing different positions, the Yankees are the best fit for not only this year, but moving forward. The Yankees need to make two more moves: a veteran RHP reliever and another INF. Stephen Drew qualifies and should be wearing the pinstripes come Spring Training next month.

All stats from Baseball Reference.

Follow me on Twitter @JMFlorio

Tanaka is Finally a Yankee

Masahiro Tanaka has been all everyone has talked about since the off season has started. The top pitchers on the free agent market haven't signed anywhere and it's January. The reason was because of Tanaka. Tanaka was the number one pitcher on the market and he hasn't even thrown a pitch in the major leagues yet. The Yankees obviously think he is going to be an ace giving him 155 million over seven years. Everyone loves to downgrade the NPB or the Nippon Professional baseball League. I'm not saying its the MLB because it's not, but it's not triple a either. There are a lot of talented players in the NPB and his stuff translates over well. His fastball is low-to mid 90s and he has a Kuroda-esque splitter and slider that sits in the low-80s. All plus pitches according to scouting reports. Now needless to say Tanaka is not the savior of this team. He is a HUGE piece. Only 25 years old but a bit of an unknown especially for the amount of money they are giving them. Two of the biggest keys to this team are the guys coming back i.e. Teixeria, and Jeter. There is not one stable place on the Yankee infield. The pitching is even bigger because of Sabathia, Tanaka, and the fifth starter. The fifth starter is the biggest wild card because if Michael Pineda is healthy, he could be a huge part of the rotation. He has shown promise while with the Marniners, but he has to be healthy. David Phelps is a guy I personally love but more as a jack of all trades kind of guy. I would like to see Adam Warren as a short reliever, along with maybe Mark Montgomery or Chase Whitley compete for a spot in the pen as well. But today is all about Tanaka as it should be. 7 years 155 is a lot for a guy who has never pitched in the MLB, but for a guy like Tanaka it's worth the risk for the possible return.

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Layout of the how the Yankees should spend their money

In a perfect world there would be no 189 million dollar "cap" and Alex Rodriguez would have wasted away into yesterdays news, but we all know that's not going to happen. With that all being said, this a HUGE offseason for the yanks. They have a lot of holes and only so much money to fill them. A-Rod of course as he always seems to be will be right in the middle of this. His 25 million dollars could help or hurt the Yankees depending on if he gets suspended for any period of time. If so, they will have a lot more money to spend on free agents, i.e. Brian McCann, Mashahiro Tanaka, etc. Here's how I think they should spend their money under the impression that A-Rod's money will at least be cut in half.

Robinson Cano- We all know Cano wants 300 mil, but we also know he's not going to get it. The Yankees are really the only suitor for Cano that can afford him. The dodgers signed the Cuban defector Alex Guerrero to a four year deal, so they are out. The A's are in need of a second baseman but with their stadium issues and lack of funds I don't see them in on him. Maybe the Cubs but that's really it. The Yankees have to smart about this, they have to know that unless some mystery team comes out of the woodwork like Philly did for Cliff Lee, they are most likely going to be bidding against themselves. The important thing to think about here is not to go overboard. nothing over seven, eight years.
My Prediction: 7 years 180.

Brian McCann- This one is a little easier to figure out. There is mutual interest here, and according to a rival GM there is no one else that will get him. He is a perfect fit for the Yankees. He's a lefty bat with power, and he is a great clubhouse guy. He's also a "tough guy" which the Yankees seem to be lacking. Also they just flat out need a catcher. Chris Stewart just is not cutting it anymore, and with the kids i.e. Gary Sanchez still a few years away it makes perfect sense.
My Prediction 5 years 90.

Mashahiro Tanaka- This is the big fish to me.Yes, Cano is the best player available on the open market but Tanaka could be the most coveted free agent because of the scarcity of free agent pitchers with his ability. The posting system between the MLB and NPB (Japanese pro league) is about reach a new agreement and with it, Tanaka will be posted. I think along with many others that the Yankees will bid very on Tanaka mostly because it doesn't towards the 189 "cap." I think the posting bid will be upwards of 70-75 million. And his contract could be 6 years for 60 or so, which would fit nicely into their plans to stay under 189.
My Prediction: 6 years 60.

Carlos Beltran- Oh Carlos Beltran, I like to think of him as the one that got away. In 2004 he would have taken less money to go to the Yankees but he ended up signing with the Mets because the Yankees wanted to stick with Bernie Williams. But now he's a free agent again and again there is mutual interest. This time at a much smaller contract probably somewhere in 3 years 39 million dollar range. I know everyone reading this is thinking why he's 37!?!?! Well, are there any better, cheaper options out there? No. Choo and Ellsbury are going to cost over 100 million and neither are worth such a contract in my eyes. So let Beltran play until he cannot anymore, even at his age he can still produce, plus he will get some time at DH now. The kids i.e. Mason Williams, Tyler Austin, Slade Heathcott are still a few years away as well. He's a better option than Ichiro or Wells in RF to me.
My Prediction: 3 years 39.

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Complete Postseason MLB Predictions

Well, what can you say about the 2013 Major League Baseball season other than WOW? Not only do we have the two wild card play in games. We have a play-in game for the play-in game in the American League. I will give you my complete predictions for the entire postseason in this article, complete with how each series will end and some analysis behind my decisions.

AL Play-in Game- Monday 9/30 on TBS Tampa Bay Rays at Texas Rangers
David Price vs. Martin Perez

GAME 163. Last time we had a game 163 it was in 2009. The Twins beat the Tigers in 12 innings on Alexei Casilla's walk off single. That was for the AL Central crown. Four years later, we have another game 163, this time it's for a chance to play in the AL Wild Card Play-in game. David Price's numbers are not good in Arlington, he has gone 1-2 and 10.26 ERA, but he is a big game pitcher, he is the reigning Cy Young Award winner, and he is a better pitcher than who Texas is throwing out, (Martin Perez.) Although the game is in Texas, I Believe that Tampa will in 2-1 in another instant classic getting themselves a date with the Red-Hot Cleveland Indians.

AL Wild Card Play-in Game- Tampa Bay Rays at Cleveland Indians Wednesday 10/2 on TBS TB-TBA CLE- Danny Salazar

With Tampa beating Texas in game 163, they will get a chance to play at "The Jake" just kidding Progressive Field for a chance to play the Boston Red Sox in the ALDS. I do not think they will be able to defeat Cleveland. Cleveland is hot coming in winning 10 in a row. Yes, they have a rookie starting in Danny Salazar, but Danny Salazar has GREAT stuff. A power fastball ranging anywhere between 95-98. If they get five or six out of him, then they will be in good shape. Justin Masterson (who was the ace coming into the season) is going to close for them throughout the postseason. I just see this club as one of those teams who shouldn't be here but they are. They have great chemistry much thanks to Nick Swisher who is never without a smile. No one picked Cleveland to make the playoffs this season. They all kind of scratched their heads at the moves made i.e. Swisher, Bourn. But somethings have fell into place that no one could have predicted. Ubaldo Jimenez has found his form, and so has Scott Kazmir, yes, SCOTT KAZMIR. Cleveland takes this one in front of the home fans, (should be a good crowd.) 5-2.

NL Wild Card Play-in Game- Cincinnati Reds at Pittsburgh Pirates 10/01 on TBS CIN- Johnny Cueto PIT- Francisco Liriano

RAISE THE JOLLY ROGER! The Pittsburgh Pirates are in the playoffs for the first time in my lifetime. Wow, I'm 19, and its been 21 years. If you couldn't tell where I'm leaning on this one, I'm going with the Buccos. For a few reasons, 1. The home field advantage. These fans have been itching for a playoff game in Pittsburgh for 21 years and now they've got one. Also Francisco Liriano is 8-1 with under a two ERA at home. Pittsburgh gets enough offense and "Shark Tank" finishes it out with Jason Grilli "Cheese" closing it out. 6-3 Pittsburgh.

ALDS Cleveland Indians at Boston Red Sox- Tito vs. the Sox.

Is there a better first round match up to be had? Terry Francona gets the boot from Boston and his replacement was gone after a year? Now Tito's back in the playoffs with Indians with a chance to show the Sox what they are missing. Well, it took them one more managerial change for them to see what their missing. John Farrell to the Red Sox is one of the best trades no one talks about. Yeah, he was traded from the Blue Jays to the Red Sox. From worst to first. GM Ben Cherington brought in some good "clubhouse" guys. Shane Victorino, Johnny Gomes, Mike Napoli. If you've payed attention to anything in this article you know I'm all about good chemistry in clubhouses, I think that a good clubhouse can breed a good winning environment. This is why this might be one of the harder series for me to pick. Both teams have great chemistry. But, as much as it pains me to do this, I'm going with the bearded men in Boston in hard fought five game series. BOS 3-2

ALDS Detroit Tigers at Oakland Athletics Friday 10/04 TBS or MLBN- Revenge for the Swingin' A's.

A rematch for the ages to start in Oakland on Friday. In a series where no one thought the lowly A's would be able to compete with the Tigers, the A's took them to five games. This year I think the A's will get them. I know how can I pick against the Tigers? The best pitching staff in the postseason and one of the best offensives as well. The A's to me are interesting because I think they like to be the underdog and they relish the fact that people think the same as they did last year. There are two differences from last years team though. 1. Bartolo Colon. They didn't have Colon last year due to a PED suspension. Now this year he has continued his dominance. And 2. The young guys have a little more experience now. Jarrod Parker, Sean Doolittle, Ryan Cook, A.J. Griffin and others have now had a postseason under their belt. Plus this year they have another young stud, hard throwing Sonny Gray. Whether they use this kid in the rotation or the pen, he flat out throws gas. Oakland wins this one 3-1.

NLDS Pittsburgh Pirates at St. Louis Cardinals. 10/03 on TBS- The Jolly Roger is Raised Again.

Yeah, I'll admit it, I'm on the Pirates bandwagon. You know this because I just picked against one of the best postseason teams over the past few years. St. Louis has the all the inner workings of a championship caliber team, but I just think Pittsburgh wants it more than everyone else in the postseason. If they were playing a different team, I might have picked a the opposing team. But because they are playing the Cardinals, a division foe who they have played 18 times this year it's a good match up for the Bucs. The pitching is where I have to give the edge to Pittsburgh, only because St. Louis' closer role is up in the air right now. Edward Mujica who has been great all year is all of a sudden in a funk. I know Trevor Rosenthal is most likely going to be the new closer, but his age will catch up with him in this series. (he's only 23.)
Pitt wins this in five- 3-2.

NLDS Atlanta Braves at Los Angeles Dodgers. 10/03 TBS- Puigmania Prevails.

Probably on paper the Best matchup in the postseason. Two teams that have been called the best team in their league for the most of the year. The Braves held the best record for most of the year, but scuffled at the end and now will open the NLDS at Dodger Stadium. The last arriving and early leaving dodger crowd won't be able to leave their seats during this series, because it's going to be all Dodgers. The Dodgers are one of the, if not the most talented team left. They have best starting two-some with Kershaw and Greinke. Oh, and don't forget about Ryu, and Nolasco. Plus there's those guys, Hanley Ramirez, Yasiel Puig, and Adrian Gonzalez in the middle of that lethal lineup. All Dodgers in this one even without Matt Kemp. LA sweeps the Bravo's 3-0.

ALCS Oakland Athletics at Boston Red Sox- Saturday 10/12 FOX- Beards vs. Beards

I couldn't tell you who would win in a beard growing contest, but I can tell you who will the ALCS and punches their ticket to the World Series. Pitching is even, offense has to go to Boston, and bullpen is a push as well. Grant Balfour is one of the better closers in the game, but Koji Uehara has been tremendous. I think the X-Factor in this whole postseason is Clay Buchholz who when healthy is one of the best pitchers in the game. Couple him with Jon Lester, Jake Peavy and a rejuvenated, healthy John Lackey. I give the edge here to Boston. They will advance to their third World Series in the last nine years. Boston wins this one in six 4-2.

NLCS Pittsburgh Pirates at Los Angeles Dodgers- Friday 10/11 TBS- The Dodgers Keep on Rolling.

This one was particularly hard to pick. As I've said before the I've jumped on the Pirates bandwagon. But the Dodgers just have too much for the Pirates to handle. LA's pitching is too great for a slightly above average Pittsburgh offense. The city of Pittsburgh will have gotten a great run from their boys, and they have shown that they are here for the long run. The Dodgers will finally get Donnie Baseball to his first World Series. They win this one in five 4-1.

109th World Series Los Angeles Dodgers at Boston Red Sox- Wednesday 10/23 FOX- The Match up Everyone Wanted.

Yes, sadly I picked the same match up as most will. I usually don't like to pick the favorites to get there but, this year I have. The only reason is because I truly believe these two teams will have the best shot to make it here. They have all the pieces, they have the pitching, the offensive, the bullpen, and most importantly, the chemistry. This is the best match up for baseball as a whole. They have two of the biggest markets in the game in the World Series. This will attract the casual baseball fan as well as the diehards. Now for my pick on who will win the 109th World Series. It will be... the Los Angeles Dodgers! I give them the edge because of their pitching. They literally have two of the best pitchers in the game on their team. Also one of the guys they got from the Red Sox in that mega deal, Adrian Gonzalez. As well as Hanley, Puig. This will go seven games and will be an Epic World Series and one for the ages. Thank you for reading this, and I hope you enjoyed it! Enjoy the postseason!

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Thoughts and Musings about the New York Giants 0-2 Start

The title is pretty self-explanatory. Thankfully for the Giants, the rest of the NFC East is pretty mediocre. It is a very safe bet to say the NFC East Division champ is the only team that is going to make the playoffs. The Eagles lost, putting them at 1-2, and if the Giants win and Cowboys lose, the Giants are tied for first at 1-2. But, here's some thoughts, musings and suggestions on the team, including how to improve the linebackers.

1. Eli Manning is both great and awful. Great: he is near the top of the league in deep pass completions. Eli's arm has never been talked about as one of the elite in the league - his deep passes aren't pretty and are quite wobbly, but he rarely under-throws them. But, Eli, those interceptions are killer. I've said Eli has been very unlucky with a majority of his INT's (I mean, the INT off the defender's foot? Did he walk by a black cat? Jeez..) but some of his decision making has been poorer than in years past, like throwing to Cruz in the end zone with 3-4 defenders around him. Gotta cut those down.
2. Run the ball more. Please feed the ball to David Wilson. Look, 2 fumbles in the first game is unacceptable, but if the Giants are going to pass 40 times a game, there has to be a valid running game. We can see in Denver, the passing game sets up the run game; the Giants can do that too. Wilson is an electric talent, we saw that in the last 5 weeks of 2012. He needs the ball: a game changer. The backlash he got was deserved out of frustration, but it's Coach Coughlin's job to address it, not the media or the fans. I also give Wilson credit for adjusting his carrying style, but he needs to get 20 carries a game.
3. Why the hell did the Giants bring Brandon Jacobs back over Willis McGahee? McGahee is gonna start in Cleveland soon and had a 1,200 yard season 2 years ago. He averaged 4.4 yards a carry last year. Out of his 10 year career, he's only started full time 5 years. He's a much better back than Jacobs. Everything I hated about Jacobs as a Giant: could not convert short yardage, being an absolute jerk when he doesn't need to, all still there. Don't let the fans make the decisions. 
4. The Giants are lucky they have three legit WR's. I love the 3-WR sets. But Kevin Gilbride, for the love of god, what the hell are you doing? His play calling is just mind boggling at times. Call the deep ball more and stop using these awful screen passes to the running backs and horrible sweep run plays.
5. The interior offensive line play is been atrocious. Wow. Will Beatty is by far their best offensive lineman and has played a solid LT. Justin Pugh has had his rookie moments at RT, but he looks to be worlds better than David Diehl's awfulness. But, Chris Snee is getting old. He's gonna start until he retires because he's Coughlin's son-in-law, and quite frankly, I would avoid awkward dinner conversations at Thanksgiving and Christmas, too. I didn't like the David Baas signing when it happened and I don't like it now. Kevin Boothe has been mediocre too. Time for a change.
6. I don't think Jason Pierre-Paul is anywhere near healthy. The 2011 Pierre-Paul was all over the field. I think the Giants should have put him on PUP list and let him rest and rehab. An explosive Pierre-Paul for 10 games, especially helpful in December or a mediocre, not totally healthy Pierre-Paul for 16? I'd rather he was explosive for the last 10 games.
7. Spencer Paysinger, Keith Rivers, Jacquan Williams and Mark Herzlich are absolutely atrocious. The worst group of linebackers in the league. Phil Simms during Sunday's game said Paysinger and Williams are two of the better/faster coverage LB's in the league but they cannot tackle. I mean literally, they cannot tackle without assistance. They're linebackers, they should be menacing and run-stifling. I'd rather they drop 20 pounds of muscle and make them DB's. The Giants brought in Leroy Hill for a tryout: he should be signed and starting at MLB Sunday. The rest should be special teamers only and Herzlich cut - he's the worst.
8. My creative way how to improve the LB's: stay in nickel formation most of the time with Terrell Thomas on the field and for the two LB's? Damontre Moore and Cooper Taylor. I get it: they're rookies and technically a DE and a SS. Here me out: Moore is undersized at DE, a pass rusher purely. In a 3-4, he's an OLB at 250 pounds. He's got speed and more upper body strength to tackle. Taylor is listed at SS/OLB (at least in Wikipedia) and he's a big, big dude at 6'4". He hits hard (check his U-Richmond tape). I want hard hitters: give them a shot.
9. How awesome has Terrell Thomas been? 2 years of torn ACL's in a row after a fantastic 2010 season of over 100 tackles and 5 INT's. He's covered well and he goes after the ball carrier. I'm so glad he's back and playing well.
10. Nit-picking but Steve Weatherford hit some very poor punts on Sunday. I understand directional punting is needed, but send it deep.

I'm done. I will still root for the Giants and the rest of the season is still open for taking, as is the NFC East, but changes are needed. Go Giants!

Brendan Ryan? A Keeper?

The defensive wizard Brendan Ryan might have found a home in the Bronx. As my colleague Justin, has pointed out Ryan is a very viable option for the Yankees at Shortstop for the 2014 season. His offensive numbers are less than sub-par. A career .238 batting average and a .300 on base percentage, Ryan's numbers don't translate into what Yankees fans are used to see out of the shortstop position. Justin believes that Ryan can be helped by Kevin Long. I on the other hand do not think so. The highest he's ever hit was .292 in 2009 with the cardinals, that was in 129 games. I think Ryan could help out this team but as a backup shortstop/super utility man. I also think that there are other more proven viable options in the free agent market i.e. Jhonny Peralta and Stephen Drew.

Drew finally stayed healthy this year hitting .245 with 12 home runs and 62 RBI's. Peralta on the other hand has been suspended by MLB as a part of the Biogenesis scandal, which makes him an interesting fit. He had 11 home runs and was hitting .305 before being suspended in 104 games. Peralta can also play third as opposed to Drew who is primarily a Shortstop. Plus, last year the Yankees offered Drew a contract and he declined because he wanted a guaranteed starting spot. The same will be true this year and the Yankees cannot give him a guarantee, they don't know how Derek Jeter will come back. He could be the Derek Jeter of 2012 again, or maybe a something even remotely close to that. Peralta, since he is coming off a suspension will be looking for a one year deal to prove that he can play well when he is, "clean." Drew will probably look for a multi year deal and might get one.

I think that both of them are more viable options than Ryan is at this point. Only because of the question marks surrounding the Yankees next year. Is Texieria going to be Texieria? Or is he going to continue to regress as he ages. Is A-Rod even going to be playing next year? And who the hell is going to be the starting Catcher? As all of you know, no one wants it to be Chris Stewart again. I can't be wasting my time with a project like Ryan, when there are more viable and consistent options out there. If Ryan could hit .265 I could entertain the idea of him playing Shortstop and batting 9th but thats too many question marks for my book.

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And give some sort of debate here!

Should the Yankees keep Brendan Ryan at SS for 2014?

As Yankee followers have noticed, former Mariners and Cardinals shortstop Brendan Ryan has taken over the everyday duties for the Yankees after his acquisition a few weeks back. Ryan is known as a defensive wizard, with an elite glove and exceptional range. Yet, Ryan has not hit since his first full season with the Cardinals in 2009, when he hit .292. He has then posted batting averages of anywhere between .196 and .248.

Shortstop Derek Jeter, the Yankees SS since 1996, has been criticized for his shortcomings defensively, but that argument is another blog post at another time. Anyway, with Jeter entering his 40th year as a human being in 2014 and his impending potential free agency and/or retirement, the Yankees need to consider a full-time replacement and making Jeter the designated hitter. After all, Jeter showed in 2012 he can still be an offensive force, but his ankle injury and loss of nearly all of 2013 shows he should not be in the field any longer. The question is: should the Yankees keep Brendan Ryan, an impending free agent or go after other free agent SS such as Jhonny Peralta or Stephen Drew? Let's examine:

If the Yankees retain Brendan Ryan, they have to do another round of moves to compensate. To keep a hitter of Ryan's ineptitude in the lineup to make up for his defensive capabilities, the rest of the lineup has to be well above average. This means a healthy Gardner and Teixeira, a non-suspended A-Rod, a re-signed Robinson Cano, a productive Alfonso Soriano and a new RF, C and DH. Only then can you be happy with Brendan Ryan hitting 9th. If the Yankees are gonna skimp by just keeping Zoilo Almonte, Ichiro, Vern, Murphy/Romine/StewVelli and not get legitimate upgrades, then they need to over after an offensively capable SS in Stephen Drew, who has finally stayed healthy and put up numbers resembling his Arizona D-Back days or Jhonny Peralta, coming off a suspension, but with the better track record of health and offensive production and the capability to play 3B too if A-Rod is suspended.

But, if you have watched the Yankees telecasts over the last week, you have certainly heard Michael Kay note in a conversation he or somebody had with Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long, that K-Long said (paraphrasing here) that he can 'fix' Ryan's swing. Ryan's swing has been adjusted too much, thus not improving his swing at all. If Long can fix his swing this offseason to make him a better contact hitter (he's a no-power type, so if Ryan can hit .260 out of the nine hole, that's amazing for him and great for the defense), then Ryan might be the best option. Just something to ponder.

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Could the Astros have a legitimate lineup in 2014?

Yes. But please, continue on. The 2013 Houston Astros have endured another tough season. After finishing 55-107 last year, they are on pace to finish with the same record again this year. Additionally, fans have not rushed to Minute Maid Park, averaging around 19,500 fans per game. Neither have they rushed to the television screen. Get this: reports surfaced this weekend that only 1,000 people watched the Astros game versus the Mariners on Saturday. Ouch. The pitching staff has been nothing short of awful: last in ERA at 4.81, last in WHIP, and sitting in the high twenties in BAA and Quality Starts. Not pretty.

But, hope is on the horizon. The offense did show some signs of productivity. A number of note: 19th in runs. Considering they are universally thought of as being the worst team in the league, that's not too bad. I believe that the Astros could have a legitimate lineup that finishes in the top half of the league in runs scored. There is drastic improvement to be made: they hardly take walks which reduces the amount of base runners per game which equals less runs. Nevertheless, lets examine what can be hope for this team's future.

The Cornerstones
Jose Altuve - You already are familiar with All-Star Jose Altuve: the diminutive second baseman leads the team in average (.287), hits (165) and stolen bases (35). Altuve has put together a very solid .287/5 HR/52 RBI line. He is the face of the franchise and is well worth his 4 year/$12.5 million contract (a bargain!).
Jason Castro - A first round pick in 2008, has finally lived up to his potential and made the All-Star team as a reserve. Castro leads the team in doubles (35), runs (63), on base percentage (.350) and for you sabermetric followers, WAR (3.9). Castro is flawed (only .242 versus lefties) but a drastic uptick in walks post-AS break is a positive sign.

The Building Blocks
Robbie Grossman - Grossman will probably move over to left field with uberprospect George Springer coming up to play center, but there's a lot to like about Grossman. He's a solid outfielder and in the second half of the season, has hit .322. He's a likely .270 hitter or so moving forward, but retains value as a solid switch hitter who can be an MLB regular.
Matt Dominguez - Dominguez is second on the team in home runs with 20 and RBI with 75. His plate discipline leaves a lot to be desired, especially in the batting average department at .242. But, with some improvement, a .260 hitter with 25 home run, 90 RBI potential at a premium position is a solid player, which is what Dominguez can amount to.

The Intrigues
L.J. Hoes - Hoes came over from Baltimore for Bud Norris. He's a contact, limited power type. He prides himself on excellent plate discipline: rarely k's and walks semi-frequently. Ideally, he fits in the 2 or 7 hole and could cement himself as a building block.
Jonathan Villar - He's come on fast in August and September. Over the entire year, his stolen base production would equate to about 52 stolen bases. He only has one home run this year, but has shown 15 home run power in the minors. He's an intriguing piece moving forward and a solid sleeper for middle infield in fantasy.

Thou Shalt Turn It Around
JD Martinez & Chris Carter - I am not a Carter fan. But, he has power. Lots of it. He would be a solid platoon partner, but I imagine he starts off as the first baseman at least in the first half of the season. Martinez has a lot of untapped potential. The tools are there to succeed, but he needs to put it together. I think hitting lower in the lineup will help him.

The Rookies
George Springer - He had an unbelievable year in AA and AAA. His combined stats? .303/37 HR/108 RBI and 45 stolen bases. He's an extraordinary talent (and from CT! Ha-ha! We have talent!). His high K rate worries me going forward but the 2014 favorite for AL ROY for sure.
Jonathan Singleton - The team's other big offensive prospect had a rough year in AAA: hitting only in the .220s. He's a future talent, but I imagine they will not rush him with Carter around to start off.

April's Starting Lineup:
SS Jonathan Villar
2B Jose Altuve
C  Jason Castro
1B Chris Carter
3B Matt Dominguez
CF George Springer
LF Robbie Grossman
DH LJ Hoes
RF JD Martinez

I think there is potential here. I also believe Springer moves up as the year goes on, but they won't force him up top immediately. There is potential for 80 stolen bases between Villar and Altuve and close to 100 home runs between the 3-6 hitters. Feel free to debate me on Twitter: @JMFlorio

(Stats courtesy of ESPN and Baseball Reference)

Time to Rotate the Yankees Rotation: Huff for Hughes

Phil Hughes turned in another pitiful performance last night, pitching 4 2/3 innings, giving up 5 runs, 3 earned, jumping his ERA near 5, at 4.91, and making his W-L record 4-13. 4-13!!

How can the Yankees continue to throw him out every 5 days and compete for a playoff spot? He's been nothing short of awful since the All-Star break. What's worse is the fact that the Yankees beat writers, specifically Mark Feinsand and Sweeney Murti, of NY Daily News and WFAN, defend this guy like he's Felix Hernandez!

I'm going make the basic case to replace Phil Hughes with David Huff, who has pitched 8 straight shutout innings of relief in his last 2 appearances. Huff's track record as an MLB starter is not particularly great, but he's pitching better now. Here's the goop:

(Stats via ESPN and Baseball Reference)
Hughes
He's being hit hard by batters on both sides of the plate: .278 BA by righties and .293 by lefties. Further splits do not help his cause.

Hughes Pre/Post AS Break: 4.57 ERA (roughly a quality start of 6 innings/3 earned runs)/5.94 ERA after the break. A nearly 6.00 ERA since Mid-July. Awful. If that's not enough, he's getting worse as it goes. He has a 6.46 ERA in August. What's next, a 7.26 ERA in September?

September is exclusively against AL East rivals. With that in mind, the Yankees need to be conscious about playing their counterparts. Hughes' ERA against the AL East teams?
Baltimore: 7.00
Boston: 10.38
Tampa Bay: 5.73
Toronto: 3.78

Outside Toronto, not inspiring. What is inspiring? Replacing him with David Huff

Huff
Huff's last two appearances out of the bullpen:
5 innings/1 hit/0 runs/2 K's
3 1/3 innings/0 hits/0 runs/5 K's

His career stats do not scream anything special, either. As a starter, his career ERA is 5.41. Whereas out of the pen, he's got a 2.89 ERA. Reportedly, though, Huff had altered his throwing motion in the minors, which may have led to being more effective since his recall a few weeks back. Plus, he's left-handed. Anything you can take is a leg up on the competition. Using a lefty helps nearly automatically. Look at some top AL East hitters:
Chris Davis against lefties: .247 vs. .334 against righties.
David Ortiz against lefties: .265 vs. .350 against righties.
Edwin Encarnacion against lefties: .264 vs. .276 against righties.
Ben Zobrist against lefties: .239 vs. .287 against righties.

I'm not going to claim he's going to be Clayton Kershaw. But, I'll take Andy Pettitte at this point. A quality start = 4.50 ERA, which is an improvement. If Huff can even manage that, or somewhere around 3.80 or 4.00 ERA, he's got himself a rotation spot.

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Contacts & Conundrums, Part 1 - 2014 Yankees Featuring A-Rod

This is Part 1, in a 3 Part series on forming a 2014 Yankees Roster while staying under the $189 Million threshold. The Yankees have a number of players under contract, as well as a large amount of players going to arbitration. Also on the shopping list are a number of impending free agent decisions, including some top FA's on the Yankees too. This post covers Alex Rodriguez as a part of the roster, meaning that he would beat his suspension by MLB and resume his role as the Yankees 3B/DH for 2014. For the sake of argument, the Yankees will keep everyone under contract too; Meaning for example, Vernon Wells is on the roster, though his contract is affordable enough to be an easy cut. So, let's dive in:

(Contract numbers courtesy of Sportrac, ESPN & Baseball Reference)

Under Contract - 2014 Contracts
Alex Rodriguez, 3B - $26,000,000
Mark Teixeira, 1B - $23,125,000
CC Sabathia, SP - $23,000,000
Derek Jeter, SS - $8,000,000 Option
Ichiro Suzuki, OF - $ 6,500,000
Alfonso Soriano, OF/DH - $5,000,000
Vernon Wells, OF - $2,400,000
Eduardo Nunez, IF - $533,300
Michael Pineda, SP - $528,475
David Phelps, SP - $512,425
Adam Warren, P - $490,525
Preston Claiborne, RP - $490,000
Austin Romine, C - $490,000
Zoilo Almonte, OF - $490,000
Cesar Cabral, RP - $490,000

Cap Hit: $97,521,250; Amount leftover - $91,478,750

That covers the players under contract. Most of these players you are familiar with: 3/4 of the infield starters, 3/5 of the starting rotation and a number of outfielders. Let me so some clarifying: Cesar Cabral replaces Boone Logan as the lefty out of the bullpen. I imagine Logan will be paid handsomely this offseason as the premier left-handed reliever on the market. Bullpen pitchers are volatile and should be a cheap part of the team. I also expect the Yankees to delay Pineda's service time, and thus, his arbitration for a year.

Arbitration Eligible - 2013 Salaries and 2014 Hypothetical Salaries
David Robertson, RP - $3,100,000 (5,000,000)
Brett Gardner, OF - $2,850,000 (5,000,000)
Shawn Kelley, RP - $935,000 (1,000,000)
Jayson Nix, IF - $900,000 (1,000,000)
Ivan Nova, SP - $575,600 (900,000)
Francisco Cervelli, C - $515,350 (600,000)
Chris Stewart, C - $515,100 (600,000)

Cap Hit: $14,100,000; Amount leftover - $77,378,750

I imagine that Robertson and Gardner will see their salaries increase to about $5,000,000 a year, with Gardner in his final arbitration year and Robertson asking for closer's money. Kelley and Nix should up to over a million and Nova to about $900,000. The Yankees will have to make a decision on who catchers are, but we'll adjust as it goes.

Impending Free Agents - 2013 Salaries and 2014 Hypothetical Salaraies
Hiroki Kuroda, SP - $15,000,000 (18,000,000)
Robinson Cano, 2B - $15,000,000 (20,000,000)
Curtis Granderson, OF - $15,000,000 (TBD)

I hope Kuroda decides to return. He'll ask for a raise considering his fantastic 2013 season, bumping it up to around $18,000,000. Cano will be paid handsomely by either the Yankees or another big market team with big bucks and a need at second base (...cough....Dodgers...cough...). Let's say the Yankees and Cano agree to a 7 year, $140,000,000 deal - making him worth $20 million a year. I believe Granderson goes, along with every other FA, Hughes, Joba, Overbay, Hafner. I also presume Andy Pettitte hangs them up as well.

Cap Hit: $38,000,000; Amount leftover - $39,378,750

Roster before Free Agent/Trades/Call-ups
SP CC Sabathia
SP Hiroki Kuroda
SP Ivan Nova
SP David Phelps
SP Michael Pineda

LR Adam Warren
LHS Cesar Cabral
RP Preston Claiborne
RP Shawn Kelley
RP
RP
CL David Robertson

C
1B Mark Teixeira
2B Robinson Cano
SS Derek Jeter
3B Alex Rodriguez
OF Brett Gardner
OF Ichiro Suzuki
OF Zoilo Almonte
DH Alfonso Soriano

OF Vernon Wells
IF Jayson Nix
IF Eduardo Nunez
C Austin Romine

Remaining Moves
I think the Yankees can do some damage in free agency to legitimately help the team. Here is who can fill out the roster affordably.

Middle Relief: RHP Chase Whitley. He's down in AAA. He is major league ready with 3 solid pitches. He'll only cost the MLB minimum at $490K. Former Phillie David Herndon is also a possibility, as is Mark Montgomery, top relief prospect.

Experienced Reliever: RHP Jesse Crain. I think Crain makes a lot of sense to add another experience reliever who could probably close if Robertson falters. Crain is making $4.5 million this year - let's give him that contract for 2014 as well.

Starting Catcher: C Brian McCann. He is ideal for this team. They need a starting catcher who is MLB quality. He is making $12 million with the Braves this year; let's give him a realistic 5 year/$75 million contract, at $15,000,000 a year.

Adding these contracts and removing C Chris Stewart and C Francisco Cervelli:

Cap Hit: $19,990,000 - 1,200,000 = $18,790,000; Amount leftover - $20,588,450.

The Yankees can still afford to get themselves a quality OF, push Almonte to the bench and cutting Wells. They can improve their bench by getting a better utility player than Nix. They can also afford to bring in a solid veteran SP who won't break the bank, such as Colby Lewis, Chris Capuano, Jason Hammel are some targets. Even with A-Rod, I think the Yankees can make this $189,000,000 cap work, while getting younger, healthier, and possibly better.

2014: If A-Rod's Suspended, Who Plays Third?

I've been away for a month: my apologies. I hope all of you are enjoying your summer, which is going better than the 2013 New York Yankees season is. Playoffs are pretty much out of the mix, unless the team goes on a Braves or Tigers-esque tear by winning like 80% of their games over the rest of the month. But, that won't matter in 2014. What does matter is that third baseman Alex Rodriguez could miss the entire season if his suspension is upheld, or even possibly reduced to missing a large chunk of the season. How will the Yankees prepare for this? The front office must go into the season prepared, and not try and patch it with Jayson Nix or another old, injury-prone veteran (This means you, Kevin Youkilis and your $12 million salary). Let's take a look at the options:

Free Agent Third Basemen (all names via MLBTradeRumors.com)
Eric Chavez
Placido Polanco
Mark Reynolds
Michael Young
Kevin Youkilis

If that's not an awful list, I do not know what is. Let's eliminate Youkilis: he's a goner, and likely is his MLB career. Chavez played well in a bench role in NY from '11-12, but I would not be surprised if he stays out west, having another career resurgence with Arizona. Reynolds has been DFA'd by the Indians, and really should be a DH - he is an awful fielder. That cuts to Polanco and Young. Polanco is not suited to be an everyday player, but really a UTIL IF. Michael Young is a player the Yankees would sign; that's such a Yankees move. You have to put up with the poor glove, but he's still a decent RHB.

Most Likely Signing: Young

Free Agent Middle Infielders
Omar Infante
Ben Zobrist (Option)
Stephen Drew
Jhonny Peralta
Yunel Escobar

I will almost guarantee Zobrist gets his option picked up. I will almost guarantee Escobar remains at SS and get a decent contract somewhere. That leaves Infante, Drew and Peralta. All three are comparable ages at 31, 31, 32. Infante has played 107 games at 3B, according to Baseball Reference. Drew has started hitting again, like he did in Arizona, which could earn him some more $. Drew reportedly turned down more money from the Yankees this offseason to play everyday in Boston. Peralta is a great fit to move to 3B: he's a good hitter with a decent glove but little range. Plus, Peralta will be coming off his 50 game Biogenesis suspension. I'd prefer Drew or Infante, as they are the more premium players, but they'll require a likely 3 year contract, at least. Peralta is a good fit.

Most Likely Signing: Peralta

Internal Options
David Adams
Eduardo Nunez
Ronnie Mustelier
Jayson Nix

Nunez will be considered the SS in case Jeter goes down again. Nix should be no more than the utility man. So, it's Adams or Mustelier. Yankees should play Adams nearly daily down the stretch: see what he's got. His bat looked like it was turning around just has he got sent down the first time. He can play the position, and finally stayed healthy this year. His bat, and plate approach should translate to the majors - might as well see what he has. Mustelier has just had awful luck: getting hurt just as Spring Training ended, costing him a roster spot, getting hurt as he got hot in the minors and just being awful in AAA since. I want to see both of these players get a shot, but Adams getting the gig.

Internal Candidate: David Adams

So, what'll happen? The good thing is that the Yankees, if A-Rod's suspension and loss of contract $$ is included, will have approx. $140 million coming off the books. If they can invest that in an SP, Cano, and a legit catcher (McCann?), they can bring in a Peralta type. For now, we have to think David Adams could be the Yankees 3B next season.

Five Reasonable Trade Possibilities for the Yankees

Yes, I'm not giving up hope just yet. I'm not going to board the selling train yet. I have five reasonable trades for the Yankees to make, given the depleted farm system.

Michael Young 1B/3B- Phillies- Michael Young is probably the closest thing to a perfect fit for the Yankees. He can play third base and first base maybe some second base as well. He is currently hitting .288 with six home runs and a .759 OPS. He is a seasoned vet who can handle a pennant race. The only thing that is that the Phillies don't believe they are not out of the race. They are 6.5 games out of the NL East. But they are at .500. If they lose a few more games they might be swayed to trade him.

Kendrys Morales 1B/DH- Mariners- Morales is someone who I personally like, but again the Mariners think they are not willing to sell. Even though they are 13 games out of the West. Our old buddy Jack Z likes to toy with us Yankees fans, but even so Morales would be a good fit. He is hitting .280, with 14 home runs and 54 RBI's. He's hitting way above 300 with runners in scoring position which is always a good thing as well. But for right now he is unavailable.

Jonathan Lucroy C- Brewers- Lucroy is Justin's man crush and I have to agree with him, if available he would be a great fit with the Yankees. He has the same amount of home runs as Buster Posey and is second among catchers in RBI's to Posey. He would cost a hefty fee, probably Slade Heathcott, Gary Sanchez, and Williams or Angelo Gumbs. Might be too much for the Yank's blood, or just not an attractive package for the Brewers.

Chris Carter 1B/LF- Astros- Carter is a younger version of Mark Reynolds, but is still very productive. He has 18 home runs and 47 RBI's on a very bad Astros team. Yes, he's hitting .229 and 123 strikeouts but he wouldn't cost much to get. He is a legit masher and this goes against everything I stand for, but the Yankees need a guy like him right now. They need straight up power. No way around it.

Hunter Pence RF- Giants- Hunter Pence is interesting, the defending World Series champs are 6.5 games out and eight games under .500. He is probably not going to be traded, but he is a free agent at the end of the year so it is a possibility that they can trade for him or even sign him as a free agent. Again, not likely for the Giants to sell but you never know.

HOME RUN DERBY

It's one of my favorite nights of the year! Home Run Derby! Live updates during the Derby will be posted, but here are your rosters:

AL

Robinson Cano, Yankees (C) (Round 1 - 4 HR)

Chris Davis, Orioles (Round 1 - 8 HR)

Prince Fielder, Tigers (Round 1 - 5 HR)

Yoenis Cespedes, Athletics (Round 1 - 17 LONG HR)

NL

David Wright, Mets (C) (Round 1 - 5 HR)
Bryce Harper, Nationals (Round 1 - 8 HR)

Pedro Alvarez, Pirates (Round 1 - 6 HR)

Michael Cuddyer, Rockies (Round 1 - 7 HR)

Of course we will follow the standard process of the last few years: 10 outs (any swings not resulting in a home run) per player in first round. Top 4 move to round 2. Repeat. Top 2 in the final, 5 out round. On the 9th out, the Golden derby balls are in play: raising money for charity. 

Prediction: I kinda want to see Michael Cuddyer win this! As Tupac once said, "Let's shock the people!")

Round Two

Michael Cuddyer - 8 HR/15 Total
Chris Davis - 4 HR/12 Total
Bryce Harper - 8 HR/16 Total
Yoenis Cespedes (just for fun) 6 HR/23 Total

Final Round

Yoenis Cespedes Your Champ - 9 HR
Bryce Harper - 8 HR

Congrats to Cespedes. He put on a show.

World Peace for All

Needed a break from a very long paper about the tax consequences of yada yada yada... so why not comment about the newly signed New York Knick: Metta World Peace!

The second he was amnestied by the LA Lakers (which was a move I didn't agree with), I tweeted that the Knicks should sign him. One might say: WHY! He's a soon to be 34-year old player, with a potentially disruptive personality, and his motivation questionable.

I agree with that... but look at the off-season for Eastern Conference teams thus far:

• Bulls are getting their MVP point guard back
• Nets and Celtics combined their teams together to form a super-team
• Pacers beat the Knicks in the playoffs last year
• Cavs are getting better with Kyrie emerging and Bynum signing
• The Bobcats have significant..... okay nevermind on this one
• THE MIAMI HEAT STILL EXIST

The point is, New York is restricted by Amare's contract (and his bad knees) and has no room to make any type of additions to their team! They re-signed JR Smith, which I'm fine with since I can still play this song every time JR throws up a halfcourt 3-pointer or breaks someone's ankles in MSG (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGT1dQHEd7E). They brought back Pope Prigioni to back-up Felton, but they couldn't even afford to bring back Chris Copeland because the only contracts they could offer are minimal deals. CHRIS COPELAND! The Knicks couldn't afford HIM!

So in a year where the Eastern Conference is getting dramatically better, the Knicks can't make any significant moves. Oh yeah, and Melo can potentially become a free agent after the season. Do you think Melo wants to be on a team with Amare and Tyson Chandler for many more years without ANY other additions? Although I don't think he will leave, it's certainly something he'll think about.

So a veteran who can add toughness, in his hometown, with something to prove, who is already being paid by the Lakers fell RIGHT into the Knicks lap! The Knicks couldn't even beat the Pacers last year as currently constructed and now other teams like the Bulls and Nets have jumped over the Knicks in the Eastern Conference.

Worst case scenario: Metta blows up and the team cuts him.. then they are right where they were last year, which is where they would've been without signing Metta. Everyone talks about team chemistry blah blah blah. Listen, Metta is a likeable guy and how much team chemistry did the Knicks even have last season anyway? Tyson complains after every call and made questionable comments about Melo, Amare is getting paid so much money and can't stay on the floor, Felton constantly complains, JR Smith (enough said)... so why not take a risk to make the team better by adding World Peace.

I say it's a no-brainer for the Knicks. I like the signing of Metta.