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New York Yankees Trade Rumors: Is Rockies Pitcher The Right Move?

Posted by on 20 July 2011, 4:30 am
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 24: Ubaldo Jimenez #38 of...

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George A. King of the NY York Post reports that the New York Yankees are still keeping a close eye on Colorado Rockies pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez.

King confirms that a Yankees scout was in Denver for the second time in a week on Tuesday night; and not to watch the Rockies beat-up on the Atlanta Braves, just to see if Jimenez could.

HOW MUCH TO BRING JIMENEZ’S TALENTS TO THE BRONX?

The Rockies have made it clear that it will take a mountain of top prospects to move Jimenez out of the mile-high city. The Rockies have mentioned a package containing Yankee prospects catcher Jesus Montero, right-handed pitcher Dellin Betances and left-hander Manny Banuelos.

Just the thought of that price sent Yankee Universe into a rage, but what else could be expected?

Essentially if the Rockies ship off Jimenez, they are throwing in the towel. That is a total slap across the Rockies players’ faces, as this is a team whose reputation was built on being second-half slayers.

Personally, I am pessimistic about the Yankees giving up Banuelos to any team. Maybe because I have trailed this kid’s career since he inked in Mexico with the Bombers. In my humble opinion this 19-year-old lefty is something special, just hope the Yankees don’t screw this one up.

GM Brain Cashman could add another arm like Adam Warren or Andrew Brackman in the deal with Montero and Betances. Brackman has not been great this season, but he has made some positive baby steps. Brackman has been too erratic, which brings his value down considerably.

WHAT WOULD THE YANKEES BE GETTING?

Other than that my issue with Banuelos, the 27 year-old Jimenez is well worth the price tag. This season Jimenez is 6-8 in 19 starts, including two complete games, one shutout. Jimenez has pitched 117 innings total, a 4.00 ERA; with 108 strikeouts, 45 walks, giving up 10 home-runs and 52 earned runs. His walk numbers are high, but Jimenez has held batters to a .244 average.

Overall, Jimenez is young and talented. His record and ERA don’t tell the story as the Rockies have been underachieving big time this season. Jimenez started 2011 going 0-5, but in his last 10 stars he is 6-3, with a 2.58 ERA, issuing only 15 walks and striking out a whooping 63.

With barely any legit starters available the Rockies have the advantage, as 17-teams sent scouts to watch Jimenez within the last week. Whether the Yankees season hinders on acquiring another solid starter, like Jimenez is a crap-shoot at this point but I don’t see how it could hurt.

HOW RISKY IS THE YANKEES ALTERNATIVES?

Truth remains that counting on Bartolo Colon, Freddie Garcia and even Phil Hughes grinding it out through the playoffs is a tad farfetched. It sounds idiotic because no one expected the two veterans to make it this far, as Colon and Garcia have exceeded expectations already.

Hanging off a steep ledge for the rest of the season just adds pressure and the Yankees know that they might not survive like that.

Looking at the situation from a statistical and injury history angle it is almost unfair not to take measures. In Yankee language this would translate to fans that this season not being very important if Cashman sits on his hands.

Then outings like this past Tuesday night happen. Fans watched Colon vs. the Tampa Bay Rays and it made me realize that he can still pitch darn well. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees Trade Rumors: Is Rockies Pitcher The Right Move?’ »

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New York Yankees: Injury Update On Bartolo Colon

Posted by on 11 June 2011, 5:41 pm
New York Yankees starting pitcher Bartolo Colo...

Image by Keith Allison via Flickr

Ian Begley at ESPN New York is reporting that New York Yankees Bartolo Colon underwent an MRI Saturday afternoon at New York Presbyterian, but results are currently unavailable.

Indeed Colon looked as if he hurt his left hamstring in the seventh inning on Saturday afternoon. Colon was in the midst of another scoreless preformance, giving up just two hits to the Cleveland Indians.

The DL looks to be inevitable for Colon at this point, but another one bites the dust in the Bronx.

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MLB Trade Rumors: How The Yankees Bullpen Could Actually Get Better

Posted by on 11 June 2011, 2:27 am

New York Yankee trade rumors speculating whom GM Brian Cashman should go after to fix the team’s decrepit bullpen are keeping the sports media busy.

The suggestions that make sense to me are going with what has worked in the past; and the three foremost things that popped into my head were:

  1. Call Chicago Cubs GM Jim Hendry ASAP; first Hendry has to give a nod that the Cubs want to make a trade with the Yankees. If it is a go, start begging Kerry Wood to wave his no-trade clause and come back to the Bronx. Wood, better known as one-half of the infamous CHICAGO HEAT, was traded last season to Yankees, where he flourished as the bridge to Mariano Rivera. I thought the Yankees would keep Wood in 2011 season, but he was another causality overlooked during all the Cliff Lee drama. Still, if Cashman can somehow obtain Wood again things would straighten out really fast. In his short Yankee career, Wood went 2-0 posting a 0.69 ERA, allowing just one home-run, two earned runs, while striking out 31, in 26 innings pitched…translation go get him Cash!
  2. John Harper of the New York Daily News makes a valid argument that the Mets should trade closer K-Rod to the Yankees. The Mets need to dump the big contracts to free up some money and the Yankees need bullpen help, which they will trade and pay for. Could this possible deal work? Certainly, but the extenuating circumstances might prevent it, like the Mets fans. Mets fans have been dragged through the mud, so helping the Yankees would seem a tad ludicrous. Last time the New York teams made a deal was on December 3, 2004, it was one has-been given, and a never-was obtained, so not harm no foul. Getting Francisco Rodriguez off the Mets payroll takes $18.5 million for 2012 and K-Rod makes any bullpen lights-out.
  3. Dellin Betances, Manny Banuelos and Andrew Brackman known, as the Killer B’s are the Yankee top three pitching prospects that Yankee fans might never see. The talk about the three has been endless; especially Banuelos who fans got a taste of in Spring Training and displays the stuff of an ace at just 19-years old. The babying of these guys is getting ridiculous. Cashman needs to look at how Hughes and Chamberlain were handled and where they are now. Enough with the “RULES” just let the guys pitch and learn. I know this is a pipedream but Cashman might be left with no other choice. Joel Sherman of the New York Post agrees that it is time to give the youngsters a chance.

Cashman, unlike the majority of GM’s in baseball has endless resources at his disposal, which certainly allows him more breathing room to get the right fit. I have faith this will get fixed and probably with back-ups just in case.

The Yankees beat the Cleveland Indians on Friday night wit a final score of 11-7, so maybe this whole not beating the Red Sox thing is mental and more like 2009 than I initially thought.

Regardless, I have not thrown this team under a bus just yet. There is more then half-a-season left to play and so much is going to happen all around baseball.

Believe me, throwing in the towel on the Bombers in the past has never done anything but make the Yankees hungrier to win it all.

Cashman has my utter support and confidence that he will plug these holes and the Yankees will be playing in October once again.

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New York Yankees: Joba Chamberlain Meet Tommy John

Posted by on 9 June 2011, 7:14 pm

NJ Star Ledger’s Marc Craig is reporting that New York Yankee pitcher Joba Chamberlain elbow injury has escalated from the 15-day DL to having a torn elbow ligament that might require Tommy John surgery.

This is not good news for the Yankees bullpen, who had the most solid group of arms to start the season and now the majority of them are on the DL.

This is unfortunate but fixable, but the Yankees have keep to together through this rough patch long enough for GM Brian Cashman to make it better.

Phil Hughes is throwing to live batters and there is no reason to not put him in the bullpen when he returns in two weeks. If you remember back in 2009, Hughes dominated in the long-relief role and he was a major reason for the team turning it around mid-season.

I would love if Cashman looked internally, as Andrew Brackman, Dellin Betances and Manny Banuelos have been killing it in the minors this season.

I am aware that this trio known as the ‘Killer B’s’ are still developing, but their talent is evident.

Brackman and Bentances have dealt with injuries and need more time to develop but have been noted as not being close to Major-League ready yet. Brackman has not been as effective this season either.

Without question the youngest of the three, 19-year-old Banuelos is by far the most talented. During Spring Training even the great Mariano Rivera took notice, as he told ESPN that Banuelos was “the best prospect I’ve ever seen.”

Cashman will exercise all other options before Banuelos is even a possibility. Cashman knows how special this kid is and the Yankees have messed up enough young arms being selfish already.
My bet is that Banuelos will make an appearance in the Bronx before the end of the 2011 season because there really are not many other solutions for the Yankee to go after. They need help in the bullpen or else the season could be in jeopardy.

 

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2011 Spring Training: Pitching Audition Rumors You Are Not Going To Like

Posted by on 18 March 2011, 2:05 pm

Entering 2011 Spring Training, the New York Yankees had no back end in their pitching rotation, as the four and five spots were wide open.

GM Brian Cashman decided to go with the motto of quantity over quality, which was far from comforting. Names like Bartolo Colon, Mark Prior and Freddie Garcia were the solutions that felt like you had swallowed something and it went down the wrong pipe.

Let’s not forget about Sergio Mitre, who is getting his millionth chance at a starting spot.

Mitre would be the Kyle Farnsworth of the rotation, as he shouldn’t be even considered with his track record.

Luckily for Mitre, his love affair with Joe Girardi has completely blinded the skipper to his true lack of effectiveness as a starter. Over his seven-year career, Mitre has a 13-29 record, with a 5.27 ERA over 64 starts total. Translation is when Mitre is not stinking it up on the mound; he spends an ample amount of time on the DL.

The highlight of the Spring was getting introduced to the Yankee youngsters, who Cashman should feel very good about after all the hard work gone into revamping the team’s farm system since 2004.

Yankees have a herd of talented arms stockpiled in the minors who most fans just got a taste of these last few weeks, watching Andrew Brackman, Delin Betences and the crown jewel Manny Banuelos shine.

Come mid-season Cashman’s phone will be ringing off the hook if the Yankees are in need of a trade but my guess is these three will not be on the table.

This is where rookie Ivan Nova, the best pitcher by a landslide this spring comes into play. Nova is a step ahead of the other three as he pitched nicely in the bigs at the tail end of 2010. Continue reading ‘2011 Spring Training: Pitching Audition Rumors You Are Not Going To Like’ »

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MLB Trade Rumors: Yankees Want To Bring Twins Francisco Liriano To New York

Posted by on 1 March 2011, 2:26 pm

The rumor that New York Yankees have been interested in Minnesota Twins Francisco Liriano has reappeared again over the last week, according to ESPN’s Andrew Marchand Trade Watch.

It is no secret that the Yankees are in the market for another starting pitcher, which I am not opposed too but not right now.

My understanding was GM Brian Cashman motto is ‘to be patient’ and at this point there are reasons I jumped on Cashman’s slow bandwagon. Let’s apply the power of patience to this specific situation:

  1. Liriano came to Spring Training complaining of a sore shoulder; no one heard a word from him during the off-season where he usually plays winter-ball; and gets an MRI from some doctor in Miami that nobody in the Twins organization knew about. When asked if he did his shoulder exercises in the off-season, Liriano said no, and so that is the reason for the tendentious. He is almost 28-years-old, with a not so great attitude and the Twins haven’t hidden the fact they were not happy. He has potential to be an ace as in 2010 posted a 14-10 record, with a 3.62 ERA, 201 strikeouts and throwing just shy of 192 innings. Still, this just doesn’t feel right.
  2. The Yankees will have to over pay BIG for Liriano’s hurt arm. Rumor has it not Joba Chamberlain, but touted prospect Jesus Montero or Phil Hughes plus god knows how many other prospects. It is not worth it, at least not now. If fans get robbed of seeing Montero there might be a riot, especially after Austin Jackson got traded last season to the Tigers.
  3. Even though it is not happening now or maybe at all in 2011, the Yankees should hold on to their young arms. Specifically, 22-year-old Dellin Betances, 23-year-old Andrew Brackman, and 19-year-old Manny Banuelos, this is presuming that Ivan Nova is not going to be made available, as he shouldn’t be. These kids have shown tons of potential and impressed in Spring Training. Remember the current World Champion San Francisco Giants won with their dynamo young pitchers, maybe the Yankees should take note. Continue reading ‘MLB Trade Rumors: Yankees Want To Bring Twins Francisco Liriano To New York’ »

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2011 Spring Training: Yankees First Weekend News And Notes

Posted by on 28 February 2011, 11:41 am

The New York Yankees spilt games with the Philadelphia Phillies over the weekend, but these exhibition game outcomes don’t forecast anything in terms of regular season success.

What it does allow is for managers and coaches to hold auditions for unfilled positions and players to fight for a spot on the 25-roasters.

As everyone knows, the Yankees are looking for a fourth and fifth starter to fill out the back end of the rotation, while watching the progress of catcher Russell Martin’s health and figuring out who will be his back up between star prospect Jesus Montero and Francisco Cervelli.

The success of the Yankees is also looming on the continued maturity of Phil Hughes and Robinson Cano, much better pitching by AJ Burnett and the rebirth of shortstop Derek Jeter.

Here are some things to note from the first weekend out of Yankees camp:

PITCHING:

  • Pitcher Bartolo Colon pitched a solid two innings in Saturday’s opener. He displayed a mid-90’s fastball, changeup and a cutter. Colon threw 23 of 36 for strikes, giving up one walk, two hits and a run, which sets the bar for the Ivan Nova, Sergio Mitre and Freddie Garcia to match. Colon pitched this winter in the Dominican Republic, where he went 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA over seven starts. He did come to camp 25 pounds overweight, but past elbow problems didn’t bother the 38-year-old at all.
  • All the fuss about how much bigger Joba Chamberlain looked when he arrived to Tampa was put to rest on Saturday. Chamberlain came out attacking in the third inning, clocking a 94 mph fastball and posting one strikeout. Chamberlain tweaked his starting motion in the off-season, dropping his hands from chest to belt level, and it seems to have paid off.
  • Ivan Nova started the second game and was dynamite. Throwing 14 strikes out of 21 pitches, Nova baffled the heart of the Phillies order with a three-pitch strikeout of Ryan Howard. Nova looked good.
  • Sergio Mitre followed Nova by pitching a scoreless inning, as he has a chance to be a starter but is almost more useful as used as a Longman out of the bullpen. Mitre will make one more emergence out of the bullpen before he makes his first start.
  • Touted pitching prospect Dellin Betances made his Spring Training debut on Sunday and struck-out the side, allowing one walk in a scoreless fifth inning. Betances will start the season in Double A, but if the 22-year-old keeps developing at this rate he has future ace written all over him.

OTHER NOTES:

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