Category: Minor League Reports

Yankees MILB 4/4: Everson Pereira Goes Yard

News:

The Yankees released the Somerset/Hudson Valley/Tampa rosters this week. I don’t read too much into that, to be honest. The Yankees have their reasons for placing players at certain levels.

The biggest surprise, to me, was Keiner Delgado not being assigned to a full-season level. While it is true that George Lombard Jr. and Roderick Arias are occupying spots in Tampa, they could have found playing time for Delgado.

However, it isn’t a life sentence. Delgado will get to Tampa soon enough is my guess.

Tomorrow begins the insane portion of the season, as Somerset, Hudson Valley, and Tampa are scheduled for their openers. The weather looks chilly but fine for Somerset and Hudson Valley (road against Bowling Green (Kentucky)), while Tampa’s trip to Fort Myers should be met with plenty of sunshine.

RHP Zach Messinger is announced as the starter for Somerset, while RHP Sebastian Keane and LHP Cade Smith are listed as the scheduled starters for Hudson Valley and Tampa. For Smith, it will be the 2023 draftee’s professional debut. Keane pitched mostly out of the bullpen in 2023 but made a pair of starts for Low-A Tampa.

Scranton (2-2) (Lost an ugly game (especially in the 9th) to Syracuse, 5-4)

CF Greg Allen: 0-for-5, 4 K
2B Caleb Durbin: 4-for-5, 3B (1), RBI
Not known for his power, three of Durbin’s first eight hits have gone for extra bases (two doubles, one triple). 
DH Carlos Narvaez: 0-for-4, 3 K
RF Everson Pereira: 1-for-3, HR (2), RBI, 2 RS, BB, K
It is easy to toss a prospect out of your mind when their first taste of MLB doesn’t go well. I wouldn’t dismiss Pereira quickly, especially since many people weren’t surprised by his initial struggles. For now, he is MLB depth and a potential trade piece.
1B Jose Rojas: 1-for-4, K
C Luis Torrens: 1-for-3, SF, RBI, K
Torrens’ first official game back with the organization since September 5, 2016. Since he is on the 40-man, Narvaez is the default #3 catcher but Torrens (with his MLB experience) is also in the mix.
SS Jeter Downs: 2-for-4, 3B (1), HR (1), RBI, RS, 2 K
I can’t be the only one hoping that Downs earns at least a cup of coffee with the big club. This home run went an impressive 409 feet.
LF Luis Gonzalez: 1-for-4, K
3B Jordan Groshans: 1-for-4, 2B (2), RS

LHP Edgar Barclay: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Barclay survived the Rule 5 over the winter. Last season, he pitched well as a reliever for Somerset before struggling as a starter for Scranton. Barclay doesn’t throw hard (topped out at 91.6 MPH tonight, averaged 89.8) so he relies more on commanding his stuff than overpowering you. He also featured a changeup (41%) and curve (16%) tonight. He generated nine whiffs amongst the 19 swings when he threw the changeup.
LHP Anthony Misiewicz: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K
RHP Duane Underwood Jr.: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K
Underwood threw a changeup that registered 91.3 on the gun. That could be an error.
RHP Yerry De Los Santos: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
De Los Santos threw a 94.9 MPH sinker – that is not likely an error.
LHP Clayton Andrews: (L, 0-1) 0.1 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 0 K
Ooph.
LHP Oddanier Mosqueda: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K
He had a chance to stop the bleeding, but couldn’t do it.

Somerset (0-0)

The season starts on 4/5.

Hudson Valley (0-0)

The season starts on 4/5.

Tampa (0-0)

The season starts on 4/5.

FCL (0-0)

The season starts on 5/4.

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Ex-Yankees Prospects: Where are they?

A look at the prospects the Yankees have traded/lost over the last several years. This list is comprehensive (in my opinion) but not complete.

The Jameson Taillon deal:

RHP Roansy Contreras – The “big fish” in the deal for Pittsburgh, Contreras has struggled to the point where the Pirates moved him to the bullpen.

RHP Miguel Yajure – Yajure compiled an 8.69 ERA in 39.1 innings for the Pirates before moving to the Giants’ organization. Last year, he pitched at three levels, compiling a 6.07 ERA in 65.2 innings. He elected free agency at the end of the campaign and signed with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. Many players have earned their way back to MLB using this route.

OF Canaan Smith-Njigba – Still a member of the Pirates organization, Smith-Njigba went 5-for-25 in spring training with three home runs. Designated for assignment at the end of spring training, he passed through waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A.

IF Maikol Escotto – Still only 21, Escotto has been unable to get on track after a big debut season for the Yankees DSL squad. At the very least, he is a cautionary tale about taking rookie league numbers too seriously.

The Pirates are hoping that Contreras salvages this deal for them by pitching well out of the bullpen.

The Joey Gallo deal:

RHP Glenn Otto – The Rangers designated Otto for assignment in September. The Padres claimed him and he made three late-season starts for their Triple-A ballclub in El Paso. He is on the injured list due to a “Right teres major strain.”

UTIL Ezequiel Duran – Duran seemingly was having a breakout to start 2023, but slowed down considerably to the point where he wasn’t included on the postseason roster (he was eventually added to the World Series roster when Adolis Garcia went down in Game 3). He made the Rangers’ Opening Day roster.

UTIL Josh H. Smith – Smith earned his World Series ring by playing a variety of positions for the Rangers in 2023. The bat wasn’t there (.185/.304/.328), but the Rangers’ offense was dominant enough to absorb it. This season, he has played two games at third base and an inning at shortstop so it appears his role will be similar.

UTIL Trevor Hauver – Hauver is now in Triple-A after hitting .260/.374/.429 in 107 games for Double-A Frisco in 2023. Hauver was Rule 5 eligible this past winter but went undrafted.

This isn’t a group of All-Stars, but the Rangers must be happy about the return.

The Anthony Rizzo deal:

RHP Alexander Vizcaino – After failing to report to the Cubs last year, Vizcaino resurfaced in the Dominican Winter League, where he pitched to a 2.70 ERA in five games. I have no idea what his plans are.

OF Kevin Alcantara – Alcantara is the #5 prospect in the Cubs organization (Pipeline). At 20 years old, he made it to Double-A in 2023 after posting a .286/.341/.466 line in 408 plate appearances for High-A South Bend. His ETA is in 2025, but he can push up that timetable. He is on the 40-man roster with a pair of options remaining.

The Andrew Heaney deal:

RHP Janson Junk – Junk has since moved on to the Brewers, where he made two appearances (one start) in 2023. His 2024 began in Triple-A Nashville.

RHP Elvis Peguero – After the Yankees traded Junk/Peguero to the Angels, the Angels packaged them again in a trade to the Brewers. Peguero made the team out of spring training and has picked up two wins in two relief appearances to start 2024. Nice pace.

The Yankees traded a pair of spare parts for Heaney. It is good to see that both have lived out their MLB dreams.

The Clay Holmes deal:

UTIL Hoy Park – Park hasn’t played in MLB since 2022. After signing with the Braves organization in 2023, he moved on to the Oakland Athletics in 2024. Park had an incredible spring training (21-for-44 with five doubles and a homer). On a team as bad as Oakland’s, that could have been enough to earn him the #3 spot in the lineup. However, they sent him off to Triple-A instead.

UTIL Diego Castillo – Castillo was briefly a property of the Yankees this spring after they claimed him off waivers. After being designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks, he took a mid-Atlantic tour, being claimed by the Mets, the Yankees, and the Phillies before settling in with the Orioles. The Orioles also designated him for assignment, but he passed through waivers and is in Triple-A.

This trade didn’t look like much, but the Yankees struck gold.

The Jose Trevino deal:

LHP Robby Ahlstrom – Ahlstrom (24) pitched in 40 games between High-A and Double-A in 2023. He compiled a 3.68 ERA in 58.1 innings with a 79/32 K/BB. Ahlstrom was traded to the Rangers before appearing in the Yankees organization.

The Andrew Benintendi deal:

RHP Beck Way – Way had a tough time in Double-A, pitching to a 6.67 ERA in 79.2 innings. With that, he was invited to Spring Training in 2024 where he appeared in two games.

RHP Chandler Champlain – Champlain is the #12 prospect in the Royals organization. After a dominant start in High-A, he was pushed to Double-A, where he pitched to a respectable 3.82 ERA in 73 innings with a 64/25 K/BB. He could profile as a bottom-of-the-rotation innings eater or multi-inning reliever.

LHP T.J. Sikkema – Sikkema has moved on to the Cincinnati Reds organization after being drafted in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. Sikkema was roughed up in Double-A last year, pitching to a 5.85 ERA in 72.1 innings.

This trade seems to be all about what happens with Champlain.

The Scott Effross deal:

RHP Hayden Wesneski – Wesneski received an extended look in 2023, pitching to a 4.63 ERA (5.48 FIP) in 34 games (11 starts) with a 21.9% K and 8.4% BB. His strikeout rate spiked to 25.6% as a reliever (however, his BB% spiked to 11.9%). He starts the season in Triple-A Iowa.

Wesneski will be back. His future role is to be determined.

The Frankie Montas deal:

LHP Ken Waldichuk – Waldichuk has a bullpen session coming after undergoing surgery in October to address a couple of arm issues (sprained UCL/damaged flexor tendon). He is on the 60-day injured list. Last season, Oakland forced him to battle through his struggles (5.36 ERA/5.30 FIP in 141 innings) and we’ll see if that pays off going forward.

RHP Luis Medina – Medina is on the 15-day injured list to address a right knee MCL sprain. Like Waldichuk, Oakland gave him the ball and told him to run with it in 2023. He finished the season with a 5.42 ERA (4.76 FIP) over 109.2 innings. The inconsistency that plagued him with the Yankees continued. In June, he owned a 25/21 K/BB over 26 innings. In July, he improved that to 27/5 over 22 innings. August/September? 30/21 over 34 innings. The tantalizing talent remains but can he harness it?

LHP JP Sears – Sears went 5-14 with a 4.54 ERA (5.15 FIP) in 172.1 innings last year, allowing 34 home runs. He didn’t fare well in his first outing in 2024. For a pitcher like Sears, Oakland seems like a good place to be. He is just good enough to continue to accumulate service time.

IF Cooper Bowman – Bowman went 5-for-16 in spring training following his .262/.358/.435 line in 319 Double-A plate appearances. He stole 35 bases in 38 attempts. Bowman played primarily second base with a handful of games at shortstop and a game in center.

The Athletics received three pitchers who ate considerable innings in 2023. Whether they become a part of their future remains to be seen. Bowman has MLB potential in some capacity.

The Greg Allen deal:

RHP Diego Hernandez – Hernandez spent 2023 on the injured list and has yet to pitch in the Red Sox organization. He is 19 years old.

The Keynan Middleton deal:

RHP Juan Carela – Between the Yankees and White Sox High-A affiliates, Carela pitched to a 3.58 ERA in 115.2 innings with a 136/43 K/BB. The Yankees likely traded him due to his Rule 5 status. However, he wasn’t protected by the White Sox and slipped through.

Carela isn’t an upside pitcher, but the White Sox did fine in acquiring him for a rental reliever.

The Alex Verdugo deal:

RHP Richard Fitts – Fitts, who has a bulldog mentality, had a solid season in Somerset, pitching to a 3.48 ERA in 152.2 innings. He is ranked 12th on the Red Sox prospects list (Pipeline). I would be surprised if Fitts doesn’t make it to MLB as he is a relatively “safe” pitching prospect.

RHP Nicholas Judice – The 22-year-old Judice hasn’t made his professional debut. He was drafted in the 8th round by the Yankees in the 2023 draft out of Louisiana-Monroe.

RHP Greg Weissert – Weissert is in the Red Sox bullpen, where he has tossed three scoreless innings with a 4/1 K/BB to start his campaign. If the walks remain low, he can be effective. Can he do that, though?

The Juan Soto deal:

RHP Drew Thorpe – Thorpe was flipped to the White Sox when the Padres acquired Dylan Cease in mid-March. Using his advanced changeup to his advantage, Thorpe went 14-2 with a 2.52 ERA and an 182/38 K/BB over 139.1 innings between Hudson Valley/Somerset in 2023. His performance was enough to earn him the Minor League Pitching Prospect of the Year award.

RHP Jhony Brito – Brito was a useful utility arm for the Yankees in 2023. His first four appearances for the Padres haven’t gone well (six runs in four innings).

RHP Randy Vasquez – Vasquez started the season in Triple-A after a decent showing for the Yankees last year (2.87 ERA/4.98 FIP in 37.2 innings).

RHP Michael King – I am including King because he was a part of the package, even though he is no longer a prospect. King is having trouble locating to begin this season (ten walks in 7.1 innings) but a pitcher with his talent (2.88 ERA (3.13 FIP) in 219 innings between 2021-2023) is unlikely to suddenly “lose” it). Whether or not he truly is a starter or better off in the multi-inning relief role is to be determined.

The Victor Gonzalez/Jorbit Vivas deal:

SS Trey Sweeney – The Yankees’ first-round pick in 2021 started the season in Triple-A Oklahoma City for the Dodgers. He is 3-for-15 with a homer and five walks. He went 6-for-20 in spring training. While there has been talk about moving Sweeney off of shortstop in the past, he has yet to play a professional game elsewhere.

The Caleb Ferguson deal:

RHP Christian Zazueta – The Yankees acquired two left-handed relievers from the Dodgers. In this deal, they gave up Matt Gage (since released by the Dodgers) and Zazueta. Zazueta has pitched the last two years in the DSL, compiling a 4.54 ERA and 75/22 K/BB over 73.1 innings.

The Jon Berti deal:

OF John Cruz – The intriguing teenager hit 15 home runs in 426 PA between the DSL/FCL in 2022-2023. Last season, his performance created a buzz, as he compiled a .907 OPS in 48 games. He is a good long-term “get” for the Marlins.

The Clayton Andrews deal:

RHP Joshua Quezada – This was your prototypical lottery ticket for a depth player move. Quezada is a teenager who pitched to a 3.69 ERA in 46.1 innings in the DSL in 2023. That was his professional debut.

The Cody Morris deal:

OF Estevan Florial – Florial, who was around the organization forever, won his freedom this winter. After an 8-for-52 spring, he made the Guardians’ Opening Day roster (it was either that or expose him to waivers). So far, he is 1-for-7 with a triple and stolen base.

Others:

RHP Mitch Spence – The Athletics chose Spence in the Rule 5 draft. Last year, he tossed the most innings in minor league baseball (163) while compiling a 4.47 ERA (5.21 FIP) and 21.8% K rate. Spence made the Athletics’ roster out of spring training (rather than returned to the Yankees) and has appeared in a pair of games.

RHP Matt Sauer – Another Rule 5 loss, Sauer was chosen by the Royals. So far, he has appeared in one game, tossing a scoreless inning. Sauer received some notariety on August 25, 2022, when he struck out 17 batters for the Somerset Patriots.

RHP Carson Coleman – The 25-year-old Coleman (also selected in the Rule 5 draft) had some buzz as a Yankees’ relief prospect after a solid 2022 campaign. However, a shoulder injury cost him all of 2023 and he is currently on the 60-day IL for the Rangers.

LHP Matt Krook – The groundball-heavy Krook had a rough time in his 2023 MLB debut. The Yankees traded him to Baltimore for cash this past winter and he is currently at Triple-A Norfolk.

UTIL Oliver Dunn – The Phillies went crazy in the minor league phase of the 2022 Rule 5 draft, selecting seven players. The seventh player was Dunn, an 11th-round pick by the Yankees in 2019.  Acquired by the Brewers from the Phillies over the winter, he made the roster out of spring training and is 3-for-12 with an RBI in four games. He is primarily a 2B/3B type, though he has played some SS and LF.

1B Eric Wagaman – Wagaman was chosen by the Angels in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. Now 26, he hit .320/.382/.500 in 35 games for Somerset in 2023.

C/1B Mickey Gasper – Taken by the Red Sox in the minor league phase, Gasper hit. 269/.388/.423 in 52 games for Somerset. He struggled in 22 games for Scranton. Gasper has hit for average and taken walks in the minors, setting himself up as someone with a real shot to make it.

RHP Michael Gomez – Taken by the Rays in the minor league phase, Gomez is at their Triple-A affiliate in Durham.

3B Marcos Cabrera – Taken by the Pirates in the minor league phase, Cabrera has 31 homers in 1,022 career plate appearances. While there might be some pop to tap into, the rest of his offensive game needs work. He is a .219/.328/.386 career hitter with a 30.4% K rate.

Yankees MILB 3/31: Brandon Lockridge: 2 Hits, BB, SB

News:

LHP Nick Ramirez was designated for assignment after the Yankees promoted LHP Tanner Tully to the big league club. Just in case you missed the news, Tully replaces Clayton Beeter, who will now get regular rotation turns in Scranton until he is needed again. While I think Beeter’s future might be in the bullpen, there isn’t a need to put him there permanently now. Plus, who says I’m right? I am wrong more than I am right. I am just not afraid to admit it.

“Why Tully?”

It’s simple: 1. He has a starter’s pedigree, so he can eat innings out of the bullpen as needed; 2. He is expendable. If he has to pitch four innings out of the bullpen, he can be designated for assignment the next day. That sounds harsh, but for many MLB players, this is their way to earn some paychecks.

Not that Will Warren was available anyway, but you aren’t going to add him to the 40-man roster for this purpose.

RHP Yorlin Calderon was added to the roster with the need for an arm in Scranton. He made an appearance in today’s game. Further information is in his blurb below.

Ramirez being designated for assignment may seem like a surprise. In 32 games (40.2 IP) for the big club last year, he compiled a solid 2.66 ERA and 2.94 FIP. With the need for relief arms throughout baseball, I will be surprised if he isn’t claimed. However, I’ve been surprised many times before.

Scranton (2-1) (Lost to Buffalo, 4-3)

RF Luis Gonzalez: 1-for-5, 3B (1), RBI, RS, 3 K
DH Caleb Durbin: 1-for-3, RBI, 2 BB, SB (2)
Durbin is off to a 4-for-12 start with a pair of doubles, 4 RBI, and two stolen bases.
1B Carlos Narvaez: 0-for-4, BB, K
The Yankees need first base depth. Narvaez played 16 games at the position last year and started a game today. As stated the other day, he is also the organization’s #3 catcher.
CF Everson Pereira: 1-for-4, K
2B Kevin Smith: 0-for-4, 2 K
3B Jordan Groshans: 2-for-4, 2B (1)
SS Jeter Downs: 1-for-3, RS, SAC
C Josh Breaux: 1-for-4, K
LF Brandon Lockridge: 2-for-3, 2B (2), RBI, RS, BB, SB (4)
Lockridge is off to a 3-for-6 start with a pair of doubles, three walks, and four stolen bases.

RHP Cody Morris: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K
The Yankees acquired the 27-year-old Morris from Cleveland for Estevan Florial. He owns a 3.41 ERA in 31.2 career MLB innings (13 games/5 starts) with a 32/18 K/BB. As expected, Florial made the Guardians’ Opening Day roster (just like when he was with the Yankees, he would need to go through waivers if they decide to send him down). 
LHP Oddanier Mosqueda: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K
RHP Yorlin Calderon: 3.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, HR
Calderon is 22 years old and hadn’t pitched above High-A until today. In 2022, in his Low-A debut, Calderon tossed a 7-inning no-hitter. This could be a situation where Scranton needed an arm for a day, and he was readily available to provide that. Calderon doesn’t appear on many (if any) Top 30 lists, but he did receive a blurb on the Fangraphs list last year, where he was praised for his breaking ball and potential to add velocity.
LHP Clayton Andrews: (L, 0-1)  1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
The organizational debut for Andrews, who the Yankees acquired for minor league RHP Joshua Quezada. He didn’t have any fun in his MLB debut last season (27.00 ERA in four games), but he pitched well for their Triple-A affiliate. Walks appear to be an issue, but he did touch 95.4 on the gun today. That’s valuable for an LHP if you can figure out everything else.
RHP Dennis Santana: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Santana allowed two inherited runners to score.

Somerset (0-0)

The season starts on 4/5.

Hudson Valley (0-0)

The season starts on 4/5.

Tampa (0-0)

The season starts on 4/5.

FCL (0-0)

The season starts on 5/4.

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 3/30: Cody Poteet: 4 Scoreless Innings

News:

I have nothing interesting to report.

Scranton (2-0) (Defeated Buffalo, 4-3)

CF Greg Allen: 0-for-4, K
3B Caleb Durbin: 1-for-4, 2B (2), K
I mentioned Durbin’s speed and versatility yesterday. What did I leave out? His insane (in a good way) strikeout rate. In 22 games for Hudson Valley, he struck out at a 9.3% rate. “OK, so what did he do in the higher minors? Haha! Bet it wasn’t so great!” The answer: 4.6% in 47 games for Somerset. Amongst all minor leaguers with at least 250 PA, his 6.2% combined rate was second to 27-year-old Ernie Clement (Toronto).  FYI: I wrote that blurb before his fourth AB, where…of course, he struck out.
C Carlos Narvaez: 0-for-3, RS, BB, K
LF Everson Pereira: 1-for-3, RS, CS (1), BB, K
Pereira hit a 102.7 MPH bullet for an out. The hit? 30.2 MPH.
1B Jose Rojas: 1-for-2, 2B (1), 2 RBI, RS, 2 BB
  PR Brandon Lockridge: 0-for-0, RS, SB (3)
  1B Jordan Groshans: 0-for-0
SS Kevin Smith: 2-for-4, RBI, K
Game-winning RBI single in the 9th.
RF Luis Gonzalez: 1-for-3, 2B (1), SF, RBI, K
Is Brian Cashman trolling us by signing a player named Luis Gonzalez?
DH Josh Breaux: 0-for-3, 2 K
Breaux has 67 home runs in 316 minor league games. The power isn’t in question – the rest of his offensive game (plus his position) are questions. 
2B Josh VanMeter: 0-for-3, 2 K
VanMeter is a depth utility player. His bat hasn’t done much in his MLB career (.206/.293/.347 in 841 PA). His 39.00 ERA in three games doesn’t make him the ideal Isiah Kiner-Falefa replacement either.

RHP Cody Poteet: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K
Poteet, signed as a free agent over the winter, is on the 40-man roster. The 29-year-old has 19 games of MLB experience (9 starts) between 2021-2022 with the Marlins. He posted a 4.45 ERA. Today, he featured his 4-seamer (27%), sinker (29%), and change (27%) while mixing in some curves (10%) and sweepers (6%).
RHP Duane Underwood Jr.:  2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 2 HR
Underwood is no stranger to professional baseball, given that his debut was in 2012. Players like him tend to bounce around, but the Yankees are only his third organization (Cubs, Pirates). He has 144 games of MLB experience between 2018-2023, compiling a 4.63 ERA (4.08 FIP) in 144 games. Not bad for a depth guy.
LHP Anthony Misiewicz: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
If you hung around for the entire 2023 season (you are forgiven if you didn’t), you will recognize Misiewicz, who pitched in three games for the big club.
RHP Yerry De Los Santos: (W, 1-0) 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 0 BB, 0 K
De Los Santos was a dark horse to make the MLB roster at the beginning of spring training. He (typically) keeps the ball on the ground, which we know Matt Blake loves.

Somerset (0-0)

The season starts on 4/5.

Hudson Valley (0-0)

The season starts on 4/5.

Tampa (0-0)

The season starts on 4/5.

FCL (0-0)

The season starts on 5/4.

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 3/29: Opening Day!

Notes:

C/1B Ben Rice appears to be starting his campaign in Somerset. The left-handed slugger hit .327/.401/.648 in 222 PA for Somerset last year, so hopefully this is temporary.

Scranton (1-0) (Defeated Buffalo, 12-8)

CF Greg Allen: 2-for-4, HR (1), RBI, 3 RS, 2 SB (2)
Allen starts the season off with a lead-off home run. If they need a player in a pinch, he will be on the list of early call-ups.
2B Caleb Durbin: 2-for-5, 2B (1), 3 RBI, RS, HBP, SB (1)
Durbin is somewhere on the MLB depth chart. He has speed and versatility. Last season, he stole 36 bases in 69 games (an injury kept him out of action for a while)
C Carlos Narvaez: 2-for-4, 2B (1), SF, 3 RBI, BB
Narvaez is often overlooked, but stop doing that. He is our #3 catcher, after all.
LF Everson Pereira: 2-for-6, HR (1), 2 RBI, RS, 3 K
Pereira didn’t have a great start to his MLB career but is in the #5 outfielder mix.
DH Jose Rojas: 1-for-4, HR (1), RBI, RS, 2 BB, 2 K
The veteran utility type hasn’t played in MLB since 2022. He is depth.
SS Kevin Smith: 1-for-5, BB, K
Smith has MLB experience but isn’t much of a bat.
1B Jordan Groshans: 0-for-4, RS, BB, 2 K
Groshans was a Pipeline and Prospectus Top 100 prospect as recently as 2022 (Baseball America listed him in 2021). In 17 games for the 2022 Marlins, he hit .262/.308/.311 with a homer. They are taking a flyer here.
3B Jeter Downs: 2-for-4, 2 RS, SB (1), BB, K
A main piece in the trade that sent Mookie Betts to the Dodgers, Downs has yet to live up to the hype. Like with Groshans, you take a flyer. If it doesn’t work out, you have some minor-league depth.
RF Brandon Lockridge: 1-for-3, 2B (1), 2 RBI,  2 RS, 2 BB, 2 SB (2)
I often talk about Lockridge having a Tim Locastro-like ceiling, and I still believe that. Will he ever be a Yankee? I don’t know – but, just like Oliver Dunn (former Yankees prospect who made the Brewers’ roster out of spring training), he can find opportunities elsewhere in the future.

RHP Will Warren: 0.1 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 0 K, HR
A tough first outing, but we’ll let it slide given the weather. It would be a surprise if he didn’t make his MLB debut this season. He would require a 40-man roster move.
LHP Josh Maciejewski: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Maciejewski has been in the system since 2018, filling a variety of roles. Last year, however, he was a reliever for all 30 of his appearances.
LHP Oddanier Mosqueda: (W, 1-0)  1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Danny Santana: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
I don’t even need to describe who Santana is – this line does it for you.
RHP Ron Marinaccio: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
It would be great if Marinaccio got back on track.
LHP Nick Ramirez: 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Ramirez is on the 40-man and could be on the shuttle this season.

Somerset (0-0)

Season starts on April 5th.

Hudson Valley (0-0)

Season starts on April 5th.

Tampa (0-0)

Season starts on April 5th.

FCL (0-0)

DSL (0-0)

Yankees MILB: Top 30 Prospects

Notes:

  1. I tend to rank prospects who have yet to make it to a full-season league lower than most. The attrition rate is too high, and that is true even for the best of the best.
  2. I try to keep the list simple. Other publications that are readily available will get into in-depth discussion. I don’t feel that repeating a scouting report adds much to my writing.
  3. I am constantly reading about prospects and looking at lists. That said, I rank based on how I feel about a prospect while recognizing the bias in knowing where others rank them.

With that said, here is my list of 30:

1. Jasson Dominguez, 22, CF
When you play as well as he did at Double-A, you can’t ignore it. He isn’t the blend of every HOF player that some were making him out to be – but that isn’t his fault.
2. Spencer Jones, 22, CF
Is he the lefty version of Aaron Judge? Is he a more athletic, lefty version of Richie Sexson? One should be satisfied with either outcome as his prospect volatility is high and neither outcome is guaranteed.
3. Chase Hampton, 22, RHP
The Yankees hung onto Hampton as they depleted their depth. Hampton is more about the total package than radar gun readings, but that package includes the potential for four plus MLB pitches. He wasn’t as dominant in Double-A as he was in High-A, so that should be monitored.
4. Austin Wells, 24, C
Were the Yankees right in keeping him behind the plate? He likely isn’t filling his trophy case with Gold Gloves, but he has Silver Slugger finalist potential.
5. Will Warren, 24, RHP
He is more about polish than upside at this point – but what’s wrong with that? He will make some starts for the Yankees in 2024.
6. Everson Pereira, 22, OF
Even his biggest supporters likely weren’t surprised by his less-than-stellar MLB debut. He screams of a prospect who needs time to marinate.
7. Roderick Arias, 19, SS
Questions about the hit tool have arisen, which scares you given what has happened with Alexander Vargas. That said, are we just going to ignore the 10.6% reduction in his K% between the DSL and FCL?
8. George Lombard Jr, 18, SS
His small sample in Low-A Tampa was encouraging. How far can he leap in 2024?
9. Agustin Ramirez, 22, C
He stalled in Double-A but moved through the system quickly for a catcher. Earned his 40-man roster slot.
10. Jared Serna, 21, 2B
I will keep him at 2B rather than labeling him as a UTIL, but the Yankees are starting to move him around. Serna has surprising pop in a smaller package but didn’t homer in 27 games after his promotion to High-A.
11. Brock Selvidge, 21, LHP
There could be some Jordan Montgomery in Selvidge once he puts the entire package together. He reduced his BB rate in 2023.
12. Jorbit Vivas, 23, 2B
Acquired in a deal with the Dodgers, the possibility exists that he will be in the 2B mix in 2025 if Gleyber Torres isn’t retained. One way to keep Juan Soto is by going with cheap youth elsewhere on the field. 2B may offer that opportunity in 2025.
13. Brando Mayea, 18, OF
Bonus baby OF hit well in his first taste of professional ball in 2023. All you ask for in a rookie league prospect is that they do enough to deserve a chance in a full-season league down the line.
14. Henry Lalane, 19, LHP
Unusual hype for a pitcher who hasn’t reached a full-season league yet. That both scares and intrigues me. My skepticism over rookie league pitchers deflates my ranking.
15. Luis Gil, 25, RHP
His arm is gold when he is healthy. I am being bullish here because I think his ceiling as an overpowering relief pitcher is still attainable.
16. Yoendrys Gomez, 24, RHP
The Yankees love Gomez so much that they have him on the 40-man despite a long injury history. His mileage is low and his upside remains tantalizing. This is his prove-it year.
17. Ben Rice, 25, C/1B/DH
Rice will have to hit as his future position is in question. I find myself constantly wondering where he fits in the Yankees’ puzzle despite his sweet left-handed power swing. With Anthony Rizzo, a potential free agent (the Yankees hold an option), can Rice factor into the 2025 lineup equation? Could that be another opportunity to go cheaper at one position to help retain Soto?
18. Carlos Lagrange, 20, RHP
He doesn’t get the hype Lalane does but don’t sleep on him. He is no longer a teenager, so it’s time to start moving.
19. Clayton Beeter, 25, RHP
My viewpoint that he is a mid-to-late inning reliever over a starter pulls his ranking down. Not as bullish as I am with Gil.
20. Roc Riggio, 21, 2B
If you want a prospect with some swagger, Riggio has it in spades. He’s going to be fun to watch as he marches up the system. His draft day story is a fun read for anyone who wishes to dig into it: The Yankees called him, offered him a slot bonus, he said “No,” and the Yankees drafted him anyway. He ended up getting an overslot bonus. That’s confidence, folks.
21. Kyle Carr, 21, LHP
Yankees fans have a weak spot for left-handed pitching prospects. I know this because I am included on that list. Supposedly has touched as high as 97 on the radar gun – and that was before entering the Yankees Pitching Factory.
22. Keiner Delgado, 20, 2B
Delgado should be done with posting video game numbers in the rookie leagues. In 101 rookie league games, he has 70 stolen bases, 104 runs scored, and a higher BB% than K%.
23. Enmanuel Tejeda, 19, 2B/SS
Raked in the DSL in 2022. Followed that up by raking in the FCL in 2023. How will he do in his first taste of a full-season league?
24. Brendan Beck, 25, RHP
If you want my “who isn’t being talked about that can make his debut in 2024?” candidate, it is Beck. He has to prove his polish is still there, however, as he is already Rule 5 eligible after 2024. Pitching injuries suck.
25. Luis Serna, 19, RHP
It’s harder for a Serna-type prospect to get noticed, as he isn’t going to overwhelm you on the radar gun. His floor intrigues me, even without the extreme ceiling. Essentially, he is a younger version of Beck.
26. Caleb Durbin, 24, 2B
A sneaky pickup from Atlanta in the Lucas Luetge deal, Durbin is all about contact and his ability to steal some bags. He seemed to be on his way to 50+ SB before his injury. Another kid to potentially put into the future 2B mix, though he isn’t your prototypical Yankees prospect.
27. Danny Watson/Jack Neely, 23, RHP
I figured I would lump these two tall relievers together. Either of them can make their big league debut in 2024, though Watson intrigues the most. He doesn’t throw hard, but his funky motion and size seem to befuddle minor-league bats. They weren’t on the spring training invite list, but they could still make spring training appearances, especially early on.
28. Christopher Familia, 23, OF
Familia has developed a cult following due to his 22 HR performance in only 68 games. Can he keep it up as he gets to Double-A?
29. Zach Messinger, 24, RHP
A product of the Yankees’ pitching factory, Messinger is a tall (6’6″) converted reliever with good strikeout results.
30. Jesus Rodriguez, 21, C/1B/3B/LF
One of my favorite 2023 prospects, Rodriguez was the only player in the system (amongst players with at least 300 plate appearances) to hit .300+ (.310/.399/.450; 134 wRC+). He struck out only 15.2% of the time. Most impressively to me is that he was able to sustain this performance despite being asked to play several positions, including catcher.

“Who isn’t here?”

Catchers:

Antonio Gomez was once, in my opinion, the best overall catching prospect in the system. His stock has fallen.
The Yankees added C Carlos Narvaez to the 40-man roster to prevent him from leaving as he was scheduled to be a minor league free agent. Never ignore when an organization does that, but I still don’t think he is quite Top 30 material. He could elevate to the important role as the third catcher, though Ben Rortvedt is currently in that spot.
Rafael Flores may be our next Kyle Higashioka. He needs plenty of time and will need to overachieve, but it’s not out of the question that he will someday carve out a career as an MLB backup.
Anthony Seigler and Josh Breaux look like fillers at this point. Seigler, a switch-hitter with athleticism, has a slightly higher upside. However, staying healthy has been a major issue.
Omar Martinez is a lost-in-the-shuffle prospect who put up impressive numbers in Low-A. The 22-year-old surprisingly wasn’t promoted at any point last season, but there was a logjam in front of him.
Edgleen Perez has enough prospect shine where Fangraphs has him ranked 14th in the system. He wasn’t even mentioned on the Prospects 1500 Top 50 list. So, where do I stand with him? Nowhere. You may expect someone who writes about an organization’s prospects to know everything, but I do not. I will just monitor him as he may not even make it to a full-season league until 2025.

Other position players

Double-A sluggers Tyler Hardman and T.J. Rumfield have MLB upside, but aren’t the types of prospects I would typically rank. I don’t think they have the tantalizing bat that Rice possesses, which is why Rice makes it and they don’t. Hardman strikes out too much but has 52 home runs and a .491 slugging percentage in 916 career plate appearances. Rumfield had a power surge in 2023.
SS Alexander Vargas is a frustrating prospect. He won’t need to be moved off of shortstop, but the bat is not developing.
SS Hans Montero bounced back in 2023, but he gets lost in the shuffle in this system. He may have to add some versatility to his game.
IF Ben Cowles was sent to the Arizona Fall League in 2023 and performed well. He should find himself in Somerset/Scranton for all of 2024.
OF John Cruz and Willy Montero finished 1-2 in the FCL in runs batted in. Cruz generated some buzz by being one of only three FCL players to hit double-digit home runs.
OF Anthony Hall played well in Tampa after he came back from his injury. His stint in Hudson Valley didn’t go well.
OF Jace Avina is a right-handed bat acquired from the Brewers in a trade for Jake Bauers this winter. I don’t know much about him, but his 2023 season suggests he has power to tap into though he needs to cut down on the strikeouts. He hit .233/.373/.442 in 99 games with 14 home runs, a 14% BB, and 29.6% K.
OF Elijah Dunham may be kicking himself. As the Yankees struggled to find outfielders in 2023, the door was open for Dunham to make his case for some at-bats. He had trouble getting anything going, however, and will once again look the part of a depth outfielder.
OF Brandon Lockridge has a 4th/5th outfielder profile, given his speed and ability to play defense. While he has shown off a little pop in his minor league career, one doesn’t expect the bat to carry him to become an MLB regular. He has been invited to spring training.
OF Aaron Palensky couldn’t sustain his insane numbers once he reached the upper minors. That said, he still drew plenty of walks and hit ten home runs in 71 Double-A/Triple-A games.
OF Gabriel Lara is light years away but I think he deserves a shoutout. One of the fastest players in professional baseball, Lara’s bat was better than I expected in his first professional season: .267/.401/.411 with a 15.4% BB and 16.5% K. He is a deep-deep-deep sleeper.

Pitchers

The next wave of pitchers down in the rookie leagues is promising, but it is still the rookie leagues. Included on that list are Jerson Alejandro (who, at 17, is 6’6″/255 pounds), Chalniel Arias, Sabier Marte, Jordarlin Mendoza, Angel Benitez, and Joshawn Lampson. It’s a fascinating array of arms, but please remember that if one of them becomes an MLB starter, that’s a win. That is how attrition works at the lowest levels in the minors. I tend to pay closer attention to pitchers like these once they get to a full-season league – that is if they get there.

RHP Justin Lange shows flashes of brilliance and flashes of frustration. Many pitchers wish they had his arm talent – but wouldn’t want to inherit his command. I would be intrigued to see what he can do as an “air it out” reliever.
LHP Edgar Barclay has a chance to make his MLB debut in 2024. I expected a team to grab him in the Rule 5 to at least give him a long spring training look. His ability to go multiple innings gives him value as a 27th man during a doubleheader or as someone you bring up when the bullpen is exhausted.
LHP Matt Krook continues to hang onto his 40-man roster spot. If he continues to stick through spring training, you will see him in 2024. Matt Blake loves his sinker ballers, and Krook generates a lot of ground balls. His first MLB audition didn’t go as planned.
RHP Bailey Dees could have been lumped in with Watson/Neely above, but I think they have more upside.
RHP Sean Hermann is only 20 and has a game of High-A experience. His 57.2% GB rate ranked 6th amongst all minor leaguers with 100+ IP.
RHP Trystan Vrieling has yet to make his organizational debut but was able to start five games (only 10.2 IP) in the Arizona Fall League.
RHP Sean Boyle is 27 years old. His 2023 season was a lost one, as he made only nine starts. He could factor in as depth if he is good in 2024. I have no idea.

Other relief-type prospects to watch include LHP Lisandro Santos, RHP Harrison Cohen, LHP Ryan Anderson, RHP Alex Mauricio, RHP Luis Velasquez, LHP Clay Aguilar, and RHP Justin Wilson

“Where are X, Y, Z?”

I try to be comprehensive with my minor league reporting but that doesn’t mean I am perfect (far from it, if you want me to be honest). If a favorite prospect of yours isn’t listed, you can chalk it up to me not being able to write about everyone. Feel free to bookmark this and call me a fool if a pitcher I didn’t list strikes out 35% of the batters he faces this year or a position player swats 25 home runs.

The Bottom Line

The Yankees are consistently amongst the top ten minor league systems in baseball according to the “experts,” despite trading away a load of upper-level depth in recent times.

“It’s the Yankees, so of course they will be overhyped!” Maybe there is some truth to this at some level. However, where is the incentive to do that? Why would Keith Law, who doesn’t even have Spencer Jones in his Top 100, place the Yankees in his top ten for hype reasons alone? It makes no sense. I would argue that it is equally appealing to rank the Yankees low on a list, as that will drive major discussion and engagement. In other words, stop overanalyzing everything and accept that you are a fan of an organization that has a desirable farm system.

Yankees: A Look at the Non-Roster Invitees

A quick look at the players invited to spring training.

Quick reminder: Players on the 40-man roster will not be included in spring training invites. One doesn’t need to ask where Agustin Ramirez is, for example.

RHP Nick Burdi – The 31-year-old Burdi has 19 games of MLB experience with the Pirates and Cubs, pitching to a 9.39 ERA (3.34 FIP). His very small sample size shows an incredible strikeout rate (36%) to go along with an elevated walk (13.3%) and flyball rate (55.3%).
RHP Yerry De Los Santos – Out of the Pirates organization, the 26-year-old pitched to a 3.33 ERA (4.04 FIP) in 22 games in 2023. The Yankees will love his groundball rate (54.9%/0.37 HR/9) though he doesn’t miss many bats. He throws his 95 MPH sinker often, but I bet Matt Blake will ask him to throw it even more.
RHP Joey Gerber – An 8th round pick out of Illinois back in 2018, Gerber has dealt with various injuries and has pitched in only one organized game since making his MLB debut in 2020. The Yankees signed Gerber to a 3-year minor league deal in 2022, as he was recovering from Tommy John surgery.
RHP Chase Hampton – Likely the top pitching prospect in the system, Hampton dazzled in High-A Hudson Valley in 2023 (2.68 ERA (2.86 FIP) with a 40.5% K rate). His numbers predictably dipped for Somerset (4.37 ERA/3.80 FIP/27.4% K). He won’t make the team this spring, but a mid-season debut shouldn’t be ruled out.
RHP Dennis Santana – Santana has made MLB appearances in each of the last six seasons, most recently with the Mets in 2023. His velocity is what allows him to keep cashing paychecks, but the results are far from spectacular (5.17 career ERA/4.26 FIP). I wouldn’t be surprised if people are dazzled by him in spring training, but his best role will be as Triple-A emergency depth.
RHP Duane Underwood Jr. – Like Santana, Underwood has appeared in games from 2018-2023. Between 2021-2022, he appeared in 94 games with the Pirates, compiling a 4.36 ERA (3.68 FIP), 45.7% GB, and 21.1% K. He was a second round pick in 2012 and had some prospect pedigree once upon a time.
RHP Art Warren – Like Gerber, Warren was signed to a multi-year minor league deal as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. He appeared in 39 games for the 2022 Reds, compiling a 6.50 ERA (5.06 FIP) over 36 innings.
RHP Will Warren – The more familiar Warren should make his MLB debut in 2024, perhaps as early as Opening Day (though I wouldn’t count on that). The 8th round pick in 2021 surged down the stretch for Triple-A Scranton to finish with a 3.61 ERA over 99.2 innings with a 25.6% K and 52.7% GB. If there was ever a modern Yankees pitcher profile, that would be it.
LHP Anthony Misiewicz – Misiewicz pitched for three teams in 2023, ending his season with the Yankees. He re-signed this winter to a minor league deal and figures to provide Triple-A depth.
LHP Oddanier Mosqueda – Mosqueda (Bob Sheppard would have had a blast pronouncing his name) has yet to appear in an MLB game. A long-time Red Sox prospect, he pitched in 196 games as a member of the organization, compiling a 4.21 ERA over 331.2 IP with a 410/167 K/BB. He will be the left-handed Garrett Whitlock. OK, maybe not.
LHP Tanner Tully – Tully figures to have the same role he had last year. He made 19 starts for Scranton, compiling a 5.64 ERA over 91 innings. Every minor league system needs a veteran to eat some innings. Tully did fulfill his MLB dream when he had a cup of coffee for the 2022 Guardians.
C Josh Breaux – The power prospect has 67 homers and a .461 SLG in 315 minor league games. The rest of his game has not developed, however.
C J.C. Escarra – The 28-year-old hasn’t played an inning of affiliated ball since 2021. The long-time Orioles prospect toiled around in the Independent leagues in 2023, hitting .267/.362/.422 in 93 games.
C Ben Rice – Rice has certainly turned heads with his left-handed power swing that appears to be perfect for Yankee Stadium. His future position is the big question mark. For those who have been around for a while, there could be some Brian Daubach in his profile. Daubach didn’t break into the big leagues until he was 26. From 1999-2002 (ages 27-30), he hit .266/.342/.492 (111 OPS+) as a first baseman for the Boston Red Sox.
C Luis Torrens – Welcome back! Torrens was a hot catching prospect years ago for the Yankees, until a shoulder injury knocked him out of commission for a year. In 2016, he returned to hit .230/.348/.317 in 40 High-A games. The Yankees felt safe in not protecting him in the Rule 5, only for the Padres to gobble him up. His best MLB season was back in 2021, when he hit .243/.299/.431 (101 wRC+) with 15 home runs for the Seattle Mariners. Depending on further transactions, Torrens could be as high as the #3 catcher on the depth chart, though Ben Rortvedt and Carlos Narvaez both occupy 40-man roster spots.
INF Jeter Downs – A story made for Hollywood (or at least an afterschool special), Downs was one of the prospects sent to the Red Sox in the Mookie Betts trade. Once a Top 100 prospect in all of baseball, Downs has not lived up to his potential and figures to only be depth for the 2024 Yankees.
IF Caleb Durbin – Acquired from the Braves for Lucas Luetge, Durbin became a bit of a prospect celebrity early in 2023 (before an injury robbed him of several weeks of playing time). His ability to make contact (6.2% K) and steal bases (36) likely appealed to old men like me who once watched a sport that was once abundant in low strikeout rates and base stealers. Not your prototypical Yankees prospect (there is not going to be power to tap into), Durbin has the ability to make it to MLB in 2024.
IF Jose Rojas – And you thought the Yankees didn’t sign KBO players! Rojas spent 2023 in Korea, where he hit .253/.345/.474 (126 wRC+) over 464 plate appearances. The 30-year-old has 83 games of MLB experience, all with the Dodgers in 2021-2022. He has experience at every position other than catcher, shortstop, and center field (the three most important ones!)
IF T.J. Rumfield – Acquired from the Phillies before the 2022 season, Rumfield experienced a power surge in 2023 for Somerset. Before 2023, he hit four home runs in 84 career games. In 2023, he hit 17 in 82 games while in Somerset. As a left-handed bat, that grabs the attention of Yankees fans.
IF Kevin Smith – If you want playing time, signing with Oakland is not a bad idea. Smith appeared in 96 games for the 2022-2023 Athletics, hitting a meager .182/.218/.314 with seven homers. He plays shortstop and third base.
IF Josh VanMeter – VanMeter has a decent MLB sample size, appearing in 300 games with three different teams between 2019-2022. In those games, he has compiled a .206/.293/.347 line with 19 homers, 79 RBI, and 17 stolen bases. Positional versatility is where he shines, though he doesn’t play shortstop or center field.
OF Greg Allen – The Yankees seemingly love Allen. He made MLB appearances for them in 2022 and 2023. The Yankees went as far as sending a prospect to the Red Sox last year to reacquire his services. Allen’s entire game revolves around speed and his ability to play CF, which is why he will continue to sign contracts.
OF Luis Gonzalez – No, not that Luis Gonzalez. This Luis Gonzalez is a 28-year-old lefthanded bat with 107 games of MLB experience (Giants, White Sox). His MLB stat line isn’t so bad for a backup: .255/.328/.363 (99 wRC+) and  he can handle all three outfield positions though you likely wouldn’t want to overexpose him in center field.
OF Oscar Gonzalez – Claimed off waivers, earlier this winter, Gonzalez was sent back through waivers by the Yankees only to be unclaimed. Gonzalez looked like a legitimate MLB outfielder in 2022, when he hit .296/.327/.461 in 91 games for the Guardians. He didn’t come close to repeating that in 2023 (49 wRC+ in 54 games!). The Yankees are hoping for some magic.
OF Spencer Jones – Jones is one of the Yankees most highly-regarded prospects – a few sites even have him ranked first overall in the system. A big kid with big potential power, Jones will need to tap into that power while continuing to reduce his strikeout rates. Simply put, there is a lot of volatility in his profile. One can see a future All-Star while others may see someone who won’t be able to put the entire package together. His 2024 season will be fascinating.
OF Brandon Lockridge – If it feels as if Lockridge has been around forever, you aren’t wrong. He has appeared in 422 minor league games for the Yankees, sporting a .263/.334/.420 line with 43 homers and 101 stolen bases. Known for his speed and ability to play center field, I think Lockridge has some Tim Locastro in his profile. If that makes you laugh, remember that Locastro has played in 290 major league games.

My Take: The Yankees Miss Out on Yoshinobu Yamamoto

In a move that shook up the Yankees fanbase, Yoshinobu Yamamoto decided to join Shohei Ohtani in Los Angeles over taking his talents to New York. While it is easy to say that they lost Yamamoto over $25 million, that statement is only true if Yamamoto was coming to the Yankees if they simply matched or beat the top offer. Nothing I am seeing suggests that is true.

While it was disappointing (and still is), the Yankees have no choice but to move on. The question is: What do they move on to?

1. They can look within:

There are three starting pitchers to watch at the beginning of 2024: Will Warren, Yoendrys Gomez, and Clayton Beeter. Later in the season, you may see Chase Hampton‘s debut.  Edgar Barclay survived the Rule 5 draft and could give the Yankees some swingman innings as well. One sleeper that is on my radar is Brendan Beck, who has only 34 professional innings to his name but came out of college as a polished arm before going down to injury. I can see him rising quickly through Somerset in 2024.

Of the sextet, Warren is your best bet to give you quality out of the rotation early. While it is smart to keep Beeter in the rotation for as long as possible (value!), his long-term projection is still a relief pitcher to me. Gomez has a starter’s arsenal without the starter’s durability. I see him as a swingman/multi-inning reliever. Hampton is at least a half-season away from being a viable option. Warren adjusted to a tough Triple-A environment down the stretch in 2023, giving you hope that he can be ready as early as Opening Day. It would require a 40-man move.

There is little doubt that the Yankees depleted their depth in the Juan Soto trade. Michael King has injury concerns but proved that he can start in MLB. Jhony Brito and Randy Vasquez would have filled in innings. Drew Thorpe is surging toward his MLB debut.

However, the Yankees didn’t have the luxury to see how the Yamamoto pursuit would end before they decided on a final package for Soto. If they knew that Yamamoto was going to slip through their fingers, would they try to attempt to alter the package for Soto? Maybe but that isn’t very meaningful. The deal for Soto was a good one.

Bottom line: The Yankees have depleted upper-level pitching depth. If these pitchers don’t excite you, I understand that. Not every pitcher comes up and dominates like Spencer Strider (that is very rare), so you would be dealing with growing pains while trying to win. Because of that, Warren should be a swingman type in 2024 – some work in the minors, some work in the bullpen, some MLB starts mixed in. I am not counting on their youngsters to be significant members of the rotation.

2. A trade:

I wish people would understand that the Yankees don’t operate within a bubble of one. Dylan Cease has years of control and is cheap. His 2023 season wasn’t great (4.58 ERA/3.72 FIP), which should bring down his value somewhat. However, if a team like the Orioles is in on him (and they should be), it’s over. They can offer a package that the Yankees won’t be able to match, even if they don’t include their top-top prospects. Are the Yankees offering Hampton/Warren + Peraza + more chips for him? And even if they do, would it be enough? I am not confident.

Corbin Burnes is a one-year rental who would also be in high demand amongst many teams. A Cy Young winner from 2021, Burnes has finished in the top ten in the vote four years in a row. There were subtle signs of decline in 2023, but he still managed to lead the National League in WHIP while finishing 6th in ERA. As a one-year rental, you don’t care about Burnes for 2025 and beyond – you care about whether he can still be well above average for 2024. If he does nothing more than replicate his 2023 season, he will be worth the cost. But you will have to deplete the depth even more than it already is.

Shane Bieber is a pitcher in much debate. I think there is reason to be skeptical, given that his FIP jumped by a full run in 2023, while his K% dropped below the league average. If Cleveland wants to essentially dump him for something before he becomes a free agent, the cost shouldn’t be exuberant. Bieber should be much cheaper than Cease with no guarantee that Cease will outperform him. That is what you call an opportunity cost – though it comes with risk. That’s a major issue with many of the options: They come with risk. Gerrit Cole 2.0 is not on this market – neither as a free agent nor via trade.

The Marlins may have an arm to spare in exchange for some lineup help. The most talked about name is Edward Cabrera, and for good reason. He has trouble with control (understatement). Despite that, he owns a 108 career ERA+, which makes you dream about what he can do if he can reduce the walk rate. That is easier said than done. I don’t see the Marlins putting Jesus Luzardo or Braxton Garrett on the market.  Perhaps you can entice the Mariners for an arm like Bryce Miller, but he doesn’t excite me.

The Yankees are known for being creative with trades in the past – but we have a situation where much of their upper-level bait is gone with teams who want instant help over what is buried deep in your system. We have to accept that there may not be a match to be made for a true long-term difference-maker. Short-term? Much easier to see.

The free agents:

Just like Yamamoto, some free agents only cost money. In the case of 2-time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell, he comes with draft implications. He is the most accomplished pitcher remaining, but I don’t see the Yankees dumping $200M+ on a pitcher who has regression written all over him. His 2.25 ERA came with a 3.44 FIP and an unsustainable 86.7% left-on-base rate. Snell is very good with moments of greatness mixed in. Is he worth the contract he is demanding? Debatable, at best.

Nobody increased their value more than Jordan Montgomery. If the Cardinals approached him with something in the neighborhood of a 6-year, $80M offer after they acquired him from the Yankees, he probably signs without hesitation. Now, he is potentially worth double that. With Montgomery, you wonder if the increased usage of the sinker will sustain itself throughout several more seasons. If his numbers revert to his days in Pinstripes, that’s a fine pitcher. I am not sure if it is a pitcher worth what he is demanding. The market is what it is, though.

Frankie Montas was the Yankees’ big deadline acquisition in 2022. Since that trade was completed, we haven’t seen much of him. When healthy, he has legitimate #2 stuff. The Yankees were right to target him at the time and I wouldn’t mind a pillow contract for his services.

Shota Imanaga unfairly gets Kei Igawa comparisons because he is the secondary Japanese pitcher on the market. He is not Igawa but he comes with major concerns over his flyball tendencies, suggesting that a change in approach could be in store for a pitcher who is already 30 years old. He strikes me as a fun pitcher to watch but also one who is likely to be hit around more often than you like. I am not heavily on his train, though he would provide some innings at least.

Lucas Giolito may have Matt Blake salivating at the thought of trying to get him back on track. Leaving out the COVID season, he has tossed 29+ starts for six straight seasons, though his high water mark for innings is only 184.1. The positives include an above-average strikeout rate. The negatives include an extreme home run rate (41 allowed in 2023) that comes with a below-average ability to keep the ball on the ground. This is not typically a Yankee Stadium profile for a RHP. He is an under-30 lottery ticket.

Brandon Woodruff would be a move with 2025 in mind, while Clayton Kershaw may entice as a mid-season target if he proves he is healthy. Does anyone really see him leaving Los Angeles, though?  Don’t even think about Marcus Stroman.

Bottom line: There is an interesting group of pitchers on this list. I don’t see the Yankees handing out a big long-term deal, however. They could look at the 1-year rentals, hope for magical seasons, and look at long-term pitching options for 2025. It may not sound like a great strategy, but what is?

The bullpen:

I hate the concept of a “super bullpen,” where the Yankees sign Josh Hader and Jordan Hicks and try to beat you for 5-6 innings so they can hand the game over to an embarrassingly rich lineup of arms. It is not a strategy that typically lives up to your expectations. Furthermore, the Yankees are so good at bullpen development that I am not sure if I want to spend resources there. Signing a pitcher like Hicks, Yariel Rodriguez, or Robert Stephenson would likely be a smart move. But the Yankees cannot and should not blow the budget on bullpen arms.

Bottom line: Going crazy on free-agent bullpen arms is something teams who struggle with bullpen construction do. The Yankees have proven that bullpen construction is a strength. Look into signing someone, but don’t make it a top priority.

The offense:

“Hey, the pitching options aren’t all that exciting – maybe we should just go all-in with offense!”

I am not going to spend much time on this one. The Yankees could call Matt Chapman, who isn’t exactly an offensive superstar. They could try to fit a square peg into a round hole with Cody Bellinger while moving Alex Verdugo to a backup role. Unless they have information that Anthony Rizzo is not healing well or whatever, it doesn’t feel like a smart usage of resources. They will go with what they have while hoping for improvement from Anthony Volpe and above-average catching production from Austin Wells, assuming he makes the team as a sidekick to Jose Trevino.

Bottom line: Building the strongest possible offense is desirable but it has to make sense. I haven’t seen anything that indicates that the Yankees have any interest in Bellinger, and it should probably stay that way.

The bottom line:

If you wonder why my optimism is low at the moment, this list should explain it to you. Yamamoto did not come with a guarantee of greatness, but he did come with that ceiling (in my mind, his floor is still a good MLB pitcher). Of the pitchers above, Burnes still owns that ceiling with Cease below that threshold unless he finds some consistency. Since they are not going to have an interest in Snell, the free agents are mostly underwhelming. Signing Montgomery gives you that boring middle-tier starter that everyone needs, but how much is the needle moving for the cost? At least he knows and understands the New York market. I am not sure if that is a good thing.

I have been consistent from the start; Yamamoto was the play. However, one has to conclude that New York wasn’t as appealing as he let on. It was certainly appealing from a negotiation standpoint. All agents dream of having the Yankees involved publicly with their free agents. It’s a gold mine for their clients.

People need to stop with their “the Yankees are simply not as desirable as they once were!” stuff. There is no basis for reality in that statement.

The Yankees pivot here isn’t easy to figure out. That frustrates me as I want to be able to say that Bieber/Giolito would be a sneaky, under-the-radar way to improve the team at a relatively low cost. I am having trouble stating that with conviction, though. The risks are high if your plan is a World Series run. That is a common theme this offseason: Pitchers who come with risk. You have to try to find the pitchers who defy that risk. Good luck.

Don’t focus on the next big things from Japan. As we are seeing, the East Coast is at a disadvantage for top players who appeal to West Coast squads. If Roki Sasaki is posted before age 25, every team in baseball will have the ability to sign him for peanuts. If he isn’t posted before 25, you have to wait several years just to have the opportunity to throw your vault at him. It’s not worth worrying about.

The Yankees have no choice. We can’t harp on Yamamoto forever, so we have to move on. I can guarantee you that no move is going to satisfy the majority of the fanbase. That guy is not there to acquire. That isn’t doom and gloom – it’s reality.

2024 is not a dead season because Yamamoto is in Los Angeles. That’s silly talk. However, it will take some creativity and a bounceback from Carlos Rodon for one to be comfortable with the 2024 rotation.I don’t think Rodon suddenly forgot how to be an ace-level pitcher but he has to prove it. His performance in 2023 was dreadful and a repeat of that would be devastating.

This wasn’t a blog post designed to sugarcoat or try to convince you that plans B/C/D are just as good as the potential star. You will need some luck for that to happen.

This is not the clean and easy offseason the Yankees brass likely wanted, but it is still an offseason with opportunities for roster improvement beyond the big fish they have already reeled in. That is the focus now.

Personally (and my thought process keeps evolving), I may lean towards the rental route. That can still get you to where you want to be while allowing you to reassess after the season for long-term goals. Don’t sign a pitcher to a long-term deal just because you can.

 

My Take: Yankees Complete Trade with Dodgers

The trade:

The Yankees acquired LHP Victor Gonzalez and IF Jorbit Vivas from the Dodgers for IF Trey Sweeney

The suspense is over. After 24 hours of speculating over who was involved in this trade, we received an official announcement today. While relatively minor, it isn’t a throwaway deal.

The Dodgers needed roster space. The Yankees had roster space to spare. Mix those and you have the ingredients for a trade.

With Wandy Peralta on the free agent market, the Yankees needed left-handed relief help. Gonzalez, who won’t be a free agent until after the 2026 campaign, owns a 3.22 ERA (3.35 FIP) over 89.1 career innings with a 23.2% K, 8.4% BB, and 58.1% GB. In almost three seasons with the Yankees, Peralta pitched to a 2.82 ERA (4.06 FIP) over 153 innings with a 21% K, 10.3% BB and 56.5% BB. As you may suspect, Gonzalez is a sinker-heavy pitcher (63.7% usage). While Peralta has a sinker in his profile, his most used pitch is a changeup.

Also important: The Yankees will save money if they replace Peralta with Gonzalez. Gonzalez is projected to make around $1 million while Peralta earned just over $3 million in 2023. It is possible that the Yankees still have interest in Peralta, but do they need two ground ball heavy left-handed relievers?

The prospect swap is intriguing.

Sweeney, a shortstop who was chosen in the first round of the 2021 draft out of Eastern Illinois, is coming off a season where he hit .252//367/.411 (118 wRC+) in Double-A Somerset with 13 home runs and 20 stolen bases. Impressively, he compiled a strikeout rate below 20% (19.1) while walking at a 13.8% clip. There have been questions in the past about whether he can stick at shortstop or move to another defensive position. If third base is his ultimate destination, the offensive bar goes up. Just like with the Yankees, it is hard to crack the Dodgers’ 40-man roster. Sweeney is Rule 5 eligible after the 2024 season, so this may not be his final destination over the next several months.

Vivas, a left-handed bat who signed for $300,000 back in 2017,  has started 318 games at second base and 112 games at third base in his minor league career. From his Pipeline profile, his MLB position would likely be second base. In 2023, he was solid at Double-A Tulsa (.280/.391/.436 (123 wRC+) in 109 games) before struggling upon his promotion to Triple-A Oklahoma City (.226/.339/.294 (63 wRC+) in 26 games). He will start 2024 in Scranton, with an opportunity to make it to MLB at some point during the season. Can he rise to the point where he can be a replacement for Gleyber Torres in 2025? Maybe. A lot can happen between now and then. As this is his final option year, he will need to prove that he is worthy of a 26-man roster slot in 2025 and beyond before we even dream of him becoming an everyday player.

Bottom Line:

The Yankees had the leverage, as the Dodgers needed space. They used that leverage to extract an intriguing reliever while swapping out a 2024 Rule 5 eligible infielder for a 40-man roster infielder with one option remaining. I must wonder if the Dodgers asked for a pitcher but the Yankees were able to get them off that ask. From that perspective, it is a win for the Yankees. However, the Dodgers accomplished their goal as well.

While it is expected that your first-round picks will eventually gain value, we can still say that this is a win for player development.

The Yankees have been busy this winter. They are improving the team at the margins (Alex Verdugo, Trent Grisham, Gonzalez) while adding the superstar outfielder (Juan Soto). There is still work to be done, especially with the rotation.

If you are a Yankees fan, you have to be excited about the direction they are taking for 2024.

My Take: Yankees Acquire OF Juan Soto

The trade:

The Yankees acquired outfielders Juan Soto and Trent Grisham from the Padres for C Kyle Higashioka and right-handed pitchers Michael King, Randy Vasquez, Jhony Brito, and Drew Thorpe

This is one of those blockbusters that will be talked about for as long as baseball exists. It is the second blockbuster that Soto has been involved in over the last two years. If you asked the Padres last winter if they would be dealing Soto in the winter of 2023, they would have laughed at you. This was not a part of their plan.

From the Yankees’ perspective:

They are acquiring a player who is amongst the best hitters in history through age 25. 25-year-old players aren’t supposed to have a .284/.421/.524 career triple slash through 779 games with a higher walk rate (19%) than strikeout rate (17.1%). Sometimes, the word “unicorn” is thrown out too often when it comes to a professional athlete. In the case of Soto, he is a unicorn – a hitter who can define a generation. That isn’t hyperbole.

The 2023 Yankees were stale and boring. I watch a lot of baseball and can tell you that it was a rare season where the game felt like “background noise” to everything else going on around me. With one trade, the Yankees have livened up the fanbase again.

Are there flaws with Soto? Yes. He isn’t a good defensive player and while he did steal 12 bases in 2023, his BSR was -4.3. Those flaws are probably not as significant as his contract status, as he only has one year of control. During his time in Washington, when he was far away from free agency, he turned down an offer north of $400 million to stay. There is little doubt that he is going to seek $500 million for 2025 and beyond, which would dwarf Aaron Judge‘s $360 million pact. There is no doubt that Soto will beat that, and Judge would have to live with not being the highest-paid player on the squad if Soto is retained. Is that a problem? I doubt it. Judge understands the business – his contract helped set the tone for the classes that follow him.

Soto is not a dead pull hitter who is “made” for the short porch. That doesn’t concern me. He set a new career-best with 35 home runs in 2023 and I would expect the same level of power in 2024. If you are digging around for flaws in his offensive game, you are wasting your time. Those flaws don’t exist.

As for Grisham, he is a left-handed bat known for his solid defensive work and ability to steal some bags. His bat is not his calling card, but his 13.5% BB rate (2023) was well above league average. Additionally, he can provide some pop (13 home runs) and his pull percentage is above MLB average which suggests he might be able to take advantage of the porch. His reverse split makes him an appealing option to play over Alex Verdugo against left-handed pitching. Beyond that, he will be a cheap backup option who can pinch-run and be used as a defensive replacement.  He has two more seasons of team control.

In the span of two nights, the Yankees solved one of their most pressing issues: The outfield. They went from Judge and a group of question marks (especially with Jasson Dominguez‘s injury) to a versatile strong group of four who should be well above league average. If they give Oswaldo Cabrera another chance to fill a super-utility role, he will provide additional depth. Everson Pereira didn’t hit much after his promotion and could spend time in Triple-A, ready to come up at a moment’s notice. Brandon Lockridge survived another Rule 5 and has a speed/defense profile – a profile I liken to former Yankee Tim Locastro.

If you are going to acquire a generational type of talent, you should feel some pain regardless of team control. I don’t think the Yankees were posturing with their reluctance to include King, who leaves a gaping hole in the pitching staff for the time being. I do think that the rumors that they wouldn’t include King or Thorpe were posturing as that was never going to fly. In the end, they ended up giving up both pitchers + two swingmen who figured to play roles in swallowing up some innings.

The three MLB pitchers they gave up will need to be replaced, whether that is internally or externally. Internally, expect to see a lot of Will Warren next spring as they ready him for his big league debut. Clayton Beeter was added to the 40-man roster before the Rule 5 draft. He has an electric arm that I think is better suited for short relief, but he is stretched out to start. Yoendrys Gomez received a cup of coffee late in 2023. He is a 40-man roster guy with limited mileage, due to injuries. He reminds me of Jonathan Loaisiga as a kid with good stuff with health concerns. A move to the bullpen didn’t help Loaisiga much with the injuries, but perhaps that will help Gomez.

You will hear a lot about Chase Hampton, who can have a role late in the season. Some experts think he has more upside than Thorpe, though he did struggle in his first taste of Double-A (4.37 ERA and a K% that dropped from 40.5% in High-A to 27.4% in Double-A).  Brendan Beck missed a lot of time due to injury but is already Rule 5 eligible after the 2024 season. If healthy, he has the polish (he was a polished arm coming out of college) that can get him to the big leagues sometime in the second half of the season. Matt Sauer, lost in the Rule 5 draft to the Royals, is not guaranteed to stick and could be further depth. From the left side, they have Edgar Barclay, who was dominant in Somerset before getting lit up in Scranton, which isn’t too concerning given the offensive environment. It should be noted that all ten of his appearances after his promotion were starts. Expect some minor league signings to add extra depth.

All that is nice, but the main focus will shift to pitchers who can be difference makers immediately, with the big fish being Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a pitcher with so much intrigue that Hal Steinbrenner reportedly is willing to go over $300 million (both in 2024 team salaries and total contract for Yamamoto). If that doesn’t work out, secondary targets would include Jordan Montgomery and Frankie Montas. It is easy to forget just how good Montas can be when healthy, and the Yankees could be interested in him even if they sign Yamamoto. I am not sure if the Yankees would shift to Japanese lefty Shota Imanaga. He doesn’t “fit” as the type of player they typically target internationally (Kei Igawa was a reactionary move).

I want Yamamoto. If you are going all-in with Soto, get the 25-year-old pitcher who will cost you nothing but money. The competition will be fierce for his services.

We take for granted how good the Yankees are at building bullpens because they rarely have a bad one. That is not the norm across baseball, as other organizations have trouble figuring out the right formula. The Yankees have several arms that should be ready sometime in 2024. I do not advise going big on relief pitching. Josh Hader is a waste of their resources, no matter how good he is.

From the Padres’ perspective:

They needed to clear money quickly, and Soto’s $30M+ was a quick and simple solution to that problem. Grisham provides additional relief, but this was all about clearing the salary of a player they had no hope of keeping.

You would think that would lead to desperation and a lesser prospect package. That is not what they received here, as they were able to use the Yankees’ desperation to make a splash to extract as much talent as possible. Given the mass pitching exodus and an elbow injury to Yu Darvish, the Padres needed pitching help. They received that in droves.

The immediate headliner is King, who pitched to a 2.23 ERA in nine starts after the Yankees moved him into the rotation. While his 4-seam fastball velocity was down from his 2022 heights, King didn’t miss a beat beyond a rough June that may have just been a dead arm period for a pitcher coming off of an injury. He is a strikeout machine with impressive command and control of four pitches, all of which he deploys in any count in any situation. There are durability concerns, and 2023 was the first time King cleared 100 innings in the big leagues. He will be 29 in May and comes with two years of control. If the Padres are bad in the first several months of 2024, he may become an attractive flip candidate to help with a rebuild/retool around the stars who remain.

From a prospect perspective, the headliner is Thorpe, who is coming off of a season where he was named the Minor League Pitcher of the Year. While that award doesn’t make him the best pitching prospect in baseball, he is still well-regarded in the industry after a season where he struck out 32.4% of batters at High-A Hudson Valley – only to follow that up with a 40% rate in 30.1 innings for Somerset. While he may dazzle in spring training and force the Padres’ hand, he is likely a second-half-of-the-season rotation candidate. His calling card is a dazzling changeup that continued to be effective against advanced hitters in Double-A. Will it translate as high as MLB? Until proven otherwise, we have to assume it can.

Brito and Vasquez both made their debuts for the 2023 Yankees and figured to have roles on the 2024 squad as depth starter/middle reliever types. Now, they have a clear opportunity to be full-time starters for the Padres. Brito (who will be 26 at the start of next season) pitched to a 4.28 ERA (4.74 FIP) over 90.1 innings with a 19.4% K and 7.5% BB. As he was coming up the Yankees chain, there were concerns about whether he had a true strikeout pitch. While his fading changeup has devastating action that can lead to some swing-and-miss, it is more of a pitch that induces ground balls when he is on his game.

Vasquez (who just turned 25) tossed 37.2 MLB innings in 2023, compiling a 2.87 ERA (4.98 FIP) with a 10.8% BB and 19.9% K. Known for the spin rate on his breaking ball, there is likely more swing-and-miss to come as he gains experience. Injuries are a part of his profile, and the Yankees have treated him very carefully over the years. In 42 minor league starts between 2022 and 2023, Vasquez didn’t average five innings per start. One could look at him as a modern type of pitcher – he won’t be asked to give you a ton of innings, but you hope the innings he does provide are high-quality.

As the last piece of the deal, the Yankees relieved some of their catching logjam by including Kyle Higashioka. Higashioka is quite a story – a player the Yankees could have lost to minor league free agency years ago who instead stuck it out and is now a proud owner of a 314-game MLB career. In that career (where he was mostly the backup catcher), Higashioka has 40 home runs in 923 plate appearances, making it his clear offensive calling card. He is a classic overachiever – a non-descript 7th-round pick out of high school back in 2008 who put in a lot of work, reached his dream, and can now forever brag that he was the only position player the Padres acquired from the Yankees for Juan Soto. He will be an asset for a staff that figures to be in flux in 2024. It would be funny if the Padres brought back Gary Sanchez as their primary catcher. If reports are accurate, Sanchez has been linked to San Diego.

The Bottom Line:

The pressure to win the World Series in 2024 starts now. That’s the nature of the beast in pinstripes, and it shouldn’t be underestimated just how good Soto was during the Nationals’ 2019 championship run. The bright lights didn’t faze him and he played like the superstar that he is.

The Yankees needed offense and acquired one of the best hitters in the game to help fix that. I can’t quibble with what they gave up to acquire such a player. Could they have held firm that they wouldn’t give up both King and Thorpe? Could they have insisted that the Padres take one of Brito/Vasquez but not both? Sure. But who in their right mind would allow that to hold up a trade like this? It wouldn’t make much sense. They have options to sure up the pitching. There weren’t many options to help out the offense. Hence, this deal makes perfect sense for both organizations. One needed young pitching, the other needed a big bat. They came together and magic was made.