The Yankees built one of the best bullpens baseball had ever seen.
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This time of year is all about possibility and perspective and while the rumours are likely nothing more than a “hey, what do we think of this guy” from the Blue Jays brass, Melvin Upton Jr.is an intriguing asset – especially for a team in a power-hungry division like the American League East. After all, the last time they had a record below.
Along with the Yankees wanting to move Chapman and Beltran, there are also trade rumors of the Yankees and Pirates talking about a tradwe which would involve starter Nathan Eovaldi.
The scarcity of names listed above is a reflection of exactly where this team is. By that time the Yankees could look a little different, as they should be sellers by that time. What is the point of having a lights out closer if you can never get the ball in his hands with a lead? He played just 87 games, already matching his total this season. If he refuses offer Carlos Beltran and Aroldis Chapman in a package deal for prospects to the Cleveland Indians. Beltran was arguably the teams best player a season ago when he hit. 294 with 19 home runs and 58 RBI’s. It’s not known whether Toronto is on Beltran’s no-trade list. There’s plenty of suitors in the NL too, though they would have to live with his defensive liabilities in right field. The Royals could use some more thump in their line-up with Gordon struggling and Cain still sidelined due to a hamstring injury. I am optimistic that Aroldis Chapman would want to stay with the New York Yankees. Chapman has a career 2.19 ERA and as recently as 2015 he had that down at a 1.63 ERA to go along with a 15.7 strikeouts per nine innings average.
Lefty Andrew Miller has been linked to numerous clubs, including the Cubs, but a trade seems unlikely, since he still has two seasons under club control. This season he has held a 1.37 ERA in 39.1 innings and was rewarded with the first All-Star selection of his career. Plus, according to Fangraphs, he has had a combined -24 runs saved over the last two seasons. The Yankees have a hard stretch coming up against the Baltimore Orioles and the San Fransisco Giants. However, the New York Yankees did not meet expectations.
Upton has an extra year left on his contract for the 2017 season worth $16.45M.
We’re entering into an age where Yankee teams won’t look anything like their predecessors.
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So the decision for A-Rod to revisit the possibility of playing some first base is clearly meant to eke out a few more at-bats for Rodriguez, who is five home runs short of 700 and 12 days shy of 41 years old.
