Free (agent) as a Bird

When the Yankees DFA’d Greg Bird 10 days ago in order to set their 40-man roster, they had that time to do various things.

Bird cleared waivers and refused an outright assignment to AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

He is now a free agent.

He filled in nicely for Mark Teixeira at the end of 2015, hitting .261-11-31 in 46 games (OPS+ 135) but since then has been injury prone, playing in just 140 games in the last 4 seasons, going .194-21-67, OPS+ 80. He didn’t play at all in 2016 and in just 10 games in 2019.

When he was healthy, in the 2015 and 2017 postseasons, he hit .250 with 3 HR and 6 RBI in 14 games.

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Update: Pittsburgh named Derek Shelton as their new manager. He was bench coach for the Twins the past two seasons and once managed in the Yankees’ farm system.

 

 

Yanks trade Cortes to Seattle.

Last week, in setting their 40 man roster, the Yanks DFA’d Nestor Cortes, Jr.

Today they traded him to Seattle for international bonus money.

From MLB.com:

Cortes, who will turn 25 on Dec. 10, posted a 5-1 record and 5.67 ERA in 33 games last year as a long reliever for the Yankees. He also made one spot start in September.

Since Greg Bird was DFA’d at the same time, it remains to be seen whether the Yanks can get something for him.

Jacoby Ellsbury was just released, not DFA’d.

Yankees release Ellsbury, DFA Bird & Cortes.

The Yankees had to set their 40-man roster before the Rule 5 draft and wanted to protect a couple of youngsters from that draft.

In order to do so, they made some moves.

The first was that they released Jacoby Ellsbury. In doing so, they are eating the $21MM he is owed for 2020 and also paying him $5MM for a 2021 buyout. They are eating $26MM and yes, that money for 2020 still will count against the cap. Ellsbury didn’t play at all for the Yankees in 2018 and 2019.

Ellsbury did play for them 2014-2017, with his best year being his first, in 2014 (.271-16-70 with 39 SB, OPS+ 111). So the Yanks got NOTHING from him for the last three years of his contract and had to buy out 2021.

The Yanks also DFA’d Greg Bird and Nestor Cortes, Jr.

Bird hit .261 with 11 HR in 46 games at the end of 2015, filling in for the injured Mark Teixeira but has had trouble with injuries since. He missed all of 2016 due to injury, hit .190 in 48 games in 2017, .199 in 82 games in 2018 and was just 6 for 35 in 10 games in 2019. His big highlight was his HR in Game 3 of the 2017 ALDS off of Andrew Miller that won the game for the Yanks 1-0 and kept them alive in the playoffs that year.

Cortes, Jr. was 5-1, 5.67 for the Yankees in 2019, ERA+ 79, in one start and 32 relief appearances.

The Yanks added Estevan Florial, Deivi Garcia, Luis Gil, Brooks Kriske, Luis Medina, Nick Nelson and Miguel Yajure to the 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 draft.

Florial: 22 on Nov. 25. OF lefty bat. .237-8-38 at High A Tampa in 2019.
Garcia: 20. 5-9, 4.28 combined A+/AA/AAA in 2019. 165 K in 111.1 IP.  21 starts, 5 relief.
Gil: 21. 5-5, 2.72 at A/A+ combined in 2019. 20 starts. 123 K in 96 IP.
Kriske: 25. 3-3, 2.08 at A+/AA combined in 2019. 12 saves. 80 K in 60.2 IP.
Medina: 20. 1-8, 5.47 at A/A+ combined in 2019. 22 starts. 127 K in 103.2 IP.
Nelson: 24 on Dec. 5. 8-3, 2.81 at A+/AA/AAA in 2019. 17 starts, 1 relief. 114 K in 89.2 IP.
Yajure: 21. 9-6, 2.14 at A+/AA in 2019. 20 starts, 4 relief. 133 K in 138.2 IP.

No Q.O. for Didi. John, Munson, Mattingly on Modern Baseball Era ballot for HOF consideration. Boone up for MOY.

The Yankees did not extend a qualifying offer of $17.8MM to Didi Gregorius. If he leaves as a free agent, the Yanks receive no compensation.

It could be that the Yanks want him back, but at less than that figure. But Didi now can talk to anyone.

Didi made $11.75MM last season, when he missed a significant amount of time recovering from TJ surgery. He played in 82 games, and despite hitting 16 HR and driving in 61 runs, only hit .238 with an OPS+ of 87. It was his worst OPS+ since his first year with the Yanks in 2015.

One other problem is that Didi didn’t walk much. His OBP was just .276.

As such, the Yanks probably didn’t think a raise from $11.75MM to $17.8MM was warranted or deserved. IF the Yanks want him back, it probably would be for less than $17.8MM.

Didi hopes to return. We will see.

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From MLB.com:

Gregorius was one of seven Yankees to hit free agency on Halloween, following right-hander Dellin Betances, outfielder Brett Gardner, right-hander Cory Gearrin (who I don’t expect back), outfielder Cameron Maybin (questionable), catcher Austin Romine (would he come back as a backup or does he want to start elsewhere) and retired left-hander CC Sabathia.

As you know, the Yankees declined a $20 million option on first baseman Edwin Encarnacion, instead paying him a $5 million buyout.

Of that group, the Yankees seem most likely to pursue a reunion with Gardner, who could man center field in the wake of Aaron Hicks’ Tommy John surgery.

The Yankees announced the following roster moves on Monday:

• Reinstated 3B Miguel Andújar, 1B Greg Bird, OF Jacoby Ellsbury and RHP Jonathan Holder from the 60-day injured list.

• Reinstated RHP Jake Barrett from the 60-day IL and outrighted him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

• LHP Tyler Lyons has elected free agency in lieu of accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

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BBWAA awards:

Aaron Boone has been named as one of three finalists for AL Mgr. of the Year.

D.J. LeMahieu may get consideration for MVP, but he won’t be in the top 3. The top 3 are Bregman, Trout and Semien but the order won’t be revealed until Nov. 14.

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Also from MLB.com:

The National Baseball Hall of Fame announced 10 candidates under consideration for induction as part of the 2020 Modern Baseball Era ballot: Dwight Evans, Steve Garvey, Tommy John, Don Mattingly, Marvin Miller, Thurman Munson, Dale Murphy, Dave Parker, Ted Simmons and Lou Whitaker.

Game 114. Yanks pummel O’s again, 14-2. Open up 10 game lead.

Pregame News: Stephen Tarpley sent down, Chance Adams called up for a fresh arm.

Good news on Gleyber Torres. MRI negative, listed as day-to-day. Thairo Estrada was “on call” just in case.

As for the game, the Yanks (75-39) won their 8th straight as they continue to pummel Orioles pitching. This time the score was 14-2, and the Yanks hit 5 HR in the game.

The Yanks have hit 52 HR vs. the Orioles this year, breaking the record of 48 that the 1956 Yanks hit against the Kansas City Athletics. They still have four games against the Orioles—at home, August 12 (Day/night DH), 13 and 14. The Yankees have 11 players with multi-homer games against Baltimore this season, breaking the record of 10 set by San Francisco against the Dodgers in 1958 (I’m sure the LA Coliseum with its 251′ LF line had a lot to do with that). The Yanks also have the record for most homers at a ballpark by a visiting team in one season (43). (Some info from ESPN). They were 10-0 at Camden Yards this year and have won 15 straight there.

How bad has it been for the Orioles? Consider this. Greg Bird has been hurt most of the season. He was 6 for 35 in 10 games. His only HR of the year was against the Orioles.

Troy Tulowitzki got hurt and retired after going 2 for 11 in five games. HIS only HR of the season and the last of his career came against…. the Orioles.

With the win, the Yanks now have a 10 game lead over Tampa Bay in the AL East. They are 41-14 against teams in their own division. Granted Baltimore and Toronto are awful, but they are still 23-9 vs. Tampa Bay and Boston.

With one out in the fourth, Gio Urshela doubled, and Didi Gregorius singled him to third. Cameron Maybin’s popup should have been caught, but fell in for a single and a 1-0 Yankees’ lead. Kyle Higashioka hit a three-run HR (2), his first of two for the game, and the Yanks were up 4-0.

Yanks’ starter James Paxton gave up a HR in the fourth that cut the Yanks’ lead to 4-1, but otherwise was sharp.

In the fifth, Aaron Judge reached on an error and Gio Urshela hit a 2-run HR (13), HIS first of two for the game, and the Yanks were up 6-1.

They got five more runs in the sixth. Mike Tauchman walked and advanced to second on a ground out. He went to third on a WP and D.J. LeMahieu singled to make it 7-1. LeMahieu went to second on another wild pitch, and Aaron Judge singled to make it 8-1. Urshela then hit his second HR of the game (14) to make it 10-1. Didi Gregorius singled and went to third on a single by Cameron Maybin combined with a throwing error. Didi scored on a groundout by Brett Gardner. 11-1.

In the top of the ninth, Maybin led off with his 7th HR of the year, then Gardner doubled and Higashioka hit his second HR of the game (3) to make it 14-1.

Baltimore got a run in the bottom of the ninth for the final score of 14-2.

Urshela 3 hits, 4 RBI, 2 HR (14) .319 …. LeMahieu is at .335
Gregorius 2 hits
Maybin 4 hits, 2 RBI, solo HR (7)  .327
Gardner 2 hits, RBI
Higashioka  2 HR (3),  5 RBI

Paxton (W, 7-6, 4.40) 6 2/3 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 1 W, 7 K.   Gave up 1 HR.
Adams 2 1/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K.  6.61

Ernie Bowman, an infielder who appeared in two WS games against the Yanks in 1962, passed away at the age of 84. He played with the Giants 1961-1963 and in 165 MLB games hit .190 with 1 HR.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Game 107. Yanks win game 7-5, but do they lose out at the trade deadline?

The Yanks (68-39) beat Arizona today, 7-5, but it seems like they won the game but lost out big at the trade deadline.

I’ll have another post dedicated to what happened or didn’t happen regarding the trade deadline.

Before the game, the Yanks put Luke Voit (sports hernia) and David Hale (lower back problem) on the IL. Voit’s could be a problem. If he requires surgery, he could be out six weeks, meaning not back until mid-September.

As for Greg Bird (sorry if I am shaking my head, or even laughing), he isn’t even close. He isn’t even doing baseball activities yet.

To replace Voit and Hale on the roster, the Yanks called up infielder Breyvic Valera and reliever Jonathan Holder.

As for the game.

The Yanks got two runs in the bottom of the second off of Zack Greinke (and there will be a lot about Greinke in the other post—teaser alert) when Gio Urshela doubled and Mike Tauchman hit his seventh HR of the season.

With the bases loaded and two out in the top of the fourth, Urshela made a great defensive play to save two runs. He would make another great play in the ninth.

Arizona scored three runs in the fifth and in so doing, knocked Tanaka from the game.

There was a slight rain delay, and it knocked Greinke out after five innings. Greinke soon would find out he was traded to Houston.

In the bottom of the seventh, Tauchman doubled with two out and Austin Romine hit a 2-run HR (4) to give the Yanks a 4-3 lead.

The Yanks got three more in the eighth. Aaron Judge and Edwin Encanacion got back-to-back singles to lead off the inning, with Judge going to third on Edwin’s single. Didi Gregorius grounded out, all runners advancing, and in Judge’s case, scoring. 5-3. Gleyber Torres doubled, 6-3. After Gio Urshela made an out, Cameron Maybin singled in Torres, 7-3.

Nestor Cortes, Jr. came in for the ninth, faced one batter, and gave up a HR. He was pulled for Aroldis Chapman, who gave up a run himself, but eventually closed out the 7-5 win.

Tauchman 2 hits, 2 RBI, 2-run HR (7)
Romine 2 RBI, 2-run HR (4)

Tanaka 4 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 3 W, 4 K.  4.78
Green 1 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K.    5.06
Kahnle 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K.  2.68
Ottavino (W, 4-3, 1.53) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Britton (H, 20) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.  2.45
Cortes, Jr. 0 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K.  Gave up HR to only batter he faced.   4.39
Chapman (S, 27) 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 2 W, 1 K.  2.81

 

Game 73. Sanchez and Torres power CC to win #250 as Yanks sweep Rays, 12-1.

CC Sabathia became the 14th pitcher in MLB history with 250 wins and 3000 strikeouts when the Yanks routed Tampa Bay 12-1 this afternoon.

All of the other pitchers, save for Roger Clemens, are in the Hall of Fame.

With the three game sweep of the Rays, the Yanks (46-27) opened up a 3 1/2 game lead over the Rays in the AL East.

The Yanks struck early, knocking out defending AL CYA winner Blake Snell in the very first inning. Snell only recorded one out.

D.J. LeMahieu led off with an infield single, stole second, and Luke Voit walked. Gary Sanchez then hit a 3-run HR (21) to make it 3-0. Edwin Encarnacion then walked, and after Aaron Hicks hit into a forceout, both Gleyber Torres and Cameron Maybin walked to load the bases. Gio Urshela was HBP to force in a run and make it 4-0, and after Brett Gardner popped up for out #2, LeMahieu singled in two runs to make it 6-0.

CC gave up a run in the fifth, but the Yanks struck for another six-run inning in the seventh.

After Gardner struck out, LeMahieu and Voit each walked. Sanchez doubled in a run to make it 7-1. Encarnacion singled to make it 8-1. Hicks walked to load the bases, then Torres hit a grand slam. HR #16 on the season was Torres’ first career grand slam. 12-1.

LeMahieu 2 hits, 2 RBI .315
Sanchez 2 hits, 3-run HR (21), 4 RBI
Torres grand slam HR (16), 4 RBI

Sabathia (W, 4-4, 4.14) 6 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 3 W, 7 K.  WIN #250 OF HIS CAREER.
Holder 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K.  4.93
Cessa 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K.  5.73

Aaron Judge should return to the Yankees Friday, making for an interesting decision who he replaces on the roster.

Good news on Severino and German in their progress rehabbing their injuries.

Not so good on Jordan Montgomery (MRI on shoulder needed) and Dellin Betances.

The Yanks released Danny Farquhar from his minor league deal. Farquhar was trying to come back after suffering a brain aneurysm while pitching for the White Sox last year.

In discussing Greg Bird’s problem when he does get better (players have passed him on the depth chart and there isn’t room for him in the majors, AAA or maybe even AA!) I left off one first baseman…. Ryan McBroom is doing well at AAA. So you have Voit, Encarnacion, Ford, McBroom, Logan Morrison, Chris Gittens…