There will surely be another deal, like dumping Joey Gallo, but Brian Cashman just completed his major objectives. Get an OF upgrade (Benintendi), get a reliever (see previous post on Effross) and get a starter.
The starter deal just went through. The Yanks got their man (after losing out on Castillo) in Frankie Montas of Oakland. They also get reliever Lou Trivino. For the pair, the Yanks give up #5 prospect Ken Waldichuk (who I really liked, but you have to give to get), #10 prospect Luis Medina, #20 prospect J.P. Sears, and #21 prospect Cooper Bowman.
A look at each.
COMING TO YANKS
Montas. 29 years old. RHP Arbitration eligible 2023, Free agent 2024. RHP. Only 4-9, but a 3.18 ERA (ERA+ 118) for a bad A’s team. Last year he was 13-9, 3.37, ERA+ 122 and finished 6th in CYA voting. For his career, 35-32, 3.73, ERA+ 110. (100 is average).
Trivino. 30. RHP. I am not sold on this one, but it may have been an if you want A, you got to take B kind of thing. Trivino is having a bad year for Oakland, 1-6, 6.47, ERA+ 59 with 10 saves. He had a good 2021, going 7-8, 3.18 with 22 saves. His career has been like that. Good, bad, good, bad. For example, in his rookie year, he was 8-3, 2.92 in 2018. ERA+ 143. But in 2019 he was 4-6, 5.25. ERA+ 82. Hot and cold. For his career, he is 20-23, 4.04, ERA+ 103. Arbitration eligible 2023, Free agent 2025.
LEAVING
#5 prospect Ken Waldichuk. 24. LHP. 6-3, 2.71 between AA/AAA this year. I have been following him since last year. Liked what I saw. You got to give to get, though. 12-8, 3.00 in minor league career, 50 games, 48 starts. 328 K in 215 2/3 IP.
#10 prospect Luis Medina. RHP. 23. 4-3, 3.38 at AA this year. 14-20, 4.46 in minor league career, 86 games, 84 starts.
#20 prospect J.P. Sears. LHP, 26. Pitched in 7 games for Yanks this year, 2 starts. 3-0, 2.05, ERA+ 190. Was 1-1, 1.67 at AAA this year. Did very well in brief time in majors this year.
#21 prospect Cooper Bowman. 2B/SS. 22. Righty bat. .217-8-35 with 35 SB at High A this year. In 111 minor league games, .227-12-58 with 48 SB.
Seeing what the Mariners got for Castillo (they gave up 4 prospects, including their 1, 3 and 5) you knew that Montas would not come cheap. At least the Yanks gave up one of the top 4 prospects they had. But 3 top 10’s go today, as well as Sears.
AAA: SWB (51-48) won 9-2. RF Estevan Florial 3 hits, solo HR. (14) #27 prospect .292-14-36, 30 SB SS Oswald Peraza solo HR (14). #2 prospect .256-14-39, 25 SB DH Oswaldo Cabrera solo HR (7) #13 prospect .225-7-20 1B Ron Guzman 4 RBI; 3-run HR (6)
Ken Waldichuk 3 2/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 2 W, 6 K. 3.59 #5 prospect (overall AA/AAA 6-3, 2.71) Ramirez 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K. 9.00 Weber (W, 3-2) 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.36 Shane Greene 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K. 4.76 M. Gomez 1 Ip, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 6.20 J. Cordero 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.84
AA: Somerset cancelled. Rained out.
High A: Hudson Valley (50-45) lost 7-0. They only got four hits.
Abeyta (L, 4-7) 5 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 W, 7 K. Gave up 1 HR 4.58 C. Gomez 1 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 2 W, 2 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.31 J. Munoz 1 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up 2 HR. 5.00 Ruegger 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. 5.21
Low A: Tampa (46-48) lost 8-6. 3B Andres Chaparro 3 hits C Antonio Gomez 2-run HR (5) #18 prospect .255-5-30 SS Benjamin Cowles 2 hits, RBI DH Ben Rice 2 hits, RBI
Messinger 3 2/3 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 2 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR 4.38 Cortijo 1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 1 K. 1 HBP 4.32 Dees (L, 3-3; BS, 2) 1 2/3 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 H, 0 W, 4 K. 3.86 Watson 1 1/3 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 1 W, 3 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.80
You’ve run out of words for Aaron Judge this season. Really. July isn’t over yet, and he has 41 HR, and is making a run at the AL and Yankee record of 61 set by Roger Maris in 1961. He has 11 HR in his last 13 games. His 9 multi-HR games this season is a Yankees’ record.
The NL and MLB record of course is 73 by Barry Bonds, but those three guys who hit more than Maris (Bonds, McGwire and Sosa) are all linked to steroids. For purists, the true record still belongs to Roger.
Trivia: Sammy Sosa hit 60 or more HR three separate times but didn’t lead the league in any of those three seasons.
Before the game recap, some moves and thoughts on a recent big trade. First off, the Yanks re-signed Ryan Weber and Shane Greene to minor league deals.
Secondly a Yankees’ target is off the market. Reds’ starter Luis Castillo (29, RHP) was dealt to Seattle. As much as I wanted Castillo, I can see why the Yankees, although it’s rumored that they were close to getting him, backed off. Seattle gave up four prospects for him, including their #1, #3 and #5 prospects. For the Yankees, that would have meant SS Anthony Volpe (1), CF Jasson “The Martian” Dominguez (3) and LHP Ken Waldichuk (5), along with another prospect. That wasn’t going to happen. It looks like the Yankees will face Castillo (4-4, 2.86, ERA+160 this year) Tuesday night.
With Castillo off the board, the Yankees’ top trade target now is Frankie Montas (29, RHP) of Oakland. Montas is only 4-9 this season, but his ERA is 3.18 and his ERA+ is 117. Not as good as Castillo, but still good. If they can’t get Montas, then rumors are they are then looking at Noah Syndergaard of the Angels (RHP, 30 in August) who is 5-8, 3.83, ERA+104 this season, or Jose Quintana (33, LHP) of Pittsburgh, who is 3-5, 3.50, ERA+ 120.
As far as Syndergaard is concerned, it has been written that since TJ surgery, he hasn’t been the “Thor” (and yes, he’d need a haircut) of his Mets days, and although still decent, he’s lost 2 MPH off his fastball since the surgery. Quintana was a Yankees’ farmhand many years ago.
The Yanks are looking to deal Miguel Andujar and Joey Gallo. Teams are looking at prospects and are most likely prioritizing them over Andujar and Gallo.
We will see what develops. Another deal I would like besides one for Montas would be one with the Cubs to get bullpen help. Could David Robertson (37, RHP, 3-0, 2.23, 14 saves this year) be back for what would be his third go-round with the Bronx Bombers?
Ok, now to the game recap.
In the top of the first, Judge robbed the first batter of the game, Kansas City’s MJ Melendez, of a HR. The guy can do it all, defensively as well as offensively.
The Yanks got off to a quick 3-0 lead. Anthony Rizzo hit a solo HR in the bottom of the first inning (#24), and two innings later, after a walk to D.J. LeMahieu, Judge hit a 2-run HR (40).
Maybe it’s me, but Gerrit Cole seems a bit off his game this year. Aces shouldn’t be coughing up 3-0 leads. Cole seems more prone to the HR ball this season, too. With two out in the fifth, the Royals got four straight hits, followed by a 3-run HR by Salvador Perez, to stunningly go up on the Yanks 5-3. A misplay (ruled a hit when it could have been an error) by Isiah Kiner-Falefa helped KC to its big inning. IKF would make up for it later. Another big play was on a grounder to Rizzo, who had a little bit of a delay in flipping the ball to Cole for the out. Batter beats it out, inning prolonged.
After a rain delay to start the eighth inning, the Yanks exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the eighth. With one out, Rizzo and Gleyber Torres got back-to-back singles. An error by KC SS Maikel Garcia loaded the bases. Andrew Benintendi got an infield single to make it 5-4. It then appeared as if Aaron Hicks was HBP to force in a run, but he wasn’t. Hicks worked a walk anyway and the game was tied at 5. IKF then made up for his previous miscue by hitting a single to put the Yanks up 6-5. A groundout by Jose Trevino made it 7-5. A walk to LeMahieu re-loaded the bases, then Judge unleashed HR #41, a grand slam, for the final score of 11-5.
Judge 3 hits, 6 RBI. A 2-run HR and a grand slam. (41). Also robbed KC of a HR. Rizzo 2 hits, RBI. Solo HR (24) Torres 2 hits. Kiner-Falefa 15 game hitting streak.
Cole 6 IP, 5 R, 7 H, 0 W, 9 K. gave up 1 HR. 3.30 Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 5.24 Abreu (W, 2-0) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.22 (3-team W/L, ERA) Peralta 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 3 K. 2.37
The Yanks are 68-33, have a 12 1/2 game lead in the AL East and the magic # for clinching the division is 50.
Major League Baseball held their Futures game last night at Dodger Stadium, highlighting the top minor league prospects throughout baseball. The AL beat the NL 6-4. Here are how the three Yankees’ prospects in the game did. From MLB.com:
YANKEES — Anthony Volpe, SS (No. 1/MLB No. 8): The AL’s starting shortstop and cleanup hitter, Volpe went 0-for-2 with a pair of strikeouts. Jasson Domínguez, OF (No. 3/MLB No. 39): The AL’s starting center fielder, Domínguez didn’t get off to the best of starts, striking out in his first at-bat against Bobby Miller and then dropping a fly ball in the bottom of the second that allowed two runs to score. But in the top of the third, the Yankees slugger redeemed himself in a big way, blasting a two-run homer to center that left his bat at 107.5 mph and went an estimated 415 feet. Ken Waldichuk, LHP (No. 5/MLB No. 72): Waldichuk came in and got Jackson Chourio to fly out for the final out of the game, picking up the save in the process.
Before heading to LA, Dominguez, nicknamed “The Martian”, found out that he, as well as OF teammate Grant Richardson, were both being promoted from Low A Tampa to High A Hudson Valley.
AAA: SWB (40-44) lost 8-3. Rare bad outing for #5 prospect Ken Waldichuk. C Josh Breaux 3 hits. #25 prospect 1B Jake Bauers solo HR (6) 2B Derek Dietrich 2-run HR (2)
Waldichuk (L, 2-3) 2 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 2 W, 5 K. Gave up 2 HR. 3.27 Nittoli 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K. 3.53 Mujica 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 4.79 M. Gomez 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 4.09 Zach Greene 1 1/3 IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 H, 1 W, 4 K. 4.37 Weissert 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. 2.43
AA: Somerset (50-31, 1st half division champs) won 3-1. 2B Jesus Bastidas 2-run HR (9)
High A: Hudson Valley (44-37) won 9-6 in 11 innings. SS Trey Sweeney 3 hits, 2 RBI. #6 prospect. .233 DH Cooper Bowman 2 hits, 2 RBI. #24 prospect .232 3B Cristian Perez 3 hits
Panacual 5 IP, 4 R, 7 H, 2 W, 2 K. 1 WP 3.62 Sikkema (W, 1-1) 5 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 W, 11 K. 2.32 #19 prospect Miller 1 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. 4.57
Low A: Tampa ppd.
STANDINGS SWB 8th of 10 in IL East. 5 GB Somerset T-3rd in Eastern League Northeast 6-6 (1st half division champs at 44-25) Hudson Valley 1st (10-5, 1 game up) in 2nd half, South Atlantic League North (1st half, 34-32, 3rd, 9 GB) Tampa 1st (10-4, 1/2 game up) in 2nd half, Florida State League West (1st half 6th, last, 27-39, 15 GB)
Three prospects will be playing in the Futures Game, July 16. MLB network will show the game starting at 8:30 PM. Dodger Stadium. The three are Ken Waldichuk, Anthony Volpe and Jasson Dominguez.
AAA: SWB (38-43) won 5-3. RF Tim Locastro 3 hits SS Oswald Peraza 2 hits, 3 RBI. #2 prospect. .243 DH Derek Dietrich 2 hits, RBI.
AA: Somerset (48-30, won first half division title) won 5-0. SS Anthony Volpe 2 hits. #1 prospect .249, 35 SB CF Brandon Lockridge 2 hits, RBI. #17 prospect .250 C Rodolfo Duran 2 hits, 2 RBI 1B Chad Bell 2 hits.
Will Warren (W,4-2) 7 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 W, 5 K. 2.37 #27 prospect (Combined High A/AA 6-5, 2.96 this year) Loseke 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K. 2.67 Myatt 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 1.59
High A: Hudson Valley (41-37) won 7-1. SS Cooper Bowman 2 hits. #24 prospect .233 CF Everson Pereira 3 hits, 3 RBI #10 prospect .269 1B Spencer Henson 2-run HR (7)
Castano (W, 3-6) 6 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 2 W, 8 K. 3.06 Miller 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 4.79 J. Munoz 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 4.71
Low A: Tampa was supposed to have a DH. Game 1: Won 3-2 in 5 1/2 innings.
Y. Castro 4 2/3 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 2 W, 7 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.44 van Zijll 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 3 K. 4.73
AAA: SWB (32-42) won 5-3. CF Estevan Florial 2 hits, RBI. solo HR (7). #29 prospect. .293-7-23 25 SB. SS Oswald Peraza 2 hits, RBI. #2 Prospect. .244 3B Miguel Andujar 3 hits, 2 RBI. .317
Waldichuk 4 1/3 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 4 W, 7 K. 2.62 AAA ERA #5 Prospect (Overall AA/AAA this year: 6-2, 2.00) Bristo (W, 2-2) 2 1/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 W, 2 K. Gave up 1 HR. 4.40 Cordero (H, 3) 1 1/ 3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 5.19 Shane Greene (S, 1) 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K. 6.08
Observation: I read where Matt Carpenter is getting some practice time in the outfield. Also, as you can see above, Florial at .293 with 25 SB and Andujar at .317. With those three developments, you wonder how long the Yanks will go with Joey Gallo, who is only hitting .167-9-18, OPS+ 76. I mean, when Carpenter is taking OF reps, you got to wonder if he, Florial or Andujar could be a replacement for Gallo, or if the Yanks might find someone in a trade. Also, Aaron Hicks’ playing time (.216-3-18, OPS+83) also may be getting reduced. (Gallo and Hicks stats before yesterday afternoon’s game).
AA: Somerset (44-27, 1st half champs) lost 4-2. DH Elijah Dunham solo HR (9) #26 prospect .266-9-37. 2B Jesus Bastidas 2 hits, RBI.
Boyle (L, 4-4) 6 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 3 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR. 5.43 Ernst 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. 3.64 Tanner Myatt 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1 WP 0.00 at AA (combined A+/AA 1-0, 1.48)
High A: Hudson Valley (36-35) won 8-5. RF Everson Pereira 2 RBI #10 prospect .274 3B Tyler Hardman solo HR (9) CF Aldenis Sanchez 2 hits, RBI C Carlos Narvaez 2 hits
Sauer 5 2/3 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 1 W, 7 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3 HBP 3.36 Miller (W, 1-1; BS, 2) 1 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. Gave up 1 HR. 6.06 Alvarez (S, 2) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 3 K. 1.80
Low A: Tampa (31-40) won 4-1. CF Jasson Dominguez (“The Martian”) solo HR. #3 prospect .259-8-33 1B Anthony Garcia 2 hits 3B Marcos Cabrera 2 hits RF Grant Richardson 2 RBI LF Raimfer Salinas 2 hits
Y. Castro 4 1/3 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 W, 4 K. 1 HBP 3.40 Milam 2 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K. gave up 1 HR. 3.77 Watson (W, 4-3) 2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 W, 3 K. 3.12
The Prospect listings have been updated with new rankings.
AAA: Ken Waldichuk (#5 prospect) bounced back with a good outing after rough outing last time out. SWB (28-41) won 7-2. Pitchers combined for 17 K. RF Estevan Florial 3 hits #29 prospect .295 LF Miguel Andujar 3 hits, RBI DH Greg Bird 2 hits, RBI C Rob Brantly 2 hits, 2 RBI 3B Armando Alvarez 3 hits, 2 RBI. 2-run HR (6)
Waldichuk (W, 2-2 in AAA) 5 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 0 W, 8 K. Gave up 1 HR. 1 HBP 2.70 (AAA ERA) #5 prospect Zack Greene 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K. 3.54 M. Gomez 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1 Balk. 4.85 J. Cordero 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K. 1 HBP. 1 WP 4.05 Weissert 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 2.96
Waldichuk is 6-2, 1.99 this year between AA/AAA.
AA: Somerset (42-24) won 7-4. SS Anthony Volpe solo HR (9) #1 prospect .233-9-34 RF Elijah Dunham 2 hits #26 prospect .257 21 SB DH Josh Breaux 3-run HR (13) #25 prospect .217-13-29 CF Jeisson Rosario 2-run HR (4)
Boyle (W, 4-3) 6 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 1 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR. 5.52 Espinal (H, 2) 2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR. 2.45 Loseke 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K. 1.69
High A: Hudson Valley (34-32) won 6-1. SS Trey Sweeney 2 RBI #6 prospect .216 1B Eric Wagaman 2 hits, RBI DH Spencer Henson 2 hits, 3 RBI 3-run HR (6) RF Pat DeMarco 2 hits.
Castano (W, 2-5) 7 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 H, 1 W, 4 K. 1 WP 2.91 Strom 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. 5.68 J. Munoz 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K. 5.76
Low A: Tampa (27-39) lost 4-3. CF Jasson Dominguez (The “Martian”) 2 hits. #3 prospect .263, 14 SB DH Antonio Gomez 2 hits, RBI. #18 prospect .205
The Sommer Frieze 
