Around Baseball 2021

[TwistedLogic]

Taillon didn't count the Yankees much at all, at least on paper. I'm sure the Pirates have their own reasons for liking those prospects, but none of the guys the Yankees gave up were top 10 in their own system, either by MLB Pipeline, or by FanGraphs.

 

[Jimcanuck]

The Yankees must have had some assurances on Taillon to make this deal, right?

[Laika]

Taillon didn't count the Yankees much at all, at least on paper. I'm sure the Pirates have their own reasons for liking those prospects, but none of the guys the Yankees gave up were top 10 in their own system, either by MLB Pipeline, or by FanGraphs.

 

 

Both old lists, I think.

[Orgfiller]

Taillon didn't count the Yankees much at all, at least on paper. I'm sure the Pirates have their own reasons for liking those prospects, but none of the guys the Yankees gave up were top 10 in their own system, either by MLB Pipeline, or by FanGraphs.

 

 

Taillon isn't the guy you give up multiple top 10 prospects for. Far too much of an injury risk even compared to the average starter.

[Jimcanuck]

BA has Yajure as the NYY's #7. An odd route for NY to take, but Cashman being Cashman, they must have solid data they are relying on.

[Laika]

Your Blue Jays comparable deal in terms of value might be:

 

Miguel Hiraldo, Adam Kloffenstein, Eric Pardinho, and one of Estiven Machado or Rikelvin De Castro

[Jays24]

Your Blue Jays comparable deal in terms of value might be:

 

Miguel Hiraldo, Adam Kloffenstein, Eric Pardinho, and one of Estiven Machado or Rikelvin De Castro

 

Sounds like we could just add Gurriel to that and go get Bryant/Hendricks.

[Jimcanuck]

Sounds like we could just add Gurriel to that and go get Bryant/Hendricks.

 

3 seasons of control on Taillon, who is making $2.25M this year

 

1 season of control on Bryant @$19.5M, who will almost 100% go to free agency

 

3 contract years left on Hendriks @ $14M per

 

 

The costs and Bryant's impending free agency deflate the Cubs return and the number of suitors. Also the Taillon contract suggests why the Yankees went this route, trying to get under the luxury tax threshold.

 

Moreno, Kloff, Pardinho might be enough on its own.

[Spanky__99]

BA has Yajure as the NYY's #7. An odd route for NY to take, but Cashman being Cashman, they must have solid data they are relying on.

 

Where are they all ranked on BA?

[Jimcanuck]

Where are they all ranked on BA?

 

BA doesn't have its up to date top 30 for each team out yet. The other 3 are outside the top 10.

[Abomination]

3 seasons of control on Taillon, who is making $2.25M this year

 

1 season of control on Bryant @$19.5M, who will almost 100% go to free agency

 

3 contract years left on Hendriks @ $14M per

 

 

The costs and Bryant's impending free agency deflate the Cubs return and the number of suitors. Also the Taillon contract suggests why the Yankees went this route, trying to get under the luxury tax threshold.

 

Moreno, Kloff, Pardinho might be enough on its own.

 

Hendriks contract is extremely valuable. There's no way that comes even close.

[G-Snarls]

Would definitely prefer Paxton or Tanaka to giving up significant prospect capital to gamble on Taillon.

 

Fore sure, I've been interested in both for the Jays.

 

At yet at the same time the Yankees somewhat odd avoidance of Tanaka seems like a red flag to me. They've acquired Kluber and now Taillon and it seems like they never even engaged with Tanaka at all.

[Pendleton]

BA doesn't have its up to date top 30 for each team out yet. The other 3 are outside the top 10.

 

In the best tools section they had Smith listed for Best Hitter for Average and Best Strike Zone Discipline

[connorp]

Hendriks contract is extremely valuable. There's no way that comes even close.

 

Yeah it’s not like Bryant is a poison pill. Maybe he doesn’t return a lot but if they wanted to dump him today they could, obv they didn’t need to tender him.

 

So if you couldn’t find a team for both, you would deal Hendriks on his own and deal with KB separately. You wouldn’t limit yourself to who could take on both and take a net loss on Hendriks deal

[Laika]

Moreno and SWR might get you most of the way to Bryant and Hendricks.

 

https://www.baseballtradevalues.com/trade-simulator/

[Jimcanuck]

PIRATES ACQUIRE

 

Miguel Yajure, RHP

Age: 22

 

The Yankees signed Yajure out of Venezuela for $30,000 in 2015 on the strength of two innings at a tryout, Yajure He missed the 2017 season after having Tommy John surgery, returned in 2018 and broke out in 2019 as he jumped to Double-A. Yajure added velocity after the 2019 season through a weighted-ball program and a series of delivery tweaks designed to better incorporate his lower half. The result was a nearly 2 mph jump in his average velocity, up to 92 mph in 2020.

 

Yajure complements his four-seamer with a cutter, slider, a low-80s curveball and high-80s changeup. He’s comfortable throwing his changeup to both sides. His curveball is a 12-to-6 breaker that he uses to form a tunnel with his four-seamer. His cutters and slider are newer weapons and were incorporated to help him better combat righthanders.

 

Yajure made his big league debut on Aug. 31 and pitched seven innings over three outings.

 

Roansy Contreras, RHP

Age: 21

 

Contreras was one of many players in the minor leagues for whom 2020 was essentially a lost season. He was not invited to the Yankees’ alternate training site, and his addition to the 40-man roster meant he was not allowed to participate in the team’s instructional league program in the Dominican Republic.

 

In 2019, he was part of a talented group of pitchers—along with righties Luis Medina, Alexander Vizcaino, Luis Gil and Matt Sauer—who started the year at Low-A Charleston. Of that group, Contreras has the lowest ceiling but highest floor.

 

He had shown a small uptick in his fastball velocity at 2020 spring training before the shutdown and had begun touching 95 mph with the pitch. His next step is to improve the shape of his breaking ball. Currently, the pitch behaves somewhat like a slurve; the Yankees wanted to get it to act more like a slider. Contreras’ changeup is his best pitch because of its fade and drop and was effective against both righthanded and lefthanded hitters.

 

Canaan Smith, OF

Age: 21

 

After a rough go in the short-season New York-Penn League in 2018, Smith was excellent in 2019 at Low-A Charleston. In fact, he was one of just 15 players in the minor leagues with 30 or more doubles, 10 or more home runs and 15 or more stolen bases.

 

In terms of hard contact, Smith was one of the best in the Yankees’ system. He averaged an 89.4 mph exit velocity in 2019 and reached as high as 110 mph. He has a solid idea of the strike zone and posted a swinging-strike rate of just 9.7%. Scouts were somewhat concerned about how he’d handle upper-level pitching, but didn’t get to answer those questions because of the wiped out minor league season in 2020.

 

He’s a below-average defender in left field and has a fringe-average throwing arm. He’s an average runner, too, but shows excellent instincts on the basepaths.

 

Maikol Escotto, SS

Age: 18

 

Escotto was outstanding in his debut season in the Dominican Summer League. He shows impressive instincts and athleticism for his age and has shown the ability to handle both velocity and offspeed pitches. He’s got smooth footwork and soft hands on the infield and has plus arm strength, having touched 93 mph on throws across the diamond though he could wind up moving to second base for the long-term. Escotto’s .981 OPS was eighth in the DSL in 2019, and he hit 12 home runs between there and extended spring training. He’s topped at 106 mph exit velocities.

[Abomination]

Moreno and SWR might get you most of the way to Bryant and Hendricks.

 

https://www.baseballtradevalues.com/trade-simulator/

 

Add in Kimbrel and they probably do it. Maybe Walker can fix his walks.

[max silver]

The Yankees starting rotation has amazing upside. Cole/Severino/Kluber/Taillon is awesome. There's a really good chance a bunch of their rotation misses time due to injury, but if they can have even 3 of their top 4 going into the playoffs they will be in great shape.

[Spanky__99]

The Yankees starting rotation has amazing upside. Cole/Severino/Kluber/Taillon is awesome. There's a really good chance a bunch of their rotation misses time due to injury, but if they can have even 3 of their top 4 going into the playoffs they will be in great shape.

 

Severino had TJS last February, Montgomery and German are good too.

[max silver]

Severino had TJS last February, Montgomery and German are good too.

 

I would imagine there's a good chance Severino should be back at some point in 2021, but perhaps the Yankees are super cautious with him and really limit his innings upon return.

[THANOS]

Moreno and SWR might get you most of the way to Bryant and Hendricks.

 

https://www.baseballtradevalues.com/trade-simulator/

 

Hard pass for me. Would rather stick with FA to address IF & SP.

[Abomination]

Hard pass for me. Would rather stick with FA to address IF & SP.

 

I don't know, that's one hell of an upgrade. Bryant may very well be extendable too.

[Laika]

Hard pass for me. Would rather stick with FA to address IF & SP.

 

I kind of agree. I'd love the upgrade if the Cubs decide to take a Darvish-ish package though...

 

But Toronto should just spend money on players while they can! Just buy an arm and a bat.

[saskjayfan]

Moreno and SWR might get you most of the way to Bryant and Hendricks.

 

https://www.baseballtradevalues.com/trade-simulator/

 

What will it take to convince Cleveland that they don't have enough to compete and convince them to give us Bieber and Ramirez? Could we just hand over our farm...here's everyone. It might be worth it...lol.

[Jimcanuck]

What will it take to convince Cleveland that they don't have enough to compete and convince them to give us Bieber and Ramirez? Could we just hand over our farm...here's everyone. It might be worth it...lol.

 

We need you in a dynasty league.

[THANOS]

Your Blue Jays comparable deal in terms of value might be:

 

Miguel Hiraldo, Adam Kloffenstein, Eric Pardinho, and one of Estiven Machado or Rikelvin De Castro

 

Don't we have a better farm system than the Yankees 1 through 10? I would think Hiraldo & Kloff as our #9 & #10 would be more valuable than anything the Yanks just gave up? The top return was their #15 prospect.

[THANOS]

I kind of agree. I'd love the upgrade if the Cubs decide to take a Darvish-ish package though...

 

But Toronto should just spend money on players while they can! Just buy an arm and a bat.

 

Agreed. I don't think Paxton or Odorizzi have prospect compensation tied to them, so we'd lose nothing but money. If we could somehow get Odorizzi for a 1Y deal, the way this market has been, you come out winning even more.

 

Giving up SWR & Moreno just seems too rich for my blood. I'd do that along with Gurriel for Castillo, but he's the only one really, and Reds wouldn't even sniff at that since the demanded Torres as the starting point from NY.

[saskjayfan]

We need you in a dynasty league.

 

obviously I was joking. The idea of giving up prospects just brings you to your knees doesn't it.

[Jimcanuck]

obviously I was joking. The idea of giving up prospects just brings you to your knees doesn't it.

 

No, there is a time and place. SWR is an untouchable for me, though. Very few, if any, red flags with him.

[Orgfiller]

Don't we have a better farm system than the Yankees 1 through 10? I would think Hiraldo & Kloff as our #9 & #10 would be more valuable than anything the Yanks just gave up? The top return was their #15 prospect.

 

Yajure and Canaan are decent prospects in their own respect. The former in particular has seen his stock rise with each year, he's described as a pitchability high floor low ceiling guy but the strikeouts have shown up in the minors while being age relevant as a prospect. I think the Pirates are quite content with the package they received for Taillon.