November 14th, 2023: Rowson, Torres, Donovan, Burleson, Peralta

In case you missed it, here is my 2023-24 Offseason Plan. Make sure you bookmark it for future mocking purposes. Also, a reminder: I’m planning to skip the regularly scheduled post on Friday, Nov. 24th. That is next Friday and it’s the day after Thanksgiving. Unless there’s breaking news, I’m going to take it easy during the long holiday weekend. Let’s get to today’s post now. I’d say I’m sorry it’s shorter than usual, but the Offseason Plan went live Monday, so it all evens out.

1. Rowson named hitting coach. For the third time since the end of the 2021 season, the Yankees have named a new primary hitting coach. As expected, James Rowson got the job and is replacing Sean Casey, who left the Yankees to spend more time with his family. Rowson is returning to the organization for a third stint. Here is the Mount Vernon native’s resume:

• Minor league player: 1995-98
• Angels minor league hitting coach: 2002-05
• High-A Tampa hitting coach: 2006-07
• Yankees minor league hitting coordinator: 2008-11
• Cubs minor league hitting coordinator: 2012
• Cubs hitting coach: June 2012 to 2013
• Yankees minor league hitting coordinator: 2014-16
• Twins hitting coach: 2017-19
• Marlins bench coach: 2020-22
• Tigers assistant hitting coach: 2023

A hitting coach with actual MLB coaching experience? What a concept. Rowson’s 2019 Twins set the single-season home run record (307) and a bunch of franchise offensive records, though that was the rocket ball season, so totals were inflated. Still, Minnesota was fifth in baseball with a team 105 wRC+ during Rowson’s three seasons. That’s something, I guess.

Rowson is said to have a good relationship with Aaron Judge dating back to their time together in the farm system, and that’s the right guy to have in your corner. The Yankees need a fresh set of eyes and ideas, and although Rowson spent nine years in the organization previously, he’s been away long enough that he should bring something new to the table, and not be more of the same.

“Like any coach, you have to be able to partner and connect with your players. If you can’t do that, you won’t be able to hook up your fire hose to let your information flow,” Brian Cashman told Gary Phillips at the GM Meetings last week. “The younger guys might gravitate more to tech and analytical information. Older guys might not be as exposed in that world, might not have an interest in that world. So I need dual threats who can provide everything.”

Ultimately, the Yankees need better players, not a different hitting coach. I mean, they need a good hitting coach too, but I’m not sure any hitting coach was getting production out of left and center fields given who the Yankees threw out there in 2023. Rowson seems like a good hire given his experience and familiarity with the organization. Now get him better players.

It’s unknown whether assistant hitting coaches Casey Dykes (the analytics guy) and Brad Wilkerson (the former MLB player) will return. The Yankees are holding a conference call to introduce Rowson sometime Tuesday, so we should find out more then. What we do know is they need a bench coach to replace Carlos Mendoza, who left to become the Mets manager. Here’s the latest on the bench coach search:

• The Yankees interviewed Giants pitching coach Andrew Bailey on Monday, per Joel Sherman. Bailey has been a hot commodity this offseason, though as best I can tell the Yankees are the first team to interview him for bench coach, not pitching coach.
• The Yankees approached David Ross about their bench coach job, according to Brendan Kuty and Ken Rosenthal (subs. req’d). Ross said he prefers to manage if he returns to a field level job immediately. He and Aaron Boone know each other from their ESPN days.
• Former Yankees prospect Brad Ausmus is also a bench coach candidate, per Kuty and Rosenthal (subs. req’d). His two managerial stints (2014-17 Tigers and 2019 Angels) did not go well. Perhaps Ausmus is better suited for the second chair?

The Brewers and Padres are the only teams left with a managerial opening. There’s no chance the Brewers hire Ross to replace Craig Counsell. That’s just not happening. San Diego is said to be leaning toward an internal promotion (senior advisor Mike Shildt or bench coach Ryan Flaherty). Not sure there’s a managerial job out there for Ross, but he still has another year remaining on his Cubs contract, so he has paychecks coming and no need to rush into anything.

I imagine the Yankees want to get their bench coach search wrapped up soon, possibly before the end of the week, so they can have the core of their coaching staff in place before really diving into the offseason. Rowson seems like a good hire. I think? Maybe? Who can tell? Hopefully whoever they hire to replace Mendoza as the bench coach will compensate for Boone’s weaknesses as an X’s and O’s guy.

2. Latest hot stove news. There’s an important deadline coming up Tuesday: 6pm ET is the Rule 5 Draft protection deadline. I’m going to completely cop out and refer you to the Offseason Plan for the what’s what on Rule 5 Draft eligible players. Clayton Beeter is the only lock to be added to the 40-man roster, though there might be one or two others (Carson Coleman? Matt Sauer?). We’ll find out in a few hours, and then I’ll go over everything Friday. Also, the non-tender deadline is Friday (I believe it’s 7pm ET). Wouldn’t surprise me to see the Yankees make a minor trade between now and then (Kyle Higashioka?). Here now are the latest hot stove nuggets.

The Torres for Verdugo rumor

There is a Gleyber Torres for Alex Verdugo rumor going around and I feel obligated to set things straight, because it’s gotten distorted by the game of telephone. First, as Rob Bradford noted, the Yankees and Red Sox discussed a Clarke Schmidt for Verdugo trade at the deadline. It is my understanding the Yankees wanted more in return, and talks didn’t go anywhere.

Second, new Red Sox baseball operations head Craig Breslow said he’s interested in adding a right-handed hitting middle infielder at the GM Meetings last week, and also mentioned he’s gotten calls about Verdugo as well. Here’s what Breslow said (per Bradford):

"(Tuesday) we talked a little bit about the value of right handed hitting middle infielder or at least some positional versatility. I think we feel a lot better about shortstop right now than we did, or maybe than the organization did at some other points during the season last year," he said. "But versatility is really, really valuable. I think we’re probably more keyed in on second base, though, than being able to play both."

…

"(Verdugo’s) fit is as an everyday right fielder who is playing Gold Glove caliber defense and can impact the ball on the offensive side, as well. We have had some conversations with him," the new Chief Baseball Officer added. "It feels like he’s committed to performing the best he possibly can. Obviously, he’s a guy other teams have reached on given the situation. I don’t think we’re in a position to commit to anything. We have to look at every opportunity, every interaction with another club or an agent that might make our team better. Where that lands, we’ll see."

Third, Bradford noted the Red Sox identified Torres as a possible trade target at some point this summer. He then connected the dots and suggested Torres for Verdugo is something that could work. Boston had interest in Torres, the Yankees had interest in Verdugo, and boom, Torres for Verdugo became a thing. It was born out of Bradford’s informed speculation. As far as we know, it hasn’t been discussed by the two teams.

You can see how it makes sense though, right? The Red Sox want a righty hitting second baseman and have one too many lefty hitting outfielders. The Yankees badly need a lefty hitting outfielder and want to open a middle infield spot for Oswald Peraza. Torres and Verdugo each have one year of team control remaining as well. One year of Gleyber for one year of Verdugo.

Everything aligns as far as team needs and team control, but there’s one small problem: Torres is a better player than Verdugo. By a lot too, right? Based on 2023 stats, we’re talking about a 123 wRC+ and +3.2 WAR middle infielder and a 98 wRC+ and +2.0 WAR corner outfielder. 2024 Steamer projections greatly favor Gleyber (121 wRC+ and +3.9 WAR) over Verdugo (106 wRC+ and +1.7 WAR) as well.

MLBTR projects about a $6M salary difference between the two and saving $6M isn’t enough for the Yankees to justify a one-for-one swap. Not even close. $6M is nothing. The free agent market also offers many more decent outfielders (10 projected for at least +1 WAR) than decent middle infielders (four projected for +1 WAR). Gleyber’s the better player and more scarce commodity.

Also, keep in mind the Red Sox just hired Breslow. The Chaim Bloom regime had interest in Torres at the deadline, not Breslow. Maybe Breslow has interest now, Gleyber’s a pretty good player and a really good fit for the Red Sox, but this isn’t automatically a “they had interest at the deadline and will have interest again” thing. Someone new is calling the shots in Beantown.

Torres is in no way untouchable. The Yankees shouldn’t give him away, he is their second best position player, but there are trade scenarios that would make sense, including those involving a left-handed hitting outfielder. For Verdugo though? An older and inferior player with one year of team control remaining, not to mention major off-the-field concerns? This rumor should remain speculation and not become reality.

Burleson, Donovan have “at least been discussed” by Yankees

Cardinals left-handed bats Alec Burleson and Brendan Donovan have “at least been discussed” as trade targets by the Yankees, reports Derrick Goold. The Yankees and Cardinals had trade talks at the deadline, mostly involving Dylan Carlson for a Triple-A pitcher (Clayton Beeter was a popular name at the time), so, if nothing else, St. Louis is already familiar with the Yankees’ system.

Donovan, 27 in January, is the better of the two players. He’s a career .283/.381/.398 (124 wRC+) hitter with 16 home runs and excellent plate discipline numbers (14.7% strikeouts, 11.1% walks, 21.8% chases, 5.4% swinging strikes) in 839 plate appearances the last two seasons. The hard-hit inability (4.5% barrels) and ground ball rate (49.9%) limit his power ceiling, though Donovan works tough at-bats, puts the ball in play, and gets on base.

Furthermore, Donovan has played every position other than center field, pitcher, and catcher in his career, and he won the NL’s utility Gold Glove last year. The numbers say third base is his best position. It should be noted Donovan had season ending flexor tendon surgery in August. He is expected to be ready for Spring Training, though how his arm bounces back will determine his ultimate position. Will he still be able to make those long throws at third base?

Burleson, 25 next week, is the more obvious trade candidate from the Cardinals’ perspective. I say that because they’re deep in outfielders and Donovan a) can play the infield, and b) is the better player. Burleson struggled as a part-timer in 2023, slashing .244/.300/.390 (89 wRC+) with eight homers in 347 plate appearances, though there’s some good beneath the surface:

• Strikeout rate: 13.0% (MLB average: 22.7%)
• Swinging strike rate: 8.0% (MLB average: 11.2%)
• Average exit velocity: 89.9 mph (MLB average: 89.0 mph)
• Max exit velocity: 110.6 mph

Burleson is a free swinger (6.6% walks and 36.1% chases), though he makes a lot of contact when he does swing, and he tends to hit the ball hard. Burleson’s max exit velocity is Freddie Freeman (110.6 mph), Nolan Arenado (110.3 mph), Mookie Betts (110.1 mph), and Kyle Tucker (110.1 mph) territory. When Burleson gets into one, he can really drive it. He’s an all-fields hitter more than a Yankee Stadium friendly pull heavy lefty. Here are his 2023 fly balls and line drives:

Defensively, Burleson rates poorly in the corner outfield (-4 DRS and -7 OAA in 51 games worth of innings), and he’s also played some first base. For all intents and purposes, Burleson is a platoon first baseman/DH who can play the corner outfield in a pinch. I feel like the Yankees have room for a player like that? Burleson could fill the Jake Bauers bench bat role with a third of the strikeouts (Bauers had a 34.9% strikeout rate in 2023).

As long as the elbow injury is not a long-term thing, Donovan would be a great get. The Yankees could plop him and his .381 OBP in the leadoff spot ahead of Aaron Judge, and put him wherever the team needs him defensively. Donovan comes with four years of team control, so it’s going to hurt to get him. For what it’s worth, here’s what the Trade Values site says:

You can play around and come up with a combination of names that makes a Donovan trade easier to swallow, but the Cardinals want to contend next season, and I doubt they will trade their leadoff hitter (and four years of an above-average player) for prospects. We know they want pitching. An MLB starter and a good prospect seems reasonable, and hey, maybe it’s worth it.

I think the asking price for Donovan will be so high that a trade isn’t all that realistic. Goold is reporting the Yankees have discussed him internally – I’m certain many teams have – not that the Cardinals are looking to move him. They should listen, their pitching needs are dire, and Donovan would bring a nice return. In theory, St. Louis has enough position player depth to trade him. A possible Donovan-less alignment:

• C: Willson Contreras
• 1B: Paul Goldschmidt
• 2B: Nolan Gorman
• SS: Tommy Edman or Masyn Winn
• 3B: Nolan Arenado
• LF: Tyler O’Neill
• CF: Dylan Carlson
• RF: Lars Nootbaar
• DH: Jordan Walker
• Extras: Luken Baker and Juan Yepez

Burleson is the much more likely trade candidate, and while I wouldn’t want him as the left field addition, I do think there’s a place for his left-handed bat on the roster. At minimum, he’s a better up and down lefty depth bat than Bauers and Franchy Cordero and guys like that. The asking price shouldn’t be exorbitant given Burleson’s poor defense at non-premium positions.

Does something like Beeter for Burleson work? The Cardinals are desperate for pitching and are supposedly prioritizing velocity and bat-missing ability, and MLB-readiness. Beeter may not throw strikes consistently, but he provides all of that. Donovan would be great. I also dig Burleson as a depth guy (not as an everyday piece). The Yankees could use a bat like his.

Yankees interested in Wandy reunion

According to Gary Phillips, the Yankees have interest in re-signing Wandy Peralta, though they’ve yet to make an offer. The Yankees will have to either re-sign Peralta or acquire a lefty reliever to replace him. They don’t have anyone ready to step into that high leverage lefty role (apologies to Matt Krook, Anthony Misiewicz, and Nick Ramirez).

Other than Josh Hader, who is a capital-C Closer and not a matchup guy, the free agent market offers few quality lefty relievers. Peralta might be the best matchup lefty available. It’s either him, Scott Alexander, Brad Hand, Matt Moore, or Brent Suter. Or Aroldis Chapman? Anyone here interested in a Chapman reunion? Didn’t think so. This free agent class stinks, man.

When I wrote my goodbye to Magic Wandy in September, I noted 2023 was his worst year with the Yankees – he had walk and home run trouble, and also struggled against righties for the first time in pinstripes – and I figured that would sent the Yankees in another direction for a lefty. And it still might. Having interest in a reunion doesn’t mean the Yankees view Wandy as a must-have.

Two offseason ago the Rays gave lefty Brooks Raley a two-year, $10M contract with a $6.25M club option. Peralta now is a year younger than Raley was then, so maybe he can get the third guaranteed year? The non-closer bullpen market is so unpredictable. Magic Wandy rules, but there are reasons to walk away. We’ll see whether this continued interest leads anywhere.

Miscellany

During his profanity-laden press conference last week, Brian Cashman said the Yankees need “two outfielders … preferably left-handed,” according to Randy Miller. That is what we in the business call stating the obvious. Cashman said the Yankees needed a lefty hitting outfielder last offseason and never got one, so him saying they need two outfielders this offseason doesn’t mean a whole lot. Saying it is the bare minimum. Stop talking about getting outfielders and go get them … Padres GM A.J. Preller said they are planning to keep Juan Soto and try to contend next year, according to AJ Cassavell. What else is Preller supposed to say? We need to cut payroll and I have no choice but to trade one of the best players in the game? Keeping Soto is plausible. There are other ways to reduce payroll and they could always trade him at the deadline, when he should still fetch a large return. Preller was never going to come out and say Soto’s available … Not a shock here: Jon Heyman says the Yankees have already touched base with Cody Bellinger (and Scott Boras). I did a deep dive into Bellinger before the trade deadline and I really should do another one this offseason. All the red flags that existed in July never manifested and Bellinger was better in the second half (141 wRC+) than the first (126 wRC+). Anyway, this offseason was never going to pass without a “the Yankees have talked to Bellinger” report. Here it is … Japanese left-hander Shōta Imanaga has been posted, as expected. The 30-year-old had a 2.66 ERA with a 29.5% strikeout rate in 2023. I wrote about him a few weeks ago. Imanaga is said to have premium fastball data, though he is not at the level of Yoshinobu Yamamoto or even Kodai Senga last offseason. Supposedly the Dodgers are big on him. We haven’t heard anything about the Yankees scouting him. Imanaga has been posted though. He’s available for MLB teams … And finally, the Super Two cutoff is two years and 118 days (2.118) this offseason, per Ron Blum. It’s set at the top 22% in service time between 2-3 years each offseason. Albert Abreu finished the season right at 2.118. He was the last player to get in as a Super Two, so he gets to go through arbitration four times instead of the usual three. Abreu is projected for only $900,000 next year, but hey, that’s better than the $740,000 league minimum, assuming Abreu makes it through the offseason with the Yankees.

(Send your requests for Friday's mailbag to RABmailbag at gmail dot com. The random Yankee series is on hiatus, but feel free to send in requests for when it returns.)