The Official 2021-22 RAB Offseason Plan
Added 2021-11-11 13:00:06 +0000 UTCComments
Thanks again for a thoughtful and entertaining read. Favorite idea- getting someone to overvalue and overpay for Chad Green. Feels like something that can and should happen IRL.
Jon
2021-11-19 02:33:17 +0000 UTCHe should pay extra.
Ryan H
2021-11-12 22:44:48 +0000 UTCMemo to Steinbrenner - Hire Mike Axisa!
DocBob
2021-11-12 22:29:43 +0000 UTCCashman has to pay like everyone else.
Michael Axisa
2021-11-12 22:28:34 +0000 UTCBravo, Mike! Thanks for this.
Yair Rosenberg
2021-11-12 17:49:21 +0000 UTCOne other thing Mike, we still don't have quality depth with the starters. Year after year the starters are lucky to pitch six innings, by mid-August the relievers have the thousand yard stare combined with a fifty foot arm. I've watched that play for most of the past forty-five years. Back in the nineties the NY papers frequently crowed about " The Four Aces". The middle relievers were protected by the Studs. People have forgotten, but those starters were the real spine of those Rings of Power.
Kevin Parlato
2021-11-12 09:27:32 +0000 UTCI for both sentimental reasons, and because the risk is spread around would rather go after a mid-tiered shortstop, give the prospects a couple of years to show what they've got, and save the money for Judge, and a mid level pitcher. One unlucky slide, or a crazy base entanglement, and ankle an ankle injury turns Correa into Chick Correa. Naturally this can happen to Judge, but he should be cheaper, and we still have a prospect or two who just might mitigate the aforementioned catastrophic injury.
Kevin Parlato
2021-11-12 09:05:20 +0000 UTCWAR is positional adjusted right? Skewed in favor of traditionally “defensive” positions. Either way, point taken that he’s very, very good
Dan G
2021-11-12 03:18:23 +0000 UTCI disagree that Stallings is much worse than Kelly, but the fact that he's 4.5 years older is what stops me from wanting him.
Nick Fugitt
2021-11-12 02:20:25 +0000 UTCHe's had two 7 WAR seasons and a 6.7 one and he's entering - not in the middle or exiting - what should be his prime
Nick Fugitt
2021-11-12 02:17:45 +0000 UTCThank you, as always, Mike. Love having these posts to look forward to.
Joy Illimited
2021-11-12 01:23:42 +0000 UTCFantastic work as always, Mike Some thoughts, FWIW - No Reynolds? Seems like a perfect fit. Maybe next year? - Love the Olson/Bassitt deal - Love the Gallo trade too. Quality player but rather make space for a more rounded OF - Not a fan of selling low on Gleyber. He fell in love with the HR but seemed to get back his contact-oriented approach. When DJ was 25 he hit .267/.315/.348 - Maybe I’m stubborn but I feel like if Sanchez can change his 2 strike approach, it’d help a lot with Ks and #RISPfail. Maybe that ship has sailed… - Go ahead and call me dumb but is Correa really a $350M+ player? He’s VERY good but no true MVP level season & 3 years he appeared in 110 games or less. Feel like if you spend that much, you better be getting a Vlad Jr/ Soto/Ohtani. Am I overthinking this?
Dan G
2021-11-12 01:23:06 +0000 UTCMike, can you create a pdf of this and email it to cashman? Thaaanks. Only thing I disagree on is letting judge walk. Screw that. Sign him too. You’re the Yankees.
Ryan H
2021-11-12 00:48:19 +0000 UTCI don't know if he still does, but he and his wife had a place in the city and lived here in the offseason as recently as 2018.
Michael Axisa
2021-11-11 23:24:25 +0000 UTCRe: Mets' Melvin excuse...doesn't he have a place in the city? i swear its something that Kay has referenced on the telecast before. Melvin loves the city from his time as a Yankee
Philip Dauria
2021-11-11 23:23:18 +0000 UTCThe other part I’m out on is Bassit. He’s never had a sub 4.00 away from Oakland. He feels like the type of guy who comes to the new Stadium starts letting up homers and develops a strike zone allergy.
Michael Taylor
2021-11-11 22:08:41 +0000 UTCI’m not sure I’d move Torres or Sanchez until I saw how the coaching changes play out. I’d feel differently if we were going after a Ketel Marte type player who could fill in at SS.
Michael Taylor
2021-11-11 22:04:22 +0000 UTCPretty excellent read, as always Mike. Was excited to read this and it did not disappoint. I love the overall plan idea and I believe it sets out to achieve the goals you set up front. A few thoughts: - Is it possible we're overrating Correa a tad? He had an amazing year. If you take his career post-2017 (a year we have proof of the Astros lineup cheating), he has 1650 plate appearances of a .266/.347/.465 for a 118 ops+, including two below average offensive seasons, and only one season (2021) of more than 110 games played. The guy is clearly a great player overall. But is he worth a Mookie Betts contract? It seems like you refer to him as in the upper echelon of top 5-10 players in the game. The defense has improved from years past (although 2021 looks like the outlier statistically), but we know defense only declines once a player is his age. So I agree, he would move to 3rd in a few years, which only makes him even less valuable. I do agree with you the Yanks should sign a shortstop. But my preference would be Seager. Lefty, MVP potential, less defensive value (but I believe defense is overrated in the era of shifts/analytics/22%+ league k rate). And to your point he'll be a 3B in a few years. (I would also see if you could sign his brother to a 1-2 year deal to be a platoon 1B/3B infielder and tell the brothers to go win us a title.) - I think there's a way you can go with this where you sign one of the available 1B (Belt, Rizzo, etc.) for $15mil a year without giving up prospects/Gleyber to get Olson. Having said that, Olson would be amazing. It's just like you always say - they're the Yankees. If there's players available for just money, go get 'em. Aside from that I'm happy. Maybe spend the SS cash savings by waving huge annual value/short term deals at Verlander, Syndergaard, or Max - as you mentioned. I would probably keep Gary for the extra few million rather than send prospects for Kelly, but that's probably not moving the needle a lot.
RMik
2021-11-11 19:37:03 +0000 UTCMan one injury to Judge and Stanton and that team has very little power.
The Original Drew
2021-11-11 18:32:35 +0000 UTCHe was, but I never put him on waivers. I kept him all offseason.
Michael Axisa
2021-11-11 18:20:42 +0000 UTCGoogle docs says 14,004.
Michael Axisa
2021-11-11 18:19:07 +0000 UTCWasn't Greg Allen claimed on waivers by the Pirates?
roadrider
2021-11-11 18:09:06 +0000 UTCMike, this is fantastic work. Always a fun read. What's the final word count?
Big Davey88
2021-11-11 18:02:22 +0000 UTCAgree with Gray, but I think he is a candidate to get more pricey than he's worth. A lot of teams are looking at him as an upside upgrade.
Big Davey88
2021-11-11 18:01:47 +0000 UTCI loved reading this hypothetical. Always do each year. I do agree that the Carson trade made me a little squeamish, but going through the off-season with Volpe still in your back pocket lessens that impact. I was at least somewhat surprised to not see Jon Gray at least considered as a FA option towards the end.
Chris
2021-11-11 17:48:52 +0000 UTCAny changes on CF strategy now that we know there’s no Allen or Locastro on the bench?
Jeremy W
2021-11-11 16:46:54 +0000 UTCSign me up! One critique. I know strikeout rates is a big issue. But I’d say beating the ball into the ground was a bigger one this past year. Not sure if the in/out addresses that in addition (it might!) but the GIDP madness should at least be alleviated by the additional athleticism we have here. And maybe the thought process is our hitting coaches handle the ground ball tendencies with tweaks to the approach?
Nick G
2021-11-11 16:04:16 +0000 UTCWhat a fun, detailed read. Thank you Mike!
Mark Davis
2021-11-11 16:01:47 +0000 UTCI always appreciate your creativity in this exercise, but the Oakland trade actually feels like something that could work. A fire sale of a team with real talent doesn't happen every year, and the Yankees have the lottery ticket prospects to make it happen. Come on Cash!
Tim Dower
2021-11-11 15:54:26 +0000 UTCMan..... I hate that Kelly trade. I'd 100% rather just sign a Yan Gomes type and hang onto the two prospects. There's a lot of good prospects going out the door in the Olsen deal and I'd rather not send out 2 more for Carson Kelly... Other than that, not bad. I think I probably just keep Gleyber and Ridings, figure out whatever other piece I need to sub in for the Kieboom part of the Olsen deal and make DJ the super utility guy though.
Nick
2021-11-11 15:31:58 +0000 UTCExtremely impressive as always. Thank you! My biggest hope is the Yankees agree with the “less strikeouts more contact” approach. It’s so unpleasant to watch these all or nothing swings by Stanton, Gallo, Gary et al. The excitement and intrigue of the game has been significantly reduced by the three outcome approach.
Jingling Baby
2021-11-11 14:56:49 +0000 UTCMan. I don't know how you do it Mike. Impressive. I sure hope Cash is reading. (BTW I would push Correa's opt out 1 year further if I could get away with it...)
I'm Not The Droids You're Looking For
2021-11-11 13:55:36 +0000 UTCHad to take a break from reading to compliment Olson, Bassitt and Kemp. From your fingers to Cashman's ears, I can't think of a more realistic and impactful package of players for the Yankees to acquire.
Brian Jennings
2021-11-11 13:44:09 +0000 UTC
