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Around the Empire: New York Yankees News - 11/12/2014

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Cervelli better than McCann? Girardi is happy A-Rod's back; Greg Bird's AFL performance has him trending on Twitter; and Dellin speaks with MLB Tonight.

It's About the Money | Scott Moss: There is a chance that McCann may never hit like he did during his Atlanta days. Francisco Cervelli may be a more consistent bat going forward and his glove/framing skills are even better than the Yankee's starter.

ESPN New York | Andrew Marchand:Joe Girardi spoke to the media about keeping in touch the lightning-rod that is A-Rod so far this offseason as well as admitting that he is happy to have Alex back next season.

New York Post | Ken Davidoff: Greg Bird says he doesn't do Twitter. No matter, because his performance in the Arizona Fall League has made him a trending topic.

MLB.com:The analysts at the MLB Network speak with Dellin Betances


Yankees Potential 2015 Free Agent Target: Ervin Santana

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Solid but unspectacular, is Ervin Santana worth a first-round pick?

2014 Statistics: 196 IP, 31 GS, 3.95 ERA, 3.39 FIP, 8.2 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, 2.8 fWAR

2015 Age: 32

Position: Right-handed starting pitcher

During an injury-cursed 2014, it was the starting rotation that suffered the hardest hit; losing four of its five Opening Day members. Even so, the pitching staff performed admirably. Heading into 2015, Masahiro Tanaka and Michael Pineda represent an imposing 1-2 punch if neither miss significant time - admittedly, a big if - but there is little certainty beyond those two. Shane Greene might offer some hope, a healthy Ivan Nova would be something to wish for, and there is always a prayer for a resurgence from CC Sabathia. Start with just these five though and almost certainty the Yankees will have to try to work through a patchwork rotation next summer, leaving the ugly specter of negative regression from the improbable 2014 pitching performance hanging over the season.

If the Yankees are to contend for a postseason spot in 2015, they will need to improve the offense, but they will also need to pitch as effectively as they did last year. Any of the top-of-the-market options, including Max Scherzer, Jon Lester or James Shields would immediately improve the 2015 rotation outlook, though at a steep price. Brandon McCarthy's excellent second half has made him very desirable, but there will be much competition for him, especially since he comes without draft-pick restrictions. If the Yankees cannot, or choose not to, pay one of these four, quality rotation depth becomes scarce.

Ervin Santana might well be the best option after them. The younger Santana saw his performance fluctuate year-on-year, but he has become more consistent with age. He is arguably coming off his best year since his 2008 season (a strong outlier in his peripherals), though this is likely related to his move to the National League with the Braves, after a career spent pitching in the more dangerous American League. Still, Santana's 2014 numbers are not far outside his career norms. He has a track record for staying healthy, starting at least 30 games in seven of his nine non-rookie seasons, having spent time in the minors in both 2007 and 2009. Still only 32, his streak of durability might not be at its end just yet, though with pitchers there can be no certainty.

Santana would come at the cost of a first-round pick, as would Scherzer or Shields, though he doesn't carry quite as much luster as either. His market is expected to be significantly more reasonable though, as FanGraphs crowdsourcing has estimated his price tag to be in the range of three years and $39 million, which certainly seems reasonable. He has turned down a qualifying offer for a second-straight offseason and his experience last winter, culminating with him having to settle for a late one-year deal, might make him more inclined to accept a lesser contract quicker in exchange for long-term security.

Santana is a solid mid-rotation option and not a bad consolation prize if the Yankees don't manage to re-sign McCarthy. The front office does not appear to be interested in the big-three pitching names, all of whom will cost at least close to $100 million. Losing another first-round pick is hardly appealing, but it's certainly not the same as trading away a major league player or even a high-level prospect. Personally, I'd rather have the McCarthys and their twitter accounts return, but there are worse options than signing Ervin Santana. What do you think?

Poll
Should the Yankees pursue Ervin Santana?

  132 votes |Results

PSA Comments of the Day 11/12/14: Get it done, Cash

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The outfield is pretty much done with. The infield? Not so much. Get it done, Cashman. Pitchers and catchers report in 99 days.

Comments of the Day

What a witty response from waw, regarding the notion of getting Jimmy Rollins to play SS for the Yankees.

Michael Brown then thought about what it would be like if the Yankees were paying both Alex Rodriguez and Victor Martinez's salaries.

Andrew's thoughts about the Yankees not only re-signing Chase Headley but having him be the primary third baseman over A-Rod

Raptor22 echoed those very same thoughts.

John Erving offers his thoughts on bullpen prestidigitation.

GIF of the Day

Matt Providence immediately responded to the thought of signing V-Mart with this GIF.

Honorable Mod Mention

I'm not quite sure Joe Panik was what The Demon's Head had in mind. I suppose I'll trust Harlan on the matter though.

Fun Questions
  • If you could travel to another country to watch baseball, where would you go?
  • Favorite supervillain?
Song of the Day

Nasty by Janet Jackson

As always, link us your song of the day!

The Yankees outfield is pretty much set for 2015. The infield is a different matter. At the very least, Brian Cashman offered some reassurance that they are not relying on a 40 year old player to play third base full time. One small step in the right direction.

Cashman, do the thing!

Yankees sign lefty pitcher Jose De Paula to major league deal

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A minor move with the potential for more? Sure, why not?

The Yankees made their first somewhat-notable import of the off-season today, as they signed former Giants minor league pitcher Jose De Paula to a major league deal. The 26-year-old lefty has never pitched in the majors before, so he has options to be sent down if he's ineffective, but he'll make $510,000 if he cracks the Yankees' major league roster at some point. Here's a bit more background information on De Paula that reporter Joel Sherman learned:

A native of the Dominican Republic, De Paula signed with the Padres in 2007 and spent six years in their system, though he missed the entire 2012 campaign due to visa issues. After posting a 3.86 ERA and 2.57 FIP in 14 starts for Double-A San Antonio in 2013, the Giants claimed him off waivers in the off-season, and he spent 2014 with the Giants' Triple-A affiliate in Fresno. There, he split time in 16 games between the rotation and the bullpen, recording a 4.21 ERA, 4.36 FIP, 7.2 K/9, and 2.8 BB/9 in 51 1/3 innings. (Keep in mind that the Pacific Coast League is an extremely hitter-friendly league where the league ERA was 4.64. Gross.)

De Paula became a minor league free agent at the end of the season, so the Yankees picked him up. The stats are up and down, but they only tell part of the story, as Sherman noted. If the Yankees really saw something they liked in De Paula, then there's not much harm in giving him a contract. Even though it's a major league deal, it's not as though it would be difficult for them to cut him if they don't like the results. If they're considering trying him as a lefty starter as well, all power to them since the possible benefits of a decent lefty starter are quite nice.

As far as the bullpen goes, while it's nice to hope that some of the potential-high impact minor league relievers like Jacob Lindgren and Tyler Webb will break out and make the team out of spring training, it doesn't hurt at all to have some insurance in a pitcher like De Paula. If they're good enough, they'll find their spots on the MLB roster eventually anyway.

Yankees rumors: David Robertson looking for 'Papelbon Money'

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On Monday, free agent closer David Robertson declined the Yankees qualifying offer of $15.3 million in order to test the open market. The Yankees are now revving up discussions with him and his agent, but it has been long thought that the team will not retain him at all costs. It is now coming out that D-Rob's camp is looking for 'Papelbon Money,' a total that will quickly take the Yankees out of the running if the rumor is true.

The Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent closer Jonathan Papelbon to a four-year, $50 million contract in 2012. His deal also offers up a $13 million fifth year based on the amount of games he finishes, and the contract has been nothing but a complete disaster for the team. He's pitched fine enough, and Robertson is actually a year younger from when Papelbon signed his deal, but spending $13 million on a reliever is not the smartest baseball decision a general manager can make. It has hampered the Phillies' payroll plans and has made him utterly unmovable now that the team has tanked. Brian Cashman is not about the subject himself to a deal like that.

If you felt the idea of giving Rafael Soriano $11 million a year was too much, Robertson would eclipse that amount as he goes down as the highest paid reliever in the history of the game. As much as I like Robertson and think it's foolish for the Yankees to let him leave in free agency, they would be making a huge mistake if they decided to give him such a deal. In fact, a deal like that should be avoided at all costs, even if it means a weaker bullpen with only Dellin Betances to be relied upon in the back of the bullpen.

The Yankees had an opportunity to discuss an extension with Robertson in spring training, but instead opted to see how well he did as the new closer. The 30-year-old reliever went on record saying that he would have signed an extension then, but now would like to test the market and see what else is out there. Sure, most of this contract talk could just be noise, but if the Yankees end up losing him it will be hard not to blame their reluctance to talk extensions despite their prevalence in the game today. More news will surely come out before anything starts to get serious, but just keep in mind that if this is the type of deal he wants–and he's more than qualified to demand it–Yankees fans should be ready for whatever comes next.

Yankees Potential 2015 Free Agent Target: Jed Lowrie

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Is Jeter's heir at shortstop someone who might be overlooked on the free agent market?

2014 Statistics: 136 G, .249/.321/.355, 29 2B, 6 HR, 93 wRC+, 1.9 fWAR

2015 Age: 31 (born 4/17/1984)

Position: Shortstop

This hasn't been in the news much, but the Yankees need a replacement for Derek Jeter at shortstop. The shortstop free agent market isn't exactly booming with possible candidates, but one player who might fit that role is Athletics shortstop Jed Lowrie. He should be a familiar name to Yankees fans, as he's been a career American Leaguer during his seven-year stint in the majors. Lowrie came up in the Red Sox system before being traded to the Astros in the ill-fated Mark Melancon deal prior to 2012. After breaking out with the Astros by hitting a career-best 16 homers to go with a 110 wRC+ in 97 games, the A's acquired him in five-player swing just a couple months before Opening Day 2013 in a trade headlined by slugger Chris Carter.

Over the past couple years, Lowrie has capably held down the shortstop position in Oakland for a very good team that won the 2013 AL West title and had the best record in baseball for the majority of the 2014 season before their amusing collapse. Lowrie had a terrific season in 2013, when he hit .290/.344/.446 with 45 doubles, 15 homers, a 120 wRC+, and a career-best 3.5 fWAR in 154 games. Throughout his time in Boston and Houston, there had been questions about Lowrie's durability, as he missed a ton of time due to various ailments, never exceeding 100 games in a season until 2013. Although one could hardly call him Cal Ripken Jr., Lowrie at least has now demonstrated the ability to stay healthy, and a 136-game campaign in 2014 was encouraging as well.

On the other hand, 2014 was a bit of a step back for Lowrie, as he regressed with the bat somewhat, though a 93 wRC+ is still fine for a shortstop. His slugging went down and he didn't hit nearly as many doubles or homers as he did in 2013, which for all we know, could have been a career year. Steamer projects a 2015 season closer to his 2013 at .261/.327/.396 with 30 doubles, 11 homers, and a 104 wRC+, but his power drop in 2014 has to at least be a little concerning. Nonetheless, Lowrie still has a solid reputation at the plate, and the fact that he's a switch-hitter only makes him more enticing.

Lowrie's abilities on defense are even more unclear. The advanced metrics disagreed on him in 2014, when UZR thought he was okay (0.9 UZR/150) but DRS (-10.0) and FRAA (-7.8) were notably less impressed. Among A's fans, a common refrain was "good defense except for the range," which as Jason Wojciechowski noted, is a pretty silly thought. So much of the shortstop's job relies on range, so it seemed like it would be necessary for a shortstop to be considered good on defense. Add in the fact that over the three-year sample from 2012-14, when UZR is best used, it rates him a -1.4 UZR defender, and one can't really be that enthusiastic about his defense.

MLB Trade Rumors projects a three-year, $30 million contract for Lowrie. He wouldn't cost a draft pick, as the A's unsurprisingly did not give him a qualifying offer. I wouldn't be entirely opposed to Lowrie on that contract, but the Yankees are reportedly not high on him. Lowrie doesn't exactly blow me away with his abilities, so if they decide to pass on him, I'll certainly understand.

What if the Yankees barely do anything?

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Taking a look at the less exciting side of the Hot Stove.

As a fan, I tend not to get too wrapped in the negativity of new acquisitions. Like anyone, I obviously have players I'd like the Yankees to acquire and ones I think they should stay away from, but even those opinions don't last that long. Bringing new players into the fold is inherently exciting, and even a deal I was afraid of the get-go (hello Carlos Beltran!) usually gets overwhelmed by the potential for positives and fun memories in the upcoming season.

Doing anything in an attempt to improve the team is more interesting to me than just standing pat. I know there is subset of Yankees fans who, for various reasons, would rather the Yankees not do much of anything this offseason in an attempt to "rebuild." I would find that particularly boring, but after the dead offseason following 2012, it's always a possibility.

The Yankees have been reticent to trade their prospects and thus far seem to not be terribly interested in the "big ticket" free agents, so if some of the mid-tier players get away, maybe the Yankees don't do much. I believe that, at worst, they'll sign or trade for a few stopgaps, but what will this team look like if they do essentially nothing?

The starting pitching is probably where the team standing pat would be the least detrimental. It's long been the last resort of a middling, veteran-filled team to hope that players bounce back from injury to act as a new acquisition and improve the roster. The Yankees wouldn't have too much difficulty fielding a staff, as Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda, CC Sabathia, Shane Greene and David Phelps should all be ready to go by spring training, with Ivan Nova waiting in the wings. That's a lot of injury questions, but the Yankees wouldn't be the first team to roll the dice in such a fashion. It's actually a rotation with a lot of upside, though, and that's even after putting Sabathia's expectations at "competent".

The bullpen would probably regress to being a solid, but unspectacular group without David Robertson or a quality reliever replacing him. Their aggressiveness in promoting Jacob Lindgren would be key to the potential of the relief corps, but Shawn Kelley is likely to see a positive regression in his ERA (his peripherals were outstanding). The team might not continue beating its' Pythagorean Record without a fireman like Dellin Betances helping them walk a tightrope with its leads, but he would surely make a fine closer.

The infield would look pretty damn crummy. There's really no internal options to back up Mark Teixeira, shortstop would be occupied by human-out Brendan Ryan and either second or third would have to be manned by Martin Prado. The bold act would be to give Robert Refsnyder the starting job at second base if they didn't add any new quality infielders, but even then I suspect they wouldn't go that route.  The interesting question would be: if the Yankees struck out on all of the worthwhile third baseman, would they just start Alex Rodriguez until he broke? Brian Cashman noted that any acquired third baseman would get the starting nod, but if they whiff in free agency, all bets could be off. It could get ugly, but hell Ryan Howard still has a starting job, so never doubt a team's willingness to start a statue making a ton of money.

The outfield would be the dynamic duo of Brett Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury and probably Carlos Beltran for a couple of games. I think we would be seeing a lot of Chris Young if the Yankees go into 2015 expecting Beltran to make it as a regular in right field, but I'm sure they'll at least try it. Maybe Jose Pirela would get a crack at it here in our hypothetical scenario, but I'd err on the side of the veteran until this team really tanks.

I think it goes without saying, but my "Unchanged Yankees" aren't a very good team. The pitching staff has a high ceiling, but short of A-Rod being an immortal and some Refsnyder magic, that lineup stinks. 75 wins could be a real possibility there. I don't think the Yankees are going to let this be the team that they go into 2015 with, but there is the chance the Yankees lose out on a lot of their desired free agent/trade targets. Will the Yankees get desperate and overpay some of the marquee guys? Will they relent after a few years of restraint and clean out the farm?

Who knows what the Yankees would do with their backs against the wall. Hopefully we don't reach that crossroads and they can fill the roster holes without losing their minds.

Help us choose the Yankees' best pitching appearance of 2014

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Which pitcher's pitching performance will you pick?

The last Yankee-centric category in our GIF tournament goes to the pitchers. Which Yankee had the most memorable appearance of the season on the mound? It's no surprise that four highly impressive starts make the list, followed by one of the best outings (in terms of outcome) by a standout reliever. Help us pick a winner from the five GIFs below.

Dellin deals against the Mets

Dealin Dellin

Two innings. Six strikeouts. Dellin Betances had a magnificent season for the Yankees, and this performance in the Subway Series was just a microcosm of that. He was filthy and the Mets had absolutely no answer for him.

Tanaka four-hits the Mets

Tanaka shutout

Brilliant performances were the standard for Masahiro Tanaka in 2014. He went the distance three times over the course of the season, including this gem against the Mets at Citi Field. Tanaka struck out eight batters on his way to a complete game shutout.

McCarthy silences the Astros

McCarthy shutout

Brandon McCarthy made a huge impression in New York after being acquired for Vidal Nuno before the trade deadline. His best performance in pinstripes came on August 21st in front of the home crowd in the Bronx. McCarthy held the Astros to four hits, struck out eight, and walked none.

Pineda one-hits the division champs over 7.1 innings

Pineda O's

The Yankees were out of the race for the postseason by the time the Orioles came to town on September 22nd, but Michael Pineda's performance was much more important than the scope of one meaningless game. He looked every bit like the stud pitcher the Yankees thought they were getting when they traded for him a couple seasons back, before injuries kept him from actually displaying all his talent. Striking out eight and one-hitting the division champions over 7.1 innings should give everyone plenty of hope for the future.

Easy being Greene

Shane Greene stepped into the Yankees' rotation out of necessity, but this performance against the Tigers showed that he was very deserving of the spot. The Tigers brought all their aces to town, and it was the rookie who ended up stealing the show with a five-hit day over eight shutout innings. Greene made it all look pretty easy.

Which do you think was the best pitching performance of the season? Vote in the poll below!

Poll
What was the Yankees' best pitching performance of 2014?

  64 votes |Results


Robertson seeks "Papelbon money"

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Free agent closer David Robertson will be looking for a contract similar to Jonathan Papelbon's this offseason.

Top free-agent closer David Robertson is looking for "Papelbon money" in his next contract, according to Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork.com.

The "Papelbon money," refers to Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon's 4-year, $50 million deal he signed in 2011. It was the largest contract ever given to a relief pitcher, and Robertson is hoping to land something similar. If Robertson had accepted the Yankees' $15.3 qualifying offer, his 2015 salary would be the largest annual salary of any relief pitcher in MLB history. Mariano Rivera, Robertson's predecessor in New York, made $15 million on four different occasions late in his career.

As for Papelbon, his annual salary with the Phillies maxes out at $13 million a year. The attachment of the qualifying offer to Robertson is something that Papelbon did not have to deal with in 2011, and teams may not pay as much due to the fact that Robertson will cost them a first round draft pick in 2015.

Robertson just wrapped up his first season as the Yankees' closer. After serving as a setup man for Rivera for six years, Robertson replaced Rivera in 2014. For the 2014 season, Robertson posted a 3.08 ERA, along with 39 saves and a 13.43 K/9 rate. Since the 2011 season, Robertson has been one of the game's most dominant relief pitchers, finishing in the top 5 in the majors in ERA and K/9 over the last four seasons.

David Robertson seeking Jonathan Papelbon-type deal

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The Yankees likely won't match that sort of offer if Robertson receives one from another team.

Free-agent closer David Robertson wants a contract similar to what Jonathan Papelbon received from the Phillies in 2011, according to ESPN New York's Andrew Marchand.

Papelbon is entering the final season of a four-year, $50 million contract, the largest ever given to a relief pitcher. Robertson's former team, the Yankees, aren't likely to match such an offer if the 29-year-old right-hander receives one, per Marchand.

Robertson posted a 3.08 ERA with 39 saves for the Yankees in 2014. He struck out 96 batters and walked 23 in 64⅓ innings, a performance that impressed New York general manager Brian Cashman.

"He is helluva pitcher that did it in the toughest environment after the greatest player of all-time and he did it with ease," Cashman told Marchand, referring to Robertson's unique circumstance of having to fill Mariano Rivera's shoes as the Yankees' closer. "I would suspect that would command top dollar."

Robertson declined a $15.3 million qualifying offer -- one that would have made him the highest-paid reliever in a single season in baseball history -- from the Yankees earlier this week.

Yankees trade catcher Francisco Cervelli to the Pirates for Justin Wilson

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A lightning bolt on a calm November night. So long, Cisco.

So this is unexpected, though I guess not especially so. The Yankees have had five catchers on their 40-man roster for quite some time, and that's kind of strange. Well the logjam is no more. Francisco Cervelli has been traded to the Pirates, who are apparently all about acquiring the 2012 Yankees' catchers.

Justin Wilson? What is a Justin Wilson? Wilson is a 27-year-old lefty reliever who has been in the major leagues for three years, pitching to a 2.99 ERA and 3.45 FIP. Here's a back-and-forth on Wilson between two people who have covered him before:

Interesting, to say the least. Wilson was tremendous for the Buccos during their surprising run to the playoffs in 2013, recording a 2.08 ERA and 3.41 FIP while holding opposing hitters to a .192/.277/.265 triple slash. 2014 was a bit of a step back for him though, as he struggled with control (4.5 BB/9) and finished with a 4.20 ERA and 3.62 FIP. (The FIP was around league average, but the ERA was 18% worse.) Still, in his career, lefties have only hit .234/.297/.320 against him, so there's potential at least.

It's weird to be saying goodbye to one of the previously longest-tenured Yankees in Cervelli, but I guess the return for a backup catcher who has never really been able to stay healthy for too long was never going to be that impressive. Guess John Ryan Murphy is the backup catcher now! That's fine since I can't imagine there's a huge difference between Murphy & Cervelli's abilities. I wonder if this means the Pirates might be less-than-optimistic on their chances at retaining former Yankee Russell Martin. They also have Chris Stewart on their roster. Odd fellows, those Pirates. Regardless, good luck in the NL, Cisco. I'll miss your fist pumps more than Joba's.

Yankees trade Francisco Cervelli to Pirates for Justin Wilson

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Pittsburgh will send Justin Wilson to New York in return.

The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired catcher Francisco Cervelli from the New York Yankees on Wednesday, according to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman. The Yankees will receive reliever Justin Wilson in exchange for the 28-year-old backstop.

Cervelli hit .301/.370/.432 in 162 plate appearances for the Yankees in 2014. He dealt with hamstring injury and migraine issues that limited him to only 49 games but his 127 OPS+ was easily his best in any season with more than 100 plate appearances.

Wilson posted a 4.20 ERA with 61 strikeouts and 30 walks in 60 innings of work for the Pirates. The 27-year-old right-hander was one of the better rookie relievers in the league in 2013, finishing with a 2.08 ERA in 73⅔ innings that season.

Cervelli could serve as an insurance plan for Pittsburgh in the event it isn't able to re-sign free agent catcher Russell Martin. Chris Stewart, who was also acquired from the Yankees in a trade, is the only catcher on the Pirates' current 40-man roster with significant big league experience.

Yankees trade Francisco Cervelli: Good news for John Ryan Murphy & the 40-man roster

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Cervelli was nice to have around, but someone had to go.

The Yankees traded backup catcher Francisco Cervelli to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for left-handed reliever Justin Wilson. Cervelli was a nice backup option during his time with the Yankees, but freak injuries and a large number of concussions made him slightly less than reliable when it came to needing someone that could stay healthy. The return for that is a lefty that struggled in 2014 after a more solid season the year before, which sounds about right to me at first glance. Cervelli's endearing qualities will probably make this an unpopular move, but it was probably one that needed to be done.

With five catchers on the 40-man roster in 2014, the Yankees needed to shed some weight at the position to free up space. Austin Romine is virtually non-existent at this point and Gary Sanchez is going to need to get out of Double-A eventually. With Brian McCann serving as the team's starter, that leaves John Ryan Murphy as the backup if the team doesn't decide to try and get some value from another team out of him. There are worse things in life than having Romine be the backup catcher, but it would be hard to deny that Murphy is the better option. It's possible that his talents would be wasted by slumming it on the bench for the bulk of the season, but that's a worry for a different day. Someone had to go. Another catcher probably needs to go, and I doubt anyone would cry over the team parting ways with Romine. Maybe Murphy is traded this offseason for something useful, like a shortstop. There are just too many catchers. Cervelli had proven himself at the big league level and the Pirates wanted insurance in case Russell Martin departs in free agency.

Although the return of Justin Wilson isn't overly exciting, it's nice to see that (at least as of right now) Murphy will be given a shot as the regular backup in 2015. He certainly has more upside than Cervelli, and he doesn't come with all of the durability concerns. If McCann is forced to play first base for the often injured Mark Teixeira for any length of time, I'm pretty comfortable with Murphy getting starting reps behind the plate.

Four catchers is still a lot, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them further reduce that number before the team heads north out of spring training. It is bittersweet to see Cervelli go after it was so easy to fall in love with the way that he loved playing baseball. There is no doubt that we will miss him. Maybe Wilson ends up turning into another solid reliever in the bullpen, or maybe he doesn't, but trimming off the fat was a move that needed to be made. Hopefully Cervelli can make it as the Pirates starting catcher and remain healthy in a way he never seemed able to do with the Yankees. Those Pirates certainly like acquiring former Yankee catchers and then somehow making all of us frustrated at how not-terrible they end up being once they are gone. That's getting kind of annoying. Today is a pretty good day to be John Ryan Murphy, but it's also a pretty decent day to be Francisco Cervelli. It's a trade that I can't feel bad about, and I guess that's probably the best you can say for trading a backup catcher for a lefty reliever.

Around the Empire: New York Yankees News - 11/13/2014

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Cashman and Girardi are on the same page about A-Rod; Yankees not in contact with Pablo Sandoval, not interested in Elvis Andrus' contract

ESPN New York | Andrew Marchand: Brian Cashman says that he is on the same page with Joe Girardi regarding Alex Rodriguez's role on the team.

The Wall Street Journal | Daniel Barbarisi: Is the offseason plan to just reassemble the majority of the 2014 team and expect the season to go differently?

NJ.com | Brendan Kuty: The Yankees have not been in contact with Pablo Sandoval.

NY Daily News | Mark Feinsand: It's very unlikely that Elvis Andrus joins the team as the Yankees don't want to take on his massive contract.

LoHud Yankees Blog | Chad Jennings: The Yankees shut out of Cy Young voting, but former Yankee Phil Hughes finished seventh.

Derek Jeter book review and giveaway: Win a copy with MVP predictions!

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Want to win a book about Derek Jeter? Enter to win!

It has now been about a month and a half since the last game of Derek Jeter's 20-year career with the Yankees. The tributes flowed in throughout the season, and of course, they have continued into his retirement. This item is a pretty cool tribute though--beat writer Tyler Kepner and his colleagues at the New York Times took a collection of articles and short pieces about Jeter that ran throughout his professional career and put it into a book, Derek Jeter: Excellence and Elegance.

The publisher, Triumph Books, was kind enough to send me a few copies of the book for Pinstripe Alley to check out and give away. Even though it's a collection of articles, they flow together quite nicely, chronicling the quick ascent of Jeter's career dating back to an article by Jack Curry in August of 1994, the year Jeter was named Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year. There are some fascinating anecdotes learned from the 128 pages of news articles, information that might have been forgotten at points over the course of the past couple decades.

For instance, for as wonderful a life that Jeter has lived, he's certainly gone through his tribulations at points as well. On New Year's Day of 1999, he lost his hard-working grandfather Sonny Connors to a sudden heart attack, and two seasons later, he revealed that during the previous several months, his close sister Sharlee had been going through chemotherapy treatment for Hodgkin's disease. She was just 21 at the time, and he did not tell anyone about it until it was "a success story," in his words. Sometimes, it's easy to think of Jeter as this robot who only spouts cliches to the press, and while such strategies did help him remarkably stay out of trouble in the tabloid-hungry New York media, the idea does overlook Jeter's human side. In Jeter's last games, fans finally saw Jeter let his guard somewhat, and it was refreshing.

This book delves into Jeter's development from Rookie of the Year to future Hall of Famer, and reading the numerous articles takes fans back to the time they were originally published. I remember where I was when Jeter made the Flip Play in 2001, and I certainly remember reading the praise about it. Even then, writers were saying that it was one of the most unbelievable plays they had ever seen; the sources at the time back the memories up. I remember where I was when Jeter was announced as the captain in 2003. It's amusing looking back on the timing of the announcement, since the Yankees were on the road in Cincinnati and though historic, it seemed like a subtle Steinbrenner attempt to undermine Joe Torre. These are just a few examples of the several stories told in this book. In addition to all the articles are a plethora of memorable images of Jeter from the New York Times' archives, as well. This book would certainly fit well in any collection of books about the Yankees.

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So how can you win one of these books? Here's where we'll tie into today's big MLB news (no, not the Francisco Cervelli trade). The AL and NL MVP awards will be announced this evening sometime shortly after 6:00. To enter the contest, make the following predictions:

1) Predict the order of results for the Top 3 MVP candidates in each league. Michael Brantley, Mike Trout, and Victor Martinez are the finalists in the AL, and Andrew McCutchen, Giancarlo Stanton, and Clayton Kershaw are the NL finalists.

2) Will any Yankees receive any Top 10 AL MVP votes? (Yes/No) If yes, who receives the most?

3) Which AL shortstop receives the most Top 10 AL MVP votes?

Tiebreaker: How many total AL players will receive at least one Top 10 MVP vote?

Get your votes in and good luck!

Update

Here are the results:

The AL MVP finish was 1) Trout, 2) Martinez, 3) Brantley

The NL MVP finish was 1) Kershaw, 2) Stanton, 3) McCutchen

No Yankees received AL MVP votes, no shortstops received AL MVP votes, and 20 different AL Players received MVP votes.

Congrats to BroncoLover on winning this contest for the book!


PSA Comments of the Day 11/13/14: Best of luck, Francisco Cervelli

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Last night, the Yankees traded Francisco Cervelli to the Pirates for Justin Wilson. The Hot Stove is heating up. Pitchers and catchers report in 98 days.

There are a lot of awards below, so you might want to go and get a sandwich. We'll wait... Okay, let's go!

Comments of the Day

David Robertson apparently wants "Papelbon" money. Well, we all want things. He might get it though.

Yesterday, a new member joined our merry little group. Welcome aboard, kfeath21. We hope you enjoy your stay here.

Blanky's favorite villain, which is the villain she described as her favorite, is none other than MOJO JOJO!

As the story broke, I think Harlan echoed the thoughts of a lot of Yankee fans. At the very least, a lot of naive, possibly drunk Yankee fans.

Seriously, that better not be a nickname for Gary Sanchez.

Waffles hits the nail right on the head here.

Like Shaun said, we may now see John Ryan Murphy play a more prominent role as the backup catcher behind Brian McCann.

Turns out, he was right about the guy fuming.

Justin Wilson is attempting to woo us with excellent tweetage. Flattery will get you everywhere!

GIF of the Day

We have a few GOTD award to give out today!

I think Andrew is pretty spot on with this GIF. Minus Brian Roberts, of course.

El Cruz believe our Oil Tycoon has struck paydirt. He might be right.

It's time to welcome Justin Wilson into the fold the only way PSA knows how; GIFs and punning up a storm!

So long, Cervi! Thanks for all the good times and the fist pumps!

Honorable Mod Mention

I think, deep down, Waffles knew it was going to be that kind of day today!

Fun Questions
  • Favorite Francisco Cervelli moment?
  • What song do you really enjoy listening to while driving//travelling/taking public transportation
Song of the Day

La Grange by ZZ Top

As always, link us your song of the day!

The Hot Stove is heating up. Francisco Cervelli is Pittsburgh bound and Justin Wilson is on his way. Baseball is still being played in Japan. Football is on tonight. Exciting times, right? Right?

Thou Shall Not Steal

Yankees have inquired about Howie Kendrick of the Angels

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The Yankees have a lot of holes in the early goings of the offseason, especially in the infield. They need a shortstop, third baseman, and second baseman before the season starts, but the team is already reaching out wherever they can to put together a team. According to Jon Heyman, the Yankees have inquired on second baseman Howie Kendrick of the Los Angeles Angels, someone they have long had their eyes on.

Kendrick is a known Yankee killer, having hit .342/.404/.480 against them in his career, and though he's not as much of a god-like hitter against the rest of the league, he'd still be a monumental improvement over the likes of Brian Roberts. At the age of 31, Kendrick is owed $9.5 million for the 2015 season, making him an affordable get for one season. The catch is that the Angels are currently looking for starting pitching, something the Yankees don't exactly have an abundance of at the moment, but they also have names like David Freese and Gordon Beckham who could be had for lesser returns.

The Blue Jays have also checked in on Kendrick and seem to be a team with a greater need for a second baseman, since the Yankees have both Martin Prado and Rob Refsnyder who could play the position. While Kendrick could help the offense overall, they should be focusing on positions like shortstop and third base where they don't have any in-house starting options. Depending on what happens this season, the Yankees could always chase Kendrick in free agency next year.

Marlins yet to express interest in Pablo Sandoval

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Miami was rumored to be interested in the third baseman, but MLB Daily Dish's Chris Cotillo notes the club has yet to reach out to Sandoval.

Miami is looking for improved offense at first base, and several major league executives have suggested the Marlins pursue a third baseman and switch Casey McGehee to first. Peter Gammons linked Pablo Sandoval to the Marlins in September, however MLB Daily Dish's Chris Cotillo reported on Wednesday the club has yet to express interest in Sandoval.

Although they are looking to upgrade several positions this offseason, deals may not get done until the organization's talks with Giancarlo Stanton are complete.

Sandoval posted a .279/.324/.415 batting line to complement 16 home runs and 73 RBIs. Considering the Marlins are looking for an offensive upgrade, their interest in Sandoval is not surprising. However, Sandoval could be an expensive option, and since the Marlins are looking to sign Stanton to a long term deal, the club may not be in a position to add Sandoval to the payroll.

Despite the fact that he is under team control for another season, the Marlins are reportedly disappointed in the offense of Garrett Jones and are searching for available first base options. Jones is owed $5 million next season, but the Marlins don't seem to have an issue moving on if they feel it will improve the club in the immediate future.

In terms of defensive capabilities, Sandoval is best suited for third base. He also posted a 3.0 WAR to compare with McGehee's 2.4 WAR in 2014, and McGehee's slower second half has given the Marlins reason to question his production hitting behind Giancarlo Stanton.

McGehee is arbitration eligible, and though talks have settled down, the Marlins were reportedly interested in extending him this past summer.

Miami may have a hard time competing with other teams for Sandoval considering the contract he will likely require. But the fact that the Marlins have not expressed interest just proves they are first attempting to get Stanton locked up.

Yankees Potential 2015 Free Agent Target: Brandon Morrow

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Should the Yankees sign the oft-injured right-hander?

2014 Statistics: 33.1 IP, 8.10 K/9, 4.86 BB/9, 0.54 HR/9, 5.67 ERA, 3.73 FIP, 1.65 WHIP, 0.4 fWAR

2015 Age: Will be 31 on 7/26

Position: Right-handed reliever/starting pitcher

After experiencing several seasons shortened by injuries, the Blue Jays decided not to pick up Brandon Morrow's $10 million option for 2015, thus making him a free agent. He only pitched for one month of the 2014 season before he ended up on the 60-day DL with a torn tendon sheath in his right hand. Prior to the injury he made six starts in the rotation with a 1.72 WHIP, 5.93 ERA, 8.56 K/9, and 5.60 BB/9 (amounting to walking 17 batters in 27.1 innings). Morrow remained on the DL until September, and when he was finally activated, he was sent to the bullpen where he only pitched six innings. Morrow did have some good seasons with the Blue Jays as a starter, particularly 2010 and 2011 when his K/9 was over 10. His career numbers show that he has the potential to pitch better than he has lately, but there's no telling if he can stay healthy enough to do so.

Though the Yankees could probably sign him to a cheap contract, his injury history raises a red flag. He landed on the DL for four consecutive seasons with the Blue Jays, and he missed significant time over the last three seasons. Aside from this year's injury, he missed four months in 2013 with an entrapped radial nerve in his right forearm. He missed over two months in 2012 with an oblique strain. And as previously mentioned, when he finally rejoined the team in 2014, it was as a reliever. Evidently, the Blue Jays thought that moving Morrow from the rotation to the bullpen could cut down on his injuries. He originally pitched as a reliever for the Mariners before they traded him to the Blue Jays, so signing him would increase a team's flexibility. Even though his injuries haven't necessarily been chronic (he did also miss a month in 2011 with right forearm inflammation), it seems like he can be counted on to miss several months every year at this point.

The Yankees could really use a break from pitching injuries, especially after last season. If the Yankees are unable to sign Brandon McCarthy or even Chris Capuano, then it could be worth it to look into Morrow as somewhat of a last resort. With some question marks surrounding CC Sabathia's knees and Masahiro Tanaka's elbow, and with Ivan Nova likely to miss the first several weeks of the season, it might be beneficial to have someone like Morrow available from the pen who could fill in anywhere. At the very least, he should be inexpensive and he might be able to stay healthy long enough to be helpful.

Would you pass or sign Brandon Morrow?

2014 SB Nation MLB Awards: Pitching performance of the year

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Yes!

On Monday, I announced the commencement of the inaugural SB Nation MLB Awards. Since then, we have been voting to select a champion for Funniest MomentMost Regrettable MomentDefensive Play of the Year, and Most Important Hit. If you have not voted yet, please take the time to do so! Every vote counts!

This afternoon we turn our attention to the pitchers and the best single game performances this season. Check out the nominees:


1. Adam Wainwright tosses a one-hit shutout against the Diamondbacks


2. Lance Lynn blanks the Yankees in his first career shutout


3. Nick Greenwood and the Cardinal bullpen combine for a shutout



4. Facing elimination, Adam Wainwright guts out seven innings


5.  Daniel Descalso induces a fly out in his first career pitching appearance

Cast your vote below!
Poll
Which was the pitching performance of the year?

  209 votes |Results

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