CC is getting the most press, but he's not the only one who has put in the maximum effort during the offseason.
CC Sabathia has undergone quite the transformation during his offseason. Whether his efforts will bear fruit or not remains to be seen, but it's always admirable when a player shows a commitment to both bettering himself and trying to rebound from a difficult season. As we near Spring Training news has been trickling out that a lot of other Yankees had adopted difficult (and surprising) training methodologies in an effort to turn in phenomenal 2014 campaigns. Here's what some of CC's teammates have done to improve their play for 2014.
Concerned that he might not have the makeup to become a "true closer", David Robertson has been siphoning blood from the great Mariano Rivera and infusing himself with what he calls "Sandman Serum". He expects opposing hitters to grip their pillows 50% tighter this season.
Believing that still had room to become even more clutch, Carlos Beltran spent his entire offseason in a submarine so he would become more used to overwhelming pressure.
Jacoby Ellsbury has had a tracking chip implanted in his head so other playes can avoid bowling him over with a quick glance at their GPS. He will also be wearing a reflector vest for night games.
Mark Teixeira has been putting twice as much kale in his power-smoothies as normal. They are now completely kale.
Just so he could get his first inevitable injury out the way before the regular season, Brian Roberts intentionally slammed his pinky finger in a car door seven times. He hopes the evil injury spirit that has been following him for years will be appeased
Because of his crippling ankle injury, Derek Jeter has been unable to perform his patented jump-throw out in the field. So as to not disappoint the fans, he has adopted a spinning, between the legs toss. It is still more accurate than Eduardo Nunez's throws.
Determined to improve his paltry average, Brendan Ryan has been practicing hitting with his yes open
Alfonso Soriano was apparently frustrated with how many times he walked during the 2013 season. In order to remedy this, he was using a ten foot long bat while training in the offseason. He hopes to get his BB% down under .001.
Alex Rodriguez has spent his down time perfecting the persona "Al Rodrigo" in an effort to sneak his way back onto the field. He's got a fake passport and mustache, so the plan is bound to work.
Sure, it all seems kind of strange. But these are professionals that are clearly committed to being the best they can be at their chosen profession. They'll stop at nothing, no matter how seemingly odd, to make sure that the next season with the Yankees is a wonderful one.
It's almost like the Yankees and Red Sox don't get along well together.
It is not news that the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox don't like each other. Their rivalry reaches back for generations, ever since the Yanks outbid the Sox for the services of Tyrannosaurus Rex on a long-term deal in 10,000,000 B.C.
The two teams' presidents, Randy Levine and Larry Lucchino, have often made their animosity public over the last several years. Lucchino's most famous quote came in 2002, when, upon the Yankees' signing of Cuban defector Jose Contreras, he stated that, "The evil empire extends its tentacles even into Latin America." Levine struck back during the ALCS in 2003, accusing Fenway Park of an "atmosphere of lawlessness" after an on-field brawl between the teams and a skirmish between the Yankees' bullpen and a groundskeeper. The jabs have continued over the years, with the most recent coming in September when Lucchino joked that if a brawl broke out between the two teams, he'd be "going after" Levine.
The rivalry added another chapter on Friday. In regards to comparing the two franchises, Lucchino had this to say, via Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News:
"We're very different animals. I'm proud of that difference," Lucchino said when asked to contrast the styles of the two clubs. "I always cringe when people lump us together. Other baseball teams sometimes do that. They are still, this year at least, relying heavily on their inimitable old-fashioned Yankees style of high-priced, long-term free agents. I can't say I wish them well, but I think we've taken a different approach."
"If you compare what we did last year in the offseason to what they've done this year, there's quite a contrast there," Lucchino said. "I'll quickly say we do keep open the prospect of signing a long-term deal with a free agent, paying a sizable amount of money to attract a star in his prime. We haven't ruled that out. There's just a rebuttable presumption against doing that. But you can rebut it. The circumstances can allow for you to go ahead and do it. The Yankees do it more often it seems to me as a matter of course."
This statement actually seems relatively benign, considering the history between these two men. Lucchino is passively critical of the Yankees' strategy of throwing gobs of money at star free agents, but he resists the urge to rub his recent World Series victory in their faces as proof that his strategy is superior in the sport's current climate. He merely points out that Boston is not as willing to give out long-term mega-deals, which makes sense after the nine-figure contracts for Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford didn't work out as planned. The biggest deal that they've given out since the debacle that was their 2012 season is the three-year pact signed by Shane Victorino. Meanwhile, New York handed out $438 million in contracts this winter to marquee free agents Masahiro Tanaka (seven years), Jacoby Ellsbury (seven years), Brian McCann (five years) and Carlos Beltran (three years).
Levine's response:
"I feel bad for Larry; he constantly sees ghosts and is spooked by the Yankees," Levine told the Daily News. "But I can understand why, because under his and Bobby Valentine's plan two years ago, the Red Sox were in last place. Ben Cherington and the Red Sox did a great job last year winning the World Series, but I'm confident Cash and Joe and our players will compete with a great Red Sox team to win a world championship this year."
Now there's the vitriol we've grown accustomed to! Levine does credit the Red Sox (and general manager Ben Cherington, but not Lucchino) for their 2013 championship, but in the same breath he dredges up the poor memories of 2011 and 2012 while suggesting that Lucchino is still spooked by the aura of the Bronx Bombers.
Would these two guys please agree to a celebrity boxing match already? For all of us, fellas.
Baseball America released their list of the top 100 prospects the other day. For the Yankees, Masahiro Tanaka ranked fourth and Gary Sanchez ranked 35th overall. None of their other so-called top prospects reached the top 100 in baseball, but BA has released their position-by-position prospect rankings and now a lot more Yankees show up.
Catching: Gary Sanchez (2), J.R. Murphy (12) Overall Positional Rating: B+ Comments: We already knew that Sanchez would be up there, but seeing Murphy here is a nice surprise. I've been wondering how the rest of the baseball world would value him, so if he ranks this high, either because of his ceiling or MLB-ready talent, it looks like the Yankees could get something for him if they made a trade.
First Base: Greg Bird (11) Overall Positional Rating: D+ Comments: They ranked Bird lower than I had hoped, considering the sorry state of the first base landscape. If you don't want to count Jose Abreu, the current No. 1, he moves up a slot. BA is probably looking for a repeat performance before he's given a top 10 nod.
Second Base: Gosuke Katoh (21) Overall Positional Rating: B Comments: Even after just one half season of pro ball, Katoh's defense and surprising offense allowed him to be considered one of the best second base prospects in baseball. He clearly shows more promise than Angelo Gumbs or Rob Refsnyder, but I want to see what he can do in a full season.
Third Base: Eric Jagielo (14) Overall Positional Rating: B Comments: The 2013 draft proved to be a real winner for the Yankees, seeing as how several of their draft picks already rank among the best in the league. For reference, he ranks nearly 10 spots ahead of Mike Olt, who has recently lost a lot of value.
Right-Handed Pitcher: Masahiro Tanaka (1) Overall Positional Rating: A Comments: Maybe you don't count Tanaka, but he's right at the top of a very strong class of right-handed starters. He's obviously the best of the litter, but considering his age, he might not have the ceiling an Archie Bradley or Taijuan Walker has. I thought we'd also see Jose Ramirez or Rafael De Paula on here, but alas.
Left-Handed Pitcher: Ian Clarkin (22) Overall Positional Rating: C Comments: The high school lefty is already considered to be one of the best, even though he only accumulated a handful of professional innings this season. I'm somewhat surprised over the absence of Manny Banuelos, who should return to action this year after missing so much time from Tommy John surgery.
Corner Outfield: Aaron Judge (19) Overall Positional Rating: C Comments: The Yankees drafted a monster, and Baseball America must believe in his power potential. Ranking him in the top 20 is pretty high for someone who hasn't played pro ball, but we'll see how it goes for him this year. The absence of Tyler Austin is a bit startling and pretty concerning.
Center Field: Slade Heathcott (15), Mason Williams (19) Overall Positional Rating: B+ Comments: I would rank Slade over Mason, if it wasn't for all the injuries. He might never be able to play regularly, so if Mason Williams is below that, it's not looking too good for his career. Heathcott is still not participating in spring training after undergoing offseason knee surgery.
As you might have noticed, the Yankees didn't have any prospects place among the top shortstops in the league, which isn't unexpected. This is pretty bad with Derek Jeter retiring.
The Yankees just seem to have bad luck with wrists these days. Mark Teixeira missed essentially all of last year with a torn tendon sheath and is being held out of the first week of spring training games as a precautionary measures. Now prospect Tyler Austin's wrist is acting up, just as it did in 2013.
Tyler Austin's right wrist is bothering him again. Held out of batting practice today. #yankees
The outfielder spent time on the Double-A Trenton disabled list in 2013 with a sore wrist from a bone bruise and left the Arizona Fall League early since his wrist was "not 100%." As a result, the Yankees' 2012 Minor League Player of the Year declined to a .257/.344/.373 triple slash with a 103 wRC+ in 83 games with the Thunder. The injury made an obvious impact on his slugging percentage since power often comes from quick wrists. Joe Girardi said that Austin would be re-evaluated in a few days. If this discomfort is a sign of things to come for Austin, that does not bode well for Austin's 2014 season. Hopefully it's just a minor issue.
Austin's teammate in Trenton, lefty starter Nik Turley also did not work out today since he was suffering from tightness in his arm. On the bright side, Jennings reported that Girardi did not appear to be too concerned by Turley's ailment, so it seems to just be a problem for today. Reliever Jim Miller and outfielder Alfonso Soriano did not participate in workouts today either due to a tight calf and the flu, respectively. Austin's injury was the most worrisome out of the bunch. Given the 22-year-old's recent past and the havoc his wrist wreaked on his 2013 season, it's difficult to dismiss the injury too casually. Le sigh.
Last week I looked at the Dodgers potential bargain, this week I look at the Orioles' questionable decisions.
As of this moment, reports are swirling that the Baltimore Orioles are going to sign Nelson Cruz for a one year, 8 million dollar deal. A steep decline from a qualifying offer he turned down from the Texas Rangers of $14.1 million and a far cry of a rumored $75 million, 4 year deal earlier this offseason. Also, earlier this week, the Orioles signed Ubaldo Jimenez for a 4 years 50 million dollars contract. As a result two signings they also forfeit their 1st and 2nd round pick for the 2014 First Year Player Draft. So the questions that remain are, "are the Orioles better after these signings?" and "were these the right moves to make"?
The first question is pretty simple. Undoubtedly, the Orioles are better with Jimenez and Cruz than without. Combined they should add around 4-6 wins to the O's, barring the unforeseen. With this addition, the Orioles are around the magic 40 fWAR total as a team, which keeps them in the playoff contention picture. Overcoming the Red Sox, Rays, and possibly the Yankees won't be easy, but they'll definitely be in the picture for a wild card spot.
The addition of Ubaldo Jimenez provides stability and value in an area that the Orioles badly need it. Last year, the Orioles rotation ranked 24th in all of baseball with 7.4 fWAR and led the league with a 1.39 HR/9. To say the least, not that great. While there are concerns about which Ubaldo the Orioles are getting, there is evidence to suggest the "good" Ubaldo is the pick.
As for Cruz, he too will be an upgrade for the Orioles in a place of need. Last year, the Orioles DH spot combined for a paltry 87 +wRC, which tied for dead last with the Yankees. However Cruz too, doesn't come without some issues. Fresh off a 50 game suspension for PEDs, we don't know for certain how long Cruz had been using performance enhancing drugs, nor how much they actually enhanced his performance. With this in mind, the team and fans alike have good reason to be leery about which Nelson Cruz they'll actually be getting. Be that as it may, chances are he's able to improve the Oriole's DH situation.
But were Jimenez and Cruz the right moves to make? Combined the Orioles gets Jimenez and Cruz for 5 years and $58 million. However, I'm not convinced these moves were in the Orioles' best interest. Mainly due to the fact that there were plenty of other alternatives to be had for similar dollar values without the draft pick association. If we assume Jimenez and Cruz will produce around 4-6 fWAR combined, that's not terrible shoes to fill given the past free agent market.
For instance, Matt Garza and Corey Hart combine for 5 years, 56 million dollars. They should be around the same value as Jimenez and Cruz. They fill the same needs, save the picks, and are a little bit cheaper to boot. Perhaps that's too much of an injury risk for you, as fellow contributor Jeff Long points out. If that's the case try Omar Infante and Scott Feldman for 7 years and $60.25 million. Again, similar value and saving the picks for only a tad more than what Jimenez and Cruz were paid. Plus as an added bonus of two more years of team friendly control. While Infante isn't a DH, he'd provide an upgrade at second base and wins are wins, doesn't matter where you get them from. Yes, the Orioles have Johnathon Schoop waiting in the wings, but by signing Infante the Orioles would enhance their win now window as opposed to betting on Schoop.
These are but two examples of how the Orioles could have gotten the same value but for less investment. To name a few more without going in depth that could have worked; Infante/Kazmir, Infante/Burnett, Nolasco/Hart, Kazmir/Hudson/Hart, etc etc. I could keep going on but you get the point. All these combinations are at or around 60 million dollars with no picks attached.
For a mid-market team such as the Orioles, draft picks are that more precious. There's already talk about how much of an impact losing Matt Wieters in 2016 will have on the Orioles outlook. While Wieters isn't amazing, he's a solid everyday player. Now imagine if the Orioles struck gold with either of or maybe even both of the aforementioned picks. They could be losing a ton of value for a short term window that could have been achieved by similar means without the picks. Prospects are far from a guarantee of a sure thing, but they present the greatest opportunity for surplus value. Surplus value is useful to any team, but more so to a mid-market team such as the Orioles. It is essential to fielding a competitive team year in, and out and the Orioles just punted an opportunity away.
The Yankees have a clear need for infield depth with upside like Diaz presents. Derek Jeter is expected to man shortstop as long as he is healthy, but his impending retirement at the end of 2014 would open up the position for Diaz moving forward. With Brian Roberts and Kelly Johnson currently expected to be every day players at second and third base, respectively, adding a player with an exciting bat that can be obtained for only money is the kind of risk the Yankees should be taking. If the worst case scenario is that Diaz needs to play second base instead of shortstop in the future, that's not so bad at all.
It's possible that the deal Diaz will command will be too great of a risk for the Steinbrenners to take after already committing so much money to the unproven Masahiro Tanaka. The team blew past their goal of a $189 million payroll already but ultimately decided to stop their spending there, having already committed half a billion dollars to Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann, and Tanaka. Pieces were brought in to get the Yankees back to a position of being a World Series contender, but the infield is full of holes and serious question marks. Diaz may not be the answer, just as the unsigned Stephen Drew wouldn't necessarily be the answer, but the reward could be great. That's what the Yankees should be trying to find at this late stage of the offseason.
Today was picture day for the Yankees. It's always a great time for us writers because we finally get photos of minor league players and, more importantly, we get to look through all the pictures in the editor and laugh at everyone's stupid faces. Everyone else misses out, until now, because I'd like to share some of the best pictures with you now.
Hayyy, Eduardo Nunez, whisper sweet nothings into my ears.
The giant head that is Zelous Wheeler
The terror in the eyes of Fred Lewis
AHHHH what is Chase Whitley??
Every picture taken of Austin Romine:
Tell us who you think the weirdest looking Yankee is. Also feel free to use this as your open thread for the rest of the night.
You've probably heard a lot about park factors, but you might not know exactly what they are. Here's what you need to know.
Among most sports, baseball is unique in that the stadium in which the game is played has a tangible effect on the game itself. This can be attributed to the paucity of defined standards for a park's construction, for which there are many reasons. In a nutshell, many parks date to a time when standards didn't exist for anything, and by the time people realized that standardization would be advantageous, it was too unfeasible to actually be completed. Hence, thirty different ballparks.
The fun part of this, for a statistically-inclined person such as myself, is that it gives us another angle of the game to analyze: park factors. For the sake of neutrality, we evaluate every player on an equal scale, which means that players are credited or debited for the park in which they play. All of the inherent benefits or costs of a particular stadium are boiled down into one simple number.
FanGraphs keeps track of these simple park factors for every year since 1871. The more complex ones, however, only go back to 1974, so our discussion will focus on those 40 years for now. As with many things statistical-y, 100 is the major-league average. In addition to the overall factors, FanGraphs provides figures for singles, doubles, triples, and home runs (each of these is also scaled to 100).
How well do these correlate to one another? As the following table shows, not particularly well:
Overall
1B
2B
3B
HR
Overall
X
0.379
0.426
0.178
0.446
1B
0.379
X
0.061
0.053
0.045
2B
0.426
0.061
X
0.246
0.023
3B
0.178
0.053
0.246
X
0.009
HR
0.446
0.045
0.023
0.010
X
By using Pearson's r², we can measure the association between each of the variables. The strongest correlations to be found are between the overall park factors and the ones for doubles and home runs, but even they aren't all that significant -- a good r² for this would be in the .5 range. For the most part, these park factors seem to exist independent of one another. They're still fairly consistent, though:
Overall
1B
2B
3B
HR
SD
4.04
2.19
5.16
12.87
7.62
YTY (r²)
0.930
0.882
0.934
0.942
0.940
All five correlate extremely well year-to-year, and there isn't a whole ton of variation among them (except for triples).
Now let's look at the individual figures. Each team has one per season (obviously), and since there have been 1108 team seasons in the past 40 years, there are 1108 of each park factor over that span as well. Looking at the histogram of overall park factors over the past 40 years, there's definitely a positive skew:
While the histograms for the other factors vary in their spread, they all share the same positivity, to varying extents:
As was mentioned earlier, the histogram for triples has the widest spread and the most modes by far, as triples aren't nearly as consistent year-to-year. Singles and doubles are fairly tightly distributed, and home runs are spread more finely, although they're much more unimodal than triples.
The aforementioned 1108 seasons occurred in 55* different ballparks. How do these compare to one another? Which favor the hitting-folk, and which are more inclined toward the ones who hurl?
*Well, 54 -- in 1974 and 1975, the Yankees and Mets shared Shea Stadium. It has different factors for each of them, though, so it's listed as two different parks.
Obviously, some parks (Colorado, Texas) favor scoring, while others (San Diego, Los Angeles) don't. Some confirm their reputations, others don't -- as an Orioles fan, Camden Yards' 99.8 overall factor was pretty surprising.
How about the consistency of each park from year to year?
Field
Years Used
Overall YTY
1B YTY
2B YTY
3B YTY
HR YTY
Comerica Park
2000-
0.921
0.660
0.842
0.586
0.889
Coors Field
1995-
0.905
0.881
0.653
0.502
0.892
U.S. Cellular Field
1991-
0.901
0.438
0.516
0.875
0.942
Minute Maid Park
2000-
0.890
0.266
0.378
0.611
0.300
Tropicana Field
1998-
0.870
0.762
0.914
0.010
0.419
Wrigley Field
1974-
0.868
0.714
0.727
0.727
0.879
Qualcomm Stadium
1974-2003
0.864
0.413
0.739
0.332
0.913
Camden Yards
1992-
0.842
0.640
0.885
0.544
0.875
Sun Life Stadium
1993-2011
0.836
0.624
0.827
0.757
0.585
Tiger Stadium
1974-1999
0.825
0.760
0.879
0.892
0.472
Metrodome
1974-2009
0.817
0.562
0.734
0.644
0.812
Fenway Park
1974-
0.817
0.705
0.820
0.550
0.897
Progressive Field
1994-
0.753
0.660
0.538
0.735
0.662
AT&T Park
2000-
0.748
0.361
0.557
0.834
0.714
Memorial Stadium
1974-1991
0.744
0.788
0.507
0.613
0.868
Exhibition Stadium
1977-1989
0.715
0.737
0.745
0.627
0.111
O.co Coliseum
1974-
0.714
0.529
0.892
0.840
0.790
Candlestick Park
1974-1999
0.705
0.565
0.686
0.932
0.829
Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
1974-1996
0.703
0.446
0.711
0.758
0.916
Dodger Stadium
1974-
0.693
0.853
0.880
0.698
0.827
Riverfront Stadium
1974-2002
0.691
0.670
0.711
0.769
0.660
Kauffman Stadium
1974-
0.680
0.824
0.774
0.850
0.897
Angel Stadium of Anaheim
1974-
0.671
0.596
0.763
0.685
0.881
PNC Park
2001-
0.660
0.350
0.860
0.407
0.798
Three Rivers Stadium
1974-2000
0.652
0.750
0.466
0.375
0.684
Rogers Centre
1990-
0.603
0.446
0.614
0.700
0.784
Milwaukee County Stadium
1974-2000
0.593
0.655
0.488
0.565
0.567
Arlington Stadium
1974-1993
0.551
0.758
0.532
0.883
0.786
Chase Field
1998-
0.528
0.325
0.596
0.311
0.605
Globe Life Park
1994-
0.513
0.682
0.653
0.258
0.664
Veterans Stadium
1974-2003
0.512
0.625
0.511
0.575
0.811
Astrodome
1974-1999
0.510
0.840
0.740
0.634
0.848
Yankee Stadium (I)
1976-2008
0.479
0.440
0.369
0.922
0.781
Kingdome
1977-1999
0.479
0.493
0.394
0.815
0.900
Shea Stadium (Mets)
1974-2008
0.462
0.527
0.423
0.775
0.759
Olympic Stadium
1977-2004
0.435
0.393
0.486
0.682
0.831
Comiskey Park
1974-1990
0.403
0.723
0.257
0.766
0.608
Busch Stadium (II)
1974-2005
0.393
0.688
0.730
0.922
0.804
Miller Park
2001-
0.386
0.441
0.288
0.016
0.727
Great American Ball Park
2003-
0.340
0.643
0.413
0.904
0.614
Citi Field
2009-
0.333
0.333
0.333
0.333
0.333
Cleveland Stadium
1974-1993
0.229
0.780
0.715
0.676
0.708
Citizens Bank Park
2004-
0.190
0.654
0.527
0.391
0.610
Petco Park
2004-
0.003
0.135
0.521
0.257
0.096
Safeco Field
2000-
0.0004
0.252
0.006
0.026
0.169
Turner Field
1997-
0.0002
0.397
0.019
0.268
0.198
Busch Stadium (III)
2006-
X
0.563
0.028
0.832
0.028
Marlins Park
2012-
X
X
X
X
X
Jarry Park Stadium
1974-1976
X
X
X
X
X
Nationals Park
2008-
X
0.444
X
0.444
0.444
Mile High Stadium
1993-1994
X
X
X
X
X
Target Field
2010-
X
X
X
X
X
Shea Stadium (Yankees)
1974-1975
X
X
X
X
X
Yankee Stadium (II)
2009-
X
X
X
X
X
RFK Memorial Stadium
2005-2007
X
X
X
X
X
(Note: Some ballparks have the "X"; this is because the park factor for them has been the same forever, as they haven't [or didn't] exist enough to have variation.)
For each stadium, there's a different level of constancy for each factor. Moreover, the amount of cohesive factors varies -- Candlestick stays pretty steady across the board, while Safeco is inharmonious on every level.
Lastly, how consistent are they as a whole?
Field
Years Used
Overall SD
1B SD
2B SD
3B SD
HR SD
Coors Field
1995-
5.59
2.64
1.60
4.05
7.17
Wrigley Field
1974-
3.24
1.82
2.90
4.89
7.18
U.S. Cellular Field
1991-
3.08
0.740
1.67
7.10
7.67
Qualcomm Stadium
1974-2003
2.69
1.20
1.78
3.82
8.82
Camden Yards
1992-
2.39
1.18
3.16
3.36
3.43
Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
1974-1996
2.39
1.23
2.28
4.95
9.61
AT&T Park
2000-
2.37
1.11
1.22
7.43
1.98
Candlestick Park
1974-1999
2.34
1.17
2.10
11.29
4.07
Tiger Stadium
1974-1999
2.26
1.18
3.72
6.42
2.32
Tropicana Field
1998-
2.25
0.99
3.22
1.96
1.89
Comerica Park
2000-
2.22
0.88
2.47
5.90
4.19
Milwaukee County Stadium
1974-2000
2.18
1.54
2.21
3.49
1.88
Minute Maid Park
2000-
2.16
0.73
1.28
6.53
0.50
Progressive Field
1994-
2.10
1.28
1.09
5.51
3.23
Fenway Park
1974-
2.02
1.26
2.80
3.62
5.33
Sun Life Stadium
1993-2011
1.96
1.10
2.50
4.68
1.94
Metrodome
1974-2009
1.92
0.90
4.69
6.17
3.17
Angel Stadium of Anaheim
1974-
1.86
1.02
2.40
4.10
5.23
Three Rivers Stadium
1974-2000
1.85
1.20
1.20
2.93
3.35
Olympic Stadium
1977-2004
1.84
0.73
1.88
5.59
4.08
Memorial Stadium
1974-1991
1.80
0.99
1.43
3.06
4.06
Kauffman Stadium
1974-
1.80
1.61
3.47
8.84
5.75
Dodger Stadium
1974-
1.77
2.14
2.92
3.96
4.41
Kingdome
1977-1999
1.74
0.91
3.39
5.53
8.73
Exhibition Stadium
1977-1989
1.66
1.28
2.63
5.70
2.32
O.co Coliseum
1974-
1.60
0.89
3.15
5.89
2.96
Safeco Field
2000-
1.53
1.11
2.31
1.62
1.90
Veterans Stadium
1974-2003
1.49
0.92
1.81
4.92
3.01
Yankee Stadium (I)
1976-2008
1.49
0.82
1.39
8.84
3.32
Riverfront Stadium
1974-2002
1.47
1.50
2.60
7.26
4.17
Arlington Stadium
1974-1993
1.47
1.37
1.47
8.03
4.10
Globe Life Park
1994-
1.39
0.67
1.33
5.62
2.79
Astrodome
1974-1999
1.39
1.55
2.06
7.24
4.66
Chase Field
1998-
1.32
0.70
1.37
3.49
2.18
Comiskey Park
1974-1990
1.28
1.03
1.32
4.61
3.06
PNC Park
2001-
1.21
0.82
1.94
1.56
1.92
Shea Stadium (Mets)
1974-2008
1.18
1.20
1.36
5.45
2.47
Busch Stadium (II)
1974-2005
1.17
1.07
2.00
13.11
3.97
Rogers Centre
1990-
1.11
0.84
1.97
7.92
3.41
Petco Park
2004-
1.04
0.54
1.57
2.33
2.54
Great American Ball Park
2003-
0.98
0.46
1.40
8.03
1.20
Cleveland Stadium
1974-1993
0.91
1.32
1.42
3.03
4.10
Citizens Bank Park
2004-
0.80
1.02
0.87
2.01
2.26
Miller Park
2001-
0.73
0.77
0.66
2.54
3.14
Turner Field
1997-
0.54
0.50
1.08
1.85
0.75
Citi Field
2009-
0.49
0.98
1.47
9.80
4.90
Busch Stadium (III)
2006-
0
0.50
0.33
2.18
0.33
Marlins Park
2012-
0
0
0
0
0
Jarry Park Stadium
1974-1976
0
0
0
0
0
Nationals Park
2008-
0
0.50
0
2.00
0.50
Mile High Stadium
1993-1994
0
0
0
0
0
Target Field
2010-
0
0
0
0
0
Shea Stadium (Yankees)
1974-1975
0
0
0
0
0
Yankee Stadium (II)
2009-
0
0
0
0.43
0
RFK Memorial Stadium
2005-2007
0
0
0
0
0
Like for the aggregate figures, the Triples are more inconsistent than any of the other factors. Some parks don't even have standard deviations, and those that do differ wildly. For the most part, the highest deviations seem to go to parks that are hitter-friendly in that area, and vice versa.
So, there's a lot to learn about park factors, and the best part? This is all subject to change! That's right -- the 3-year regression that FanGraphs uses to derive their park factors means that all of this data will probably be worthless by this time next year. Until then, though, you've probably learned something; at least I have.
The 2009 Rookie of the Year heads to the Bronx on an incentive-laden minor league deal.
The New York Yankees have agreed to terms on an incentive-laden minor league deal with reliever Andrew Bailey, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.com. Olney notes that the major-league side of the deal is worth $2.5MM, and that the contract includes an option for 2015 and a buyout.
Bailey, who turns 30 in May, will be sidelined until May or June as he works his way back from labrum surgery that ended his 2013 season in July. He will likely join the Yankees' major league bullpen midseason, joining right-handers Shawn Kelley, Preston Claiborne, Dellin Betances in closer David Robertson in an already-strong group.
Bailey spent the last two seasons with the Red Sox after coming over in a trade after the 2011 season that sent Josh Reddick to Oakland in exchange for Bailey and Ryan Sweeney. In 49 relief appearances for the Sox, the 2009 AL Rookie of the Year was 4-2 with a 4.91 ERA and 14 saves, never living up to the expectations he set with his first two All-Star seasons with the Athletics. He was non-tendered by the Red Sox in December, and drew strong interest before deciding to head to the Bronx.
In five major league seasons, Bailey is the holder of a lifetime 11-12 record and 2.64 ERA while notching 89 saves in 206 appearances. He was named to the AL All-Star team in 2009 and 2010.
Ray announces that Fake Teams is on Facebook so, readers can now check out all Fake Teams articles on Facebook going forward.
We appreciate you reading Fake Teams on a daily basis, and I am very happy that you follow us on Twitter. On Twitter, we provide links to all of our articles posted here at Fake Teams, in addition to my rants and ramblings every day. There are plenty of ways to read Fake Teams, and we want to expand that a little further today.
Do you keep up with the goings on with family members and friends that you haven't seen in years on Facebook? Well, while you're doing so, you can now get all of our articles on Fake Teams Facebook page. Some of you may or may not know that Fake Teams is on Facebook, but today I want to let you know that, going forward, you can check out all of our articles on Facebook as well. I will be linking all of our articles there going forward. In addition, I will be posting fantasy baseball related questions, and if the following gets large enough, I could even host a chat over there.
How do you do this? By "Liking" the Fake Teams Facebook page, and check it our when you are getting updates from friends on Facebook! Click on the link or go to www.facebook.com/FakeTeams and click the big old "Like" button and you're done! If you do that, it will make my day!
If you don't Like it, let me know what is missing and I will do my best to improve the page over the next few weeks.
Hey, if Yankees great Derek Jeter can announce his retirement on Facebook, I think I should show more love to our readers there.
Will any of these one-of-a-kind promotional items entice you to go to a game this season?
Each year at about half their home games, the Yankees and other clubs around baseball hand out promotional items to help sell tickets and to boost whichever company is sponsoring the day. The collectible giveaways come in all shapes and sizes and could someday be worth ones of dollars.
With tickets going on sale to the general public on Monday, here are some of the highlights in 2014 promotions. Would any of these entice you to make the trip up to the Bronx? (See the full promo calendar here)
Saturday, April 12th and Sunday, April 13th - Calendar Weekend
I can't remember the last time I looked at a calendar printed on paper, but it's always fun to see which player gets which month. Usually the better Yankees adorn the spring and summer while their somewhat lesser teammates are relegated to the dark days of winter. As an added bonus, the calendars are a rare item that's given to everyone, You don't have to be fourteen or under or twenty-one or older, and you don't have to show up two hours early to make sure you're one of the first so-and-so many fans to arrive.
Wednesday, April 16th - Yankee Stadium Exclusive Peeps Collectible Night
This one makes me both excited and angry. I love Peeps - they are the absolute best thing about the Easter season. But this promotion is only for the first 10,000 fans aged fourteen or younger, which leaves tardy geezers like me out in the cold. Here's a thing that combines two of my favorite pastimes - baseball and junk food - and I'll never get my hands on it. Does one really need to be under fourteen to enjoy sweet sugary goodness?
Friday, May 2nd - Yankees Ear Buds Night
This one's for the first 18,000 guests. If you're the kind of person who likes to listen to John Sterling tell you what's not happening while you're at the game witnessing what is, then this is the promotion for you. On the one hand, this is a practical one since I'm always losing these things...but on the other, ear buds that don't have a microphone to function as a headset also seem rather obsolete in the smartphone age.
Saturday, May 3rd and Tuesday, July 1st - Cap Night
There are already two cap nights on the schedule and there will be more as the unspecified "promotion item" nights on the calendar get filled in over the coming months. The problem is that all of these caps come complete with the corporate logos of their sponsors, which means that everyone who sees you in it will know you got it for free. Do you really want a Yankee hat that says "Hess" or "Canon?"
Friday, May 16th - Yankees Reusable Tote Night
I'm curious about the word reusable here, because to me, that should probably be a given. A non-reusable tote would essentially be a paper or plastic bag, and I'm pretty sure even the Yankees would give you one of those for free every night. On the bright side, this one's for all in attendance.
Sunday, June 1st - Bat Day
Ah, a classic. The Yankees started the tradition of bat day in 1965, probably to distract fans from the withering husks of former greats that were manning the field, and they've continued it to this day. Easily the most coveted promo item of the season, you actually get a real wooden bat, not one of those mini-souvenirs or dinky inflatable boppers. Only problem is it's only for kids and only for the first 10,000 of them - I guess the Yankees are afraid giving out hard blunt objects to their grown-up fans will result in something like this.
Thursday, June 19th, Wednesday, July 2nd, Sunday, July 27th, Wednesday, August 20th, Sunday August 24th and Tuesday, September 9th - Bobble-heads!
People have widely varying opinions on the subject of bobble-heads - cute trinkets or demonic minions of the underworld? The real problem is that none of them really look like who they're supposed to be. I had a Roger Clemens that looked more like Derek Jeter than the Jeter edition and a Don Mattingly that looked a lot like Nintendo's Super Mario.
The Yankees have a whole slew bobble-heads planned this year. You get Mark Teixeira on June 19th, Lou Gehrig on July 2nd, Paul O'Neill on the 27th and Joe Girardi on August 20th. No word yet on whether there's a bobble-binder included with Girardi. On August 24th and September 9th, kids get Lucy from Peanuts and Hello Kitty, who may be starting at second and third base by then.
Sunday, June 22nd - Old Timers' Day
You don't actually get anything for this one, but it's listed on the promotional calendar nonetheless. The Yankees held the first modern-style old-timers day (where they actually played a game) in 1947. It's a unique tradition and definitely worth seeing, even if it's gotten harder to differentiate between the real team and the old-timers over the past few years.
Saturday, July 19th - Collectible Truck Day
I'm assuming this is a toy truck and not an actual truck. Pass.
Monday, July 21st- Derek Jeter Figurine Night
If you want a statuette of a player that won't warn you of a coming earthquake, this may be the one for you. The first 18,000 guests of all ages will receive Jeter and his normal-sized head. I have a suspicion that after his announcement last week, the Yankees will add more Jeter-related promotions to the schedule, so stay tuned.
Wednesday, August 6th - Yankees Luggage Tag Night
I'd be afraid to use this one. Suppose a Red Sox fan works in baggage handling? Who knows what he'd do to luggage sporting a Yankee logo?
Sunday, September 21st - New York Yankees Limited Edition Ty Beanie Buddy Day
The Beanie Buddy is not the reason that tickets this this game vs. Toronto will be at a premium. September 21st is the last weekend home game of the season, and probably the afternoon the Yankees will choose to do their formal honoring of Derek Jeter.
Beanie Toys that commemorate historic events have a habit of actually being worth something. The Beanie Baby (not sure when they went from being babies to buddies) that was given out on May 17th, 1998, the day David Wells pitched his perfect game, is currently available on Christies.com for $863! This one's only for kids fourteen and under and only for the first 10,000, so if you're going out to bid Derek adieu, bring your son or daughter or niece or nephew and pocket the toy while they're in the bathroom.
The Yankees are on the verge of handing outfielder Brett Gardner a four-year, $52 million extension that would begin in 2015, according to Jack Curry of the YES Network. The deal includes a fifth year option worth $12.5 million or a $2 million buyout. Maybe watching the Braves extend half their team this offseason inspired the Yankees to break away from their tradition of allowing their players to test free agency.
After the Yankees signed Jacoby Ellsbury to a long term deal this offseason, it looked as though Gardner's days in New York were numbered. His services wouldn't be needed as a center fielder and the Yankees could have easily felt that his skill set was redundant with the addition of Ellsbury. It seems now like those thoughts were unfounded with the Yankees willing to keep him in the Bronx for years to come. Brian Cashman has been a huge advocate of Gardner's and wasn't willing to trade him for just anything, most notably Brandon Phillips this offseason, even after his role on the team had become a little less clear moving past this season.
When Gardner's name came up in trade talks, Yankees executives were adamant about how much they valued him. This deal proves it.
What do you think of the decision to extend Gardner? More importantly, do you think this signals a change in the way the Yankees do business with regards to extensions? If so, who should be next?
Update:
Deal is done.
Gardner deal 1st mentioned by @JackCurryYES who says 4 yrs. Done deal.
Gardner was heading into his last year before free agency, but will now stay a Yankee for the foreseeable future.
The New York Yankees and outfielder Brett Gardner have agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $52 million, reports Jack Curry of the YES Network. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports has the salary breakdown, which shows that the pact is slightly front-loaded: a $2 million signing bonus, $12 million in 2015, $13 million in 2016, $12 million in 2017 and $11 million in 2018.
The deal includes an option for a fifth season in 2019 that would be worth $12.5 million with a $2 million buyout. He will still be playing under his one-year, $5.6 million contract for 2014 with the extension kicking in for the 2015 season, when he could have left in free agency. Thus, the new deal will keep him in pinstripes through the 2018 season for sure, with the option potentially taking him through 2019.
Any rumors that the Yankees may look to trade Gardner can now surely be extinguished. After the Yankees signed both Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran in free agency there had been speculation they could move Gardner in exchange for pitching or infield help. Instead, the team will now commit to a Gardner-Ellsbury-Beltran outfield with Ichiro Suzuki and Alfonso Soriano backing them up. Soriano and possibly Beltran will also see plenty of time at designated hitter as well.
After missing all but 16 games in 2012 due to an elbow injury, Gardner came back strong in '13 as the teams primary center fielder. Over 145 games, he hit .273/.344/.416 with strong defense and 24 stolen bases and a career-high eight home runs. The speedy outfielder is a former league-leading base stealer and could wreak even more havoc on the basepaths alongside Ellsbury.
Depending on the contract breakdown, Gardner's deal could push the Yankees toward the luxury tax once again the next couple of years. Before signing him, they already had $149 million committed to nine players in 2015 and $145 million committed to eight players in 2016.
The 30-year-old Gardner had already avoided arbitration with the Yankees, signing a $5.6 million deal for the 2014 season on January 17, but without this extension he would have hit the free agent market following this season. Gardner has hit a solid .268/.352/.381 in his career, but much of his value has come from his elite base running and defense.
Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR) credits Gardner with saving 55.5 runs as a left fielder since he came into the league, the most of any player in the game. His total runs saved by that system are only approached by Carl Crawford, who has saved 55.3 runs, but also played more than twice as many innings. Total Zone (TZ) has the lowest total runs saved for Gardner, but still credits him with 50 and Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) is between the two with 53 runs saved. Gardner spent the majority of 2013 in center field, where his defense rates worse, but with the Yankees' acquisition of Jacoby Ellsbury, Gardner is expected to return to left full time now, giving the Yankees an elite defensive duo in the outfield.
Gardner has also provided a great deal of value on the bases throughout his career. He led the American League in stolen bases in 2011 with 49 and his 161 stolen bases rank 14th overall since he broke into the majors in 2008. He has also been effective at taking extra bases. and Fangraph's base running runs calculations credit him with a total of 30.4 runs added on bases, 11th in the game since 2008.
Gardner has struggled with injuries at times in his six-year career. He missed most of the 2012 season with an elbow injury that required surgery and he also had wrist surgery during the 2010 offseason.
Brett Gardner has been a valuable part of the Yankees since 2008, both as an elite defender and homegrown fan favorite. The Yankees finally awarded him with a contract that matches his value.
When I first heard that the Cincinnati Reds had offered a trade--Brandon Phillips for Brett Gardner--I gasped. The Yankees had just shored up their outfield with the addition of Jacoby Ellsbury, and there were still holes at this time in December. The Seattle Mariners had just agreed to sign Robinson Cano and there was a black hole at second base. A deal for Brandon Phillips would fill that need for the foreseeable future, and the Yankees could still sign one of the remaining free agents--Carlos Beltran or Shin-Soo Choo--to a contract to replace Gardner. But when they rejected that trade it was clear that the Yankees organization had a very good understanding of the value he possesses. We as Yankee fans see Brett Gardner play every day, so it's very easy to lose sight of overarching value on a day-to-day basis. But how valuable has Gardner really been since he became part of the roster?
Brett Gardner has been one of the most valuable outfielders, and especially center fielders, in baseball since his rookie year in 2009. Among center fielders since 2009, Gardner is ranked eighth in fWAR (16.7), 24th in wRC+, 14th in FanGraphs' Offensive Runs Above Average, and third in FanGraphs' Defensive Runs Above Average. Among all outfielders since 2009, Gardner ranks 18th, 77th, 39th, and fourth in those same categories, respectively. Good comparisons in terms of value over this span of time are players like former Yankees Nick Swisher and Curtis Granderson, actually. Swisher has recorded 16.8 fWAR in that span and Granderson has recorded 16.4 fWAR. Both have signed contracts valued at four years, $56 million and four years, $60 million, respectively. The Yankees have done a great service to themselves--they've avoided arbitration and prevented Gardner from entering free agency, stopping a possible bidding war in a world where free agent prices have only been inflating.
And what if the extension had not been inked? Then here's what his possible payout from 2014 to 2018 may have looked like: $4 million in projected arbitration for 2014 plus approximately 9.2 fWAR (via Oliver projections) from 2015 to 2018 valued at approximately $6.2 million (by Dave Cameron's calculation) would be equal to $61.04 million. That's a pretty conservative number, too, because who knows what the market will value a win in one year. The Yankees have followed in the footsteps of teams like the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have locked up their homegrown stars in order to maintain arbitration pay and avoid the inflation of free agent costs.
Brett Gardner is a key piece of the face of the Yankees in what will soon be a post-Derek Jeter world. Slowly, we've seen the age of homegrown talent disappear; first it was the aging and (soon-to-be) retirement of every Core Four member, the loss of Cano, and the (relative) failure of what should have been a new core: Ian Kennedy, Joba Chamberlain, and Phil Hughes. The Yankees know full well that the years ahead will be difficult in defining an image for themselves. It's still weird for those that have cheered on the Core Four that faces like Ellsbury and eltran will adorn banners and posters across Yankee Stadium. As fans, we all like to see our homegrown heroes succeed and stay along for the ride.
We all are well aware that "baseball is a business" and all that rhetoric, but sometimes it is just nice to pretend that homegrown players want to stick around. We as fans of a homegrown player possess this narrative about their journey: we all remember and can reminisce about Gardner's growth from unknown prospect to pinch runner and defensive replacement to elite defender and World Champion. Much of our joy in this extension is still being able to reminisce about such things because of our connection with the past; it's much harder to nostalgically reminisce about these players when they play for a different team. But it's not just about that--it's also because we're very excited to extend these memories of a past joy into the future.
The Yankees are on the verge of handing outfielder Brett Gardner a four-year, $52 million extension that would begin in 2015, according to Jack Curry of the YES Network. The deal includes a fifth year option worth $12.5 million or a $2 million buyout. Maybe watching the Braves extend half their team this offseason inspired the Yankees to break away from their tradition of allowing their players to test free agency.
After the Yankees signed Jacoby Ellsbury to a long term deal this offseason, it looked as though Gardner's days in New York were numbered. His services wouldn't be needed as a center fielder and the Yankees could have easily felt that his skill set was redundant with the addition of Ellsbury. It seems now like those thoughts were unfounded with the Yankees willing to keep him in the Bronx for years to come. Brian Cashman has been a huge advocate of Gardner's and wasn't willing to trade him for just anything, most notably Brandon Phillips this offseason, even after his role on the team had become a little less clear moving past this season.
When Gardner's name came up in trade talks, Yankees executives were adamant about how much they valued him. This deal proves it.
What do you think of the decision to extend Gardner? More importantly, do you think this signals a change in the way the Yankees do business with regards to extensions? If so, who should be next?
Update:
Deal is done.
Gardner deal 1st mentioned by @JackCurryYES who says 4 yrs. Done deal.
The Gardner news probably impacts guys like Mason Williams, Ramon Flores, and, perhaps, Slade Heathcott the most. Williams and Flores are more known for their ability to get on base, steal bases, and play good defense in the outfield than they are about their power. You can say the same about Heathcott, too, but compared to Williams and Flores, at least he has potential to hit for some more power as he ages. However, with Gardner and Ellsbury locked up for the years ahead, it appears as though the team doesn't have much of a need for a third speed/defense-first outfielder, but instead could use more of a power bat in right field.
This is where Tyler Austin comes in. Austin, like a lot of Yankee prospects, had a down 2013. He hit .257/.344/.373 in 83 games at Double-A with only six home runs and a paltry .116 ISO. The lack of power could be attributed to the wrist injury he suffered in the middle of last year and/or the fact that Double-A is a tough league, especially for someone like Austin who was just 21 years of age.
After a winter of resting his wrist, Austin saw the it flare up just last week and is said to be shutdown for the next few days. Chad Jennings of LoHud saw Austin on Sunday and noticed that he had his wrist wrapped up. At the same time, Austin was seen shagging fly balls on Sunday, so perhaps he's getting closer to hitting again.
Despite the lack of power in 2013, Austin still projects as a guy who can hit for power down the road. He'll probably never be a 35+ home run masher, but if he turns into a 20 home run guy with plenty of doubles, that'll do just fine as well. For now, Austin will have to prove that 2013 was just a bump in the road and not a sign of things to come, while Beltran (attempts to) hold down right field at the big league level. Either way, Austin's 2014 is a pretty big season for him.
In regards to Williams, Flores, and Heathcott? I'm not sure what exactly their futures hold. Personally, I just don't see the Yankees using a third speed/defense-first outfielder with Gardner and Ellsbury locked up. Obviously, not every member of this aforementioned trio will reach their ceiling, let alone make the big leagues altogether. But, say someone like Mason Williams has a big 2014. His stock fell quite a bit last year, but if he rebounds, especially at the Double-A level, he could regain the prospect status he lost last season. If he does that, he would set himself up as a pretty nice trade chip down the road. Even if there isn't an obvious future for several of the Yankees' outfield prospects, it's still important that they succeed in the minors so they could, at the very least, provide some nice, cheap depth at the upper levels of the system.
What do you think of the Yankees decision to extend Brett Gardner to a four-year deal?
Today the Yankees agreed to a four-year, $52 million extension with Brett Gardner. This news came as somewhat of a surprise, given that the Yankees are not really into giving contract extensions (*cough* Robinson Cano). Despite the fact that teams such as the Reds made offers to the Yankees to trade Gardner over the offseason, and the Yankees declined such offers, it still seemed likely that Gardner would hit free agency at the end of this season. It is refreshing to see the Yankees make moves to lock in Gardner, at least for the time being.
Since being called up in 2008, Gardner has hit .268/.352/.381 with the Yankees. Known for his speed, Gardner has stolen 161 bases over the past six years, and stole a personal-best of 49 in 2011. Gardner has suffered from various injuries over the years, including a fractured thumb that caused him to miss time in 2009, wrist surgery during the offseason in 2010, a right elbow injury that led to surgery and kept him out for almost all of 2012, and an oblique strain at the end of 2013. He bounced back from the elbow injury in 2013, hitting .273/.344/.416, 108 wRC+, with 24 SB and 8 home runs. One of those home runs came during one of last season's most memorable games: the August 11th game against the Tigers, where Gardner hit a walk-off home run following Mariano Rivera's third straight blown save. Gardner also saved the day in the game against Detroit on August 9th, when he hit a walk-off single in the 10th inning following the second blown save by Mo, during that scary week of "What's wrong with Mo?"
What do you think of the Gardner extension? Would you rather they had let him walk at the end of this season, and sought another outfielder? Do you think he'll still end up being traded? Or are you happily anticipating the speedy outfield combo of Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury?
Gardner's extension is the first smart move the Yankees have made with a player under contract since signing Jorge Posada to a 4 year extension in 2008.
I've always wondered how teams convince themselves that lines in the sand, that inflexible policies, are a good idea to state publicly. And I wonder how teams decide which personalities and playing styles they value. I wouldn't give any player a contract for longer than 6 or 7 years, unless the player is Mike Trout. And I wouldn't consider any young outfielder off limits, unless that outfielder had the potential to be a Wil Myers. And I wouldn't trade a young pitcher for an outfield rental, because I might trade away Zack Wheeler. For every rule, there must be an exception.
For years, the Yankees' stated policy was that they would not negotiate extensions with players under contract. And they've repeated that policy even as the economic landscape changed so drastically that I felt flabbergasted they didn't see they were negotiating from a position of weakness. While the Rays and the Cardinals and the Jays have bent the cost curve by betting early on incredibly talented players at the beginning of their careers, the Yankees have allowed their few homegrown stars to go year to year through arbitration and hit free agency.
Now, watch David Ortiz gripe for a contract extension, and you can understand why the Yankees put the policy in place. But overall, it's good to see the Yankees recognizing that a contract extension is in their best interest.
Imagine if the Yankees had signed one of their young players, like maybe a certain slugging second baseman, to an extension when he was in arbitration. Think about Miguel Cabrera's 8 year/ $152M extension signed in 2008 as he negotiated his third year of arbitration. That's hardly small potatoes–6 of those 8 years are over $20M; but imagine his payday if he'd hit the market
Even though maybe sometimes people considered Robinson Cano a "dog" because he wouldn't run out every ground ball, he obviously worked hard because he went from a potential platoon player hitting .287/.328/.372 against left-handed pitching, to hitting .328/.374/.490 the next year and then often crushing lefties more than righties for the next several years. When a player shows that combination of work ethic and talent (it's one thing to want to do it, and another to do it), that's exactly the time a team should re-evaluate its policies.
So, overall, I'm very happy the Yankees worked out an extension with their often injured, slap hitting, scrappy left fielder. It gives me hope they've learned a lesson about player value that the rest of baseball figured out years ago.
