Quote from fenn68 on January 11, 2019, 10:54 am

In a bit of a surprise ... LeMahieu (2B) signs with the Yankees (2 years / $24MM).

Bit of the unknown on his role. One report had him as a "utility player" with Voit/Bird -Torres - Tulo - Andujar being the INF until Gregorious returns late in the season (or until Tulo goes down with injury). Seems LeMahieu is too good to accept a utility role and seems a lot for the NYY to pay for a utility player. Has to be more to come.

I wonder if Tulo had some kind of "out clause" if the NYY got a starting SS? LeMahieu to 2B and Torres to SS makes more sense than the old, injury plagued Tulo (who was insisting to play SS).

I wonder if the NYY have a trade lined up for maybe Andujar ... allowing Torres to go to 3B? Or just move Andujar to 1B and move on from Voit / Bird (not a big loss).

I wonder if this kills the Machado to NYY campaign by the media. Saw one comment that would be a not suggesting the NYY may still be in on Machado.

NYY clearly will be an interesting follow in the next month ... maybe some fallout to what Bost does.

Quote from Brian Connelly on January 11, 2019, 11:48 am

Quote from fenn68 on January 10, 2019, 8:17 am

In a case of the media focusing on the bright lights not the more basic .... a lot of discussion of the teams who are now pretty flush with money not going all in on mega contracts for Harper / Machado ... lot of complaining that only a few teams are even in the mix. Makes for appealing copy.

Support the concept of more of the new TV (et. al) money filtering down to the players ... but the real "injustice" is that everyone is looking a more for the top paid elite and none are arguing for the core players. Should see this as an issue from the Union in the next CBA with a demand to significantly increase the league minimum.

Other than it is fairer to the core players ... a higher league minimum salary should push up the salaries for everyone above minimum and getting more of the new money distributed across the board rather than to a select few (who will still get premium money). For those who think a payroll floor for teams makes sense ... a robust league minimum would serve to move to that concept.

Personally (not my money) would have the league minimum at $2MM for each player ... creates a de facto $50MM payroll floor. It will not go that high but not out of the question to see the minimum in 2022 jumping over $1MM.

This will be an interesting follow as the teams / union / agents jockey for a favorable distribution of what is a larger pool of revenue combined with the analytics revaluing long-term contracts, aging players projected performance, etc. Seems to me that a move towards very high AAV on short term deals is logical ... playing the players very well for the current production and not for longer term future performance that often never materializes.

Baseball players facing a HUGE challenge here.  Long term free agent contracts had gotten so out of hand, the pendulum has swung the other way now.  Analytics "proves" what should have been obvious to all... that guys typically decline after (or even before) age 30.  Problem is, phenoms not included, the average debut age in MLB is probably around 23... and that's often a Sept callup with more seasoning or bouncing up/down before "fully" arriving.  24, 25, older are very common.  College draftees are typically 20-21 when STARTING their minors career.

SO... many good (not the ultra elite like Harper & Machado) players won't hit free agency in the current system until analytics say they are already past their prime!  Real issue for MLBPU if the "golden carrot" of FA takes on this tarnish.  Real possibility that going forward players are vastly underpaid at their prime, with no opportunity to recoup the $ later.

A lot of ways this can be addressed, including a higher minimum.  I think the current "nominal 1-2% annual raise system" for players who have debuted at minimum but are not arb eligible is archaic, petty, & frankly stupid:  Arb raises are 10-20% for guys who've been on DL most of MLB career (Erlin) up to 1,00o - 2,000% (5-10 MM 1st yr arb see Mookie Betts) for superstars... early year to year raises should be closer to this:  say 10% for guys like Javy Guerra (cup of coffee) and Dinelson Lamet (DL all year) to 100% for full season contributors like Joey Lucchessi.  Just have a few set tiers quantified by days of MLB service time and health/availability, so you aren't setting one guy's salary $100-$200 higher or lower than another guy arbitrarily.  Maybe 10, 25, 50, 75, 100%?

If you combine this with a much higher minimum, say 750K, then Lucchesi is at 1.5 MM in year 2.  Could max out at 3 MM in year 3 before becoming arb eligible.  This 5.25 MM would be the "maximum minimum" a guy could make vs. arbitrary but probably somewhere around 2 MM now in first 3 years.  But vast majority of guys will take 4 (or more) years to hit arbitration due to not being on Opening Day roster & remaining in MLB 3 straight years, but their year to year raises will be lower than 100% at least once.

Would probably have to also have a higher minimum Arb eligible salary too; maybe 1 MM OR 10% above last year, whichever is higher.  Obviously the pay raise the first year of arbitration would be much less than it is now, but players would certainly accept that.  Teams could continue to extend guys early; but the players would have more leverage than now, so should be fewer long term below market deals.

Quote from MrPadre19 on January 14, 2019, 10:08 am

Now the Yanks have added LeMahieu to their infield and have too many bodies even without adding Machado.

Any idea what their plans are for the infield?

Especially now at 2nd base with Torres and LeMahieu?

Does this impact Andujars' availability?

 

 

Quote from Booster SD on January 14, 2019, 10:30 am

From what I have heard on MLBXM that the plan is to use LaMahieu as a super sub at all INF positions including 1B. I personally see to start the season is Torres as your main SS, DJ at 2B, and a slide of Tulo to 3B, and Andujar possibly at 1B depending on how much they like his bat compared to that of Bird and Voit. And health of Bird and Tulo.

 

Quote from fenn68 on January 14, 2019, 12:52 pm

Quote from Booster SD on January 14, 2019, 10:30 am

From what I have heard on MLBXM that the plan is to use LaMahieu as a super sub at all INF positions including 1B. I personally see to start the season is Torres as your main SS, DJ at 2B, and a slide of Tulo to 3B, and Andujar possibly at 1B depending on how much they like his bat compared to that of Bird and Voit. And health of Bird and Tulo.

 

NYY have a lot to sort out in ST for the INF.

Have to remember that Gregorious is a FA after the season (where he will miss 2/3rds or so), LeMahieu is only on a 2 year deal (and did not hit all that well outside of Coors ... so carries some risk), and Tulo is only on a one year deal (carrying a lot of risk he has not rebounded for two injury filled years). Basically, some nice veteran names with mega unknowns.

On the other hand Torres (league minimum, 6 years control) and Andujar (league minimum, 5 years control) not only are arguable better but represent a low cost, high quality as a baseline so the NYY can add more highly priced pieces down the road in other slots.

I would guess that what they REALLY think of Andujar defensively may be the lynchpin in the structure. Everyone loves his bat and his work ethic so they are saying the right thing that he will improve defensively. Also, what agreement do they have with Tulo ... understand a no trade and he was pushing for a starting SS role as a condition of signing.

Might sort out with Andujar (1B) - LeMahieu (2B) - Tulo (SS) - Torres (3B) with Bird / Voit benched, optioned, or DFA at least to start the season and then shuffle when Tulo goes down or LeMahieu does not hit in NY. When Gregorious returns ...  a slow roll in at 3B/SS/2B and if they resign him .... replaces Tulo.

Should create a lot of talk radio angst in NYC.

Quote from MrPadre19 on January 14, 2019, 1:40 pm

Quote from Booster SD on January 14, 2019, 10:30 am

From what I have heard on MLBXM that the plan is to use LaMahieu as a super sub at all INF positions including 1B. I personally see to start the season is Torres as your main SS, DJ at 2B, and a slide of Tulo to 3B, and Andujar possibly at 1B depending on how much they like his bat compared to that of Bird and Voit. And health of Bird and Tulo.

 

I doubt their answer to their infield "situation" is to put three of the four guys at different positions than they are used to playing.

They also already have two other firstbasemen in Byrd and Voigt by the way.

Quote from Booster SD on January 14, 2019, 6:09 pm

Quote from David Nevin on January 14, 2019, 1:40 pm

Quote from Booster SD on January 14, 2019, 10:30 am

From what I have heard on MLBXM that the plan is to use LaMahieu as a super sub at all INF positions including 1B. I personally see to start the season is Torres as your main SS, DJ at 2B, and a slide of Tulo to 3B, and Andujar possibly at 1B depending on how much they like his bat compared to that of Bird and Voit. And health of Bird and Tulo.

 

I doubt their answer to their infield "situation" is to put three of the four guys at different positions than they are used to playing.

They also already have two other firstbasemen in Byrd and Voigt by the way.

 

Bird has questionable health and some believe that Voit might not be able to carry over what he did in the 2nd half. So, its possible that Andujar and his subpar 3B defense slide over to 1B. Because from what I hear, its his arm that is the problem.

Quote from MrPadre19 on January 16, 2019, 5:10 am

And in other news......Melvin Upton has changed his name back to B.J. Upton apparently.

 

Quote from Booster SD on January 16, 2019, 6:01 am

Doug Brocail expected to be named pitching coach for the Orioles.