Author: Mr HoangAnh

TAMPA, Fla. — The New York Yankees didn’t want to do it. As they worked with the San Diego Padres on permutations of the trade that would eventually net them star right fielder Juan Soto, they tried clutching onto Michael King, who had been so valuable to them in so many ways in recent years.

The problem: The Padres dreamed of the right-hander becoming a potentially high-impact, low-cost member of their paper-thin rotation. Eventually, the Yankees acquiesced and sent King packing.

So, what’s their plan to replace him?

“I don’t know,” manager Aaron Boone said not long after spring training began.

King, 28, was projected to be part of the Yankees’ rotation. They have enough to cover his spot — even as Blake Snell rumors persist, regardless of how unlikely it is a deal happens.

But perhaps the biggest place where the Yankees will feel King’s absence will be in the bullpen, where they deployed him as a multi-inning threat, capable of halting rallies or finishing games. In 26 of his 40 relief appearances last season, he worked four outs or more.

In fact, King’s contributions extended further. In 2022, he pitched to a 2.29 ERA in 34 appearances before breaking his elbow while throwing a slider vs. the Orioles in late July. The injury ended his season.

He came back just as strong in 2023. In 41 games before joining the rotation for good, he had a 3.26 ERA. While King took off as starter (1.88 ERA, 8 starts) to end the year, there were going to be questions of how they would replace him in the bullpen this season regardless. And that was before they included bulk arms Randy Vásquez and Jhony Brito in the deal for Soto. (The Yankees also sent catcher Kyle Higashioka and prospect Drew Thorpe to San Diego.)

“That’s a tough one to replace,” reliever Ron Marinaccio said. “To have someone that has a true starter pitch package, who truly could stay in the game as long as you need him to — it’s not like him seeing a batter the second time through is going to be much different than the first time for him. He can just give them a different look. And also the ability to just be a true lockdown seventh- or eighth-inning or ninth-inning guy if he needs to. He had that next gear if he needed to run it up to 98 mph if he needed to. It’s impressive.”

In January, the ZiPS projection system forecast the Yankees’ bullpen at 2.6 fWAR in 2024 — down from the 4.2 projection it had heading into 2023. That was before the Yankees acquired lefty Caleb Ferguson (ZiPS-projected 0.7 fWAR) from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The bullpen appears to have plenty of upside, especially in the back end with the proven Clay Holmes (2.86 ERA, 66 games). But fellow late-inning candidates Tommy Kahnle (2.66 ERA, 42 games) and Jonathan Loaisiga (3.06 ERA, 17 games) each were injured for large swaths of last season. And while Boone has championed the depth of the team’s non-roster invitee list, the team figures to cycle through arms in late spring and early in the regular season until they find a middle-innings crew that sticks.

Boone had an early suggestion for who could fill King’s role: Righty Ian Hamilton.

“Those are the conversations we’re having now,” the manager said. “Who do we want to build up in that one-plus, two(-inning role)? Kinger is a little bit of a unicorn in that we were going sometimes three (innings), 50 pitches in high leverage when it was his day.

“I don’t know if we’ll get anyone built up to that level.”

Hamilton, 28, was a revelation for the Yankees last year. In 39 appearances, he had a 2.64 ERA, striking out 10.7 batters per nine innings while walking 4.0. It was the most games he’d thrown in the majors since he appeared in 10 contests in 2018 for the Chicago White Sox. Last season, Hamilton worked at least four outs 20 times.

Hamilton said the Yankees haven’t told him to expect any particular role this season.

“Whatever will keep me in the bullpen or anything,” he said. “Probably similar to last year. Just be ready for whatever and get some outs whenever that is.”

Hamilton said the role King held “was not easy.”

“Especially doing that damn near every time there’s no one out and with runners on,” he said. “He’s a big dude, and those are big shoes to fill. I don’t think you can replace him, but you can definitely try to fill other roles, and see who can fit roles the best.”

Boone also mentioned that righties Luke Weaver and Loaisiga and lefty Ferguson each could work multi-inning roles. The Yankees have discussed using Loaisiga in extended relief appearances and on a semi-schedule to keep him healthy.

“Hopefully,” Boone said, “we develop one-plus or two options.”

Right now, the Yankees can’t do much more than hope to figure it out, considering how important King had become to them.

A muscular, buffed-up physique of six feet and one inch encapsulates Henry Cavill, who has found occult fame on-screen for his role as Superman and Netflix’s The Witcher.

Yet, when the cameras are not rolling, the British actor settles into his natural ways full of mannerisms that come from being a true gentleman. However, he would soon feature on the big screens with the Guy Ritchie directorial, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, and showcase complete antipodal mannerisms from his real self.

Centered around a pivotal point in the Second World War, the movie, at times, does differ from history, but there remain good reasons for it.

Henry Cavill admits Guy Ritchie going over the top in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

In two weeks, movie-goers worldwide will come face-to-face with the second feature-length collaboration as an actor-director between Henry Cavill and Guy Ritchie in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.

While the movie involves the narration of the heroics of the real-life Winston Churchill-led secret organization, the Special Operations Executive, the 40-year-old actor, in talks with extraTV, admitted fictionalizing a few details but defended it with “But, at the same time, it’s okay to have some fun with them”.

Cavill’s remarks stand to testify to Hollywood’s practice of tweaking historical scenes slightly for the enhancement of its narrative. Christopher Nolan did the same with Oppenheimer and thus, here is Guy Ritchie with his “hyperbole to the telling of this story” and adding flavor to the “bravery, heroism, and, madness of people like the SOE operatives”. Additionally, such deviations also make way for the movie to become fit for consumption by the masses and not turn into a historical documentary.

In the same round of talks, Henry Cavill also remarked about the true story appearing completely fictional even without any tweaks.

The unconventionality in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare stands absolutely real

In its first trailer, released weeks down the line, Henry Cavill gave a surprising first look at his Major Gus March-Phillipps character. Sticking his tongue out, featuring unkempt hair, a twirly mustache, a rugged outlook, and an unhinged appearance, sent fans into a frenzy for the fan-favorite actor debuting his first-of-a-kind acting appearance. However, the descriptions fit the historical perspective, and, in reality; the group engaged in unconventional warfare.

Involving unorthodox tactics of espionage, sabotage, and guerilla warfare, the SOE group gave rise to today’s black operations. Thus, when Guy Ritchie proposed the same narratives to Henry Cavill for The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, he brushed them off saying “Don’t be so ridiculous”. However, he too realized that “When you really look back at what happened, you realize quite how mad it was,” setting the stage for the movie’s plot to come to life.

What are your reactions to Henry Cavill defending Guy Ritchie about going over the top in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare? Let us know in the comments below.

Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes Jr., Carlos Rodon, Marcus Stroman and Clarke Schmidt are already in place as starters for the Yankees

The New York Yankees continue to look for ways to improve their roster ahead of the beginning of the 2024 regular MLB season.

Spring Training is a time for clubs to assess their players, as well as analyze potential areas of weakness in their squad that could cause problems over the course of the MLB campaign.

Hilarious punch up during New York vs Clevland Guardians Baseball game

For the Yankees, it would be incorrect to state that their pitching rotation is an area of weakness, with the team boasting a star-studded selection which includes one Cy Young winner.

However, in a pursuit of perfection the club are hoping to add another star to the rotation before the season begins with talks continuing with Blake Snell, the reigning Cy Young winner from 2023.

Is a deal with the Yankees likely?

Many have been left surprised by the fact Snell has lingered in free agency this long, although this could be down to the amount of money he is asking teams for.

According to MLBtraderumors.com, the Yankees offered Snell a five-year contract worth 150 million dollars.

This was before they changed tact and added Marcus Stroman to their rotation on a two-year deal. Yet, with the season approaching, the Yankees are looking to see if his demands have softened.

Snell is understood to be ready to agree to a short-term deal that allows him a chance at success in 2024 before re-entering free agency next offseason.

Whether that is with the Yankees or not remains to be seen, although his agent Scott Boras has suggested that the shorter deal could be a way to tempt the New York franchise back to the negotiating table.

A max contract isn’t possible for the Yankees, who are already paying significant amounts in terms of the luxury tax penalty, and any further big deal will be taxed at 110 percent, making a long-term deal for Snell unsustainable.

One of Aaron Judge’s chief wishes has just become a reality. After a disastrous 2023, Aaron Judge was at the forefront, demanding changes within the New York Yankees organization.

One of his biggest complaints was how the analytics team delivered data to the players. With numbers holding a supreme position in modern baseball, it became crucial for the Bombers to change their system. They’ve done just that by appointing Aaron Leanhardt as their new Major League analyst.

Leanhardt has been in the Yankees organization since 2018. A former hitting coach, he has studied the Pinstripes’ hitting struggles closely. More substantially, the franchise has always adored Lenny (as the clubhouse calls him). Especially Aaron Judge – with whom Leanhardt shares a special relationship.

As the New York Post reports, Aaron Judge and Aaron Leanhardt grew closer last month during late night hitting practice session. It was then that Judge realized the inherent potential and talent of Leanhardt. So it isn’t a surprise that after this appointment, the Yankees captain has come out in full support of their new analyst.

“I’m excited about him. He’s in a good role, being that analyst, that’s the barrier between us and the analytics. What I’ve seen so far, he does a good job funneling the information down. I think the guys are going to love him,” Judge said. The Captain’s immense respect for Leanhardt was shared by skipper Aaron Boone as well.

“He’s got a great work ethic, an insane love of the game. He’s the guy that’s here forever, just all things baseball,” Boone remarked. Leanhardt has certainly been through a long journey.

What makes Aaron Leanhardt special, according to Aaron Judge?

Aaron Leanhardt was once a professor and MIT Physicist before he turned his attention to baseball. He’s spent years coaching many low-level teams and affiliates. It’s because of his history as the hitting coach that Judge finds him an apt appointment by the team. Judge continued, “He’ll be able to filter through the numbers…I think he’ll do a good job of understanding why certain numbers say certain things.”

It was a serious problem for the Yankees in their 82-80 disaster. Apart from Judge, their ace Gerrit Cole has also agreed that their analysis was a little subpar last year. Lack of clarity hampered their hitting form. So now that Leanhardt is here, one looks to see how this will change the Pinstripes in the long run.

The New York Yankees’ redemption saga is incomplete without Aaron Judge’s return to glory. It has been two years since Judge conquered the American League.

Ever since then, injuries and setbacks have ruined whatever momentum All Rise was developing. But while his toe still requires some care, projections indicate that Judge could stand heads and toes above others in 2024.

Is it surprising to expect Judge leading the way in 2024? Of course not. This is a man who broke the AL home run record in 2022. However, a lot has changed since then – both in the league and 2022 AL MVP’s health. While he has maintained that his toe will require “constant maintenance”, here’s why Judge remains the leader in every slugging projection – his sheer power. 

According to BetMGM – Aaron Judge has around +375 odds of being the regular season Home Run leader in 2024. Last season’s Home run leader Matt Olson comes in second with +650 odds. Surprisingly, Shohei Ohtani is down to 5th with +900 odds. Ohtani’s injury plays a role in his reduced odds, so why doesn’t the same issue affect Judge?

One of the reasons is that despite only playing 106 games (only 367 at-bats) last season, Judge was able to hit 37 homers. While it’s a far cry from the 62 he hit in 2022, had it not been for that freak toe injury, one could guess where Judge might have reached. Even The Athletic’s Austin Mock projects Judge to hit the league-high 41.5 homers this season.

While one awaits the start of the regular season, Spring Training has shown that Judge has one major advantage with him this time around.

Could the presence of Juan Soto enable the power of Aaron Judge?

In a rare occurrence, Aaron Judge is finally getting to play third in the Pinstripes. With Juan Soto at second, suddenly the chances of Judge getting more hittable pitches become more likely. This has raised hopes that the duo’s presence mutually benefits them. Luckily we got a glimpse of it in the recent Spring Training game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Juan Soto hit a massive home run, while Judge went 2-for-2. All Rise hit a double and then an RBI in that game. The presence of Soto gave Judge more ease at the plate and that could be the case throughout this season. With the hitting lineup getting stronger than ever, Judge has less pressure to perform. More importantly, pitchers have fewer options to pitch around him.

In short, could Judge get more pitches in the zone? Possibly. Would it benefit him in the long run? Definitely. That makes the Yankees’ redemption arc all the more interesting.

A crisp October evening at Yankee Stadium, an excited crowd, and at the heart of it all, a young shortstop ready to make history.

This could very well be the scene in 2024 with Anthony Volpe at the center of attention, potentially (hopefully) steering the New York Yankees toward their 28th World Series title, breaking a long drought. But what makes Volpe so special? And why are fans and pundits whispering that he could be the next big Yankee icon?

Since the departure of Derekx Jeter, a void has lingered at shortstop, a position once graced by one of the game’s most charismatic leaders. The Yankees, despite their star-studded lineup and deep pockets, have yearned for a player who not only excels on the field but also embodies the spirit and passion of the pinstripes. Enter Anthony Volpe, a youngster who, in his rookie year, managed to grab the Gold Glove, despite excessive criticism.

USA Today via Reute

The Heart of the Yankees’ Aspirations – Anthony Volpe

Volpe’s 2023 season was a rather rollercoaster. Amidst the highs and lows typical of a rookie campaign, he showcased a great amount of resilience and talent. By snagging one AL Rookie of the Year vote and a Gold Glove award, he began forging a legacy in a position extremely difficult to fill. The Yankees’ roster is quite packed with powerhouses like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

Yet, baseball aficionados know that a team’s strength isn’t just its brightest stars but also its underdogs. Volpe stands out in an area where the Yankees lack alternatives, making his role all the more pivotal. As the only standout shortstop, his growth and performance could very well tip the scales for the Yankees.

Anthony Volpe’s speed is a real game-changer for the Yankees, adding an exciting edge to their game plan in 2024. His ability to sprint at 28.3 feet per second is impressive, but his smart base running and quick thinking make a difference. Volpe has a knack for reading the game.

Volpe’s approach at the plate during his rookie year was marked by promise but also areas needing improvement. His power was evident, but so was his susceptibility to strikeouts and off-speed pitches. Recognizing this, Volpe and the Yankees’ hitting coaches dissected his swing mechanics, identifying key areas for enhancement. The primary focus was on reducing the uppercut motion that, while conducive to home runs, made him prone to missing low pitches and getting caught on breaking balls.

The adjustments aimed to create a more leveled bat path, allowing Volpe to make consistent contact and utilize all fields. By flattening his swing, he’s expected to improve his ability to connect with different pitch types, particularly off-speed and breaking balls, which had previously troubled him. This change should not only help in reducing his strikeout rate but also in increasing his batting average and on-base percentage, crucial metrics for the Yankees’ leadoff hitter or a pivotal bottom-of-the-order bat.

The Yankees, as a team, stand at a crossroads, with their championship aspirations hinging not just on the established stars but on emerging talents like Volpe who embody the next generation. His progression represents more than just personal achievement; it’s a critical component of the Yankees’ collective goal to return to the pinnacle of baseball. If you ask me, my money is on Volpe to deliver. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!

3 overreactions to first week of Yankees’ offensively explosive spring training

2024 New York Yankees Spring Training / New York Yankees/GettyImages

The New York Yankees’ spring training slate has only just begun, and we don’t want to be too bold, but this “Juan Soto” appears to be a primetime player.

Besides Soto and his powerhouse left-handed presence, most of the members of the Yankees’ regular lineup have looked Opening Day-ready to begin camp. If Aaron Boone was given a “Bubble Wrap Until the Opener” option this week, he’d probably take it.

Are there a few players fans would like to see more from? Of course. Are there a few pain points that have persisted, year over year? No doubt. Is it fun to watch both Oswald Peraza and Everson Pereira doink popups ahead of a crucial year in the bigs? We had no fun! Overall, though, the machine has operated smoothly, and the most important takeaway, at the end of every day, is, “They were or were not healthy.”

That being said … some folks have really popped our eyes already, and their contributions have merited some drastic overreactions. Sorry. It’s more fun to have fun.

3 overreactions to Yankees’ positive start to spring training

Clarke Schmidt might’ve been the most impressive Yankees starter

Aaron Boone clarified prior to Schmidt’s spring debut on Tuesday that he’s felt no need to address the internet’s rampant Blake Snell speculation with the right-hander directly, noting that the team’s current No. 5 starter is “not human.” And, you know what? Good. After all, if Snell signs, it’ll be Nestor Cortes Jr. heading to the bullpen rather than Schmidt.

Half-joking.

Schmidt has always been a spring star, nearly stealing a roster spot in 2020 before camp shut down due to the, uh, big pandemic. The results of Schmidt’s outing, on Tuesday against the Rays, were fine overall. He allowed a single run across two innings, set up by a deep fly ball Pereira couldn’t find. The crispness of the stuff, though, was even better; Schmidt was fully in control, dotting needle eyes and passing the eye test, with both his fastball and tight breaking stuff.

Carlos Rodón has been the talk of camp, and though he unraveled slightly in his second inning of work before Gerrit Cole reminded him to breathe, he escaped without disaster (at an elevated velocity, if not quite the 97 MPH from his recent bullpen sessions). Cortes Jr.’s velocity was a tick or two up, too, and the seven hits he allowed weren’t nearly as important as his rubber arm bouncing back the next day. It’s early, and while it’s true that pitchers are supposed to be ahead of the hitters they’re facing, all of the Yankees’ starters have shown flashes. Schmidt’s have been the most impressive.

Second place, in that department? Will Warren. Oh, you weren’t ready for that heater, were you?!

Jorbit Vivas has surpassed Oswald Peraza

The Yankees helped the Dodgers out in December, clearing their path to finalize Shohei Ohtani’s record pact by swapping prospects. They took Jorbit Vivas off LA’s 40-man roster, sending Trey Sweeney and his significant upside out west.

Vivas, still just 22, has impressed in game action — even more than Sweeney and his reworked swing have over at Camelback Ranch.

The optics of his powerful, swiftly-uncoiling left-handed swing are incredible, and he’s managed to unleash his surprising pop several times already, homering twice in his first four at-bats. He’s also managed to turn two slickly, which has helped him win the early battle for prominence with Peraza, who’s been relegated to the road games.

Is this “shiny new toy” syndrome? Absolutely. That’s why it’s an overreaction. But the Yankees waited as long as they could to call up Peraza in 2022, debuting him in the ninth inning of a road blowout, just when fans were hoping he might be their savior and stop their summer skid. Entering 2023 as the most likely candidate to win the starting shortstop gig, Peraza was passed over by Anthony Volpe and never recovered, subtracting 0.7 bWAR from the 2023 Yankees during part-time duty. It’s no secret he’s lost some pecking-order shine since his first promotion.

Peraza could still be on the Yankees’ bench Opening Day, but if New York picks up a veteran bat and demotes their bench kids (or if the shoulder injury that scratched Peraza from Tuesday’s start lingers), don’t be surprised if Vivas gets the call before the former Top 100 prospect. After all, he was acquired from Los Angeles because his closeness to the bigs limited the Dodgers’ options in a crowded clubhouse.

Trading Spencer Jones for any rental would be an absurd decision

The Yankees are fools for not trading a Double-A outfield prospect for Dylan Cease coming off a 4.58 ERA/3.72 FIP season! Didn’t you see him on Pitching Ninja?! He was basically a sword collector! And, while we’re at it, the Brewers requesting Jones in exchange for childhood Angels fan Corbin Burnes was a totally fair ask, too! Burnes will certainly take a hometown discount to stay … east in New York. Plus, Joey Ortiz and Jones are on a similar leve —

(Jones goes 470 feet to right field in his first at-bat of the spring)

O … k, can we still sign Blake Snell then, maybe?

Jones’ K rate has always been an issue throughout the low minors, and the Yankees entered 2024 with the express goal of working on the five-tool behemoth’s whiffs while also trying to get him to lift the ball more. It’s an extremely difficult proposition. Players like Jones don’t grow on trees. There’s no “one size fits all” method for tweaking the mechanics of a 6’8″ outfielder’s delicate swing.

But you bet on natural talent. That’s what you do. Jones runs like a gazelle, covers center field with aplomb, and hits like a gazelle with Mark McGwire riding on its back. Jones is one of only five college hitters of the past five years to put up four batted balls over 108 MPH in a single game, a distinction he shares with several upper-echelon prospects.

If the Yankees ever choose to trade Jones from their crowded outfield, they’d better be damned sure Juan Soto isn’t going anywhere, and extremely comfortable with the return (both talent-wise and in terms of number of controllable years). A rental pitcher, even a bonafide No. 2? Teams are obviously going to ask, but there’s no reason the Yankees should be forced to overpay relative to the field. Jones, in talks surrounding any of the potentially available names, is a keeper.

Oh, and he’s taken 40+ swings this spring. Through Tuesday’s action, he has yet to whiff.

The New York Yankees continue to be linked to one of the best pitchers in baseball.

Two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell still is available in free agency and there has been plenty of speculation swirling that the Yankees could be a landing spot.

New York makes sense because of the fact that it could use more pitching, but Snell would be extremely expensive. His contract wouldn’t just be expensive but the club also would be hit with heavy tax implications.

A signing should still be considered unlikely, but New York reportedly is still “in touch” with Snell, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman.

“The Yankees are thinking about it, they’re in touch,” Heyman said. “They’re trying to work on it and we know they made an earlier offer but we don’t know the exact offer. It was five years but I don’t believe it was for $150 million, I don’t have the exact figure…

“They stopped talking for a second but they restarted and have been talking ever since trying to figure it out. Snell’s trying to do that bridge deal for three years with an opt-out after the first year like (Cody Bellinger) has. For the Yankees right now, they aren’t loving that idea.”

In a perfect world, Snell would be pitching for the Yankees in 2024. While this is the case, the cost likely is too high right now. It does seem like both sides have some sort of interest but the most likely outcome will be Snell signing elsewhere.

Bryce Warrecker joined the Fireside Yankees podcast following a tweet exchange that was straight to the point. You may not have heard of this tall right-hander, and if you have, he’s started spinning some of the best sliders we’ve seen in the Statcast Era.

With sliders sweeping as much as 24 inches horizontally and standing at 6’8, the 22-year-old out of Cal Poly is an anomaly whose background in basketball and disciplined academic routine has the stuff and makeup to overachieve from his 20th-round slot.

There’s more to the Yankees’ right-hander than just the nasty slider. He was an excellent student both in high school and college and was a two-time Channel League MVP playing basketball at Santa Barbara High School as well. He’s also a dodgeball champion, and in the Cape Cod League, was named the All-Star Game starter and pitched to a 2.08 ERA across 39 innings. Warrecker is a hard worker who prides himself in being excellent in all areas, and his basketball coach in high school said this about him back in 2020:
“While some guys worked as hard as him, no one outworked him…When your best player is your hardest worker, it makes everything a little easier.”
With a unique arsenal of pitches at an overwhelming 6’8, Warrecker talked about his pitch mix, his background in basketball, and some of the plans in store for him in 2024 as he enters his first year with the Yankees.

Bryce Warrecker Talks About the Upcoming Season With the Yankees

Feb 25, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees line up for the National Anthem promo to the spring training game at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

I wasn’t shocked to see that you played basketball in high school. You averaged a double-double your senior year, I think you averaged 22 points per game. How many points do you think you could score in an NBA game today?

A: “I’d have a tough time playing above the rim and getting rebounds with those guys, so maybe I can score a couple of layups, but I’m also going to need a sub every couple of minutes, I’m not in that basketball shape anymore”

I’m a Knicks fan, and we’re pretty banged up, so if you want to step in, we could use the size, but focusing back on baseball here, the Yankees are not afraid to tinker with pitchers and their repertoire, whether it’s guys they signed in free agency or recently drafted guys such as yourself. Have you undergone any changes with your repertoire since joining the organization, and can you walk us through your pitch mix?

“Coming in after the draft into Tampa and I came in with what I have now. I think what they’ve done a really good job of in developing me is just taking what I have and making it better. There hasn’t been any drastic changes or a new pitch added. I throw a four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball, sweeper, and change-up, and we’ve just taken that, tinkered with grips, improved each pitch, and then look at what my fastball shapes and off-speed shapes I’m going to want for my personal repertoire. The fastballs gonna be around low-90s right now, maybe a little cut to it, and then the two seams are going to be around the same, low-90s with run. The sweeper will be low-80s and the changeup low-80s to mid-80s as well.”

It’s interesting you mentioned the cut on your fastball because Statcast kind of classified some of your fastballs as cutters…you don’t see a lot of guys with four-seamers that get cut. Speaking of unique pitches, your sweeper went viral, Pitching Ninja posted it, it’s a 26-inch demon slider; did you stumble upon that video on Twitter, did you have somebody send it to you?

“In the morning, sometime around 9 AM, I think Spencer Medick one of my pitching coaches I’ve had for this offseason with the Yankees, he texted me the video of that on Twitter. He was the first one to send that to me and that was pretty cool. Some people put together a couple clips and edits of me when I was playing out in the Cape Cod League and my thought was wow, that would be sweet if these could go on Pitching Ninja…that was cool. A lot of people reaching out, showing their support and love, it’s been fun.”

Not many people can say five pitches into their professional career, not even in the regular season, that they’re already on Pitching Ninja…In the Cape Cod League and at Cal Poly, especially you’re last year, you were a starting pitcher. Are you being built up to start or are you being built up to come out of the bullpen this year?

“Yeah so for this year right now, I’m getting built up as a starter and then we’ll move on from there, however that goes.”

Do you have an idea of where you’ll be starting? Have they [The Yankees] talked to you about that yet?

“Not sure where we’re going to be placed yet, I believe we don’t find out until the last day of Spring Training, we’ll just move on from there once we find out.”

You were teammates with Drew Thorpe in college for a little bit, he was a top prospect in the Yankees organization and ended up being traded for Juan Soto. Did you get to pick his brain at all maybe any adjustments he had to make in his first year at the professional level, or at least just being in the Yankee organization?

“We’ve come close spending two years in college together and then this whole offseason. We were back at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, so we spent a lot of time together there and it’s been cool talking about the whole trade thing, how that went down. I think we’re also similar in that we aren’t going to overpower guys with velocity so there is that similar trait there that’s so different from most of the game now with so many guys throwing 98, 99, 100. I think another big thing between the two of us is he’s going out there knowing that he’s not going to overpower you with his velocity but his stuff’s better and he’s confident in that. I think we’re both just confident when we get on the mound, so that would be probably our biggest similarity and something we can for sure talk about.

This first season of professional baseball, it’s obviously a different animal…It’s a longer season, stuff of that nature, do you have any specific goals for this upcoming season?

“Right now I think the goal is just to stay healthy through Spring Training, get prepared for the year. It’ll be my first time throwing on a five-day schedule as opposed to seven days in college so that’s a little bit new. We’re getting used to that and how we handle the weight room so staying healthy is going to be a big one for the whole season. In terms of me individually as a pitcher, velocity has always been the thing where that’s my overarching goal I’d say if I can learn how to throw harder, increase my velocity, then it’s gonna give me a better chance of hopefully cracking the big leagues.

You mentioned you were in Tampa over the winter or at least after being drafted, and obviously now in Tampa again for Spring Training, is there anybody who stood out that is the funniest teammate you’ve met so far [with the Yankees]?

“I’ve been spending a lot of time with guys next to me in the locker room right now. Bailey Dees and Jack Neely are two of my guys right now. They’re making me laugh and we’re bouncing off of each other. They’re two older guys too so it’s cool to talk to them, hear what they have to say about baseball, and then messing around off the field.”

Yankees’ potential trade for Juan Soto, DFA moves, Aaron Judge’s elite metric, and modeling analysis are the highlights of the latest NYY news.

The Big Picture

The Yankees are considering a trade for Juan Soto and making strategic roster moves, while also gaining insights into Aaron Judge’s performance and in-depth modeling analysis of baserunning.

By the Numbers

Juan Soto in discussions for potential trade to the Yankees
Jordan Groshans designated for assignment after the team claimed Jahmai Jones off waivers

Yes, But

No significant counterarguments or complexities were found.

State of Play

Yankees actively exploring trade opportunities
Ongoing roster adjustments and acquisitions

What’s Next

Possible trade negotiations for Juan Soto and continued analysis of player performance metrics.

Bottom Line

The NYY news highlights potential trade discussions for Juan Soto, roster adjustments, and deep dives into player performance metrics, providing insights into the team’s strategic moves and future possibilities.