Author: Mr HoangAnh

Oswald Peraza sat out Monday’s spring training game with shoulder tightness, leading Keith to wonder what the plan is for the former hyped prospect in 2024.

Peraza once was hyped as a future middle infield mainstay in the Bronx, even being considered a reason why the Yanks didn’t go after big-name free agents like Corey Seager and Carlos Correa in recent years. But now, the 23-year-old has a cloudy role after posting a lowly .605 OPS in 70 career games since making his debut in 2022.

“This is a guy the Yankees had playing shortstop in the ALCS just two years ago,” Keith said. “This is a guy we know for a fact that they prospect hugged. We know for a fact that they passed up on guys – I guarantee you teams asked about Oswald Peraza and Cashman said no, because he didn’t know if Peraza or Volpe would be the shortstop of the future.

“What do we do here with Peraza? I think he’s first in line if there’s an injury in the infield…but Peraza has to bring his bat. We’ve been saying that for two years now. We need to see the kid hit like he did in Triple-A.”

At this point, Keith says Peraza is at risk of becoming the latest Yankee prospect to flame out after having the potential to be the centerpiece in a trade for established big-league talent, joining the likes of Miguel Andujar, Clint Frazier, and others.

“Did Cashman prospect hug a guy for too long that he doesn’t have the value he once did on the trade market?” Keith wondered.

Juan Soto told Jon Heyman of the New York Post that he would love to see Blake Snell in pinstripes, and once again, C-Mac felt compelled to give Yankee fans a dose of reality when it comes to the reigning NL Cy Young award winner.

https://youtu.be/eBRCWt9C6C4

“Let me just tell you again, Snell is not coming to the Yankees,” C-Mac said. “Blake Snell will not be a Yankee. He’s going elsewhere. They’re not gonna pay him.”

But, if Soto really wanted his former Padres teammate joining him in pinstripes, C-Mac has a way to make that happen.

“I hope Brian Cashman and Hal Steinbrenner are listening, because if they are, I would go knock on Juan Soto’s door…and tell him ‘You want Blake Snell? I can have him here tomorrow…all you have to do is sign this nice little contract extension for the next 13 years,’” C-Mac said.

“I love Juan Soto and I have no problem with anything the man says…but it’s tough to hear who he thinks the Yankees should bring in when he could be gone in a year. So sign the contract and I’ll bring in Snell tomorrow. I think Hal Steinbrenner would.”

If you watched the New York Yankees play the Minnesota Twins on Monday, it might have been surprising to see a 6-foot-4 right-hander looking sharp, albeit in just 2.1 innings. That man was Cody Morris, picked up in a small trade from the Cleveland Guardians for Estevan Florial.  

At first glance, Morris doesn’t seem to be the sexiest acquisition of New York’s offseason, and rightfully so. This is a player who comes into the Bronx with a 6.75 ERA after struggling with injury following his rookie campaign. Yet, this is what makes him a diamond in the rough.

While the former Guardian did make five starts in that rookie season in 2022, I’m almost certain that he’ll be better utilized out of the bullpen when considering his recent injury history. If you read my previous article related to Blake Snell, you’d know that I’m not very high on New York’s current starting pitching depth.

Through the grind of a long MLB season, injuries are bound to happen and if the Yankees aim to ride it out with this current pitching staff, they’re going to need as much bullpen firepower as they can bring. Of course, that’s if options like Clayton Beeter, Luis Gil or even Cody Poteet don’t pan out at all and Morris is then called upon for longer innings.

New York Yankees pitcher Luis Velasquez throws during the third inning of a spring training baseball game against the Minnesota Twins Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. Photo by Charlie Neibergall/AP Photo)

That’s where the tutelage of Matt Blake becomes even more important. New York fans have become well aware that the pitching coach is famous for turning less into more on a consistent basis. From Wandy Peralta to Clay Holmes, the former Holy Cross graduate is known for his ability to get career seasons out of players that may have been mid-tier to below-average options. While Morris has shown in the past that he does have some impressive skills, I believe that Blake can get even more out of him.

One of the things I’m a big fan of with the former Guardian is his pitching arsenal. Morris boasts a fastball, cutter, curveball and changeup, with that fastball headlining those options. His No. 1 pitch sits at an average speed of 95 mph, and the velocity of his fastball sat in the 71st percentile of MLB pitchers in 2023, even in a small sample size. Additionally, Morris’ cutter sat at an average of 88.9 last season.

Notably, as SNY writer Ben Krimmel brilliantly pointed out, Morris also has a 38.6% ground ball rate, something that the organization typically values out of its bullpen arms and another aspect that Blake can look to improve on with the Maryland native.

Lastly, while the Yankees certainly have a talented bullpen, they have lost some important pieces like Michael King and Peralta. That means that the franchise will need some new players to step up in their absence and I’m inclined to believe that Morris can be one of those options. With the small sample size that he’s displayed throughout his brief time in the league, I would not be surprised if this ends up being another steal for Brian Cashman.

Juan Soto is endorsing Blake Snell for the New York Yankees, and this has made the baseball world curious.

On one hand, some believe that it’s a genuine desire to strengthen the team. On the other, there are brewing whispers of an ulterior motive. So what is it about this subject that’s gaining so much traction?

There is an underlying connection. Both Soto and Snell are the powerful super agent Scott Boras’ clients. This fact is fuel for speculation that Soto’s advocacy is not so much about on-field impact as it is about leveraging the Yankees’ pursuit of Snell to secure a conducive extension for himself.

New Perspectives Fuel the Fire as Juan Soto and the New York Yankees Discuss Extension

Social media is flooded with comments supporting this theory. One of the tweets read, “Juan Soto has joined Aaron Judge, and Gerrit Cole is advocating all out for Blake Snell (@snellzilla4) to the @Yankees. The Pressure on the #Yankees to get this deal skyrockets with this as it likely means Soto is using it to help his extension talks! @JuanSoto25_”. This makes one wonder if Scott Boras is the mind behind this action.

Well, another layer to this perspective surfaced on social media. Is it possible that Brian Cashman is telling Boras that he’d sign the 2x Cy Young award winner contingent on Soto accepting a lifetime extension immediately? There are no reports refuting the above, which makes it likely that there’s a strategy at play with Soto’s own contract negotiations in mind.

Whether there is a master plan or not, Soto’s praise for his former teammate’s talent and personality is genuine. But it’s the timing of his public endorsement that gives the world food for thought. With contract talks underway, using his influence to nudge the Yankees in the direction of a specific player could be seen as an astute tactic. That said, it’s important to look at this from the lens of the Yankees.

The Yankees’ Dilemma 

The Yankees are already exceeding the luxury tax threshold and are faced with a big decision. Now, adding Snell’s hefty salary would strain their financial capabilities further. On the contrary, the possibility of a supremely dominant rotation with Cole and Snell, coupled with the dominance of Soto is infatuating. While drooling over this is inevitable, it makes the situation quite complex.

But isn’t it known that the world of professional sports blends camaraderie with calculated business decisions? In this case, the 25-year-old Dominican’s support for Snell could be a mix of both. Only time can tell if the Yankees bite the bait (if it’s a bait) and sign Snell. Now this is an intriguing case to follow closely.

Might the Astros seize an opportunity to bolster their rotation and wound the Yankees in one fell swoop?

San Diego Padres pitcher Blake Snell / Orlando Ramirez/GettyImages

The Houston Astros, while a bit sluggish in the early going of Grapefruit League action, should be among the best teams in baseball when the dust settles. With Jose Altuve, Yordan Álvarez, Alex Bregman, and Kyle Tucker stepping into the batter’s box every night, opposing pitchers are going to have a problem.

The back end of the bullpen, much like the Astros lineup, will be elite in 2024. Though some questions remain about the middle innings, if Houston can maintain a lead heading into the seventh inning, Bryan Abreu, Ryan Pressly, and Josh Hader are going to lock things down most nights.

But the Astros rotation is bit of a question mark. The New York Yankees had been chasing after Dylan Cease earlier this offseason, and recent reports suggest that Brian Cashman and agent Scott Boras have had conversations centering around Blake Snell. Maybe now is the moment for the Astros to kill two birds with one stone by solidifying the rotation and sticking it to the Yankees.

Could Yankees backing off lead Astros to Blake Snell or Dylan Cease?

The Astros already surprised the baseball world earlier this offseason after agreeing to make Hader the highest-paid reliever in Major League Baseball history. Why not shock the pundits once again and also send Cashman crying to the back page of the New York newspapers if he’s not going to take his Snell pursuit seriously?

The Yankees are arguably the Astros’ biggest competition in the American League next season. Taking nothing away from AL West Division rivals, the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners, but the Yankees lineup is one of the most imposing in baseball. Add the Baltimore Orioles to the list, and it would be rather unbelievable if one of those five teams wasn’t representing the AL in the World Series.

The Yankees tried to snag Cease earlier this offseason, but the price tag was said to be too high. New York then settled on Marcus Stroman who, if we’re being honest, is a middle of the rotation starter in a good rotation. Throw in Carlos Rodón, Nestor Cortes, and Gerrit Cole, and you can see why the Yankees are high on Snell. Acquiring the reigning NL Cy Young Award-winner could put them in the cat bird’s seat in the American League. So … why are they still so far apart in potential conversations, as Jon Heyman noted on Tuesday?

The Astros shouldn’t close the door to Blake Snell

At last year’s trade deadline, the Astros were said to have interest in both a starter and reliever from the San Diego Padres. Seeing as how both Hader and Snell were free agents to be and San Diego had fallen out of contention, the logical conclusion is that Houston was looking to snag both southpaws from the Padres last summer.

That would lead one to believe that there’s obvious interest from the Astros’ camp when it comes to Snell. However, having already blown past last year’s payroll and crossed the Competitive Balance Tax threshold, any deal the Astros now execute will come with added dollars to the contract.

But with Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. out until midseason, and former Cy Young Award-winner Justin Verlander dealing with shoulder issues during his age 41 season, it’s easy to see how the Astros could use another proven starter. After watching Cody Bellinger, who’s also represented by Boras, sign a short-term, high AAV deal with the Chicago Cubs, perhaps the Astros could do something similar with Snell.

Either one of Dylan Cease or Blake Snell is going to cost the Houston Astros prospect capital or a lot of money, but adding depth the rotation while watching the New York Yankees fumble away another opportunity would be priceless.

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — The Yankees have been relatively healthy through the first few weeks of spring training, but a potential concern popped up Tuesday.

Oswald Peraza was scratched from joining the Yankees on their trip to face the Rays because of right shoulder tightness that he experienced on Monday, according to Aaron Boone.

“I’m hoping he’s back in there maybe Thursday or Friday,” Boone said after the Yankees’ 4-2 loss at Charlotte Sports Park. “We’ll just see. Today he seemed better but [Monday] the trainers noticed he was pretty tight back there. Hoping it’s a day-to-day thing. We’ll see.”

Oswald Peraza, taking batting practice earlier in spring training, was scratched from the lineup because of right shoulder tightness.Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Boone said he did not think Peraza was scheduled to undergo any tests.

It is an important spring for the 23-year-old Peraza, who has a shot to make the bench as a backup infielder but also could be sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (he has one minor league option remaining) to get everyday at-bats.

After Anthony Volpe won the starting shortstop job last spring, the defensively gifted Peraza struggled to produce offensively in limited action with the Yankees.

He hit just .191 with a .539 OPS across 52 games while filling in mostly at third base.

Will Warren made his Grapefruit League debut Tuesday, striking out three across 2 ²/₃ innings against the Rays.

Will Warren allowed just one run in his Graprefruit League debut.Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

He gave up four hits and one run against a close-to-full-strength Rays lineup.

“He was good,” Boone said. “Every pitch that he didn’t execute perfectly got whacked pretty good. But I thought he was in command.”

Fellow pitching prospect Chase Hampton also threw an inning, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out two.

Boone praised the duo before the game and said both were “going to be big-league starting pitchers” — with Warren slightly ahead of Hampton in the development process.

Both could make their MLB debuts this season as important depth starters for a rotation that has injury risks.

“I do feel like we have better options than I would have even expected behind that, whether you call it 6-8, 6-10 [beyond the top five starters], whatever it may be,” Boone said.

Jose Trevino has yet to play in a Grapefruit League game because of a calf strain he sustained before camp, but he may not be far off.

The backstop, who has been catching live batting practices and bullpen sessions, was set to have a “heavy day” of work on Tuesday, Boone said, as he ramped up his running progression.

Trevino had three more running ramp-ups to get through before he could be cleared for game action.

“I would say by the end of the week, we’re in a position to say, ‘OK, we’re targeting this for a game,’ ” Boone said. “But he’s gotta get through this next week. He’s doing well.”

Boone added that he would take extra precaution with Trevino’s return since he will still likely get three weeks of games in before the season.

Jonathan Loaisiga threw live batting practice back in Tampa.

Former Major League Baseball player Jose DeLeon has passed away after a battle with cancer.

The 63-year-old is remembered for a storied career in the Majors, which began with his 1983 debut with the Pirates that put him firmly in the public eye.

Jose DeLeon MLB

That season he finished seventh in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. During that season, he posted a record of seven wins and three losses in a total of 15 starts on the mound, including three complete games.

He further distinguished himself by leading the National League in strikeouts in 1989 with a total of 201, which at the time was a blistering number.

How did DeLeon’s career drop off?

Two years later, however, DeLeon’s career took an unexpected turn when he led the league in losses, accumulating an unfavorable record of 2 wins and 19 losses before being traded to the White Sox in exchange for Bobby Bonilla during the 1986 season.

During that same year, he starred in a thrilling showdown at Fenway Park against Red Sox standout pitcher Roger Clemens, earning a 1-0 victory in a nationally televised game as part of ABC’s “Monday Night Baseball” program.

He was subsequently traded to the Cardinals prior to the 1988 season, where he posted a record of 13 wins and 10 losses. It was in 1989, however, that DeLeon regained his form and shone brightest, enjoying the best year of his career with a record of 16 wins and 12 losses, accompanied by an impressive 3.05 ERA in 36 starts, including five complete games.

His 201 strikeouts led the National League, surpassing Dodgers right-hander Tim Belcher, who was second with 200. DeLeon also became only the second Cardinals pitcher to reach the 200-strikeout mark in back-to-back seasons.

Despite these accomplishments, however, he struggled again in 1990, leading the league in losses with an unfavorable record of 7 wins and 19 losses. Consistency had always been a significant problem throughout his time in the Majors.

Throughout his career, he experienced ups and downs, struggling not only with his effectiveness on the mound, but also with bad fortune on several occasions. One example was a memorable 1989 start, where he pitched 11 shutout innings without getting a win. Likewise, in a standout performance in 1985, he struck out 14 Mets players in a game in which he failed to secure a personal victory.

DeLeon, who also pitched for the Phillies and Expos, finished his career with a record of 86 wins and 119 losses, but a respectable 3.76 ERA. He also appeared in the 1993 postseason with the White Sox.