This year's Yankee team, against all odds, is a train wreck.
The team that was the heavy favorite to win the division and possibly the World Series is now lucky to be in the same division as the Baltimore Orioles or it would be languishing in last place. From the bewildering deterioration of DJ LeMahieu to the staggering inconsistency of Giancarlo Stanton, the lineup is a mess. The only dependable hitter showing up every night is Aaron Judge, although Gio Urshela and (lately) Gleyber Torres are holding their own.
Say what you want about Gary Sanchez, he's hitting for a higher average than three or four players in the lineup day after day. I'll have more to say about Sanchez in a moment.
For a few weeks a phenomenal run by the starting pitchers, including a no-hitter by Corey Kluber, made the Yankees look like a better team than they actually are, and it should have been a telling moment when Kluber almost immediately thereafter went on the Injured List for at least two months, possibly never to be heard of in the Bronx again. The bullpen, too, seemed invincible until other teams started to vince it.
But it's clearly the hitting (yeah, fielding too and don't get me started on the baserunning) that's the culprit here, and there's plenty of blame to go around. LeMahieu signed a six-year contract and immediately misplaced 100 points from his batting average. I don't remember DJ striking out to start a game in 2019 or 2020. It's now becoming a ritual to begin a Yankee game in 2021. Runners in scoring position? That's where he earned the name "El Machina." Now he's more likely "el double-play-ground-ball-ina."
I'm not Brian Cashman and I'm not Aaron Boone and these days that's a good thing because Yankee fans on Twitter are calling for their dismissal, if not their heads. But looking at today's roster and thinking about saving the season, there are moves that can be made. Because I'm not Mr. Cashman I can't speak to specific players who might come to the Yankees in a trade, largely because as a typical Yankee fan I'm lucky if I know two other players from each team. But I think it's obvious who can be leaving:
1. For reasons other than baseball, Aroldis Chapman and Domingo German. If I'm the general manager I rid myself of any player with domestic violence issues, period. Yes, Chapman is still an elite closer and German has been perhaps the second most consistent starter in the rotation. They should go anyway. You can probably get a decent haul for them, too.
2. It's time for Brett Gardner to gracefully retire, maybe become a coach, base running instructor or broadcaster. He's been a terrific Yankee for a long time but now he's not hitting at all and his defense is fine, but without a strong center field arm. Cashman needs to go find a centerfielder because Aaron Hicks isn't coming back anytime soon. And if you can find a buyer for him when he comes back, mazel tov.
3. Remember when Luke Voit became Luke Voit and we thought that black hole that had been the first base position was filled? Luke can't stay healthy. The backup is LeMahieu, which leads to awful things like Rougned Odor. Find a first baseman, Brian.
4. I hate to say it, but Clint Frazier probably needs to find a new address. The Yankees were never going to be the place where he can let his freak flag fly and he needs that in order to succeed. I like him as a player and he's never dull to watch, but another team is going to be a better fit. Cashman won't get a ton for a guy hitting under .200 but maybe there's a backup first baseman in there someplace.
5. If we're talking ideal situations here the best case scenario would be for Stanton to re-find his timing, have a good week or two and then get traded at the deadline. Except nobody wants that contract. The Yankees can fill a DH slot without him (and have been doing so frequently as he's often hurt) and could use the payroll flexibility to find, I don't know, two outfielders and a starting pitcher, maybe. It won't happen but it would make sense for the Yankees.
6. Players to keep: Well, Judge. Gio. I want to see Voit come back and remind me why I don't want him to go. Gleyber? (Trevor Story and a small squadron of elite shortstops will be free agents this winter.)
7. I'd keep Sanchez, and before you scream, here's why: In his career, even in the years he was considered an elite hitting catcher with a great arm, he ALWAYS started out slow for the first two months. In 2020 he was awful and guess what: The WHOLE SEASON was the first two months. This year, he started out awful and as soon as two months were behind us, Sanchez suddenly started showing signs of the Kraken we knew in 2016-18. I'm not ready to give up on him yet and his defense has gotten better.
8. The pitching. Gerrit Cole is going to be just fine; don't let the last couple of starts fool you. Kluber's likely gone for the bulk of the year. Taillon might round into shape after he shakes off some more rust, or he'll get hurt again because what else is new. Jordan Montgomery could be real as a #3 or #4 starter. I don't know if Deivi Garcia is going to become anything but I'm willing to find out. Michael King is inconsistent especially as a starter.
9. In the bullpen, Nestor Cortez Jr.? No. Chad Green (who has the saddest face in baseball) is getting overworked, which showed in his work against Boston this weekend. I've already said I'd ship Chapman off on principle, which means a combination of Green, Loaisiga and hopefully soon Zack Britton can close games. As well as Chapman? Probably not for now. Wouldn't be an awful thing to have more than a one-run lead late in games (or to have a lead at all) as that might lighten the load a bit.
Is this a panic post? Maybe, but this weekend against Boston was unwatchable. And they've lost eight out of the last 10 games. This team is going nowhere in a huge hurry and things - big things - need to happen soon.
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