Bryce Harper or Manny Machado?

Boone has tipped his hand about a couple of things this post season. He’s pulled Andujar out of games almost as soon as the Yankees get the smallest lead. He has no trust in Andujar’s fielding. Something will have to give if Boone will be returning in 2019. I assume he will, whether I agree with that or not. If the manager stays, the player will need to go.

So, either Andujar will be on the trade block or he’ll be moved to DH, that would mean that either Stanton is going to play in the OF next year, or he’ll be on the trade block.

Out of those scenarios, I’d prefer we trade Stanton. We can get a really good young pitcher for him. His power is nice, but we need to find some contact in the clutch. That doesn’t seem to be one of his specialties.

I hated to type that because I used to moan that the Yankees should go after Stanton. Now that they have him, I realize I may have been mistaken...

So the first guy I would put on the block this winter is Giancarlo Stanton. I’d rather we don’t lose Andujar, and I’d also rather not see him dumped into a full time DH role. I’d like to see him get some time to work on his defense...That bat is lethal. I know it’s become stylish to want a guy to draw walks to up his OBP, but I don’t mind a high average hitter being aggressive and moving runners along more than one base at a time. In fact. I really like having s guy with an aggressive mentality batting right behind a couple of guys that will take a walk so he can drive those guys in...

Thanks. I didn’t know about his NTC...that does complicate things a bit more...

I agree. Let him work at it at third. Move him to LF or 1B as a last resort.

Assessment of the LF/CF situation:

McCutchen: While he drew a bunch of walks in his short stay here, let’s be real. He’s in serious decline. His stolen base attempts showed how poor his acceleration is. Do we need a .250 hitter with moderate power and declining speed in LF? He seems like a terrific man and team mate. He’s probably going to want to get 3-4 years on a contract to continue starting on a full time basis. I see him as a fourth OF or a platoon-type. Would the Yanks even dream of platooning him with Gardner?

Brett Gardner: Almost a carbon copy of McCuthen. He’s still an annoying opponent with his pitch counts, but his decline is perhaps worse than McCutchen’s offensively. He still has great wheels and OF defense in both CF and LF. It’s most likely that he would like to grab a 3- year deal while he still can, and unlikely the Yankees will bite on that.

Aaron Hicks: Criticize his failure to reach his potential all you want, but his OBP and switch hitting power bat along with adequate to slightly above defense in CF is under rated by many. He tends to be streaky, but if the team passes on Gardner and McCuthen they almost HAVE to keep Hicks. But will they keep himto play CF, or to play LF and back up CF?

I would expect change to come to the OF. At this point I believe the best thing for the team would be to keep Hicks and find another strong defensive OF presence, settling the positioning later. It must be mentioned that Ellsbury will be some sort of factor. In most recent seasons, it’s been he that has determined his own fate and that is at least somewhat likely for next year, too. Since he’s untradeable, I’ll Think of him as the fifth OF. Will he still be fast enough to cover CF? Anyone’s guess at this point.

I guess we’re left with what other OF the Yankees might want to either sign as a FA, or trade for that can fill the need of covering either the huge LF or CF in our ballpark. Suggestions? Is Harper a strong enough defender to take over LF???

Good point. Then we’d have to move Judge to LF. I don’t doubt that he would be willing to move. While he covers RF well, could you see him covering LF? He’s very patient in the field, makes sure he gets into a good position to make a strong and accurate throw. But is that what this LF requires? Gardner zooms to the ball and gets rid of the ball quickly do discourage base runners from trying for the extra base.

Harper would surely be a nasty bat in Yankee Stadium. I believe Judge would welcome him (and the position change to accommodate him. When we think of the money, which perhaps we shouldn’t, would we be better off to find a strong defensive outfielder with the versatility to cover a corner or center field? Perhaps one with speed...

Where does Red Concussion...er Thunder fit into the future plans?

Rizzuto, good mention on Frazier. Who really knows the answer to that one? I get the feeling we'd trade him, but without health his value is quite low right now. Also, without a good reading on his health we don't know what we have if we keep him...For now, he's on the "budding young Greg Bird" list of prospects with potential that can't stay on the field...