SU is back in action after decompressing from Election Night coverage. I will not forgive 538.com, Nate Silver’s web site, for having a screwed up forecasting model that showed the Democrats’ chances of winning the House going from 90% at 8 pm to 35% at 8:45 pm. Note from SU: you have all year to make sure that is working properly. Let’s get on that – especially after your 2016 debacle.
But that’s not why you are here today. There are rumors in Yankeeland that Cashman is looking to trade the Generational One, Stanton, in order to free up money to sign Bryce Harper. Let’s consider that. You will move one overpaid player to sign another player for even more money who will be even more overpaid. Others are saying that the Yankees will sign Harper anyway and keep Stanton.
The going rate for Harper this year will be in the $35 – 40 million a year range. You can sign 3 solid or better players for that much money. SU says the big free agents like Machado and Harper will not put up numbers that are that much better than the next tier players. You are talking 5-10 home runs and 15 – 20 rbis. Not worth it. Machado is a Cano redux – won’t hustle and shows some signs of being a dirty player. Harper is always scowling and is coming off a sub-par season. The big moves so far are re-signing CC and Gardner. OK, we are treading water. SU does not like Stanton (have I ever told you that?) but he is no different than Machado or Harper. If you want to trade Stanton for pitching talent, I am ok with that. But I don’t see the point of replacing him with another overpaid dude who you don’t know will perform in New York in the spotlight. Cashman is known for putting rumors out there to cover his actual moves so no doubt this is just noise. Sanchez now needs shoulder surgery but should be ready for the start of the season. SU says pulling the ball in every at bat must have taken its toll on his shoulder as no shoulder can handle that much poorly thought out swinging over a full season.
SU is upset that Trey Burke has been planted on the bench. They seem to need a point guard but the new coach likes the bigger guards. He will be moved by December. Too bad. The team is fun to watch though. They don’t pass it around enough – too much one-on-one for SU – but they play hard, push the ball up the court and I love that they are young.
Finally, very interesting move by the Mets hiring an agent to be their new GM. This seems to be a growing trend in baseball. As he is the agent for Cespedes and I believe deGrom, you wonder how that comes into play. But SU likes that the Mets have been bold.
So, what should the Yankees do? They are managing to a payroll budget. How do you justify a Machado or Harper, and should you trade Stanton to clear payroll to get one of these guys?