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Friday, July 01, 2022

Yankees looking for OF help with Aaron Hicks, Joey Gallo struggling

Juan Soto would top any big-market team’s outfield wish list, but he remains extremely unlikely to be available, and Bryan Reynolds, whom the Yankees have tried for before, is only slightly more likely to hit the market. In an extreme sellers’ market, the Royals’ Andrew Benintendi, the Orioles’ Anthony Santander and the Cubs’ Ian Happ might fit best, with the added bonus that all are left-handed or switch hitters. Benintendi will be a free agent after this season while Santander (free agent after 2024) and Happ (free agent after 2023) won’t be and thus uncertain to be dealt.

The surprising Orioles are seen as reluctant to send an early sell message to fans/players by trading non free agents early, and while they’d have to be blown away to deal outfield stars Cedric Mullins or Austin Hays, word is they’d consider a Santander trade. The Diamondbacks’ David Peralta and the Tigers’ Robbie Grossman are other outfield trade candidates.

The Yankees love Gallo’s defense/athleticism, but he hadn’t had a hit in a week through Wednesday. While a rival GM suggested he’s “untradeable,” some who know him are wondering whether New York is the right spot for him …

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: July 01, 2022 at 10:42 AM | 17 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: yankees

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1. Dillon Gee Escape Plan Posted: July 01, 2022 at 01:57 PM (#6085177)

They're going to sign Gardner and he's going to put up an .850 OPS.

2. Walt Davis Posted: July 01, 2022 at 02:59 PM (#6085205)

The poor things, however will they manage?

3. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: July 01, 2022 at 03:30 PM (#6085210)

Jason Heyward is available.

4. ERROR---Jolly Old St. Nick

Posted: July 01, 2022 at 03:32 PM (#6085212)

So far they've been able to "carry" them, but Gallo's plate appearances in particular are beyond cringeworthy.** His sweet spot for contact is about three inches high and three inches wide. His fielding is fine, but beyond that his "athleticism" mostly shows up in the contortions his body performs in the on-deck circle.

** At least Hicks has had some key clutch hits in late inning situations, as in Toronto two weeks ago (twice) and last week against the Astros. I can't think of a single late and close hit all year for Gallo.

5. Tom Nawrocki Posted: July 01, 2022 at 03:34 PM (#6085213)

Gallo hasn't even hit .200 since 2019. It's really hard to be a useful offensive player that way.

Gallo and Rizzo aren't that much different on the road this year - Gallo's at .189/.305/.400 while Rizzo is at .208/.314/.458. But Rizzo just murders Yankee Stadium, where he already has 13 homers this season, while Gallo has been hopeless there, at just .143/.250/.265.

6. Walt Davis Posted: July 01, 2022 at 03:42 PM (#6085217)

So a Heyward-Gallo swap it is

7. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: July 01, 2022 at 03:45 PM (#6085220)

I can't think of a single late and close hit all year for Gallo.

Not surprising. His BBREF splits show 1 for 30 in close and late. That one hit being a HR.

8. Walt Davis Posted: July 01, 2022 at 03:51 PM (#6085226)

Gallo's mysterious performance is almost enough to make you think he's got long covid or something. The man used to have an average exit velocity of 95 (that's Judge, Stanton, Alvarez territory) but he lost 5-6 MPH (that's a lot) in 2020 and it's never come back (Josh Harrison, Jonathan Schoop territory ... but also Jose Ramirez territory, baseball is a funny game).

9. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: July 01, 2022 at 04:03 PM (#6085234)

So a Heyward-Gallo swap it is

I'd take that in a heartbeat. Don't think the Yankees will. Both are worthless, but Heyward will cost $28 mil more.

10. Dillon Gee Escape Plan Posted: July 01, 2022 at 04:04 PM (#6085236)

Even World Series winning teams are going to have holes. The 2018 Red Sox got very little offense out of the catcher and 2nd base positions, and even Devers had a sub-100 OPS+ at 3rd. They still led the AL in runs and won 108 games.

11. ERROR---Jolly Old St. Nick

Posted: July 01, 2022 at 07:24 PM (#6085292)

One of the strengths of the 2009 Yankees was that they only had one starting player with a sub-100 OPS+, which was Melky Cabrera's 93. Johnny Damon's was 118, and every other starter was between 121 and 141. No Judges or Stanton in that lineup, but no Gallos or Hicks, either.

I think there was one team with every starter over 100 OPS+, but I can't remember which one it was.

12. Dillon Gee Escape Plan Posted: July 01, 2022 at 08:41 PM (#6085313)

1976 Reds?

2013 Red Sox came close but Middlebrooks had an 87 OPS+ Everyone else with 200+ PA had an OPS+ above 110.

13. Ron J Posted: July 01, 2022 at 10:14 PM (#6085321)

#12 Yes. Starters averaging 135 OPS+ (including an off year from Bench). A 129 OPS+ from the non-pitchers. Led the league in literally every meaningful offensive category except HBP. (including SB and SB%)

14. ERROR---Jolly Old St. Nick

Posted: July 02, 2022 at 07:28 AM (#6085329)

1976 Reds?

Yeah, that was the one I was thinking of. It came up in a similar discussion a few years back.

Funny how advanced metrics don't usually have the Bicentennial Reds as one of the very top teams, even with that incredible lineup, and even though they're the only team in the division era ever to have swept the postseason. But the ERA+ of their pitching staff was only 100.

15. Ron J Posted: July 02, 2022 at 09:49 AM (#6085335)

#14 Not really a surprise when you're talking super elite teams. I mean there are two actually talented pitchers. Gullet (shock) was hurt a lot and Nolan had an off year.

Guys like Billingham are perfectly fine under ordinary circumstances but not what you want on the mound against a top offense. Yes, Zachry had a good year. His only one. And Fred Norman had a good year but was still Fred Norman.

And Anderson did his typically good job of identifying some not particularly highly regarded relievers who he could work into the ground and then discard (for all the %^&* he takes, he was legitimately very good at both finding the guys who could give him a year or two and ruthlessly discarding them when they burned out)

16. ERROR---Jolly Old St. Nick

Posted: July 02, 2022 at 01:05 PM (#6085350)

Andujar replaced Gallo in the lineup today and drove in the tying run. Hicks then drove in two go-ahead runs.

I ain't sayin', I'm just sayin'.

17. Starring Bradley Scotchman as RMc Posted: July 03, 2022 at 06:45 AM (#6085428)

Re 15: Also on the '76 Reds was Pedro Borbon, the guy Manny Mota batted for.

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Friday, July 01, 2022

Yankees looking for OF help with Aaron Hicks, Joey Gallo struggling

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