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Utility participant Enrique Hernández signed with the Dodgers earlier this week after having reported curiosity from golf equipment such because the Giants, Angels, Twins, and Padres. Hernández spoke to Foul Territory about his free company (video link by way of X), including that the Tigers have been additionally however that it got here right down to the Dodgers and Yankees on the finish.
The curiosity from the Tigers was not beforehand reported, however it appears truthful to imagine it got here earlier than they signed one other utility infielder, Gio Urshela. That the Yankees have been on the desk isn’t one thing that was beforehand reported and would appear to counsel they’re open to including one other utility participant to their roster.
There are just a few alternative ways Hernández might have been helpful off the bench for the Yankees. The membership is about to have veterans DJ LeMahieu and Anthony Rizzo on the infield corners, each of whom at the moment are within the mid-30s and struggled with accidents final 12 months. He might have given them some further cowl at these spots whereas additionally maybe stepping into the outfield combine in a platoon capability, pairing with lefty Alex Verdugo.
Hernández hits from the correct aspect and has a profession slash of .257/.343/.458 in opposition to southpaws, ok for a 115 wRC+, in comparison with a line of .228/.290/.377 and 80 wRC+ in opposition to righties. Verdugo’s profession splits are .290/.346/.461 and 115 wRC+ in opposition to righties however .259/.315/.350 and 80 wRC+ versus lefties. Left-hander Trent Grisham can be within the combine however he has reverse splits.
The Yankees undertaking to have a bench of Jose Trevino, Oswaldo Cabrera and Grisham in three spots. That leaves one spot open, which might go to Oswald Peraza, however he has an choice and might be higher served getting common reps within the minors versus sitting on the massive league bench.
The membership’s curiosity in Hernández suggests they might signal a veteran to plug into their bench, although there aren’t many confirmed infield/outfield varieties unsigned. Donovan Solano hasn’t performed the outfield since 2012 whereas guys like Elvis Andrus or Jonathan Schoop by no means have. Free agent outfielders like Tommy Pham, Adam Duvall or Michael A. Taylor can’t assistance on the infield. The Yanks simply claimed Jahmai Jones off waivers, who has expertise on the grime and the grass and is out of choices, so maybe they are going to simply flip to him or another claimee to fill out their bench.
Elsewhere in Yankee tidbits, the membership continues to be tied to Blake Snell because the lefty lingers in the marketplace. Latest reporting has urged Snell might observe Cody Bellinger in pivoting to a short-term take care of opt-outs and excessive common annual values, although this wouldn’t work nicely for a membership just like the Yankees. They’re already over the fourth and ultimate tier of the aggressive steadiness tax and face a 110% tax on any extra spending. RosterResource places their CBT quantity at $307MM, already $10MM over the $297MM high line.
Hypothetically, if Snell wished the identical $30MM wage as Bellinger this 12 months, the Yankees would additionally must pay $33MM in taxes to present it to him. Snell additionally rejected a qualifying supply, so the Yankees must give up their second- and fifth-highest picks within the upcoming draft and $1MM of worldwide bonus pool area to signal him. Brendan Kuty of The Athletic appeared on the scenario at this time and reported that it stays unlikely the 2 sides will get one thing achieved for these actual causes.
So long as the Yankees don’t signal Snell or every other pitcher, then Clarke Schmidt tasks because the quantity 5 behind Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Marcus Stroman and Nestor Cortes. Kuty spoke to supervisor Aaron Boone about Schmidt, with the skipper highlighting the sturdy end to his season. “He by no means misplaced confidence,” Boone stated. “He by no means misplaced focus. Then he put collectively a extremely sturdy 4 1/2 or 5 months — after Gerrit, he was the man we might form of dangle our hat on. Hopefully there’s one other step in that.”
In his ninth begin of the season, Schmidt allowed seven earned runs in 4 2/3 innings in opposition to the Rays and had a 6.30 earned run common at that time. However he put up a 4.08 ERA the remainder of the best way, permitting him to complete at 4.64 for the season general. The Yanks might be hoping the 28-year-old can take one other step ahead right here in 2024, as they traded away a lot of their rotation depth within the deal that introduced over Grisham and Juan Soto.
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