The Yankees had an off day Monday, and started a quick two game series with the Washington Nationals (24-18) last night. The game was suspended after the 5th inning, and play will resume this evening at 5:05pm. Washington is currently in 3rd place in the NL East, sitting 1.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves. The Nats are riding a four game win streak, as they just swept the Arizona Diamondbacks. Bryce Harper has been struggling a little bit of late, but their pitching has been very solid over the last week, holding that Diamondback offense in check.
Here are the match-ups for the rest of the series, although it is very likely teams will send out different pitchers when play resumes this evening.
Tuesday:
NYY - Masahiro Tanaka (4-2, 4.66 ERA) @ WAS - Gio Gonzalez (4-2, 2.22 ERA)
[Game was suspended after the 5th inning - will resume tonight at 5:05pm]
Wednesday:
NYY - CC Sabathia (2-0, 2.23 ERA) @ WAS - Max Scherzer (7-1, 1.69 ERA)
Yeah, the Yankees get to face Max Scherzer, who is arguably been the best starting pitcher this season thus far... look at that ERA... and in 9 starts this year, he's struck out 91 batters in 58.2 innings. It's safe to say, Scherzer has been one of the best Free Agent signings of all time. Man, the Yankees missed out...
Speaking of Free Agents, the Yankees will be facing one of the biggest names to hit Free Agency in the coming off season, Bryce Harper. Before the Yankees made the huge splash in trading for Giancarlo Stanton, many had speculated that the Bronx Bombers would try to sign him. But, between Judge, Stanton, Gardner and the other nine (exaggeration) outfielders the Yankees have, it's hard to imagine them bringing him in. On paper, imagine how potent a lineup of Judge, Harper, and Stanton would be. Personally, I am not a big Bryce Harper fan - but you can't argue how productive he could be in pinstripes. But, with the Yankees potentially no longer a landing spot for Harper, where else could he go? Would he even leave Washington? One of the things that I find interesting is how the Free Agent hold out of the last off season is going to affect forthcoming off seasons. I think teams were trying to drive down the cost of players so that next off season doesn't get out of hand. Couldn't you imagine Harper or even Manny Machado signing a $400 million deal? The problem is, there are only a handful of teams that could afford that. I have the strangest feeling he stays put. But, I would love to hear what you all are thinking. Where do you think Harper would go? Do you think the Yankees make some trades to open up a spot for him?
So, what happens when (if) Jacoby Ellsbury ever gets healthy? Ellsbury has yet to play a single regular season game, and from what I keep reading it will be some time before he does. Clint Frazier has been raking in AAA since coming back from a concussion he received in Spring Training and with Aaron Hicks and Brett Gardner roaming the outfield, where would he fit in? Ellsbury has two years remaining (with an option) on his contract and a no trade clause, and I am willing to bet the Yankees are having a hard time pairing up with another team willing to take on all the money he is owed. With all this young talent coming up out of the system, there just simply isn't any space for all of these outfielders - someone will have to be traded.
Ellsbury could be Designated for Assignment, but the Yankees would still be on the hook for all the money he is owed. I think they need him to come back healthy and get him into games. Hopefully, if he performs well he can rebuild some of his trade value, and Cashman can deal him elsewhere - maybe package him with Aaron Hicks. Yeah, I have not bought into the hype on Aaron Hicks. He has only impressed me defensively, and that's it. What do you think about the log-jam in the Yankees outfield? You know Judge and Stanton aren't going anywhere for a long time. Or does Cashman use his plethora of young outfielders as trade bait to land another starter?
Notes: Brandon Drury has been re-instated from the 10-day disabled list, and optioned to AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre - the team and Drury must not feel he is fully recovered, however, Drury has played in the maximum 20 rehab games, and the Yankees needed to make a move.
In BIG MLB News, former Yankee and current Seattle Mariners star 2B Robinson Cano has been suspended 80 games after testing positive for the diuretic Furosemide - which is typically used as a masking agent to conceal PED use. Apparently, Cano (35) was given the duretic in the Dominican Republic during the offseason to deal with an episode of high blood pressure (per Mark Feinsand). The facts are all still coming in... but very interesting news... would have to think this will hurt his Hall of Fame chances.
Please, let me know your thoughts, I am interested in what you all have to say.