Yankees have bigger issues than Aaron Hicks, Josh Donaldson

[drt1010]

MLB hardball
Yankees have bigger issues than Aaron Hicks, Josh Donaldson
By Joel Sherman
January 28, 2023 9:34am Updated

https://nypost.com/2023/01/28/yankee...osh-donaldson/

[dayners81]

I just don't see Montas missing the 1st 4-6 weeks as that big of a deal. Right now that deal couldn't look worse, but lets be honest here. 1 I'd rather him get 100% healthy rather than pitch half hurt/ half arse, we've seen that movie before. We don't need the sequel. 2 he's supposed to be the 5th starter and German or Schmidt could handle that just fine. 3 we need Montas healthy by the playoffs if he can return to the guy we saw before he got here.

I'll gladly take the Volpe vs Peraza issue and live with the results

I also really don't see LF as an urgent issue. Hicks needs to go, I agree. That said if it's Flo ( hopefully), Cabrera or Hicks, for the 1st half it's fine. If it's Flo/Cabrera out there, they won't cost us games in the 1st half with the speed/power and elite defense.

This lineup is a bit better than the lineup we opened last yr with, Bader, Cabrera and Peraza. That lineup was good for 98 wins last yr and the division last yr.

When were going to really need that better bat is the 2nd half and the playoffs. If Duhnam, Pereira, Dom or Jones don't hit there way up, then we can trade for a better bat at the deadline. If the kids on the farm preform anywhere close to expectations, we'll have all the ammo we need to make a huge trade if we need to.

My bigger concern is the glut of INF we have, we need to move at least 1 or 2

[Kinkotheclown]

I love the question about, "if they were all 750k players, would you still start JD and Hicks"

Cashman's answer was predictably poor

[hugepatsfan]

I thought Cashman’s answer was fine, particularly this part:

“ He transitioned to a new team, and then we’ll just wait and see how the ’23 version on the offensive side looks, because the ’21 version [26 homers, .827 OPS for Minnesota] was more than good enough. That was something we were clearly looking forward to apply to the roster and so the question is did he just wake up and stop hitting for life? Or was it just an off-year? We’ll find out.”

Honestly, I think this is the right approach to take. We’re not talking ancient history. Last year Donaldson sucked on offense. But the fact he was still great on defense shows that he’s fight off age decline on at least some level. And the hitter he was just the year before last would be in conversation for our 2nd best hitter behind Judge.

If you take his resume away from his name and put him on the FA market he honestly would look like a really solid reclamation project to take a flier on. Same thing with Hicks to a lesser degree.

I agree with Cashman to not pay other teams to take on guys with decent reclamation project chances just to open up playing time for unproven players. I’m 1000% on board with giving them a chance to win jobs. My only gripe will be if they lose out and we stick with them too long. I can even tolerate giving them the jobs to start the regular season and seeing how it goes there. But if it’s mid may and Donaldson looks like he did last year or Hicks isn’t playing passably that’s when I’ll be annoyed. More so with Hicks because his good years are further in the past, and Cabrera already made a strong claim for that job.

[ShadyOne]

I love the question about, "if they were all 750k players, would you still start JD and Hicks"

Cashman's answer was predictably poor

To be fair, what is he supposed to say? They suck?

He has to back them, publicly. And hope they rebound. There really isn’t any other choice. But if the players coming up, are playing better, and we are a decent sample size into the season, and there aren’t changes made, then I definitely have an issue

Would have been even better if these situations weren’t here in the first place, but I think enough has been said on that topic already

[drt1010]

I thought Cashman’s answer was fine, particularly this part:

“ He transitioned to a new team, and then we’ll just wait and see how the ’23 version on the offensive side looks, because the ’21 version [26 homers, .827 OPS for Minnesota] was more than good enough. That was something we were clearly looking forward to apply to the roster and so the question is did he just wake up and stop hitting for life? Or was it just an off-year? We’ll find out.”

Honestly, I think this is the right approach to take. We’re not talking ancient history. Last year Donaldson sucked on offense. But the fact he was still great on defense shows that he’s fight off age decline on at least some level. And the hitter he was just the year before last would be in conversation for our 2nd best hitter behind Judge.

If you take his resume away from his name and put him on the FA market he honestly would look like a really solid reclamation project to take a flier on. Same thing with Hicks to a lesser degree.

I agree with Cashman to not pay other teams to take on guys with decent reclamation project chances just to open up playing time for unproven players. I’m 1000% on board with giving them a chance to win jobs. My only gripe will be if they lose out and we stick with them too long. I can even tolerate giving them the jobs to start the regular season and seeing how it goes there. But if it’s mid may and Donaldson looks like he did last year or Hicks isn’t playing passably that’s when I’ll be annoyed. More so with Hicks because his good years are further in the past, and Cabrera already made a strong claim for that job.

I agree completely. He must support the players. He's extending the benefit of doubt, but makes clear he's on a short leash.

Personally I thought JD was showing his age last season.

[Kinkotheclown]

To be fair, what is he supposed to say? They suck?

He has to back them, publicly. And hope they rebound. There really isn’t any other choice. But if the players coming up, are playing better, and we are a decent sample size into the season, and there aren’t changes made, then I definitely have an issue

Would have been even better if these situations weren’t here in the first place, but I think enough has been said on that topic already

100%. He had to say it but I love the question and that it forced him to make that comment.

It will be interesting to say the least!

[dayners81]

100%. He had to say it but I love the question and that it forced him to make that comment.

It will be interesting to say the least!

Did anyone hear Cashmans most recent interview? the one that he said that they would like to acquire a LHed OFer to balance the lineup, before the start of the season?

Cash has been know to make late spring trades.

I just don't think the OF market is settled yet with Profar out there and being atleast as good, if not better than Hicks. They are willing to eat close to half of Hicks deal and for 5m, he's a great option for mid to bottom tier teams that need an OFer. I truly believe he will be gone by the start of the season. I still think Kepler will be the guy they get for the 1st half and they will upgrade again at the deadline if no one emerges from the system.

I could also see a guy like Dunham having a really good ST and possibly winning that job. Dunham reminds me a lot of Gardy after he turned 30. Duhnam isn't going to be a star, but like Gardy he is a fierce competitor, with all the right tools to be a very good MLB regular.

The other guy that I expect to be moved before the end of ST is IKF. Based on the info I've gotten, Cash hasn't gotten the kind of return he's looking for. IKF does have descent value and isn't a guy who u just get rid of because he's not a great fit. He handles the bat well, can play 4 different positions, will benefit from the new rules with his speed. Some teams 2nd,3rd or SS will get hurt in ST and teams will be calling for him. Especially since he's making less than 6m on a 1yr deal. Shouldn't be tough to move,

I'm not saying JD is going to be easy to move, but with us being willing to eat half the deal and with him still being a GG caliber defender a 3rd, maybe? I think part of the reason we haven't seen any INFer moved yet is because of DJ and being unresolved issue in LF. If DJ isn't a 100% ready and Cabrera ends up your everyday LFer, our INF depth gets a lot thinner. Now reports are DJ is healthy, but it won't surprise me if the wait till they get more eyes on him to make sure he's healthy before they start moving our INF depth.

I'm still hopefully atleast 2 of these 3 are gone before they start of the season

[Webslinger]

Of Hicks, Cashman said: “The [left field] competition is between Hicks, [Estevan] Florial and [Oswaldo] Cabrera, and because of Hicks’ talent and experience, I would not be surprised if he emerges out of that, because he’s healthy.”

"Donaldson has been a hell of a player for quite some time, including defensively last year for us, and offensively last year was really the first year that he went south. So there’s no reason to believe that that’s something that is permanent.'

- Cashman

Looks like Cashman is still trying to sell JD and Hicks through the media. This is sad. Or maybe he actually believes it, which is why he hangs onto players till their value is zero.

[goingfor28]

Montas being hurt isn't a problem. In fact, I'd say it benefits the team.

Not wishing injury in the guy, but I would be very happyif he never threw another inning for us.

Hicks can F off too. Give him the Jake and Arod treatment. Pay him what he is owed and DFA the guy.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

[Kinkotheclown]

My biggest issue with the unwavering support is, if both of those guys have better but still subpar seasons.
If JD slashed - 240/315 OPS 710 and hit 20 HRs. and if Hicks slashed 230/315 700 OPS 15 HR

Cashman would sing their praises and pat himself on the back.

[drt1010]

My biggest issue with the unwavering support is, if both of those guys have better but still subpar seasons.
If JD slashed - 240/315 OPS 710 and hit 20 HRs. and if Hicks slashed 230/315 700 OPS 15 HR

Cashman would sing their praises and pat himself on the back.

In the sad but true category, those numbers would place both in the top 25% of offense production last season.
Quite the commentary on the team offense.

[Kinkotheclown]

In the sad but true category, those numbers would place both in the top 25% of offense production last season.
Quite the commentary on the team offense.

I know! It's nuts.

The mediocrity being sold is really sad

[ShadyOne]

In the sad but true category, those numbers would place both in the top 25% of offense production last season.
Quite the commentary on the team offense.

If they did a bit more than that, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. I think we would all sign up for that, honestly.

Would also likely be seeing some of the younger guys getting ABs at both spots anyways

[Kinkotheclown]

If they did a bit more than that, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. I think we would all sign up for that, honestly.

Would also likely be seeing some of the younger guys getting ABs at both spots anyways

If JD could hit 250/330- 750ops, 20+ HR AND put the ball in play to move runners and get in runs?
IF Hicks hit 250/350. 700+ OPS with 15-20 HRs and put the ball in play to move runners and get in runs?

The offense changes dramatically.

JD needs to suck it up and change his approach. He needs to shorten his entire swing. All his mechanics need to shorten.