SSTN Mailbag: Catching, Playoff Bullpen, And The AzFL!

Of all things, I've been thinking a lot about the trade deadline. I know that we're coming into playoff time, but the trade deadline is a critical piece of the summer schedule and it directly impacts playoff readiness for teams across the league. The Yankees are no different in this regard, particularly this year. I think if we were to take a consensus of fan feelings following this year's trade deadline, Yankee fans generally were at least underwhelmed if not outright disappointed with the Yankees' performance at the trade deadline. I myself gave the Yankees a below-average grade given the lack bullpen upgrades, an opinion that has aged well.

However, many fans gave the Yankees an outright failing grade for their performance at the trade deadline. Some of the most educated fans, including some who write here at SSTN, gave the Yanks a failing grade. Many of those fans wanted very particular names that moved at the deadline. To be clear, those fans had good reasons for those opinions, but I think it is very, very interesting to look in hindsight at some of those moves and their impact on the team heading into the playoffs.

Brian Cashman gets hammered for some of the moves he hasn't made. While I often agree with those opinions, I don't think Yankee fans give him enough credit for not getting forced into moves. For example, many fans wanted Luis Arraez at the trade deadline this year. He was roping balls all over the field in SF and had vastly improved his defense at 2B. Many wanted a contact hitter like Arraez in pinstripes. I was never sold on the fit in Yankee Stadium, and have noted it multiple times over the years. The Yankees clearly felt the same way. Arraez was traded to a similarly small ballpark in Philly. I worried about Arraez in a small ballpark, as the ability to hit doubles and singles is greatly diminished in ballparks like Citizens Bank in Philly or Yankee Stadium. Many named the Phillies among the most improved teams at the trade deadline due to the Arraez trade.

Luis Arraez hurt his ankle last night, which is awful timing and a total fluke. What likely isn't a fluke is Arraez's diminished performance in Philly. He's hit a very empty .278 and has gotten on-base at a below-average clip. His defense has been solid, but nothing spectacular.

Meanwhile, the Yankees acquired a guy who was statistically one of the 3-4 best hitters in the National League this year for a bag of spare parts. Until a recent slump, Luis Garcia Jr. has been one of the best hitters in the AL, and he helped the Yankees weather the loss of Aaron Judge. I feel a lot better about the Yankees' chances in the playoffs with Garcia around. I think Cashman deserves a bit more credit for both the moves he has made and the moves he hasn't. I'm excited for the playoffs.

As always, thanks for the great questions and keep them coming to SSTNReadermail@gmail.com. In this week's SSTN Mailbag, we'll talk about catching, the playoff bullpen, and the Arizona Fall League! Let's get at it:

Brad S. asks: In the past two Fridays, you addressed the potential futures for the Yankees outfield and infield. This week, my question is about the catching position. I still think Austin Wells has more in the tank and haven't given up on him, but it seems one really has to squint to see anything exciting in the minors. Brendan Brock has great speed and a power arm, but needs a lot of work on improving catching skills. Queni Pineda looks very promising but is a few years away, too. Manuel Palencia shows promise defensively and has benefited offensively from coaching, but I'm not excited. And while Miguel Palmi grades well defensively, his arm hasn't been able to stop running games (so far). Given that, and the need for the team to augment this position offensively (in case Wells doesn't rebound), what options do you see for 2027?  Tyler Stephenson, Ryan Jeffers, and Jonah Heim are potential FAs, while the Cardinals have Iván Herrera / Pedro Pagés and could trade one of them. What do you think the Yankees SHOULD do, and what do you think they WILL do?

You are correct that there is no catching help on the way from the minors for at least 2-3 years without outside acquisition. That means that the only way that the Yankees can improve the position for next year is with a trade or free agent signing.

With that in mind, I will reiterate my stance on Austin Wells. He has been so, so much closer to the player we all expected him to be since the All-Star break. In the 2nd half of the season, Wells has a .790 OPS. Combined with his defense, that makes him one of the best catchers in baseball in the 2nd half (I have a larger post coming on this topic). That number would be even better if he didn't have to hit lefties, against whom he's produced a sub-.500 OPS. What the Yankees need more than anything is a right-handed hitting catcher to platoon with Wells and give him consistent breaks, particularly if you agree that he has played much of the last two seasons really banged up.

Brad mentions the two names I would look at above: Tyler Stephenson and Jonah Heim, and I mentioned both as targets at the trade deadline. Heim would be cheap and likely more willing to accept a platoon role. Stephenson might look for more playing time, but the Yankees' organization has proven adept at helping catchers defensively, something Stephenson could really use. Catching is so thin across the league that I think Stephenson might hold out for a place where he'll play more frequently.

I can't imagine the Yankees going into next season without a better right-handed hitting catcher than Ali Sanchez.

Brian S. asks: Which Yankee starters will make appearances out of the bullpen in the Wild Card round?

Sadly, I think one of them will be Carlos Rodon, just given how the rest days are lined up. I think there's a good argument for Rodon as the 2nd starter behind Schlittler, but the days line up for Cole and Schlittler in some combination in games 1 and 2 of the Wild Card round.

I also fully expect Will Warren to make the roster as a reliever, which is good because his stuff ticks up nicely in that role (a conversation for another time).

The signs also point to Ryan Weathers being ready and available. As a lefty, I'd much rather see him than Tim Hill and Ryan Yarbrough.

If all three of the above guys are in the bullpen, I like the Yankees' chances much more.

Alan B. asks: Now with the minor league season over, who's going to the AFL  besides Carlos Lagrange, if he doesn't get the callup, & Brock Selvidge, (the Ghost of Garrett Whitlock gets him the spot), who are other guys you'd consider to be added to the 40 man roster? I have in the running: Jace Avina, Kyle Carr, Garrett Martin, Allen Facundo, Luis Serna, Roderick Arias, & Cade Smith. No to Tyler Hardman and Zach Messinger.

Honestly, it's becoming incredibly difficult to predict AzFL rosters, as there are all kinds of behind the scenes inter-team agreements to fill particular roster roles and positions, regardless of whether or not individual teams have real prospects at those positions. I would love to see Avina, Facundo, and/or Arias in Arizona, but I just have no idea whether that's likely or not given all of the unknowns.