SSTN Mailbag: Looking Backwards and Forwards, Dominguez in LF, Lombard, and Kyle Tucker!

I know that I haven't been around as much as I normally am since the end of the World Series. Work and life got in the way of me doing much beyond the SSTN Weekly Mailbag for the last few months, which has been a point of disappointment for me. This site and community are among the best parts of my day, so it upsets me when I don't feel like a daily part of the action around here. In addition to an absence of work/life balance, I also have to admit to a touch of writer's block. I have really struggled to untangle my thoughts to come up with coherent subjects and articles. The only original ideas I've had over the last few months come in my responses to the great questions all of you ask each week in the Mailbag. I have all of you to thank for giving me a reason to keep writing, so I thank you.

Luckily, my time is opening back up a bit and my writer's block is fading. I wrote up a scouting report on Cam Schlittler a little over a week ago, and you'll see more from me once a week going forward. I had to go to Tampa, FL for work this past week, so for the first time ever, I got to go to a Spring Training game at Steinbrenner Field (and I only gave my right arm for a ticket, so note to Yankees: if you're going to stick with injury prone pitchers, how about taking a look at a guy who can still throw, but whose shoulder looks like Swiss cheese in an MRI?!?). What an experience! I was there for Aaron Judge's Spring debut. I also saw LeMahieu, Volpe, Dominguez, Rice, Lombard, Jazz, and a host of other interesting players and events. You'll see my write-up Sunday morning, so I hope you find it of interest (yes, you'll see some video and scouting). We've also got a slightly longer Mailbag this week (thanks, everyone!).

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 moves in hindsight and looking ahead, Dominguez as a LF, Lombard's hot Spring, and Kyle Tucker! Let's get at it:

fantasyfb3313 asks: what is the word on Durbin from Brewers spring training? was he a primary target for them? i am thrilled to have Williams, but if Durbin is as good as I was suspecting, this will be 2 years in a row we trade multi year starters for a one year stud

I would have offered them Warren and Arias in place of Durbin, but it seems clear that most people including the experts, put a much higher grade on Warren and Arias.

i know it is useless to look at the past, but I think we made such a huge mistake not trading for India at the deadline last year. if we wanted him this winter, would Gil have been similar enough to the pitcher they got from KC? would you have traded Gil for India? my guess is that since the Yankees would not trade Gil for Tucker they would also not trade him for India

I do think they Yankees have some potential for solving the leadoff question, but if nobody / nothing develops into a good answer, any early thoughts on good deadline options for this season?

There's a lot to unpack here, but we'll start with Durbin. As most of you know, I really liked Caleb Durbin from the moment the Yankees got him in the deal that sent Lucas Luetge to the Braves (incidentally, Luetge announced his retirement recently - happy trails, and congrats!). I wrote about Durbin in the immediate aftermath of that deal, noting that he was much more than his relatively weak prospect pedigree. The Yankees allowed Durbin to be himself, and he built himself into a prospect that was more than the sum of his tools.

However, don't get it twisted: it's a credit to Durbin's hair-on-fire approach that he's a great prospect, and he does have a feel for contact, good hands, and great baserunning, but he's a very flawed prospect who likely has a ceiling. Do I think the Yankees could have used Durbin this season? Yes. Do I think they will regret this deal, given that they now have a dominant bullpen again? No. This was the right deal, at the right time.

Durbin has positioned himself nicely with the Brewers. He is fighting for both a share of 3B and the utility infielder role. He's made a positive impression, and while he won't win the 3B role outright, he's got a shot at being the short side of a platoon there. He also stands to play a lot around the diamond. The big thing the Brewers want to see is if he's an MLB caliber defender at 3B. I have concerns there due to his severe lack of arm strength, but maybe he can surprise again.

There is no chance that the Brewers would have taken Warren and Arias; Warren and Arias had their prospect arrows pointed down at the time of the trade, and Durbin was in a position to help the Brewers in a position of need now and in the future. Durbin's trade stock would never have been higher, and for once, the Yanks sold high. This was the right move, and I'm good with it. I wish Durbin success, but this was a good trade.

The Yankees were rumored to be in on Jonathan India multiple times over the years, but no, I would not have dealt Gil for India. India is a nice player, but not one you deal a pitcher of Gil's caliber for. I would have gladly dealt Gil for Tucker, but that's a whole other can of worms.

As far as leadoff is concerned, I actually really like Austin Wells up there to begin the season, and I hope that Dominguez will cement himself in short order, and become the team's leadoff hitter in the 2nd half. As far as deadline options, there are so few sellers now, I'm not sure we'll have any idea until June.

Brian C. asks: What are your thoughts on Dominguez in LF? Bellinger has appeared willing to move to LF and Dominguez looks rough over there in spring training.

I don't get the Yankees' insistence in Dominguez learning LF when he'll have enough of a transition at the plate. This seems like a disaster waiting to happen. However, I stood by the LF fence last weekend - it really is brutal to try to see the ball with the bright Florida sun and read the ball in the swirling winds out there. NY will look a lot easier by comparison, so this is a good crash course for Dominguez.

He's inconsistent out there, and I have concerns, but the skillset is there for him to be a solid defensive left fielder. There will be growing pains, but the skillset is good. Let's hope that Dominguez is as precocious as he looks. I have concerns, but let's see how this plays out this month.

David B. asks: George Lombard is making waves during spring training. What are your though[t]s about his early performance and is he a real prospect?

Yes, he's a very real prospect who has been dinged unfairly by people who make the mistake of scouting the stat line. Lombard was an 18 year old who was rushed up to A+ last season. In the previous system, there is almost zero chance that we would have seen Lombard in full season ball, and he (and players like him) have been hurt significantly by the dissolution of rookie and short season baseball leagues in the affiliated minors. When you grade on a curve, the fact that Lombard's full season line was close to average is a real accomplishment.

Seeing him in person, he looks to have gained 15+ pounds of muscle. Lombard is incredibly well put together, and carries himself like a pro. Everyone in camp is raving about him, and I was lucky enough to watch him play 3B during the game and on the backfield before the game. He has a great arm, good athleticism, and really solid hands. Lombard's swing is simple and powerful, and he has a good feel for the bat in the strike zone, with no obvious holes. He looks primed to make a leap this year, and it would not shock me if he gets to AA by the end of the year as a 19 year old, which would be really impressive.

The ball really jumped off of Lombard's bat as well, and I think we'll see him begin to grow into more power (think 10-15 homers this season, with more at maturity). I think he might just be the Yankees' 3B of the future.

Fuster asks: what might it take, in salary and length of contract, to outbid the Cubs for Tucker

and which teams might be looking for a power-hitting, lefty-swinging outfielder?

I will be really curious to see how teams handle free agency this offseason with a looming fight over the next CBA, during which the owners have indicated that they will fight hard for a salary cap. I fear that the specter of labor strife will cause some real delays in big-name signings.

The question for me is whether the Yankees will look to add Tucker or Vladito. I expect both guys to get something in the $450-$550 million range. Tucker fits the Yankees beautifully, and I'd be more inclined to sign Tucker long-term, given the fact that he's left-handed, more athletic, more consistent, and has fewer conditioning concerns. I would guess that the Yankees, Astros, Cubs, Padres, Dodgers, Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Red Sox all should be in on a guy like this. We'll see what actually happens.