The Yankees Blog

@MarinoMLB Some reports indicated that the Mets did make an effort to trade for Willson Contreras, but the Cardinals simply preferred the Red Sox’s offer more. This wasn’t a case of the Mets not trying.

Will never make sense to me why the Mets didn’t seriously pursue Willson Contreras this offseason. The bat is very good and he can play great defense at 1B. Missed opportunity.

@RyanGarciaESM I still think Giancarlo Stanton will land on the IL. It wouldn’t make sense to call up Jasson Domínguez just to sit him unless the team knows that there’s a clear path to real playing time for him.

I am going to hope that the Yankees are not going to keep Giancarlo Stanton off the IL and run a pitcher short after using both of their longmen less than 24 hours ago.

@BryanHoch I still think Giancarlo Stanton will land on the IL. It wouldn’t make sense to call up Jasson Domínguez just to sit him on the bench unless the #Yankees have a clear path for him to get real playing time.

The Yankees have officially recalled Jasson Dominguez from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Still waiting on a possible IL decision regarding Giancarlo Stanton.

@BNightengale Max Scherzer’s days as an effective pitcher may be over. A team desperate for pitching will likely still give him a shot to chase milestones, but don’t expect much production in terms of quality or length.

Max Scherzer, who’s one strikeout away from 3,500 and 11 strikeouts away from passing Walter Johnson for 10th on the all-time strikeout list, goes on the IL with forearm tendinitis

@MaxMannis I have the Yankees at the top, with Mariners & Tigers in the next tier. Rays & A’s still need to show more. Blue Jays & Astros down with injuries, but could be top 5 when/if healthy.

As things stand right now, who do you think are the 2-3 best teams in the AL?

The #Yankees calling up Jasson Domínguez seems to point toward Giancarlo Stanton heading to the IL. Hopefully it’s not a long absence, but it feels like he could be out at least a few weeks.

@JonHeyman Paul DeJong would be a quality bench piece to have for depth; but it’s hard to see the Yankees giving him a roster spot just to keep him around—especially with Anthony Volpe expected back soon.

Paul DeJong gave the Yankees notice he’s planning to opt out at the end of the month if not promoted

@YankeeSource I’m afraid Luis Gil is getting close to being a lost cause. I still hope the #Yankees can help him sort things out so he can still contribute in some way—whether as a bullpen arm or a viable trade piece.

Luis Gil’s arsenal stayed stagnant and he really doesn’t have a role with the Yankees now.

@ChrisKirschner I’m afraid Luis Gil may be reaching the point of being a lost cause. Hopefully, the #Yankees can help him sort things out in the minors so he can still contribute—whether as a bullpen arm or as a viable trade piece.

Luis Gil has not been an MLB viable starter for over a year now. Maybe he’ll get back to being one again, but the quicker the Yankees have him back in the minors, the better they will be.

@ChrisCotillo The players didn’t seem to buy the FO's BS either—but if you speak up, you get benched. At this point, it feels like the FO should be bracing for a full teardown and rebuild everything from scratch.

Trevor Story is not happy with the decisions and says he wants to clear the air with Craig Breslow today. Says “some of the best coaches in the world didn’t get a fair shot.”

@ChrisCotillo What was Sam Kennedy supposed to say—admit that the FO needed a scapegoat and Alex Cora was it? Or take full responsibility for putting together a mediocre roster because ownership didn’t want to spend?

Sam Kennedy makes clear this was Craig Breslow’s decision and recommendation.

@ChrisCotillo John Henry knew full well what would happen if he showed up to that presser. If there’s one thing we’ve learned about this ownership group, it’s that they don’t like to spend—and they don’t care about bad PR.

Sam Kennedy opens by thanking Alex Cora and the coaches. Doesn’t appear John Henry is in the room here.

@ChrisHenrique It’d be interesting to see how much a change actually helps. My guess is it won’t do much no matter how great a manager Chad Tracy is, since swapping out managers isn’t going to magically fix a mediocre offense.

Chad Tracy is an excellent manager and the players respect the hell out him. Tremendous opportunity for him to be the interim manager of the Red Sox.

@ChrisCotillo This feels more like a move to save face—an attempt to soften the PR fallout—since firing Alex Cora still can’t magically fix a mediocre offense. The bigger issue still seems to be ownership and the front office.

From Red Sox: Game Planning and Run Prevention Coach Jason Varitek has been reassigned to a new role within the organization. Details of his reassignment will be announced at a later date.

@ChrisCotillo Too bad this fanbase can’t fire John Henry when he seems to be more of the problem for the Red Sox than Alex Cora. It’s hard to win with a roster full of holes and an ownership group that refuses to spend.

“Alex Cora led this organization to one of the greatest seasons in Red Sox history in 2018, and for that, and the many years that followed, he will always have our deepest gratitude,” said Red Sox Principal Owner John Henry. “He has had a lasting impact on this team and on this city. He has led on and off the field in so many important ways. These decisions are never easy, but this one is especially difficult given what Alex has meant to the Red Sox since the day he arrived.   “I want to thank Alex, our coaches, and their families for everything they have given to this organization. They have been part of this club in a way that goes beyond the field, and they will always have our respect and gratitude.”

@ChrisHenrique This likely means the worst is still ahead for the Red Sox. It’s hard to see how swapping in a minor league coaching staff at this point would fix much or turn a clearly mediocre roster into a winner.

I'm told there's a possibility that members of the WooSox/Sea Dogs coaching staff could be headed to Boston.

@JeffPassan Is Alex Cora actually responsible for assembling this roster? If not, why is he being blamed for a mediocre product when the real issue with the Red Sox is a clear lack of talent?

The Boston Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora, hitting coach Peter Fatse, bench coach Rámon Vazquez and game-planning coach Jason Varitek, sources tell ESPN. While the Red Sox won today, they are 10-17 and in last in the American League East. Massive change is coming in Boston.

@YankeesFiles Agreed 100%. I’m not a fan of scheduling night games on a weekend or a major holiday, and having different start times each day on different channels only makes it worse—it feels so confusing and poorly planned.

Weird timing of games today. There's a noon start, but only three games start before 4:00. Six games start at 7:00 or later. Just not how a Saturday should work.

@YankeeSource In a perfect world, hitters would improve their zone contact and cut down on strikeouts, but if they’re still making quality contact, hitting for power, and drawing walks, that’s a trade-off I can live with.

The Yankees have a 25.3 K% , which is tied with the Angels for the highest K% in baseball. They are also second in baseball with a 12.4 BB%. The zone-contact and swing decisions do need to improve.

@YankeeSource The Red Sox didn’t replace the lost production after Rafael Devers and Alex Bregman left; and their fans knew it. Adding Willson Contreras was it—and they’re banking on several young players all taking a step forward.

The Red Sox look like a Double-A team offensively. How was this their plan in the offseason?