State of the organization: Corner outfield
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Jan 18, 2013 
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There’s a reason — beyond the obvious talent — that Giancarlo Stanton, Justin Upton and Mike Morse generated so much trade talk among Yankees fans this winter. A big, power-hitting, prototypical corner outfielder would fit incredibly well on this roster. The minor league system might have a legitimate outfield slugger on the way, but he’s at least a year away, and for the time being, the Yankees outfield is filled with two small-ball players and one all-or-nothing free agent to be. Those are three legitimate pieces, but the Yankees outfield could certainly make room for one of Brian Cashman’s big, hairy monsters if he could find one.
Curtis Granderson / Ichiro Suzuki
Signed through 2013 /2014
We know Suzuki will be in right field. We can only guess whether Granderson or Brett Gardner will be in left (as I wrote a couple of days ago, I’m heading into spring training expecting Gardner to shift to center). Either way, the Yankees are going to have considerable speed in their outfield and should cover a lot of ground. They’re going to count on Gardner and Ichiro to run on offense, and on Granderson to hit home runs. What’s still unclear is who they’re going to count on to hit against lefties. Matt Diaz is coming to camp on a minor league deal, and Russ Canzler is going to try to win a job in spring training, but Cashman has made no secret of the fact he’d like to add another right-handed hitting corner outfielder. Nick Swisher gave the Yankees a steady right field presence for four years, and he’s been difficult to fully replace this winter.
On the verge
Maybe Tyler Austin can play his way into the big league picture this year, but it’s more likely that immediate help will have to come from either Zoilo Almonte or Ronnier Mustelier, two players who really weren’t even worth watching two years ago. Almonte was signed way back in 2005, but he didn’t put himself on the map until 2011 when he cut down on his strikeouts and hit .276/.345/.459 between High-A and Double-A. His power numbers went up during a full Double-A season last year, and now he has a 40-man spot with a Triple-A job on the way. He’s a switch hitter who was especially good against righties last year (it hasn’t always been that way). Mustelier is a Cuban defector who didn’t join the Yankees until 2011 when he was already 26 years old. He’s too old to be considered a typical prospect, but he’s hit .324/.378/.497 through two pro seasons, including a pretty good 89 games in Triple-A last year. He’s played some second base and center field, but Mustelier’s ticket to the big leagues might be his ability to play all four corners. He’s kind of a less proven version of Canzler, who’s probably higher in the pecking order. Under certain circumstances, center fielders Melky Mesa and Abe Almonte could also factor into the corner conversation.
Deeper in the system
Austin is easily the top corner outfield prospect in the system, and he appears to have been a 13th-round steal. Drafted out of high school in 2010, Austin was the unquestionable breakout star of the Yankees minor league system last year. He hit .322/.400/.559 while climbing all the way from Charleston to Trenton. Despite that little bit of Double-A experience, the Yankees are considering sending Austin back to High-A to open this season. If he repeats last year’s results, he won’t stay there for long. Austin’s breakout season easily overshadowed Ramon Flores, a left-fielder who has a knack for getting on base (.362 on-base percentage in his minor league career). Flores was added to the 40-man this winter and is ticketed for Trenton. It’s hard to mention all of the system’s mildly interesting corner outfielders — converted third baseman Rob Segedin, under-the-radar Cuban prospect Adonis Garcia, does-a-little-of-everything Ben Gamel, and 2012 draftees Taylor Dugas and Nathan Mikolas are names worth knowing — but I’ll save room for Jake Cave, the Yankees sixth-round pick in 2011 who’s hardly played since being drafted because of a knee injury. Cave could have been drafted as either a left-handed pitcher or an outfielder, but the Yankees liked his bat. There’s upside to him, just no professional track record.
On the move
College outfielder Rob Refsnyder played right field for the Yankees Low-A team last year but seems likely to shift to second base next season. On the flip side, long-time middle infielder Jose Pirela began to see considerable time in left field last year and kept at least a little bit of prospect status alive with a strong Double-A season. The Yankees have shown a willingness to move players into the outfield corners when necessary — that’s how Austin got there after signing as a corner infielder — and they could eventually do that with last year’s second-round pick Austin Aune, who will first get a chance to sink or swim as a shortstop. Obviously, if top center field prospects Mason Williams and Slade Heathcott each get to New York, one of them will have to shift to left field.
What to watch
The development of Austin is among the most interesting aspects of the Yankees system this season. Last year was a revelation, the kind of year that suggested he just might be a real life, in-house, power-hitting corner outfielder that can rise through the system and get to New York within two years. That would be huge for the Yankees. For now, the thing to watch is the Yankees on-going pursuit of a right-handed outfield bat and the how-long-can-he-last uncertainty of Ichiro’s two-year deal.
Associated Press photo; headshots of Granderson, Ichiro, Almonte, Mustelier, Austin, Flores, Williams and Heathcott
Guess which RFer has hit more HRs than any other since 2007?
Upton??
Hint: he now plays for Cleveland
I already know the answer so I can’t guess.
Swisher was a good Yankee, and by far, their biggest offseason loss, unless Martin is now unbound offensively.
Blake, Jesse Barfield!
I think the Yankees got the best years of Swisher and that it was probably a wise move to let me go rather than pay for the past when he’s probably going to start declining soon…..that said….they will miss him in the short term and they haven’t replaced his production with a younger player
@MjordanW9: Just bein real, its already out in the open.. RT @AbbelG_: @MjordanW9 Yankees’ prospect shouldn’t say they like a Boston team lol
Trade him for Upton now before he sabotages us
That was my first choice
Nick, your words! – ” I already know the answer so I can’t guess. ” – these are brilliant words!, thanks Nick!!!
I think mustelier should get the shot over cantZler he’s put up some good numbers try it out what could happen he puts up better than andruw jones numbers in his sleep probably
Against, how is, …. Phil?
– great strummer for sure!
..that said….they will miss him in the short term and they haven’t replaced his production with a younger player
———————–
The Cashman supporters are still waiting for his ninja move lol.
blake
As I said, I would have traded him after last season, but as you said, they have’t replaced him.
“The Cashman supporters are still waiting for his ninja move lol.”
I still think they might get Upton….but admittedly Im probably wrong
“As I said, I would have traded him after last season, but as you said, they have’t replaced him.”
I don’t think they would have made the playoffs without him last year unless they had signed Beltran or somebody first before dealing him…..Swisher was about a 4 win play in 2012 (like he is every year) and they made it by two games…..also he crushed the ball the last two weeks of the season
blake January 18th, 2013 at 7:53 pm
“The Cashman supporters are still waiting for his ninja move lol.”
I still think they might get Upton….but admittedly Im probably wrong
——————————
I wouldn’t mind seeing it but are they willing to give up the kids they’re banking on?
“I wouldn’t mind seeing it but are they willing to give up the kids they’re banking on?”
Probably a couple of them….just not all of them….it’s hard to say what Towers woukd want
“I don’t think they would have made the playoffs without him last year unless they had signed Beltran”
Yes, it was a tandem move.
Yea I wanted them to either sign Beltran and keep Swisher and just play them both or do it and trade Swisher…..Beltran would have been a good stop gap this year too….
I would start Tyler Austin in AA.
The Jays need a situational hitter, not too off your backstop, Cliff Johnson, or some one named, Martinez.
Two players that may hit free agency after this season that would be real nice fits for the Yankees are McCann and Prado. I bet the Braves sign Prado but that they’ll let McCann walk…..
I still think they might get Upton….but admittedly Im probably wrong
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…..and then turn around and trade him for that illusive “No. 2.”
/
Mustelier seems like he could help, with that compact swing of his. What have they got to lose, in giving him a chance. Zoilo I would like to see develop more plate discipline and learn to take better routes, at the very least.
/
jmills, you have a nasty looking lineup – at least 1-5. Your starters look good, too. What are you doing for a bullpen?
Mr. mills, Melky is a situational hitter. Bat him 2nd, in front of Joey Bats.
“…..and then turn around and trade him for that illusive “No. 2.””
They are saving Gary Sanchez for that trade
Yes to McCan.
Blake, you received for a whole bunch of years. We’ll put Juan Guzman with you and I’ll watch my Jays win.
They are saving Gary Sanchez for that trade
///
No, ‘cos they need Gary to get JUp. No worries – we’ve have offense to spare.
The Jays are gonna be good….I thought they should get Soriano for the final piece but if their rotation stays healthy I think they are the favorites in the east right now
“No, ‘cos they need Gary to get JUp. No worries – we’ve have offense to spare.”
That’s true….maybe they can get Matt Garza with Hearhcott or Austin or both !
Denny McLean, the last 30 game winner …
I can do that !!! ( And, more )
McCann on like a 3 year deal woukd be awesome
Alfred, I have a pigpen like you can’t believe.
Blake, Rogers just wouldn’t spend for, Soriano.
If McCann bounces back with a good offensive year he will get a big contract. Too big for a team that is trying to keep Cano.
jmills,
Didn’t you trade off Syndegaard?
Is Encarnacion the DH this year? Lind?
Melky hit .314 with RISP last year, 125 OPS+.
jacksquat says:
January 18, 2013 at 8:16 pm
If McCann bounces back with a good offensive year he will get a big contract. Too big for a team that is trying to keep Cano.
They may not keep cano
The problem with the Yankees recent FA methods is that they focus on 1 thing at a time, so its likely Cano goes somewhere else and all the replacement guys are also gone
Jerkface says:
January 18, 2013 at 8:21 pm
The problem with the Yankees recent FA methods is that they focus on 1 thing at a time, so its likely Cano goes somewhere else and all the replacement guys are also gone
Yea I really don’t get this way of doing things. The Yanks could probably sign Prado and mcCann for what Cano will cost
On a related note, the Yankees are unwilling to take one step back in order to take two steps forward.
“@MjordanW9: Just bein real, its already out in the open.. RT @AbbelG_: @MjordanW9 Yankees’ prospect shouldn’t say they like a Boston team lol”
Is it just me or is that a bunch gibberish? This Facebooking and twitter stuff is making me feel old, I just can’t ( or more accurately want to) relate. Cest la vie
blake January 18th, 2013 at 8:20 pm
They may not keep cano
Jerkface January 18th, 2013 at 8:21 pm
The problem with the Yankees recent FA methods is that they focus on 1 thing at a time
—
They are keeping Cano
and
LoHud fallacy.
Id like for the Yanks to keep Cano….but if he’s gonna cost 200 million then the Yanks could get two good players on shorter term deals for what he will make in AAV most likely.
For example….you might could sign Prado for 4/40 and McCann for something like that…..if so you’ve filled two spots and probably cut the number of years you’re committed to the money in half
Keeping Cano is far less important than what they pay him (years/AAV).
Hmm… as the creator of Lohud Fallacy I can say with confidence that no, it is not a LOHUD fallacy. The LOHUD fallacy is a specific type of logical fallacy.
Now you can debate the merits of that opinion all you want, but its also been voiced by RAB & other yankee people. It is also based on the words of Cashman himself, who constantly says they “need to do X before they can worry about Y” like, we need to sign Mariano Rivera before we do anything else.
Really? Just do more than 1 thing at once, damn.
I’m not so sure they will keep Cano and if they do it’ll be a bad contract
Rich, 2010 was the absolute best year to take that step back, or at least, move sideways.
The Joba Decision in 2010 is the most primary example of the unwillingness you speak of and led to many subsequent blunders.
“On a related note, the Yankees are unwilling to take one step back in order to take two steps forward.”
Not really— in all fairness they are willing to do the “one step back” part of the equation.
Synedegaard – he is gone
blake, the Jays seem the obvious favorite right now. They will be fun to watch, as will Baltimore with Machado, Wieters and Jones continuing to come of age, maybe we’ll get to see Bundy as well.
Not really— in all fairness they are willing to do the “one step back” part of the equation.
///
huh. True.
JAP
I agree because it was reasonable to expect a sufficient offset in production from their key players. As they have aged/declined, that becomes less likely, and that sets up 2014, if not 2013, as potentially very challenging if winning the WS every year isn’t to become a running joke.
Tar, keep on listening to that b- ball Rush stuff!
Oh, yeah, just googled it. Syndergaard’s a Sweat.
Jerkface January 18th, 2013 at 8:29 pm
Hmm… as the creator of Lohud Fallacy I can say with confidence that no, it is not a LOHUD fallacy. The LOHUD fallacy is a specific type of logical fallacy.
Now you can debate the merits of that opinion all you want, but its also been voiced by RAB & other yankee people. It is also based on the words of Cashman himself, who constantly says they “need to do X before they can worry about Y” like, we need to sign Mariano Rivera before we do anything else.
Really? Just do more than 1 thing at once, damn.
—
Nah, it’s just another way for Cashman haters to pile on. They have priorities and people twist that into “only doing one thing at a time”.
Just over one year ago they traded Montero for Pineda and signed Kuroda on the same day. That’s about as multitasking as you can get.
Alfred, I have to win now.
Just over one year ago they traded Montero for Pineda and signed Kuroda on the same day. That’s about as multitasking as you can get.
–
They picked up 2 pitchers at the same time, which is exactly the problem. Cashman focused all of his energy on pitchers this year. And said so.
Rich in NJ January 18th, 2013 at 8:35 pm
JAP
I agree because it was reasonable to expect a sufficient offset in production from their key players. As they have aged/declined, that becomes less likely, and that sets up 2014, if not 2013, as potentially very challenging if winning the WS every year isn’t to become a running joke.
///
I thought 2010 was a house money kind of year, but became formulaic and ultra conservative. They missed the moment.
jmills January 18th, 2013 at 8:40 pm
Alfred, I have to win now.
///
Jmills, you’ve got your shot, my friend.
Not really interested in having this debate again, but they had to know if they were getting Kuroda and Pettitte back this year before committing big money anywhere else. If they don’t come back the plans change drastically.
“Just over one year ago they traded Montero for Pineda and signed Kuroda on the same day. That’s about as multitasking as you can get.”
Don’t think the issue is multi-tasking. It’s more about not committing to player X, until player Y or Z decides first. Oh yeah and to make sure the budget minder (Hal) approves.
I believe the only reason Ichiro is a Yankee is because he had a great desire to finish out his career as one. Cash strung him out. I also believe Martin figuratively gave Cash the finger and told him to wait on this. SO not really an issue of multi-tasking.
Alfred, ” hit me with your best shot. ” – Pat Benatar!
Who needs to pile on Cashman? He was the one who said going into the 2011-12 offseason that he had offense to spare. That assessment hasn’t turned out that well, as some of us had predicted at the time.
Jason A. Churchill ?@ProspectInsider
Not that it was a bad deal for LAA — it wasn’t — but as it turns out the M’s swapped Vargas at $8.5m for Morales at $5.25m
===
And, Jack still has plenty of budget left … wonder what he’ll spend it on?
http://tinyurl.com/as5tct2
What is all this butt-hurt Cashman sentiment on here about, any way?
He let the team get really old and traded guys who could have prevented that from happening.
Maybe Bo Knows can come in here with his violin and shame us all with sad tales of Cashman’s humiliation, running coffee for George’s pow wows.
Would someone make a Venn Diagram showing the Montero Haters and the Cashman Supporters?
The parts that don’t overlap would be the more interesting [sorry, I'm not well versed in Venn Diagram terminology].
Tar January 18th, 2013 at 8:47 pm
I believe the only reason Ichiro is a Yankee is because he had a great desire to finish out his career as one. Cash strung him out. I also believe Martin figuratively gave Cash the finger and told him to wait on this. SO not really an issue of multi-tasking.
—
You are entitled to your beliefs, but those are not facts. So they don’t prove anything about multitasking.
Seriously, people think that Cashman is only capable of thinking about one position on the roster at a time?
Venn diagrams, I hated doing that sh!t. Best to stick to Sylvia Plath. Hi, Compass, how is Willie Horten? !
Nick in SF,
I’ll play the Stuckey role:
Would you trade Brian Cashman, straight up, for Jesus Montero?
Yes or No.
Rich in NJ January 18th, 2013 at 8:49 pm
Who needs to pile on Cashman? He was the one who said going into the 2011-12 offseason that he had offense to spare. That assessment hasn’t turned out that well, as some of us had predicted at the time.
—
Second most runs scored in the AL last year (and by only 4 runs). Most wins. Complain more? You may not like the distribution of said runs or the consistency, but that’s not a bad offense, as was predicted, like you say.
Mr. Prufrock, if you’re going to play the Stuckey role, can I first have my $25?
J. Alfred Prufrock January 18th, 2013 at 8:54 pm
What is all this butt-hurt Cashman sentiment on here about, any way?
He let the team get really old and traded guys who could have prevented that from happening.
Maybe Bo Knows can come in here with his violin and shame us all with sad tales of Cashman’s humiliation, running coffee for George’s pow wows.
—
All the violins were broken during the first month after Montero was traded.
“blake, the Jays seem the obvious favorite right now. They will be fun to watch, as will Baltimore with Machado, Wieters and Jones continuing to come of age, maybe we’ll get to see Bundy as well.”
The only Bundy I wanna see next year is Al Bundy on reruns
I live quite close to Caledonia and don’t make jokes about pow wows. My infinite wisdom English overseers ripped these poor people off. The , ” Indian Act, ” is a disgrace.
Nick in SF January 18th, 2013 at 9:02 pm
Mr. Prufrock, if you’re going to play the Stuckey role, can I first have my $25?
///
Nicky boy, you’re good at evasion, but not good enough, I’m afraid.
“You are entitled to your beliefs, but those are not facts. So they don’t prove anything about multitasking.”
Since you seem to know what’s not a fact, why don’t you enlighten us on what the facts are regarding the Ichiro and Martin negotiations?
And my whole point was that it is not an issue of multi-tasking per se, it’s about negotiating and committing to players while on budget. He obviously doesn’t have much experience doing it and early returns are frankly, not good. Of course just IMO
Second most runs scored in the AL last year (and by only 4 runs). Most wins. Complain more? You may not like the distribution of said runs or the consistency, but that’s not a bad offense, as was predicted, like you say.
__
Um, no. What I said was that the problem would be in 2013 and beyond because they could probably hold the fort in 2012.
It’s optimal not to run a team based on a series of one year plans.
It was obvious that Tex, A-Rod, and Jeter were vulnerable. It was unforeseeable that Jeter would be as good as he was. It was also foreseeable that Granderson may have had a career year in 2011.
And for the second year in a row, that vaunted one-dimensional offense went belly up in the playoffs. It, not starting pitching, was the problem.
Where are the ML ready reinforcements in the mL? There aren’t any.
So yeah, dude. I think the roster construction is worth complaining about.
All the violins were broken during the first month after Montero was traded.
///
At least some of us had the sense to understand what was being lost.
But you just keep skipping along to your merry little jingle about runs scored, maybe push a DVD into the player and re-watch last year’s ALCS for reinforcement.
Alfred,…meeoww !
Unfortunately it is true that anything can happen in a short series.
Kind of like how people can make it look like global warming does not exist by using small sample sizes.
Mr. Prufrock, it’s what those on the farm call a horse-bleep question.
If you want to speculate about it more intelligently, what kind of compensation could we get from the Mariners if they hired Cashman away a la Theo to the Cubs? Probably a player worse than Montero, but that’s not really the same thing about some imaginary wet dream trade.
But yes, I probably would trade a burned-out executive for a player with high potential, so it’s not that tough. I suspect Cashman is going to be gone soon anyway, but Montero won’t appear on the doorstep when it happens.
blake January 18th, 2013 at 9:02 pm
“blake, the Jays seem the obvious favorite right now. They will be fun to watch, as will Baltimore with Machado, Wieters and Jones continuing to come of age, maybe we’ll get to see Bundy as well.”
The only Bundy I wanna see next year is Al Bundy on reruns
///
I don’t mind watching teams give exciting young players their shot. I wish we would have done so. I told you, I’m looking more forward to Trenton’s games than our games.
Cashman
“Cashman said Saturday that Ichiro’s agent, Tony Attanasio, has known all winter that the Yanks would deal with their pitching holes first before they would start intense negotiations on position players.”
“Free agency is free choice. It seems like I’m saying that a lot lately.”
Ichiro’s agent
“Attanasio, speaking in two published reports over the past week, said first that Ichiro had no problem waiting for the Yankees but was quoted Saturday saying that he’s now had talks with several teams.
“If we see something we like, he will go through with it,” Attanasio was quoted saying. He also said the two sides “talked a lot” early in the off-season, but added, “Since that time, zero.”
Wow impressive job by Cashman.
Anything can happen in a short series, but it’s not like they don’t reveal any useful information about the flaws in roster construction, especially when they bear out what has been going wrong with the offense since 2009.
You think the case for Cashman’s efficacy is as strong as the case for global warming? Really?
Jacksquat – ” anything can happen in an a$s short series ” – that’s why I was pissed off with Al Oliver and the Jays losing to KC in ’85.
But yes, I probably would trade a burned-out executive for a player with high potential, so it’s not that tough. I suspect Cashman is going to be gone soon anyway, but Montero won’t appear on the doorstep when it happens.
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You’re just steamed because they cut off your allowance
.
Sorry, my last post was directed a jsquat.
“I don’t mind watching teams give exciting young players their shot. I wish we would have done so. I told you, I’m looking more forward to Trenton’s games than our games.”
Id like watching him vs other teams
The Yankees were not even making offers to players they were on record or in rumor as wanting to acquire.
Did you watch the ABs???
Id like watching him vs other teams
//
Now that I’ve given up the seasons, I actually get to use my MLB package
“You’re just steamed because they cut off your allowance ”
What kind of answer were you looking for? Was I supposed to wax poetic about how Cashman is the glue that keeps the organization together and only he can keep the SteinBros happy and keep the various factions in place and organizational cohesion is more important than a single Montero-type player?
I’d be happy to go with that if they would really put me on the payroll, but it hasn’t happened yet.
Alfred, use your MLB package. Maybe, you can watch, ” This Week in B-ball ”
Well, Nick, then shame on them for failing to recruit you!
jmills, Oh, I will. I will watch all of the players I should have been able to see on the YES network every night. And every time I see those players, I will say to myself, I should have been able to watch these players on the YES network – every night.
Hey, Nick, you write smart words, better than Steve McQueen!
I’m suddenly in the mood for Raymond Carver. Maybe the one about the birthday cake.
Good night, all.
T.S., the human safety net, take a break,…don’t worry about it all.
Thanks, jmills, but he looked much better on and off a motorcycle.
Nick, McQueen should be so lucky! U rite great!
I think my point was missed. But that’s alright I guess because some people refuse to see it anyway.
Cano is the best hitter on the team and fairly consistent, had previously been pretty good in the postseason, and he set a postseason record for futility and was the worst hitter on the team.
Ibanez didn’t have a very good season overall, was wildly inconsistent, and was one of the most valuable hitters in the postseason.
You can argue roster construction all you want and I agree with some of it, but don’t tell me this last postseason was just roster construction or that it was even a big factor given facts like the above.
The inability to make contact and take the ball to all fields wasn’t a factor in the last two postseasons?