SSTN Mailbag: AzFL, Trade Deadline Hindsight, And The Playoff Roster!

As the Optimist-In-Chief around here, I have generally maintained that the Yankees, flawed though they were, are among the 2-3 best teams in baseball in 2024. Despite that, I have certainly had moments of doubt and frustration. Again, the team sustained predictable injuries and underperformance from older veterans. Again, a young player with plenty of talent has stagnated their development at the Major League level. Again, the team went through an extended period during which they were an objectively bad team.

Yet, here we are. The Yankees have a 4 game lead in the AL East over the Orioles, a team many considered a juggernaut at the beginning of the year. The Yanks have 89 wins with 9 games left to play. Prior to the season, I predicted that the Yankees would win 95 games. Without a dramatic collapse, the Yankees will almost certainly finish the season in the ballpark of 95 wins. Looking around the league, the Yankees are peaking at the right time, just as other contenders look banged up and thin.

I have enjoyed this season. I know that many people allow the team's flaws and continued blind-spots detract from their enjoyment of the season, but I've managed to ride the roller coaster that is the regular season with a smile on my face.

For the first time since 2019, I really believe this team can go all the way in October. I recognize that the bullpen is flawed, the offense still has a tendency to all go cold at the same time, and Gerrit Cole remains in somewhat diminished form, but compared to the flaws the other top teams display, the Yanks are in good shape.

I can't stand this phrase, but as Aaron Boone constantly reminds us, "it's right in front of us." It is right in front of the Yankees right now. It's time for them to take it. Let's hope that's what happens.

As always, thanks for the great questions and keep them coming to SSTNReadermail@gmail.com. In this week's SSTN Mailbag, we'll answer questions about the Arizona Fall League, use hindsight's 20/20 vision to evaluate the trade deadline, and name the playoff roster! Let's get at it:

Alan B. asks: Who are some of your choices to send to the AFL? My first 3 are OF Jackson Castillo, SS Roderick Arias, & RHP Brian Hendry. Then with all the guys who missed chunks of the season, let it be Jesus Rodriguez or a Jackson Fristoe, if some of those guys are healthy, I'd send them too. 

Roderick Arias and Jesus Rodriguez are absolutely on my list as well. Arias is a good prospect with loud tools who, despite a slow start to the season, has looked much better as the season has moved along. Rodriguez is Rule 5 eligible, and though I doubt he'd get taken in the Rule 5 Draft, I wonder if the Yanks will get him some looks against better prospects, as he's interesting as an infield utility guy or as a trade piece.

Beyond Arias and Rodriguez, I think it's going to come down to Rule 5 decisions, one up and coming prospect, and injured pitching. On my short list for the remainder of the roster spots are:

• Rafael Flores, who has been excellent offensively in AA with good tools behind the plate.

• Jackson Fristoe, who has huge stuff and made waves in Spring Training, but he's been hurt. If he's healthy enough, I wouldn't be surprised to see him pitch to get some innings before the end of the year.

• Clayton Beeter, who has also been hurt and may just need some innings.

• Ryan Anderson, a Rule 5 eligible lefty with great peripherals at AA the last two seasons, and he's also been a bit banged up.

• Brock Selvidge, who has been out with a biceps injury, but if he's healthy, it would be good to get him some more innings.

• Justin Lange, another injured pitcher with good stuff.

• Brendan Beck, a really good pitching prospect who has struggled mightily in coming back from TJS.

It's not the most exciting list for Yankee fans, but unfortunately the talent pool in the AzFL has been diminished in recent years. Teams don't send their best pitching prospects so that they're protected, which leads to over-the-top offensive performances. I don't expect this season to be much different.

Brian asks: In hindsight, how do you think Brian Cashman did at the trade deadline? Jazz is great, but he whiffed on the pitching.

Yeah, it's pretty tough to grade even now. I noted that I was very underwhelmed with what Cashman did on the pitching side of the equation, but I also think that Jazz was a fantastic acquisition who has made the Yankee lineup significantly better prepared for a deep October run.

The Jazz Chisholm trade was an A+. The Yankees won't miss what they traded away terribly, and Jazz was born to play in NY. Making Mark Leiter Jr. the biggest bullpen acquisition was obviously a bust, while the Yankees released De Los Santos within 3 weeks of acquiring him. Jazz is so good that I think I'd still give Cashman a C+, but given how my preferred bullpen targets other than Leiter have performed (Kopech and Puk), it certainly doesn't look good for Cashman.

David asks: If you had to name it today, what would your playoff roster look like?

Here it is for the ALDS, including their roles:

1. C Austin Wells

2. 1B Anthony Rizzo

3. 2B Gleyber Torres

4. 3B Jazz Chisholm

5. SS Anthony Volpe

6. LF Jasson Dominguez

7. CF Aaron Judge

8. RF Juan Soto

9. DH Giancarlo Stanton

10. BN OF Alex Verdugo

11. BN C Jose Trevino

12. BN UTIL Oswaldo Cabrera

13. BN UTIL Jon Berti

14. SP1 Gerrit Cole

15. SP2 Carlos Rodon

16. SP3 Luis Gil

17. SP4/Piggyback Nestor Cortes

18. LNG/Fireman Clarke Schmidt

19. LNG Marcus Stroman

20. MR Clay Holmes

21. MR Tim Hill

22. MR Mark Leiter Jr.

23. Fireman Ian Hamilton

24. SU Jake Cousins

25. SU Tommy Kahnle

26. CL Luke Weaver

I gave real thought to leaving Mark Leiter Jr. off of the roster, but there just aren't enough good options to bump him. Cody Poteet just hasn't thrown at the big league level since getting hurt, so I'm skeptical of putting him on the roster over one of the Yankee starters right now.