SSTN Mailbag: Bregman, The Jays, And Garver!

Something seems off. Last Spring Training was everything you want Spring Training to be - the sky appeared to be the limit for the Yankees, and there were very few negative storylines. The Yankees had arguably the best right-handed hitter and the best left-handed hitter on the planet batting next to each other, almost everyone (myself excluded) was excited about the kids' new contact-oriented approach, and besides Gerrit Cole and DJ LeMahieu, there were very few injuries. It was a Spring that made you hopeful.

The vibe around the Yankees is very different this Spring, at least from the outside. I don't think that any of us are thrilled with a contract extension for Aaron Boone, who has managed almost twice as many games without winning a World Series as any Yankee manager in history. The Yanks' players are seemingly dropping like flies at Yankee camp, while the team remains cagey about others (I'm looking at you, Austin Wells. The team is woefully thin in the infield, and while a combination of Peraza and Cabrera could be interesting, the Yankees sure seem to be lining up the third base race with LeMahieu in the lead. It's also difficult to figure out who in this lineup should lead-off, so there's that too. All of these storylines seem all-encompassing right now, and it's blocking out some of the really good stories about which I'm interested.

I have long believed in Jasson Dominguez's talent and attitude; I really believe he is going to be an excellent rookie for this team and ease some offensive concerns. I also think Dominguez will surprise people in a positive way with his defense in LF. Everson Pereira, the forgotten prospect, has showed up to camp in the best shape of his life! Normally, I don't put a lot of stock into that story, but I think it shows a lot about a player's resolve when he uses a devastating injury as the impetus for remaking his body. I view the backup catcher competition as an opportunity rather than a weakness, as the names vying for the spot are really interesting! Ben Rice is another guy who came into camp in ridiculous shape, and the Yankees had JC Escarra catch one of Gerrit Cole's bullpen sessions, which indicates they really believe Escarra has a chance to factor into the 2025 season. I think the Yankees believe in both of these kids, and we should too. Oh, and have you seen Devin Williams' Airbender?!? It's going to be a lot of fun to watch in the 9th inning.

That's just a quick hit of things I'm excited about. With all of the discussion of everything negative, I thought it was worth re-exploring some of the things that should give us some hope this Spring.

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 Bregman, the Jays' trade targets, and a potential catching and DH solution! Let's get at it:

Michael G. asks: Knowing what we know now about Bregman[']s contract. Would you have signed him? Would you have signed him if it meant  cutting costs elsewhere?  No fried or no bellinger and goldschmidt as examples?

First off, I want to tackle an implied assumption that a lot of fans make when they see the final contract figures for free agents. There is often an assumption that when a player signs a contract with one team, that they would certainly sign the exact same deal with another. That is often not the case for a variety of reasons - if you want a prime example, just ask the Blue Jays why no one will take their money despite trying desperately. While the Blue Jays are an extreme example, there are other far less extreme examples of the same idea. Never assume that because Player A signed a sweetheart deal with Team Z that Player A would make the same deal with Team Q.

However, for the purposes of this exercise, let's assume that Bregman would have done a deal like the one he did with the Red Sox at the beginning of the offseason. Bregman was one of the Astros' most defiant players in the aftermath of the cheating scandal that I truly believe cost the Yankees a shot at a World Series in 2017. There are still players in the current Yankee clubhouse that played on that team, and again in 2019 (where, despite MLB's claims to the contrary, I will always believe cheating occurred as well). I would have a hard time bringing in Bregman on that premise alone.

However, on a short-term contract, Bregman is obviously a great player to add, though I believe he is firmly in the decline phase of his career. Given the Yankees' current options at 3B, Bregman would be the clearest upgrade out there, and really solidify the Yankees as a World Series contender. That is only the case if Bregman were added to the current assembly of players, though.

I would not trade Bregman's deal for any of the deals the Yankees signed this offseason, especially Fried and Bellinger, but I'd even lump Goldschmidt into that group as well. Steinbrenner's clear desire to cut spending despite the significant additional profit certainly earned from a deep playoff run necessitated that Cashman skimped somewhere this offseason, and 3B was the best of some bad options.

Bregman is a good player, and will likely help the Red Sox fight for a Wild Card spot in the AL, but he doesn't help the Yankees get closer to a World Series without one of Fried, Bellinger, or Goldschmidt.

Fuster asks: Vladi or Bo?

which is likely to better suit the needs of the Yankees given the likely relative cost of getting one or the other signed to a contract?

If we're talking about this season, that's a tough question, and it really depends on Stanton's health. Are we looking at a month without Stanton, or 4-5 months? Despite the Blue Jays' attempts to show off Vladito's versatility, there is absolutely no way he should man 3B for any situation that isn't an emergency; he's a butcher over there. Vladito really doesn't have a place to play on the infield or in the DH spot this season, unless someone is hurt for an extended period of time, and then you work out playing time as you see fit. If Stanton is out for any extended length of time, Vladito becomes the clear first option.

However, I think Bo Bichette is really interesting as well. His metrics at SS are mixed at best, though my eye and Statcast tell me he's well below-average for his career. I have always thought his best position is one of 2B or 3B. Bichette had a really awful year at the plate last season, but I expect a rebound this season, assuming he's healthy. Bichette has some experience at 2B in the minors, but he's never played 3B in a professional game. Given the Yankees' current infield alignment, it wouldn't be a stretch to move Chisholm back to 3B if the Yankees acquired Bo Bichette to play 2B (unlike some around here, I thought it was pretty obvious that Jazz had the skillset to be a good defensive 3B with more reps and experience). The Yankees have a great defensive infield right now, and adding Bo would put two players at their least experienced positions, but it could work if Bo had a resurgence at the plate.

The Jays are almost certain to let things play out until early July; if they're out of it then, expect trade rumors for both Vladito and Bichette to heat up significantly. They could easily end up being the 2 best players on the trade market this summer if the Jays are bad. I think it's really going to depend on what the Yankees' injury situation looks like if that comes to pass. Vladito is among the most talented hitters in baseball, and would make the Yankee lineup terrifying, but I don't see a positional fit without further injury. Bo Bichette is interesting if he has a bounce-back and is a more seamless positional fit. I'll take either, but without further injury, I'll take Bo for 2025 before the Yankees back up a BRINKS truck for Vladito this offseason.

Michael G. also asks: Garver is coming off a horrible year. But he seems to hit best in odd years. Garver could cover for Stanton injuries, goldschmidt days off and be an established backup catcher. Would a trade make any sense? I'm thinking stroman for garver as a basis. 

Garver was painful last season, but going to Seattle couldn't have helped; hitters go to Seattle to wilt. Garver still hits the ball hard, but almost all of his other peripherals fell off, and he's 34. Usually, you don't fix a sudden penchant to whiff and strikeout (particularly when they didn't exist prior) at 34. I understand the potential appeal though; a right-handed bench bat who could spell at catcher and 1B while potentially covering for Stanton's elbows against lefties. It's not a terrible idea!

However, I think Garver is firmly in the decline phase, and unlikely to be useful this season. Even if the Yankees are desperate to get rid of Stroman, I wouldn't do this deal. I think the Yankees' in-house options with Escarra, Rice, and even Pereira are better options this season than Mitch Garver.