DJ LeMahieu continues to make progress in his restoration from a foot fracture, and primarily based on the infielder’s offseason exercises, “it seems to be like there was by no means an issue,” Yankees hitting coach Dillon Lawson stated. Though LeMahieu has but to face reside pitching, Lawson advised the New York Put up’s Dan Martin that the infielder is “in a position to do all the things he must do, whether or not [the pitch] is inside, exterior, up or down.” When LeMahieu was battling his damage late final season, “typically when he got here on the market for batting observe, he’d have to come back off his again aspect and couldn’t actually rotate into the ball.”
Assuming LeMahieu is wholesome and productive, the Yankees will pencil him into the lineup every single day, whether or not at third, second or first base. Additionally it is doable that if the workforce is fully assured LeMahieu is wholesome, one other infielder may be traded to make some additional area within the infield image. Jon Heyman of the New York Put up means that along with attempting to commerce Josh Donaldson and his hefty contract, the Yankees additionally a minimum of explored attempting to maneuver Gleyber Torres or Isiah Kiner-Falefa, however clearly no offers transpired.
Kiner-Falefa is anticipated to compete with star prospects Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe for on a regular basis shortstop obligation, whereas Torres is anticipated to be the beginning second baseman. If Torres will get dealt, New York might cowl second base with some mixture of LeMahieu, Peraza, Volpe, Kiner-Falefa and Oswaldo Cabrera.
Extra from across the AL East…
The Orioles have curiosity in buying “a defensive-minded nook outfielder who could be trusted in left subject,” Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com writes. Austin Hays and Anthony Santander are slated to be the starters within the corners for Baltimore subsequent season (with Hays in left subject and Santander in proper) and defensive metrics are considerably break up on the glovework for each gamers. The defensive runs saved and UZR/150 metrics like Hays’ left subject work fairly a bit, however he’s rated as a subpar defender by outs above common. Presumably the Orioles are searching for extra of a veteran glove-first participant for his or her outfield combine, which additionally contains such much less skilled names as Ryan McKenna, Kyle Stowers and high prospect Colton Cowser. Franchy Cordero and Nomar Mazara can even be in camp on minor league offers, they are not recognized for his or her glovework.
Earlier this week, Triston Casas stated the Purple Sox hadn’t but broached the topic of an early-career contract extension, however he can be open to discussing such a deal. The identical is true for one more up-and-coming Sox star, as Brayan Bello advised Alex Speier of the Boston Globe and his representatives and the Purple Sox “haven’t had that dialog but, [but] I’d undoubtedly hear.” Like Casas, Bello is 23 years previous and made his MLB debut final season, with the right-hander delivering a 4.71 ERA over his first 57 1/3 innings within the Present. Bello doesn’t have Casas’ standing as a staple of top-100 prospect lists, however he’s nonetheless a well-regarded younger pitcher — and maybe even extra necessary to Boston’s long-term plans given the group’s current struggles at growing homegrown arms. Though a long-term extension may restrict Bello’s incomes potential if he grows into being a constant large league-caliber pitcher, he may additionally have curiosity in locking within the first assured payday of his professional profession, as Bello acquired solely a $28K bonus as a world prospect in 2017.
