As we enjoy the fourth month of the season, we have some questions about the future of some of the cuban players in MLB. In this case, we create a list with the most important questions to which we are going to offer answers.
As it is the first column that we take out of this court, next time we will answer the questions that are sent to us to the Play-Off Magazine networks or to my personal email ([email protected]) about the Antillean players.
What is the best use for Chapman?
First of all, we’ll update: Aroldis is struggling for the second year in a row; his disastrous control continues to work against him and, to top it off, he has had to go on the disabled list due to Achilles tendon problems.
If we go by his numbers, this has been the worst start to the season of his career. Previously, he had never allowed eight runs in his first 20 games and never walked as many (13).
To that, we must add that Clay Holmes is playing the role of closer wonderfully, so logic indicates that he should stay in that position for the rest of the season, of course, if he maintains the level.
Now, we will go to the center of the analysis: how can Aaron Boone use the Cuban? Recall that the Yankees manager had talked about the use of “Chappy” before Opening Day and at that time he said that he would not pitch in the ninth inning only: if it was necessary to use it an inning before to face left-handed hitters, he would. .
Boone can adopt a mode of operation Similary. While Holmes should stay as the team’s closer, the man from Holguín can throw in the ninth inning on some occasions to give him rest. Now, when he has innings against left-handed hitters, Chapman can step into Lucas Lutge’s role and come into the game to face lefties.
While right-handers hit the West Indian with a .234 average and a near-.800 OPS (.788), his right-handed hitters have only posted a .143 average and an anemic .508 OPS against him.
Is there any chance the Yankees will trade Chapman?
This question is interesting and I brought it to this column for two reasons. The first is because the Cuban will reach free agency in the next offseason; the second, I have been asked several times on Twitter.
I don’t think they will, but I don’t doubt it either. I’ll leave the following unknown to you: which team would be willing to pay Chaman his salary (approximately $9M) in part two? It is difficult, because it would be renting a pitcher who is not at his best, although the team that risks him could obtain him via trade and then extend his contract.
Let’s be fair: When the West Indian is doing well, he always backs up Boone’s bullpen, so once again, because of his record and what he’s accomplished in his career, they’ll give him another vote of confidence. Although, if he continues down the wrong path, the Yankees’ patience may run out and in those circumstances, transferring him would not be unreasonable.
A good move, if Chapman continues in that direction, would be to adjust with the team and pay part of the remaining salary. That would leave the Yankees looking for a good reliever, by the way, there are several available: David Bednar, Scott Barlow and company. Anything to improve the bullpen is good, remember that we are in the era of relief pitching.
What can we expect from the future of Yadiel Hernández?
First, we must give credit to the yumurino because when many thought, including myself, that he could give up playing in the Major Leagues to go to Asia, Yadiel opted to stay in the Big Top and, at least, he is a useful piece for the Nationals.
Mike Rizzo’s franchise is beginning a reconstruction and everything indicates that they will spend a few years without competing. Players like Yadiel Hernández give the bench more depth and also add offense and defense to the team when they’re on the field.
Hernandez has a slash line .276/.319/.419/.738 in 63 games in which he has added 226 plate appearances. If we go by OPS+, his offense is 13 times better than average. If we see wRC+, then it is four times better than the average hitter. He also has driven in 32 runs and hit five balls out of the park.
Defensively, he hasn’t been bad: he has a defensive run saved and has an above-average score of -1 in putouts. The truth is that while the Nats are in their reorganization process, Yadiel can help.
Which teams should be interested in José Iglesias?
Surely several and more, after they have witnessed the first part of the season of “Little Candle”. The Havana native was averaging over .300 for a long stretch, but now he’s at .289, closer to his lifetime AVG (.278) in MLB.
I only see that there is one point against it, its defense, because according to the statistics, it is not at its best. His score on runs defended saved is -7 and on above-average outs it’s -5. In both, he is scoring negatively.
Still, few organizations should doubt his defense since he’s been one of the best defensive shortstops in the past decade. To answer that question, I relied on organizations with the lowest fWAR at shortstop and poor above-average RDS and Outs.
Two candidates emerge: Phillies and Giants. I wouldn’t rule out others.
The Giants have had to deal with underachieving Brandon Crawford after a year in which he finished fourth in the MVP race. The Phillies, since the offseason, wanted to trade Didi Gregorius but couldn’t, as the Dutchman has also had injury problems lately. To make matters worse, the Citizen Bank Park team lost one of their best average hitters to injury, Jean Segura, and it makes sense that they look for José.
I also wouldn’t be surprised if the Rockies didn’t trade him. Remember what happened with Story and Gray last year? If they don’t, I don’t know what they’ll do when Ezequiel Tovar, the franchise’s second-best prospect, has to debut in 2023, according to MLB Pipeline. Also, second base is occupied by Brendan Rodgers.
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