LET THE TRANSACTIONS BEGIN

Yesterday, the Yankees dealt Brian McCann to the Houston Astros for yet even more young prospects.  This time, they acquired 2 pitchers – Albert Abreu and Jorge Guzman.  Before you get ready for a potential Hip-Hip-Jorge chant, please notice that these guys are very young – 21 and 20 respectively.  It will take at least 2 years optimistically for them to establish any potentially true evaluations.  They both offer above-average velocity, especially Abreu.  Either could develop into a starter, but always anticipate reliever options if enough diverse arsenal is not nurtured over time.

This first major deal for the Yankees' offseason, to me, is a great start.  I feel this trade was very good for the Yankees and their fans for several reasons:

1) Youth – once again, the team got younger by dealing a 32-year old for two pitchers who are only 20 and 21 years old.

2) Payroll – the Yankees will pay a $5.5 million portion of McCann’s contract twice (once for the 2017 season and once for the 2018 season), but they are now saving $11.5 million for each of those same seasons and potentially saving $17 million for his optional 2019 season.

3) Roster Manipulation – if the Yankees don’t obtain a true DH-type player, such as bringing back free agent Carlos Beltran or initially signing free agent Edwin Encarncion, then Girardi will have the advantage of shifting players around to sharing DH duties – something that was done during some of their most successful years to help rest players or enable injuries to gradually heal for some.  (I prefer the team in that manner, but I also understand that this year’s pool of free agents may encourage the Yankees to obtain such players for some offense.)

4) Opportunity – the phenomenal  Gary Sanchez will no longer have to share time with veteran McCann.  Additionally, young catchers, especially Kyle Higashioka, will now get a respectable chance to make the 25-man roster as a the new back-up catcher in competition with Austin Romine who will probably get his last chance as the catching backup this year.  In any case, as a domino effect, others at lower levels in the Yankees’ system will also get chances for promotional opportunities such as Luis Torrens if he is not drafted and retained via the Rule 5 Draft by another team.

Stay tuned, there are a lot more transactions anticipated before the season begins.