Bryan Hoch answers questions from fans

Beat reporter Bryan Hoch answers questions from fans

July 14th, 2017

What's the plan with Garrett Cooper, acquired on Thursday from the Brewers? Is he coming up? - Brian K., via e-mail
It sounds like he'll be in The Bronx at some point, though not right now. General manager Brian Cashman made it pretty clear last week that they did not view as a long-term solution at first base, despite the couple of homers that he hit after being called up. Cooper was posting some very impressive numbers at Triple-A Colorado Springs, but there's a Coors Field-like park effect to be considered there, so we'll see how he does back at sea level.
Cooper may very well become the eighth player to start a game at first base for the Yankees in 2017, but Cashman said their preference would be to get a healthy Bird back in the lineup. Despite the fact that Bird saw an eighth physician this past week and took batting practice with Class-A Staten Island, it's still looking doubtful that will happen anytime soon.
What are the Yankees' intentions with and ? Are they players the Yankees would dangle in trade talks this month, or are there intentions of bringing them back next season? - Doug H., Amarillo, Tex.
Both pitchers have said that they would be pleased to return to the Yankees, but that's not a surprising comment considering their upcoming free agency. Particularly in Pineda's case, it would be a solid financial strategy to keep the Yankees in the mix. Starting pitching is obviously an area where the Yankees wouldn't want to deplete their depth as they pursue a playoff berth, and Pineda's June swoon couldn't have helped his potential trade value.
It would not be a surprise to see the Yankees ride out the year with both pitchers, then part ways after the season. If I had to wager on Pineda or Sabathia being part of the 2018 club, Sabathia would probably be my pick - and that's probably not how the prediction would have gone this spring. More times than not, Sabathia has given them a chance to win, and he seems more likely than Pineda to accept a short term deal.
Do you think the Yankees will be more aggressive now that they didn't land ? Maybe for or ? - Ryan W., via e-mail
Had the Yankees decided to acquire Quintana, they probably could have done so this past offseason, or during Spring Training, or earlier in the season. The sticking point was that they weren't going to part with the prospects that the White Sox were looking for -- should the Yanks have dangled, say, Chance Adams, , Blake Rutherford or for Quintana? Time may tell, but the Yanks are sticking to their long-term plan.
For that reason, Cole and Gray also appear to be unlikely fits. A more feasible fit might be of the Royals, just to toss a name out there, though maybe they could accomplish just as much by promoting Adams.
Is Cashman really going to be a "buyer" at the deadline or is that just talk? - Adam D., New Jersey
The key thing Cashman said in that Sunday interview with the YES Network's Michael Kay is that they plan to be "cautious" buyers, which is to say that while they'll upgrade the 2017 team if at all possible, they do not plan to do it at the cost of mortgaging 2018, 2019 and 2020.
The farm system has already taken a few hits with injuries to players like , James Kaprielian and , so the talent pool Cashman could conceivably deal from is a bit thinner than it used to be. I do expect to see the Yankees make at least one more move before July 31 passes, though it might not be the blockbuster move some seem to be clamoring for.
Do you think the starting rotation will get back to its early season production? - Andrew B., via Twitter
After a spring in which pretty much everyone agreed that the rotation looked like the Yankees' Achilles heel, they did not need to use a sixth starter until June 11, which was a remarkable feat. That day, in which they plugged in to give the struggling an opportunity to face the Angels instead of the Orioles.
You know the rest of the story from there. The Tanaka move worked in the short term but they've lost 18 of their last 25 games, and while the starting pitching hasn't been the only reason, it's been a big part of the problem. They may not recapture what they did early, but they have to be better than what they've been of late. This 11-game trip, particularly the four at Fenway Park, will determine how seriously the Yankees view the urgency to upgrade the roster in advance of the July 31 non-waivers Trade Deadline.
With Frazier playing well, it could make expendable. Can you see them packaging him and get some bullpen help? - Rich B., New York, NY
Hicks will probably just be getting back from the disabled list when July 31 rolls around, so it might be difficult to get fair value for him at that time. The Yankees showed a lot of patience in believing that Hicks would produce the way that he did in the first half, so they probably won't be eager to ship him off. Frazier understands that he may only be up for a brief period this time, though these things do have a way of working out. Remember, there had been talk that Hicks had won center field from , but Hicks' oblique injury settled that matter for the time being.