Yankees: Looking for the Future

Many players in the Yankees system have grown into their own and have succeeded at their respective level in such a way that they ought to move along to the next stop in their path to the Major Leagues. Now I will list some players who deserve promotions:

2B/CF Justin Snyder, LoA Charleston
RHP Zach McAllister, LoA Charleston
RHP Eric Hacker, HiA Tampa
RHP Dan McCutchen, AA Trenton
OF Brett Gardner, AAA Scranton

Snyder is an interesting case, because he has a solid bat–.302/.363/.434–with gap power and solid patience. However, his fielding is, shall we say, atrocious, as he committed his 10th error before May. He has played some 2B, SS, and CF, though. There should be a space open, as 2B Damon Sublett is hitting 244/.343/.366, and CF is a platoon of Seth Fortenberry (.224/.353/.312) and bust Tim Battle. His fielding must improve, as his bat isn’t good enough to play just anywhere.

McAllister has always been well-regarded by followers of Yankees prospects, and it had been established that he would be many teams’ top pitching prospect because of his potential. He has broken out this year, pitching to the tune of 49IP, 7BB, 2.20 ERA. 7.89 K/9 and 1.28 BB/9. The number was lower before a rough outing in his second-to-last start. However, that would require an injury or demotion of one of Tampa’s starters. Ryan Pope, Ivan Nova, Eric Hacker, Alfredo Aceves, and Mike Dunn aren’t going anywhere down, and a spot will soon need to be opend for Chris Garcia to start his rehab process. There are no holes in the AA rotation, either. Now we look to the AAA rotation, but there is nothing that can spark a chain reaction, unless Hacker at HiA or Jones at AA are moved to the bullpen, which is where their future roles may reside.

Hacker has better stuff and a higher potential, but has always had injury problems. He is posting a godly 0.75 ERA in 48IP, allowing 27H and 7BB while striking out 29 and posting a 1.70 GO/AO ratio. However, as said in the McAllister section, there is simply no room in Trenton unless someone is sent down without merit or moved to the bullpen (or he himself moves to the bullpen).

Dan McCutchen was #8 on my prospect list this year, and while most people said it was too high, he’s making me look good . Cutch is posting a 2.52 ERA (again, only after he was roughed up in his last start) in 50 IP while striking out 46, allowing 38H and 15BB, and posting a 1.26 GO/AO ratio. He pitched 41 great innings last year at AA, and has nothing left to prove there. If McCutchen keeps excelling and Marquez keeps on making me look good (by being bad), they could be swapped.

Brett Gardner has held his own this year, hitting .287/.385/.449 with 2HRs–already doubling last year’s total–and 12 XBH. He has also stolen 12 bases and by all accounts has played solid defense. However, there is no definite spot on the Major League team. Morgan Ensberg can be DFA’d, but that would only come once Wilson Betemit or A-Rod comes off the DL, effectively changing nothing for Gardner and leaving no back-up INF for now. Alberto Gonzales has been hitting and fielding well, leaving no reason why he should be demoted. The only real candidate is Shelley Duncan, because he hasn’t hit at all this year and his glove is sub-par. Gardner would add a late-inning pinch runner and a 5th OF, but he deserves to play every day.

The promotion stories prove what I said during the off-season, that there is a pitching logjam in the Yankee system. Too much good pitching, if that can be said, is in the organization, and that will inhibit opportunities for lower-level prospects who can rise high. As for Gardner, he will have to likely wait out the year.