Re-posting from earlier thread:

Includes an opt-out after three years; I say let him walk. Yanks have a lot of relief coming down the pipe, with Betances as his understudy. While 100+mph relievers don’t grow on trees, he might be a luxury they can afford to let go of at that point. Meanwhile, he keeps the team interesting through the end of the game as they develop. The key thing is if he stays relatively healthy throughout.

I think it is big for the Yanks to have a star and obviously bullpen is an area of need. Now they need some middle relievers to get them to Betances and Chapman.

A little more thump in their offense certainly would help too.

I honestly believe they have the talent and potential to be a really good offense next season; they were often putting bat to ball, but their approach to at-bats could use some tweaking. That could also be a function of pressing to make up for ineffective pitching. The more I think about it, the more I think Holliday could be a blessing in disguise. Reinforcing the pitching staff should be their main focus throughout. Whatever they're doing these last couple of years has had a subtle, but important impact.

Re: wimmen beaters, just got off jury duty on a domestic violence case. 2 convictions out of three charges (hospital didn't make a report on the first charge. Turns out he not only had 2 prior dv convictions, which elevated these to felonies, but a long rap sheet including pimping. Hope the judge gives him the max of 6 years. He also boasted on a jail phone (pro tip people, they are always recorded) about knowing how to beat women so it doesn't show. One scumbag off the streets.

[4] Yikes! It's frightening what people can and will do. I don't think MLB itself can do much more than it has with Chapman. But Chapman and the Yankees could do more to address the issue. River Ave Blues has some good comments on it.

I'm a bit late to the talk, been away from internet access on vacation (try it, you'll like it!). Anyhow, methinks Cashman made the move in part because of the Sales signing by the Sawks. Couldn't be seen standing pat. I think Chapman will help them reach meaningful late September games. Whether they get beyond that is a question of health

In Under The Radar News, the team has signed former Met Ruben Tejada to a minor league deal with a non-roster invite to Spring Training, and the Braves stole Jacob Lindgrin after he was non-tendered (they tried to resign him like they've done with others, but Atlanta threw more money at him).

Tejada could be a nice bench pickup if he proves to be healthy and can get on base easily; he fits into the youth scheme as well being only twenty-seven. That remains to be seen though, and his Mets tenure left a lot to be desired at least from the fans' perspectives. A no-cost move with some decent upside if it works, but I wouldn't want him to displace Torreyes unless he either blows Ronny out the box or if Ronny does a Solarte and disappears into thin air.

Losing Lindgrin kinda hurts though (no pun intended); already trying to shore up the bullpen and you lose a young lefty with high upside even as a specialist. He was injured more often than not, but young, and the team did want to keep him; the downside of having a great farm system is now it's all about the top ten. G'bye Lindgrin, g'bye Torrens and other decent Rule 5s, and that won't be the end of it. Not a complaint, just an observation; you can't have your cake and eat it, too.

Hello fellow banterers. We're off on another trip where there will be no internet or cell coverage. So I wanted to take the opportunity of wishing you all a great holiday season, and a Happy New Year (in which, perchance, the Yanks will return to playoff form).

[8] And same to you.

[8]I always thought that hope was an underrated virtue. I hope everyone is well and the holiday season brings joy and optimism for the New Year. Go Yanks!