Earlier today, Rule 5 pick Jamie Hoffmann cleared waivers and was returned to the Dodgers. The Dodgers will pay $25,000 for Hoffmann's return, half the initial price the Yankees paid for the pick. Hoffmann hit .130/.259/.174 in 26 plate appearances this spring. He drew three walks against one strike out and was one for two in stolen base attempts.Barring an Elijah Dukes signing, it appears that Marcus Thames has won the fifth outfielder competition, despite his equally anemic .107/.167/.107 line in 29 plate appearances this spring and poor play in the field. Setting aside the useless, small sample size stats of the spring, it appears that the club values Thames' right handed power more than Hoffmann's versatility, defense, and speed. Thames may only do one thing well, but apparently that's the one thing the club is seeking from this spot. The team is lacking in right handed power from left field and the bench, but have players with skill sets similar to Hoffmann's in Brett Gardner and Randy Winn.
Speculation abounds that the Yankees may make a trade with Los Angeles, potentially sending an extraneous fifth starter candidate/longman such as Chad Gaudin or Sergio Mitre, to secure Hoffmann's rights. This would slightly reduce payroll and would free the Yankees from carrying Hoffmann under Rule 5 obligations, giving them the flexibility to stash him at AAA rather than carry him on the Major League roster all year. If that were to happen, it would create quite a log jam in the Scranton outfield with Hoffmann, Colin Curtis, Greg Golson, Reid Gorecki, Jon Weber, and David Winfree, though Hoffmann figures to be of more value than the rest of them.
On the flip side, such a deal would also mean that the Yankees had to trade two Major League pitchers - Brian Bruney and whoever goes west - in order to obtain a AAA outfielder. None of those pitchers should be considered a major loss, but I'd like to think that for the price of two Major League caliber pitchers the team could at least secure a fifth outfielder in whom they are confident.
In the end, it doesn't appear the pick has worked out well for the Yankees. The Rule 5 Draft isn't designed for teams like the Yankees and it was unlikely from the start that they'd obtain anyone of value from the pick. For every Johan Santata, Joakim Soria, or Shane Victorino that gets selected in the Rule 5, there are hundreds of Jamie Hoffmanns and the like who don't pan out. Still, Brian Cashman executed a shrewd trade with the Nationals to secure the top pick in the draft. It's unfortunate they weren't able to find a usable part with the pick of the litter.
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That's a great point about having to trade two Major League pitchers if the Yankees were to do that to get Hoffmann for AAA. Seems like a lot if they were to do that.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, they almost certainly would have non-tendered Bruney if they hadn't worked out a deal for him, so he really doesn't count as much of a cost.
ReplyDeleteThat's a valid point Brien. But he was still an asset, and there was still interest in from at least the Nats - and if the rumors were to be believed - the Braves too. So they're left with nothing to show for that. Maybe they would have been better off taking a C level prospect instead, or dealing him to an interested team that didn't have the first pick in the Rule 5.
ReplyDeleteEither way, it appears my argument above is moot. Waving Gaudin seems to indicate that 1). no one, including the Dodgers, is interested in trading for him and 2). The Yankees are pretty well decided on keeping Mitre. I think it's less likely that they'll deal for Hoffmann's rights now, and if they do, it looks like it won't be a Major Leaguer heading back the other way.
I think the best explanation I've heard for the waiving of Gaudin is the idea that, because of his poor spring and his salary, it's conceivable that he might clear waivers, letting the Yankees keep him in the organization, whereas someone making less money, like Mitre, would be more likely to get claimed.
ReplyDeleteAll in all though, I think it's a peripheral enough move that it doesn't really make much difference.
That's plausible, but if you subtract the small performance this spring, look at the projections, and look at what he's done over the past few seasons, Gaudin is worth his salary and then some, particularly for an NL team like the Dodgers that's seeking a back end starter. I'll be surprised if he sneaks through waivers.
ReplyDeleteSome of what I've read over the past day ponders if the Yanks would eat the contract and stash him at AAA - assuming Gaudin accepts the assignment. I suppose they could afford to do that - thereby giving them quite an expensive AAA rotation between Gaudin and Igawa.