SNY’s Andy Martino is responding to and breaking down answers to Yankees questions from readers. Here’s the latest…
Do you think Devin Williams will ever get the closer role back? – @NYsportSufferer
That’s the hope. Part of Aaron Boone’s rationale in removing Williams from the closer role so early in the season was to try to get Williams right before his year became a lost cause. Given Williams’ profound lack of command and exposure to fan vitriol, Boone yanked him from the ninth inning with the goal of getting him right while pitching in other situations.
So far, so good. Williams pitched in two of the Yankees’ three games in Baltimore this week, allowing no hits, walking one and striking out two in a pair of scoreless innings.
There is no rush to restore Williams to the closer role, because the team has so many other pitchers capable of locking down saves. But Williams was one of the best in baseball before his ghastly Yankee April. His resume calls for at least one more extended chance.
Apart from acquiring starting pitching and third base help at the trading deadline, do you anticipate any significant moves from the Yankees? Will they pursue trades for starting pitcher Fedde and a right-handed third baseman like Arenado at the deadline? – @Blaze4551
Ever since spring training, the Yankees’ top trade priority has been a right-handed bat more so than a third baseman per se. The idea is to give Boone a better option than Pablo Reyes and Oswald Peraza against tough lefty relievers.
The Yankees made a move in that direction on Thursday, though not a trade, by claiming righty-hitting outfielder Bryan De La Cruz off of waivers from Atlanta. The club optioned De La Cruz to Triple-A, but he is now on the 40-man roster and available to possibly be that guy. The team will surely keep looking.
The Yankees also clearly lack starting pitching depth behind the stellar work of Max Fried and Carlos Rodon. The pitchers who seemed the most obvious targets — San Diego’s Dylan Cease and Michael King and Miami’s Sandy Alcantara — no longer do. The Padres look like contenders rather than sellers. And as one person connected to the Marlins puts it regarding Alcantara, who is 2-3 with an 8.31 ERA in his return from Tommy John surgery, “Sandy just isn’t the same.”
As for Arenado, the next time that the Yankees are interested will be the first time.
I got Soto questions – @Davidq3434
So do a lot of people. But he did just homer while I was writing this.
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