Charles Wenzelberg/New York Publish
On Opening Day, coming off his second-best within the majors, Aaron Decide turned down a seven-year, $213.5 million Yankees contract extension.
After basic supervisor Brian Cashman made the small print of the supply public — to Decide’s displeasure — the outfielder defined the danger in his choice, given he may have a down season or get damage.
“Day by day is a big gamble,’’ Decide stated on the time. “Stepping exterior your own home is a big gamble. … Some folks don’t go away their home when you consider all of the issues that would occur to them. So I simply deal with what I must do on the sphere, and the whole lot else will maintain itself.”
Has it ever.
Decide went out and has had top-of-the-line seasons in MLB historical past.
On Wednesday in Toronto, he made historical past by tying the American League and franchise information of 61 dwelling runs in a season — which he'll attempt to break at dwelling beginning Friday in opposition to the Orioles in entrance of Roger Maris Jr. and the remainder of the baseball world.
Decide has virtually single-handedly stored the Yankees in first place within the AL East with the remainder of the lineup tormented by slumps or accidents, and is inside attain of successful the American League Triple Crown. He has cemented himself because the face of the franchise.
“I don’t thoughts going to free company,’’ Decide stated in April. “It's what it's, and I’ve bought a job to deal with.”
When the topic of betting on himself got here up after he hit No. 61, Decide smiled.
“I by no means noticed it as a wager on myself,’’ Decide stated. “I knew, it doesn't matter what, I’d be taking part in this yr for the New York Yankees, sporting pinstripes. We weren’t in a position to agree on [an extension before the season], however I modified my focus proper then and there [and said,] ‘Let’s go on the market and have an awesome season for my teammates for a protracted postseason run.’ I’m simply on the market taking part in baseball. I don’t take a look at the stats or numbers.”
He’s alone in that regard. The wage numbers any free-agent suitors should strategy in the event that they need to herald Decide — or, within the Yankees’ case, hold him — determine to be staggering.
Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone and veteran teammates similar to Gerrit Cole level to Decide’s skill to maintain his thoughts on the crew and its success as a key cause he’s been principally unaffected by the house run chase, although he admitted it did “creep in” in the course of the stretch of video games between homer No. 60 and No. 61 as he went by way of his second-longest dwelling run “drought” of the yr.
The highlight shall be simply as shiny Friday, when the Yankees and Decide play in entrance of one other packed home at Yankee Stadium within the first of seven video games remaining within the common season for him to cross Maris’ document set in 1961.
“Getting an opportunity to be related to one of many Yankee greats, considered one of baseball’s greats … phrases can’t describe it,’’ Decide stated. “That’s what makes the Yankees franchise so particular: all the fellows that got here earlier than us and paved the best way. They performed the sport the best means. To get talked about with these guys now, I can’t describe it.”
Some, similar to Mickey Mantle, spent their complete careers with the Yankees. Others, similar to Maris and Babe Ruth, ended up ending their careers elsewhere.
Time will inform what Decide’s future holds. He’s stated repeatedly he needs to stay “a Yankee for all times,” however whether or not the Yankees meet his price ticket stays to be seen.
What does Torres’ September imply for subsequent April?
Gleyber Torres is within the midst of a exceptional turnaround.
In August, the second baseman hit .180, had simply 4 extra-base hits, 5 RBIs and an OPS of .464 in 103 plate appearances.
However this month, Torres is hitting .333 with 11 extra-base hits, together with six homers, 23 RBIs and an OPS of 1.002.
Scouts’ opinions are combined as to the rationale for the turnaround, however it’s clear the Yankees have an vital choice forward of them this offseason: Do they commerce Torres, maybe for a beginning pitcher, as a result of they've Oswald Peraza within the majors and high prospect Anthony Volpe taking part in effectively at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre?
Oswaldo Cabrera has exceeded expectations as a utility participant with energy, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa nonetheless shall be within the fold.
It’s straightforward to neglect at instances that Torres is simply 25 years previous.
With a lineup that’s been inconsistent exterior of Decide, the Yankees might need to depend on Torres greater than ever within the playoffs. In 92 profession postseason plate appearances, Torres has hit effectively, posting a .988 OPS.
The place the Martian landed
The Yankees’ minor league season ended this week, bringing high outfield prospect Jasson Dominguez’s second professional season to an in depth.
The 19-year-old performed effectively for a lot of the season, ending the yr at Double-A Somerset.
Among the many most encouraging elements of Dominguez’s season is that he hit higher every month over the second half, recording a .780 OPS in July, .902 in August and 1.129 in September, which he principally spent at Double-A.
He closed out the season with four-straight multi-hit video games, going 9-for-16 with a double, three homers and 9 RBIs over that span, and homered from either side of the plate within the season finale.
He’s ticketed to play within the Arizona Fall League.
After some questions have been raised about his potential following an up-and-down 2021, the Yankees favored what they noticed within the latter a part of the primary full skilled season from Dominguez, who signed for $5.1 million in 2019 out of the Dominican Republic.
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