New York Yankees: What trade for Kendrys Morales means
By Jason Evans
The New York Yankees acquired DH/1B Kendrys Morales from the Oakland Athletics. Here is what the trade means
New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman has had a busy first month and a half to the season because of all the injuries to his banged up roster. Between call-ups, trades and free agent signings, he’s had to take a shot on some lottery tickets and hope they stuck. Well, here comes another one, with Kendrys Morales coming to town.
The Yankees have acquired 1B/DH Kendrys Morales and cash considerations from Oakland in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 15, 2019
To make room on the 40-man roster, RHP Jonathan Loaisiga has been transferred to the 60-day IL.
Here’s what it means.
First of all, expect Miguel Andujar to have the season ending surgery on his labrum. Morales can step in to a DH role on a team that needs some left-handed pop. Morales can also play some first base and give Luke Voit either some rest, or a total DH day.
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Morales was hitting just .191 vs righties this year, but only has a .224 BABIP. That’s a lot of bad luck. He’s a .262 career hitter vs righties and just last year he hit .274 with an .860 OPS against right-handed pitching.
The New York Yankees are also one of the more analytical teams and Morales is in the top 88th percentile of exit velocity and 86th percentile of hard hit % per Statcast.
At Yankee Stadium, from the left side against right-handed pitching, could lead to some home runs that may not happen in many other parks in the game.
Secondly, this could mean Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge are not walking through that door anytime soon and possibly longer than expected.
There is also this component to Morales.
Teammates say Kendrys Morales is a tremendous resource of information on opposing pitchers -- studies film, shares useful stuff w teammates about how they're going to be pitched.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) May 15, 2019
In the age of analytics, that may not mean a lot, however, with all the young players that the New York Yankees have, having a veteran presence like this could be another hitting coach in a way. The New York Yankees are also one of the more analytical teams and Morales is in the top 88th percentile of exit velocity and 86th percentile of hard hit %.
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With all the injuries they have had this season, the New York Yankees have taken a lot of lottery tickets. Morales is another example of that, as they try to keep the train rolling.