Connect with us

Sports

Yankees’ trade deadline chips make loud statements in win over Cubs

Published

on

CHICAGO — Starting pitcher Will Warren and outfielder Spencer Jones played like they should be part of the New York Yankees’ long-term plans in a tight 2-0 win over the Chicago Cubs on Friday at Wrigley Field.

Will they remain in pinstripes past Monday’s trade deadline? Answering that question right now would be like trying to guess the severity of the next Midwestern storm.

Jones crushed a solo home run — his second of the week — and turned an 0-2 count into a walk on a day he played out of position in left field.

Meanwhile, Warren bounced back from a recent rough stretch to throw 6 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out seven while allowing four hits and no walks.

The Yankees scored their other run on Amed Rosario’s fourth-inning homer, a 450-foot blast to left center.

“I had fun today for the first time in a long time,” Warren said.

It came amid buzz throughout the league ahead of Monday’s trade deadline.

As of Friday afternoon, the Yankees were scouring “everywhere” in the trade market, zeroing in on right-handed catchers and offense in general, according to a league source who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe ongoing deliberations. They were also expected to be looking into the reliever market.

The Yankees are in an interesting spot. Shortstop George Lombard Jr., 21, could be their only untouchable prospect. They have intriguing pitching prospects they could trade. But it’s unclear how willing they would be to trade from the big-league team — and it’s unclear who on the active roster would be most appealing, considering the number of position players having down years at the plate.

Jones, a 25-year-old rookie, and fellow outfielder Jasson Domínguez, 23, figure to be potential trade chips. Warren, 27, won’t be a free agent until 2031, and he’s in a stacked rotation with Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Gerrit Cole and Ryan Weathers. Carlos Rodón (left elbow inflammation) is expected to return to the rotation in the coming weeks.

Jones made his case to stay, smashing a 418-foot solo shot in the fifth inning in a 0-1 count off left-handed starting pitcher Shota Imanaga. It was Jones’ second home run of the week. He was called up Sunday when Cody Bellinger (left hamstring strain) joined Aaron Judge (right first rib stress fracture) and Giancarlo Stanton (right calf strain) on the injured list.

Why the Tigers should keep Tarik Skubal

Eno Sarris and Derek VanRiper

Jones’ homer came on a center-cut, 89.5 mph sinker.

“The approach, the routine, all those things — for me, just felt like a matter of time to start connecting with all those pitches instead of fouling them off,” Jones said. “Just maintain what we’re doing now and keep rolling.”

Jones has quietly been improving at the plate in the majors. He struggled in his initial stint in May (.167 batting average). But entering Friday, he was slashing .254/.338/.460 with a .798 OPS in 26 games since his second call up on June 5.

“It’s been really good,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I feel like I see him making subtle adjustments within the game and whatever the situation is calling for a little bit. I thought he’d match up pretty well against Imanaga today and he had a few really good at-bats.”

Jones was especially thrilled to play in front of the ivy along the Wrigley Field outfield wall.

“It was awesome,” he said. “I was super excited. I was excited to get out there before the game, get a feel for it, and then during the game, the crowd out there is awesome. They’re having a good time. Just to be part of that, and I guess part of the Wrigley environment, is pretty cool.”

Will Warren lowered his season ERA to 4.14 over 22 appearances (21 starts). (Sage Zipeto / Getty Images)

Warren went into Friday with a 6.45 ERA in his past nine games (eight starts). He took a new approach, featuring his changeup, which he threw 27 percent of the time — more than any other pitch. It registered five whiffs on 11 swings. He threw 88 pitches total.

“He was awesome,” Boone said. “It’s a very good lineup over there. Actually, I wasn’t going real deep with him from a pitch-count standpoint, just (because) he hasn’t been up there lately. To get two outs into the seventh inning — the secondary stuff is where it was at for him today. He just did such a good job of spinning the ball, throwing the changeup and then using the fastball enough, too, to keep them honest. He was just super efficient, and that right there is what he is capable of when he’s on his game.”

“Coming in,” Warren said, “I feel like I kind of got away from (using secondary pitches), trying to hammer the fastball home. Just going back to who I am and throwing nasty stuff up there, honestly. Just trying to throw it for strikes and trying to get them to swing at stuff that they might necessarily not want.”

Warren and Jones showed why the Yankees think so highly of them Friday.

But did they give other teams more incentive to trade for them? We’ll know by Monday night.

>

Continue Reading

Sports

McKenna wins world title in Ireland homecoming fight!

Published

on


Highlights of Aaron McKenna’s IBF middleweight world title fight against Etinosa Oliha.

>

Continue Reading

Sports

Wolves overwhelm Bradford in emphatic away victory

Published

on


Highlights of the Super League clash between Bradford Bulls and Warrington Wolves as Matty Ashton scored twice in a dominant 42-4 victory for the visitors.

>

Continue Reading

Sports

Wigan overpower Toulouse to close gap on leaders

Published

on


Highlights of the Super League clash between Wigan Warriors and Toulouse Olympique.

>

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2017 Zox News Theme. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by WordPress.