Yankees Simulation: Transactions from FanSided Winter Meetings

A package of players that didn’t include Miguel Andujar

Before anyone points out Bumgarner’s recent trips to the disabled list, both injuries have been freak. First, he fell off a dirt bike during the 2017 offseason; then he was hit with a comebacker last spring. Therefore I’m not concerned.

Naturally, some within baseball circles are worried about Mad Bum’s decreased efficiency in regards to his four-seam fastball. Last season, Bumgarner’s 91-mph fastball, which has never been his main pitch (that being his cutter), was swung/fouled 42.2 percent of the time with a 14.45 percent whiff rate.

I believe that much of Bumgarner’s mediocrity in ’18 was two-fold; missing the first two months of the season, in addition to playing for an underachieving Giants team that finished 73-89.

The 10-year veteran still managed a 3.26 ERA and 1.24 WHIP across 129.2 innings pitched. Perhaps most impressive when considering how Bumgarner might perform at Yankee Stadium is that his 84-mph changeup is still a highly-effective groundball inducing pitch — put on the ground 60.78 percent of the time last season.

Now you’re probably wondering what I traded for the former World Series MVP. The package of players was robust but far less than what Cleveland wanted for Kluber — and no, Miguel Andujar wasn’t dealt.

The deal consisted of our top two overall prospects, Justus Sheffield and Estevan Florial, No. 7 prospect Domingo Acevedo and reliever Ben Heller.

As much I would have preferred to keep Sheffield, there was just no way. Each team I spoke with regarding an ace immediately demanded the 22-year-old left-hander. Florial was another name that directly spewed from the mouth of rival GMs.

Personally, I’m not as in love with Florial as others, and if you look at where his development currently stands, his arrival to the majors is at least two full seasons away. This Yankees team needs to win now!

Although Acevedo was promoted to the Bronx in 2018, he never took the hill and was swiftly sent back to Double-A Trenton. Scouts have mixed feelings about the soon-to-be-25-year-old — and feel he may eventually end up in the bullpen.

The final piece, Ben Heller, underwent Tommy John surgery in April and is expected to miss most of 2019. Needless to say, I was surprised the Giants asked for him by name.

All-in-all, I valued Bumgarner’s postseason acumen and reasonable contract much more than having to overpay for non-ace-types such as Corbin or Keuchel. Not only is Bumgarner younger than both but he’s a proven commodity that is 8-3 with a 2.16 ERA and 0.899 WHIP across 16 postseason appearances.