Sunday, July 30, 2017

Yankees acquire Jaime Garcia

Just six days after acquiring Jaime Garcia, the veteran lefty is on the move again as he has been swapped to the Yankees for pitching prospects Zack Littell and Dietrich Enns according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

Garcia made just one start for the Twins going 6.2 innings allowing 3 earned runs on 8 hits and 3 walks along with 7 strikeouts against the Oakland A's. Overall, the 31-year old southpaw has been fairly effective this season with a 4.29/4.04/4.18 ERA/FIP/xFIP on the season along with peripherals that are right around his career average.

According to Brooks Baseball Garcia typically throws his fastball in the low-90s, his slider in the low-80s, and his curveball in the mid-70s. His groundballl rate of 55% is above league average he has been particularly effective against lefties holding them to a .641 OPS.

One thing to keep an eye on for Garcia is his effectiveness facing the order more than once, he has a 1.58 ERA and .423 OPS the first time through, but that number balloons to a 5.02 ERA and .789 OPS the second time and a 7.79 ERA and a .977 OPS the third time through.

The Yankees rotation took a serious hit earlier in the month when it was revealed Michael Pineda was out for the rest of the year due to Tommy John surgery and with Masahiro Tanaka not being as effective as the Yankees would like (though he does have strong peripherals) it made the Yankees rotation a top concern for the organization.

Despite the acquisition of Garcia the Yankees are still the favorites for Oakland A's ace Sonny Gray according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.

On the Twins side of the deal they are getting an excellent pitching prospect in the 21-year old RHP Littell who has posted a 1.87 ERA in 20 games (18 starts) split between the Yankees Class-A and Double-A affiliate with 109 strikeouts along with 23 walks in 115.1 innings. He is a legitimate prospect who could have a chance to break into the Twins rotation in late 2018/the start of 2019.

According to Robert Pimpsner of Pinstriped Prospects: "Zack Littell’s fastball is his best pitch, sitting in the low 90s and tops out in the mid-90s.  He attacks hitters, setting up his curveball which is easily his best secondary pitch.  He is working on developing his changeup, a pitch he has said he needs to take velocity off."

The other player in the deal, Dietrich Enns, isn't much of a prospect as he is already 26 but he has been lights out for the Yankees since they drafted him in 2012. His 1.87 ERA during his tenure with the Yankees farm system is impressive though it has come split between the bullpen and rotation.

Overall in 2017 the southpaw has made just 7 starts for the Yankees triple-A affiliate as he dealt with shoulder issues earlier in the season but he has been excellent as usual with a 2.29 ERA in 39.1 innings with 37 strikeouts and 10 walks.

James Vlietstra of Pinstriped Prospects says "His 6’1” frame produces a fastball that ranges from 89-93.  He also throws an effective slider and an occasional slider.  He throws with a deceptive delivery, which appears to add velocity to his pitches."

Enns is on the 40-man roster so it is possible he could come up to the Twins soon and make an impact on their pitching staff as soon as this season whether it be in the rotation or their bullpen.