The demise of the 2019 Yankees lineup: Where are they now?
Yankees Maneuvering Evokes Memories of 2019 Squad
The past two weeks have seen a flurry of player transactions for the New York Yankees and their former players. From designated for assignment to released, players such as Aaron Hicks and Luke Voit have been on the move. This recent splurge has brought back memories of the 2019 Yankees, a team that had a collective 118 OPS-plus while hitting 306 homers, trailing the Twins by only one for the major league lead.
Despite having a team with 12 players who had at least 150 plate appearances and an OPS-plus of 110 or better, many of those players’ performances never reached that level again. However, this recent maneuvering by the Yankees has fans wondering if they are trying to create a new long-running force.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
What is OPS-plus? OPS-plus is the rate statistic used to analyze a player’s overall performance at the plate. The “plus” at the end is because it compares the player’s performance to the league average, and adjusts for external factors such as ballpark and era.
What does it mean for a player to be designated for assignment or DFA’d? When a team designates a player for assignment, it means they are taking them off of the 40-man roster, allowing the team to explore other roster options. The player can be traded, claimed by another team, or released outright. They often have 10 days to be claimed by another team before becoming a free agent.
What happened to the 2019 Yankee Dinger Dozen? Many players from that team saw a decline in their performance in the following years. Some were traded or released, while others struggled with injuries or aging. The article breaks down the performances of each of the 12 players in detail.
Who are the top Mets first-round picks of all time? According to Wins Above Replacement (WAR), the top seven all-time Mets first-round picks for their entire careers (not just with the Mets) are Dwight Gooden (1982), David Wright (2001), Darryl Strawberry (1980), Jon Matlack (1967), Scott Kazmir (2002), Jeromy Burnitz (1990), and Gregg Jefferies (1985).
Who is Brandon Nimmo? Brandon Nimmo is a Mets outfielder who recently had a healthy season, which is discussed at the end of the article.
What Happened to the 2019 Yankees Lineup: An Overview of Their Current Status
The world of baseball is a fast-paced and ever-changing landscape, with players frequently moving between teams and positions. In a recent two-week stretch, several key players were designated for assignment, released, and called up, leaving fans speculating about what might come next. Among the players who made headlines were Aaron Hicks, Clint Frazier, Luke Voit, and Mike Ford.
These moves harkened back to the 2019 Yankees team that saw a collective 118 OPS-plus and 306 home runs, making them a truly formidable force in the league. Despite having 12 players with at least 150 plate appearances and an OPS-plus of 110 or better, the team struggled to maintain their momentum in subsequent years. However, conspiracy theories abound that baseballs simply didn’t fly as well after 2019, with 671 fewer home runs hit the following year.
So what happened to the players who made up the 2019 Yankees’ impressive lineup? Edwin Encarnacion was traded to the Mariners in 2019 and put up good numbers, but struggled after signing with the White Sox the next year. Mike Ford hit well during his rookie season, but has struggled to find success since then, bouncing between multiple teams. Clint Frazier has also moved between teams, hitting 13 home runs since his productive season with the Yankees. Brett Gardner hit a career-best 28 homers in 2019, but his absence from the team has seemingly caused a left field slump for the team.
Aaron Judge was limited to just 378 at-bats in 2019, but has since become a superstar for the team. DJ LeMahieu hit a career-high 26 homers in his debut with the Yankees in 2019, but has struggled with injury and decline since then. Cameron Maybin hit a respectable 11 homers in his debut season with the team, but failed to continue that success in subsequent years. Gary Sanchez hit 34 homers in his debut season, but has struggled with consistency since then.
Gleyber Torres hit 38 homers in 2019 and has remained a solid player since then, while Gio Urshela hit 21 homers that same year and has continued to perform well for the team. Luke Voit hit 21 homers in 2019 and led the league in 2020, but injuries and other factors have caused him to struggle since then.
All of these moves leave fans wondering what might come next for their favorite teams and players. In a separate piece, the top seven career Wins Above Replacement leaders among all-time Mets first-round picks were examined, with Dwight Gooden coming out on top with a staggering 53.0 WAR.