When analyzing the Yankees’ offseason moves, talent evaluators have different opinions on all of the deals but one.
Unanimously they said signing Andrew Miller at the expense of losing David Robertson, who wasn’t given an offer, was a plus for the Yankees — even if Robertson was coming off a 39-save season in which he replaced Mariano Rivera without a hitch and wasn’t affected by New York.
At the time of the December signing, Miller had one big league save and wasn’t anointed Robertson’s replacement as the Yankees’ closer.
“I have to go with Miller there. Robertson did the job but at times last year he had you on the edge of your seat,’’ an NL evaluator said of the 30-year-old relievers. “Miller has been very good.’’
Entering Tuesday night’s game against the reeling Nationals at Yankee Stadium, Miller is 17-for-17 in save situations with a 1.04 ERA in 25 games and a major reason the Yankees are atop the AL East by 1 ½ games.
In 26 innings, he has allowed eight hits, fanned 43 and walked 10. Robertson, heading into the White Sox’s game Monday night against the Astros, worked 23 2/3 innings in 22 games, had converted 10-of-13 save chances, fanned 35 and walked three. And Miller at four years and $36 million was $10 million cheaper than Robertson across the same time frame. Also, the Yankees received the 30th pick in the amateur draft that began Monday night as compensation for losing Robertson.
“There is a long way to go,’’ Miller said of his first two months in pinstripes. “It’s been great, everything has been first class. I have been treated better than anywhere else. So far, so good.’’
A little more than a third of the way into the season, outside of the Miller-Robertson situation, the voices were split on almost everything else the Yankees did in the winter.
The trade for Didi Gregorius, which looked like a disaster in April, was viewed as a plus, minus and a wash. Nathan Eovaldi for Martin Prado stirred the most conversation, ranging from the Yankees won that one to the Marlins recording a heist. Sending Manny Banuelos to the Braves for David Carpenter and Chasen Shreve was debated because Banuelos has yet to reach the big leagues and Carpenter was recently designated for assignment.
The Francisco Cervelli for Justin Wilson swap with the Pirates was labeled “horrible’’ for the Yankees in light of how well Cervelli is doing as a starting catcher, hitting .331 in Pittsburgh.
All agreed spending $5 million on Stephen Drew was far too much money and that the Yankees overpaid Chase Headley at four years and $52 million.
As for acquiring Gregorius in a three-way deal that involved the Tigers and Diamondbacks, the panel agreed no team got the better of the others.
“I think it’s a wash and I am not big on Gregorius,’’ an evaluator said.
Another set of eyes called it a draw.
“Shane Greene got off to a great start but has struggled lately,’’ he said. “I think Didi is a better player than he showed early.’’
Greene started 3-0 with a 0.39 ERA for the Tigers and Gregorius’ critics were calling him a bust three weeks into replacing Derek Jeter. Since then Greene is 1-5 with an 8.41 ERA in nine starts.
Gregorius hasn’t made anyone forget Jeter but lately he has started to hit, something an evaluator doesn’t believe the left-handed swinger will do enough to help the Yankees win.
“He is not a championship-winning shortstop because of the bat,’’ the scout said.
Gregorius, who is batting .238 in 51 games, is hitting .304 (17-for-56) in his last 18 games after batting .204 (22-for-108) in his first 34 games.
As for the Cervelli-for-Wilson swap, a scout said the Pirates made out well.
“Cervelli is a starting catcher, I like him better defensively than [Brian] McCann,’’ the scout said. “Cervelli could be an All-Star. Wilson is a bullpen piece.’’
Cervelli isn’t ranked among the top-hitting catchers in the NL because his 148 at-bats don’t qualify him, but his .331 batting average is better than Buster Posey (.285), Yadier Molina (.278), Derek Norris (.275) and Wilson Ramos (.263).