In a move that’s sure to jolt the market for starting pitchers, Yankees righty Masahiro Tanaka has decided against opting out of the remaining three years of his contract, he announced through the organization. Tanaka calls it a “simple decision” to remain with the organization, stating that he has “truly enjoyed the past four years playing for this organization and for the wonderful fans of New York.”
That sentiment will redound to the team’s favor, as he’ll remain under contract for a palatable $67MM guarantee over three season. It’s a lofty sum, no doubt, but still represents a discount against what Tanaka might have earned on the open market. Indeed, we estimated just yesterday in our Top 50 Free Agents post that Tanaka could take home $100MM over a five-year term in free agency.
Tanaka, who turned 29 just days ago, came to New York before the 2014 campaign on a contract that promised him $155MM over seven years — with the opportunity to opt out just past the midpoint. A star in Japan, Tanaka was seen by some as more of a mid-rotation hurler at the MLB level, but he was nevertheless vigorously pursued by multiple organizations.
That contract has worked out quite well for all involved. Though Tanaka was diagnosed with a partial UCL tear, he has mostly pitched through the injury. All told, he has compiled 668 1/3 innings of 3.56 ERA ball with 8.6 K/9 and 1.7 BB/9 during his tenure with the Yanks.
That stat line looked a whole lot better before the most recent season, in which Tanaka stumbled to a 4.74 ERA in his 178 1/3 innings. But then he turned in three sterling postseason starts, allowing just two earned runs on ten hits in twenty frames, which gave rise to a new narrative in which his October showing would lead him back onto the open market.
In truth, the real reason for the expectation (at MLBTR, at least) that Tanaka would opt out was not so much his final three outings, but the 16 that came before. Over his final 101 2/3 regular season frames, Tanaka worked to a 3.54 ERA with 118 strikeouts (on a 16% swinging-strike rate) against just twenty walks. With a jump in whiff rate and steady velocity, along with relative youth, teams would have had quite a lot of positives to weigh against Tanaka’s UCL woes.
In any event, the Yankees have now perhaps effectively made their biggest addition of the winter. With Tanaka on the books, New York has something in the realm of $144MM committed to payroll already (including projected arbitration salaries) and the club is seemingly committed to staying beneath the luxury tax line in 2018.
That said, there’s still significant room for the Yankees to spend, particularly if they free up additional payroll space by dealing away some of the remaining commitment to Jacoby Ellsbury. And the team has relatively little written in ink for the seasons to come, making it plausible to imagine the addition of a large contract. The Yanks do still need another starter, though a return for CC Sabathia (or a similarly shorter and smaller commitment) are perhaps more likely than another big outlay. Alternatively, the team could look into some luxury, short-term additions to create some platoon options and bolster the bench.
With Tanaka not only leaving the market, but staying with a team that might not otherwise have spent big at the position, this decision also ought to function as a boon to free agent starters (if not also organizations that possess controllable young starters to dangle in trade talks). Teams interested in a top-flight arm will now be battling over Yu Darvish and Jake Arrieta, while Lance Lynn and Alex Cobb also now seem in better position to maximize their earning power.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
STLShadows
Whaaaaaaat? That’s so shocking to me
xabial
I have a feeling three years from now, people are going to look at this thread and Tanaka is going to make A LOT of people look foolish.
LumberJerk9Billion
Whoa!
walls17
I knew it. I called this months ago. Dude wants to win. He’s guaranteed this money already. Let’s go win a championship now
slider32
Yes, and he can beat the Astros.
madmanTX
Then too bad he can’t pitch every game against them, huh?
dimitriinla
Still a SERIOUS injury risk.
xabial
2015-2017 Tanaka has made 85 regular-season starts, including 61 past two seasons, same number of starts as Arrieta, 13 more than Darvish.
2017 Playoffs: 18SO, 3BB, 0.65 Whip in 20IP. (0.90ERA, 1.81FIP, 3.14 xFIP)
Last start of the season: 15K, 0BB, 0ER, 7IP shutout against Jays.
2017 Season: 178.1IP, 194SO, 41BB, 1.24 Whip, 30 GS.
focus on ERA? Sure. 4.74 and that includes 7ER disaster the second to last game of the season. (4.34 FIP, 3.44 xFIP )
2017 Tanaka had the Highest SO/9IP of his career (9.8) and highest GB% rate of his career (49.2%)
Do any of these scream “SERIOUS Injury risk”? His injury’s well-publicized by the media, but it happened 3 years ago. I expected Tanaka to opt out, and try getting more than $67MM.
Ervin Santana’s suffered the same injury as Tanaka 4 years ago and nobody considers him “ticking time bomb”? Both did rest/rehab.
I expect Tanaka to outperform Ervin Santana the next 3 years, and prove many of his health doubters wrong. Only time will tell.
walls17
why all the downvotes? dont hate us cause you aint us fellas
mvpetro
Nice
yankees25
YESSSSS
unemployed pimp
dam it
MB923
I’m actually surprised. But hey I’ll take it. So long as he pitches like he did in the second half and the postseason
unemployed pimp
I don’t trust him. Sure he had a great post season but he was so bad during the season I was hopping he would opt out.
a1544
Are you kidding. It’s like 3/40. They’d give that to an average pitcher
southbeachbully
No…it’s 3/$67 mil. Says so right their in print. So if he opted out what’s the real difference in asking price for him vs what Darvish is likely to command? I think Darvis might get 4/$100 or 5/$125. Both come with risks but Darvish has better upside I think (post-season showing aside).
Tanaka @ $23m x 3 or Darvish @ $25m x 4 or 5?
a1544
You’re right. I’d still like the 3/67 over signing a free agent
southbeachbully
damn typos.
outinleftfield
$26-27 AAV for 6 years for Darvish.
atlbraves2010
3/67
bencole
I think Darvish’s floor is 5/125 personally. He may get 6 years even.
bosoxforlife
And the GM who signs Darvish is signing his own eventual release notice.
Lance
I think a 5-6 year contract for Darvish disappeared after his terrible performance in the World Series. The reality is Yu just hasn’t been very good the last four seasons. He shows flashes…..but I sure wouldn’t give him a 5-6 year guaranteed. I might give him a three year deal with big incentives and opt/buyout possibilities,
bencole
Yeah but Darvish wouldn’t come close to taking a 3 or 4 year deal. Especially incentive-laden. The reality is someone will. And pitchers take a few months to become themselves after TJ… 2 of those 4 years are chalked up to that. In 2014 he’s was fantastic. The first half of this year was roughly 3.8 ERA ball, and he was very good the second half.
jhinde103
All it takes is one…..
Brucie
Lol the guy is a great return on investment for four years and pitches well in the postseason and you hope he opts out – glad you’re not in charge of any baseball decisions
a1544
Huge for the yanks
dobsonel
Welp… I got this dead wrong!
Jubilee3333
There was no way he could’ve done any better by opting out. It’s all about the best money on the table. Nothing more.
MB923
I think he would have gotten 5 year/$100 million easily.
eilexx
What if he’s hurt and knows he won’t pass a physical?
southi
That was my immediate thought as well.
floridapinstripes
He looks really hurt in the playoffs
rmullig2
If he was hurt he would have already said something and they would have their medical staff treating him. Why would he keep that a secret?
It make zero sense.
eilexx
Really? Because players don’t keep secrets from management sometime? Tanaka has already flirted with TJ surgery, and apparently did not want to undergo the procedure. If he felt something going on there, and still doesn’t want to go under the knife, perhaps he’s hoping that it’ll work itself out in the offseason. Besides, it doesn’t matter if a pitcher were to have surgery now or in March…he’d miss the 2018 season.
So in that scenario he’s confident he can’t pass a physical, and would be throwing away millions of dollars he’s already guaranteed. Now I know that this is not probable, but it’s possible.
davbee
He could have gotten more money and more years on the open market.
a1544
All it takes is one team willing to pay him a 4+ year deal
wbraves29
Respect
mpc5150
Best news of the day! Loyalty!
southbeachbully
Smart move for him. I don’t think he would’ve gotten a better deal and probably not from as good of a team/city.
Question is, can the Yanks stand pat and just bring back Sabathia or should they look for an addition to the front of the rotation?
A Darvish or Arrieta could push Severino/Tanaka and Montgomery down to the 4th and 5th spot. Darvish/Gray/Severino/Tanaka/Montgomery
slider32
Ohtani would be the best option for the Yanks if he becomes available.
southbeachbully
Honestly……the guy sounds mythical. Almost Paul Bunyan-ish. Not really trusting the hype.
agentx
I hear Otani throws an amazing gyro-ball.
chino31
At least the team signing him ain’t laying out a lot of money.
Brucie
Dude Sevvy Tanaka and Gray are 1-2-3. I’d be shocked if they went big game hunting on the free agent market as darvish and arrieta are trending down
thecoffinnail
This is not very surprising when you take the Yankees are not spending heavy this year and his age into account.. It will be easier to sign another 4-5 year contract after his current deal with the Yankees expires since he will only be 32.. If he opted out this year he was probably looking at a 5 year contract which would have expired when he was 34. Making it difficult to sign another contract approaching $100 million in value.. It makes sense for a long term approach to maximizing his lifetime earnings..
On a side note: In my opinion the Yankees have increased their chances of landing Otani with Tanaka staying..
JoeyPankake
Two very good points.
CubsFanForLife
Wonder if this creates more contentious bidding wars for Darvish, Arrieta, et al.
Josh Gitt
A bit of a surprise. I thought he’d opt out. Though he probably thought he wouldn’t get a contract as good as he already has. I wonder if that hurts their chances to get Otani if he indeed makes the jump.
Macho King OG
The first domino fell. with Tanaka,, and now CC issued a statement that he’s ok with the Yankees not bringing him back. I don’t think they will with Chance Adams ready to come up, and the team looking to cut payroll.
slider32
The loyalty of Tanaka really showed me a lot. Cashman will have 35 million to spend, I would like to see him sign Minor or McGee and go with Adams as the 5th starter. I can see Cashman trading Ellsbury, Headley, and Betances to land some young pitching.
JoeyPankake
Betances is the only one of those three who would bring back anything of value.
timyanks
st louis should check in on headley and betances. they have some young pitchers. they could throw matt carpenter in for free. leave gyorko at third and move headley to first.
floridapinstripes
Just curious what you pitching would you be willing to include here?
2 scenarios. 1) with Carpetner
2) the other without
biasisrelitive
the other 2 have negative value especially ellesbury
Kolukonu
I wouldn’t say Ellsbury has negative value. The only way Yanks will be able to deal him though is if it’s for another bad contract, or they eat a bunch of the salary.
MurderersRow27
Only having 1 year @ $13M for Headley won’t be a major hinderance if someone wants him. Even if the Yankees have to pick up $5M-$6M, there are most likely numerous teams out there that would be interested in a switch hitting 3B/1B for $7M-$8M. After June 1, Headley hit something like .340 for the rest of the year, and he showed he can play a solid 1B. He won’t bring back a lot in the trade (in regards to prospects), but the money saved might be worth moving him.
bjsguess
That’s the very definition of negative value. Taking on another underwater contract or eating a bunch of salary is negative value.
The guy is owed $71M over the next 3 years (including his buy-out). An AAV of nearly $24MM. Since signing the deal he’s been worth an average of $14MM. That’s the starting point … negative $10MM/year. Then you throw on aging curves and you are looking at something close to $45M that you would need to eat/off-set in order to move him.
Put another way – if he were a FA this year and signed a 3 year deal – a reasonable total would be $26M. He’s way underwater.
Headly is basically a break even guy in a normal market. This year though – the market has a lot of 3B options. The Yanks may need to sweeten the pot to move him..
Betances has value – 2 more years of control at a reasonable rate. Unfortunately, his walk numbers are out of control and trending in the wrong the direction. He’s worth something but nowhere near what he was worth after last year (or the year before). A reliever sporting an xFIP of 3.76 isn’t anything special.
thegreatcerealfamine
Excellent well thought out post I couldn’t agree with more. The guy that started this posts the same thing on numerous articles. He suggests trading Gardner to the Nats and Giants on their articles. It’s always the same thing minus Tanaka now that he’s opted in.
floridapinstripes
Headley is very underrated he was actually great besides 1 month in the beginning of the year.
He was a 300/390/430 player the rest of the year
pinballwizard1969
It’s a good decision and a win/win for both Tanaka and the Yankees, IMO. Also, I think this means the Yankees will not re-sign Sabathia.
DrCrawdad2009
Given this decision, I wonder if the Yanks will make CC a qualifying offer…
pinballwizard1969
Just my opinion but I think they pass on Sabathia now and look at Otani or for an internal option for the 5th starter.
eilexx
Qualifying offer? For CC Sabathia? On what planet? They’re not going to pay him $17M for a season, and he certainly would accept. At best Sabathia will get $17M over two years.
MurderersRow27
$17M over 2 years at best for CC? I don’t know about that one man. CC will get at least 1yr @ $10M at bare minimum, and if it’s not from the Yankees, someone else will definitely offer him at least that.
eilexx
Really? I don’t doubt that CC will get what you say….$10M/1 yr, maybe $12M…but who is guaranteeing a 37 year old a second year at that money? He’s 37 and has been in steady decline for a while now, seeming to have bottomed out at what he is…a halfway decent innings eater. He’s like Bartolo Colon or RA Dickey…older veterans. And they’ve both been getting around $8M/year on the FA market, or about $16M over two years. Maybe CC gets a few dollars more ($18M) because he’s a lefty. But he’s not getting $17M for 1 year, or a two year deal guaranteeing him anything over $20M.
Jeff Todd
I agree that he’s not getting qualifying offer money, but 2/20+ is in play.
Don’t forget: mlbtraderumors.com/2014/02/diamondbacks-to-sign-br…
cxcx
What about John Lackey? At the same age as CC he got a qualifying offer, turned it down, and signed for two years and similar money (with a new team giving up a pick to get him.) Why is he never mentioned in regards to CC?
rmullig2
CC has a bad knee which makes him unsuitable for the NL since he would not be able to hit on a regular basis. Plus the alcoholism weighs against him. Lackey did not have these issues.
thegreatcerealfamine
How in the holy hell could the Alcoholism weigh against him?
CompanyAssassin
WHAT?
CompanyAssassin
Well at least he’s happy, and I greatly respect he values his happiness in the organization and area more than monetary compensation.
simschifan
Probably won’t happen but I wouldn’t mind seeing Cc on the cubs as fifth starter as long as it’s not too much of a contract.
Rickeo02
For an average at best pitcher
eilexx
This is stunning. He clearly would have beaten the 3yrs/$67M he has left. Only rationale reason I can think of to opt-in is he knows he’s hurt and won’t pass a physical. A 5 year, $100M+ contract could quickly evaporate into a fraction of that if his elbow is impinged…
reflect
You hit the nail on the head. He can’t pass a physical.
Kolukonu
Or….. or…… he values playing with a team he is comfortable with, enjoys being around, and loyalty more than money.
Plus, 3/$67M is nothing to laugh at. It’s not like he opted into a 3 year, $15M deal. He’s still going be averaging over $22 Mil a season. This also sets him up to get one more big payday when he is 32.
eilexx
“loyalty more than money.”
Please join us in the real world.
“This also sets him up to get one more big payday when he is 32”
Doesn’t this contradict your first point? If it’s not about the money, why is he setting himself up for an even bigger payday in three years?
Besides, that is far too risky. Players these days get hurt so often that careers fall off the table quickly. Most players—especially those who have teetering near edge of a scalpel—aren’t going to risk waiting 3 years to sign a contract. A 5yr/$100M+ deal today is better than a 3yr/$67M with a hope to get more when that’s up.
We shall see, but I wouldn’t find it surprising if Tanaka does not pitch in 2018, as he’s recovering from TJ surgery.
Kolukonu
Believe it or not, not everyone is fueled by money.
What I meant by the point of it sets him up for one more big payday when he is 32, is he will get a far better contract for himself at 32 years old, for more years, than he will if opted out now, signed a 5 year deal, and entered the market at 34.
thegreatcerealfamine
Then you’ll be devastated when David Price blows his arm out in April. You’re a typical Sox fan!!!
reflect
If he valued comfort over money he wouldn’t have come to MLB in the first place. Get a grip.
mbrunette48
Bring your gloves Yankee fans, lots of souvenirs to be had at the stadium the next three years
terry g
I’m not a Yankee fan but loyalty, comfort and happiness over a bigger payday I can understand. With some it’s not always about the money even though with most it is
Slipknot37
Will you guys be updating t he list after this or keep it the same?
joemoes
I want Darvish, Tanaka and Ohtani sign Hideki Matsui as bench coach.
shoheiohtahnyy
Marlins declined Ichiros option too
Adam6710
Move the team to Pearl Harbor.
cards81
Wow! I’m glad someone in baseball finally thinks 60 million is enough money and stays with the team he loves…congrats
eszyman19
He knows that arm is on a time clock. So he might as well get that guaranteed money. I really like his loyalty to the yanks
MahatmaGagne
22 million for the next three years with Tanaka, hell no…..hes a 15 mill a year pitcher
shoheiohtahnyy
ButWhy.gif
greatdaysports
As a free agent, he would have to undergo more stringent exams from other teams that may not be as “generous “ as those Yankee md’s.
driftcat28 2
Happy about this. Tanaka is a great for the organization. The UCL hasn’t seemed to be an issue, and he did a great job rebounding in the second half/postseason. Now one more spot in the rotation, I’m guessing CC gets resigned to a 1 year deal
mike156
Tanaka is hard worker and a class act in general. I really wonder whether the Yankees will think its worth re-signing CC–they did do an after contract expiration deal with Mussina, but they may need to be worried about salary here.
Adam6710
There are always funky ways they do contracts to get around such things– a signing bonus, for example. A handshake deal to hire him as a highly-paid advisor after he retires, that sort of thing.
stretch123
This is huge!
jdgoat
I’m surprised so many people are shocked about this. That elbow could explode in 2 months or 5 years. Nobody knows. And I’m willing to bet there’s not too many team who want to take that risk. Saying that, I realize this is true for every pitcher. But when it’s already partially torn, I’d be terrified every time he even looked at his arm when he’s on the mound
madmanTX
Agree. The Yankees might very well end up wishing he had opted out…
rmullig2
Kershaw’s elbow could explode too. Maybe the Dodgers shouldn’t have given him that deal. If anybody’s elbow gives out the most likely candidate would be David Price.
Tanaka pitched the whole year and it wasn’t an issue. It hasn’t been an issue since he made adjustments to relieve the stress on his elbow. Enough of these sour grapes responses. People are just upset that the Yankees retained an excellent pitcher for well below the market price.
jdgoat
And you didn’t even read my post….
This is 100 percent speculation, but maybe he was also bad last year because of his elbow. Who knows? He certainly was not excellent last year, and we’ll see how he bounces back next year
Adam6710
Or it could have been the more likely culprit of the unrelated shoulder injury he was on the DL for. Not to say that was the cause, but it’s more likely that than his elbow, which hasn’t been an issue for 3 years. His second half in 2017 was quite good– in August his ERA was 2.63.
Begamin
Had a feeling he was going to stay. If the Yankees missed the playoffs this year then I could see him opt-out. But he got close to tasting the Yankee promise, a ring.
That, and Im sure hes fine with the money hes making although he could probably have made $20 million more.
pepesilvia
MLB needs to run an investigation into this. Why would Tanaka allow himself to miss out on 50 million dollars. The Yankees did not want to go over the luxury tax so they probably found a way to pay him off on the side. I’m a Yankee fan but this seems corrupt.
rmullig2
They must have laundered the money through the DNC like Hilary.
Adam6710
Gil Meche and Michael Cuddyer both retired midway through his deals, each forfeiting around 12M. Should we investigate the Royals and Mets for secretly paying them to walk away?
Voice of Reason
Tanaka is obviously still not 100% and doesn’t feel he can pass a physical.
Otherwise, he opts out without question. He missed on a big, new contract this off season,
xabial
Lol Investigation? easy….
Not all opt outs are meant to be exercised.
Tanaka will get 3 years $67MM to pitch the only place he’s called home, since coming to the states.
I’m sure he he factored the fact that he could’ve gotten more money guaranteed over less AAV, and more years. This is perfect. 3 more years ahead of that elbow injury to prove the “ticking time bomb” haters wrong.
People forget he’s still relatively young (29) Now he’ll be an FA at age 31, hopefully with more success on his resume.
Looking forward to see what he’ll do the next 3 years. And yes! I honestly thought he’d opt out.
xabial
Edit: He will be signed for his 29-31 seasons, and will not be an FA at age 31, rather his age-32 season.
joemoes
He’s not really leaving as much money on the table as people think.
1. His agent probably asked for an extension Yankees said no. His agent wouldn’t be doing his job if he didn’t.
2. Tanaka sees a path to the World Series and a guranteed 67million.
3. The most he could get on open market 5/110? So at most he’s leaving 43 million on table. When this contract is done he’s probably signing a 1 or 2 year deal somewhere in range of 10-12 a year. Even if he blows out his elbow he will still make millions after rehab. Or if he blows it out with Yankees, he will be healed by free agency for decent deals so it’s more like leaving 15-20 million on table.
4. Maybe he wants to evaluate his career in 3 years he’s happy in NY but everyone wants to go home eventually. Maybe he wants to sign with a west coast team or go back to Japan.
5. He knows Yankees are a top 3 team in east. And that taste of post season was so sweet.
6. Contending teams may not be able to sign him to a big contract: Red Sox, Indians are off the table. I think Astros are too with all the contract extensions they will be handing out. Nationals have a lot going on money wise and don’t really need Tanaka. Cubs maybe. But theo is very careful and has his own pitchers to sign or decide on. Only other teams would be Dodgers and their payroll is already sky high. And diamond backs who are no lock.
pepesilvia
It’s pretty simple.. either he is still hurt or the yankees have made an agreement to pay him or a close family member on the side.
xabial
This isn’t Russia.
Despite his excellent peripheral stats and playoffs, the guy still had a 4.74 ERA and injury concerns that will be mitigated 3 years from now (if he stays healthy)
thegreatcerealfamine
Is that Joel suggesting these X-Files scenarios?
jerseyjohn
Be quiet with your nonsense. The Yankees are not the Eddie Debartolo run 49’ers. The Yankees could have signed him to an extension and lowered his cap hit by taking on 2 or 3 year at a lower AAV. I believe him, he is happy to stay put. This team is going to be good for the next 3 years and 67 million is not a bad deal. Perhaps the team told him if he opted out they wouldn’t re-sign him and he decided to stay put.
rmullig2
That sounds like what the Red Sox did in the international market.
thegreatcerealfamine
They have an agreement to hide the money and his family at Roswell…
chino31
That’s dumb. Can’t you just accept he did it to win as yankee and with a young and exciting group. I respect him for staying than going out for extra years and millions. If he wins in NY, the endorsements in Japan will be yuge. Look at matsuri. The man makes over 20 million with mizuno and sake endorsements.
yanks2009
Bottom line is that he will be a yankee for the next 3 years.. Now let’s get Otani and win a championship
22222pete
After 3 years he just has to get 2/33 to justify the decision. Also, who the heck knows what the MRI shows. That can scare a lot of folks off especially after a pretty poor regular season. Smart move IMO unless you have a deal locked up (tampering) like Drew was alleged to have with the Red Sox.
Kadoc
Not that surprising, considering it’s already a nice amount. In Japan, loyalty is actually a thing.
joeseadog
Any team that would give ANY pitcher more than 2 years and team options thereafter is playing with fire. The list of pitchers you might consider going beyond those parameters is short.
GarryHarris
How will this “jolt the market”? This was expected. There were articles on this site that predicted Masahiro Tanaka and Justin Upton opt IN to their respective contracts. The unexpected would be if Tanaka opted OUT of his contract.
pepesilvia
Because it wasn’t expected where have u been bucko?
Adam6710
It’s really not unheard of for players to choose a comfortable environment or a winning team over money. It’s happened many times before. Usually in cases where the players are already highly paid, such as Tanaka.
He’s already made $88M. He’ll now pocket an additional $67M, guaranteed. Is the quality of life an additional $30 or $40M over the next few years worth the risk of going to a non-contender, or an environment he may not be comfortable in?
Some people appreciate the comfort that comes from stability. He is clearly comfortable in New York, on a winning team. There may be just as much value in that to him as there is in more money.
That’s not crazy, and certainly not unheard of. Many people, myself included, have taken better and more enjoyable, more comfortable jobs that didn’t pay as well.
1988wasalongtimeago
He wouldn’t pass a physical
Adam6710
You wouldn’t pass a year-end kindergarten exam.
dimelotitony
Now with Tanaka signed expect the dominoes to start falling look for the Yankees to try and trade Ellsbury to Seattle while eating most of the salary, I can see them trading headley away if they resign Frazier at a cost friendly salary as he did have a great time playing for his childhood team. If Frazier does come back to the Yankees then without a doubt Headley can be traded and it could be to St.Louis or Angels.
I have a feeling that CC is going to end up signing with Cleveland Indians coming back home to them. Yankees will need a DH as well and this is where if the Yankees work out a trade with St.Louis they can try and get Carpenter whom can play 3rd,1st base and DH to spell Bird & Frazier if he signs back with the Yankees.
Eventually the Yankees will look to trade Castro as Gleyber Torres will either play 2nd base eventually and Miguel Andujar can displace Toe then.