Now that the Yankees’ season is over, their front office is left to ponder the futures of many of the club’s players, including shortstop Didi Gregorius. While Gregorius has largely been an above-average to excellent contributor since the Yankees acquired him entering 2015, the two sides’ five-year partnership may be on the verge of ending. Gregorius is weeks from a trip to free agency, where he’s easily slated to be the highest-upside shortstop available. The question, if Gregorius does reach the open market, is whether he’ll come with a qualifying offer attached.
The 29-year-old Gregorius would’ve been a slam dunk for a $17.8MM QO were he coming off a similar season to the ones he posted from 2017-18. Gregorius was a 4.0-fWAR player in each of those years, though he underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow after the latter of those campaigns. As a result, Gregorius didn’t debut this year until June 7. When Gregorius returned, he wasn’t the same player the Yankees grew accustomed to seeing in the previous two seasons. He wound up playing just about half the season (82 games) and slashing a mediocre .238/.276/.441 in 344 plate appearances. The power outburst Gregorius enjoyed from 2017-18 remained intact, evidenced by his 16 home runs and his .204 ISO, yet he still only managed an 84 wRC+ (he checked in at 122 just a year ago).
In light of his downtick in production this season, it’s fair to wonder whether the Yankees will qualify Gregorius and risk paying him a hefty sum for 2020. They did bring Gregorius back for a pricey $11.75MM in the wake of his TJ surgery last year, but as mentioned, he was coming off a much stronger season at the time. Now, it’s easy to imagine Gregorius accepting a much more expensive QO and trying for a bounce-back year in New York. Doing so would take a significant chunk out of the luxury tax-minded Yankees’ spending room for a position to which the club arguably doesn’t need to allocate a ton of financial resources. The Yankees could let Gregorius walk, plug Gleyber Torres in at short and use DJ LeMahieu at second. Alternatively, if the Yankees really want to go for a bold strike after yet another season without a World Series title, they could trade for someone like Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor, keep Torres at second and continue to move the versatile LeMahieu around the infield.
Regardless of whether Lindor’s a realistic trade target for the Yankees, what should they do with Gregorius in the next couple weeks? Is he worth taking a chance on via QO, or should general manager Brian Cashman let him hit the market unfettered?
(Poll link for app users)
Let a Didi go and use the money to get a pitcher off the FA market.
1B – Miguel Andújar
2B – LeMahieu
SS – Torres
3B – Urshela
C – Sanchez
Why do you assume the Yankees can’t spend on all their needs? Cashman can’t blame it on the manager this time around. The pressure is on the front office to get the pieces.
They reset their luxury tax so we expect them to go for the gusto starting with big free agent splashes. Cole and maybe Keuchel for targets.
I know Dallas is a ground ball pitcher, but a soft throwing lefty at yankee stadium is a tad scary lol
wouldnt it be more scary if he was hard throwing right hander pitching to power hitting lefties?
Because the Yankees are looking to 2022-2023 when you need to max out judge sanchez sevy torres and andujar
That means they need to be under the cap these next couple years to not be hit with cap taxex that could cost say on judge 10-300 would actually cost 10-450 with the tax
Judge will be 28 next April and isn’t due for free agency until 2023. You want to give him 10 years??!?! More likely on a guy like Torres who is much younger when making an impact.
@johnnyz123
One can excuse Didi for his lackluster of a season because he didn’t have the benefit of a full spring training, etc. He still played great defense. Letting him walk over money is the absolute worst thing to do. It limits DJ to one position yet losing the very depth we desperately needed this season.
The Yanks are not broke. They still spent the 2nd most money last year but they simply spread around on DJ, Happ, Ottavino, Britton and others. Whatever the qualifying offer is, it’s 1 year and will not effect what else they do.
I simply can’t understand how quick guys are to bail on Didi considering he’s still a top 5-6 SS over the last 3 years even with 2019 included.
I agree with this sentiment as much as I love Didi. 1B can be rotation of Voit, Anduljar, and *gasp* Greg Bird. Then sign a utility middle infielder. Trade Happ and eat some salary. Fifth SP is between Green, Cessa, and Montgomery.
I’d say keep Bird in AAA for regular ABs. I dont think the rare spot start is going to help him get his confidence at the plate back
Bird won’t ever be a regular Yankee. If he restores some value then he is gone to the first bid.
I mean sure why not? Didi is more likely to decline but there’s a chance he’ll accept…
Side note: after I voted the poll showed 128 yes votes and 130 no votes so pretty even.
He is more likely to take it. There is no way he gets that much money for one year out there.
You think he won’t get a 2 or more year deal? I think he can find at least one multi year offer
A QO would kill his market after such a bad and injury shortened season. I can’t see any way he declines it.
If I were Didi I would take it and hope for a better season next year. Then he enters the market without the QO attached to him and stronger numbers looking for that bigger contract. However, there aren’t that many shortstops available so the QO might not kill the market. Teams might be willing to give up the draft pick at such an important position.
Exactly. He takes the QO and stays in the best hitter’s park and in the best lineup around. It’s a no-brainer to accept if the Yankees offer it.
Agreed JD. He’s at an age that he can re-enter free agency after 2020 but if he signs a short multi year deal, his age at the end will be used against him.
Does anyone wanna help me write a death metal song? It’s going to be about holding hands. It is going to very hardcore metal.
No but he could get more overall money. I could see 4/60.
No one is giving him 60MM with draft pick compensation. That’s the reality for a 30 year old SS. I think that’s his absolute ceiling for a contract if there’s no QO attached. I’d bet less.
Side note: after I voted the poll showed 128 yes votes and 130 no votes so pretty even.
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IMHO, the voting in here is extremely accurate. I voted ‘no’, but even I was flipping a coin. If you take a look at the WS poll, the voting pretty much reflects what the LV odds are on the series.
I know Didi has come up big at times for the Yanks but most of the time he’s a first pitch swinging low on base percentage and this year an even lower average. he slugs well but if your around .300 obj something isn’t right. You’re entering into Cris Carter territory and even he hit 40 HRs a year at times. Didi is 30 max with the short porch.
Chris Carter hit sub-.200 with 150+ Ks a year. Not quite the same.
What makes Didi so valuable has been his glove and hitting in Yankee Stadium. Did Carter own a glove?
Irrelevant. Awful comparison. If Chris Carter could play SS the way Didi did he’d still be playing professional baseball in the United States.
Agreed.
I think he would accept the QO and I’m not sure that’s the best move for the Yankees. They have enough infield options and can better use that money for frontline starting pitching. I’ve seen the Lindor rumors. Color me doubtful about whether he’s really available or whether Cashman would part with the required pieces, but if money is going to be spent unnecessarily on the infield that is how it should be done… top shelf only.
@beisbolista
I don’t even think the Lindor stuff qualifies as a rumor. Rumors usually come from some team having conversations about a player. Instead what we had was Sherman suggesting that the Yanks should go after him. While trading away stars when they get expensive is kind of what the Indians do I doubt they are floating his name out there and I doubt that Cashman sees SS as a priority at this point.
I read where Cashman made it clear he wanted to extend Didi while he was rehabbing. Aside from a low bat avg and OBP, Didi still hit for power and played excellent defense. The whole point of acquiring DJ was for depth purpose. I think this team is at it’s best with Didi at SS and DJ moving around the diamond. Cashman would be an idiot to not expect injuries to resurface in 2020. No need to erode the depth in the IF.
no place to play him, and might not even be worth the money. let him walk.
No. If they offer him the QO, he will likely accept it, and that money could be used toward pitching. Plus they don’t need him with Torres, and LeMahieu up the middle.
Give him one he accepts it
Don’t give him one he lands a 2-3 year year deal somewhere
More like 4-5 years with 12-15 average annual. The Reds would do that in a heart beat.
Not sure why they would, even while admitting a lot of questionable moves the past year. Iglesias is Didi-lite at this point, and they could likely get him cheaper and shorter.
That’s if you think Didi doesn’t rebound.i wouldn’t give him 60 million dollars but I’d sure pay a hell of a lot more for Didi.
That’s always the key. I expect a rebound, but he only has one season in his career > .800 OPS, and only one season > 106 OPS+.
His career OPS is .742. Iglesias’ OPS last year was .724. Didi is obviously better, but how much of an improvement is he going to be?
Didi was a horrendous hitter when he came up. I wouldn’t read into his career mark all that much. He’s been a .751 .796 and .829 in his last 3 full seasons in NY. Obviously it took a dive this year but I think it’s very reasonable to expect him being a .780 OPS guy. There’s a huge difference between a .720 and a .780. And I’m pretty confident that’s what Didi will at least give you. Didi’s offensive floor is right around the ceiling of Iglesias .
Obviously if it’s something like 3/45 MM for Didi or 2/10 for Iglesias then yeah I could see an argument for taking Jose.
And GABP would be a fantastic spot for Didi offensively. If Jose Iglesias could pop out 11 dingers there I think Didi wouldn’t have any issue getting himself 20+. So I’d pay a pretty good bit more for Didi If given the opportunity. I think if you could get him around the 3/33-39 (cozart deal) range that’d be a fine add. I don’t think the SS market is going to be tremendously hot this offseason with basically all contenders having an option there.
If Cincy doesn’t jump on Gregorious; I’m not sure there’s an obvious landing spot. Unless an obvious rebuilding squad like Baltimore, Detroit,Giants or Miami went after him. It’s just not a position of need for contending teams.
Let Didi go and use the money to acquire an SP1. Infield should be:
1B – Miguel Andújar
2B – DJ LeMahieu
SS – Gleyber Torres
3B – Gio Urshela
C – Gary Sanchez
Andujar has just one year behind him. While he was the real ROTY in my view (players who performed in other top leagues should not be eligible IMHO), there have been many one year wonders. How many remember Super Joe Charboneu (sorry for the spelling) or even The Bird, Mark Fidrych? You’re asking Andujar to learn a new position a FPS if that’s the case, it should be in the minors. Also, if anyone moves, it should be Sanchez who hurts the staff behind the plate.
The “real” 2018 ROTY is still in fact Ohtani and NOT Andujar. Ohtani received 25 of 30 first place votes, so it was a completely lopsided vote to the best MLB rookie. Ohtani is a legit two-way star and Andujar doesn’t have a position outside of DH.
Not disagreeing on the year Ohtani had. My argument is professionals playing at the top be it in the U.S., Japan or elsewhere are not really rookies despite the fact that it is/was their first year in the U.S. majors. I thought the same thing years ago with Ichuro. He certainly was not a rookie when he came to the U.S.
The only “real” thing Ohtani did was ride the DL in 2018. Two way player ? 10 starts and hasn’t started since. He’s a middling DH now. Wow ! Some ROY
The Yankees need to sigh Didi. He is a solid SS for the Yankees. He did have Tommy John surgery this past year. My personal opinion is that Didi did not recover from Tommy John surgery. He came back too soon. You can tell by his throws. They did not reach the first basemen most of the time. They were short of the base. You really need two years to recover and I believe you will see the real Didi next year! Sign him please!
I’d say give him a QO hoping he doesn’t accept but it’s not worth the risk. Yanks need to save money somewhere. they probably re-sign Gardner and maybe Dellin( of chap opts out than more likely)Cc is off the books, I’d also extend Le Machine
@floridapinstripes
Can we all stop acting like the Yanks are the Pittsburgh Pirates? Cashman litteraly said “Gee I have this extra money” and went and signed Ottavino, Britton and DJ. Those were not dramatic needs but they helped the team. They can afford a QO and they can also afford an extension. I really wouldn’t be shocked if they gave him a 3/$36 kind of deal.
He was looking at Bogaerts comparable money before the injury. Perhaps one less year due to the age difference. If offered the QO, he’s more likely to take it and if he has a hot start, they will negotiate a longer pact.
Gardner needs to play elsewhere. He’s too streaky. Frazier and Tauchman are younger, cheaper, and not LOB machines like Gardner was in the LCS. 1st and 2nd no outs and he doesn’t bunt. Shameful
Brewers could sure use a shortstop that can hit!
For heavens sake, the guy just had the surgery give him a break. Sure kick a player when he’s down. He still recovering, if he was a pitcher you would give him proper recovery time. I’m not NYY fan, I’m a humanitarian fan. After him carrying the team at times in past yr, what you kick him into FA cuz you signed others? I hope if he signs with someone n he is great n the ones you go with ATM fail, I will feel good.
What are you talking about? His contract is ending and the Yankees have to decide whether he’s worth giving a QO to. What is the humanitarian thing to do? Give him a QO and kill his market and risk overpaying a player they don’t even need? Or let him go for nothing in return?
@pasha2k You’re a little overboard with the “humanitarian” part but you’re right. Didi is a well liked player. As long as he’s not asking for something outrageous then they should bring him back. Do it for no other reason than it allows DJ to move around if someone gets injured which as we saw this year, is almost inevitable.
Ordinarily I would agree but the Sox got bitten in the butt with their feel good deals last year. As Mookie has shown, baseball is a business. Bring him back because you believe he came back.too soon and with more rest, he’ll be back to being Didi.
Sign and trade
This isn’t the NBA. That’s illegal.
coming off from major surgery, I’d accept qualifying offer if I were him.. he’d be stupid not to..
How many teams with money and need will make up his market? There are a lot of great shortstops around the league right now and most competitors have one.
I’m not sure how legit the rumors are but I’ve heard talks of a trade for kluber and Lindor. If they think they are going to land Lindor obviously let Didi walk without there QO. I have absolutely nothing to back this up however.
If this is in fact all talk I’d probably give him he QO because the Yankees don’t have to care about money and their depth proved valuable/necessary this season. They can keep him and still get the 2 pitchers they need.
*IF* Kluber and Lindor are going to be traded(which I highly doubt), there will be about 10 teams interested. The Yankees don’t have any kind of exclusive right to these guys via trade, so I’m betting it won’t happen.
I never said they had exclusive rights and I was very clear I said I had no idea how legit the rumors are. But I have seen the Yankees more connected to them than other teams. I’m sure the Indians are heavily shopping them if they have any plans to move them just haven’t seen as much in terms of interactions with other teams.
@Baseballallday
The Lindor part is just something a NY writer named Sherman put out there without at all indicating it was something he heard. I think it’s something he just put out there. No way do I think Cashman is using the limited prospects we have on another SS when he has two he can use by either resigning Didi or moving Torres to SS.
As for Kluber I don’t see any reason why the Yanks would take a chance on a 34 yo who did not take the field since April due to an arm related injury who is also owed about $34 mil in 2 options. No way should anyway expect Kluber to return to ace form without seeing him after he’s healthy and performing well.
Seeing as how Kluber has a rather expensive set of options it’s more likely they either pick up his 2020 options and hope for the best or decline the option and let him walk. I don’t see an off-season trade unless it’s a bad contract for bad contract deal but honestly, unless they get something else from that team they are more likely to just release him rather than hoping the player they acquire bounces back. No need for the Indians to take that risk.
The Indians have already stated that they will pick up the 2020 option on Corey Kluber.. The arm injury was a broken bone, not a shoulder or elbow. They will hope that he regains his form.
I agree that I do not see an off season trade for Kluber. They will hope that he regains value during the 2020 season. You can never have too much starting pitching.
Yanks could always decline to issue him the QO, but sign him at a lesser cost. Didi is a fine player, but not worth nearly $18MM for one year. He will probably get something like 2/$24MM max if he were on the open market… if the Yankees issue the QO, he would be crazy not to accept it. That way, the next FA signing period, he will have a better season (more than likely), have no QO attached and $17.8MM more in the bank account. Too many benefits to it accept the QO
He’s a left handed short stop that can pop 20hr and play elite Defense. Your undervaluing Didi way too much. He’s also a great club house guy.
He’s also coming off a bad season at the plate… name the teams that are going to get in a bidding war for him. Most teams are set at SS that are contenders. The rebuilding teams won’t be interested in the commitment.
This is my take as well. Decline then resign him longer deal. $18M/year is excessive.
No one’s giving up a draft pick for him and he’s not worth $18 million a year.
I’d say this race is too close to call. We’re going to need a recount in Florida.
At this point, he’s earned true free agency without a QA attached.
Yanks priority needs to be adding to the SP. and no bargain basement types. Every available dime needs to go to top shelf starting pitching and potentially locking up the young core.
Yeah n the first one needing TJ surgery, trade or let them go to FA.
It’s truly a no brainer. The Yankees should absolutely give Didi the QO. If they don’t and he signs a 3-4 year deal he will easily make 10-12 million. A one year QO pays him approx 17 mil which is possibly 5-7 more then the QO and in his prime. If a team decides to offer him 3 years and he accepts after the QO then the Yanks get a draft pick. If he takes the QO the Yanks get another year to let him get his value up and get the most out of him in his PRIME. He then hits free agency at 32yo. Then the Yanks can decline to sign him depending on what happens next year and then they only have one year to wait for Lindor and possibly trade for Lindor at a much reduced price since he has the one year left.
It’s honestly a no brainer!!!!
By the way Didi cane off elbow surgery and he still plays elite defense and his left handed bat can easily go yard 20 times. Great club house guy in his prime that makes contact is a no brainer for a QO. Don’t go crazy off of a recovery year when he’s been a solid Yankee!
Ofcourse the Yankees are going to give Didi a QO. They would have to give up Severino and the farm to get Lindor.. I can see the Yankees and Indians hooking up on a Cory Kluber trade. for Voit, Wade, and Loaisigna
Why would they even think to trade for Lindor? Gleyber is the SS if the Yankees simply don’t do anything. And why trade the farm for Lindor when you can move Gleyber over and sign a utility guy? Maybe even Iglesias if they feel desperate. Hechaverria could make a return as depth
Exactly. The Yankees don’t need to make a trade for Lindor when Torres is already fine at SS. There is just a tendency to attach every single player to the Yankees at all times. This is how we spent the entire Winter last year talking about how the Yankees were going to sign Machado and Harper.
@teb171
No way would any team trade a guy under control like Severino for Lindor who has 2 years left of control. Please stop and look at actual trades that have been made for elite players nearing FA. Never has been for a young ace and I could care less about his splits 1st half/2nd half. Even with missing most of 2019 he still ranks 14th in overall WAR from 2017-2019 after posting back to back 5+ WAR seasons.
Kluber has no trade value right now. He hasn’t pitched since April, turns 34 in 2020 and had a ERA over 5. I think the Indians would release him or accept a lottery ticket lower level prospect for him. That’s NOT to say that Voit, Wade or Loisaiga have a lot of trade value but for the Yanks they are valued players. Right now I would bet Voit will be the starting 1B rather than counting on DJ being the everyday, or them bringing back EE or handing the position over to Ford.
Kluber needs to prove he’s healthy before anyone trades for him.
The Indians have already stated that they are picking up Kluber’s option for 2020. They will pitch him and hope that he returns to form.
Pretty obvious the Indians wouldn’t take a lottery ticket or straight up release him. That’s a ridiculous claim. His team option was just exercised. They had no obligation to do that. The Indians have no need for another DH or 1B in Voit. Loiasiga is a fine arm but he’s a bullpen arm. That guy isn’t going to be a SP. Tyler Wade is a utility man so yeah, nothing given up there. That’s not a ridiculously bad buy low offer. If a trade were to occur today I think that’s Pretty fair value. If you’d replace Voit with a lower range prospect.
Kluber had 35 bad innings. That’s it. His FIP was still a decent 4.06 and he has all the pedigree in the world. I can bet you there are plenty of teams who would take an opportunity to buy low there. Particularly on a 1/17.5 with the option to have him again for that price. That’s well worth giving up a loaisiga type and a lower range prospect or Two.
It’s insane how dumb some yankee fans can be. The article is about whether or not they should extend him a QO.. NOT if they should let him walk or re-sign him. “YEAH LET HIM WALK NOWHERE TO PLAY HIM” lol guarantee half of these brain dead commenters don’t even know what a qualifying offer is and the intricacies that are involved. I guess this is my payback for being a lakers fan.
Batman69 has a valid point. Being a Lakers fan comes with a certain karmic price–here, it’s having to navigate through the jungle of comments made by commenters, half of whom are brain dead, according to Batman69. I once had a family member who was, in fact, brain dead, though she didn’t comment on MLBTR regularly. I’d ask her, “Grandma, do you even UNDERSTAND what a qualifying offer is and its intricacies?” She didn’t answer–just drooled onto her hospital gown. I thought, this is insane how dumb my Grandma is! “Are you a Lakers fan?” I asked. She tried to clap her hands but missed. Thank you, Batman69, for, as we used to say in the newsroom when some braindead commenter reared one of their multiple heads, for raising the discourse and contributing positively to this web site, Batman69. Looking forward to your trenchant analysis on the Qualifying Offer and its intricacies. Unless Zizek beats you to it!
Lol too funny. You have a career in writing kid.
@Batman69
Umm…Not sure what your problem is. Either they extend him the QO, or let him walk as a FA or try to resign him to another deal. How are they dumb for discussing the issue at hand (extending a QO) or the possibilities if they don’t? Nothing at all dumb about that…except you of course.
I’m a little surprised the voting is still 50/50. I would have thought 70/30 Yankees don’t issue a QO
Torres isn’t half the defensive SS that DiDi is. If they let DiDi walk, their already bad defense will get worse.
True, but then Torres moves to 2B and DLH moves to 3rd?
@JoeBrady
Yanks already have two 3B in Urshela and Andujar.
IMO the infield should be Urshela, Didi, Torres and Voit with DJ floating around th diamond. Someone is bound to get hurt.
The Yankees have one third baseman – Urshela. Andujar is a DH.
Sign him at around 12 mil. With incentives, plus an opt out at years end.. don’t believe yanks will give a QO..
The same Yankee fans who don’t want to give Didi a QO are the same fans who didn’t want to sign LeMahieu last year. There was no room for him… until there was. With Didi and the versatility of LeMahieu and Torres you are covered in case of injury / rest. “Too much depth” unfortunately has its way of working itself out.
Didi didn’t have a normal offseason, and had carried the team in the past. Plus the Yankees are very RH dominant. Why wouldn’t you want a LH hitting SS with good pop and solid defense?
There has been a lot of talk over last year and this year that the Yankees “must” bring back Brett Gardner because of his leadership. I’d venture to say that Gregorius provides just as much if not more leadership. So if you can’t re-sign Didi you definitely make the QO *IF* the medical staff clears him..
His poor hitting results this season were an anomaly most likely due to the injury. If he’s healthy then you bring Didi back and save a few bucks by letting Gardner walk, Heck, give Gardner a managerial job in Staten Island or Pulaski,
I think the Yankees should make that offer. He’s gonna bounce back, I wouldn’t worry much about it
Offer the QO, win-win for the Yankees. If you’re Didi you accept the QO, have a monster season and hope that commands a 3-year deal on-top of the $17.8 that would have been a better offer than the 4/60-65 he probably receives without one. If he accepts he stays with a winning team and full health going into Spring. The Yankees either have their SS back or they trade for Lindor or move Torres to SS. Seems like a good decision for the Yankees.
Move on. Do not offer the QO. 18 mil is a lot of coin for a GM who needs 230 mil in annual budget to make the playoffs.
DJ is best suited at 2nd and Gleyber to SS. The yanks need a left contact hitting defesnive 1b more than Didi, let alone Starting Pitching.
Didi, is one of the main offenders of the DBS (dead bats society) and should be thanked for his service.
The $$$$ can and should be spent elsewhere
Brett Gardner – Gardner has been symbolic of the Yankees drought.
CC – CC should have retired last year. Yankees made a mistake bringing him back.
Bringing back Brett Garbage for 2020 will be a huge mistake
Giving G Bird another chance will also be another mistake
@Louiebeans
Why even bring up Bird? He’s not in their 2020 plans at all.
Some of you don’t wanna bring back DiDi as for me I could careless I don’t have any trust in this team to go out and get what needs to be done. They have left a bad taste in my mouth over the years. My point………….But it’s okay for some of you to bring back Brett Garbage the total post season DUD who has don’e ZERO in the Post Season but it’s okay to bring him back. I swear I dunno how some of you fans think.
Brett Gardner – Gardner has been symbolic of the Yankees drought … enough is enough
Too good too let go, and too expensive to keep.
If they offer a QO, does Didi have an expection that someone will offer him a contract for maybe $39M/3, plus the draft comp? I think the answer is ‘no’, and then Didi takes the QO.
The best course of action, and the vote option should’ve included this, is a short-term contract with the NYY. Say the NYY offered him $12M/1, with a player option for a 2nd year at $12M. For the NYY, at worst, they get a pretty good backup. For Didi, he gets to redeem his value on a make-good contract. And if he bombs, he is protected with a second and his two-year salary won’t be much less than what he’d have gotten on the open market.
@Ejemp2006
Yanks need 1 true ace and as far as FA go that’s Cole, Stras if he opts out and maybe…..maybe Bumgarner, who is more like a #2 or #3 but could still be a force in the post-season.
Yanks can craft out the other 4 from Severino, Paxton, Tanaka, Happ, German and Montgomery. No need for a Keuchel type.
People,
Cashman and Baby Steinbrenner want to be under cap. They are looking at 2022-2023 when you have to max out Judge sanchez Sevy Torres and Andujar.
Sinch gio is cheap, I see them moving andujar to 1st and dh.
c sanchez 1b andujar 2b LaMahue ss torres 3b Gio
Can Andujar play first? It is not as easy as it sounds. I think he is a DH and that lessens his value.
this whole construct is ridiculous. we need a legit left hitting first baseball who can play defense and make contact. Torres was always the SS of the future who moved to 2b for convenience and can therefore move back to SS as he did before didi returned.
The Yankees need to get better in 2 areas. Starting pitching and contact hitting. I don’t see how bringing didi back at the QO or some other number does that.
People are swayed by the perception of how good a player or pitcher is. Then there is reality. Players like Didi are just not as good or valuable as one would think. that is reality.
The Yanks are close to winning it all but need to start doing their work differently to get over the Cashman hurdle/weakness. This off-season like the past many is simple.
2 quality SP with one being a legit 1 and some contact based bats.
The Yankees are in a tough spot because they are a bit clogged up, especially in the IF.
Without signing Didi or trading for a SS, you lineup looks like this:
1B: Voit/Ford platoon
2B: DJ LeMahieu
SS: Torres
3B: Let Andujar and Urshela compete
DH: Sanchez/Stanton/Andujar/Judge “rotation”
I get a little sick thinking about having a left-side of Torres and Andujar…..
But if you get a SS, what do you do with DJ LeMahieu? Waste his talent in LF where with some regression his bat won’t play? If DJ is in LF, that means Stanton is almost always DHing, which means Sanchez is nearly always catching.
Ideally, you would trade either Andujar or Urshela. But Andujar had one good season before missing an entire season. Urshela came out of nowhere at age 28 to put up a 3 WAR season. Both are big question marks that the market will trouble valuing despite team control until 2024.
I’d explore something along the lines of a Torres- Lindor swap. Before I get crucified by Yankees fans, FanGraphs DID have them back-to-back in their trade value series. I would want more if I am the Yankees, but say Lindor/Kluber for Torres + another major piece?
I’d REALLY be targeting Trevor Story if I am the Yankees. The Rockies are in limbo and trading Story opens up SS for their top prospect Brandon Rodger and 2B for Garrett Hampson/Ryan McMahon. Say Story for Sanchez. Gives the Rockies a “catcher” to fill their permanent blackhole at the position. Clears up the DH spot for Stanton “full-time”. Want to keep Sanchez? Then either A) Prepare a prospect package of Dominguez and Garcia…etc or B) Eat Wade Davis’s $17M and trade one uber-prospect/Andujar.
Sorry but not considering dealing Torres for 2 years of Lindor! That’s not even an option.
Sanchez would not be a good target for the Rockies. He is very bad defensively and is likely a DH which would not help the Rockies.
I sincerely hope the Yankees do offer him a QO because he will take it. While he may play much better in 2020, that will still take money away from the Yankees ability to sign free agent pitching. They will not be able to overspend as much on Cole and he will be more likely to come back home to Southern California.
That’s my view as a RS fan. They can still spend, but as we are going to learn in the RSN, every team has its limits.