The Yankees are working on a “potential” deal to add a pitcher to the staff, manager Aaron Boone told reporters prior to today’s season opener (Twitter link, with video, via SNY). Boone didn’t futher tip his hand as to whether the Yankees are talking to a free agent or discussing a possible trade. However, they’re opening the season with 14 position players and 12 pitchers on their roster, reflective of both a potentially incoming arm and an off-day on the schedule Friday.
“We’re going with just seven guys in the ’pen, obviously with an off-day tomorrow, where we have a potential deal going that’ll probably change that moving forward in the next day or two,” said Boone. “…A pitcher could be in play for us, that we add or not. Whether or not we do, we’d be in a position to pull from the minor leagues, too.”
New York’s pitching staff has been hit hard by injuries, evidenced by the sheer number of players who are beginning the season on the injured list. The Yankees announced today that lefty Carlos Rodon (forearm strain) and righties Luis Severino (lat strain), Lou Trivino (elbow strain), Tommy Kahnle (biceps tendinitis) and Frankie Montas (shoulder surgery) have all been placed on the 15-day injured list. Right-handers Scott Effross (2022 Tommy John surgery) and Luis Gil (2022 Tommy John surgery) both were placed on the 60-day IL. Center fielder Harrison Bader (oblique strain) and catcher Ben Rortvedt (shoulder aneurysm surgery) are both on the 10-day IL.
Also of note from Boone’s media session today, the skipper indicated that not only will Oswaldo Cabrera get the Opening Day start in left field — but he’ll open the season as the team’s primary left fielder (Twitter link via Joel Sherman of the New York Post). Aaron Hicks will still get some time against left-handed pitching, and Cabrera’s versatility means he’ll occasionally line up at other spots, but it seems the current plan is for him to be the most frequently used option in left field.
The 24-year-old Cabrera made his big league debut in 2022, slashing .247/.312/.429 in 171 plate appearances. Originally expected to be in more of a versatile infield/outfield utility role, the switch-hitting Cabrera seized a more prominent role with a monster spring showing. In 57 plate appearances, he batted .340/.386/.623 with four homers, three doubles, four walks (7%) and 10 strikeouts (17.5%).
The Yankees also confirmed some previously known/reported moves. Top prospect Anthony Volpe’s contract has been formally selected, and he’ll open the season as the Yankees’ primary shortstop. Right-hander Jhony Brito was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and is expected to start the team’s third game of the season on Sunday. And, as was widely reported yesterday, the Yankees signed outfielder/first baseman Franchy Cordero to a Major League contract and formally added him to their Opening Day roster.
Frantically checks A’s roster to see if anyone is left.
You would think Cashman would’ve learned his lesson by now
Nothing left on A’s to trade. The owner got rid of every ML player and left the team with AAA players so they will be dead last in attendance so he can complain about fans not showing up. Its only a ATM for the owner who made $23 million last year.
If the A’s owner only made $23m last year, this sport has a much more massive problem than people think. Their player payroll was $48m. If he made $23m, that means the absolute max (short of him losing money) he could have spent on this roster is $71m, which is about 1/6th of the top payrolls in the sport and basically perpetually noncompetitive. He either cleared a LOT more than that or people are believing a total myth about the lucrativeness of MLB franchises.
@seamaholic
The thing is, no one will ever really know. The Braves & Jays are the only 2 teams who’s books are made public. The other owners can claim anything they want without proof.
That is not counting on how much the value of the franchise went up. He made over $1 billion in franchise value in the last decade. Reason why you never hear a sport owner filling for bankruptcy. The real money is in the value of the franchise.
The A’s have been ran into the ground for decades. That city has turned around the golden state warriors who were a bigger laughingstock than even the A’s are. Fisher could invest in the stadium and keep star players and the Athletics would be making much more money. It’s Fisher’s own fault his team doesn’t make more because he won’t invest in his business.
@arc 2
As Steling Signs said, only 2 teams report, so we don’t know, and fans like you, as well as owners can say anything they want, without proof. As to franchise value, that doesn’t put any money in their pocket while they own the franchise. It’s just like the value of your house. If it’s value goes up, you may pay more taxes. You can also borrow against the value, which will put you in debt. The higher valuation does not put money in your pocket.
@farhanfan
If you are renting, you don’t pay to fix the roof. You try to make the landlord fix it. Oakland has a lease.
@stymeedone Just like a house you put money into it for ithe price to go up and you can have a big pay day.. Not sure why you are defending Fisher when he has proven to not care about baseball. So why are you defending Fisher who has destroyed a MLB team? Explain?
Relievers are fine, it’s former As SPs that scare me. Sonny Gray, Barry Zito, etc.
Hires lawfirm to comb through Effross/Wesneski trade to see if can be undone.
I don’t like this one bit truthfully. I will be really pist if Gleyber is traded today.
I can’t imagine it would be a big trade. Whoever they get will need to be optioned or DFA’d once their real starters come off the IL.
I’d guess that Peraza would replace Gleyber pretty quickly. Worse O but better glove.
I don’t know about that. Peraza’s gonna hit, but your right about the defense though.
Needs to happen sooner than later.
Hey Cap. Don’t think they are trading Torres for a reliever pitcher. Hoping they move Florial and IKF for a useful reliever, but probably something even smaller.
Hey Mick I hope your right. Maybe it’s IKF being traded for a reliever? It’s definitely a reliever coming back? Lmk.
Pretty sure it’s a reliever.
@benhen77- no more trades with the A’s ever. The Yankees don’t need anymore injured players. Smh
They send all their injured guys to the Yanks. Braves get the healthy and productive players.
David Forst and Billy Beane turn into Mister Haney from TV’s Green Acres every time they learn that Ca$hman is shopping for pitching.
Interesting how some teams reveal stuff, and some teams (Braves) are tight-lipped.
This is actually unusual for the Yankees. It’s rare for something like that to be said and I wouldn’t doubt Boone gets called to the office for it.
Chris Flexen?
Would doubt it’s anything of that magnitude, plus I think Dipoto would keep his ask high for now.
A trade for Flexen wouldn’t register very highly on the magnitude scale.
Or Marco
The stove is hot today
I doubt they are bringing Roger Clemens or Andy Pettitte back yet again.
Roger is in George’s box!!
Oh my goodness gracious! Of all the dramatic things I’ve ever seen!
I hate that I get this reference
Everyone in the world gets the reference. Everyone in the world, except Suzy, expected that Clemens was going to the NYY.
Suzy got so excited when she saw Roger Clemens in George’s box. She must have left one he’ll of a snail trail in the booth. Luckily Sterling wasn’t injured in a slip and fall bc of it!
Of all the dramatic things!
I still have PTSD from that call and Clemens’ mediocre season that followed.
They would be smart to trade Boone.
Boone should have kept his mouth shut. He’s got a team to rally on opening day..
Yup, I’m trying to figure out what he thinks the advantage is. This goes back to the Godfather where you never let them know what you are thinking.
Greg Bird for Ohtani?
Whoa… Better add Trout to balance the trade a bit better!
Matt Harvey come on down! Lol
Jesus Luzardo and Jake Eder for Jasson Dominguez?
@justme789- The Fish aren’t getting Dominguez, unless Alacantra is coming back, so let that go.
And the Yanks aren’t getting Alcantara unless Dominguez AND Volpe are coming back.
Not happening. So let it go already.
BTV approved that trade.
Dakota Hudson could probably be had for cheap
Chris Archer looking for a team to stink up.
*sigh* How many pitching prospects will this trade cost? And how long before Cashman puts two and two together?
Catfish Hunter!!!!
When they said “a trade to dig up a pitcher,” you shouldn’t have taken it so literally!
Look for Bobby miller to be traded to the Yankees as of now not sure for who but yankees had scouts watching him recently
I’m guessing you are joking about Bobby Miller, right? Who would the Dodgers get in return for one of the top 25 prospects in MLB that is major league ready, has a four pitch mix and throws 100+? And why would the Dodgers trade Miller with Kershaw only good for 120 IP, Buehler out for the season and Gonsolin and Pepiot on the IL?
There are plenty of players hitting the open market now that spring training is over. I wouldn’t expect the “Mystery” Pitcher to be an earth-shattering acquisition
That’s where you are wrong internally the short stop battle upset Peraza as his comments to family and now wants off the team as the Yankees see a better fit for short stop for volpe & the dodgers have been interested in paraza for awhile
Did you speak to Peraza’s family?
Dodgers have a better SS (at least right now) than Peraza. This is just made up b.s.
Peraza wouldn’t be going anyway. It would probably be Gleyber going back to LA.
Lets hypothetically say you are not talking out your butt (you are) who do you think the Dodgers are going to trade for Peraza when their own bullpen is literally pieced together with mostly internal options that they are not likely to trade just a few hours before game time?
It’s going to be nice having Ohtani on the roster.
I bet they screw things up and move Peraza in a deal for Jesus Luzardo.
The Yanks ALWAYS have these injury issues! Outside of Garrett Cole who do they have that’s not injured and has actually started a big league game? Could be a long year in the Bronx
Trevor Bauer? Lol
Just what the Yankees need, another trade for which they will overpay to fill a hole created by a previous trade or signing, for which they overpaid, and that player now on the injured list.
No, no, dig up, stupid!
Dodgers trade Jeff Nelson, Shelby Miller and a Trevor Bauer signed jersey to Yankees for Torres and IKF.
It will be no one of significance
Correct. Likely it will be a small trade, Florial for a AAA dude who can soak some innings and may be fixable in a new organization.
Zach Britton?
Incoming minor league contract with an arm that didn’t make another team’s opening day roster
I think tis could have been partially avoided if they had gotten Castillo instead of Montas. And it was completely predictable. Cashman.
Except that they wanted Perazza, Volpe, and Dominguez for Castillo.
Hopefully the Yanks trade for Tucker Davidson. Take him off the Angels’ hands!
Chris Flexen
Tanaka where you at
All cap
Not a belly itcher
Steve Trout?
Seven days later? Crickets.
Shocking.