The Yankees’ 82-80 record kept the club’s streak of winning seasons alive, but that was small consolation within a very disappointing season in the Bronx. Some manner of unspecified changes seem to be coming within the organization, yet GM Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone look to be returning, as the Yankees will try to figure how (or how much) to build around an incoming wave of young talent.
Guaranteed Contracts
- Aaron Judge, OF: $320MM through 2031
- Gerrit Cole, SP: $180MM through 2028 (Cole can opt out after 2024 season, but Yankees can overwrite opt-out by adding a $36MM salary for 2029)
- Carlos Rodon, SP: $135MM through 2028
- Giancarlo Stanton, OF/DH: $128MM through 2027 (includes $10MM buyout of $25MM club option for 2028; Marlins paying $30MM of Stanton’s salary as per the terms of December 2017 trade)
- DJ LeMahieu, IF: $45MM through 2026
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B: $23MM through 2024 (includes $6MM buyout of $17MM club option for 2025)
- Tommy Kahnle, RP: $5.75MM through 2024
Other Financial Obligations
- Josh Donaldson, 3B: $8MM buyout of $16MM club option for 2024 (Donaldson released on August 29)
- Aaron Hicks, OF: $20MM through 2025 (Hicks released on May 25)
Total 2024 commitments: $161.25MM
Total future commitments: $856.75MM
Arbitration-Eligible Players (projected 2024 salaries via MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz)
- Lou Trivino (5.163): $4.1MM
- Gleyber Torres (5.162): $15.3MM
- Clay Holmes (5.031): $6MM
- Jonathan Loaisiga (5.022): $2.5MM
- Kyle Higashioka (5.005): $2.3MM
- Franchy Cordero (4.160): $1.6MM
- Domingo German (4.142): $4.4MM
- Nestor Cortes (4.094): $3.9MM
- Jose Trevino (4.063): $2.7MM
- Matt Bowman (4.043): $1MM
- Michael King (4.004): $2.6MM
- Ryan Weber (3.167): $900K
- Billy McKinney (3.087): $1.2MM
- Jake Bauers (3.084): $1.7MM
- Jimmy Cordero (3.061): $900K
- Clarke Schmidt (2.148): $2.6MM
- Albert Abreu (2.118): $900K
- Non-tender candidates: German, Trivino, Cordero, Abreu, Bauers, McKinney, Bowman, Weber, Higashioka
Free Agents
- Luis Severino, Wandy Peralta, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Frankie Montas, Keynan Middleton, Luke Weaver, Zach McAllister
2016 was the Yankees’ last season out of the playoffs, so it is perhaps instructive to look at how Cashman responded after that last setback. Re-signing Aroldis Chapman and trading for Brian McCann were the two biggest moves of a relatively quiet (by Yankees standards) 2016-17 offseason, yet the club was able to rebound and reach Game 7 of the 2017 ALCS, as New York was revived by the “Baby Bombers” group that included Aaron Judge, Luis Severino, and Gary Sanchez.
The Yankees would undoubtedly love to see another youth movement blossom in 2024, especially with so much promising young talent already debuting in the big leagues. Anthony Volpe spent 2023 as New York’s everyday shortstop, Oswald Peraza got a bit more playing time than in 2022, and Everson Pereira, Austin Wells, and Jasson Dominguez all made their Major League debuts. Even with Dominguez out until roughly the All-Star break due to Tommy John surgery, there is plenty of optimism that at least a couple of these highly-touted youngsters can break out in 2024.
That said, it isn’t the Yankees’ style to take a step back for a development year. The club finds itself in the tough spot of wanting or needing to find playing time for these rookies, yet also definitely needing to make a strong return to contention. It doesn’t appear as though managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner is yet considering firing Cashman, but for Boone, 2024 is the last guaranteed year of his contract, so the manager could be on the hot seat unless the Yankees at least make it back into the postseason.
For all of these bigger-picture issues facing the Yankees, their offseason plan is perhaps pretty simple — improve the offense. New York finished within the bottom seven of the league in total runs, OPS, OBP, batting average, and were persistently undone by an inability to get hits with runners in scoring position. Losing Judge to a torn toe ligament for close to seven weeks didn’t help, but almost all of New York’s other hitters had down years. Judge (174), Gleyber Torres (123), and the lightly-used Dominguez and Greg Allen were the only Yankees hitters to post even a 102 wRC+, as DJ LeMahieu was the next best of the group with a slightly above-average 101 total.
In the most optimistic of views, getting healthy seasons from Judge and Anthony Rizzo, some level of bounce-back from LeMahieu and Giancarlo Stanton, and that aforementioned breakout from one or two of the rookies could greatly improve the lineup without even any outside upgrades. But, that is asking a lot from inexperienced players, and it might be that LeMahieu and Stanton won’t ever regain their prime form. Given the lingering effects of Rizzo’s post-concussion syndrome, it also shouldn’t be assumed that Rizzo will suddenly be an All-Star again even with an offseason of recovery.
To some extent, the rookie crop can be a hedge against the veterans’ chances of a comeback season. LeMahieu and Peraza could be involved in a timeshare at third base, LeMahieu could likewise get some first base time along with Rizzo, and Pereira’s ability to become an everyday left fielder could keep Stanton firmly in a DH-only role, which may be for the best at this stage of his career.
Could a trade clear some room? Stanton’s salary and his no-trade clause make him among the most immovable players in baseball, so the Yankees would have to eat virtually all of his contract to accommodate a deal, even if Stanton did agree to a move. LeMahieu is also a tough sell in trade talks, given the $45MM left on his contract and his own no-trade protection due to his 10-and-5 status. Rizzo is perhaps the easiest of the trio to move since he is only under contract through the 2024 season, yet the Yankees would be selling low given the unknowns of his injury situation, and they’d be losing one of the few left-handed bats from their heavily righty-leaning lineup.
Trading Torres would also seem counter-productive, as he was the team’s second-best hitter in 2023. Moving Torres would both open up a natural middle infield spot for Peraza (or Volpe, if he was moved to second base and Peraza took over shortstop) and it would save some money, as Torres is projected for a huge arbitration raise to $15.3MM. While the Yankees generally don’t pursue extensions as a club policy, there hasn’t been any indication that Torres is in the team’s plans beyond 2024, which is the second baseman’s final year of arbitration eligibility prior to free agency. Still, the Yankees might be content to just let Torres walk in free agency rather than trade him this winter and create another question mark in the lineup.
When it comes to discussing Torres’ arbitration number or the possibility of eating money on contracts, it is fair to remember that this is still the New York Yankees we’re talking about. As much as Bronx fans might consider the team to be more conservative spenders than they were in the George Steinbrenner era, the Yankees still had baseball’s second-highest payroll in 2023. While far too much of that payroll went towards non-productive players, a case could certainly be made that the Bombers could address their offensive woes by splurging on some of the offseason’s top free agent bats.
For instance, releasing Stanton and absorbing his contract entirely might be an easier pill to swallow for the organization if it created DH space for a generational talent like Shohei Ohtani. Rather than entrust third base to LeMahieu and Peraza, the Yankees could sign one of Jeimer Candelario or Matt Chapman, which might then create more flexibility to trade Torres to alleviate an infield logjam.
In terms of a perfect fit for New York’s needs, Cody Bellinger checks a lot of boxes. The former NL MVP is a left-handed hitter who could either play center field until Dominguez is healthy, split time at first base with Rizzo, or move into left field if both Dominguez and Rizzo are healthy, thus upgrading the lineup both offensively and defensively. The Yankees had interest in Bellinger when he was a free agent last season, though that was back when he was seeking a one-year contract, not the multi-year megadeal he’ll surely command this winter.
If not Bellinger, Kevin Kiermaier or Jason Heyward could also fit as much less-expensive outfield options who are more than capable in center field. If the Yankees wanted a left field-specific player on a one-year deal, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Michael Conforto, or a number of other options could emerge on the free agent or trade market. Such an acquisition would perhaps limit Pereira to part-time duty, though Pereira did little to prove himself ready of a larger role given his .427 OPS over his first 103 plate appearances in the majors. Acquiring a left-handed hitting outfielder would both help balance the lineup, and also create a platoon opportunity for the right-handed hitting Pereira.
As always, the Yankees figure to at least check in on virtually every top free agent due to their financial resources, and Cashman will also explore his options on the trade front. As much as New York prizes its upcoming wave of prospects, a non-playoff year could make Cashman a little more aggressive in dealing from that depth for a win-now piece or two. The Yankees figure to prioritize only trade targets with multiple years of control if they were to discuss Pereira, Volpe, or Peraza in any negotiations, unless a high-level player (i.e. Juan Soto) was perhaps made available.
One plus of retaining the rookies is that, in theory, their potential can at least raise the talent floor of the Yankees’ bench. Isiah Kiner-Falefa was a usefully versatile player who could fill a lot of holes around the diamond, yet his lack of offense means that he isn’t likely to be re-signed. IKF is one of several part-timers that don’t figure to return in 2024, with most as likely non-tender candidates within New York’s gigantic arbitration class. Of that group, one of Jose Trevino or (probably more likely) Kyle Higashioka figure to be non-tendered, with the other remaining on hand to share time with Wells behind the plate.
Between the probable non-tenders and the free agent departures, roughly $39MM will be coming off the Yankees’ books. It’s not a huge amount, and it’ll get smaller given the arbitration raises to Torres, Clay Holmes, and others. This leaves New York with a projected luxury tax number that is already over the $237MM threshold, yet as noted earlier, it isn’t as if the Yankees were going to cut back spending….especially not after a non-playoff season.
After all of this focus on how the Yankees can improve their hitting, the pitching side can’t be ignored, as Gerrit Cole’s brilliance helped paper over some larger concerns within the rotation. Cole will again be the team’s ace, but Carlos Rodon and Nestor Cortes will be trying to rebound from injury-plagued seasons, and Clarke Schmidt and Michael King are still both relatively untested as starters (though both have looked quite good at times). To add depth, the Yankees could consider a reunion with Luis Severino or Frankie Montas on low-cost deals, though either pitcher might prefer for a fresh start with a club that provide a clearer path to rotation work.
Rodon’s struggles in his first year in the Bronx could make the Bombers a little wary about immediately signing another starter to a pricey long-term contract, yet this could still be an option this winter. Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been heavily scouted by the Yankees and many other teams, and could be the most realistic top-tier pitching option for New York to pursue because Yamamoto is only 25 and might not even be in his prime years. If the Yankees wanted to make a shorter-term upgrade for the front of the rotation, such arms as the Brewers’ Corbin Burnes or the Guardians’ Shane Bieber are free agents after 2024, but would naturally still some at a significant trade cost.
New York’s bullpen flew somewhat under the radar as one of the better relief units in baseball, so the Yankees could be in good shape since most of the relievers will be coming back. Pitching coach Matt Blake and bullpen coach Mike Harkey have shown a knack for getting strong results out of a variety of pitchers (whether veterans, rookies, or unheralded acquisitions), so the Yankees don’t necessarily need any big-ticket additions to the relief corps.
Wandy Peralta posted good numbers despite some very shaky advanced metrics in 2023, and even if the Yankees pass on re-signing Peralta himself, they’ll likely seek out another southpaw to fill Peralta’s role. Finding a replacement for King could be more difficult, as King was excellent in a multi-inning relief role last year but is going to be stretched out for a potential rotation job next year. While King could always just return to the pen if his starting gig doesn’t work out, his value as a relief arm could be another reason for the Yankees to seek out a more seasoned starter over the winter.
For all of the ways the Yankees could be different on the field in 2024, it also seems apparent that some things need to happen behind the scenes. Much was made earlier this month about an external audit the Yankees were planning as a top-to-bottom overview of the organization’s practices, but it remains to be seen if any changes made will translate to a return to the postseason. Cashman’s job might not necessarily be on the line, yet the general manager is facing more public pressure than at any time during his long tenure running the Bombers’ front office.
In conjunction with this post, Mark Polishuk held a Yankees-centric chat on 10-24-23 at 1:40pm CT. Click here to read the transcript.
Well, it seems the Yankees are gearing up for another exciting season of “Let’s Figure Out How to Spend a Gazillion Dollars and Win the World Series.” They’ve got some guaranteed contracts that could probably pay off the national debt of a small country.
And let’s not forget the arbitration-eligible players, it’s like they’re trying to field a team of lawyers. “Your Honor, I’d like to submit Exhibit A: My home run record.”
But hey, who needs a solid plan when you have deep pockets, right? Maybe they should just put the rookies in charge of both the offense and the auditors. Can’t be worse than paying $100 million for a player to sit in the dugout with a sore toe.
And let’s not even talk about the pitching. I mean, they have Gerrit Cole and… Gerrit Cole. But why worry about it when you can just throw money at the problem? “Hey, Luis Severino, we know we released you, but how about a low-cost deal to come back? No hard feelings, right?”
The Yankees’ motto this year: “Why rebuild when you can re-mortgage the stadium?” It’s like they’re playing a high-stakes game of Monopoly, and they don’t even care if they land on Park Place with a hotel. Just buy the whole board and rename it “Yankee Stadium.”
In any case, I’m sure Yankees fans will be thrilled with another season of drama, excitement, and payrolls that make the GDP of some nations look like pocket change.
Captain Obvious says they will sign bellinger to a ridiculous deal and then he regresses to prior year form in NYC just like every other aging star they sign
Between Rodon, LeMahieu, and Stanton they’ve invested a lot of salary in the hope of production. Signing Bellinger would be another investment in hope. I don’t envy Cashman this winter. For the Yankees to even be in a position for another 82-80 season in ‘24, everything needs to break just right.
Cashman caused the situation.
Bellinger will be risky just like signing any player, especially one whose had ups and downs. He’s not quite a risky as many assume though. It’s never been a secret he had a really big swing and it was often pointed out even when he was at the top of the world. After his shoulder surgery it started to become pretty obvious that large swing was untenable if he was to have success.
Last offseason he spent time with different hitting gurus altered both his swing and approach. There are countless videos out there comparing the old and the new, and although his swing is still big it is nowhere near what it was. This season he was able to adjust hands and get barrel around much easier.
I’d assume any team looking to offer him a contract has analyzed his bats at length and would do a very thorough examination of his shoulder. So he’s less risky than many are trying to say.
2024 would be a great season for another Yankees vs Red Sox fight for fourth place.
Unless there are some drastic changes for both teams, you’re going to get your wish.
Idk. I think they O’s way overachieved and I’m a closer O fan. Their pitching is patchwork and they got 2-3 starters who just had their career year. Tampa can increase spending substantially while selling off many of their best players. So it’s hard to think that’s not going to happen. W Toronto, it’s interesting bc their best players had down years so if they put another good core around them – they could finally rise to top but it’s wide open day one for sure ! Boston and NY have really good teams and things could easily go right for either of them to win the east
If the Sox don’t finish 1st, they finish last.
Don’t underestimate the Blue Jays front office.
>Carlos Rodon, SP: $162MM through 2028
Mark,
Carlos Rodon has 5 years $139.2MM left on his contract. You forgot to subtract 2023 from his total.
Hey, don’t forget the Yankees additional financial commitments to the Stanton/Rodon/Judge infirmary ward. Takes big $$ to keep the MRI staff happy.
Have you seen the track record for the Yankees med staff? Trust me. That ain’t where their money is going.
Add Cortes and Severino. Rodon, his career is over. He got the cash.
Oh good, they can sign Jason Heyward, that’ll sure move the needle.
The Yankees are between bivine excrement and a sweat, that’s for sure.
I don’t see a short time path out of it for them. Too many financial obligations from wasteful spending, i.e. no production, no results, and I don’t see them able to spend their way out of that.
Some long term organizational planning is needed rather than the quick fix they have employed going back to the 70s.
Year in year out, as long as Hal is MGP, expect business as usual. He seems very content with the existing “long term organizational planning” model. If you want a different model, to me, that would mean a new philosophy from a new MPG.
Bellinger and Cahna, done.
Canha is available as well.
Canha isn’t available. Brewers have a team option on him and they’re more than likely going to pick it up.
OK
Yes Blue Barron I knew you’d see it my way.. I’m in Wisconsin and the brewers management likes Canha a lot where they’re Def gonna pick up that option.
The Yankees made a major mistake in passing on Bryce Harper a few years ago. He’s just what they need, a LH, big time player who plays well in the biggest of moments.
I’m a fan of both the Phillies and Yankees since my dad is a diehard Yankees fan and I grew up near Philly. Watching both teams it’s night and day. The Yankees really lack the heart, fight, and overall chemistry the Phillies have had the past couple of years. When the Yankees face adversity in a game they tended to give up. I think they need a lot more than Harper to fix that. I think if he was on this team he would be frustrated and miserable.
But some of that is self-fulfilling.
The Phillies developed that heart, fight, and chemistry because they played well and were winning, especially in their magical postseason run a year ago.
The Yankees got beat in last year’s postseason and started losing this season. Losing can quickly devolve into a lack of heart, fight, and chemistry.
The chicken lays the egg but also comes from the egg.
I agree with that “giving up” assessment, but only to a point. I think the bigger problem is how the Yankees’ organization forces their batting theories upon their hitters. While you’re concentrating on bat speed & launch angle, you’re blowing it big time with situational hitting, so it looks like the batters don’t care when there’s a runner in scoring position & less than two outs. I believe the truth is that the batters simply don’t know what to do given those situations because they’re being trained otherwise.
What I would do is sign Bellinger, ditch Stanton (eat the $$) and give new hitting coach Sean Casey (who sounds like he knows exactly what the problem is) full authority to change the batting culture of the entire organization. There’s enough other talent on this roster to have a much better 2024.
I would trade Torres ONLY if it would return a controllable piece, mainly in starting pitching, and I would ABSOLUTELY NOT trade Volpe, Peraza, Dominguez, Pereira.or AA starting pitcher Drew Thorpe.
Steve I’m not sold on Pereira or Peraza. I certainly wouldn’t give them away but they would be available in a trade. I also think Volpe needs to make some big changes with his approach at the plate. Situational hitting is lost on at the moment. I wouldn’t trade Dominguez for anything but a huge overpay. Thorpe looks good but I want yo see him at AAA before I form an opinion on him.
I can understand that. Personally I think Peraza is potentially a better all-round ballplayer than Volpe. I see him at SS and Volpe at 2B. Both he & Pereira need consistent reps in the MLB, just like how the Yankees gave Volpe the whole season to adjust. They can’t pull another “Florial situation” on them & ruin their development. I’d put Peraza at 3B in 2024 if Torres is still on the team & leave him alone. I think Volpe will be OK working now with Sean Casey, who I’ve developed a lot of respect for in the short time he’s been with the team. BTW I didn’t mention Wells, who looked better the more he played. I really believe we have the start of a new “core” group here, if they can just survive not being traded.
As for Thorpe – I saw him pitch twice in AA– all I can say is WOW. Obviously he needs to develop further, but man, he was something to see.
Last comment- maybe I have rose-colored glasses but I thought Florial looked very decent when he played every day! Not the K-machine we were told he was at all.
Don’t forget they essentially passed on Seager as well! Him, judge and harper in a lineup would, uh, be pretty cool
LA didn’t want Seager either. Caught flack for chasing the money in Texas yet here they are in the World Series. Yankees are going to trade for and sign Soto to a ridiculous $400 mil contract.
Why would any player “catch flack” for “chasing the money?”
The whole point of getting the old illegal reserve system overturned was to enable players to reach free agency and sell their talents and services to the highest bidder and/or team of their choice.
Seager did nothing wrong.
The Mets will go to the moon for Ohtani. Then forced to sign Alonso they will say Lindor, Ohtani, Alonso.
Don’t forget, they had already spent their wad, and were playing within a budget. Its not how much their payroll will be. Its going to be huge. Its how much (or little) of the budget hasn’t been spent already. Eating Stanton’s contract doesn’t free up any payroll. Signing a FA for 3B so they can trade Perez is a change but unlikely to free up payroll. No one is trading a solid starter with control for one year of Perez.
But when they got Stanton everyone went nuts? Sorry that one didnt work out. Stanton based on all projections would have been more power than Harper and batting average .260 maybe .270? Its easy to look back. Offer Ohtani 400mm or some crazy structured deal to see if he is pitching again in 2 yrs.
As long as they keep the status quo with Cashman and Boone the Yankees will not be title contenders. They need to bring in fresh voices. If the Red Sox can fire Epstein and Francona there is zero reason Cashman and Boone should be untouchable.
I completely agree with your comment regarding Cashman & Boone, but I don’t think the Bosox became a better team after ridding themselves of Epstein & Francona.
BTW, while I don’t think highly of Boone as a manager, I do think he’s doing a pretty good job with the ballplayers he’s been given by Cashman. Brian Cashman needs to adjust his perception of what a great baseball team needs to be. Frankly, I think he’s been a pretty good GM over the years and is capable of adjusting. He did it in 2016-2017.
Well said ! I like Boone a lot but it’s time in NY. Cashman is Mr predictable every offseason and his results are well below Yankee standards. He should have been gone and I doubt there’s a line for his services
Unless the Yankees go on a video game like spending spree and turn on forced trades, we are looking at yet another uninspiring roster helmed by incompetence and complacency at the top and managed everyday by your slow yet likeable Uncle.
That’s part of the problem though. Cashman thinks it’s still 1998 or even 2008. The league caught up with him. The Dodgers can and will spend as much or more. Plenty of teams now are willing to pay for talent. You also can’t buy good drafts or international talent anymore with the pools. Their scouting and player development haven’t really done what’s needed.
I think back to when they got guys like Scott Brosius to compliment the bigger stars and he did well enough that the Yankees won the world series with him as a small but vital piece.
They suck at that now. They keep trying it with guys like IKF and previously with Chase Headley but it hasn’t worked out in forever.
The old way doesn’t work anymore. It’s why Moneyball basically failed, ultimately- and why the Red Sox version of Moneyball only worked for so long.
Also it’s been nearly a month since the Yankees last played a baseball game and radio silence from the team and the “audit” that they are doing won’t be until AFTER the World Series.
It’s such a joke.
There may be some truth in that, but you don’t know what’s going on behind closed doors, and what do you expect to happen and how would you even measure success before the end of October?
Teams dont like to say anything until after the WS. Thats every team.
As the other guy said- we aren’t goinna hear anything substantive until after the World Series, but I would bet Hal Steinbrenner and his closest circle of brain trust guys have made a tentative plan to overhaul the training and coaching staffs and I’d like to believe they might even go extremely drastic and release bad contracts like Stanton’s, maybe try to trade LeMahieu, etc.
But the reality is they can’t do enough to overhaul the roster and the training and coaching staffs and the minor leagues all in one off season- and that’s what they need. They need a complete and total overhaul with a completely new philosophy about development and free agent signings. That ain’t gonna happen overnight.
“Spending sprees” on older players and bad trades(Donaldson, Giancarlo, Rodon, Montas etc..)is what got the Yankees into this mess. They need to draft, develop, get younger and make more contact at the plate, not bloat their payroll and double down on buying championships.
Hmmm…just like the other NY team.
True, but you forgot the two things they need…..stay away from “walk year” players having their best years as compared to the past…..Bellinger comes to mind, and they must improve their talent evaluation both internally and most importantly externally……when they make trades, they must import players who an make a difference…….
“Stay away from walk year players”…Agreed. Especially Stay away from Boras client walk year players, who are seeking a MASSIVE payday, soft landing spot and a place to go into early retirement(See Kris Bryant & Anthony Rendon).
Teams usually get Borassed. Bellinger wants mega bucks. Most Boras deals do not work out. Soto at 400+ million not worth it.
Boras does his job as a player agent and does it very well.
Some team owners don’t like him because they’re cheap, and fans like you are swayed by what these owners say through the media.
Walk year players? You mean free agents? What choice do the Yankees have to improve then? The NYY have few established players with trade value, and they shouldn’t trade the youngsters. To get out of the financial mess they are in, they need the low cost players. Rock and a hard place.
When the Yankees got Stanton fans were excited. If Judge starts getting injured, will things change for him as well? Big dudes as they get older? Trout?
$883.75 is not a lot of future commitments. I would have thought it would be over a thousand.
240m in commitments including arbitration. This is team is screwed. Lol. No future. No prospects. Awful contracts. Judge and Cole only getting older. No window.
Yankees have turned into laughing stock of baseball. Look at the rangers dominating in the post session with Gumby Montgomery and playoff Nasty Nate. You know the Yankees had both pitchers but Cashman dumped them right?
Hahahhaah
Trading Monty is a legitimate complaint but it’s a real stretch to blame them for not having Eovaldi.
Yes, you can fault Cashman and his analytics team for Monty, but Eovaldi is another story….he’s a very good money pitcher when he isn’t hurt, but that’s the problem…..he’s a 120 inning pitcher who’s seemingly always either coming off or going on the injury list…….but he is having a fantastic run with the Rangers…….
Its so tough to say the Yankees should follow the Mets route and aim for 2025 with Cole and Judge in their prime years and guys like Rodon/Lemahieu aging, but it might be their only option unless they want to increase payroll even more.
They could go with a let-the-kids play motto again. Trade Torres even though he was their 2nd best hitter last year, play volpe/peraza up the middle, try out Wells for a full season, and put the Martian in CF when he is healthy. Only add pieces that can help beyond 2024; Yamamoto would be amazing, but a big bat in LF should be the primary focus.
If things work out, they can win 90 games with this team; if not they’ll know exactly where they’ll have to improve to make a run in 2025
Perhaps Gil coming back from TJ can take over King’s multi-relief/swing-man role?
If the Yankees were a movie they’d be A Rainy Day in New York
All the Yankees have to do is trade their top prospects for the Soto and acuna! Andujar, Frazier, Delvi Garcia and Florial should get it done! 2 for 1 cmon Cashman!
That’s more likely than the Rays ever winning a WS.
Good one! Too bad the Red Sox, Giants, and Astros have won more WS this millennium then you! But keep living in the past! Clearly it’s all you have left:)
It’s also something you’ve never had.
LeMahieu is a glaring issue. If he’s going to be a sub .260, sub 100 OPS guy, as he has two of the last three seasons, then he’s nothing more than a bench player.
Yeah LeMahieu is gassed. He’s basically done and riding out his contract with moments of former glory tricking people into thinking he’s still a starting player.
Off season is simple. Stanton isn’t going anywhere so that means no Ohtani and the Padres would want a haul for Soto which makes no sense since he has one year left and the Yankees need to think longer term based on last seasons record. I would definitely trade Torres with Warren and Beeter plus maybe Pereira for Soto but I would not give up any other prospects. Torres might be appealing for San Diego if they can sign him long term as they need an upgrade at second base and they would be ridding themselves of Soto 30 million plus adding 3 solid prospects. Otherwise they just need to sign 4 free agents:
1- Yamamoto to slot in the 2 spot in rotation
2- Montas or Severino on one year deals as insurance
3- the Japanese lefty pitcher for the bullpen and perhaps as a closer
4- the young Korean cf with speed, little pop, great contact
Those 4 free agents can significantly help this team and the following season if they can get rid of Stanton than go get Soto to clog up the DH spot for the next decade
Padres are not trading Soto until the deadline if they are out it. I guarantee that 100%. They want to win. They will not pay him 400MM+
Severino his arm is blown out and he needs another TJ.
Montas or Severino would be redundant mistakes. Who are the last two you’re referring to?
Ohtani isn’t going to the Yankees. That city would eat him alive. I predict Dodgers or Giants with Mariners and Rangers long shots.
Ohtani to Dodgers, Angels, Seattle, San Francisco or Mets. Cohen will not be topped by money.
The Yankees have money but they never use it properly.
They should have 50 million available every offseason to sign guys to short-term deals and fill holes. For instance these are the guys who signed short term deals:
Kiermaier: 9 mil, 3.9 WAR
Belt: 9.3 mil, 2.0 WAR
Justin Turner: 2 years 20 mil if player option picked up, 2.0 WAR
Duvall: 7 mil, 1.5 WAR
Belli: 17.5 mil, 4.4 WAR
JD Mart: 10 mil, 1.9 WAR
I’m sure there’s a couple other guys I missed. They all provided above average offense which is something the Yankees needed. Any one would be third on the Yankees in OPS+ behind Judge and Torres.
Even if they sign 3 and only 2 pan out it would be an improvement. Instead they do nothing and can’t fill the holes in the field.
I am more happy Stanton vetoed the trade to St. Louis with each passing year.
Time for a new direction at the GM. Sure Cashman is like family, but he hasn’t really done anything recently that stands out as a positive. Moving on from Boone is also another move that probably needs to happen.
Bellinger would definitely be the logical move, but regression would be the concern. The Yanks have the prospects to get a Soto deal done, and if they package some cash and prospects, maybe move Stanton in the process. Feels as if Cashman doesn’t have a plan, but instead has built the team with band-aids with players like Kinsler, Rizzo and Lemaheiu. Rodon’s signing felt like a knee jerk reaction to not being the destination of choice by others.
Stanton is immovable. If he were a free agent, would any team sign him for more than $10MM/2? No. It makes no sense to empty the farm for one year of Soto who is most certainly going to test the market after seeing what Ohtani can get. Bellinger isn’t a good fit for obvious reasons with Dominguez slated for CF next season after his TJ rehab.
It will be impossible to dump Stanton and waive the no trade clause as well.
Rodon- Most likely needs a Tommy John and is finished. It will be a Carl Pavano deal.
Severino-Needs a Tommy John #2. Washed up
Cortes: Needs a Tommy John
German: Finished. They dont want his troubles.
Bellinger wont move the needle there and may also have trouble with the pressure of NY. Remember he hit sub .200 in LA.
“Rodon’s struggles in his first year in the Bronx could make the Bombers a little wary about immediately signing another starter to a pricey long-term contract”….this is the moronic ideology of the Yankees. They, remind you, they make a dumb signing and then start to 2nd guess if it’s wise to do it again? Apples to oranges. Rodon was a risk, everyone knew it. NY was the only one willing to pay it; should have told you something.
For the 90th time. Spending money is not the same thing as spending money wisely.
Rodon was a risk not only because of his injury history which included stints on the IL the last 2 years in which he did have lots of success, he’s basically a 2 pitch pitcher who relies on his fastball which isn’t elite, and most importantly the Yankees seemed to ignore that he pitched in the 27th toughest ballpark to hit it out in SF…..fly balls go there to die, which is the exact opposite of Yankee Stadium which is most likely in the top 5 in the league……HUGE mistake that Cashman and his team seemed to miss…..and then they signed him long term…..Yikes!
Rondon was a mistake. But it was one of many mistakes–and I wonder what might have happened if so many of the regulars hadn’t either gone down with injury or at least performed to near their career norms. A few more wins, they get into the playoffs in a down year, and maybe they advance a round. This isn’t rock bottom, but it’s bad.
It got ugly fast around the Bronx. It’s insane that they have such an expensive “A List” payroll and all of it is old and broken within a year or two of signing, or that the vast majority of their prospects are Quadruple-A quality.
Yes, Cashman finds a ton of diamonds in the rough. Cashman is amazing at finding great rental players and minor league pick ups to fill gaps, but he seems to suck at putting together a functional roster overall, with a lot of the guys we select now seemingly picked because of a certain… optimism in their ceiling for potential- rather than their typical results in the heart of their careers.
Cole is the only one he pulled this off with. Then you think about a guy like LeMahieu, who they signed for an extra 1-2 years depending on how you look at it. LeMahieu could have been had for 4 years/$90M and we’d be at least entering the final year of that deal- LeMahieu wanted between $80M and $100M and he got his $90M but Cashman just had to be clever and offer extra years to keep the AAV down…
Considering Rizzo’s WAR as a Yankee, he was never *that* valuable…. and he is probably done. He had back issues his entire career and he is probably done.
Speaking of aging expensive guys with back problems, 5 more years of Rodon…. every year is a lottery ticket we hope hits the jackpot but probably won’t amount to a profit on the investment, you know? But we’re stuck with him.
I never liked the Stanton trade. Never made a ton of sense. Always seemed like we were doing Miami a huge favor for…. reasons…. remember Chris Carter?
Stanton is another guy who seems basically done and hasn’t been medically retired, so he’s sticking it out to collect all his money, which is his right and totally fine, but it’s a situation where we might as well eat the remaining money and move on in terms of roster construction.
I also feel like a guy like Bellinger is a HUGE question mark- and if he’s so great *in* Chicago, maybe he should stay *in* Chicago- because I am worried guys like that will come to New York on mega deals and New York will somehow mess them up and they won’t be what they were elsewhere.
Hal reportedly said he wanted to overhaul their training and coaching staff first and foremost. I think that’s the right initial move. Then try to get younger and a little cheaper.
I don’t know what the answer is, the but the options look ugly on paper.
Their priority is to have a balance lineup so they need to get two quality left handed hitters. I hope they don’t pursue Ohtani. Don’t need to spend mega millions on another superstar. The other thing is to fix Stanton.
I know, it’s not likely to happen, but Cole has another fine year, he opts out….and the Yankees let him go after offering him a QO. Nuts, isn’t it? But look at all the bad contracts they have with players aging early and getting paid enormous amounts of money. Hal might just do it. The Yankees are probably not going to be super competitive in the short term.
It’s highly unlikely that the Yankees will allow Cole to opt-out. He’s the unofficial co-captain of the team. They can negate the opt-out by triggering his ’29 option.
I am convinced Cashman has some big dirt on Hal.
Didn’t Hal tell Cashman not to trade their young prospects this past deadline? I don’t know if Cashman can trade any prospects for another MLB player. I’d say see what they got first, it’ll be a rough time, but at least you don’t keep stacking veteran players on an already older roster. Just my two cents.
They stood pat at the deadline banking on Rodon’s and Judge’s returns helping them make the playoffs push.
Not sure what’s the best way to go. Trade some of those young prospects for an MLB-ready bat or pitcher. Sign another free agent like Bellinger or Candelario, both lefty bats, or ride out the aging roster with the young guys.
It all depends on whether they decide to continue their youth movement. Volpe, Peraza, Cabrera, Pereira, and Dominguez all need MLB playing time. Same goes for Schmidt and King. They’ve still got a few other prospects in the pipeline that could see next Sept. I think they’ll have to ride it out with Stanton, Rizzo, DJL, and Rodon since they can’t really trade them for any value. Signing Bellinger blocks Dominguez in CF.
Cashman and Boone stay ? Same old , same old. Hilarious.