The Yankees’ offseason was largely focused on Juan Soto until he agreed to a new deal with the Mets, which has pushed the Yanks towards various backup plans. They now have agreements in place with Max Fried and Jonathan Loáisiga but there’s still plenty more work to be done. They are seemingly looking for an outfielder, a couple of infielders and more bullpen help. That could come from further free agent signings but they also have a rotation surplus that could help them on the trade market.
One name they have frequently been connected to is Cody Bellinger of the Cubs. He is capable of playing either the outfield or first base, two spots where the Yankees need help, though Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports that the Yanks probably view Bellinger as a better fit in left field.
The Yanks are expected to move Aaron Judge back to right field, after he served as the club’s primary center fielder while sharing the roster with Soto. Now that Soto is gone, it seems the plan is to give Jasson Domínguez a chance to seize the center field job, with Trent Grisham around as a glove-first insurance option. They would still need a solution in left, since Alex Verdugo is now a free agent, though Bellinger is a possibility there. Bellinger has played left field far less than center or right but there’s no reason to think he couldn’t handle himself over there.
Lining up with the Cubs on value may be an issue, however. Jon Heyman of The New York Post reports that the Cubs are hoping for the Yankees to take on most of his remaining contract, while the Yanks think the Cubs should be eating some more money in the deal.
Bellinger had a chance to opt out of his deal last month and didn’t take it, which implies that he thinks his current contract is better than what he could get on the open market, at least for now. He is set to make $27.5MM in 2025, then with a choice between a $5MM buyout or a $25MM salary in 2026. If he were a free agent right now, he could perhaps secure a long-term deal with a guarantee larger than the $52.5MM he’s currently owed, but his current deal has short-term appeal. There is still a path towards him having a good season in 2025, banking $32.5MM this year and returning to the open market.
That would be the best case scenario for the Yankees or any acquiring team. If Bellinger produces at a level commensurate with that salary and leaves, that’s a nice scenario for the upcoming campaign. But there’s also the alternate reality where he disappoints, it overpaid this coming season and then sticks around for 2026 as well.
Bellinger’s inconsistent career makes either path possible to see and teams will have differing opinions about which is more likely or what they are willing to risk for the right to take a chance. At the moment, it seems the Yankees and Cubs aren’t in alignment on the calculations but Heyman says progress has been made this week.
Though he won an MVP award back in 2019, Bellinger struggled immensely in 2021 and 2022 while trying to get back in form after shoulder surgery. His past two seasons have both been good but to varying degrees. He hit .307/.356/.525 for a 136 wRC+ in 2023 while stealing 20 bases, but then hit .266/.325/.426 for a 109 wRC+ this year while swiping nine bags.
Another possible target area for the Yanks is third base. They do have Jazz Chisholm Jr. as an in-house possibility there, but he could move him to second base if they were to acquire someone like Nolan Arenado or Alex Bregman for the hot corner.
The Cardinals are exploring the market for Arenado, who has a full no-trade clause. It was reported earlier this week that Arenado is willing to approve trades to six teams. The Yankees weren’t on there but it’s possible that the list wasn’t exhaustive. Feinsand relays that it’s expected Arenado would approve a trade to the Bronx. That’s a logical conclusion since Arenado seems to want to play for a contender and there’s no doubting the Yanks qualify there. They just made it to the World Series and are clearly being aggressive in ramping up for another push next year.
Arenado hasn’t been his usual self over the past two years, however, and it’s fair to wonder if he can get back there now that he’s on the cusp of his 34th birthday. He hit .293/.358/.533 for a 149 wRC+ as recently as 2022 but has slashed a combined .269/.320/.426 for a 104 wRC+ over the past two years. His strong third base defense still makes him an attractive option but, like Bellinger, he’s making notable money. He is set to make $74MM over the next three years, though the Rockies are covering $10MM of that and there are also deferrals.
Bregman is likely viewed as a better option in the short term, but there are complications. He’s going into his age-31 season, making him notably younger than Arenado. He doesn’t quite have the same defensive reputation but is above average in the field. He hit .260/.315/.453 for a 118 wRC+ inf 2024 and was even better after an early-season slump. He hit .280/.329/.509 from May 9 through the end of the year for a 137 wRC+.
But as a free agent, he’s going to command a contract larger than what’s left on Arenado’s deal. MLBTR predicted him for a contract worth $182MM over seven years and the market has been hot so far this winter, so that might be selling him short at this point. There’s also the lingering resentment from the 2017 sign-stealing scandal that was eventually brought to light, creating enough bitterness that general manager Brian Cashman brought it up unprompted during a recent appearance on MLB Network. However, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports that Bregman’s involvement in that scandal would not stand in the way of the Yankees pursuing him.
In the bullpen, both Feinsand and Hoch mention that the Yankees are interested in left-hander Tanner Scott for their bullpen. He just wrapped up a season in which he posted a 1.75 earned run average, 28.6% strikeout rate, 12.2% walk rate and 50% ground ball rate. The Yankees have a longstanding affinity for ground ball guys and don’t really have a left-handed reliever on the roster at the moment, with Tim Hill and Tim Mayza now free agents.
Scott would be a great fit but should be popular and could earn a notable contract. MLBTR predicted him for $56MM over four years and the aforementioned hot market could make that estimate low at this point.
As the Yankees assess those possible acquisitions, they are also going to be fielding offers on their starting pitchers. They now have Fried, Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Luis Gil, Clarke Schmidt, Nestor Cortes and Marcus Stroman as established rotation options, plus depth pieces like JT Brubaker, Cody Poteet, Will Warren and others. Cortes and Stroman have been in trade rumors before but Hoch reports that Gil and Schmidt have drawn interest and Cashman tells him that the club will be “open-minded to all possibilities.”
It’s unsurprising that Gil and Schmidt would draw interest. Gil just won American League Rookie of the Year after posting a 3.50 ERA for the Yanks. Schmidt had a 2.85 ERA but was limited by injury to just 16 starts. Gil is still in his pre-arbitration years and can be controlled through 2028 while Schmidt is projected for a modest $3.5MM next year by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz and can be controlled through 2027.
Storman and Cortes would have less trade value. Stroman is coming off a middling season in which he posted a 4.31 ERA and got bumped from the rotation by the end of the year. He’s going to make $18MM next year and could also unlock a player option of the same value for 2026 if he pitches 140 innings next year. Cortes is now one year away from free agency with a projected $7.7MM salary next year. He had a decent 3.77 ERA this past year but his strikeout rate fell for the third year in a row and he missed a lot of time due to injuries in 2023.
Though Gil or Schmidt would have more value to another club, that’s also true of the Yankees. Their competitive balance tax number is now estimated at $264MM, per RosterResource, meaning they are already over the second tax tier of $261MM and within striking distance of the $281MM third tier. Going over that third tier leads to escalating penalties and also the club’s top draft pick being pushed back ten spots. That is seen as a line for some clubs but the Yanks just finished 2024 with a CBT number of $313MM, so it may not be any kind of red line.
There are still various paths forward for the Yanks via free agency and trade. They’ve also been linked to Christian Walker, Kyle Tucker and plenty of others. Though it’s now the middle of December, their offseason is still very much in the early stages.
There are so many options, so many decisions. Cashman better make the right choices.
Kudos to the Yanks for making moves.
Padres ownership is pulling a “No Soup For You” approach with Padres fans this offseason.
Relax, your GM has won the last 2 off seasons, he has something up his sleeve!
It is a it irritating that the Yankees are Squabbling over Bellinger’s salary. Look, just take on as much as you need to for the two years and move on to the next piece already. Why risk losing a good asset that is one of the best fits available for this team? Sometimes you can’t “win the trade” but it’s worth the loss to improve your team.
Bellinger won’t solve any problems.
Cubs will be thrilled. I’d prefer to see the Cubs get stuck with two years of Bellinger at 27.5M per, hate to see the Yanks let them off the hook. To send them anything back for Bellinger would be ridiculous. I’d send them DJ Lemehiue and a bag of cinnamon toasted almonds.
@Yankee
I agree with @labial. Let’s get the deal done, assuming the prospect cost is low.
Belli doesn’t solve any problems?. He absolutely helps to address almost every problem. He’s youngish, athletic, can play 1b, LF, and CF. He’s on a 2 year with an opt out, so he’s not blocking any prospects (Rice) long term. He’s a lefty that pulls the ball. He has some good pedigree in that he’s won a WS and Ben an MVP. He’s exactly what they need.
Clipper you know that the Yanks are a tight lipped organization.. Cash is doing a great job building next years team. Every player has some cost and some gamble, I remember when we signed Elsbury and DJ, you might have felt the same way!
@Clip, but if the Cubbies want/need to move Belli for a Tucker trade, doesn’t that give Cash some leverage?
M4N: Yeah it does and he’s probably doing a good job. Truth be told, I’m just impatient…lol
@Clip, The Boss just spoiled us.
And I love him for it!
Its not like the Cubs are poor or anything. Why take on a bad contract when you dont have to?
Or what, Yankees fans will whine about him and Boone all season again despite them being World Series participants?
he needs to make them soon
@mlbnyyfan, it’s Cashman… a broken clock is right more often than Cash.
Wonder if Hal channeled George and scolded Cashman over losing the NY back page war. George was obsessed with that stuff. Wasn’t it like mere days after NYM signed Bonilla that George signed Danny Tartabull?
@10cent
Scolded him for what? The tail doesn’t wag the dog. Soto chose the most money at $805. Hal is in control of the finances, and he likely felt that whatever number they offered it was going to be used by Boras to get a higher offer from Cohen. He decided that $760 was the number. Cashman has to go to Hal for these decisions. I can’t even be mad at Hal. Cohen has a billion dollar art collector. I’m in to collectibles too and I know how he feels when you get that item you’ve coveted. Cohen putting a WS trophy in display in his living room likely would give him the same chubby as showing of his Manet, Monet or Piccaso.
btw…. During Art Basel someone paid $750k for an “art piece” of a banana duct taped to a canvas. It was probably Cohen. And it doesn’t even come with the .
Knicks, being a very modest art collector, I can tell you he didn’t buy that piece. But I agree about the Soto situation. As much as I’ve despised Cashman and his arrogance in over the years, I got the feeling he really did want to bow out when it hit $600. If my memory is correct, he was against resigning A-Rod after he opted out DURING the World Series. And I was relieved we didn’t win the Soto contract, as it was simply too much. Hal may have hated losing the backpage war but I strongly get the feeling he doesn’t care as much as the boss.
That being said I also agree with Clipper that Cashman doesn’t need to win every trade. Just suck it up occasionally. May bite ya in the ass or may get lucky. But he should do what fits best for the team, make the trade, and move to the next target before you lose both. But again, back to Cash’s arrogance.
@BB
most would say Cashman hadn’t won every trade. But yeah let’s just get Belli done.
But I’m recent interviews Cashman has given me the impression he knew what he’s doing and had a good handle on the market.
Slightly off-topic, it doesn’t seem like the Cubs are trying to compete next year, so why are they aggressively going after Tucker on a 1 year deal?? Do they just want to hold on to him and then trade him at the trade deadline for prospects?
Agree that Cashman has a good team under him and his trades have always typically been wins. And if not, they’re rarely total flops.
I’ve wondered what’s going on with the Cubs and Tucker too. Only thing I can imagine is also flipping him at the deadline or perhaps a three team deal. And I usually start hearing rumblings from those far more in the know than me if it’s the latter. Regardless, if I’m the Yankees I’d be working all angles to try and land him. If you’re not going to rebuild, which we know they aren’t, might as well. Hell, he’s a more rounded player than Soto.
Oh and really off-topic, but I teach a niece of John Starks. Judging from your username thought ya might appreciate that. She really had no clue who he was when she mentioned visiting him a couple of years ago over Christmas. I grew up a Jordan man, so like Pedroia, I could appreciate him and still dislike him. Still, I had to pull out my phone and show her the beauty that was “the dunk”.
10centBeerNight;
Wrote it under the other article……
Hal and Cashman are a team.
They’re in a war with the Mets. Neither one of them knows how
to make smart, sharp moves. They only know how to spend money. They’re in the fight of their lives for NYC market sports fans. They can’t compete with Steven Cohen’s money and David Stearns’ baseball acumen…..and they know it.
There is no MLB baseball salary cap. The “penalties” are a joke –
not even a slap on the hand.
The Yankees, Mets, and Dodgers are going to spend, spend, and spend right up to the trading deadline this season….and in every
one for the foreseeable future.
@Sam
Who’s been in more playoff races in the last decade? Who won their division and went to the WS last year? Who’s for a solid 5-man rotation vs. who’s shopping for dented cans and converting relief pitchers who haven’t started in 8 years? Who’s annually shopping for high-end FA, meanwhile cultivation a farm that’s graduated Judge, Volpe, Wells, Gil, Cortez, Schmidt, Dominguez with more kids knocking on the door. Which team built up enough prospect capital to make bid years for Jazz and Soto? The only legit thing you said was that the Mets owner has more money? But the Yanks gross the more money in revenue and aren’t afraid to spend. Competition is good for the soul but no one is scared of the Mets. You guys still aren’t the best team in your own division.
“Who’s been in more playoff races in the last decade?”
I’ll stop you right there.
And who’s been in the top 3 – usually #1 – in spending the past 10 years,
And Cohen became owner in October, 2020; and Stearns took over Baseball Ops in October, 2023.
Kid, you need to stop sipping beer! Being in a race counts for nothing. Shopping for “high-end” free agents counts for nothing. Judge is on a HOF career, but Volpe and Wells, and Gil (IF HE STAYS HEALTHY) are the only players who have done a decent job, for a short time. And what kids are knocking at the door? And finally, after over twenty years Cashman MIGHT have actually put together a true five man rotation. Going back twenty-five years the farm has produced Cano, Judge, (and am I missing a name?) who became True ALL-STARS. Then we can a talk about pitching. We had two time nineteen game winner Wong and, and,…. Look, I hate the Mets, love the Yankees but you need to come up with a real argument for your Mets baiting.
That’s what happens when you are always in the playoffs, Cashman has a record next to none!
What on earth has David Stearns done compared to Brian Cashman?! Get outta here with that acumen bs, results matter.
Three team deal with Belli and Pressly to the Yankees, Tucker to the Cubs, Paredes, Wicks and a Yankees prospect to the Astros. Everyone is happy
@Ja. Yankees need Tucker. Trade for Tucker and sign Walker. Spencer Jones, Gil, Rice, and Pereza for Tucker.
Walker would cost a draft pick though, correct? He was initially my preference, but hearing that has made me move more towards Bellinger.
Saw on MLBN Yanks are interested in Devin Williams and hoping that’s true. I’ve always loved his stuff.
How would trading for Tucker cost a pick?
@Lil
Dodgers didn’t offer him a QO, so he wouldn’t cost the team signing him anything but money.
@dave – Walker, not Tucker.
@Reyday – you mean Teoscar Hernandez? The D’backs did make Walker a qualifying offer, so he would cost a draft pick.
I didn’t know Hernandez didn’t have one. I thought we should have signed him last offseason instead of trading for Verdugo, so I’d def be happy to pick him up now, though strangely not hearing Yanks linked to him at all.
Oh my bad I thought you were talking about Walker Buehler.
@mlbnyyfan are you drunk?
I agree with trading for tucker, he’s a perfect fit for the outfield after loosing soto and we should get him at all costs and possibly extend him. I also think there’s a possibility that oakland would be fine taking on stroman. They’re looking for pitchers and need to boost the payroll to avoid grievance. In the event that they would be fine with paying stroman’s full salary, we could use that money for walker perhaps. Once that’s all said and done, the yankees would still have a payroll around 260-270mil which is around 30mil under what they were last year. This would make steinbrenner happy
@mlb
insanely bad offer and I hope Cashman learned from the Soto ordeal. That package far exceeds what they offered to Soto so why works they do that? If Tucker wants to be a Yankee then we’ll wait until next winter. He already made it clear he’s not entertaining an extension.
Yankees are not taking and over paid Bellinger AND Pressly unless both contracts have significant money coming back to Yankees. At least $15-17 million needs to come back to Yankees
I guess that means Grisham starts in Outfield .
Good god no way.
Cubs ain’t only giving up Bellinger (who’s just a salary dump) and Paredes and getting Tucker.
MLB reported the last ask by Houston for Tucker was S Suzuki, Paredes, and MLB #15 prospect Matt Shaw.
Tucker not even mentioned…
Mentioned as a footnote I should say. Wondering how indicative this is of the Yankees’ chances of actually swinging a trade.
I think the Yankees would love to get Tucker but probably don’t match up in a trade as well as the Cubs. Tucker should be the Yankees top priority if he hits free agency next year
Tucker is gonna hit free agency.
I would be surprised if the Yankees didn’t trade for at least 1 of Bellinger or Arenado. I think both guys are really good fits for them. The Yankees should have money to spend and that’s the only hangup on getting a deal done for either guy.
If the report of the Yankees turning down Gil and Rice for Tucker are true Cashman needs his head checked. If tucker doesn’t not materialize, a big IF, they need to lock down Walker and Scott. Still think a Stroman bellinger type deal is possible in order to save money on both sides. Good god though this offense is shaky at best going into 2024
cubs aren’t interested in a stroman reunion
No way anyone can get Cubs to take Stroman for anything including grounds keeper
The Cubs will not reunite with Marcus Stroman again, especially the current bad and expensive version who stumbled down the stretch for them in 2023.
That “if” is doing a lot of work here. I’d say that if the stros are only asking for rice and gil in a first round negotiation for tucker cash should have some company at the shrinks office lol. I think it’s plausible that Houston’s first ask for tucker includes both gil and rice, but I have to think any package would need to include prospects on top of that from their end at this point. No gm should just accept the first price quote in a trade of this significance imo.
Tucker is FA at end of season and said he will not sign an extension.
where is this report? that’s a fireable offense if true (although he’ll never actually be fired)
Alex Bregman is a bum. Don’t give him a dime Yankees.
Mentioning the Yankees’ lack of a left-handed reliever, the Cardinals could package Jo Jo Romero with Arenado to get a better prospect in return. Romero has been very good. He’s in his Arb 2 season.
I would prefer Belli over Walker at 1b. I don’t think the difference between Walker’s glove vs Belli’s is great enough to justify the extra $$$ that Walker will command, assuming that the prospect cost won’t be high and that the Cubs might eat some of his slay or take a contract back. Belli’s, at worst, would be around 2/$52 mil whereas Walker, in what looks like a very competitive market, might get between 3/$75 to maybe 4/$90. Belli just crosses to many boxes for the Yanks. He’s 5 years younger than Walker. Bats left-handed. Hits will vs righties. Would be moving to a much more friendlier ballpark where it’s 314 down the RF line vs .353 in Wrigley or Dodger stadium at 330 ft. He won’t block Ben Rice in case he’s the real deal and five his way to the majors because of the short length of his contract that comes with an option. He can also back up LF and CF should there be an injury to the starter or a back up if JD struggles and needs more seasoning in AAA. Finally, I’d like to see the Yanks bring in high character youngish vets with a pedigree. If they’ve thrived in major media markets, then even better. Again, Belli checks both boxes. He played in the bright lights of LA and Chicago, has a WS ring and is a former MVP.
Yankees are between a rock & hard place, they keep losing draft picks ( 2 @ a time) every time they sign a FA who is tied with QO which is every decent FA
Fried is another example of a high character guy with a pedigree. He’s another WS winner who won the deciding game 6 in the WS pitching 6 innings of shutout baseball. Add to the fact that he’s a 3x GG winner helps too.
Though the GG is baked into his ERA / FIP.
For left field I’d like them to go after Jurickson Profar. He’s a switch hitter than in 498 PA had a .823 OPS vs RHP. Overall he slashed a line of .280/.380/.459 with a 11% BB rate vs 15% k rate. He gives the lineup versatility because he’s a switch hitter. And he gives the Yanks something they desperately need as a contact hitter who walks and doesn’t strike out much.
You are basing this on one year! Hard pass.
I’m ok with Jazz at 3b but if the market for Bregman proves to be underwhelming then maybe the Yanks could be creative.
5/$175 w/ a $25 mil signing bonus with $25 mil deferred. Maybe offer a vesting option for $25 mil based off of PA, AS award, GG or MVP? I’m not an expert on deffered money vs salary cap but the signing bonus should lower the aav to $30 per. Would the $25 deferred lower it the same way, bringing the aav down to $25 m per year? I can stomach that. That covers him from age 31-35. Astros were rumored to offer him 6/$156 . Yanks offer (without factoring in deffered depreciation) would be $19 to $44 mil more with potential for more endorsement opportunities. If they acquire Belli or Walker at 1b then am infield of Belli/Walker-Jazz-Volpe-Bregman could be incredible.
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Trade targets I would love for them to consider, aside from Belli.
Christian Yelich and Devin Williams
Yelich is 33 and owed 4/$110.5 mil including his $6.5 buyout for a 5th year at $26 mil. Maybe Milwaukee would like to get from under that contract and using Williams as an incentive?
Yanks trade Stroman and his $18 mil guaranteed plus, let’s say…. Spencer Jones and a lower prospect or two (5 to 10 ranking)? Brews eat $5 mil per? That takes the overall financial indy to the Yanks down to about $18 per? Yelich has risk because of his back surgery. If they bring in Belli and keep Rice then they can slide Belli to LF and call up Rice? Risky but if healthy Yelich lefty bat could play well, especially moving from AFF where the RF line I think is 345 ft vs YS where it’s 314 ft. Another good character guy who was having a fantastic rebound season as he had a .900+ ops in 74 games. Williams has only 1 year of control but would help the pen. Brews can save a net total of about $72 mil from Yelich alone.
I think if the Cubs took back DJ LeMahieu for Bellinger, it would make sense for both sides and balance the money better.
If we’re going to trade young, cheap, controllable stud pitching…..it needs to be for a young stud, controllable bat….not another rental.
A Schmidt for Brendan Donovan deal would make sense for both sides. He’ll hit 20+ dongs with the short porch and give us a cheap, solid lefty bat in LF.
In a veteran trade, Nestor for Yandy would work for both. Trims a few mil off of the Rays payroll and gives us a 1B rental. Both contracts up next year i believe.
Bellinger is a salary dump….shouldn’t cost much….especially with his risk and high cap number.
@Yanks
Let’s please stop acting like Belli is garbage. He’s exactly what the Yanks need, and they wouldn’t be untested in him if he was garbage. He’s not a salary dump. DJ is a salary dump. Stroman is kinda sort of a dump because he’s about $8-$10 mil overpaid. If he were a FA he’d really get a 1/$8-$10 mil deal coming off of a 150 IP year of 4.50 performance. That’s a number 4 or 5 guy on most staffs.
Wrong on most all accounts.
Bellinger is not garbage…..you’re right there. HOWEVER, he’s like a “box of chocolates”…..you never know what you’re gonna get. Is he a .270 30 homer 30 steal guy next year or does he tank again with another .190 season where he couldn’t hit with a snow shovel? Cubs need to dump money and he makes WAY more than his numbers are worth. So YES….he IS in a lot of ways a salary dump for the Cubs.
DJ? He’s not a salary dump…..he’s a DFA candidate at this point. He’s done.
Stroman? A 2 year 36 mil contract for a midrotation starter is the going rate. Montas got the same and with a 4.80 ERA vs Stroman at 4.31. So YES…..someone will take that too, albeit for a turkey club.
We really need some standard terminology when it comes to contracts.
There are bad contracts, in which the ballplayer AND the money are bad. Think Javy Baez and Rendon as the poster boys.
Then there are underwater contracts, in which the player is still good but the money exceeds their value, to varying degrees. Bellinger and Arenado are good examples there.
And then there are salary dumps, where the TEAM wishes to unload the contract but the player and salary are reasonably matched.
Fans making trade proposals often get these confused, and say things like “You take back our crappy overpriced player in exchange for your good overpriced player; done deal!”
@Dev
Well put. Ppl are acting like Belli is washed. I can see him hitting 20-25 hrs moving from Wrigley where the RF line is 350 vs. YS, where it’s only 314 ft. Walker is likely to command 3/$75 to 4/$10]. It’s likely his last big payday, and there’s competition for his services. Assuming we aren’t sending anything important to the Cubs, I’d rather have Belli at 1b than pay Walker the extra $25-$50 mil. In the best case scenario, Rice forces his way back up, and we move Belli to LF. Maybe Belli had a great year and opts out, and we give Rice the job in 2026?
Valid point for sure…..and there are even variations from that. My point with Bellinger is this……
– CHI needs to dump payroll
– Beli put up decent numbers last year, but not strong enough to justify his pay
– He’s a huge risk because one year he’s an MVP, the next he’s Ray Charles, the next he’s in the middle. Talent is there….consistency is nowhere to be found.
All of that equals an inflated contract that the Cubs want out from and the Yankees know it.
KFC Fan
Bellinger makes almost too much sense for it not to happen, and I think the Cubs realize this as well.
I remember thinking (even before the trade) that Tommy Edman was the perfect fit for the Dodgers because he provided value at the positions that LA needed help at most.
Bellinger is that guy for the Yankees. There aren’t a lot of “pivot’ players they can turn to that bring the same flexibility, where if someone emerges at one position, Bellinger can shift to one of the others.
I said this on WFan yesterday, but I don’t have the patience my fellow fans do. 2009 is days of long ago now, but we need an off-season like the one that netted us that World Series.
It should have been last offseason with what we gave up for Soto, but I said it then we needed Snell and not Stroman, that was a huge mistake and one that could have changed the outcome of the World Series.
Missing out on Soto now was a setback, but it’s starting to feel like he didn’t want to come back at all, so Boras worked both teams into what he got. As we say here in NY: Seeya!
But now comes the pivot, and Fried was a very good start. It’s not desperation it’s what we needed to do. We can’t talk about “if George was still around…” and then act like Gollum with all our precious prospects. This is partially why we haven’t won a World Series since 09!
So trade the kids, get the Tuckers and whoever else, sign an Alonso and stick it to the Mets because you know damn well George would have and let’s fn go!
@Sal
The fact you said George would’ve traded the farm for Tucker I’d the same exact reason why we shouldn’t. Including Gil almost nullifies signing Fried, who cost us $218 mil and draft picks. Trading for 1 year of Tucker for JD is even worse. Now we have a hole in CF. Tucker can walk and has made our clear he’s not discussing an extension. You don’t think he knows what kind of extension the Yanks would offer??? The fact he didn’t want to even discuss should squash ANY rain to think he’d want to be a Yankee. We have to get past the lure of the Yanks history. These new kids don’t really care unless they come up in the system like Jeter and Judge.
I mean we only had a dynasty under George, but ok?
Solid prospects aren’t going to always make it. I like Gil, I like Jasson, but can I predict they can get us another championship like a Tucker can? No, no one can. Tucker is a 5 tool player. It’s always going to be a gamble whether he stays or not but if we win a World Series next season with him it’d be worth it. We signed Fried, you need to add and yes even subtract to make a championship caliber team.
I’m on board with trading the kids if it produces that. There’s zero guarantee keeping them will do anything. It hasn’t for 15 years now…
And missed the postseason for 13 years with George.
It’s easy to miss a postseason, go ask I dunno, any other team? You know how hard it is to win a World Series, though? Very. George won 7 for us and 11 AL penants.
I’d rather blow the team up and rebuild than over extend our hand and trade Gil and the farm for another playoff bounce (im surprised we made it to the WS last year the only reason we did was because the rest of the AL was weak, not that we are dodgers level strong)
@Berg
comparably, the Yanks and Dodgers were to 5 in almost every category aside from SB. The players just choked. How many times have you seen Judge drop an easy fly ball or Volpe make a bad throw or Cole forgets to cover 1b?
They choked that game, but the series was already lost.
Regardless, the Dodgers lineup was worth 39 WAR compared to Yankees lineup of 30 WAR. Dodgers arguably didnt have a guy with an OPS+ under 100 unless you include Jason Heyward. Yankees had 4 starters run an OPS+ in the 80s. The Yankees lineup was so topheavy we are lucky they overperformed in the postseason, namely Stanton who was on fire. This wasnt a choke job, the Dodgers were just on a completely different level of play on every part of the game.
I was estatic we made a World Series again, and we did so because we gave up pieces and traded for Soto. Know when to hold em, know when to trade them. We’re the Yankees, we ain’t blowing anything up.
Thats part of the Yankees problem, is they never actually reset. Its just bandaid after bandaid. Soto wasnt enough and now hes not coming back. Even with him they were spending 300MM to have Grisham and Verdugo in the lineup half the time lol
I’m unenthusiastic about Bellinger or Arenado.. To take on their salaries and then also pay with prospect capital seems more of the worst proclivities that Cashman has defaulted into.
Get Bellinger and Walker plus two arms for the pen. I’m not giving up Gil unless Tucker signs an extension. I’d love to see the Yanks absorb Bellingers deal and not give up good pieces back. Perhaps a hybrid where we pay down 10 million on Stroman and include a B list prospect or 2.
Sign Profar or Kepler for LF. Kepler’s bat would play so well if he stays healthy. Keep your prospects and sign Tucker next offseason.
Justin Turner for 1B/3B. Do it!!!
He’s 40. No thank you.
Ageist!!! Probably don’t like gingers either!!
Ha! I’m old myself…..but the team desperately needs to get younger and more athletic.
Wish the Yankees would acquire Brandon Marsh just to see him with short hair and clean shaven
No offense, but the comments on Cortez seem off. He started a career-high 30 games and 174 IP last year. His k rate went down less than 1%. His ERA/FIP was in the mid 3s. For under $10 mil he could be a huge asset for a team looking for better than league average mid to back end of rotation help.
“League average”?
Cortes has a 124 ERA+ since the beginning of 2021. Do that for 3,000 innings, they put you in the Hall of Fame.
Yankees should tell the cubs to keep their overpaid player Belli is good but just as the Cubs know he isn’t worth it.
Tucker is good but he’s a one year investment who won’t extend. Just like Soto didn’t. Hopefully Cashman has learned that lesson. Let the Astros deal with their own roster, no interest in him or Bergman unless they come with an extension.
Not moving Gil, at any cost. Next year he wins 20. That’s Cole’s future replacement and you have him before arbitration years.
Hardly. Gil’s control remains lousy, he was preternaturally lucky on balls in play, and his 2024 FIP was 4.14 vs 4.13 for his career.
Still, 4 years of Gil for one year of Kyle Tucker would be madness by the Yankees.
Additionally the Astros are desperate. They have Bergman and Tucker as pending free agents. Framber Valdez is also one year from free agency and just lost Kikuchi..
Why should the Yankees do anything to help them?
Let the Astros deal with their own mess
I’m happy that I’m hearing the right names being mentioned at this point.. Things seem to be moving faster this winter.. Walker/Bellinger/Scott/Bregman/and Tucker all would put the Yanks in the driver’s seat! I wouldn’t expect to sign them all!
Not surprising that the Yankees (or anyone else) are not lining up to sign Verdugo
Marcus Stroman and Poteet for Cronenworth and Suarez. Both sides are happy
No one’s happy with Stroman. He’s a headcase
Put Chisholm in CF. There’s a lot more good options in free agency and the trade market for infielders than there are for CF.
Maybe so, though Chisholm was 8 OAA worse in CF than he was at 3B in 2024. That’s not nothing.
Farm is a barren wasteland, need to buy, buy, buy.
I can easily see Bellinger in Yankee pinstripes. Fits the whole past the prime superstars the Yanks go after, and who knows, he could thrive in NY.
I wish the Sox could unload Yoshida and trade for Bellinger, but i know it’s not happening.
I’m not sure JD is an everyday outfielder with a glove atm. Also, didn’t seem like he was hitting either so platooning DH is a no. Stanton is stuck at DH, he’s always a big help in the post season though. Cashman’s biggest concern is- he needs 2 premier corner infielders with power!! But they need to be willing to take the same money from anywhere else and be willing to shave. I don’t see it happening. It’s why the majority of the Yankees signings have been via trade or bombs. Nobody wanted that we’re willing to shave but just can’t play the game at a high enough level to warrant, contract extensions, etc. Seem like everybody and anybody who is anybody signed elsewhere chose not to play for the Yankees. Many of them giving interviews on podcast saying they just didn’t want to be told to shave. They’re grown men playing baseball and they don’t wanna shave for two months because of superstition or just comfortability. They should not have to shave because some idiot wearing a suit in the sky box says they have to shave. It’s ridiculous. That’s how they ended up with someone like Verdugu who was a big fat bust. Rizzo lost his talent. Gleybor is not the caliber 2B they need. Dare I say they need a gold glove 2B that can get on base, does not necessarily need to be able to hit for power, like Gleybor tried to do but failed- always swinging for the fences and coming up short. They need a gold glove caliber 2B with a high OBP Just get on base!! Also need 2-3 more solid arms in the BP. And the starting pitching is a mess- Cortez & Stroman look like they are on their way out talent-wise… and ho many years to they have left ?!?!