carlos correa

If the Yankees want elite post-season play, here’s the player they need to sign

by
carlos correa, yankees

Reports have indicated that the New York Yankees will exit the lockout with an aggressive mentality, ready to spend big money to fill multiple positions of need. After letting most of the starting pitching talent go before the lockout commenced, they’re going to have to take a big risk on a player that may be injury prone, similar to their strategy the past few seasons.

General manager Brian Cashman could view Clayton Kershaw or Carlos Rodon as potential suitors, but it is yet to be seen if they will spend big money on a player with red flags. Kershaw has had his fair share of injury troubles, and Rodon had his first adequate performance in 2021 with Chicago, offering a small sample size of quality play.

However, shortstop remains the big question as we move forward towards Spring Training. The Yankees have a few options on the board and ones that we’ve discussed extensively over the past few weeks. They could execute a trade for a player like Elvis Andrus from the Oakland Athletics, or maybe even sign Andrelton Simmons as a stopgap until one of their stud prospects is ready to take the reins.

One of the Yankees’ biggest downfalls has been during postseason play — a failure to provide offensive production. Their hitters go quiet, and their pitching struggles. If they want elite postseason performances, there’s only one shortstop on the market that can offer them that value.

That player is Carlos Correa, who is coming off a regular-season where he hit .279 with 26 homers and 92 RBIs. Aside from the 2020 season, which was affected by Covid, Correa has never dipped below 15 homers in a single campaign.

During postseason play, though, he’s experienced 334 plate appearances, recording 82 hits, 18 homers, and a .272 batting average.

However, using a Yankee Stadium overlay, Correa’s numbers skyrocket, hitting .385 with 82 hits and 89.6 exit velocity. That is a type of production and quality you pay for, especially since Correa is looking for a 10 year, $300+ million deal.

The Yankees have available funds to offer him a lucrative contract, and if there’s any outstanding reason as to why he deserves it, his postseason play tells the full story. Aside from his incredible regular season stats, the Yankees need that type of efficiency and consistency when the post-season starts to simmer. They have disappeared far too frequently in recent memory, failing to reach the World Series in over a decade.

New York Yankees: Don’t waste time, all the news in one place

by
jonathan villar, mets, yankees

Yankee slugger Aaron Judge makes bold prediction

New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge has been full of surprises this off-season. So far, the headline is that he married his long-time girlfriend, Samantha Bracksieck two weekends ago in a secret tropical wedding at Maui, Hawaii. But, that’s not all; he has now made a bold prediction.

Last season Judge had a beast of a season, carrying the team on his back, in his first fully healthy season since 2017. He hit .287 with 39 home runs while batting in nearly 100. He now has made the bold prediction that he will hit at least 50 home runs during his 2022 campaign. Looking at it seriously, it’s not out of the question. He hit 57 in 2017. The question will be if he can stay healthy to accomplish the lofty goal.

With Judge becoming a free agent for the first time at the end of the 2022 season, the other big question is if the Yankees will offer him a mega-contract keeping him as a lifelong Yankee. Unfortunately for the Yankees and Judge, will it get ugly when it comes time to do that? Most of it will depend on staying healthy two seasons in a row. If he can’t, the Yankees will be reluctant to extend him long-term.

Where will all the remaining big names end up?

If you want to believe Sports Illustrated, post-CBA doesn’t look good for the Yankees as it predicts where all the big remaining names will go, none of which go to the Yankees. The big bait out there, Carlos Correa, regardless of the news, will probably end up with his old manager A J Hinch, who is now managing the Detroit Tigers. Another big name favored by the Yankees, Freddie Freeman, will resign with the Atlanta Braves.

The Yankees have been targeting Trevor Story for a shortstop replacement. SI that previously had him going to the Rangers have switched gears and are now sending him to the Houston Astros to fill the Correa gap. There haven’t been many predictions that show a quality starting pitcher to the Yankees, but recently the name Carlos Rodon has come up as a possible fit for the Yankees; quell that, SI has him going to the rival Boston Red Sox.

You can also scratch outfielder and catcher Kyle Schwarber from playing in the Bronx; he will be going to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The only signing that seems safe is the first baseman Anthony Rizzo returning to the Yankees. In a bizarre suggestion, there are some rumors that nut-case Zack Grienke of the Astros could end up with the Yankees. Let’s hope not.

How are the Yankees doing in Winter Ball?

Several Yankees have played winter ball in the Dominican Republic; their results aren’t exactly promising. Aaron Hicks played in 12 games, not producing; the only thing he has shown the Yankees is that he can stay healthy for twelve games. Miguel Andujar has been nothing short of a disaster in winter ball, hitting .161 and no home runs in eight games. He has to be hoping he will be traded with no position to play with the Yankees and his below-average defense.

Estevan Florial wasn’t much better; he hit .167 in nine games. Once a top Yankee prospect, his halo is quickly dimming. Florial has power and speed as his main attributes, but to show those off, you have to hit the ball; he strikes out far too much to be of any value.

On the pitching side, Luis Media was 0-0, 4.92 ERA, two starts, 3 2/3 IP, 6 K, 4 BB. Baseball America ranks Medina as the team’s No. 9 prospect, primarily due to his high 90s’ fastball. Don’t look for Media to be a starter for the Yankees any time soon. His lack of control challenges his fastball. He will probably start the season with the AA Somersets. If he starts at Scranton, he could be a piece out of the bullpen for the Yankees.

Right-hand pitcher Albert Abreu went 3-3, 2.25 ERA, 6 starts, 24 IP, 11 K, 10 BB. Abreu’s ERA is impressive, but he walks too many hitters. He will likely be in the Yankees bullpen as a last resort piece with his history and numbers. Catcher Rob Brantly didn’t exactly ring any bells in winter ball. He hit .125 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3 K, 0 BB, 8 AB, 2 games. Nevertheless, he will end up as the number one catcher at Scranton and the backup for Kyle Higashioka in the Bronx.

Now on the bright side: Outfielder Michael Beltre hit .293 with five RBIs, nine strikeouts, and two walks. He will likely start the season with the Rail Riders with his outfield depth and excellent showing at double-A Somerset. Should we have trouble in center, you could see him with the big team sometime in the season.

The most encouraging sign for the Yankees is Wandy Peralta, the righty that made an impact last season. In winter ball, he went  3-0, 3.72 ERA, 11 appearances, 9 2/3 IP, 15 K, 3 BB. He looks to be a mid to late-inning reliever again this season in the Bronx.

Is Jonathan Villar a fit for the Yankees?

There has been recent talk that Jonathan Villar could be a stop-gap measure for the Yankees, not at short but at third base. That move would require the Yankees to move Gio Urshela to short, where he performed well last season when needed.

With Anthony Volpe and Osward Peraza in the wings and probably ready for the 2023 season, the Yankees don’t appear to be ready to hire a big name to fill the spot at short, long term. Villar hits better than most stop-gap shortstop options out there but is not much of an upgrade for Torres at short, thus the third base suggestion where his defense is better. Villar has speed but lacks the home run numbers the Yankees would like to see. He may be a fit, but it also piques the question: What will become of DJ LeMahieu if the Yankees sign Anthony Rizzo as their 2022 first baseman?

Yankees create a bright Christmas for Bronx youth

For the twelfth year in a row, the Yankees have held their Christmas toy even to benefit the underserved kids of the Bronx that surrounds Yankee Stadium. Their Winter Wonderland Event Friday has delivered thousands of toys to local school children.

“Everybody knows the Yankees for being a champion on the field, but that same drive and focus is part of our commitment to being a productive member of this community,” said Brian Smith, the Yankees’ senior vice president of corporate community relations. “We’re happy to put a smile on these young peoples’ faces during the holiday season.”

In years previous to 2020, the event was held in the big hall at Yankee Stadium, where a child could come in a pick a toy of their choice. Unfortunately, last year and this year, that could not happen due to Covid restrictions. This season the event was held outside Yankee Stadium, but most of the toys will be distributed by the New York Yankee Partners right up until Christmas day.

Yankees would be taking huge risks with top shortstop free agents

by
carlos correa, yankees

One way or another, the New York Yankees face a big problem this off-season regarding their vacant shortstop position. After the failed Gleyber Torres experiment, the Yankees tried to solve the spot in-season, even being linked to Trevor Story at the trade deadline. But after the front office “soured” on the possibility, they decided to wait until this free agency to make a decision.

General manager Brian Cashman remained patient before the lockout, allowing options like Corey Seager and Marcus Semien to sign with the Texas Rangers on massive contracts. While there are still a few solid options on the market, they come with their own risks, which will force the Yankees to think twice before offering a long-term contract.

Seattle Times’ Ryan Divish stated that Trevor Story might have to transition to second base in the near future due to arm concerns:

Most scouts believe that the 29-year-old Story would benefit from a shift to second base due to diminished arm strength. He’s dealt with elbow strains over the past few seasons and a shift to second base might reduce the overall wear and tear.

Theoretically, the Bombers could sign a Story to a shorter-term contract, but if he has serious arm concerns, the expectation of moving him to third base is likely off the table. With Gleyber Torres and DJ LeMahieu capable of playing second, a stopgap until Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe are ready to take the jump could be ideal. Trevor represents a cost-efficient move, given the massive contract Correa is seeking.

However, Correa endured serious back problems last year, so a 10-year contract may end up being another Jacoby Ellsbury situation, which simply must be avoided at all costs.

ESPN’s Buster Olney indicated that Carlos Correa’s camp is withholding important injury information:

“There are questions about his lower back. He has gotten treatment for it…. Teams are saying they can only access his medical records if they make a ‘significant offer’ and teams are hesitant”

Cashman will have to find an upgrade at shortstop no matter what, but at this point, signs point toward a stopgap being the preferred strategy. Nonetheless, in one of the best shortstop markets in the past decade, missing out on the top option would certainly irk Yankee fans and management alike.

The 2 shortstops the Yankees need to pursue before it’s too late

by
yankees, trevor story

The New York Yankees have found themselves in a peculiar situation as the free-agent market dwindles with talent. General manager Brian Cashman indicated they would be big spenders this off-season, going as far as to offer Justin Verlander a $25 million deal over one season. However, since that offer, the Yankees have been incredibly silent, waiting for some of the more prominent names to be plucked off the market before diving in headfirst.

There are only two players left that make sense for the Yankees, depending on their willingness to spend big money. With such a strong shortstop market this off-season, Cashman would be foolish not to grab one of the better options. They could settle for a lesser option like Andrelton Simmons of the Minnesota Twins, serving as a stopgap. However, the fans would prefer they go with a more lucrative player.

Two shortstops the Yankees need to make a run at:

1.) Carlos Correa

Of course, the top name on the list is Carlos Correa. Despite Correa’s scandalous nature with a Houston Astros, he’s one of the best shortstops in baseball and would serve as a long-term solution for the Bombers at a spot of weakness.

Correa hit .279 with 26 homers and 92 RBIs this past season, also featuring an 18.1% strikeout rate and 11.7% walk rate, the highest of his career. With a .485 slugging percentage and 134 wRC+, he has not only lived up to his potential as the first overall pick in 2012, but he also exceeded it.

The Astros’ star infielder is also an incredible defensive player, earning a .981 fielding percentage with 11 errors over 1,304 innings this past season. He would upgrade the shortstop spot for the Yankees 10 times over, but he will undoubtedly cost a pretty penny. With Corey Seager landing a 10 year, $325 million deal, Correa may land even higher than that, averaging out at $35-40 million per season.

Ultimately, Cashman still has Aaron Judge and his monster deal to think about, so signing Correa at that price point might be a bit overzealous.

2.) Trevor Story

If the Yankees want to pursue a cheaper option but a talented one nonetheless, Trevor Story could be a suitor. At 29-years-old, Story has spent six seasons with the Colorado Rockies, showcasing quality health over the course of his career. He hit .251 with 24 homers and 75 RBIs this past season but did feature at a 23.4% strikeout rate. Story is also a quality defender, posting a .975 fielding percentage with 14 errors. Correa is the better defensive piece, but Trevor is far more affordable and is still a quality hitter.

However, the concern is that Story won’t be able to replicate his statistics in Yankee stadium, given the thin air in Colorado, helping the ball travel a bit deeper. However, DJ LeMahieu didn’t skip a beat in his move to the Bronx, and he may advocate for the signing of Story, his former teammate.

Do you think the Yankees will sign Correa or Story? Comment here!

New York Yankees: Fans are angry as Yankees sit idly by, ignoring the free agent market

by
yankees, corey seager

New York Yankee fans are confused, frustrated, and even angry as one after another target or player of interest drops off the market, being scooped up by other teams, even teams within the Yankees’ division.

Most of the confusion arises from the Yankees’ near pledge to improve the team for 2022 by spending big and acquiring players to return the team to championship contention. But instead, what fans have gotten is a front office that has been surprisingly quiet, if not completely dormant, as other teams are picking up quality players with amazing speed.

Just yesterday, two huge free agency monikers dropped off the market, with the big prize, Max Scherzer, going to the crosstown New York Mets and Corey Seager going to the Texas Rangers. Although Scherzer was more of a wish for the Yankees, they were never really in on him due to the projected cost. However, no one would have ever dreamed that he would be signed for $43 million a year, making him the highest-priced starting pitcher in MLB history. The big slap in the face is that he went to the Mets.

At this point, there is no question that the Mets are making moves to bring them to at least an NL East division win, and maybe going to their first World Series since 2015, in which they lost to the Kansas City Royals one game to four. The New York Yankees have not appeared in a World Series game since they won in 2009.

The Yankees were seriously looking at Starling Marte to bolster their center field presence, but that fell through when the Mets scooped him up last week with a four-year contract for a reported $78 million. With the Mets signing Scherzer, they have already spent double the money the Yankees might consider spending. If that isn’t a statement, I don’t know what is.

The other big name off the market yesterday was shortstop Corey Seager, who went to the Texas Rangers for a reported $325 million for 10 years. Not only is he no longer available to the Yankees, but that contract sets the bar for the only other huge name on the shortstop market, Carlos Correa, who presently remains unsigned. With that likely cost, the Yankees will not be contending for him.

Another big name now off the Yankees’ radar is former Blue Jays’ co-ace Robbie Ray, who went to the  Seattle Mariners for three years at $115 million. In return, the Blue Jays signed another Yankee pitcher of interest, Kevin Gausman, to a 5-year deal worth $110 million. What may be surprising to Yankee fans, as well as the front office, who’re watching other teams spend insane amounts of money.

Whether you believe the Yankees are being cheap, or Hal Steinbrenner won’t let loose of the purse, you can’t blame the Yankees for not signing any long-term, big-money contracts like the ones that seem to dominate the free agency market. After all, the Yankees are mulling a contract extension for star Aaron Judge that will be costly, and already have two monster contracts to pay to ace Gerrit Cole and the remaining huge contract for Giancarlo Stanton. Most of these contracts are being signed by teams that couldn’t contend last season, and don’t already have huge contracts on their rosters.

Although there may be some action today, and before the Collective Bargaining Agreement expires tomorrow night, it looks like general manager Brian Cashman will have to work his magic, like he did with DJ LeMahieu, as only some crumbs are going to be left over.

Yankees lose out on another top shortstop, market continues to dwindle

by
yankees, corey seager

The New York Yankees may end up missing out on every top shortstop free agent this off-season, in a year where there was an unprecedented number of talents waiting to be scooped up off the market.

General manager Brian Cashman is undoubtedly taking a more patient approach, but his strategy may end up biting him in the butt if he misses out on Carlos Correa, the last of the top-tier shortstops available.

On Monday evening, Jeff Passan of ESPN reported that Corey Seager, one of the Yankees’ top targets to replace Gleyber Torres at shortstop, signed a 10 year, $325 million deal with the Texas Rangers. The Rangers landed both Seager and Marcus Semien.

Seager is coming off a stellar campaign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, hitting .306 with 16 homers and 57 RBIs. With a lefty bat, the idea was that Seager would bring a bit of diversity to the batting order and quality defending at shortstop. However, his flexibility in the infield and potential to move over to third base was also attractive, as the team waits for Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza to reach the majors.

Now, the market has boiled down to Correa, who is taking his time finding a new team this off-season. Correa is coming off arguably an even better campaign than Seager, hitting .279 with 26 homers and 92 RBIs. Correa isn’t only a fantastic hitter with a healthy balance of power and contact, but he’s also a tremendous defender.

After seeing Corey’s contract, averaging $32.5 million per season, Correa will likely end up earning $35 million per year. This past season, Carlos recorded a .981 fielding percentage with 11 errors over 1,300 innings.

Correa is a long-term solution at SS, so moving him to the hot corner may not be advisable for the Yankees. However, he’s currently the best option on the market, and once he’s gone, the Yankees’ targets will start to dwindle quickly. Reports indicated that Cashman met with Andrelton Simmons’s representatives recently, so he could also be a potential option for the Bombers.

New York Yankees news all in one place, what you need to know

by
Josh Breaux, yankees

Yankees could lose key prospect:

The New York Yankees made several moves to protect key prospects from the Rule 5 draft, but the bottom line is that they couldn’t protect all the players they might have wanted to, one of them is up and coming catcher Josh Breaux.

Losing a pivotal prospect to the Rule 5 draft can be serious, even devastating when they lose one to a division rival. Last season in the draft, they lost Garrett Whitlock, and that came back to haunt them in the season and Wild Card, that the Yankees lost to the Boston Red Sox. He became Boston’s best bullpen piece in 2021, posting a stellar 1.96 ERA in 46 regular-season appearances. Whitlock’s dominance continued in the playoffs, with a 2.16 ERA in five appearances.

The 24-year-old Breaux was a second-round pick of the Yankees in the 2018 draft by the Yankees. Since then, he has been making a name for himself. Here is MLB Pipeline’s scouting report:

Breaux has a lofty ceiling but is a long ways from reaching it. His well-above-average bat speed and strength coupled with an extremely aggressive approach give him the raw pop to deliver 35 or more homers per season.

Breaux is enticing because he has well above-average raw power and an arm that was once clocked up to 100 mph when he took the mound. Other than that, he is very similar to catcher Gary Sanchez, both in build as well defensive and hitting skills. Due to his progression through the minors, the Yankees won’t want to lose Breaux.

Who will be non-tendered?

The Yankees have three players that may be considered to be non-tendered. Miguel Andujar, Luke Voit, and Gary Sanchez. The Yankees already have rid themselves of three other players that they believe have little returning value going forward. Clint Frazier, Tyler Wade, and Rougned Odor have already been shown the door through assignment.

Of the three, Miguel Andujar is the most likely to be non-tendered, as the Yankees really don’t have a place for him to play. After losing his job at third to Gio Urshela, the Yankees have tried him in the outfield and even at first base. Unfortunately for Andujar, he underperformed.

CBA draws closer, an actual agreement doesn’t

The Baseball Collective Bargaining Agreement deadline is this coming Wednesday, and the sides are still far apart. Commissioner Rob Manfred stated last week that a lockout is not out of the picture. It’s all about the money, how much the players get and how much the owners get to keep.

One of the most significant sticking points seems to revolve around young players being paid more and earlier than the previous agreement allowed. The owners have pretty much had their own way with the players in the last several agreements, and the players are determined to get the upper hand this time.

Yankees just watching, Mets taking action

If you browse social media, Yankee fans are getting very frustrated with Brian Cashman seemingly sitting on his hands as other clubs are making moves to improve their teams, some of them big splashes.

What is most concerning to fans is that the cross-town New York Mets went on a Black Friday spending spree. The Mets’ new GM, Billy Eppler, picked up infielder and switch hitter Eduardo Escobar to a two-year deal reportedly worth $20 million, according to MLB Network. They signed first baseman and outfielder Mark Canha to a two-year deal worth $26.5 million, according to the New York Post. And late Friday night, they agreed to a four-year deal with outfielder Starling Marte knocking him out as a Yankee target at center.

Centerfield is still a question, Taylor or Buxton?

With Brett Gardner gone, at least for the moment, and the question looming, can Aaron Hicks remain healthy? Centerfield remains an area to be addressed.

Hicks, with the Yankees for six years, has only played in 100 or more games in two of those years. Last season was dreadful, with him only playing a few months due to a wrist injury and surgery, demonstrating the need for some solid backup in center.

The Yankees have reserves, but with the loss of Gardner,  Greg Allen, and Tim Locastro, it only leaves Joey Gallo and Aaron Judge to back up Hicks. Both of them are much better performers at the corners. Chris Taylor has often been mentioned, but in the trade market, the Yankees could go after Byron Buxton of the Twins. Possibly not a priority, but the Yankees clearly need help.

Buxton is an intriguing fit at center. His defense is not in question. This season, the dynamic, two-way center fielder hit .306/.358/.647 with 19 home runs, 50 runs, 32 RBI, and nine steals in just 254 plate appearances. Add to that his contact hitting from both sides of the plate, and the Yankees have the perfect fit if they want to trade for a quality centerfielder.

In other news of interest

After the 2021 season, the Yankees fired third base coach Phil Nevin. In one of the few moves the Yankees have made, they replaced him with ex-Mets manager Luis Rojas. The Los Angeles Angels have since hired Nevin as their new third-base coach replacing Brian Butterfield.

MLB Network’s Jon Heyman has reported that the Yankees are interested in the Baltimore Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins, It is also reported that the O’s will listen to offers. If the Yankees are interested, they won’t be alone. The Phillies, Rangers, Astros, and Giants are also interested in the O’s star.

If the New York Yankees are still interested in superstar Carlos Correa, they will have to fight for him, as the Detroit Tigers seem to have the edge on procuring his services.  It would also match up Correa with his old cheating scandal manager A.J. Hinch.

New York Yankees 11/24: Gary Sanchez, Corey Seager, Freddie Freeman, and more

by
freddie freeman, yankees

At the end of the season, the New York Yankees energized fans by saying the purse was open and the Yankees would be spending to improve the team for 2022. As the postseason drags on, and the Yankees have not yet made any splashes, fans are quickly becoming disenfranchised as the Yankees seem to be drawing back on their promise to hire some high profile players.

Gary Sanchez going nowhere

This writer is not sure what all the talk this week about Gary Sanchez is leading. Folks, he is not going anywhere. There are three main reasons. 1. The organization is still standing behind him with their support, even though he doesn’t deserve it. 2. There just aren’t many catchers out there this offseason that would be better than Sanchez. 3. The Yankees have much bigger fish to fry: SS, first base, oh and yeah, a number two type starter for the rotation.

Carlos Correa or Corey Seager won’t be in pinstripes

At the beginning of the postseason, the Yankees seemed primed to go after the best shortstop in the business, Carlos Correa, if not him then Corey Seager of nearly the same quality. But now both seem to be in the Yankees rearview mirror, and it’s not entirely clear why.

Are the Yankees sincere in not wanting to block Anthony Volpe or Oswald Peraza from making the bigs when they are ready or are the Yankees pulling back because the don’t want to spend the money after all?

Will postseason acquisitions come to a halt?

All the acquisitions, by purchase or trade, may be coming to a screaming halt. We are now one week away from the agreement that allows the owners and players to put on a baseball season. Yes, the expiration of the CBA comes on December 1.

Commissioner Rob Manfred has said the negotiations for a new contract are going very slow, and the sides are far apart. He also said it seems a lock-out is likely. If that happens, all transactions will also come to a halt. The last time there was an MLB work stoppage was in 1994, starting in August with no World Series and halting the start of the 1995 season.

Max Scherzer to the Dodgers?

It may not be of much interest to Yankee fans that industry sources say that free-agent pitcher Max Scherzer will likely end up with the Dodgers. What is concerning is that general manager Brian Cashman said getting a number two type starting pitcher was one of his priorities.

With Scherzer landing on the west coast, it’s just another Yankee pitching target that will be going off the market and not available to the Yankees. Noah Syndergaard of the Mets has already signed with the Angels, Justin Verlander with the Astros, and Eduardo Rodriguez with the Detroit Tigers.

Is Freddie Freeman the Yankees’ dream first baseman?

I think we can all agree that Yankee first baseman Luke Voit’s days with the Yankees are over. He was never a great defender and has had a great deal of difficulty staying healthy. Although several Yankees have replaced him, the Yankee via trade settled on Anthony Rizzo, who is now a free agent. The question is, Rizzo is not the hitter he once was, even though his defense at first is stellar. Also, will the Yankees want to pay the big bucks he will likely ask for?

The Yankees could stick with DJ LeMahieu, who is a Gold Glove second baseman. He is adequate, but his offense isn’t exactly exciting either. If the Yankees want a power-hitting lefty with the defense of Mark Teixiera, there is a free agent out there. His name is Freddie Freeman of the Braves that is now a free agent. Freeman and the short porch at the Stadium are the perfect match, and unlike Rizzo, his hitting is not in decline, anyone that watched the World Series knows that. In 2021 Freeman hit .300 with 31 home runs.

If the Yankees spend big for a shortstop, Freeman is probably not an option, but if they go with a stop-gap option at short, Freeman would make a perfect Yankee. Another wise addition could have been Belt of the Giants, but he just signed an $18 million one-year deal to stay with the Giants.

Report: Yankees’ pursuit for elite free-agent shortstop has a caveat

by
brian cashman, yankees

There is no question the New York Yankees will be active in the shortstop free-agent market, but there is a caveat for any potential deals that general manager Brian Cashman makes. While adding a star talent like Carlos Correa looks excellent on paper, despite the cheating scandals and negative comments about Derek Jeter, his main vulnerability is that he presents a long-term solution at shortstop and not a stop-gap.

According to The Daily News, the Yankees prefer to settle on a stop-gap instead of a long-term solution, which changes everything.

It appears the Yankees will not be the team to hand out that deal, multiple industry sources have told the Daily News. … Sources have told The News that the Yankees don’t want to commit that much money to a shortstop. … The Yankees are expected to turn their attention elsewhere. … The Yankees are apparently comfortable going with a stopgap defensive shortstop while they wait for (Anthony) Volpe and (Oswald) Peraza to reach the majors.

The Yankees have several shortstop prospects rising through their minor-league system, including Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza. If either are able to become elite players at the position, the Yankees will need to rethink their strategy with any free agent acquisitions this off-season.
The hope is that one of their young studs will be playing SS at a starting level by 2023, so they will need two years of supplementary play until they need to make adjustments.
With that being the case, a few alternative options make more sense if Cashman is still looking to spend big money. First and foremost, Corey Seager presents a great option, as he projects to move to third base in the future. He’s coming off a season where he posted a .306 average with 16 homers and 57 RBIs. He has endured health complications in the past but offers diversity with his lefty bat and quality defense.
Another option that could fit the bill is Marcus Semien, who is coming off an incredible season with the Toronto Blue Jays. Over 162 games, Semien recorded a .265 average with 45 homers and 102 RBIs, both career-highs. He earned an All-Star appearance, Golden Glove, and Silver Slugger awards at 30-years-old in 2021. One of the best aspects of Semien is that he hasn’t missed a game in three seasons, showcasing impeccable health.
Marcus has dabbled at third base in the past, also playing 147 games at second base this past season. The Yankees can move him around due to his flexibility in the future, making him a solid option if they want to go that route. He would likely be a bit cheaper than Seager or Correa.
Ultimately, Correa doesn’t fit the bill if the Yankees are looking for a stop-gap at shortstop since he is a bonafide star at the SS spot and likely wouldn’t take well to transitioning after just two seasons with the team.

Yankees’ Aaron Boone ignores Carlos Correa hate, provides glowing endorsement

by
New York Yankees, Aaron Boone

If there were any way a potential free-agent acquisition for the New York Yankees could plummet his stock, it would be to insult Derek Jeter. While fans are up in arms over Carlos Correa’s latest comments, indicating that Jeter didn’t deserve to win any of his five Gold Glove awards, management doesn’t seem phased by his words.

General manager Brian Cashman brushed off Correa’s statement, professing he is a talented player; the Yankees will be considering him this off-season as a potential solution at shortstop. However, Cashman wasn’t the only one to endorse Correa despite his ill-advised words.

Skipper Aaron Boone, who recently signed a three-year extension with the team, came to Correa’s defense, mentioning his development and that he is entering the prime of his career.

“Great player. I think he’s in the prime of his career, entering the prime of his career, and part of what is a very special shortstop class. He’s really developed into a leader with the Astros.”

The Yankees are heavily involved in the short-stop market, as they are also connected with Corey Seager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Cashman could go a bevy of different directions, but Boone indicated that youngsters Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe will be playing a part in their decision.

“There’s no question that factors in because we do feel like with Peraza and Volpe, we have two future impact big-league players… That’s all part of the equation.”
If the team is hoping that Peraza and Volpe will be available to fill the shortstop position, Seager might be the more clear-cut option. Correa is a bonafide shortstop that likely wouldn’t take too well to transitioning to the hot corner in the future, but most believe Seager is willing to make that transition after a few seasons. If the Yankees want a player who’s a bit more flexible and adds a bit of diversity to the batting order, Seager is their guy.
Seager is coming off a season where he hit .306 with 16 homers and 57 RBIs over 95 games. As an above-average offensive and defensive player, the only concern is his health history. However, Correa also has his fair share of issues in that category, so Cashman would simply be picking the lesser of two evils.