carlos correa

Yankees: Carlos Correa takes shot at Derek Jeter for Gold Gloves he ‘didn’t deserve’

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derek jeter, carlos correa, yankees

As if the Yankees needed another reason to hate Carlos Correa after that cheating scandal with the Houston Astros, he proceeded to say how “Derek Jeter didn’t deserve any of the gold gloves he won.”

Correa is one of the top shortstops in baseball and is in line for a massive contract extension, which could possibly land with the Yankees and general manager Brian Cashman. Cashman isn’t exactly the biggest fan of Jeter after years of turmoil, so Correa’s comments likely won’t impact his status within the organization. However, among the fans, he’s quickly losing stock or whatever he had left of it.

Correa finished the most recent season with a .279 batting average, 26 homers, and 92 RBIs. His career-low 18.1% strikeout rate and 26.3 offensive WAR would be a welcome sight for Yankee fans, despite his comments about one of the team’s most prolific players in its history.

Some might ask how Yankee fans can still want Correa after what he said about Jeter? Ultimately it boils down to production. Jeter is a thing of the past, and while beloved by every fan, Correa could be the missing piece to a World Series appearance, which would erase any ill feelings toward the Astros star.

Of course, the team has plenty of options at shortstop this off-season, including Corey Seager, who would be a solid acquisition given his lefty bat and ability to translate to third base. Eventually, the Yankees want to elevate Anthony Volpe to take over SS full-time, and Seager can move to that hot corner, where they can maximize his skill set without any bad blood.

However, with a potential lockout impending, the Yankees might make a move sooner rather than later, prior to December 1. The expectation is that both Seager and Marcus Semien will sign before that date, but Correa could wait until after the lockout finishes to sign a monster deal.

New York Yankees: Fans know the SS they want and by a wide margin

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yankees, corey seager

The New York Yankees made an unusual one-and-done move, moving Gleyber Torres from the team’s experimental shortstop back to second base. Unfortunately, that move caused a juggernaut of other infield questions that will have to be answered by the start of spring training. However, that discussion is for another article; Brian Cashman’s self-admission of obtaining a high-quality shortstop is his priority this offseason.

Recent developments may make this offseason far more interesting than in recent years; other than acquiring some patched-up pitchers last year, the Yankee hasn’t done much to improve the team other than signing Gerrit Cole to a big-money contract back in December of 2019. But, of course, the main reason is that owner Hal Steinbrenner has wanted stat below the luxury tax threshold. Well, fans hold to your Yankee caps; if several industry sources are correct, he may be willing to open that Yankee purse, even going over the tax threshold.

Many believe the Yankees would like to make a change at the backstop. Still, with money to be spent elsewhere and few catcher upgrades available, many believe the Yankees will stay with the catching duo of Sanchez and Higashioka. Yet, at the same time, they pour out the bucks for three players they will need to improve the team: shortstop, centerfielder, and another starting pitcher. Luckily the Yankee will have a bevy of shortstops available to them. Big names like Trevor Story and Trea Turner are often mentioned but doubtfully receive much consideration.

Three of the best shortstops available on the market are the Houston Astros Carlos Correa, Marcus Semien of the Blue Jays, and Corey Seager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. According to sources at The Athletic Magazine, The New York Yankees are already speaking to the agents of both Correa and Seager. With this spiking the interest of Yankee fans, I decided to ask them who they wanted as the new Yankee Shortstop. I set up a poll on several Yankee fan groups on Facebook. Being these are the frontrunners, I only gave poll responders those options. I was quite surprised that the margin was so spread. Below are those shortstops and their approval rating by Yankee fans.

Corey Seager 51.5%

Corey Seager seems to be the Yankee fan favorite, and by a vast majority. According to many fan comments, it’s not necessarily because he is the best shortstop; it’s more about he isn’t Carlos Correa of the Houston Astros. New York Yankee fans have a very long memory and consider Correa’s possible involvement in the 2017 cheating season a factor. This is not to say that Seager is a great shortstop; he is. Last season although not hitting a ton of home runs(16), he is an excellent defender and is a great contact lefty hitter hitting .306

Carlos Correra 26.5%

I have to admit I chose Correra, mostly because I believe he is a more demanding player that puts it all out onto the field, much like Brett Gardner. Although he had 26 home runs last season, he is a righty. How the Yankee lineup rounds out will be a factor. Many fans put personality and nonbaseball characteristics of high importance. I tend to look only at what that player can do for the Yankees.

Marcus Semien 22%

Although Semiem picked up many of the over 1,000 votes in the poll, he did come in last among the three choices with 22% of the vote. Semien has many things going for his amount them is that; he can play short, 2nd, and 3rd base. Working against him is that he is a righty which could be a problem for the Yankees.

The New York Yankees also have to consider two wonderful shortstops coming up the ranks in the farm system but are likely two years out from the majors. The final decision will not be made on what the Yankee fans want; it will be based on the money and length of the contract needed to seal the deal.

Yankees shifting attention to star shortstop after World Series comes to an end

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carlos correa, yankees

With the Atlanta Braves officially winning the World Series, the New York Yankees now shift their attention to the off-season free-agent market. With several high-profile options available, general manager Brian Cashman has some thinking to do.

Spending an exorbitant amount of money on a new shortstop and bringing in more starting pitching talent will be priorities, but one elite talent has become available at arguably the most crucial infield position.

The Houston Astros failing to win the World Series is accompanied by fleeting players. Star shortstop Carlos Correa is preparing to hit the open market, and the Yankees will have eyes on the former first overall pick in 2012.

Cashman has also shown interest in Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers’ star lefty shortstop, who could be a better fit at Yankee Stadium. However, Correa is 27-years-old and coming off a season where he hit .279 with 26 homers and 92 RBIs. He logged a career-low 18.1% strike-out rate and career-high 11.7% walk rate, showing even more patience at the plate.

Correa contributed 94 singles, 34 doubles, and one triple. He struck out 116 times and walked 75, showcasing an incredible ratio. Correa also saw a nice uptick in exit velocity, averaging 90.2 mph, up from 88.6 in 2020. That is a number that will intrigue the Yankees, given their slugger status.

Correa could be in line for a massive 10-year contract, and the Yankees might be scared away from investing big money in another player. They are already on the hook for Giancarlo Stanton, Gerrit Cole and will likely offer Aaron Judge a massive deal as well. The question is, can they afford to maintain that level of investment, as long-term deals can often bite teams in the butt — see Jacoby Ellsbury.

However, it seems as if the Steinbrenners are willing to push past the luxury tax threshold to become a winning team once again, and solving the shortstop position would fix a massive deficiency. Correa would likely earn upward of $25 million per season, and coming off a year where he posted a .981 fielding percentage with just 11 errors over 1304 innings is incredible. Comparably in 2020, Correa posted a .995 fielding percentage, showcasing he’s one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball by a fair margin.

Despite Correa’s unfortunate past, do you think you should still shift their attention to his services? Comment here!

New York Yankees: An offseason of discontentent led by wild predictions

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yankees, corey seager

In the eyes of the “boss,” the deceased George Steinbrenner, the New York Yankee 2021 season was another failed season. He always felt a successful season was one that the Yankees went to the World Series and won the Fall Classic. During his ownership, the Yankees won the World Championship seven times. Unfortunately, under Hal Steinbrenner’s ten-year tutelage, the New York Yankees have not won any.

Hal Steinbrenner made it clear last season that he wanted to stay under the luxury tax threshold, and he did that. What fans should know is that although the Yankees spend a lot on player payroll, their payroll to revenues ratio is the lowest in baseball for the last several several years.

George Steinbrenner died on the same day as the 81st annual All-Star game; many fans think the storied Yankees franchise died on the same day. Of course, George didn’t win every season, but he made the changes necessary to make that again a possibility when he didn’t. The Yankees have made only two significant moves in the last ten years: getting Giancarlo Stanton in 2018 and starting pitcher Gerrit Cole in December of 2019.

While the Yankees and their fans are still licking their wounds, the wild predictions of who the Yankees will get to fill this spot and that spot are running amuck. Projections like the Yankees will target Robbie Ray, Max Scherzer, or even Justin Verlander. Last season the wild predictions led the Yankees to pick up two bruised starters in Corey Kluber and Jameson Taillon, neither of whom had pitched in the previous two seasons. General Manager Brian Cashman has a history of doing what no one expects.

Another good example is before the 2019 season; the rumors were swirling around that the Yankees would go after Manny Machado or Bryce Harper. But in the end, the Yankees made a pedestrian move hiring DJ LeMahieu instead. That turned out rather well, but at the time, the Yankees fans were disappointed. Unfortunately, the Yankees often make very pedestrian moves when fans expect big things.

The hottest predictions or rumors are that the New York Yankees will pick up a star shortstop this offseason. Brian Cashman has already said it is his top priority. Big names include Carlos Correa, Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, and others. But, don’t be surprised if the Yankees pick up Javier Baez or some mostly unknown shortstop on the cheap. However, that being said, this offseason seems to carry more importance for the Yankees to get better so they can go deep into the postseason and hopefully win another World Championship after not being in one in eleven years.

The whole point of this article is to advise you to listen but take little stock in the named targets or predictions as they seldom turn out as expected. However, as we draw closer to the new baseball season, those predictions hold more validity. History has told us that you never know what to expect when it comes to the Yankees. We can hope they will make the necessary changes to make this team better, much better. Go Yankees!

Yankees could pursue Carlos Correa, but one MLB insider thinks things could get ugly

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Carlos Correa, Houston Astros, yankees

The New York Yankees have a glaring hole at the shortstop position, since they decided that Gleyber Torres would be the team second baseman in 2022. They have stated that filling that spot is an offseason priority.

Fortunately, there are several quality shortstops available in the market: Carlos Correa, Corey Seager, Javier Baez, Trevor Story, and others. Correa could be the most expensive of all, as he is likely to command a deal north of $200 million.

However, one MLB insider is worried about him signing with the Yankees given the experiences that one of Correa’s former teammates, Gerrit Cole, has had to endure in his time with the Bronx.

Yankees’ fans turned on Cole

Cole, who signed with the Yankees before the 2020 season, had a solid 3.23 ERA and 243 strikeouts, but he struggled somewhat after the league’s crackdown on foreign substances on the ball. He also had to deal with a hamstring injury, and his last start was a disaster and resulted in the Bombers being outed from the postseason.

That night of the Wild Card game, Cole couldn’t make it out of the third inning, which is of course not what the Yankees had in mind when they handed $324 million to him. Still, it’s baseball, and these things are bound to happen. Fans criticized him heavily.

The Yankees fanbase could turn on Correa if he fails, just like they did it with Cole, and that gives MLB Network insider Peter Gammons pause when it comes to New York chasing the Astros’ shortstop.

“(Cole) goes to the post with a bad hamstring (Sept.) and didn’t make excuses, he adjusts, he really cares … It worries me that this is what Carlos Correa will face for the first time if he goes to the Yankees. Not the Yankees, but the fans who judge players by WAR and paycheck,” Gammons wrote.

Could a hypothetical Correa – Yankees marriage get ugly with fans if he fails?

New York Yankees: Could 2022 be the go big year for the Yankees?

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Carlos Correa, Houston Astros, yankees

2021 was another disappointing year for the New York Yankees. After several years of not surviving the postseason, this past year, they didn’t make it past the wild card and lost to the rival Boston Red Sox in the winner-take-all game. It has now stretched to over a decade since the Yankees have even been in a World Series contest for the Yankees and their fans. Many marginal fans are ready to discard the Yankees as their team as their frustration boils over. Is it time for the Yankees to finally do something to reverse that trend?

Much of this is in the hands of managing partner Hal Steinbrenner who has experienced ever-increasing calls from Yankee fans that he sell the team to someone who will put forth the funds for a team that can bring a 28th World Championship back to New York. You can be sure he won’t decide based on fan approval, but as the team fails to win, he is starting to lose the revenues that the team enjoyed in their winning years. A new manager won’t help because they have decided to keep Aaron Boone around for another three years. So, it’s all about the players and coaches.

The New York Yankees haven’t done much to improve the team in the last five years, other than hiring starting pitcher Gerrit Cole in December of 2019. All of this while holding on to some questionable players like Gary Sanchez, Aaron Hicks, and Gleyber Torres. There is a multitude of problems the Yankees must solve before the start of the 2022 season just to put the team back together. They don’t have a regular everyday centerfielder; they don’t have a number two dependable starter needed to get to the postseason and win. And now they must also replace the departing coaching staff.

But beyond that, the Yankees need to do much more to produce a championship team. At the end of this season, the Yankees finally decided to discard their experiment with their shortstop and move Gleyber Torres back to second base. Unfortunately, the decision led to most infielders playing in positions they were not entirely familiar with. That is not a winning strategy. The Yankees finally need to hire an actual shortstop and one that is not just adequate but a star player that can defend and produce for the Yankees.

Yankees need a shortstop

This offseason, the market for shortstops will be insane as several teams need to fill or upgrade that position. If the Yankees are going to win out, they are going to have to be aggressive. There are several routes the Yankees could take, but if you have been watching the postseason, one player that stands out from all others is Carlos Correa of the Astros. You don’t have to look at the stats; he is a bonafide star that could help the Yankees to another World Series. Looking at the stats, this season, he has in 148 games played he has a .279 batting average, 26 home runs, and drove in nearly 100 runs. He has an overall 7.5 WAR for 3rd in the American League. One big plus for the Yankees is that Correa has said he would love to play in New York, not explicitly mentioning the Yankees.

An MLB.com baseball insider and contributor to CBS Sports, Jon Heyman, has said the New York Yankees could be interested in Correa. But, the Yankees won’t be alone; the Detroit Tigers have also made it known that they are interested in the shortstop. But, there is a catch for the Yankees; Correas has ties to A. J. Hinch, who is the Tiger manager and former manager of the Houston Astros. Other star options for the Yankees could be Trevor Story, Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, or if the Yankees chose to go cheap, Javier Baez.

The Gary Sanchez dilemma

It seems like forever that the conversation turns to replace Gary Sanchez as the starting catcher at the end of every season. Yet it never changes as the Yankees have indicated their continual support of the failing Sanchez. But after another losing year, that may be changing. In an after-season news conference, general manager Brian Cashman was asked if Gary Sanchez would be the 2022 starting catcher. For the first time, Cashman would not answer the question, saying they would look at all positions.

Unlike shortstop, there are not many options for the Yankees; there are very few catchers available or are upgrades to Sanchez. One such option that fits the bill is Buster Posey. He has a $22 million option to return to the San Francisco Giants; many in the know say the Giants may not be willing to exercise that option. Posey is a star defender that hit .304 this season with 18 home runs. Posey is 34 years old and would not be a long-term solution for the Yankees, but a shorter contract would make an excellent pairing with Kyle Higashioka and mentor to up-and-coming Austin Wells.

This season with the Scranton Railriders, Wells, in 103 games, hit .264 with 18 home runs; he also burnt up the Arizona Fall League. Whether it is centerfielder, shortstop, or the catching position, it will be up to Hal Steinbrenner and, to a degree Brian Cashman if they want spend and make the big moves to bring a championship back to the Bronx.

New York Yankees: Yankees get thrown a “dog bone” and more news

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Carlos Correa, Houston Astros, yankees

With the ALCS and NLCS in full swing, there is not much in the way of shocking New York Yankees news this early in the offseason from the boys from the Bronx. But don’t let that fool you; the wheels are turning in the front off trying to find ways to return the Yankees into a championship team for the 2022 season. So here is some news that may tantalize.

Red Sox throw the Yankees a “dog bone”

Most analysts thought the Boston Red Sox would be back in the dumper again this year after a lousy season last year. But, to the surprise of all, newly rehired Alex Cora brought the team to new heights that culminated in beating the New York Yankees in the one-game winner-take-all wild-card game.

Now in a strange statement from a Boston Red Sox executive, the Red Sox are praising the Yankees for being so consistent from year to year. Sam Kennedy, the Red Sox’s CEO, and president said yesterday when talking to the New York Post:

“We do admire the Yankees in many ways. I started my career there [as an intern]. John Henry started as an investor. So I learned a lot from my time there. John learned a lot from his time. What Randy [Levine] and Hal [Steinbrenner] and Brian Cashman have done is nothing short of remarkable. They’re consistently competitive, and that’s incredibly impressive.

“It’s why we hate them so much in Boston.”

Cashman takes responsibility while rehiring Aaron Boone

By now, it’s relatively old news that manager Aaron Boone has been rehired as the New York Yankees skipper, at least for the next three years. In a somewhat confusing press conference, Cashman announced the return of Aaron Boone, but the news conference seemed to be more about him than Boone. Cashman’s contract is up at the end of the 2022 season.

In the conference, he didn’t do much to give Yankee fans a look at a better future for the team; instead, he created more questions than answers. He reverted to his season-long praise of Boone and reiterated that the players underperformed. He also said if there is anyone to blame, it is he. While both Boone and Cashman have praised the championship team the Yankees, are, the deny what Yankee fans are seeing right in front of their eyes.

Although Cashman seemed to take responsibility for what went wrong, he basically denied everything the Yankees did wrong and put the best face on it from the other side of his mouth. For example, at one point, he said about Boone:

“Aaron Boone was part of the solution and wasn’t the problem. If he was entering the free-agent market, I believe he’d be the #1 managerial candidate in baseball. He’s been a good hire.”

That statement, among others, left a whole lot of New York Yankee fans scratching their collective heads. He also said that Boone was easy to work with and had an open mind (willing to accept orders).

What will the Yankees do to solve the shortstop problem?

The New York Yankees don’t have a legitimate shortstop. Even the front office has now admitted that is a glaring problem that must be solved before the start of the 2022 season. The big question is, what will they do to solve that problem?

There are tons of shortstops going into free agency at the end of the World Series, but will the Yankees find the right fit or continue as they have will fill-ins, moving players around? Or will they wait for up-and-coming farm hands, like Anthony Volpe, and sign a rental for 2022?

Getting back to the shortstops available this offseason, Carlos Correa, Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Javier Baez represent a variety of costs for the Yankees. The writer believes the Yankees should bite the bullet, hire a sure thing, and stop betting on stopgap measures to solve the teams’ problems. One such acquisition would be Carlos Correa, a proven shortstop with pop. Correa is 27 years old, has a .279 batting average this year with 26 home runs, and is an excellent defender at short. He also has plenty of postseason experience. In the past five years, he has batted .280 with 18 home runs. Oh, and by the way, he has indicated that he would love to play in New York. What more could the Yankees want?

Yankees could target elite free-agent shortstop after he professed love for the ‘stripes’

by
Carlos Correa, Houston Astros, yankees

The New York Yankees have to make a big move this off-season to solve the shortstop position after years of trying to fill it with homegrown talent. The hope was that Gleyber Torres would be able to hold down the spot for years to come, but his inconsistencies have forced the Bombers into making a transition, which ended up being third baseman Gio Urshela during the latter portion of the 2021 season.

At this point in time, the front office needs to be thinking about the future, and with several quality options on the market this off-season, I wouldn’t be surprised Yankees tried to go after the best of the bunch.

Unless management wants to go in a cheaper direction, Houston Astros’ Carlos Correa could be a primary target, despite other teams’ obvious interest. At 27-years-old, Correa is the former first overall pick in the 2012 June Amateur Draft, and now he’s looking to cash in on a long-term deal. After spending the last seven seasons with the Astros, Correa posted a .279 average with 26 homers and 92 RBIs this past season. He recorded 94 singles and 34 doubles while striking out a career-low 18.1%.

Correa has already indicated that he is seeking a massive deal, and with the Yankees already tied up with Giancarlo Stanton, DJ LeMahieu, and Gerrit Cole over the next half-decade or so, it is also probable they won’t have the funds to make a run at him.

“A lot of people don’t believe in 10-year contracts and in long-term deals and all that,” Correa said. “But when you look at most of the 10-year contracts they’ve been giving out, the long-term deals, they’re players that are 31, 30, 32. I’m going to be 27 on my first year. I’m young, I’m healthy, and I perform. So we’ll see what happens.”

Correa has already begun testing the market with choice words, indicating his love for the “stripes,” avoiding to mention if they were Yankees pinstripes or the orange and blue of the New York Mets.