Hal Steinbrenner

The two biggest changes the Yankees made this offseason

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New York Yankees, Aaron Boone, Gerrit Cole

The 2019 season proved that the New York Yankees have the talent to win a World Series, but their lack of run support in the ALCS held them back from the ultimate goal. Timeliness and momentum played a significant part in the demise of the team late in the season. Still, they sought to address the deficiencies this offseason, starting with the starting pitching rotation.

Owner Hal Steinbrenner gave GM Brian Cashman the green light to explore every avenue in free agency, and the team elected to spend a big chunk of their money in one spot — Gerrit Cole. Steinbrenner signed off on a nine-year, $324 deal to feature as the Yankees’ ace, alongside Luis Severino, James Paxton, and others.

That was the first significant change the Yankees brought upon themselves to help supplement a lack of starting pitching support last season and the 63-game suspension to Domingo German.

However, the second change might have been the most significant of all, and that was the overhaul of the strength and conditioning program.

How did the New York Yankees address their injury issues?

In 2019, 30 Yankee players spent 39 separate stints on the injured list. Multiple players were forced to miss virtually the entire season, putting reserve players in positions to start and make significant impacts on the team’s success. The Bombers still managed to scrape 103 wins out of an injury-riddled campaign.

Last month, the Yanks fired their strength and conditioning coach, Matt Krause, after spending six seasons with the club. A lot of the injuries seemed to be soft-tissue issues that emerged with over-use, but the increasing amount couldn’t be ignored.

The Athletic’s Lindsay Adler reported that the Yankees would hire Eric Cressey to take Krause’s place. Cressey is highly regarded in the industry and is expected to make sweeping changes across the regimen. Having worked with All-Star pitchers Noah Syndergaard, Corey Kluber, and Max Scherzer, Cressey will work closely with Gerrit Cole to ensure his health.

The Yankees’ longtime athletic trainer Stevie Donohue will also be moved to a different role after serving in the same position since 1986. Keeping him was a loyal move by the Steinbrenners, but changes needed to be made.

New York Yankees news, rumors: Is Deivi Garcia trade bait? Miguel Andujar health update

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New York Yankees, Deivi Garcia

Trade proposals will be frequent this offseason, especially with New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman acquiring the green light to pursue all players. Owner Hal Steinbrenner is keen on bringing home a World Series title within the next two years, which attests to the massive Gerrit Cole contract. However, the Yanks still have a few holes on the roster that need to be plugged.

Losing both Dellin Betances and Nestor Cortes Jr. has opened up a void in the bullpen, one that could be filled by home-grown talents like Michael King or Deivi Garcia, but it seems as if Brewers’ Josh Hader entices Cashman. He has been extending different valued offers for the star relief arm, but the Brewers are reportedly asking for far too much — Miguel Andujar, Clint Frazier, and a prospect.

More news and rumors from the New York Yankees:

The idea of floating Deivi Garcia as trade bait is something to consider, as his value might be higher now than it will be down the line. Realistically, Garcia, who’s the Yankees’ No. 1 pitching prospect, is a bit undersized, and some believe he’s a long-shot to develop into an ace. If that’s the conclusion Cashman comes to by word of his developmental agents, including him in a deal should be on the table.

Including the three pieces mentioned above for Hader, though, shouldn’t be an option. The Brewers should have their pick of Andujar or Frazier and potentially Garcia. Adding Hader to the mix would bring a 25-year-old pitcher in his prime with four years of team control remaining on his deal to the Bronx. His services would inevitably give the Yankees the advantage they need to make a serious run at the World Series in 2020.

Jon Heyman: Yankees remain interested in Josh Hader and could begin a package with 3B Miguel Andujar (Brewers don’t really have a set 3B). Interested teams still aren’t totally convinced Milwaukee would move the star closer though.

MLB Marathon: As previously reported, the #Yankees and #Brewers are talking Josh Hader trade. Increasingly likely Hader ends up in the Bronx.

Click here for yesterday’s news/rumors!

Could the New York Yankees dangle Deivi Garcia as trade bait?

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New York Yankees, Deivi Garcia

The New York Yankees don’t seem to be finished with their 2020 offseason wish-list, especially as talks with Josh Hader of the Brewers progress. With third baseman Miguel Andujar developing into a trade option, it boils down to prospects and who the Yanks are willing to part with if they’re keen on adding one of the best relief arms in baseball.

In a tentative deal with Hader, trading away No. 1 pitching prospect Deivi Garcia makes complete sense, as the value of his abilities could be reaching a peak. The transition from minor leagues to the MLB is not always a successful one, ask Chance Adams, who was just traded to the Kansas City Royals. The Yanks also sent Justus Sheffield, their expected top farm dog, to the Mariners in exchange for James Paxton, who was a serviceable starter in 2019.

The New York Yankees could dip into their prospect farm:

Sometimes, utilizing youth talent in trades is the best way to upgrade any given position immediately, rather than having to wait several years to use their services in a meaningful way. Garcia is still at least one year from playing a significant role for the Yankees, and at 21-years-old, there’s no reason to rush him to the top, especially after the signing of Gerrit Cole, arguably the league’s best pitcher.

The Bombers are in a fantastic position to make a serious run at a World Series title in 2020, and adding valuable pieces that can contribute towards a successful campaign is essential. The Yankees haven’t reached the World Series in a decade, which attests to owner Hal Steinbrenner’s enthusiastic attitude this offseason. General manager Brian Cashman was given the green light to pursue all talent, and this subsequently opens the door up for trading Garcia, who has dominated in the minor system at times.

Last year, Garcia jumped from A-Class ball to AAA in three months, making him the youngest pitcher to climb the system in the Yankees’ ranks. With a stacked starting rotation and adequate bullpen, if Cashman sees any weaknesses that could become problematic, Garcia could be a valuable commodity in a potential deal.

 

Yankees could make trade that would send Giancarlo Stanton to the DH spot

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New York Yankees, Kyle Schwarber, Chicago Cubs

The New York Yankees have had eager ears this offseason in search of instrumental pieces to bolster their team to ultimately propel themselves to the first World Series appearance in over a decade. The 2020 season is already held in high regard considering the behemoth signing of Gerrit Cole for nine-years, $324 million.

Owner Hal Steinbrenner and GM Brian Cashman have made it apparent they’re willing to drop their checkbook like a mic after a perfect comedy skit. The latest potential trade involves Chicago Cubs’ Kyle Schwarber, whose defensive issues are well documented, despite his quality offensive abilities.

Realistically, Schwarber has one characteristic that makes him an appealing option for the Bombers — he’s a slugger. The outfielder hit .250/.339/.531 with 38 homers and 29 doubles in 155 games last season. Replacing Edwin Encarnacion is a priority for the Yankees, who desire a productive home run hitter to slot in at the designated hitter position.

Alternatively, manager Aaron Boone could slide Giancarlo Stanton into the DH spot and utilize Schwarber in left field while Aaron Judge remains steady in right field and Brett Gardner holds down center in the absence of Aaron Hicks.

What would it take for the Yankees to land the 26-year-old?

The Cubs won’t let their top home run hitter go without receiving a promising package in return, which is where Miguel Andujar enters into the scenario. After missing all of 2019 with a torn labrum, Andujar is preparing to return and compete for the starting third base position.

With Gio Urshela already expected to start on the hot corner in 2020, Andujar has an uphill battle ahead of him. However, the Yankees could look to shop him in the coming weeks to add an essential power hitter to the lineup, a factor that has served them well in recent years.

This would also allow Stanton to focus on his hitting consistency rather than risking injury in the outfield. For the money the Yankees are paying, primarily for his offensive production, it makes sense to take the caution for injury out of the equation. Shwarber also adds a lefty bat to a predominantly righty hitting order.

New York Yankees: An unlikely hero came to the rescue to sign Gerrit Cole

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New York Yankees, Gerrit Cole

The New York Yankees began the 2020 offseason with a bang, signing star pitcher Gerrit Cole to a nine-year, $324 million deal with an out after five years. This guarantees him $36 million per season, shattering Stephen Strasburg’s deal in stature.

However, the path the Yankees took to get to the finish line was unconventional, as they pulled out all the stops to lure Cole to the Bronx. They dipped into their pool of former players; guys Cole looked up to while growing up. Andy Pettite played a massive part in selling the Bomber’s culture to his family and giving him a reason to believe he can win multiple Championship wearing Pinstripes.

The New York Yankees used their biggest piece to solve the puzzle:

While Pettite did play a significant part in inking the deal, owner Hal Steinbrenner was the catalyst behind it all. Before the offseason began, Hal was reluctant to admit the starting pitching rotation needed reinforcements. Still, it seems GM Brian Cashman convinced him Cole would take the team to a different level, and the amount of money he would spend would be paid back 10-fold in Championship runs. Ten years without a World Series appearance can be troublesome for such a historic franchise.

“If the 2020 season was to start tomorrow, I would feel considerably more confident than I did a year ago at this time,’’ Steinbrenner said. “We will have both Severino and Montgomery back. We now know that [Domingo] German can pitch effectively at this level. And we know [James] Paxton can be the guy that we were hoping for when we made that trade. We have [Masahiro] Tanaka, [J.A.] Happ, [Jonathan] Loaisiga, and perhaps [Deivi] Garcia at some point. A very good rotation.’’

“We’re going to be active in the free agent market. I like our rotation right now. As of now, I like our 2020 rotation better than I liked our 2019 rotation…

About one month later, Steinbrenner was playing a pivotal role in bringing Cole the New York after his evasion in 2008 and 2017. An unlikely hero in the negotiations, but one that will go down in history, nonetheless.

New York Yankees to offer way more than initially expected for Gerrit Cole

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New York Yankees, Gerrit Cole

The initial offer from the New York Yankees to acquire star pitcher Gerrit Cole this off-season was seven-years, $245 million. It was expected that making him the highest-paid pitcher in baseball at $35 million per year would be enough to lure his services to the Bronx. However, the Washington Nationals blindsided everyone and signed Stephen Strasburg to the same deal that was initially offered to Cole.

Strasburg’s new contract completely revitalizes the pitching market, and Cole will ultimately benefit from this record-breaking deal. It is not often you see two record-breaking agreements in the same off-season, but considering Cole is two years younger than Strasburg and has a clean bill of health, it is fair to say he will earn upwards of $300 million on a multi-year deal.

The New York Yankees must hate Scott Boras right now:

The real hero for Gerrit Cole and his family is super-agent Scott Boras, who waited until Strasburg received his contract details to obliterate the Yankees’ expected offerings. With owner Hal Steinbrenner giving general manager Brian Cashman the green light to acquire a Cole at any cost, the Nationals allowance likely has the next generation of Steinbrenner’s trembling in his skin.

To put some perspective on how much money Cole is about to earn, he could theoretically buy 4.6 G6 private jets with the amount of money he will haul in throughout his anticipated deal. That is an astronomical amount of cash that will set him and his family up for the next ten generations.

However, it is well earned. At 29 years old, the former Houston Astro‘s ace logged a 2.50 ERA, with 326 strikeouts, and a 0.895 WHIP in 2019. He is considered the best pitcher in Major League Baseball, and if the Yankees manage to sign him, their probability of making it to the World Series in 2020 skyrockets. This is an achievement the Yankees have evaded for the last decade with Hal at the helm.

Predicted offering:

Yankees — eight years, $320 million (out after five years)

What the New York Yankees starting pitching rotation could look like

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New York Yankees, Luis Severino

With the New York Yankees preparing to blow past the luxury tax threshold in a record-breaking scenario involving the best free-agent pitcher on the market, Gerrit Cole, it’s only fair to assume the starting rotation is going to be excellent.

A realistic contract for Cole would land in the seven-year, $250 million range, breaking $35 million per season and making him the most wealthy pitcher in all of baseball. However, owner Hal Steinbrenner believed his starting unit didn’t need the extra support — fast forward several weeks, and there’s a blank check sitting on Scott Boras’ desk waiting to be filled in.

The Yankees have been after Cole since 2008 when he was initially drafted in the MLB Draft, but elected to attend UCLA instead. He was then traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Houston Astros in 2017, despite the Bombers’ interest.

Now, Cashman has a third shot at reeling him in, and it seems as if they are finally ready to put him in Pinstripes, which would bolster an already solid pitching rotation.

What would the New York Yankees starting unit look like?

The Yanks went a majority of 2019 without Luis Severino, their ace, and Jordan Montgomery, which forced them to depend more on Masahiro Tanaka, Domingo German, and others. The starters struggled for a majority of the season, needing ample help from the bullpen to smooth over rough outings.

Both Chad Green and Nestor Cortes Jr. were frequently featured in multi-inning roles to supplement the lack of capable starters. Factor in J.A Happ’s awful season and German being suspended just before the start of the postseason, and the perfect storm was brewing.

However, they’re in a position to piece together a stimulating rotation that’s preparing to welcome the best arm in baseball.

  1. Gerrit Cole
  2. Luis Severino
  3. James Paxton
  4. Masahiro Tanaka
  5. Domingo German
  6. Jordan Montgomery
  7. J.A. Happ
  8. Michael King/Deivi Garcia

This is an intimidating rotation for any opposing team. The first six pitchers are all capable of sub-4.00 ERA seasons and can dominate in postseason play. Steinbrenner has made reinforcing the unit a priority, despite blaming a lack of run production on the Yankees early exit from the playoffs this year. Nonetheless, with this grouping, the Yankees might only need to score 1-2 runs per game to edge out a victory.

New York Yankees: Is Hal Steinbrenner living up to George’s expectations?

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New York Yankees, Hal Steinbrenner

Reports from the New York Yankees higher brass has disclosed that signing Gerrit Cole is the top priority for the team this offseason. And they’re reportedly not concerned over how much they’ll pay extra for the luxury tax. It’s “Sign Cole, or else”.

Hal Doesn’t Have the Team’s Interest at Heart Like His Dad

George Steinbrenner, whom I never really cared for as an owner, at least was obsessed with making the New York Yankees the brand name that they are today. In George Steinbrenner’s first 12 years as owner, the Yankees had 5 postseason appearances, 3 pennants, and 2 World Series titles.

Hal started taking over more control of the team in 2007, though he didn’t become the principal owner until after George’s death in 2010, we’ll start in 2007. In Hal’s first 12 years, they have 9 postseason appearances, 1 pennant, and 1 championship. When it’s World Series or bust… 1 for 9 just doesn’t cut it.

Hal is Too Frugal to be an Owner

When George wanted a player, he got that player. Did that player always help the team? No, but it kept the team relevant. When Hal needed a player, it was never to help the team or fill an urgent position, but it followed through on George’s path of “Keep the team relevant.”

We needed pitching last season. 2 pitchers. James Paxton was a dud before the All-Star break. And Happ was completely ineffective. We could have had Corbin, but Hal didn’t want to give the extra year. We could have gotten Cole 2 years ago, but Hal and Cashman killed the deal because… why?!

And Hal was taking over control in 2007… when the Yankees resigned Alex Rodriguez to that 10-year contract. And every year since… “We need to stay under the luxury tax!”

Yea. That one was all on you, buddy boy.

Hal, do the right thing. Sell the team. YOU were the reason why we’ve been so close but oh so very far the last 3 seasons. 

Yea… and that Jacoby Ellsbury deal you signed? You should have been voted off the board for that one.

The Yankees enter the Zack Wheeler sweepstakes, but there’s competition

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Will the New York Yankees land Zack Wheeler in free agency?

The Yankees made it apparent that all free agent players are being considered this offseason, even after owner Hal Steinbrenner stated that the starting pitching rotation looked good in 2019 and that he would feel comfortable if the regular season started today.

Here’s the exact quote:

“If the 2020 season was to start tomorrow, I would feel considerably more confident than I did a year ago at this time,’’ Steinbrenner said. “We will have both Severino and Montgomery back. We now know that [Domingo] German can pitch effectively at this level. And we know [James] Paxton can be the guy that we were hoping for when we made that trade. We have [Masahiro] Tanaka, [J.A.] Happ, [Jonathan] Loaisiga, and perhaps [Deivi] Garcia at some point. A very good rotation.’’

A few weeks later, he advocated for the pursuance of all free agents, ensuring his staff would be discussing all potential deals and the value of the player. Starters Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg, two of the best pitchers in baseball, dominate the headlines and rumors in regards to a pairing with the Bombers.

Steinbrenner stated in an interview with YES Network that “all options are open,” a bit different than his previous approach earlier on this offseason. However, interest is enough to get excited about, the reality of the Yankees signing Cole or Strasburg, not so much.

Steinbrenner has been willing to open up his checkbook for the outfield. Still, the starting rotation hasn’t seen many resources allocated towards it, so expecting the Yankees to drop over $25 million per season on a long-term deal for a top arm might be far-fetched. Alternatively, they could settle for a second-tier option like Zack Wheeler.

Wheeler, who featured on the New York Mets in 2019, has recorded an 8.9 fWAR over the last two seasons, which ranks as the ninth-best in all of baseball over that period. His career ERA of 3.77 isn’t in the ‘dominant’ range, but it’s better than any Yankee pitched last season.

The free-agent arm utilized his fastball frequently, consistently hitting in the upper-90s, which is precisely the type of pitcher the Yankees prefer. His secondary pitch is his sinker, which he throws nearly equally to his fastball. The sinker doesn’t have the same production as his fastball, but it hasn’t been detrimental to his performances.

There will be plenty of competition for Wheeler, as reports have indicated the Twins, White Sox, and Reds have all begun bidding on his services, with the Sox currently leading the pack with the highest offer, Ken Rosenthal stated with The Athletic.

Wheeler set career-highs in 2019 with 195.1 innings pitched and 195 strikeouts. He will cost far less than both Cole and Strasburg, but the Yankees would still have to pay a pretty penny for his services. Since Luis Severino will be returning in full-capacity, the Bombers anticipate him slotting into the ace position. Having numerous No. 2 options behind him would give them solid depth, especially in the case of injuries.

Why the Yankees will settle for Madison Bumgarner over Gerrit Cole

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New York Yankees looking into Madison Bumgarner?

Spending money hasn’t been a problem in the past for New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner and general manager Brian Cashman, it’s just where they spent it that has posed challenges.

Unloading two monster contracts, one offered, and the other consumed in a trade, both landed in the outfield. Neither player featured in a full-time role last season, chewing up $47 million in salary space. Of course, these two Major Leaguer’s are Giancarlo Stanton and Jacoby Ellsbury. The latter is entering a battle with the Yankees, who are trying to recoup $26 million in cap space for the 2020 season after cutting the former Bostonian.

The allocation of money towards the outfield has been consistent, but the starting pitching rotation hasn’t seen much in terms of investment. This could be the offseason the Yankees break the bank and push beyond the luxury tax to acquire a top arm, but then again, history has shown us they probably won’t.

The Yankees could settle for a lesser pitcher:

Cashman could easily decide to pursue a starter like Madison Bumgarner over Gerrit Cole or Stephen Strasburg. MadBum would be exponentially cheaper and wouldn’t require an excessive-year deal. He can still pitch quality baseball and is dominant in the postseason, a feature the Yankees are looking to add.

Madison earned just $12 million last season, finishing the year with a 3.90 ERA, the highest in his career. Considering James Paxton had the best ERA for the Yankees this season at 3.82, adding another reliable starter like the former San Francisco Giant would be a good move, for the right price.

The Yanks would likely have to unload around $16-18 million for his services, but if they’re not worried about the price, they can quickly pursue Cole, who will land in the $30+ million range in free agency. It all boils down to how much Steinbrenner is willing to approve, and comments earlier this offseason suggested he’s more keen on prioritizing scoring production than pitching.