Matt Olson

What an A+ off-season for the Yankees would look like

December 18, 2021 by Alexander Wilson

If the New York Yankees want to have a successful off-season, general manager Brian Cashman has to be aggressive coming out of the lockout. Hal Steinbrenner instructed Cashman to wait patiently for the luxury tax threshold to reset during negotiations with the Players Union, which could affect their spending.

Before the lockout, teams spent over $1 billion on players on the market, leaving the Yankees in their dust as they scooped up the majority of talent. Nonetheless, there are still quality players available, notably Carlos Correa, Carlos Rodon, and Trevor Story. They could also set their sights on a player like Freddie Freeman if he’s willing to part ways with Atlanta after winning a championship this past season.

Let’s take a look at what an A+ off-season might look like for the Yankees, addressing multiple positions of concern.

An A+ off-season for the Yankees might look like this:

-Trevor Story

If the Yankees are looking for a stopgap at shortstop, Trevor Story could fit the bill perfectly over a two-year contract. Cashman has indicated they prefer to wait for Anthony Volpe to reach the majors, which will likely be in about two years. There are concerns with Story’s degrading arm strength, and if they overpay him a bit to settle on a short-term deal, The Yankees will get a solid offensive piece with power and a good defender to hold them over (moving him to 3rd on a long-term deal wouldn’t pan out).

Story had a down here in 2021 compared to his previous seasons. He hit .251 with 24 homers and a 23.4% strikeout rate. He still recorded a 3.5 WAR and 20 stolen bases, showcasing his athleticism. A two-year deal with a third-year club option would be ideal, but he would likely cost $20+ million per season over a contract of that length, which is necessary given the team’s weakness.

-Seiya Suzuki

The Yankees were one of Seiya Suzuki’s aggressive pursuers before the lockout, and they will likely continue chasing after his signature in the future. Suzuki has been compared to former Yankee Hideki Matsui, and their statistics coming out of Japan were eerily similar. Suzuki finished the 2021 season with a .317 average and 38 homers.

It is expected that Suzuki will land a deal in the five-year, $55 million range, and given his excessive power, the Yankees would have no problem paying him with the potential for massive upside. He would likely take over in right field, moving Aaron Judge to center, leaving Aaron Hicks in a reserve role.

-Carlos Rodon

At some point, the Yankees are going to have to spend on a starting pitcher, and they had $25 million on the table for Justin Verlander before the lockout. They could pursue an option by Carlos Rodon, who represents one of the better names on the market currently after the top pitchers were scooped up early on. Rodon posted a 2.37 ERA in 2021 over 132.2 innings.

Given his inconsistencies throughout his career, Rodon likely wouldn’t garner a long-term deal, but rather a short-term contract with incentives and an option if he performs well enough. The biggest difference for Rodon was his velocity last year, seeing a 3 mph increase with his fastball, which he used 58.6% of the time. With an increase in velocity and spin rate, Rodon has become an adequate starter and someone that could slot behind Gerrit Cole and provide the Yankees with more quality.

-Trade for Matt Olson

At some point, the Yankees need to understand that trading prospects for established players is a recipe for success. Considering they failed to develop Gleyber Torres, Gary Sanchez, and Luis Severino, utilizing some of their existing talents in the minor leagues could be useful to acquire a player like Matt Olson.

Olson is an incredible talent at 27-years-old. The Oakland Athletics still have team control over Olsen until 2024, giving him two more years of cost-efficient play at first base.

This past season, Olson hit .271 with 39 homers and a 16.8% strikeout rate. He took the jump to superstar, and injecting a lefty who can hit 40+ homers at Yankee Stadium into the lineup would be astronomical. Now, the deal would likely force the Yankees to part ways with some notable names, but a player like Olson gives your team a chance to compete offensively at a level beyond what we’ve seen the past few seasons.

Altogether, this grouping of players upgrades multiple spots of need for the Bombers and will undoubtedly put them in a position to make a run at the World Series in 2022.

How would you grade this prospective off-season? Comment here!

Yankees News: 4 spots Cashman desperately needs to improve, Matt Olson trade in jeopardy

December 3, 2021 by Alexander Wilson

The latest on the New York Yankees first base situation

November 23, 2021 by Daniel Cunningham

The New York Yankees have had a very slow start to the offseason, much slower than many would’ve expected. Sure, they’ve made a few roster moves, but there have been no free agent signings or big trades thus far.

One major area of need is the shortstop position and that appears to be Brian Cashman’s top priority at the moment. However, there’s another very important infield position that Cashman will also be looking at and that’s first base.

The Yankees currently have Luke Voit, but all expectations are that the bombers are looking to move on from Voit. They tried hard to move him at the trade deadline this year and they have already put him on the block this offseason.

You’ll notice that when scenarios are thrown out about first base with the Yankees, Voit’s name is rarely discussed. So, what is the latest with the Yanks and first base? Well, there are a few options out there at the moment and Cashman is in on all of them.

Yankees First Base Options for 2022

The hottest offseason rumor for the Yankees is the proposed trade with the Oakland Athletics that would net the Yanks All Star Matt Olson. Oakland is looking to shed some salary and with Olson expected to make $12 million next year, they’ve made him available.

The Yankees and A’s have already had dialogue on the potential deal. However, they remain far apart and MLB Network’s Jon Heyman said that the A’s are ‘shooting for the moon’. They should given Olson’s production and the fact that he comes with two years of control.

The Yankees have also met with the representatives of Freddie Freeman. However, this is being looked at as more of a check the box type of meeting than a serious discussion. Nobody in the industry is expecting Freddie Freeman to leave Atlanta.

Then you have Anthony Rizzo. Cashman has already talked about a potential reunion with Rizzo with Rizzo’s agent early in the offseason. Rizzo is said to have really enjoyed his time with the Yankees and he checks a ton of boxes for New York.

Lockout Looming

However, the latest word is that New York and Rizzo are far apart in a potential deal. With the looming CBA lockout, it’s starting to look more and more like the Yanks aren’t going to do anything major before the lockout which is going to really put them in a time crunch. If a lockout occurs, most expect it to last until February.

The post-lockout timing could create havoc on the market. For free agency and for trades, teams are going to have a very short window to fill a ton of needs. This will drive prices even higher. In my opinion, it would have been much better for the Yankees to take care of some needs before the mad scramble in February.

The idea has been floated that DJ LeMahieu plays first next year, but I just can’t see that happening. I think the Yankees want a left-handed first baseman and I’m convinced that either Matt Olson or Anthony Rizzo will be at first next year. Currently, I’m leaning towards a Rizzo reunion being the most likely outcome.

Sound Off: Who do you want to see at first next year? Let us know in the comments!

New York Yankees: 11/22 Yankee news roundup, what you need to know

November 22, 2021 by William Parlee

The New York Yankees haven’t made any splashes in the postseason so far, but there is plenty of moves yet to be made. Here’s a quick recap of what’s going on.

Matt Olson at first? Probably not

@JonHeyman

A’s said to be “shooting for the moon,” in early Matt Olson trade talks. Can’t blame em. 39 HR. .911 OPS. 5.8 WAR. 2 years ‘til free agency.

3:03 PM · Nov 20, 2021

According to Jon Heyman and others. the Oakland Athletics are asking for a huge sum for any trade for first baseman Matt Olson. With the Yankees having to decide between a big payday for a shortstop and a contract extension for Aaron Judge, you can be sure this deal is out the window for the Yankees. Anthony Rizzo, maybe?

Derek Jeter can’t be bothered

Carlos Correa a possible Yankee target as a new shortstop, for some reason or other decided to insult the Yankees and more specifically ex shortstop Derek Jeter, saying that he didn’t deserve any of the Gold Glove awards he recieved, It didn’t take long for the shortstop to respond, but probably not as Correa might have expected. Jeter basically said the comments weren’t worth commenting on.

@MikeCugnoCBS4

.@CraigMish asked Derek Jeter about Carlos Correa’s comments in which he said Jeter didn’t deserve any of his Gold Gloves. Jeter: “I didn’t think much about it.”

Yankees will talk extension with Aaron Judge

Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman have hinted that they will speak with Aaron Judge’s agent about a contract extension, most likely later than sooner and closer to spring training. The Yankees have many moves to resolve before they attack that issue. But both officials note that he is the face of the franchise and can not be allowed to walk at the end of the 2022 season, when he becomes a free agent.

The fact the Judge has made it known that he wants to end his career in the Bronx, is a deal maker for the Yankees, they just have to decide how much to offer and for how long to the turning 30 year old. Most industry insiders believe it will be in the $30 million per year area for 5 – 6 years. The risk for the Yankees is Judge’s ability to stay healthy. But last year Judge showed his worth being mostly healthy for the whole season.

No Suzuki for the Yankees

The big news today is that all MLB teams can negotiate with Japanese outfielder Seiya Suzuki, who was posted by the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. The right fielder this season batted .319/.436/.640 with 38 home runs and a 1.075 OPS; that’s truly amazing, but with Aaron Judge in right field, it’s doubtful the Yankees will make any serious play for Suzuki. Of course the Yankees could move Judge to center?

The Yankees watching not participating

Just a few weeks ago it looked as though the New York Yankees would be the major team to make a big splash with a star signing at shortstop. But hold onto your horses, that seems to have changed dramatically in favor of the Yankees not blocking Anthony Volpe or Oswald Peraza making it to the bigs. The Yankees tend to to this more than advisable. Waiting for a player to get great, only to have the experiment fail. Prospects can be a very fickle thing.

Joel Sherman of of the New York Post reports that the New York Yankees are “monitoring the elite shortstop group rather than participating in it,” The big question is will the Yankees wait until all the big fish are fried, and be left with nothing. No movement yet on shortstops, but three prime starting pitchers are already gone.

Yankees Mets, trade partners?

The New York Mets have a new general manger, Billy Eppler. Eppler, who most recently served as the general manager of the Los Angeles Angels. But what makes this story somewhat interesting is the Eppler was Brian Cashman’s assistant GM from 2012 to 2015. It’s not about personalities, its the cross town rivalry and methodology. Eppler pointed out in his years with the Yankees they never made a trade with the Mets.

Yankees News: Oakland looking to deal Matt Olson, but asking price is astronomical

November 21, 2021 by Alexander Wilson

It’s not very often a player like Oakland Athletics star first baseman Matt Olson becomes available via trade two years before he’s eligible to hit free agency. The New York Yankees have been speaking with Oakland about a potential deal, but reports have indicated that the Athletics are seeking a monstrous package in compensation for arguably their best player.

A’s said to be “shooting for the moon,” in early Matt Olson trade talks. Can’t blame em. 39 HR. .911 OPS. 5.8 WAR. 2 years ‘til free agency.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 20, 2021

Olson finished the 2021 season with a .271 average, 39 homers, and 111 RBIs. Olson has historically been an extremely healthy player, and coming off his best season with a career low 16.8% strikeout rate and 13.1% walk rate, he is one of the best first baseman in baseball, providing the Yankees an opportunity to upgrade a spot in flux for years.

There is still a good chance GM Brian Cashman extends Anthony Rizzo, retaining his lefty bat and providing the order with more diversity. The Yankees can’t afford to inject another right-handed hitter into their lineup, especially with Brett Gardner on his way out and Aaron Hicks proving to be unreliable.

While Olson is a star offensive player, he’s also a quality defender, winning a Gold Glove in 2019 and ranking 8th an MVP voting this past season. His lowest fielding percentage was back in 2019 with a .993, the season he won the GG. He allowed just six errors in 1,338.0 innings this past season, far better than the sample size Luke Voit contributed as a starter.

If the Athletics are truly aiming for the moon, they could be asking for one of the Yankees’ star young prospects, Anthony Volpe or Oswald Peraza. They could also be inquiring about Jasson Dominguez, a player that Cashman would be foolish to let go so early in his development. Given how talented Olson is, it is not surprising that Oakland is asking for such a hefty price tag, but the Yankees need to stick to their guns and not overspend when they have such exciting young talent waiting in the wings representing the future of the organization.

New York Yankees: Offseason pot starting to really stir, what’s next?

November 18, 2021November 18, 2021 by William Parlee

For the New York Yankees and the other 29 MLB teams, they find themselves almost two weeks from the Atlanta Braves World Series win, their first since 1995, two weeks from the baseball collective bargaining agreement deadline, the Rule 5 draft, you get the idea, there is a lot going on as the postseason heats up.

Yankees look to Justin Verlander to shore up pitching staff?

Is there a reuniting of starting pitchers Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander in the Yankees near future? It seems the Yankees may be stalling a bit in their desire to get the best Yankee shortstop on the market, in favor of zoning in on solving the Yankees starting rotation first. This may be caused by all the early movement in the pitching market ongoing. The Mets’ Noah Syndergaard going with the Angels, the Tigers officially announced their five-year deal for Eduardo Rodriguez. The Blue Jays announced they would be extending José Berríos for $131 million. That’s a lot of movement this early in the postseason.

The news floating around is the the New York Yankees have spoken to Verlander and his agent about a two year deal. Justin will be 39 at the beginning of the 2022 season. ESPNS’ Jeff Passan indicated Verlander could sign with a team as early as this week. But that’s not all, Passan went as far as to predict that Verlander will end up signing with the Yankees. According to Passan the two sides spoke on November 9th, but at that time a deal was not imminent. The scuttlebutt is that Verlander is open to playing in the Bronx.

Update: According to Verlander’s brother he will remain with the Astros, the team that turned his career around. He will sign a one year $25 million deal. So it’s back to the drawing board for Cashman and the Yankees.

Hold on, maybe no big name SS after all

Very early on in the postseason general manager Brian Cashman made it known that he wanted a new shortstop for the Yankees and most likely a big name. Over the last few weeks that idea may have changed somewhat in favor of a stop gap measure while the Yankees wait a year or two for the Yankees’ two prospects to mature to major league ready.

The Yankees have been considering Carlos Correa, Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, among others, but the Yankees may surprise with a short contract deal as a stop gap, instead of spending the big money. Instead putting some of the money into centerfield and first base.

John Heyman of MLB.com says first base is a leading need for the Yankees

One of the earlier situations the Yankees must solve is what to do with free agent Anthony Rizzo. Once they solve that, they can move on to other infield moves. As it is right now, the Yankees have three possible first basemen. Rizzo, DJ LeMahieu and Luke Voit. Luke Voit, the once-heralded player, hasn’t been able to stay healthy for the last few years and is probably on the trading block. Gold Glover DJ LeMahieu played all the infield positions other than shortstop due to Gleyber Torres being moved back to second base after a two-year failed experiment as a shortstop.

There is no question that the Yankees still want a production lefty at first base. There is also news swirling around that they are looking at Oakland’s slugger Matt Olson, a rising star that the Yankees would like to trade for. This writer believes that Luke Voit’s time with the Yankees is limited. He is a righty that can’t stay healthy. A big name first baseman may leave Gleyber Torres in a Miguel Andujar situation, a past talent with no place to play.

New York Yankees interested in a big deal with the Oakland Athletics

November 10, 2021 by Daniel Cunningham

The GM meetings are going on currently and the New York Yankees are preparing to act quickly this offseason. While some teams are taking the slow approach with the potential lockout coming, other teams are looking to strike early and often.

I’ve talked with a couple of people that are at the meetings who say the Yankees are giving off the vibe as one of those early and often teams. There are several big needs for the Bronx Bombers this offseason. Brian Cashman told the media yesterday that he’s already engaged in conversations with two top shortstops.

This has been confirmed by Jim Bowden to be Carlos Correa and Corey Seager. Buster Onley of ESPN said this morning that the Yankees appear to be zeroing in on the very top of the shortstop market. This shouldn’t surprise anyone given the talent at the top of the market.

One other area the Yankees need to address is first base. While they still have Luke Voit, all indications are that they are moving on from Voit this offseason. At the trade deadline, they acquired Anthony Rizzo who provided much better defense and balance to the lineup from the left side of the plate.

Cashman has said that the Yankees have already discussed a reunion with Rizzo’s agent. However, there’s another big name the Yanks are interested in at first base. That name is Matt Olson and by all indications, New York is interested in doing big business with Oakland.

Will the Yankees and A’s make a big deal?

If you know Brian Cashman, you know that he likes to make deals with the same GMs. Cashman and Billy Beane have a great relationship. If there’s a deal to be made, Cashman would rather do it with a guy like Beane who he trusts.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network has already confirmed that the Yankees have had discussions to acquire Matt Olson. Of course, nothing is imminent or even remotely close. However, the Yanks are interested in acquiring the superstar first baseman and for good reason.

I absolutely love Anthony Rizzo, but Matt Olson is better all the way around. He’s younger, under team control, and he just happened to hit 39 bombs last year from the left side of the plate. He’s also a two-time gold glove winner.

If a deal make sense, the Yanks preference would likely be to acquire Olson. However, if the prospect ask is too high, they do appear to be very in on resigning Anthony Rizzo to play first. If the Yankees were to acquire Olson from Oakland, the deal might not stop there.

Olson Plus Pitching?

Jon Heyman reported that Oakland is ready to sell this offseason and that they will listen to offers on starters Chris Bassitt, Frankie Montas, and Sean Manaea. The Yankees are in the market for starting pitching right now and are already in on Justin Verlander.

There is the possibility that the Yankees and A’s could do a huge deal that would involve Olson and one of the starters above. Of course, the deal would have to hurt from a prospect standpoint for New York. I would imagine that Luke Voit would also go back to Oakland in this kind of a deal.

At this point there’s no momentum towards a deal happening, but this is definitely something to monitor. Again, Cashman and Beane have a great working relationship. If there’s a deal to be had there, the Yankees could make a big splash early like they did when they got James Paxton in 2018.