NY Yankees

The New York Yankees have prioritized solving the shortstop position and adding starting pitching talent, but they have a big question at catcher where Gary Sanchez still resides.

Once general manager Brian Cashman solves his most critical vulnerabilities, he may have to shift his attention over to a spot that simply hasn’t been consistent due to Sanchez’s lack of production and efficiency on both sides of the ball.

Sanchez has spent seven seasons wearing pinstripes in the Bronx, with his best campaign coming back in 2017 when he recorded a .278 average with 33 homers and 90 RBIs. During that campaign, Yankee fans saw the potential of Gary, but he hasn’t been able to replicate those numbers by a long shot.

Whether it be a shift in strategy or fundamentals, Sanchez has peaked at .232 with 34 homers and 77 RBI since then, watching his strikeout rate skyrocket in the process.

This past season, Sanchez posted a .204 average with 23 homers and 54 RBIs, logging a 27.5% strike out right and -3.8 offensive WAR. Gary relies heavily on his power to make up for a lack of contact hitting, with a career average 43.2% hard-hit percentage. His exit velocity was the lowest it has ever been this past season at 89.5 mph.

Defensively, Sanchez has been a liability at times, posting a .994 fielding percentage with six errors this past season, showcasing one of his better campaigns behind the plate. However, he produced a measly 17% caught stealing percentage, the worst of his career and 11% fewer than his 2020 statistic.

At this point in time, the Yankees need to be considering alternatives, but they don’t have many options this free agency. They could wait for Austin Wells, one of their young stud prospects, to reach the majors, but he’s likely a few years away from that reality. The available options on the market include Yan Gomes, Martin Maldonado, Roberto Perez, and old friend Austin Romine.

With one year left of arbitration before Sanchez hits free agency in 2023, it seems as if the team will likely roll with him for one final year before making a change. There will be far more options next off-season to consider.

The New York Yankees have several priorities this off-season, and of course, the top one is finding a solution at shortstop. However, general manager Brian Cashman is willing to spend a pretty penny on the starting pitcher to pair with Gerrit Cole at the top of the rotation.

The Yankees had a one-year, $25 million deal on the table for Justin Verlander, who hadn’t pitched in two seasons. Now, they’re left scouring the free-agent market for alternatives, and there are a few decent names to break down.

Three starting pitchers the Yankees could target this off-season:

1.) Robbie Ray

Robbie Ray spent the 2021 season with the Toronto Blue Jays, posting arguably his best campaign yet. He logged a 2.84 ERA, 11.54 strikeouts per nine, and career-low 2.42 walks per nine. He earned a 90.1% left on-base percentage, the largest number of his career by a significant margin. While his ground balls generated sat at 37.2%, a bit lower than the Yankees would like, he pitched in 33 games last year and it was a catalyst behind Toronto season.

Coming off a stellar campaign, Ray could be looking for a long-term contract, and based on his inconsistencies, the Yankees may be hesitant to offer that. If he’s willing to settle on a two-year deal with a third-year club option, Cashman could be intrigued by the lefty. At just 30-years-old, Ray features a fastball, slider, curveball, and change-up. He hovers around 94 mph on average, giving him adequate speed and a solid range of pitches to work with.

2.) Kevin Gausman

Another potential option is Kevin Gausman, who is coming off two years with the San Francisco Giants. Gausman posted a 2.81 ERA this past season with 10.64 strikeouts per nine and a 78.4% left on base rate. He recorded 14 wins and 33 appearances, showcasing how efficient he can be.

Gausman is another starter was had inconsistencies in the past but has also proved he can be a premium starter at 30-years-old. He features a fastball, slider, change-up, and split-finger fastball. Similar to Ray, he hovers around 94–95 mph with his fastball.

Given the Bombers are willing to spend $25 million on a starter, Gausman could be a potential solution, especially given his 42% ground ball right this past season.

3.) Carlos Rodon

If the Yankees wanna get a bit riskier, Carlos Rodon could be in play. At 28-years-old, Rodon is coming off his best season yet, earning a 2.37 ERA with 12.55 strikeouts per nine and an 82.2% left on-base percentage. Over 24 games, Rodon featured a fastball, slider, and change-up, hovering around 95 mph. He saw a massive uptick in velocity and reliance on his fastball compared to recent seasons. With that type of growth at his age, Rodon could be a pitcher on the rise, and one the Yankees can continue to grow.

Rodon has dealt with some injuries in the past, but pitching in 24 games this season suggests he can be a reliable arm behind Cole. It is fair to mention that Carlos would be the riskier of the three, but his upside is likely a bit higher given his age and significant development this past season.

In a perfect world, the New York Yankees could save a few dollars on a premium shortstop, which is likely what general manager Brian Cashman is thinking ahead of December, and the majority of deals are expected to either take place or stall due to a lockout.

Cashman has had success buying his time in the market in the past, and it seems as if he may take a similar approach with plenty of free agents available at a prioritized position.

According to Joel Sherman of the NY Post, the Yankees could be waiting patiently for the shortstop market to collapse, swooping in and grabbing a solid player at a cheaper price-point:

The Yankees could essentially wait until that point and see if markets collapse for a shortstop. Could Story, for example, not like his market and accept a one-year pillow deal at $25 million-$30 million to set himself up better next offseason when free agency is less jammed with elite shortstops?

Of course, they would ideally land Carlos Correa or Corey Seager, but I wouldn’t rule out the potential for a second-tier option like Trevor Story, Marcus Semien, Javier Baez, or even Andrelton Simmons. They would all be a bit cheaper than the top-tier options and offer a bit more flexibility if the team is willing to wait for their young shortstop prospects to reach the majors.

It is clear that the front office has Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza in mind, but neither will likely be ready until the 2023 season at the minimum. Peraza could likely offer solid defense immediately, but his offensive game is still developing. This past season with AA-Somerset, Peraza posted a .294 batting average with 12 homers, 40 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases. Over 592 innings, he allowed six errors and posted a .972 fielding percentage. If he can maintain his consistency, he could be the first option elevated to the major league roster, which would force management a shift their free-agent signing to the hot corner at third base.

Hopefully, the Yankees can land their preferred player at a cheaper price point, and Cashman is willing to bet the market will soften in the coming days.

It is no secret the New York Yankees are heavily involved in the shortstop market as they prepare to make a big splash in free agency. However, one of the top options, Carlos Correa, has had plenty to say about the Yankees and their former players, notably Derek Jeter, one of the team’s most beloved stars.

Correa took a surprising shot at Jeter and his career, claiming he was undeserving of some of the awards he earned over the years.

“Derek Jeter, how many Gold Gloves did he win? Five, I think he won. … Derek Jeter didn’t deserve any,” Correa said during an appearance on the “Me Gustan Los Deportes” podcast.

Correa has always been outgoing and vocal, but these unnecessary shots don’t make much sense. Correa has one Gold Glove in seven seasons, so claiming that Jeter didn’t deserve any is interesting, to say the least.

Jeter shot back at Correa for his comments, desperately trying to stifle any attempt at a hostile response.

The swaying side to side while he’s talking, the competitive juices are flowing. That rip your heart out type of grin. Dont think there’s a player past or present that wouldn’t take Derek over the other guy. #MLB pic.twitter.com/UvqUUiav1Z

— Jerry Hairston, Jr. (@TheRealJHair) November 20, 2021

“I heard about that. I didn’t think much about it; I don’t know how my name came up. My Spanish is not that good. I still haven’t seen it; I don’t know how my name was brought up, but it doesn’t even warrant a response,” Jeter said while smiling throughout. “I mean, I could go a lot of different directions but I won’t.”

Jeter won five Gold Gloves between 2004 and 2010, illustrating an elite career in the big leagues. He earned 14 All-Star appearances, making the game more often than not throughout his impressively long career. While he was never named an MVP, he was in the running on 12 different occasions, ranking 2nd at one point in 2006.

During the 2006 season, Jeter posted a .343 average with 14 homers and 97 RBIs, including a career-high 34 stolen bases. While early on in his career he suffered from errors, his defense consistently increased inefficiency year after year after the 2000 season.