NY Yankees

New York Yankees: It’s 1994 all over again, what you need to know

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The New York Yankees and all of major league baseball went into lockout when the owners and the players couldn’t come to an agreement on a new CBA (collective bargaining agreement). This is the first work stoppage in baseball in 27 years. Although there are some differences, it is like 1994 all over again. This is a lockout by the owners; in 1994, it was a walkout by the players; nevertheless, the result is the same, no baseball interactions by any of the parties involved until a new agreement can be reached.

For all practical purposes, it means the players and owners can’t talk to each other. That means no trades, no more insane contracts offered to players, coaches can’t even work with players. Pitchers and catchers are to report to spring training in February, but they won’t be getting any instruction from trainers, coaches, or manager Aaron Boone. It has yet to be seen if players are locked out of spring training sites. Depending on the lockout length (in 1994, it was seven and half months), the 2022 season may not start on time or may not be played at all.

For baseball fans everywhere, most find both sides responsible, the players who are crying after making millions a year to play a game they love and the owners for being just as greedy. Forgetting the issues for a moment and looking deep into the responsibility for the lockout, it gets quite confusing. Without the owners, the ballplayers have no job. The owners spend millions on new ballparks, refurbishing older ones, paying players, in some cases insane amounts to play, and all the other associated costs of putting on a ballgame. This is not to recognize that owners make revenues from ticket sales, merchandise, and TV revenues.

On the player’s part, yes, most struggle in the early years of their careers in the minors, with relatively low pay and, in some cases, substandard living conditions that have significantly improved in recent years. But the reality is, isn’t that true of most workers, no matter what career they choose, the more considerable earnings come with time and experience. An example across all careers is that in the early years, you may have to share an apartment with a friend to get by, but after, say, 10 years, you may be able to afford a home. The big difference between the average Joe and a baseball player is that Joe will likely never make millions a year.

This writer tends to side with the owners who have much more at stake than the players do. However, the ballplayers do have some issues that should be addressed in their favor. The owners have supported a salary cap forever, but the players will have no part of that. If you think about it, a player that is paid $43 million a year to start 25-30 games in the course of a season makes nearly a million and a half dollars to pitch five or six innings. That is insane when an average family of four can’t afford to attend a ballgame. Not to dwell on the subject, but think about it a second. That pitcher makes more money in between pitches in one game than the ticket buyer makes annually.

To understand the work stoppage, let’s take a look at other stoppages through the years:

  • 1972: Players struck over a pension dispute. It lasted about two weeks, disrupting the 1972 season.
  • 1973: The owners locked out the player over salary arbitration during spring training that year.
  • 1976: Owner lockout during spring training over the evolving issue of player-free agency.
  • 1980: In 1980, if issue of free agency again halted spring training.
  • 1981: Players strike over free-agent compensation. The 1981 season was nearly destroyed when two months of playing time was lost.
  • 1985: Players strike over pension fund and salary arbitration. This stoppage only lost two games of the season.
  • 1990: Owner lockout over salary arbitration and free agency. Began during spring training, causing a delay in the start of the 1990 season.
  • The 1995 season was significantly abbreviated. 1994: Players strike largely over owners’ desire to implement a salary cap. This happened in August and canceled the remainder of the season, including the postseason. At the time, the Yankees were 70-43. Play resumed only after a federal judge reinstated terms of the previous CBA.
  • 2021: Owners lockout players when agreement is not evident. Players want more money sooner in their careers and want owners to stop manipulating how long a player remains in the minors. The union also wants a luxury tax overhaul to lure teams to spend more on player salaries without fear of harsh tax penalties. The players also want a higher beginning salary that now stands at $570,000. These are just some of the issues that have not been resolved. It should be pointed out that if no progress is made, the sides could agree to keep the present agreement in force to prevent the loss of the 2022 season.

For fans, they see both sides of the issues, not being sincere and willing to work together to make the game better for the sake of the fan and the game itself. Every time there is a work stoppage, fans leave the sport.

The biggest target for disgruntled fans is Commissioner Rob Manfred that has a very low approval rating that is near the bottom of the trash can. For Yankee fans, they will never forgive him for not stripping the Houston Astros of their 2017 World Series win after it was proved that they cheated. That aside, he has not been seen as doing what if best for the game. One thing that should be known about Manfred is that he is a graduate of Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations and has a law degree from Harvard. He should be the perfect person to resolve these issues but has failed.

“Things like a shortened reserve period, $100 million reduction in revenue sharing, and salary arbitration for the whole two-year class are bad for the sport, bad for the fans, and bad for competitive balance,” Manfred recited on Thursday, while noting that the players have not budged on any of these issues. He also said the owners have already made concessions.”

“While we have heard repeatedly that free agency is ‘broken’ — in the month of November $1.7 billion was committed to free agents, smashing the prior record by nearly 4x,” Manfred penned, likely echoing what he’s heard from the crybaby billionaires whose collective interest he represents. “By the end of the offseason, Clubs will have committed more money to players than in any offseason in MLB history.”

In addition to the issues at hand, the players believe the owners have had their way in recent agreements and are not going to let that happen again. Tony Clark, leader of the players union, has been less verbal about the lack of an agreement, but he did say on Thursday:

“From the outset, it seems as if the league has been more interested in the appearance of bargaining than bargaining itself,” said Clark, who then stressed that M.L.B. wasn’t required to impose a lockout. He added, “And contrary to the statement that imposing a lockout would be helpful in bringing negotiations to a conclusion, players consider it unnecessary and provocative. This lockout won’t pressure or intimidate players into a deal that they don’t believe is fair.”

With the sides still very far apart, and neither side willing to work in good faith, it spells for a very long work stoppage, as seen by most industry insiders. Stay with EmpireSportsMedia.com for all the latest developments.

EmpireSportsMedia.com’s columnist William Parlee is a member of the Society for American Baseball Research. Follow me on Twitter @parleewilliam.

Yankees: Jameson Taillon has great reaction to lockout, shining light on health implications

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New York Yankees, Jameson Taillon

With the MLB lockout underway, all players can do is wait patiently for the owners and Players Union to find a new agreement. When it comes to the New York Yankees, they will be eyeing the beginning of a new free agency once the lockout ends. General manager Brian Cashman failed to make any moves prior to December 1, indicating a more active spring when things hopefully come to a conclusion.

In the meantime, players are unable to receive treatment from their team specialists and doctors, which could have health implications for next season.

Yankees’ starting pitcher Jameson Taillon changed his picture to a blank image as the MLB tries to rattle the Players Union for their desires. The players want the opportunity for big contracts earlier, whereas owners ideally like to keep as much money as possible, for obvious reasons.

Taillon took the opportunity to take a friendly shot at the MLB, indicating he wouldn’t be able to work with his physical therapists from the team after receiving surgery on his ankle at the end of the 2021 season.

How did Taillon perform for the Yankees?

Taillon had a disappointing first year with the Yankees after being traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates prior to the 2021 season. He posted a 4.30 ERA over 29 games, recording a 8.73 strikeouts per nine rate, the highest of his career, and a 2.74 walk rate.

Taillon saw an increase in usage of his fastball and curveball compared to his 2019 season. His fastball hovered around 94 mph, the lowest of his career. It was clear that two seasons off after underoging his second Tommy John surgery impacted his performance, which was to be expected.

While his arm managed to escape unscathed, slightly tearing ligaments in his ankle forced the Yankees to rely on others when they needed Jameson at the end of the campaign. Hopefully, he can return to full health despite the lockout and not having his team doctors on hand.

Yankees News: Spending big after the lockout, 5 star free agents when negotiating starts back up

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carlos correa, yankees

Top links for the New York Yankees as lockout commences:

Yankees need to start spending big when impending lockout ends: Sherman – New York Post

General manager Brian Cashman was incredibly patient before the lockout commenced on the evening of December 1. The New York Yankees are preparing to come out of the gates firing once the MLB and Players Union come to an agreement, but that could be months away with the two sides on opposite ends of the spectrum.
However, Cashman indicated he had a bit of flexibility this off-season financially, and there are a number of star free agents available on the market once things open back up.
With a number of teams picking up new players, including the Texas Rangers and New York Mets, there will be less competition for some of the bigger prospects when the lockout ends. The Yankees will undoubtedly have their eyes set on a new shortstop, whether that be Carlos Correa or Trevor Story. Both offer strengths and weaknesses, but Correa missed out on the opportunity to cash in early.
Ultimately, it seems evident that owner Hal Steinbrenner told Cashman to sit still while the lockout proceeds. Clearly, Steinbrenner feels as though changes will be made that will benefit the Yankees, which may help them in their quest to land players at a cheaper price point.

5 star free agents Yankees can sign when lockout ends – Yanks Go Yard

When things go back to normal, the Yankees have plenty of talent to pick from on the market. As stated above, Carlos Correa represents the best of the bunch, despite a back injury that required significant treatment during the 2021 season. They can also pursue an option like Kyle Schwarber, featuring a big lefty bat.

There’s also the prospect of a player like Freddie Freeman, who is expected to stick with the Atlanta Braves, but if the Yankees come calling with a long-term deal, he could be persuaded to leave.

Then you have options like Trevor Story, who the Yankees could land on a short-term deal, representing a stopgap while they wait for some of their minor league talents to reach the majors. However, reports indicated that Correa has been scouted for playing third base as well, and if he’s willing to move in the future after being offered a massive contract, that could be a beneficial deal for the Bombers.

Nonetheless, nobody knows how long the lockout will last, but we will be here every step of the way to prepare for the future.

Yankees Analysis: GM Brian Cashman mystifies, but this isn’t the first time

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New York Yankees, Yankees, Brian Cashman

New York Yankees’ GM Brian Cashman is one of the best in MLB but doesn’t always work in ways that Yankee fans want or appreciate. So far, this offseason, we have seen some of the biggest names on the free-agent market being scooped up by teams paying insane contracts that the Yankees want no part of. That is understandable, with two monster contracts on the books already, and one that will come close to those when they extend superstar Aaron Judge. 11 of the 15 top names in baseball have gone to other teams this off-season.

For any Yankee fan that thinks that Brian Cashman doesn’t know what he is doing, as he seeming is sitting on his hands, make no mistake about it, Cashman has a plan, but you won’t be aware of it until after the lockout, imposed last night, is over. That’s when he will attempt to repeat his magic, as he did with DJ LeMahieu when fans were hoping for Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. This is not the first time that Cashman has waited for the last moment.

For those that remember the 2013 season, Cashman appeared to do nothing, even saying he wouldn’t sign Mark Teixeira, but then at the last moment, he did. At the end of that season, he let Robinson Cano go. In 2014 they would stay under the 2014 luxury tax threshold and then went on to spend $458 million on Carlos Beltran, Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann, and Masahiro Tanaka. I have learned over the years that you should never anticipate Brian Cashman, he works undercover with fans, never fully understanding how he works.

The Tampa Bay Rays have proven that you don’t have to spend the most to put a championship team on the field. The Atlanta Braves, who just won the World Series, had a payroll half of what the Yankees had.

Owner Hal Steinbrenner is not his father, a free spender that didn’t always spend wisely, nor is he Steve Cohen of the Mets, who seems to have a bottomless pit of money and believes the more he spends, the more his team will win. Spending $43 million for a pitcher who couldn’t pitch down the stretch because of a dead arm may turn out to be one of the worst deals in baseball history. It is already the biggest contract annually to be awarded to any player in baseball history.

As it stands right, now that the lockout has been imposed, the Yankees are expected to spend about $220 million but still don’t have a shortstop, number two starter, a first baseman, and center field back up. When the lockout is over, Carlos Correa, Freddie Freeman, and Trevor Story will still be on the board, along with pitching and center field help. With the lockout expected to last quite a while, Cashman will put his plan in action and quickly.

Much to the chagrin of Yankee fans, news over the holidays will not include much information as to what the team will look like in 2022, rather it will be filled with the less interesting CBA progress and when the 2022 season might start. Stay tuned.

Yankees eyeing trade with Rangers to solve shortstop problems

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yankees, rangers, Isiah Kiner-Falefa

With a lockout underway, baseball has come to a full stop. Teams, including the New York Yankees, are unable to negotiate or speak to player representatives until the two sides come to a conclusion on a new deal.

Of course, the MLB and Players Union will iron out specifics regarding a modernized economy and how both sides believe they should get the longer end of the stick. However, once things get back to normal and teams are able to begin negotiating again, the Yankees will likely be active out of the gates.

General manager Brian Cashman clearly had a plan in mind, waiting patiently until the lockdown, potentially feeling as though he could get a bargain on the opposite side.

One name that has bubbled to the surface is Isiah Kiner-Falefa of the Texas Rangers, who has spent the last four seasons in the majors. At 26-years-old, Kiner-Falefa is eligible for arbitration in 2022 and will become a free agent in 2024. If the Yankees feel as though they can develop him further, he could be a nice addition from Texas.

The Rangers signed Marcus Semien and Corey Seager this off-season to behemoth deals, shoring up their infield and bolstering their hitting order with talented players. The Yankees didn’t make any moves, but if they acquired Kiner-Falefa, who would represent a stopgap, here’s what they would be getting.

The flexible infielder hit .271 this past season with eight homers and 53 RBIs. He’s not exactly the slugger the Yankees prefer, but he stole 20 bases this past season and logged 74 runs. A speedy contact hitter with base path IQ would be a nice addition for the Yankees but would undoubtedly break their mold.

Ultimately, there’s a good chance he ends up moving to third base in the future, especially after posting a .972 fielding percentage with 19 errors over 1360 innings this past season at short. Nonetheless, he earned a Gold Glove playing both 3B and SS during the Covid abbreviated season, showcasing potential moving forward.

Given the Rangers have stacked their infield, the Yankees might be able to acquire him on a more cost-effective deal compared to spending lucrative money for a player like Carlos Correa or even Trevor Story.

Yankees: Free agency heating up as stud first baseman linked to Bombers

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freddie freeman, yankees

With the December 1 lockout preparing to commence, the New York Yankees are heating up with free agency talks at the final moment. While shortstop remains a major concern and need, it is likely that both Carlos Correa and Trevor Story will be available when teams are able to negotiate once again.

However, it depends on the MLB and Players Union to come to an agreement on several pressing issues, most of which deal with the financial security of the players and retention for owners.

However, general manager Brian Cashman indicated he had a bit of flexibility this off-season monetarily, and it seems as if the Yankees have been contacting the representatives of star first baseman Freddie Freeman.

The Yankees would be gaining a bonafide star, but at what cost?

Adding a player like Freeman would be an exponential upgrade, despite Anthony Rizzo performing well after the trade deadline this past year. Freeman is coming off a World Series victory, posting a .300 average with 31 homers and 83 RBIs during the regular season. His 15.4% strikeout rate would be a welcomed statistic within a Yankees batting order that strikes out far too often.

While it is believed that Freeman statistically ends up signing a new deal with the Atlanta Braves, it is possible the Yankees offer him a long-term contract that allows him to settle. As a lefty hitter, he would add much-needed diversity to the batting order, and at 6’5″ and 220 pounds, he contains incredible power.

Nonetheless, Freeman is 32-years-old, and if the Yankees offered him a deal that stretches beyond five years, he would be approaching 40 by the time it concludes. However, you can’t put a price on elite-level talent, and Freeman represents that at first base. Ultimately, it boils down to how much Cashman is willing to spend and if Freddie is willing to leave Atlanta in the first place.

The Yanks may have to offer Freeman a 6-year deal worth $30M per season.

New York Yankees News 12/01: All you need to know in one place

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New York Yankees, James Paxton

Second ex-Yankee pitcher goes to East rival

The New York Yankees may be haunted this season when they face ex-Yankee pitchers. Just over a week, ago the Tampa Bay Rays picked up 2021 Yankee pitcher and two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber. The move by the Rays was made after the Yankees failed to offer the no-hitter pitcher a contract for the new season.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that a second ex-Yankee pitcher would be playing for another AL East rival. James Paxton, who pitched for the Yankees in 2020, has been picked up by the Boston Red Sox. Paxton was 16-7 in 2019 and 2020 for the Yankees. The injury-prone pitcher’s contract was not renewed, and he moved on to the Seattle Mariners, where he started only one game. But the Red Sox will take a chance with the pitcher who had Tommy John surgery last season. The contract is for one year at $10 million with a club option for 2023. He will not start the season, but the Yankees can expect to see him on the mound at Fenway Park at some point in the future.

Gary Sanchez remains the Yankee catcher for 2022

At the end of every season, the Yankees contemplate Gary Sanchez’s future, who hasn’t had a good year with the Yankees since 2017. This past season, Sanchez handled the backstop job a bit better than in 2020, but with very inconsistent hitting, and a degraded arm, the Yankees again considered non-tendering him. Sanchez has his supporters, but most fans would like to see him gone.

In previous articles, I have said that Sanchez would not be going anywhere, mostly due to the Yankees’ need to upgrade other positions and the lack of catcher options on the market. Last night many fans were wondering if the Yankees would tender him by the deadline. The Yankees did indeed tender him, so the duo of Gary Sanchez and Kyle Higashioka will man the backstop for the upcoming season. Sanchez was given a 27% raise, worth an estimated $8 million.

Yankee non-tender candidates sticking around

The Yankees not only tendered catcher Gary Sanchez but all of their non-tender candidates. First baseman Luke Voit and third baseman Miguel Andujar will be hanging around as well. The caveat doesn’t necessarily mean they will be playing for the team, but it does mean the Yankees will have something to fall back on should they be unsuccessful in free agency or in the trade market. Tonight the Collective Bargaining Agreement expires. The Yankees will at least know they still have some options at those positions.

The Yankees also cleaned up some loose ends by giving contracts to Gio Urshela ($6.55 million), Domingo German ($1.75 million), and Lucas Luetge $905,000.

Chris Gittens won’t be playing for the Yankees

The Scranton Wilkes/Barre sensation, Chris Gittens, who got to play in a few games at Yankee Stadium last season, is no longer a Yankee and will be playing in Japan this season.

With the RailRiders, he hit .301 with 14 home runs in just 45 games. In this writer’s opinion, he was mishandled on the major league level, getting only 36 at-bats in 16 games that were scattered during the season, which never allowed him to get into his groove. He ended up hitting just .111 with just one home run. The Yankees released him.

Will the Yankees trade for shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa?

With the Yankees losing out on Marcus Semien and Corey Seager, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic wrote that New York is expected to contact the Texas Rangers inquiring about shortstop Kiner-Falefa. Andy Martino echoed the report on Tuesday, saying that the Yankees had already contracted the Rangers.

With the acquisition of Cory Seager, the Rangers no longer need their 2020 shortstop. Should the Yankees work out a deal with the Rangers, make no mistake about it, the Rangers went after Seager to replace Kiner-Falefa, who is not the greatest shortstop, but for the Yankees would certainly be an upgrade from Gleyber Torres. Kiner-Falefa is a very good defender but not great offensively.

A big plus with the 26-year-old is that he stays healthy and is very durable. He played in all but six games in the last two seasons. In 2021 he had a slash line of .271/.312/.357 with 8 homers and 53 RBIs. He also stole 20 bases. Compared to Gleyber Torres, he would be a solid addition to the team.

Yankees sign infielder Jose Peraza to a minor league contract

The New York Yankees guaranteed themselves a backup at shortstop with the signing of Jose Peraza. Peraza is also a utility player that can play just about anywhere, but don’t be mistaken, Peraza is no upgrade from Tyler Wade.

Between 2019 and 2021, Peraza played in just over 200 games with only 13 homers and a batting average of just over .225. His last good season was in 2018 when he was with the Cincinnati Reds. He hit .288/.326/.416 with 14 homers. If he ever reaches the big team for the Yankees he will be a bench piece. For the time being, he will share the infield with another Peraza, Oswald for the Rail Riders.

Could Chris Taylor replace Tyler Wade?

The New York Yankee history shows that the front office loves players that can play multiple positions responsibly. In that end, they may target the former Dodger player Chris Taylor. Taylor is probably the most versatile player of all 2021 free agents.

In 2021 he played 33 games at second base, 9 at third base, 19 at shortstop, 16 in left field, 48 in center, and a few games in right field at Dodger Stadium. Although not above average at all positions, he is adequate wherever the Yankees might need him.

CBA expiration looming, will there be a lockout?

As of right now, it appears MLB will be in a lockdown when the sun rises tomorrow. Going into the last day of negotiations, the sides are still far apart on several issues. Two important ones to be resolved is that the players want more money earlier in their careers, and the owners want to keep that money. Yes, it shouldn’t be a surprise that it is all about money.

Another sticky point, players for decades have generally been fine with a six-year path to free agency – but not when teams so blatantly manipulate the service time of budding stars to make it a seven-year slog suddenly. For the most part, in the last several agreements, the owners have pretty much had their own way. This time the players are not going to take it anymore, thus the likely hood of a lockout.

If there is a lockout, all transactions will cease. The last time there was a work stoppage, it was when the players refused to play. It was 1994 during August in a season without baseball, without a World Series that lasted until it delayed the start of the 1995 season. Ruffling fans, many left the game for other sports. Although a stoppage rewards neither side, it looks inevitable. The big loser is the fans themselves, especially if the issues can’t be hammered out by spring training.

Yankees News: Cashman eyes monster first baseman, Sanchez’s return is troubling

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freddie freeman, yankees

Top New York Yankees links:

Yankees, Blue Jays Among Teams With Interest In Freddie Freeman – MLB Trade Rumors

The New York Yankees have been incredibly quiet this off-season, but one star free agent could be a target moving forward. The 2020 NL MVP Freddie Freeman represents arguably the best first baseman in baseball. According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, Freeman was contacted by the Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays, so there could be a bidding war for his services.

At 32-years-old, freeman remains a longshot to depart from the Atlanta Braves, but a team that is willing to push past five years on a potential deal could be the one to earn his signature. This past season, Freeman hit .300 with 31 homers and 83 RBIs. With a low 15.4% strikeout rate and 12.2% walk rate, Freeman is an incredible offensive player coming off a World Series with Atlanta.

Replacing Anthony Rizzo and Luke Voit with Freeman would be an incredible addition, and given his health history over the last four years, he’s also a reliable player they can count on daily. While his defense has been streaky at times, it is good enough for him to be the starter without question. In addition, his lefty bat makes him an intriguing prospect as well, given the short right porch in Yankee Stadium. Freeman could elevate his home run totals to close to 40, if not better in a home run friendly park.

Gary Sanchez’s return is just part of Yankees sad offseason – NY Post

The Yankees tendered three players on Tuesday, one of them being catcher Gary Sanchez. Sanchez has failed to develop into the star the Yankees expected him to be several years ago. This past season, Sanchez hit .204 with 23 homers and 54 RBIs. After recording a measly .147 average in 2020, his numbers didn’t elevate enough to justify keeping him as a long-term solution.

Nonetheless, the Yankees will avoid arbitration with Sanchez and pay him $8 million for the 2022 season. Worst case, he ends up being the primary catcher for one last year in hopes he can turn things around. Otherwise, the Yankees will have to be active next off-season trying to find a supplement.

Yankees bring back three controversial players, avoiding arbitration

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yankees, gary sanchez

The New York Yankees had a few difficult decisions to make this off-season, with multiple players headed toward arbitration. Instead of carrying their contract negotiations into the new year, general manager Brian Cashman tendered three players, retaining a bit of depth after allowing Clint Frazier, Tyler Wade, and Rougned Odor to walk this off-season.

Three players the Yankees signed to one-year deals:

1.) Gary Sanchez

One of the most controversial players the Yankees have is slugger Gary Sanchez. The catcher has been wildly inconsistent as an offensive player over the past six seasons, hitting .204 with 23 homers and 54 RBIs in 2021.

Sanchez hit a measly .147 in 2020 during the Covid abbreviated season, with his last positive campaign coming back in 2017.

Ultimately, Sanchez has not developed into the player the Yankees hoped he would be, and Cashman has already indicated he is doing research about potential catching options in case they need to make a change for the 2022 campaign.

While Sanchez’s defense has improved in some areas, he posted just a 17% caught stealing rate this past year, the lowest of his career by a significant margin.

Interestingly, Sanchez will earn $8 million for the 2022 season, earning far above his production levels.

2.) Luke Voit

After winning the home run title in 2020, Luke Voit barely made an impact with the Yankees in 2021. Over just 213 at-bats, Voit posted a .239 average with 11 homers and 35 RBIs. Cashman went out and acquired Anthony Rizzo at the trade deadline to replace Voit after suffering multiple injuries early in the year.

At this point, Voit seems to be a designated hitter or reserve first baseman, so bringing him back for one season wasn’t a bad move.

3.) Miguel Andujar

Another player that has failed to live up to his potential is Miguel Andújar.

Andújar has tested his abilities at multiple spots, including first base, outfield, and third base. Unfortunately, his defense is simply a liability, and his offense isn’t good enough to make up for his lack of balance.

This past season, Andújar enjoyed just 154 at-bats, recording a .253 average with six homers and 12 RBIs. After posting an incredible .297 average with 27 homers in 2018, his progression has stalled significantly.

While the Bombers offered him a new one-year deal, his value comes as a last resort after failing at multiple defensive alignments.

Report: Yankees expressing interest in Rays’ outfielder via trade

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Kevin Kiermaier, yankees

The New York Yankees have been extremely quiet the past few days in free agency, but they are expressing interest in several trade opportunities. On Tuesday, Lindsay Adler of The Athletic reported that the Bombers are intrigued by Tampa Bay Rays’ outfielder Kevin Kiermaier.

Kiermaier is on the record for saying, “we don’t like them, they don’t like us,” after tensions rose last season between the two teams. The Yankees and Rays have had their fair share of intense competitions, but they may be looking to replace some outfield depth with a potential deal.

Kiermaier is 31-years-old with a lefty bat, giving him a bit more diversity in the batting order. He signed a $53.5 million deal over six years back in 2017 but has a 2023 club option after next season. He’s preparing to earn $8.9 million this upcoming year after hitting .259 with four homers and 37 RBIs.

The dependable outfielder has been relatively healthy the past three seasons, showcasing a bit more patience at the plate over the past two years and sufficient offensive qualities. He’s not a primary slugger, more often relying on contact-hitting to get by.

However, Kiermaier is a phenomenal defensive centerfielder. This past year, he recorded a .996 fielding percentage over 894 innings in the outfield. He would offer incredible prowess in the outfield, moving quickly and efficiently, rarely making a mistake.

With Aaron Hicks proving to be a liability due to inconsistent health, Kiermaier would offer the team a dependable option they can rely on daily if need be. Having produced a 10.3 fWAR over the last five seasons, Kevin is arguably the best defensive outfielder in baseball.

Nonetheless, the Yankees would have to execute a trade for his services. A deal could include a few middling prospects, as the Rays may want to get his money off the books since his 2022 salary is guaranteed. However, it is possible they don’t like the idea of trading one of their players to the Yankees, which is also a reasonable stalling point.