NY Yankees

The New York Yankees could have $58 million to spend, but when?

November 28, 2021November 27, 2021 by William Parlee

The New York Yankees, with their free agents, players dumped, and those that might be dumped could potentially present over $58 million to spend this offseason. So far, they have done little, so the question is, when will they start spending? And will there be any worthwhile options when they decide to make moves?

The simple answer is not until the Collective Bargaining Agreement is settled, which doesn’t look like it will be anytime soon even though the present CBA expires this coming Wednesday.

The Yankees have quite a bit of money to spend and still remain below the Luxury tax threshold. But that money will go quickly if they pursue some of the big names available. Even though some players will get long contracts, the trend this season is for shorter contracts that don’t bog down teams for years to comSuppose

Suppose the Yankees will shore up the team and build one that can compete for a World Champions. In that case, they are going to need pitching help, a new shortstop, a first baseman, backup in center field, and even a new utility player to replace Tyler Wade.

Starting pitching:

Jameson Taillon, and Jordan Montgomery. The Yankees have a pretty strong core in the starter pitching department, even with the loss of Corey Kluber to free agency. Of course Gerrit Cole will be the ace in the third year of his contract. Beyond that they have 2018 ace Luis Severino and Domingo German. It should be pointed out that the Yankees don’t really know what they will get from both of those pitchers that did not pitch a full season last year.

Therein lies the problem, they really don’t have a bonafide number two pitcher to start in the postseason. The bottom line is that the Yankees need to add that number two starter. With the loss of a couple of bullpen pieces they will also have to do some shoring up there as well.

Max Scherzer would be the perfect match for the Yankees, the biggest drawback is how much it will cost to sign him. He will be 37 years-old during 2022. It is doubtful that any team will give him a long term contract. If the Yankees could get him for 3 or 4 years for about $100 million over the turn they would be lucky. But that would use up almost half of their available funds.

Kevin Gausman of the San Francisco Giants would cost about a third less than Scherzer. He was 14-6 last season, was an All-Star and came in sixth in the Cy Young voting. Still costing less is the Jays’ Robbie Ray, who would likely need $10 million and a contract of three or four years. He would be a bargain for the Yankees if he could go 13-7 for the Yankees, as he did for the Jays last season. He would also leave quite a bit in the bank for the other Yankee needs.

Shortstop:

The Yankee plan for a new shortstop is a bit cloudy. At the beginning of the postseason general manager Brian Cashman made it clear he would go after a big name shortstop. But it seems he has wavered from that promise in favor of a stop gap measure to allow Anthony Volpe or Oswald Peraza to make their debut in 2023 or 2024.

The perfect guy for that job would be Carlos Correa, but he carries with him some Houston Astros baggage, and would be very costly. Marcus Semien would also be a good fit, but after his 45 home runs last year would also be quite costly. Corey Seager would be the least expensive of the three big shortstops on the market.

If the Yankees want to go cheap and put considerably more money into bullpen upgrades, they could look to Javier Baez.

Center field:

Center field should be taken care of with a healthy Aaron Hicks, but the big question is if he can stay healthy, something he has not proven in six years with the team.

The Yankees could have options with a returning Brett Gardner, but his offense fell off dramatically in 2021. There are some names available in free agency. According to Jon Heyman, the Yankees are one of several teams in pursuit of Baltimore Orioles star outfielder Cedric Mullins. Mullins for the O’s, hit 30 home runs and notched up a .291 batting average in 2021. Because he doesn’t strike out he would be an immediate fan favorite. Although he earned next to nothing last season, his 2021 performance will bump up his annual salary into the millions.

Some other considerations now that Starling Marte has signed with the Mets in center, would be Chris Taylor or Kevin Pillar, both upgrades to Hicks. However, it is doubtful with the other needs the Yankees won’t be looking to spend big at that position, with Hicks already in place.

First Base:

If the Yankees want to do nothing at first base, they will tender an offer to Luke Voit, save some money, and hope he can stay healthy. The only problem with that, is that Voit has had near-constant issues with his knees and feet, causing him to hobble around the bases when his gets a hit.

The Yankees could resign Anthony Rizzo who has make it clear that he would like to stay in New York. Rizzo would be expensive, but likely due to his age and diminished hitting; he might be open to accepting less to stay in the Bronx. If the Yankees want to spend some money, Freddie Freeman would be the perfect choice. With his .300 batting average and 31 home runs it would be exciting. but an expensive addition to the team.

Here are my choices: Pitcher Robbie Ray $12 million. At short Corey Seager $20 million. Bring back Gardner to back up Hicks $2 million. Freddie Freeman at first $22 million. Total cost $54 million. That would leave a few million to shore up the bullpen and obtain a bench utility player, and still stay below the luxury tax threshold. Obviously if these players wouldn’t accept these amounts my choices would have to be overhauled.

Pitching: Gerrit Cole, Robbie Ray, Luis Severino, Jameson Taillon, and Jordan Montgomery. Backups Domingo German, Luis Gil, and Clarke Schmidt. Lineup: RH DJ LeMahieu, RH Aaron Judge, LF Freddie Freeman, RH Giancarlo Stanton, SH Aaron Hicks, LH Corey Seager, RH Gio Urshela, RH Gary Sanchez, and RH Gleyber Torres. Joey Gallo and Stanton alternating as DH.

Once, and if the CBA is agreed upon and there is no work stoppage the Yankees will have act at lightning speed. I’ll end the article saying, one can wish!

Yankees could strike blockbuster deal for young All-Star outfielder

November 28, 2021November 27, 2021 by Alexander Wilson

The New York Yankees are keying in on several free-agent players but don’t rule out a blockbuster trade to bolster a spot of weakness on the roster. With GM Brian Cashman and the coaching staff electing to release Clint Frazier, the Bombers need to begin thinking about a solution in the outfield, especially with Aaron Hicks proving to be a liability.

With Starling Marte signing with the Mets on Friday in their big Black Friday spending spree, the Yanks are waiting patiently for the right opportunity to arise. That opportunity may have just presented itself, as All-Star outfielder Cedric Mullins is reportedly being placed on the market by the Baltimore Orioles.

According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, the Yankees are one of several teams in pursuit of Baltimore Orioles star outfielder Cedric Mullins:

Word has gotten out that the Orioles would listen on star CF Cedric Mullins, and teams are lining up to give it a shot knowing it’s a long shot. Asking price is understandably extremely high. All these teams (and more) could use a CF: Philly, Rangers, Astros, Giants, Mets, Yanks.

Mullins is coming off his best season yet, hitting .291, 30 homers, and 53 RBIs this past season. Mullins posted an offensive master-class, but a lone season of production should scare off potential suitors who may be looking for a bigger sample size of numbers to work off of.

The Orioles’ young stud posted an 18.9% strikeout rate and 8.3% walk rate, sufficient numbers that showcase patience at the plate and discipline. At 27-years-old, Mullins has years left on his deal before he becomes a free agent in 2026. Defensively, Mullins played 1264 innings this past season in center-field, logging a .985 fielding percentage with 6 errors. If he can make gradual improvements as a defensive player, he could develop into an elite balanced outfielder.

Natural regression could impact his performance in the future, but given his price tag will be so cheap, a team can continue to develop his talents, and if he pans out, they’ll have one of the best up-and-coming outfielders in baseball reaching his prime.

According to Steamer projections, Mullins will hit .259 with 25 homers and 74 RBIs in 2022, a solid state-line — better than most Yankee players this past year. A potential deal for Cedric would have to include several top-end prospects, which may be worth it for a proven player with an upward trajectory.

Yankees could bring back fan-favorite shortstop as stopgap

November 27, 2021 by Alexander Wilson

The New York Yankees have been reportedly monitoring the shortstop market this off-season as they wait for the astronomical price tags of several players to decrease. General manager Brian Cashman has had a positive experience waiting patiently for the right option to reveal themselves, and that often comes with a reduced price.

However, even the second-tier options like Marcus Semien are asking for a boatload of money, so Cashman could look to take a more cost-efficient route this off-season instead of targeting one of the biggest names on the market. In fact, trading for a familiar face might not be a terrible idea.

Former Yankee Didi Gregorius spent last season with the Philadelphia Phillies, hitting .209 with 13 homers and 54 RBIs. This was by far his worst season to date, but his performance may open the door for the Bombers to swoop in and acquire him at a lesser cost.

The Athletic stated that the Phillies may be willing to trade Didi Gregorius after a tough 2021 season:

After his poor, injury-filled 2021 season, the Phillies might be willing to chalk that up as a mistake and shed as much of the $14 million left on his contract as possible. His defense has slipped below average at age 32, but Gregorius is one season removed from an .827 OPS and has a track record of 25-homer power.

Gregorius signed a two-year, $28 million deal in 2021, and given he’s owed $14.5 million in base salary this upcoming season, the Phillies could look to eat some of his cap hit and trade him to a different team.

Didi is only one year removed from hitting .284 with 10 homers and 40 RBIs back in 2020. He posted a .968 fielding percentage during that season with seven errors over 470 innings. Gregorius represents an average defender with a solid lefty bad, and as a fan favorite, it is not out of this realm that Cashman could inquire about his services once again.

Relying on Didi for a few seasons until the team’s star prospects are ready to make the jump could be a cost-efficient solution to a serious liability in the infield. However, it is not normal for this many star free agent shortstops to be available, and Cashman would hate to miss out on one of the top names and the opportunity to plug the vulnerability once and for all.

New York Yankees could lose three familiar players as soon as Tuesday

November 29, 2021November 27, 2021 by William Parlee

The New York Yankees could lose three fixtures with questionable futures this coming week. With the MLB/MLBPA Collective Bargaining Agreement expiring Wednesday, they agreed to move up the day that players can be non-tendered to the day before the CBA expires. Non-tendered players are not given offers to stay with their respective teams.

The Yankees have three players that may be considered to be non-tendered. Miguel Andujar, Luke Voit, and Gary Sanchez. The Yankees already have rid themselves of three other players that they believe have little returning value going forward. Clint Frazier, Tyler Wade, and Rougned Odor have already been shown the door through assignment.

Miguel Andujar

Miguel Andujar, the once-heralded Yankee third baseman of the future, has fallen out of favor, mostly because of injury and lack of playing time. Some may say he still has potential, but when the Gold Glove-like Gio Urshela replaced him at the hot corner, his fate was pretty well sealed.

The Yankees, still seeing potential in the young man, tried to resurrect his career in the outfield and even at first base, but he has failed to shine in those positions as he got less and less playing time. In 2017 he played in a career-high 149 games, hitting 27 home runs, giving hope that he could be the next big Yankee star. But in his other four years at the major league level, he has only been able to play in 83 games combined, 45 last season.

If the Yankees try to salvage him, as he has little trade value, he likely wouldn’t be tendered an offer for much more than a million dollars, but that does not seem likely.

Luke Voit

In 2022 you may not be hearing the “Luke Luke” chant from the Yankee Stadium stands, as he is also a candidate to be non-tendered. The once starting first baseman, although a monster of a man, the lower half of his body has failed him. Whether it be his knees or his feet, he hasn’t been able to stay healthy.

The 2020 home run leader played in only about one-third of the games last season. In his six years with the team, he has only played over 100 games in one season. At the trade deadline last season, he was replaced at first by Anthony Rizzo, who came over from the Chicago Cubs. Much of what happens with Voit may have to do with whether the Yankees plan to resign Rizzo, a solid defender. The Yankees do have other options in the free-agent market that they may consider, but Voit’s time with the team is likely over.

Gary Sanchez

Look for Gary Sanchez and Kyle Higashioka to again team up to catch next season. With Gary Sanchez’s less than stellar defense at the backstop, questionable boneheaded plays, and spotty hitting, Sanchez’s future with the team has been in question annually. Of these three players, Sanchez has the best chance of staying with the team, mostly because there are few upgrades on the free-agent market and few to be traded for.

One thing is for sure, with some deadwood already gotten rid of, and with a possible new backup center fielder, star or stop-gap shortstop, and a new starting pitcher, not to mention bullpen upgrades, the 2022 Yankee team will look very different from the teams of the past few years.

Yankees News: Team could lose top-20 prospect to Rule 5 Draft, more

November 26, 2021 by Alexander Wilson

Yankees could pursue perfect utilityman to replace dropped players

November 26, 2021 by Alexander Wilson

The New York Yankees may be prioritizing a top shortstop and starting pitching addition this free agency period, but don’t discount the value of quality depth and reserve pieces.

The Yankees recently traded utilityman Tyler Wade to the Los Angeles Angels for cash considerations and a player to be named in the future. They also released Clint Frazier and Rougned Odor, two players who made an impact in 2021 in their own way. Frazier was unable to play the majority of the season due to migraine issues, while Odor featured in over 100 games. Allowing Wade, Frazier, and Odor to depart means the Yankees will be in the market for more depth pieces.

Wade served a significant purpose with his abilities to play multiple infield positions and outfield spots. Considering general manager Brian Cashman traded him away, he must have adequate replacements in mind.

The Yankees could target one solid free agent player:

One solid free-agent target could be Jonathan Villar, who spent this past season with the New York Mets. Villar has enjoyed a nine-year career, playing with Houston, Milwaukee, Baltimore, and the Mets. He played in 142 games this past season, recording a .249 average, 18 homers, and 42 RBIs. He posted a 26.1% strikeout rate, 9.1% walk right, and a .416 slugging percentage.

Villar is a quality offensive player, posting 75 singles, 18 doubles, and two triples to pair with his double-digit home run total. His best season came back in 2016 with the Brewers, when he hit .285 with 19 homers and 63 RBIs. He also recorded a career-high 11.6% walk rate that season.

He signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Mets for 2021, so the Yankees could likely get him on a cost-efficient deal and maximize his experience at multiple spots. This past season, he played primarily at third base, recording a .933 fielding percentage with 14 errors. While his defense at the spot was lackluster, he’s capable of playing shortstop and second base, where he posted more efficient numbers. Jonathan also has experience in the outfield, but he’s primarily an infielder.

While the 30-year-old switch hitter isn’t known for his defense, he is a quality offensive player that can fill a big hole without much drop-off in the batter’s box. In addition, the Yankees could use a bit more diversity within their depth ranks. Wade offered little power and poor hitting but featured average defense. Villar would be an upgrade without question, it’s just a matter of his price tag and if Cashman is willing to spend a bit on a quality depth piece.

Yankees News: Aaron Judge shows off facial hair, swiss army knife free agent to target

November 25, 2021 by Alexander Wilson

The New York Yankees are preparing to negotiate with Aaron Judge and his representatives regarding a future extension, but the star slugger may be pushing the team to bend a few rules after appearing with facial hair early this off-season.

Judge wore the beard well, but certainly could be a villain origin story if they fail to come to an agreement on a future contract. Judge is coming off one of his best seasons as a professional, playing in 148 games and alleviating concerns that he is an injury-prone player.

Bearded Aaron Judge is the villain origin story of Yankees fans’ nightmares if he ever leaves pic.twitter.com/UaXKiBLQLY

— Starting 9 (@Starting9) November 22, 2021

Judge finished the 2021 season with a .287 average, 39 homers, 98 RBIs, and a career-low 25% strikeout rate. He has developed into not only a consistent player, but an elite offensive and defensive threat. With one of the best arms in the outfield, Judge could find himself starting in centerfield this upcoming season with Joey Gallo and Giancarlo Stanton on the roster.

However, Judge may be the only one capable of forcing ownership to change the facial hair rules.

One underrated free-agent target the Yankees could pursue:

The Yankees have been distracted by the shortstop market and starting pitching free agents, but one Swiss Army knife that could fit the bill is Jonathan Villar. Villar is coming off a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Mets, and he represented one of their more consistent players. At 30-years-old, Villar is capable of playing multiple infield positions, including shortstop, second base, and third base.

With Tyler Wade being traded to the Los Angeles Angels, general manager Brian Cashman is in need of another utility player, and Jonathan fits the bill perfectly. He hit .249 with 18 homers and 42 RBIs this past season but had his best campaign in 2019 when he posted a .274 average with 24 homers and 73 RBIs.

Villar likely wouldn’t be a pricey acquisition, and he could fill multiple spots if needed. He also has experience playing in the outfield, specifically in center. He may not be guaranteed a starting role, but his type of versatility is valuable for a team that has dealt with significant injuries in the past.

Yankees News: Two Bombers make All-MLB team, top pitching free agent makes sense

November 25, 2021 by Alexander Wilson

With movement quiet on the free agency front, the New York Yankees are waiting patiently for the price tags of multiple free agents to lessen in the coming days. In the meantime, two Yankees were named to the 2021 All-MLB team on Tuesday, including Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole.

First Team: Aaron Judge, Yankees

This season was a strong reminder of what Judge brings to the Yankees when he’s able to post up for a full season. After missing 142 games combined in 2018-20, Judge had a .916 OPS, 39 homers and 98 RBIs in 148 games to earn his first All-MLB selection.

First Team: Gerrit Cole

Cole is now a perfect 3-for-3 in making the All-MLB Team, and this is his second First Team selection (also 2019). With a 3.23 ERA, 243 strikeouts and AL-best 5.93 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 181 1/3 innings, he finished second in the AL Cy Young voting.

Both players had fantastic seasons, and with Judge featuring in 148 games, he proved that he can remain healthy over the course of an entire season. That is a massive step forward for the big slugger as he eyes an extension in the near future.

General manager Brian Cashman already indicated he is preparing to connect with Judge’s representatives over the winter about his future deal, so any free agency moves have to incorporate the financial commitment he will garner.

Cole, on the other hand, had a dominant first half of the year but struggled at times in the second half, especially in the postseason. The Yankees are paying him an exorbitant amount of money to be a dominant pitcher when they need him most, and he failed to accomplish that.

In his lone outing against the Boston Red Sox in the Wild Card game, he posted a 13.50 ERA, giving up four hits and three earned runs over just 2.0 innings. The bullpen did their best to keep the Yankees in the game, but lackluster offense saw them fall before making a real postseason push.

The New York Yankees need to add to the starting pitching rotation this off-season:

As stated above, free agency is rather quiet at the moment, but the Yankees are willing to spend big money to acquire a great starting pitcher. Cashman had $25 million on the table for Justin Verlander on a one-year deal, so we know they are willing to spend.

One option is Toronto Blue Jays ace Robbie Ray. Ray featured a 2.84 ERA this past season, posting a career-high 90.1% left on-base percentage and adequate 37.2% ground ball rate. He featured an 11.54 strikeout per nine rate and walked just 2.42 batters per nine, the lowest of his career.

Having his best season in Toronto, it begs the question of what changed?

Ray’s fastball elevated 94.6 mph, a full mile per hour faster than during his 2020 season and 2 mph faster than his 2019 campaign. He threw his fastball the most in his entire career at nearly 60% and utilized his slider as his primary, secondary pitch.

It is clear a change in strategy aided in his campaign, and the Yankees might see even more potential with the 30-year-old lefty.

Yankees could be in trouble as top short-stop market hits astronomical prices

November 24, 2021 by Alexander Wilson

The shortstop market in free agency feels a lot like cryptocurrency, it continues to increase, but at some point, it will have to reset and buyers will be waiting. The New York Yankees are sitting patiently for an opportunity to strike, as agents are elevating the price tag of their star shortstops and expecting teams to bite before an expected lockout on December 1.

However, general manager Brian Cashman has been around the block a few times and knows how these deals usually work, which is exactly what he accomplished with DJ LeMahieu last year. He ended up landing LeMahieu on a six-year, $90 million deal when most believe he would breach $120 million in total.

Super-agent Scott Boras is seeking money in the realm of $200 million for his top players at shortstop, which would put the Yankees in somewhat of a bind.

“Perhaps more than $200 million.”

The Yankees have a ton of options on the table, including Corey Seager, Trevor story, Carlos Correa, Marcus Semien, and Javier Baez. None of them have been scooped up off the market, meaning the price tags can easily fall to match what teams are willing to pay.

However, reports have indicated that the Yankees are simply monitoring the market and not aggressively pursuing a specific player. Cashman works fast, though, and if he sees the right price tag for a player he desires, he will strike a deal in a moments notice. Considering he was just about willing to pay $25 million over one season for Justin Verlander, they clearly have plenty of money to spend and are ready to make a push for players they desperately want.

Nonetheless, they have the mega-deal of Aaron Judge waiting in the wings, so they have to be a bit financially flexible. They already have Gerrit Cole and Giancarlo Stanton on the roster, representing $300 million contracts, so it is entirely possible Cashman looks to the secondary market for a stopgap shortstop, which would save them a bit of change as they wait for Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza to reach the majors.

Yankees could go after Orioles lefty starting pitcher in potential trade

November 24, 2021 by Alexander Wilson

The New York Yankees are in search of starting pitching talent, whether it be through free agency or a trade partner. After offering Justin Verlander a one-year, $25 million deal, it is clear general manager Brian Cashman is willing to spend a pretty penny to acquire a solid talent.

While he could look to an option like Robbie Ray to solve a big hole in the starting rotation alongside Gerrit Cole, he could turn his attention to an AL East rival in a potential trade deal.

The Baltimore Orioles are reportedly interested in trading left-hander John Means, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney. Means is preparing to earn $3 million in arbitration this season, coming off an adequate 2021 campaign where he pitched 146.2 innings.

The Yankees would like to add a bit more diversity to the rotation, and Means presents a lefty at 28-years-old. Standing at 6’3″ and 235 pounds, Means earned a 3.62 ERA, 8.22 strikeouts per nine, and 1.60 walk rate per nine this past year. He also posted a 32.9% ground ball rate and 80.5% left on-base percentage.

Means’ ground ball rate might not be attractive to the Yankees, as they look for pitchers that settle in the 40% plus area. He features a fastball, slider, curveball, and change-up. His fastball hovers around 93 mph, which he tossed 47.9% of the time in 2021. He’s using less of his slider more breaking pitches, resulting in a solid first half of the season.

The Baltimore starter had his best game of the season on May 5, when he threw a no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners. The Yankees could look to expand upon his existing talents, given his capacity for great performances. Means is two years removed from an All-Star bid in which he won 12 games and logged a 3.60 ERA.

Based on his success thus far and the need for diversity in the Yankees’ starting rotation, Means makes a ton of sense. However, it all depends on what the Orioles are asking for in a prospective deal.