NYY

If the Yankees want elite post-season play, here’s the player they need to sign

by
carlos correa, yankees

Reports have indicated that the New York Yankees will exit the lockout with an aggressive mentality, ready to spend big money to fill multiple positions of need. After letting most of the starting pitching talent go before the lockout commenced, they’re going to have to take a big risk on a player that may be injury prone, similar to their strategy the past few seasons.

General manager Brian Cashman could view Clayton Kershaw or Carlos Rodon as potential suitors, but it is yet to be seen if they will spend big money on a player with red flags. Kershaw has had his fair share of injury troubles, and Rodon had his first adequate performance in 2021 with Chicago, offering a small sample size of quality play.

However, shortstop remains the big question as we move forward towards Spring Training. The Yankees have a few options on the board and ones that we’ve discussed extensively over the past few weeks. They could execute a trade for a player like Elvis Andrus from the Oakland Athletics, or maybe even sign Andrelton Simmons as a stopgap until one of their stud prospects is ready to take the reins.

One of the Yankees’ biggest downfalls has been during postseason play — a failure to provide offensive production. Their hitters go quiet, and their pitching struggles. If they want elite postseason performances, there’s only one shortstop on the market that can offer them that value.

That player is Carlos Correa, who is coming off a regular-season where he hit .279 with 26 homers and 92 RBIs. Aside from the 2020 season, which was affected by Covid, Correa has never dipped below 15 homers in a single campaign.

During postseason play, though, he’s experienced 334 plate appearances, recording 82 hits, 18 homers, and a .272 batting average.

However, using a Yankee Stadium overlay, Correa’s numbers skyrocket, hitting .385 with 82 hits and 89.6 exit velocity. That is a type of production and quality you pay for, especially since Correa is looking for a 10 year, $300+ million deal.

The Yankees have available funds to offer him a lucrative contract, and if there’s any outstanding reason as to why he deserves it, his postseason play tells the full story. Aside from his incredible regular season stats, the Yankees need that type of efficiency and consistency when the post-season starts to simmer. They have disappeared far too frequently in recent memory, failing to reach the World Series in over a decade.

3 starting pitchers the Yankees could pursue when free agency 2.0 starts

by
clayton kershaw, yankees

Before the lockout commenced, the New York Yankees had a one-year, $25 million deal on the table for Justin Verlander of the Houston Astros. Verlander elected to stay with his present team on a two-year, $50 million deal, which includes a player option for the second season.

Clearly, the Yankees understand they need to find another quality starter to pair with Gerrit Cole, given his inconsistencies toward the end of the season in 2021. They hoped Verlander would offer them that quality, and after missing on the majority of talented players during the earlier portions of free agency, they will have to dabble in the secondary market when the lockout finally ends.

Three pitchers the Yankees should consider when free-agency opens back up:

1.) Carlos Rodon

One of the top starters on the market is Carlos Rodon, who had his best season to date in 2021. Starting 24 games for the Chicago White Sox, Rodon posted a 2.37 ERA, 12.55 strikeouts per nine, and an 82.2% left on base percentage. He collected 13 wins over 132.2 innings, seeing his velocity and spin rate increase significantly. Notably, he used his fastball on 58.7% of his pitches, the highest of his career. His secondary pitches are a slider and changeup, slowly inching away from using his sinker, which he factored in earlier on in his career.

If the Yankees are able to sign Rodon on a shorter-term contract, it might be a good move with high upside. Considering he has just one proven year of fantastic play, committing for more than two years would be overly optimistic. A two-year deal with a third-year team option might suffice.

2.) Clayton Kershaw

Clayton Kershaw has dealt with his fair share of injuries in the past but has also pitched in over 100 innings in every one of his 14 MLB seasons, aside from the abbreviated Covid campaign in 2020.

This past year with Los Angeles, Kershaw posted a 3.55 ERA with 10.65 strikeouts per nine and a 71.7% left on base percentage. As a lefty pitcher, the Yankees would love to have more diversity in their starting rotation, but he has seen a significant drop-off in velocity, relying more on his slider in recent years.

Kershaw’s fastball was used on just 36.8% of his pitches, hovering around 90.7 mph. His slider saw a 47.5% usage, the highest of his career. He also incorporated his curveball in a fair amount at 15.1%. Kershaw would likely cost a pretty penny, but the expectation is that he stays with the Dodgers, given his lengthy tenure there. However, if he becomes available, the Yankees will undoubtedly have their name in the hat, considering the lack of options on the market.

3.) Zack Greinke 

If the Yankees want to take a bigger risk, 38-year-old Zack Greinke also presents a historically solid pitcher. This past season with Houston, he earned a 4.16 ERA, winning 11 games and posting a 6.32 strikeout per night rate. Greinke isn’t known for his strikeout abilities but has an awesome sequence of pitches at his disposal.

Greinke contains a fastball, sinker, changeup, slider, and curve ball, using all of them a fair amount. His fastball has experienced a dramatic drop-off in speed, hovering around 89 mph in 2021. However, given his spin rate and great pitch movement, he could be a decent option for one or two years at the back end of his career. He might not be the number two he used to be, but it seems he still has a bit of juice left in his arm.

Yankees News: Winter League performances not encouraging as two young batters struggle

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New York Yankees, Aaron Hicks

With baseball at a complete standstill, the New York Yankees still have a number of players featuring in the Winter League down in the Dominican Republic. Primarily winter ball is utilized for players returning from injury or those who want a bit of extra work during the off-season; one of the team’s big-league starters featured down south this month.

Switch-hitter Aaron Hicks enjoyed 12 games of action recovering from a wrist injury he sustained last season and knocked him out for majority of the year. He only featured in 32 games, leaving the Yankees incredibly thin in the outfield after Clint Frazier was forced out due to vertigo.

In addition to Hicks, they also had multiple minor-league players take the field, looking to get extra work in and prepare for the spring. Some performed better than others, but aside from Hicks, the other two batters struggled considerably to get anything going.

Brendan Kuty of NJ.com listed the stats for each Winter League player:

Aaron Hicks, CF

Stats: .265, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 10 K, 4 BB, 53 AB, 12 G

Wandy Peralta, RHP

Stats: 3-0, 3.72 ERA, 11 appearances, 9 2/3 IP, 15 K, 3 BB

Miguel Andujar, UTL

Stats: .161 BA, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 6 K, 1 BB, 31 AB, 8 G

Estevan Florial, CF

Stats: .167 BA, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 10 K, 7 BB, 24 AB, 9 G

Luis Medina, RHP

Stats: 0-0, 4.92 ERA, 2 starts, 3 2/3 IP, 6 K, 4 BB

Albert Abreu, RHP

Stats: 3-3, 2.25 ERA, 6 starts, 24 IP, 11 K, 10 BB

It is quite disappointing to see Miguel Andujar’s drop off over the past few seasons. After recording a .297 average with 27 homers back in 2018, Andujar has watched his progress stop and regress. He played in 45 games this past season, and while he did hit .253 with six homers and 19 runs, his defensive attributes have become a liability.

The Yankees never wanted to give up on Andujar, testing him at first base, outfield spots, and basically anywhere he could field without making a mistake. Unfortunately, he simply just isn’t a good enough defender to be a Major League player on an every day basis. He’s a solid supplement offensively, potentially as a DH, but the Yankees have too much slugging power to reserve him to that role. They’re better off trading him to a team who can try and re-mold him.

Another disappointing prospect has been Estevan Florial, who hit just .167 during Winter League play. Struggling with injury the past few years, Florial was known as a five-tool prospect and on his way to being a stud major leaguer. However, his development has taken far longer than anticipated. At this point, there’s no guarantee he will reach the majors and become the player he was destined to be a couple years ago when he was the number one prospect in the Yankees’ farm system.

New York Yankees: Don’t waste time, all the news in one place

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jonathan villar, mets, yankees

Yankee slugger Aaron Judge makes bold prediction

New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge has been full of surprises this off-season. So far, the headline is that he married his long-time girlfriend, Samantha Bracksieck two weekends ago in a secret tropical wedding at Maui, Hawaii. But, that’s not all; he has now made a bold prediction.

Last season Judge had a beast of a season, carrying the team on his back, in his first fully healthy season since 2017. He hit .287 with 39 home runs while batting in nearly 100. He now has made the bold prediction that he will hit at least 50 home runs during his 2022 campaign. Looking at it seriously, it’s not out of the question. He hit 57 in 2017. The question will be if he can stay healthy to accomplish the lofty goal.

With Judge becoming a free agent for the first time at the end of the 2022 season, the other big question is if the Yankees will offer him a mega-contract keeping him as a lifelong Yankee. Unfortunately for the Yankees and Judge, will it get ugly when it comes time to do that? Most of it will depend on staying healthy two seasons in a row. If he can’t, the Yankees will be reluctant to extend him long-term.

Where will all the remaining big names end up?

If you want to believe Sports Illustrated, post-CBA doesn’t look good for the Yankees as it predicts where all the big remaining names will go, none of which go to the Yankees. The big bait out there, Carlos Correa, regardless of the news, will probably end up with his old manager A J Hinch, who is now managing the Detroit Tigers. Another big name favored by the Yankees, Freddie Freeman, will resign with the Atlanta Braves.

The Yankees have been targeting Trevor Story for a shortstop replacement. SI that previously had him going to the Rangers have switched gears and are now sending him to the Houston Astros to fill the Correa gap. There haven’t been many predictions that show a quality starting pitcher to the Yankees, but recently the name Carlos Rodon has come up as a possible fit for the Yankees; quell that, SI has him going to the rival Boston Red Sox.

You can also scratch outfielder and catcher Kyle Schwarber from playing in the Bronx; he will be going to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The only signing that seems safe is the first baseman Anthony Rizzo returning to the Yankees. In a bizarre suggestion, there are some rumors that nut-case Zack Grienke of the Astros could end up with the Yankees. Let’s hope not.

How are the Yankees doing in Winter Ball?

Several Yankees have played winter ball in the Dominican Republic; their results aren’t exactly promising. Aaron Hicks played in 12 games, not producing; the only thing he has shown the Yankees is that he can stay healthy for twelve games. Miguel Andujar has been nothing short of a disaster in winter ball, hitting .161 and no home runs in eight games. He has to be hoping he will be traded with no position to play with the Yankees and his below-average defense.

Estevan Florial wasn’t much better; he hit .167 in nine games. Once a top Yankee prospect, his halo is quickly dimming. Florial has power and speed as his main attributes, but to show those off, you have to hit the ball; he strikes out far too much to be of any value.

On the pitching side, Luis Media was 0-0, 4.92 ERA, two starts, 3 2/3 IP, 6 K, 4 BB. Baseball America ranks Medina as the team’s No. 9 prospect, primarily due to his high 90s’ fastball. Don’t look for Media to be a starter for the Yankees any time soon. His lack of control challenges his fastball. He will probably start the season with the AA Somersets. If he starts at Scranton, he could be a piece out of the bullpen for the Yankees.

Right-hand pitcher Albert Abreu went 3-3, 2.25 ERA, 6 starts, 24 IP, 11 K, 10 BB. Abreu’s ERA is impressive, but he walks too many hitters. He will likely be in the Yankees bullpen as a last resort piece with his history and numbers. Catcher Rob Brantly didn’t exactly ring any bells in winter ball. He hit .125 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3 K, 0 BB, 8 AB, 2 games. Nevertheless, he will end up as the number one catcher at Scranton and the backup for Kyle Higashioka in the Bronx.

Now on the bright side: Outfielder Michael Beltre hit .293 with five RBIs, nine strikeouts, and two walks. He will likely start the season with the Rail Riders with his outfield depth and excellent showing at double-A Somerset. Should we have trouble in center, you could see him with the big team sometime in the season.

The most encouraging sign for the Yankees is Wandy Peralta, the righty that made an impact last season. In winter ball, he went  3-0, 3.72 ERA, 11 appearances, 9 2/3 IP, 15 K, 3 BB. He looks to be a mid to late-inning reliever again this season in the Bronx.

Is Jonathan Villar a fit for the Yankees?

There has been recent talk that Jonathan Villar could be a stop-gap measure for the Yankees, not at short but at third base. That move would require the Yankees to move Gio Urshela to short, where he performed well last season when needed.

With Anthony Volpe and Osward Peraza in the wings and probably ready for the 2023 season, the Yankees don’t appear to be ready to hire a big name to fill the spot at short, long term. Villar hits better than most stop-gap shortstop options out there but is not much of an upgrade for Torres at short, thus the third base suggestion where his defense is better. Villar has speed but lacks the home run numbers the Yankees would like to see. He may be a fit, but it also piques the question: What will become of DJ LeMahieu if the Yankees sign Anthony Rizzo as their 2022 first baseman?

Yankees create a bright Christmas for Bronx youth

For the twelfth year in a row, the Yankees have held their Christmas toy even to benefit the underserved kids of the Bronx that surrounds Yankee Stadium. Their Winter Wonderland Event Friday has delivered thousands of toys to local school children.

“Everybody knows the Yankees for being a champion on the field, but that same drive and focus is part of our commitment to being a productive member of this community,” said Brian Smith, the Yankees’ senior vice president of corporate community relations. “We’re happy to put a smile on these young peoples’ faces during the holiday season.”

In years previous to 2020, the event was held in the big hall at Yankee Stadium, where a child could come in a pick a toy of their choice. Unfortunately, last year and this year, that could not happen due to Covid restrictions. This season the event was held outside Yankee Stadium, but most of the toys will be distributed by the New York Yankee Partners right up until Christmas day.

Yankees: Former Yankee Ichiro Suzuki strikes out 17, watch video here

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This really isn’t a New York Yankees article, but I couldn’t help myself writing about one of my favorite Yankee players, who is now 48 years old, and still showing his excellence in all aspects of the game.

Ichiro Suzuki is a shoo-in for the Baseball Hall of Fame, mostly known for his time with the Mariners; during his two-decade career, he has been one of the best batsmen in the game of baseball. The New York Yankees were lucky enough to have him play for the team in the Bronx from 2012 to 2013 before moving on the Marlins and then where he started it all, back with his Mariners. He was a live-long .311 hitter with an OPS of .781. Ichiro was never known as a home run hitter, only hitting 117 of them, but he was one of the most solid and consistent players of this time.

Being a Yankee fan and a fan of all baseball at all levels, Suzuki finally showed up on my radar in 2004 after winning four All-Star appearances, a Silver Slugger, a Gold Glove, and four MVP nominations in a row, winning it once. I started following his career and saw him become an All-Star six more times until the string ended in 2011. Although not the superstar he was, he continued to be an excellent player through the end of his career.

While with the Yankees, even though I was already a fan, I got to appreciate him even more seeing him play daily. I have never seen a player that worked as hard at staying healthy as he did in playing the game at its highest levels. The Yankee players of today could take some lessons from him. He constantly exercised in the training room, outfield, and even batting. Ichiro played in 157 games or more ten times in his career, playing in 162 games twice.

On August 27, 2021, Ichiro was inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame. He will become eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, in 2025 when I expect him to be inducted in the first round. But until then, he hasn’t been away from baseball taking part in all kinds of events. But this season, he is making a splash in girls’ baseball; yes, girls! I guess I should go back to 2015 when he added pitching to his masterful talents. Now in 2021, he is pitching again to a group of All-Star girls in his homeland of Japan.

In 2015, he got to pitch for the Miami Marlins; after the game, he had this to say:

“I used to pitch in high school. I did pitch in an All-Star Game in Japan. But to be on the mound at a Major League Baseball game, you can say one of my dreams came true today. But I’ll never ask to do that again.”

But here he is again pitching in a girls All-Star game. Not only did he pitch, but he struck out 17 while throwing 147 pitches in the game. His fastball topped out at 84 mph. Watch his strikeouts below.

One stud prospect the Yankees should shop in trade after lockout ends

by
oswald peraza, yankees

The New York Yankees have several big decisions to make after the lockout ends in the spring (we hope). General manager Brian Cashman is expected to be aggressive coming out of the gates, according to multiple player agents.

Obviously, the Yankees were rather quiet before the lockout, failing to grab any big names off the market to bolster positions of need. However, whether it be via free agency or trade, the Bombers have the necessary tools to acquire significant talent.

At some point, though, Cashman is going to have to part ways with some of his big prospect names, especially after the team struggled to develop Gary Sanchez, Gleyber Torres, and Luis Severino. Some have been impacted by injury, while others have watched their fundamentals disintegrate year after year.

The Yankees have an impressive amount of talent at shortstop in their minor-league affiliates. They are keen to rely on Anthony Volpe as their primary SS down the line, but he is still about two years away from becoming a Major League-level player.

However, Oswald Peraza could be a solid trade piece moving forward, coming in below Volpe in the team’s prospect rankings. Nonetheless, he is an incredible talent with a ton of upside, making him a valuable piece in a prospective deal for a big player.

MiLB.com had rave reviews for Oswald Peraza, which is why he’s one of the Yankees’ top prospects:

Peraza could have four plus tools once he’s fully developed. He has smooth actions at shortstop, the arm to make any throw necessary and a good internal clock that helps him slow the game down defensively. He makes good use of his plus speed and stole 44 bases in 54 attempts in 159 games over his first three pro seasons.

Peraza played for three minor-league teams this past year, including Hudson Valley, Somerset, and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Altogether, he hit an outstanding .297 with 18 homers, 58 RBIs, and 38 stolen bases. He spent the majority of his time in AA Somerset, hitting .294 with 12 homers and 40 RBIs.

As a plus defender with obvious offensive capabilities, the Yankees would hate to pass on him as a potential long-term solution in the infield. However, it seems as Volpe has a slight edge, which could make Peraza expendable.

Going from an unranked prospect to top six by the end of 2019, the rise of Oswald has been spectacular. It is always nice to see prospects that improve year over year, which might be another sign of the Yankees’ confidence in him.

Another unique statistic revolves around his exit velocity, which finished as high as 110 mph off the bat, a solid number considering he is just 6-feet tall and weighs 185 pounds.

With such a strong minor-league crop of infielders, the Yankees have a bit of cushion in case they want to utilize one of their prospects in a trade. Peraza seems like the obvious option if a team is looking for a big name, as they would prefer to categorize Volpe and Jasson Dominguez as off-limits.

New York Yankees: What you need to know about recent signings

by
ender inciarte, yankees

Like the other 29 MLB teams, the New York Yankees can not have any major league transactions due to the MLB lock-out. The owners and players couldn’t come to an agreement before the expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement on December 1. However, that did not tie their hand from signing minor league players as they are not members of the players association. As a result, the Yankees have improved their future with some of those signings.

Yankees signed free agent SS Jose Peraza to a minor league contract at the end of November. Peraza will give the Yankees an option going forward at short. The 27-year-old hit .204 last season with six home runs over 142 plate appearances with the New York Mets. He has a six-year career average of .266. Peraza comes to the Yankees with an excellent defensive record.

On December 15, the Yankees signed RHP Vinny Nittoli to a minor league contract. The signing of Nittoli is a bit perplexing. He pitched in only one game last season for the Seattle Mariners. In one inning, his ERA was 18.00. So it must be the Yankee scouts saw something that caused them to make this signing.

The Yankees also signed center fielder Ender Inciarte and Blake Perkins to minor league contracts. EmpireSportsMedia.com’s Alexander Wilson had this to say about Inciarte:

Inciarte was once a respectable player, but at 31-years-old, his best service comes in the form of depth and last-resort situations. The veteran outfielder started off his career in Arizona with the Diamondbacks, posting intriguing numbers, including a .278 average in 2014 and .303 in 2015.

Inciarte is an All-Star and three-time Gold Glover.

Blake Perkins is a 25-year-old switch-hitting outfielder that plays primarily in center field. The Washington Nationals drafted him in the second round of the 2015 draft. In 2018 with the Pacific Nationals, he hit .234 with one home run, 21 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases through 65 games. Last season, he hit .224/.330/.347 with eight home runs, 34 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases with two different minor league teams. Perkins will provide depth for the Yankees in center.

The Yankees also added Wilkerman Garcia, a 23-year-old shortstop, to their minor league fold. Garcia is another switch hitter; he has a career batting average of .284 with 12 home runs over five years in the majors. However, he had not played since 2019, when he was with four minor league teams in the Yankee organization. Luis Soho has called Garcia a defending solid shortstop.

 

New York Yankees managers haven’t been successful with the Mets

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Over the years, the New York Yankees have had some very successful managers that have led them to 27 World Championships. Five of those managers have also managed the New York Mets, but with far less success. Casey Stengel, Joe Torre, Yogi Berra, Dallas Green, and now as of yesterday Buck Showalter. Mets owner Steve Cohen announced the new Mets manager via his Twitter account. But strangely, all but one did not have any success with the Mets.

Casey Stengel, Yankees manager: 1949-60 – Mets manager: 1962-65

During his tenure, Casey Stengel was one of the most successful Yankee managers taking them to seven World Championships. He also took the Yankees to ten American League pennants during his 12 years with the Yankees. It was a different story when he took over the management of the Mets.

In 1962, the New York Mets came on the scene as the first National League expansion team; they selected former Yankee manager Casey Stengel to lead the team. Unfortunately, the results weren’t good; Stengel lost a historic 120 games that year, a stat that still holds today. Following two more 100 game plus losing seasons, Stengel retired after breaking his hip in 1965.

Yogi Berra, Yankees manager: 1964, 1984-85 – Mets manager: 1972-75

Yogi Berra wasn’t the winningest Yankee manager, but he did win a pennant with both the Yankees and the New York Mets. After George Steinbrenner fired Yogi in 1965, he became a coach for the cross-town Mets. In 1972, he became the Mets’ manager and won the NLCS against the Cincinnati Reds.

However, his success was short-lived. In 1973, he won just three more games than he lost, but nevertheless, he carried the team to the World Series, in which he lost four games to three. In 1974 he had a disastrous season with the Mets winning only 71 games. Finally, in 1975 after a poor start, the Mets had seen enough and fired Berra.

Joe Torre, Mets manager: 1977-81 – Yankees manager: 1996-2007

Joe Torre may be an iconic New York Yankee manager, but he managed several bad teams with little success before that. Long before his championship run with the Yankees, he managed the Mets for five years, starting in 1977. It was his first foray into managing, and it showed as he won only 286 games while losing 420. After five years, he was fired by the Mets.

Dallas Green, Yankees manager: 1989 – Mets manager: 1993-96

Many newer Yankee fans may not know that Dallas Green was ever a Yankee manager, but he was for 121 games in the failed 1989 season. Yankee owner George Steinbrenner fired him. But, just a few years later, he was hired by the New York Mets. That stint was just as bad; he had a 229-283 record in his four years at the helm of the Mets.

Buck Showalter, Yankee manager: 1992-95 – Mets manager: 2022 -current

Just being selected by the Mets, Buck Showalter has yet to show his abilities. After two losing seasons, the Mets hired Showalter to right the ship. Mets owner Steve Cohen has given him the tools to do it. 

Showalter managed the New York Yankees for three years from 1992. During his four years as the Yankees’ manager, the team posted a record of 313–268. He finished first in the 1994 strike-shortened season. The Associated Press named him manager of the year. In 1995, he was the manager of the All-Star game. The Yankees won the Wild Card game that year but lost to the Seattle Mariners in the ALDS. Most recently, Showalter was a pre and post-game commentator for the Yankees on the YES Network.

Showalter’s management career has been mostly tainted by taking over loser teams, the Diamondbacks, the Rangers, the Orioles, and the Yankees during some poor years. But Showalter enters this challenge with two of the best pitchers in the business and a much better Mets team. Time will tell, but many analysts say with Showalter at the helm, the team could win their first World Series since 1986.

MLB Insider proposes wild trade involving top Yankees prospect

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New York Yankees, Jasson Dominguez

The New York Yankees have a busy off-season ahead once the lockout ends, as player agents believe general manager Brian Cashman will be active in the market when he is capable.

Given the Yankees were unable to secure any big-name free agents before the lockout, they will need to pick up the slack in the spring. However, they still have plenty of names left to pursue once things return to normal. Expect a ton of competition, though, driving up the price due to demand.

One way the Yankees can improve their team without spending an exorbitant amount of money is via trade. The team was connected to the Oakland Athletics in the early portions of the off-season regarding Matt Olson, their star first baseman.

Oakland is trying to find a new home for Olson, slashing his salary off the books. If the lockout ends with a salary floor set at $100 million, Oakland will have no choice but to pay Olson anyway, so it is entirely possible they retain him given that outcome. If things remain the same in that area, Cashman could look to acquire Olson, who is 27-years-old and has two years of team control left on his contract.

One MLB insider proposed an interesting trade scenario involving the Yankees’ top prospect in their farm system.

Joel Sherman of the NY Post proposed that the Yankees send Jasson Dominguez on his way for Matt Olson and Elvis Andrus, in addition to others:

My proposed trade: (Jasson) Dominguez, Luis Gil and Chad Green for Elvis Andrus and Olson.

In terms of pure value, Oakland might bite on the scenario, considering Dominguez is being compared to players like Lou Gehrig with his potential. The Yankees have failed to develop some of their more prominent names in the recent past, but there’s no chance Cashman gives up Dominguez at such a ripe age.
A five-tool outfielder at 18-years-old with the qualities to become a super-star doesn’t represent a trade piece to just toss around. He spent last season with the Tampa Tarpons, hitting .252 with five homers and 19 RBIs, tallying nine stolen bases.
Landing Olson would be a massive benefit, considering he hit .271 with 39 homers and 111 RBIs this past season. As a lefty batter, he would rake at Yankee Stadium, but the Yankees may not have to give up Dominguez to acquire Olson with other stud prospects at the ready.
The Yankees have two awesome shortstops rising through their system in Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe. Selling high on Peraza now might be ideal given their excitement about Volpe and his transition to the big leagues in the future. They would also have to include a pitcher like Luis Gil.
Acquiring Elvis Andrus would be a stopgap at shortstop, taking on his contract that ends after the 2022 season but does have a vesting option in 2023. Andrus hit .243 this past season but represents a solid defender.
Overall, this isn’t my favorite trade scenario, filling the shortstop spot with a low power contact hitter that is being overpaid and parting ways with one of the best prospects baseball has seen in quite some time.
What do you think of this trade proposal? Comment here!

Yankees Rumors: Agents believes Yankees will come out swinging after lockout, starting pitcher to target

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New York Yankees, Brian Cashman

There is a reason to believe the New York Yankees will be big players once the lockout ends between the owners and Players Union. After remaining quiet in the early stages of free agency, allowing teams like the Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers to scoop up the majority of quality shortstops, the Yankees do have a few options left at their disposal.

The obvious names revolve around Carlos Correa and Corey Seager, who represent either a long-term solution or short-term stopgap depending on the strategy general manager Brian Cashman institutes.

However, for those worried the Yankees won’t be active when things return to normal, several player agents believe they are gearing up for an exciting second half of free agency.

“There are player agents who continue to believe that once baseball business is reopened, Hal Steinbrenner’s team will be among the more aggressive teams—and in particular, might revisit conversations with the representatives of [Carlos] Correa and [Trevor] Story,” ESPN’s Buster Olney reported.

It seems that Steinbrenner wanted to see how the luxury tax threshold was affected by union negotiations, and if things change, it could benefit the Yankees in a long-term way.

Clearly, he had a financial motive for Cashman sitting still while talented players were plucked off the market without much resistance. The Yankees’ GM did convince Steinbrenner to make an offer of $25 million over one season for Justin Verlander, but that was about as aggressive as they got.

At this point in time, the Yankees have several weaknesses on the roster, and starting pitching remains one of them.

After the majority of talented starters were scooped up off the market, one option they could consider is Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw.

It is entirely possible that Kershaw sticks with LA next season, but if he considers an alternative club, the Bombers could make sense on a short-term contract worth big money year-over-year.

Kershaw is coming off a 3.55 ERA season over 121.2 innings, including a 10.65 strikeout per nine rate and 48.5% ground ball rate. Kershaw has pitched over 100 innings every season in his career, aside from the Covid abbreviated campaign. He has dealt with injury in the past, but he can serve as a reliable second option behind Gerrit Cole.

The veteran pitcher has seen a decrease in velocity with his fastball over the last three years or so, settling in at 90.7 mph during the 2021 season. His fastball usage has decreased exponentially to 36.8% but has seen an increase in the usage of his slider at 47.5%, maintaining solid velocity.

If the Yankees are willing to spend, Kershaw should be a target at the very least, but I wouldn’t rule out Carlos Rodon as a potential fit as well.