The Waiting Game...

Aaron Judge & Juan Soto (Photo Credit: NY Daily News)

Yankees make their initial offers for the most coveted free agent…

I wish I knew how these Juan Soto negotiations would turn out. I would like to say that my gut feeling is that he will be a Yankee for the duration of his career, but unfortunately, I do not have that sense. It has not felt to me that he will be a lifetime Yank. This is clearly one of those times where I hope, I pray that I am wrong. Like everyone else, I want the Yankees to sign Soto to a long-term deal. I do not care if he will make more money than the team’s Captain. I honestly do not believe the Captain cares either so long as Soto’s Yankees career continues. Judge wants to win, and he needs players like Soto to do it.

As much as I like Juan Soto, I could never truly embrace him this season despite his heroics and knowing he shared responsibility for Aaron Judge’s MVP season. The sole reason for the restraint was the potential for a one-and-done season with Soto. It was my self-protection against seeing Soto wearing Mets gear next season or some other team’s marginal fabric.

If Soto returns, I will embrace him as part of the team’s latest and most fantastic core. Aaron Judge is a better player with Juan Soto on the team, and Soto makes others perform to higher standards. I do not care if the Yankees must pay $700 million to sign Soto. It is not my money nor our job to protect Hal Steinbrenner’s pocketbook. The Yankees routinely drive the game’s most significant profits, and it is incredible to think how much they have made for other teams. Whatever it costs to keep Soto, it is worth it. He is a young, fantastic, generational player, and the Yankees can never draft these kinds of players because they keep winning too consistently (such a horrific problem!). Soto proved in his one season how much he means to Aaron Judge and the Yankees lineup. There is no Plan B. No combination of Alex Bregman, Cody Bellinger, Nolan Arenado, Willy Adames, or Ha-Seong Kim equals Soto.

I was surprised at how quickly Blake Snell came off the board when it was announced on Tuesday night that he had signed a five-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Especially since the Yankees had been mentioned among his suitors earlier in the day. Snell would have been nice, but I am not losing any sleep about his decision to take the Dodgers’ money and run. I like the early movement in the free agent market, which hopefully jumpstarts activity this offseason. Free agency has become such a slog through long and protracted negotiations, and waiting until February to see where the dust has settled has not been fun. Good or bad, it would be nice to see the acceleration of the Soto negotiations to bring resolution no later than the upcoming Winter Meetings. Even if Plan B does not equal Plan A (signing Soto), the Yankees need the time and the available talent to effect a quality backup plan. Not too many options left if Soto waits until January to sign.

As for Plan B, there are certain positions the Yankees need to restock regardless of whether Soto returns. The team needs a new first baseman. If you believe it can be Ben Rice, good for you. I do not feel the same. I want a more specific, proven commodity for the position. The Yankees need a new second baseman with the likely departure of Gleyber Torres through free agency. If Caleb Durbin wins the second base job, having both Durbin and Rice in the infield is too much youth (if there is such a thing). I would rather see one position learning to play the game at its highest level, not multiple positions. Anthony Volpe has proven you do not just turn on the light switch. It takes time. I have liked Cody Bellinger for the last few years, so I am certainly not opposed to his acquisition if it happens.

Conversely, I have long admired Nolan Arenado, but it does not mean I want to see Nolan as the team’s new starting first baseman. Arenado was a great third baseman, but he has reached the stage of his career where his best days are behind him. Bellinger provides insurance in center field and his proven ability to play first base. He is younger than Arenado, and it simply makes more sense. Arizona’s free agent first baseman Christian Walker represents the best option. I wish we could have gotten Anthony Rizzo earlier in his career. It is the best I have felt about first base in years. But, as Brett Gardner proved, age happens to everybody, and it has crept up on Rizzo. We need better, which can be provided by Walker or Bellinger.

Cody Bellinger

Christian Walker

As for second base, I would prefer Gleyber’s return. I know much of the fanbase would like to see him walk, but I like his job after he was moved to the top of the batting order. Realistically, however, I do not expect him back. If Caleb Durbin gets the job, I hope he proves the front office right. The other option is to move Jazz Chisholm, Jr. to second base (his natural position until the Miami Marlins thought otherwise). Moving Jazz just relocates the gaping hole from second base to third base. Given his recent injury history combined with his age, I have no confidence in DJ LeMahieu’s ability to contribute consistently and regularly. I think he is past his expiration date, at least in terms of wearing the Yankee pinstripes.

Corbin Burnes would be an excellent addition to play second fiddle for Gerrit Cole, but I do not believe the Yankees will pay top dollars for a starting pitcher. If anything, they will go after a young pitcher with potential. Not sure it is the best move, but the Yankees need more out of the other starting pitchers not named Cole. I wish I had faith in the farm system providing the next great arm, but this season did not give me confidence that one of the youngsters is ready to impress on the game’s biggest stage. The Yankees have proven to be very astute about building quality bullpens. It is time to show that level of expertise with the starting rotation.

Speaking of pitching, I was surprised to see assistant pitching coach Desi Druschel run across town to the Mets. There must be more to the story. If the Yankees had wanted to retain him, they would have. Maybe he became drinking buddies with Carlos Mendoza when they coached with the Yankees. Who knows? Matt Blake should bring in a replacement that will complement his daily work. Druschel is replaceable, so his departure is acceptable. If we have Blake, I feel better about pitching.

For as much good as Jose Trevino has brought to the Yankees, I was surprised the team did not non-tender him. It seems like the time for a changing of the guard is upon us, so I thought Trevino’s time was nearing an end. Perhaps it still is. I would be surprised if Carlos Narvaez were not the designated backup for Austin Wells when Opening Day arrives. Given how many catchers the Yankees have protected on the 40-man roster, it is an area of interest. Nothing against Trevino. I appreciate his work with the team; he has been a great Yankee, but time moves on, and it creates opportunities for better, younger players.

I want to avoid seeing the return of Alex Verdugo. I appreciate his ability to make me accept him as a Yankee this season after how much I despised him in a Red Sox uniform, but that aside, I am fine with one and done. He did not perform to the level that screams he needs to be a long-term Yankee. He was better than the circus of clowns the previous year, but the Yankees can improve. The improvement may be Jasson Dominguez. Maybe it is not. Dominguez deserves the opportunity to prove he can be the left-field answer. I'm not crazy about trying to develop a Major League second baseman while doing the same in the outfield, but Dominguez deserves the chance. Let the kid play.

Despite my frustrations during his time as a closer, I am saddened that Clay Holmes will depart. Good Holmes was great. Bad Holmes was awful. He did better when the closer role was lifted from him. If it were up to me, I would probably bring him back, but I think the Yankees will move on. Maybe they will surprise us. We shall see. As stated earlier, the Yankees are good at building bullpens, and I fully expect more of the same with or without Holmes.

I always look forward to the end of Thanksgiving weekend so that the actual Major League Baseball offseason can begin. I love the Winter Meetings even if I am disappointed more years than not. It is the highlight of the offseason. Then, we will wait for the gates to open in Tampa. Of course, this year, the Yankees will be holding Spring Training in the regular season home of the Tampa Bay Rays, the new…albeit temporary…tenant of Steinbrenner Field. It will be weird next season to see the Yankees play a “road game” at Steinbrenner Field and be forced to relinquish the home team’s digs to the Rays.

Oh well, it's time to sit and wait. I want to see the banner headline on MLB Trade Rumors read: Yankees To Sign Soto. C’mon, Hal, please make it happen.

Juan Soto (Photo Credit: @juansoto_25 via Instagram)

Daniel Jones finds a new home…

Many Yankee fans are Giants fans, so I routinely see the posts about the Giants on my X feed. I routinely saw negative posts about Jones while he was still with the Giants. After his release, my Minnesota Vikings surfaced as a potential landing spot, and I don't know how I felt about it. Sam Darnold has done okay as the Vikings’ starting QB after the free-agent departure of Kirk Cousins. How can you fault a man who has led his team to a 9-2 record? But Darnold is a one-and-done player (which seems to be a common theme in this post). He is on a one-year, $10 million deal with the Vikings, and he has increased his worth with his play this season. I do not expect him to return to the Vikings next season, not with young JJ McCarthy ready to hit the field again next year after he recovers from his season-ending injury this season. Nick Mullens is an excellent backup QB, but he is not someone I want to see starting consistently if the starter goes down. Brett Rypien is not his uncle, and despite how much he may know about football, he is replaceable. So, I am willing to take a shot with Daniel Jones.

Daniel Jones (Photo Credit: Cooper Neill/Getty Images/Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire)

Jones will join the Vikings on Friday after it was announced today that he was joining their practice squad. I see the practice squad as a temporary measure, and Jones will be part of the active roster sooner than later. It is an excellent opportunity for Jones to prove he represents good insurance for McCarthy going forward. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, a former quarterback, has proven to be a QB-friendly coach, and if he can coax better performance out of Darnold, he can do the same for Jones. Maybe Jones has limitations that can never be fixed, but he is an NFL quarterback and has value, at least as a backup QB for a young, promising player. Players like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and TJ Hockenson can make any QB look better.

I am willing to give Jones a chance. Everybody deserves a chance for redemption. It did not work out for Jones in New York, but it does not mean he is forever a failure. A different system. Different players. Different coaches, different schemes. Give it a chance. He will either succeed or fail. The upside is worth it. If it does not work out, move on. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. At this point, his Giants career is in the rearview mirror. Jones has the chance to rewrite the script. Let him.

Lastly…

I want to wish everybody a Happy Thanksgiving! We are thankful for the Yankees and Yankee fans everywhere. The Yankees Universe reigns supreme even if the trophy sits in Chavez Ravine.

As always, Go Yankees!

Sadly, the Season Ends or is it the Season Ends Sadly...

 

Carlos Rodon, Giancarlo Stanton, & Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: Jason Szenes/NY Post)

The Yankees botch their way out of championship dreams…

The World Series did not begin or finish as we would have liked, but I appreciate the 2024 New York Yankees making it to MLB’s Championship Series. Undoubtedly, much second-guessing and finger-pointing can be done, but it serves no purpose. The Yankees were beaten by the better team. A more deserving team? Maybe not, but ‘what will be, will be’. I congratulate the Los Angeles Dodgers, a franchise that has historically played second fiddle to the great Yankees teams over the last century.

The World Series loss does not need to define the current group of Yankees. We do not know who will take the field in 2025 outside of a select few, but I remember feeling as low as I have ever felt as a Yankees fan after the 1995 playoff loss to the Seattle Mariners in Don Mattingly’s final voyage wearing the famed Pinstripes. I think the next few years after that horrific loss ended well if memory serves correctly. The Yankees have much to do this off-season, but how they rebound will determine how history views them. There is time for Aaron Judge to prove that he can be a money player when the chips are on the line. I know his 2024 post-season was forgettable, and I have seen those who say it will define how they perceive him going forward, but why? I am more interested in watching Judge re-write his story next season.

There is no question the Yankees need Juan Soto. I am concerned. While I would like to think the Yankees made a strong, positive impression on the young slugger, I am sure he enjoyed the rock star reception he received at home and on the road as part of baseball’s most storied franchise. However, his agent is Scott Boras, and millions of dollars will be a more significant determinant of his next team than millions of Yankees fans.  Watching Soto go across town for the Mets or join the current World Series Champions will be tough. However, Soto’s final decision does not alter the fact that I love the New York Yankees.  I hope Hal Steinbrenner is actively involved in the negotiations and does everything he needs to ensure that Juan Soto and Aaron Judge are the keystone tandem for the immediate future. Soto’s presence helps Judge, and it helps everybody else in the lineup.  Soto’s return will help ensure the Yankees can return to the World Series with the right offseason moves. While I do not feel that Aaron Judge in center field and Juan Soto in right are the best alignments, the Yankees have an offseason to figure out the correct usage of the players if Soto returns. The Yankees are better with Judge in the right field, but Judge and Soto are more powerful together in the same lineup.

Juan Soto & Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

As much as I loved Soto this season, it was hard to fully embrace him, knowing he was possibly a one-year rental. I so hope that does not prove to be factual. I will fully embrace Soto next season if he returns to the Bronx on a long-term deal.  I wanted the Yankees to sign Gerrit Cole. They did. I wanted the Yankees to sign Aaron Judge. They did. I want the Yankees to sign Juan Soto. They…to be determined.

I was sad to see the Yankees decline the mutual option on first baseman Anthony Rizzo, but I hardly fault the club's decision. I wish we had experienced a young Rizzo, and I am grateful that we experienced the time we did, but the Yankees can do better at first base. I cannot say that I would be enthused about signing Mets free agent first baseman Pete Alonso, but he would be an upgrade. Even if I like Rizzo better than Alonso, Alonso is clearly the better player at this point in their respective careers. Although the Yankees should (and most likely will) move on from outfielder Alex Verdugo, Verdugo proved I could get behind a player I formerly despised. Marcus Stroman is in that category, too. Stroman’s finish to the season was not good, but I thought he did well enough as a middle-of-the-rotation starter. If you placed higher expectations, of course, you would be disappointed. However, I genuinely believe that both Verdugo and Stroman valued wearing Pinstripes, and regardless of what their respective futures hold, I wish them the best as they move forward. I think the Yankees will move on from both players. Yet, if they return, I will support either one, or I hope they can make the adjustments to make 2025 better than 2024.

The Yankees’ decision to pick up the club option on reliever Luke Weaver might be the easiest decision the Cashman Administration has ever made.  Weaver proved that he could carry the closing torch in 2025 and that it was worth more than the Yankees were paying him. I hope they take care of him and reward him for excelling in the bullpen when his pay was structured for a starter.  As much as I wanted the Yankees to replace Clay Holmes as closer, I appreciate Holmes was better in a setup role. It was probably not enough to convince the Yankees to bring him back, but he is another player who is most likely out the door through free agency, yet I would support his return.  The Yankees need to improve their bullpen in the offseason, and there is comfort in knowing that Weaver has the back door covered. He will need guys who can bridge the gap from the starters to keep games in position to win in the final inning (or two). If not, I hope the Yankees can find someone who can consistently be the “good” Holmes before Weaver takes the mound. 

Anthony Volpe must go on a soul-searching expedition this offseason to find his better self and discover what it takes to elevate his game to the next level. Go spend a few weeks in Florida with Derek Jeter. Fortunately, youth and talent are on his side, so I am cautiously optimistic he will arrive in Tampa next Spring as a man on a mission. I am not ready to say the Yankees need to find a new shortstop, but next season will be our final answer. 

Anthony Volpe (Photo Credit: Vincent Marchietta/Imagn Images)

The season is over, and I want Gleyber Torres back. I know he was frustrating for the average Yankees fan to watch this season, particularly the first half. Yet, he showed enough later in the year that it is not time to part ways.  He excelled in the problematic leadoff position and would be hard to replace. I would be sad to see Gleyber playing for a division rival or the Kansas City Royals next year. Maybe Caleb Durbin is destined to be an All-Star second baseman. Volpe proved that it generally takes time with any young, talented player. I would rather go with the certainty Gleyber brings in 2025 than handing Durbin his training wheels. Some will be happy to see Gleyber leave but do not count me among that group.  The Yankees need Gleyber to reclaim the AL Championship in 2025. They can make the World Series without him, yes, but the path is more accessible with him.

Gleyber Torres (Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg/NY Post)

I have long respected DJ LeMahieu. For the years I lived in Denver, he might have been my favorite Rockie on the local team. Despite the injuries, I have appreciated his time as a Yankee, but it is time to move on because of the injuries and his age. I am tired of the Yankees playing players out of position. LeMahieu is a second baseman who can play third or first. It does not mean I want him as the team’s starting third or first baseman.  Maybe the Yankees will move out of position third baseman Jazz Chisholm, Jr to second base, his natural position if Gleyber leaves, but in his case, there is a reason the Miami Marlins decided to move him to the outfield.  Hard to explain or understand any decision by the Marlins, but as the saying goes, where there is smoke, there is fire. For LeMahieu, it is time to bite the bullet and eat his contract ala Josh Donaldson and Jacoby Ellsbury.  I am not interested in seeing if he can stay healthy next season, as he will be a year older and on the fast track in the age regression lane.  Bring me legitimate third and first basemen!

The Yankees must either commit to helping Jasson Dominguez become a valued left fielder for the team or move on. Dominguez did not show enough to prove he is a 2025 answer, but I will support the Yankees if they believe he will. If they believe he cannot overcome his flaws, move on and find a left fielder who gives us the confidence of Brett Gardner in the role. I am tired of the continued black hole in the position since Gardy left.

As for the coaching staff, Aaron Boone solidified his return with the World Series appearance, and Brad Ausmus was an effective bench coach. I like Luis Rojas, and I thought he was an improvement over Phil Nevin, but it is time for a new third-base coach. Did James Rowson excel as the team’s hitting coach? I am not so sure. I could go either way on his return. Matt Blake will be back, as he should, but there is work to be done with the starting rotation and bullpen.  Travis Chapman remains the coach I know nothing about.

Gerrit Cole exercised the opt-out in his contract today, but I would be shocked if the Yankees let him go. He is the team’s ace, and nothing is comparable on the free-agent market (despite Blake Snell’s opt-out in San Francisco). Gerrit Cole is a Yankee and will be one when April rolls around. I fully expect the Yankees to add the one year at $36 million to his contract that will void the opt-out.  If Weaver was an easy decision, this is the second easiest. Or maybe the easiest when you consider what Cole brings to the rotation. If Hal lets Cole leave over $36 million, the team is not serious about contending next season. 

It is hard to think about any moves while Juan Soto is free. I want a quick resolution, but I know this will be long and drawn out. I hope it does not prevent the Yankees from making the other necessary moves to eliminate the 2024 flaws that prevented them from enjoying champagne at the season’s end. 

The Yankees generally disappoint us every offseason, and I expect this year to be no different. They always do a little but need more. Cashman, please prove me wrong. You, sir, are on the clock…

As always, Go Yankees!

Old Friends Reunited: The Yankees & the ALCS…

 

The Yankees celebrating ALDS Success (Photo Credit: NY Daily News)

Yankees Advance to Next Round by Royally Winning…

The Yankees are back where they belong…the American League Championship Series. The Yankees have made more ALCS appearances than any other American League club. Their total of nineteen appearances leads the Boston Red Sox, the team with the second most, by seven. The team is 11-7 in the eighteen completed championship series. They have won fifty total ALCS games, leading Boston by eighteen wins. Unfortunately, the Yankees have not won the ALCS since 2009 despite appearances in 2010, 2012, 2017, 2019, and 2022. The sixth time is a charm!

Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, & Jazz Chisholm, Jr (Photo Credit: NY Post/Charles Wenzelberg)

The Yankees now await the winner of the deadlocked ALDS battle between the Cleveland Guardians and the Detroit Tigers. On Saturday, they will play their winner-take-all ALDS Game 5 finale in Cleveland, Ohio. If the Tigers advance (likely…considering Tarik Skubal will be on the mound), the Yankees will get a chance to avenge the ALCS sweep by the Tigers in 2012. Cleveland last advanced to the World Series in 2016 before they made Anthony Rizzo and his then-Cubs teammates immortal in Chicago for the rest of their lives.

I do not care who the Yankees face. To be the best, you beat the best, so let the best team emerge from the final ALDS, whichever team that may be. Not that facing an awakening Jose Ramirez would be fun, but trust the men in Pinstripes. If the Yankees are the best team, they will beat whoever shows up for Game 1 of the ALCS in the Bronx.

With no disrespect to Captain Aaron Judge, the Yankees are in the ALCS, thanks primarily to Giancarlo Stanton, Gerrit Cole, Gleyber Torres, Luke Weaver, and Jon Berti. Berti’s name looks like an outcast in this group, but he stepped in and did an admirable job at first base for a non-first baseman. He could have quickly (and excusably, without experience) butchered the position. Clay Holmes was dominant in his new bullpen role. I am happy that he has rediscovered magic, but it does not mean that I would want him to reclaim his old job as the closer. I am 100% behind Luke Weaver and his quirky personality, zany sense of humor, and electric arm as the team’s designated closer. I was a little surprised in the offseason when the Yankees re-signed Weaver. I had no complaints about his work last year, but I thought the pitcher and the team would part ways in the offseason. There was nothing special about his 2023 performance, at least not what stood out to make him a “must sign” player. Yet, he stepped up to fill a tremendous void in the bullpen, first through setup and, lastly, through the back end of games. People say the Yankees should sign Kenley Jansen this winter through free agency. I like Kenley, even if he has many miles on his arm, but Weaver should be the man until he proves he cannot sustain the position. In other words, I would rather have Weaver over Jansen or virtually any other potential replacement. If the Yankees had a chance for an elite closer, Weaver should not stand in their way, but I do not believe the current Yankees regime will pay top dollar for the bullpen like they once did. So, the combination of the team’s current fiscal conservatism in the bullpen and Weaver’s emergence led me to believe Weaver was the right man at the right time.

Oswaldo Cabrera & Luke Weaver (Photo Credit: AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

It is too early to talk about next season, but I hope the Yankees can find it in their budget to sign Gleyber Torres to a new contract. He took so much heat early in the season, and a poll of Yankees fans would have favored letting him go in free agency. But his placement atop the batting order later in the regular season coincided with a resurgence that has made him a vital player for October. He will always botch a routine play now and again, but even the great and legendary Derek Jeter was not immune from making those. The hustle concerns are correctable, and he has shown improvement. Players like Aaron Judge help to elevate Gleyber’s play and performance. The body of work, at least what Gleyber showed over the second half of the season, warrants his return.

Gleyber Torres (Photo Credit: Brad Penner/Imagn Images)

Caleb Durbin may be an All-Star second baseman one day. Good for him. He has yet to prove it at the Major League level. Gleyber is playing like he wants to be the team’s starting second baseman today, tomorrow, and next year. Let him. If he suddenly becomes Daniel Jones after he gets the big money, that is the risk you face with anybody. If it happens, the team will have to deal with it at that time, but it should not stop the team from bringing him back based on what he currently means to the organization and the players he has gone to war with. Juan Soto will be a Yankee next season if the team pays him the most money in free agency, yet I think how they treat other players, like Gleyber, in the offseason will draw Soto’s attention. If Gleyber is treated poorly, it could be a deciding factor if, for example, the Yankees and Mets offered the same amount of money, causing Soto to jump to Queens. That might be an unlikely scenario, but Soto cares about his friends.

There were times this season when Gerrit Cole disappointed me. His late start out of the gate for health reasons (not his fault) was the primary cause. He certainly was not the ace he was in 2023 when he won the AL Cy Young Award, but he showed up for the series clincher against the Kansas City Royals. That is why he is paid big bucks. I always fear a Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde performance by any pitcher, ala Carlos Rodón, but Cole brought his “A” game (despite tiring late) when it mattered most. I am sure I will have anxiety in his upcoming starts, but he did what he needed to do against the Royals. I hope it continues when he faces either the Guardians or the Tigers.

I hope we get the best of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto for the ALCS. I am happy when the team wins, regardless of who makes the necessary hits, plays, and pitches, but the world is a better place when Aaron Judge and Juan Soto are the Kings of the World. For Judge’s Yankees legacy, I want to see him come up huge in the postseason. Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Bernie Williams, Andy Pettitte, and Mariano Rivera will forever be remembered for what they did in October. Judge will never match their number of rings, although I certainly would not complain if he did, but he can make a name for himself in the franchise’s long history of postseason success.  He is in a position that the great Don Mattingly could never reach. I loved Mattingly as a Yankee and feel the same about Judge. I do not want to see Judge come up short and never experience the feeling of being a World Champion in Pinstripes.

Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: NY Daily News)

Is this the year we can quit talking about 2009? I hope so. Keep it going, guys. Eight more wins to your destiny.

As always, Go Yankees!

Volpe's Fault the Yankees are in First Place...

 

Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: Robert Sabo/New York Post)

Young Shortstop draws fans’ ire despite current AL East standings…

I love social media. I worked all day and was unable to see the Yankees play. I got home, and the first Social Media post I saw was about how terrible Anthony Volpe is with a bat in his hands. Considering the Yankees won today, how about some positive posts about a team that has taken a three-game lead in the American League Eastern Division?

I have accepted that Volpe will not be one of the key offensive contributors for the 2024 Yankees. If he plays solidly on the field, you live with the consequences on the offensive side of the ball. It is September, and Volpe is the best option for the Major League club. If the team believes he will not succeed at their envisioned level, replace him in the offseason. Maybe Volpe will end up costing the Yankees their place in the playoffs. I doubt it would fall on one player specifically, but for the sake of argument, if it did, the Yankees had already decided who would take the field as the team’s starting shortstop. Good, bad, or indifferent, there is nothing we can do to change the result, and we can only hope for the best. But I refuse to trash on the player. I believe he will get better. It may not be this season, but I remain convinced in his ability, and I think he will make the necessary adjustments to take his game to the next level. It may be next season and if so, so be it. Trashing Volpe will certainly not suddenly make him the game’s next elite shortstop. However, it might hurt him in becoming the best player he can be, if that makes sense.

Anthony Volpe (Photo Credit: Corey Sipkin/New York Post)

I had certainly hoped for better results from Volpe, but I want him on this team and to succeed as a New York Yankee. Until he cannot perform at the necessary level for a championship-level club, I will support him.

Now, it is Clay Holmes, which is another matter. Holmes can be great sometimes, but when he is terrible, he is horrifically awful. Sadly, he gave me heartburn every time he took the mound in the ninth inning. Sometimes, it worked out; sometimes, the results were horrific, and games were lost. I wonder why the Yankees stood behind Holmes for so long, and much longer than it took the fan base to recognize that despite the All-Star selection this year, Holmes is not an elite closer. It is like the NFL. When a kicker goes bad, get rid of him. Not that I feel that way about every Major League reliever, but in Holmes’ case, he won the job when Aroldis Chapman flamed out as a Yankee because there were not really any other options. He did well enough in certain spots that he inspired the club’s faith in him, even if it never did for any of us.

I prefer to see Holmes in specific situations, not at the back end of games. So, I was highly relieved when the Yankees finally removed Holmes from their designated closer role after his twelfth blown save (talk about a dirty dozen). I have never been a fan of Closer by Committee, but I have temporarily swayed from my position as it is the best course of action. I only hope that Holmes does not somehow recapture his job, either in the remaining weeks of the regular season or in the postseason. Given that Holmes is a free agent at the end of the year, I cannot see the Yankees pushing hard to bring him back in any role. I think he has value as a reliever, but the Yankees have shown, for the most part, that they can build an effective bullpen. They do not need Holmes to make it so. He strikes me as a guy who needs a change of scenery for all concerned.

As far as the committee is concerned, Luke Weaver has done nicely. I like his emotion (which reminds me slightly of the guy who once wore his number 30, David Robertson). Yet, I do not believe Weaver should be the only closer. I like his situational role. Tommy Kahnle made the save in Sunday’s 5-2 win over the Red Sox. If the job gets done and games are won, I do not care who has an “S” after their name in the box score. The Yankees can find a solitary closer in the offseason. For the duration of the season, the closer committee gives the Yankees the best ray of hope.

The Yankees said goodbye to reliever Victor Gonzalez before the end of the season. The two off-season Dodger reliever pickups, Gonzalez and Caleb Ferguson, were huge disappointments. I wondered why the Dodgers were so willing to part with them last offseason when the trades with the Yankees happened; what’s the catch? They knew, and now we know. To Ferguson’s credit, he is pitching much better for the Houston Astros than he did for the Yankees, but neither former Dodger was worth the time and trouble. Gonzalez had cleared waivers back in June and had been outrighted to the Minor Leagues, but the Yankees concluded they had seen enough. Gonzalez has been released. Of course, he will probably go to Baltimore, Houston, or some other team the Yankees will see in October and light it up. Oh well, C’est la vie.

Back to the Yankees, they are currently 87-63 with the three-game advantage over the Baltimore Orioles, 84-66, who were presumably everybody’s pre-season favorite to win the division. They could still win the division, but their chances will obviously diminish if the Yankees can keep winning. Not that I expect the Yankees to steamroll teams to season’s end, but I am not convinced the Orioles are up to the challenge. Playing like an elite team is hard when you cannot keep your starting pitching healthy. The Orioles are a talented team, and I fully expect them to be back to contend as one of the American League’s best next year. Still, this season’s Orioles squad is headed for the land of underachievement, barring a complete turn of events for their team.

The Orioles lead the Wild Card chase with a comfortable four-and-a-half lead on the second Wild Card contender, the Kansas City Royals. The Minnesota Twins are two-and-a-half games behind the Royals for the third and final Wild Card slot. The Yankees' next opponent, the Seattle Mariners, is on the outside looking in as they trail the Twins by two-and-a-half games. The Yankees series looms as a critical postseason determinant for the Mariners. We will indeed find out which team wants it more this week.

The comeback wins by the Yankees on Thursday, and Friday was fun, but Saturday’s defeat was like an ice-cold shower. Thankfully, Aaron Judge whacked his 53^rd homer on Sunday to ensure the Yankees were positioned correctly for the win, allowing the Yankees to win the series, three games to one. As great a player as I think Aaron Judge is, I know that Juan Soto’s presence has helped make him better. It reinforces why the Yankees need to sign Soto this offseason. Judge will be good regardless of who is on the roster, but when he has elite support, his level of greatness rises exponentially.  I know where Soto was when Judge hit sixty-two home runs, but I honestly believe Judge might have hit more if Soto had been batting behind him during the 2022 season. I am convinced that Judge and Soto can win a World Series together, and if given time, they will. It may not be this season, but it can and will happen. Maybe the Yankees need a new general manager and/or manager, but that is talk for another time.

Jasson Dominguez, Juan Soto and Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: Adam Hunger/AP)

For as disappointing as the Yankees have been at times this season, how can you argue with their current placement in the standings? You do not win a World Series in the regular season. You get placement in the playoffs and then let the magic show begin. This formula is currently trending in the right direction.

As always, Go Yankees!

The Yankees: Glass is Half-Empty...

 

Aaron Judge and Juan Soto (Photo Credit: The New York Daily News)

Yankees can win it all, but will they?...

The off-season move to acquire one season of Juan Soto was a huge move by the Yankees, but if the team had listened to its fanbase’s additional demands for a strong starting pitcher, it may have been the decision maker between parity and greatness. I know, the Yankees are leading their division, but they certainly do not feel like a team of destiny. The combo of Juan Soto-Aaron Judge is unmatched in baseball, and it could all go for a naught. 

The Yankees lead the American League East Division and will roll into September with at least a half-game lead if the Baltimore Orioles win their Saturday night contest in the Mile High City against the Colorado Rockies. The Yankees are lucky the Orioles have never been able to find their stride, given the strong young talent on their roster. Being the division leader this late in the season is great, but there is much baseball to be played before the final standings are confirmed.  Magic numbers are a few weeks away from media magnification.  The Orioles could still run away with the division if they managed to hit their machine into gear although they do not quite have the starting pitching to do it.

Cashman’s decisions (or lack thereof) are the deciding factors in this year’s pennant chase. The opportunity to build an elite contender was there, but they settled for ‘not quite enough’ under the perceived theory that October baseball is just a crapshoot. 

After Saturday’s game, the Yankees announced that 1B/C Ben Rice had been optioned to Triple-A, along with Saturday’s starter (and loser) RHP Will Warren.  This means the likely return of Anthony Rizzo. Everybody likes to speculate that the lane is opening for the callup of outfielder Jasson Dominguez, but the club continues to send out signals that we probably will not see The Martian roaming the Yankee Stadium outfield in September. I like Will Warren, but he is not ready for Major League Baseball. I had hoped this would be the year for Clayton Beeter to make his ascension to the Major Leagues, but injuries had other ideas. Warren had his opportunities, but he is not an answer for the final weeks of 2024. 

In the offseason, I had wanted the Yankees to sign Jordan Montgomery. In retrospect, that move would have been a disaster as demonstrated by his dismal performance in the Sonoran Desert for the Snakes that led to his recent demotion to the bullpen. But I also pitched for Blake Snell. “Second-half” Snell would have looked fantastic in Pinstripes. 

At this point, the cavalry rescue for the starting rotation will be the return of Clarke Schmidt which is looming. Otherwise, the Yankees need to focus on the bullpen. I am extremely disappointed in deadline acquisition Mark Leiter, Jr. I had high hopes for the return of a Leiter to Pinstripes, and I had hoped it would be a successful union between player and club.  He has only proven that Jazz Chisholm, Jr was the sole successful deadline acquisition. While I do not expect the Yankees to DFA Leiter, it would not surprise me if they did. The Yankees already jettisoned the other reliever acquired at the deadline (Enyel De Los Santos) so they may as well make it a deuce. The only hope is that at least one (or more) of the relievers on the Injured List can step up in a hurry and contribute in a big way. Back spasms recently derailed Ian Hamilton (at least temporarily). Hopefully, the other have better success working their way back.

I do believe the Yankees should take a mix-and-match approach with their bullpen rather than rolling with Clay Holmes as the designated ninth inning closer.  Forget about who accumulates the saves. Worry about who protects the wins. Look for the right matchups that favor the pitcher regardless of who is on the mound.  If I had greater faith in Holmes, I would feel differently, but given the makeup of the bullpen, the Yankees cannot afford the volatile Holmes to close out close games when every game matters.    

Austin Wells has made me a believer that he is the team’s starting catcher and deserves the lion’s share of starts behind the plate. This is not intended to disrespect Jose Trevino who has performed admirably as a Yankee. Wells can be a key player in the lineup, and he obviously needs to play to excel. Let Trevino be Gerrit Cole’s personal caddy.  It is nice to see Wells perform like we expected when the Yankees drafted him. So many of those high draft picks fade into oblivion. Well, unless your name is Aaron Judge. Wells brings the strength to the catching position that has been missing since Jorga Posada retired. 

Austin Wells (Photo Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)

The Yankees should designate Alex Verdugo for assignment. I am not worried about a competitor picking him up. He is not going to help anyone win in October. He might be a great defensive replacement for somebody, but his bat will scare no one. The Yankees will not re-sign him in the offseason, so he is not part of the future, and he is not helping the present. I would rather see Jasson Dominguez in left field. Dominguez can help now and in the future. This left field upgrade does not seem like rocket science to me. 

I have always been a fan of DJ LeMahieu, and I was happy when the Yankees re-signed him several years ago even if the contract was a little too long. But his performance this season continually raises the question “what have you done for us lately?”. The answer is nada. If a player is not helping, move him out of the way for someone who can. I would be surprised if the Yankees cut LeMahieu and I would love to see him rediscover the fountain of youth (and hitting). I just cannot say that I am optimistic he will. Loved Brett Gardner, but there is a time for everybody to go.  The time has arrived for LeMahieu. The Yankees should be preparing their exit strategy for LeMahieu rather than continually giving him at-bats. I would so love to see LeMahieu make a huge contribution in September to help the Yankees win and rub it in my face. As Sabrina Carpenter says, Please, Please, Please.

For a team that leads its division, I should be more optimistic. Sadly, I am not feeling it with the team as currently constructed. They have the potential of winning (every team this year is flawed), but I think the team’s weaknesses will be magnified and exposed in a short series playoff format. Another historic Aaron Judge season that will potentially end in failure.   

What coulda, shoulda been…if the Yankees fail, the blood will be on Brian Cashman’s hands.

Brian Cashman

For the record, I hope this is not the only season in Pinstripes for Juan Soto. His presence on the team has been a joy this year, even during his slumps. He makes those around him better, and the Yankees will be stronger with him on its 2025 roster. He never needed that magical moment when he truly became a Yankee. He made it happen on the first day he pulled the jersey on. In all my years as a Yankee fan, I do not think I have ever seen a superstar player transition so smoothly to the team from the day of his arrival.

Juan Soto, New York Yankees

I hope Hal Steinbrenner pulls out all stops to make Soto a Yankee for life. Juan Soto and Aaron Judge can win together. It may not happen this year, but if given the chance, it will happen in the future. I am confident. Maybe changes need to happen in the front office, and/or on the bench, but those two players are the cornerstone for greatness. Hal Steinbrenner has the money and the influence to find the right people to make it happen.

As always, Go Yankees!

Winning Yankees Baseball is Better...

   

Aaron Judge and Juan Soto (Photo Credit: @Yankees via Instagram)

Hoping the Yankees have turned the corner…

After a dismal month of play, two wins against the Baltimore Orioles in this weekend’s three-game series will not make me pronounce the Bronx Bombers are back, stronger than ever. The Orioles have had their own struggles over the past few weeks while the Yankees played MLB’s worst baseball. The Chicago Cubs swept the Orioles in a three-game series this past week. The Cubs pummeled Baltimore by a combined score of 21-2. It’s encouraging that the Yankees have won a series (by taking at least two of the three games against Baltimore) …finally… but they are not out of the doghouse yet. We share the concern for the team's recent performance, but if they can get on a roll to start the second half, the team can prove they are here to stay, not just another pretender.

The upcoming All-Star Break offers a much-needed respite for players not named Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, and Clay Holmes. I would be okay with Judge and Soto being substituted for early in the All-Star Game on Tuesday or if Holmes did not get a chance to play. What matters most is the well-being of our Yankees. A rested, healthy team in the second half of the season is more important to me than watching a handful of elite players in a game that holds little significance.

I am not trying to remove the highlight of the three Yankees at this year’s All-Star Game. I always prefer to see as many Yankees as possible in the MLB’s showcase exhibition game, but this year, the health of the team’s most valuable assets is paramount. The Yankees will only go as far as Judge, Cole, and Gerrit Cole will take them. Starting pitching held together long enough to bridge the gap until Cole could return, but the Yankees would not be so lucky if they lost Judge or Soto for an extended period.

The Yankees will be tested to open the second half. They must beat the Rays, Mets, Red Sox, and Phillies this month to prove they have recaptured their groove in the last two games. Easier said than done. The Yankees face the Rays and Mets at home but will be on the road for Boston and Philadelphia. By the end of the month, we should know what this team is made of and if the team warrants upgrades by the deadline to make a run for October. The upcoming games are crucial and will determine the team's potential. So, in the big picture, I could not care less about the All-Star Game. But I am fully engaged, as I understand that the outcome of these games will shape the Yankees' future. Winning Yankees Baseball takes precedence over all else.

After Saturday's win, the Yankees have recaptured a share of first place in the AL East. The O’s have a slight edge (57-38, .600 winning percentage) over the Yankees (58-39, .598 winning percentage), but they are tied for all intents and purposes. Given how bad the Yankees have been playing recently, it is incredible that they remain in the AL East dogfight. The Boston Red Sox, a testament to the value of a strong manager, are only four and a half games behind the AL East leaders.

I wish to boldly state that the Yankees will obliterate the competition in the coming weeks and months, but realistically, the team has flaws that have been exposed. I am not sure that deadline acquisitions can cure what ails the team. As they say, we will soon find out since time will tell, as it always does.

I never once thought Clay Holmes purposely threw the pitch at the head of Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad on Friday night. He may have been trying to pitch in on Kjerstad, but, unfortunately, he failed to locate the pitch properly, and it struck the side of Kjerstad’s batting helmet. I am grateful that Kjerstad was not seriously injured. I get Orioles manager Brandon Hyde’s quick jump to the defense of his players, even if it was a little over the top. I would expect Yankees manager Aaron Boone to be as passionate if it had happened to one of his players. I am not purposely trying to defend Hyde’s actions, but I understand why he was upset even if Holmes did not intend to hit Kjerstad.

Benches clear at Camden Yards (Photo Credit: NY Daily News)

The Orioles placed Kjerstad on the 10-day Injured List for concussion-related injuries, so he needs some rest before he is ready to play again. I hope there are no long-term complications. We certainly pray for a quick and speedy recovery. You never want to see anyone hurt, regardless of their uniform.

Life was easier when the Orioles were a doormat in the AL East.

The Yankees have had their own bouts with the Injured List lately. On Friday, infielder JD Davis was surprisingly placed on the 10-day Injured List with stomach flu. The move is retroactive to July 9, 2024. The Yankees called up infielder Jorbit Vivas to replace Davis on the active roster. No 40-man roster move was necessary since Vivas was already on it. I am not sure we would have noticed if the Yankees had removed Davis from the active roster without any formal announcement.

Will the Yankees allow Vivas to play? Or will he see a few Major League games from the bench before he returns to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre? I am not sure when Vivas arrived in Baltimore to join the team, but two games into this series, Vivas has yet to appear. Given how down people are on Gleyber Torres, the Yankees should play Vivas at second base for a glimpse into the future. If you think he is good enough to be activated to the Major League active roster, he is good enough to play. He will potentially be the team’s starting second baseman in 2025. I say the future is now, and the Yankees should let him begin the Major League indoctrination into the speed of the higher-level game. Some things cannot be taught in the Minor Leagues. The faster we can ramp up Vivas, the better. I like Gleyber Torres, but he is on the fast track for a change of scenery caused by his inconsistent play.

DJ LeMahieu’s decline has also opened chatter about the need for a new third baseman, a position Vivas can play. On a side note, Oswald Peraza's stock has fallen significantly, and it seems like he is destined to follow the path of former top prospect Estevan Florial as an organizational flame-out. Including lower-level rehab games, Peraza is batting .211/.329/.297, with a .626 OPS, in the minor leagues this year. He has hit only one home run at the Triple-A level and 17 RBIs in 164 Triple-A at-bats. By comparison, Vivas hit .258/.404/.424, with a .828 OPS, at Triple-A this season. He had 5 homers and 19 RBIs for the RailRiders in 132 at-bats. Vivas deserves a chance to play regardless of how or why he earned his MLB opportunity. Taking LeMahieu out of the lineup is not going to hurt the team’s offense and, in fact, might help it.

Trade options are limited for third base. The Angels’ Luis Rengifo seems to be the most frequent name, but he is currently on the IL with wrist inflammation. Ryan McMahon of the Colorado Rockies is another name frequently mentioned, but it seems improbable that he will be traded. Cincinnati's second baseman, Jonathan India, is also mentioned, but the Reds are only three games out in the NL Wild Card chase. With the thin available talent at third base, a reunion with Gio Urshela is probably on the table. I would prefer to see Vivas take the position, either at second or third and run with it. The Yankees need to cure the ailments of at least one of those positions in the coming days. Rengifo and McMahon would be apparent upgrades for third base; however, I am skeptical they will be traded. A Rengifo trade seems likely, but wrist inflammation is troublesome even if no broken bones exist. Trading for injured players is not a great recipe for success.

Angels manager Ron Washington and medical staffer with Luis Rengifo (Photo Credit: Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Yankees GM Brian Cashman generally moves in different directions than most people expect, and I think this trade deadline will be no different. I have no idea who the Yankees will target, and considering the extended poor play by the team, I am not entirely convinced the Yankees should part with top organizational talent to fill its current holes. The next few weeks should show if the team can make a run, and there is no doubt the Yankees are looking at all options. I just wish the dumpster diving would cease. Play the kids or trade for proven talent. The American League is wide open this year, and the Yankees can claim the league championship this season if they make the right moves. Hoping for ‘lightning in the bottle’ with players who have worn out their welcomes with their existing teams will not improve this year’s Yankees squad. They need to start playing winning baseball against winning teams. The Orioles will be hard to stop if they start hitting like we know they can. The Yankees must grab the divisional momentum now and keep it going if they intend to hold off the young, talented, albeit pitching-challenged, Orioles. Setting aside any feelings about whether the Yankees should change their manager and/or general manager, the team must make moves that matter regardless of whatever they may be. I am not predicting a World Series championship this season…there is too much time left before October…yet the Yankees can find the path to MLB’s final games if they play their cards right. No pressure.

The Yankees also called up catcher Carlos Narvaez on Saturday to replace Jose Trevino, who was placed on the 10-day Injured List. Trevino suffered a left quad strain while sliding home in the ninth inning of Friday night’s game. Ben Rice can obviously catch, but his focus must be on first base for the near future. It seems like Wells will get most of the starts in Trevino’s absence after the position was essentially a job-share. While I want to see Narvaez make a strong impression, I am hopeful Wells will use the opportunity to advance his game. We know Wells has the talent to be an offensive force, which may be the break he needs to accelerate his Major League growth. Sorry, I am trying to find positives in losing Trevino for a few weeks.

Cashman was dumpster diving again on Friday. He signed former Toronto Blue Jays reliever Tim Mayza to a minor-league contract. Mayza, 32, was recently designated for assignment by the Blue Jays and subsequently released. Yankees fans will remember Mayza as the pitcher who gave up Aaron Judge’s AL record-tying sixty-first home run in Toronto during Judge’s historic 2022 home run chase. I doubt this move will prove fruitful, but you never know. I never thought Michael Tonkin or Luke Weaver would become mainstays in the bullpen.

Speaking of players designated for assignment, my first thought when the Philadelphia Phillies released Whit Merrifield this week was that he would become Brian Cashman’s latest reclamation project. The Yankees had always liked Merrifield, and there seems to be some ‘destiny’ associated with it. I probably have mixed feelings. His play this season led to his release. Is this the player his new team will be getting, or will they get the player who was productive as recently as last year? I am not sure the Yankees should take that chance. Age happens… for a case in point, see DJ LeMahieu. If the Yankees do sign Merrifield, I will support him. If another team signs him, c’est la vie. This move will not bring champagne stains to the Yankees clubhouse floor.

As always, Go Yankees!

Impatiently Waiting for the Offseason Rebuild...

 

DJ LeMahieu & Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: Chris Young)

I miss the words, “The Yankees”…

The Major League Playoff Season is exciting for many fans, particularly those in Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, Minneapolis, Baltimore, Phoenix, and Philadelphia. The fans in Houston and Los Angeles are just waiting for the later rounds before they get excited since they do this every year. Meanwhile, the playoffs are a roadblock for the improvement of baseball’s greatest team, the New York Yankees. No step toward the betterment of the Pinstriped Product will happen until the Atlanta Braves walk off the field with the World Series Championship.

I am ready for changes.

Other teams have already jumpstarted their offseason game plans. The New York Mets, proving they might no longer be the New York Mess, quickly made the decision to jettison respected, experienced manager Buck Showalter after hiring David Stearns as the team’s new President of Baseball Operations.  I kept wondering when GM Billy Eppler would get his walking papers, so it was no surprise when he stepped down this week. Credit Eppler. He may not be a great general manager, but he does know how to read writing on the wall. There was a time I thought the Yankees should have promoted Eppler to GM when he was Brian Cashman’s assistant general manager, but Eppler proved me wrong.  Sometimes the best moves are the moves never made although I would never apply that to my desire to see Cashman replaced. 

I expect the Mets to be better in 2024 which of course places the pressure on the Yankees to improve, or at least it should.  I have no desire to see Buck Showalter as the Yankees manager. I saw many of those posts on social media after Showalter announced his departure from the Mets. Like Joe Girardi, we have been there, and done that, and I have no wish to travel down either of those roads again. I want to see Buck return to studio work for the YES Network. He offers great insight, and he is a valuable resource. The Yankees need a stronger bench coach, but I wonder if Buck would be interested in that type of role.

In the last couple of days, I have seen posts that say the Yankees expect Aaron Boone to be “tougher” in 2024. Boone is who he is. He is not going to change. If he starts acting like Mister Tough Guy in the clubhouse, players are just going to laugh at him. When I saw that the Cleveland Guardians were interested in talking with Bench Coach Carlos Mendoza about their vacant managerial seat (due to Terry Francona’s retirement), I was excited and hopeful that he would get the job. Mendy is a trusted coach who has the respect of the players, but the Yankees can do so much better for the vital bench coach role.  I keep saying it, but Boone needs someone who is not afraid to question him, to challenge him. Boone may be the decision-maker, but he needs to make better decisions. A strong bench coach can improve him if Boone fully commits to the chosen individual. Boone seems like a fair, open-minded guy. I am sure he wants to improve. All of us like to be surrounded by people who make us better. Boone is no different.    

Aaron Boone (Photo Credit: Gene J Puskar/AP)

I have accepted that Aaron Boone will be the Yankees manager in 2024. There are no indications that he will be fired. I blame most, if not all, of last season’s disaster (technically, it is still this season, but I have already moved on) on Brian Cashman and the Front Office. The roster construction was horrific, and they failed to adapt to the elimination of the shift.  Everything that went wrong, outside of the players injuring themselves, can be traced to the Front Office. If the Yankees roll out the same bodies in the same front-office positions in 2024, I fully expect more of the same disappointing results. If the Yankees cannot improve, they should expect to be a doormat for the Orioles for the next few years. 

Brian Cashman is not going to be fired either although I think it is a mistake. Inevitably, there is nothing we can do about it short of not buying tickets and merchandise. We may be frustrated but we are still Yankee fans, and we will support our team. Brian Cashman is the Yankees' General Manager until he is not.

So, for now, we will wait. We hope the disastrous results of the 2023 season are weighing heavily on Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner’s mind, and it will spur him to act. Hal will never have his father’s passion for the Yankees' success. Their definitions of success are vastly different. Yet, even Hal’s conservative, analytical mind can recognize success on the field drives the profits off it. Give the Braves their damn trophy so that we can get started on the offseason rebuild.

The Gang of 17

MLB Trade Rumors posted projected arbitration salaries for 2024 for all MLB teams today. The MLBTR projections were created by Matt Swartz.  The MLBTR post is titled Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2024.  

The Yankees have 17 arbitration-eligible players. Here are the projections with names and estimated salaries for 2024. Further information about service time and various implications can be found in the MLBTR post.

 Lou Trivino, $4.1 million

Gleyber Torres, $15.3 million

Clay Holmes, $6.0 million

Jonathan Loaisiga, $2.5 million

Kyle Higashioka, $2.3 million

Franchy Cordero, $1.6 million

Domingo German, $4.4 million

Nestor Cortes, Jr, $3.9 million

Jose Trevino, $2.7 million

Matt Bowman, $1.0 million

Michael King, $2.6 million

Ryan Weber, $990K

Billy McKinney, $1.2 million

Jake Bauers, $1.7 million

Jimmy Cordero, $900K

Clarke Schmidt, $2.6 million

Albert Abreu, $900K

I look at this list and see a whole lot of future ex-Yankees. Realistically, the only players who should return in 2024, barring any trades, are Gleyber Torres, Clay Holmes, Jonathan Loaisiga, Nestor Cortes, Jose Trevino, Michael King, and Clarke Schmidt. You can make an argument against Loaisiga based on his injury history. Otherwise, I have no trouble moving on from the other players. Kyle Higashioka may be the longest-tenured Yankee, but it is a numbers game, and the future has arrived for Austin Wells. Brian Cashman will always be dumpster diving and I am sure he will have new fringe players in camp on non-roster invitations next Spring. Players equal to or better than the fringe players above can be found.

I have not been in favor of trading Gleyber Torres, however, an expected salary of $15.3 million does give one reason to ponder. It seems clear Torres is not in the Yankees’ long-term plans. They would be fine with Anthony Volpe at second base next year, with Oswald Peraza and his better arm taking shortstop. I expect the Yankees to make up for the offense in other areas. Or at least, I hope. If the Yankees can use Torres as a trade chip to help improve the roster, go for it. I was tired of how much Josh Donaldson’s season salary prevented the Yankees from making smart moves. Torres offers production, which Donaldson did not, but building a team is about putting your dollars in the right places. The Yankees are deep in middle infield talent in the minor league system, and the high dollars for Torres are better used in building a diverse, adaptable, resilient roster capable of sustained success.  We have seen what happens when holes in the roster are left unattended. 

Clarke Schmidt did exactly what I had hoped he would do this season. He learned, he adjusted, and he got better. Granted, he may have positioned himself as trade bait, especially with the terrific starting performances by Michael King late in the season, but he was a joy to watch after a frustrating start. I would like to see Schmidt’s return unless his departure means the arrival of a guy like Juan Soto.  Any deal involving Schmidt needs to be a significant acquisition, otherwise, I would rather see the Yankees hang onto him. There should be no Jordan Montgomery for Harrison Bader type of trades for Schmidt.

 

Clarke Schmidt (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

I included Holmes as a guy to keep although I would prefer to see him replaced as the team’s closer. He is a good reliever, just not the guy I want at the back end of games. Nestor Cortes has much to prove next year. He needs to show that 2022 was not an aberration and, just as importantly, he can stay healthy. 

I am anxious for the offseason to start. The next few weeks are going to be a sludge. When the final out of the World Series is recorded, we can turn the page on 2023 and go all-in for 2024. Braves, go ahead and run the table. Just get this thing over. The Yankees have work to do.

As always, Go Yankees!