A New Season, Are We Ready? ...

  

Devin Williams (Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg, NY Post)

The Yankees regroup for another run at the Dodgers…

Given the circumstances, this was one of the shortest off-seasons of recent memory. Of course, it would have been better to enter the shortened off-season with victorious feelings, but it was short, nonetheless. As a side note, f**k the Dodgers.

I am disappointed the Yankees were unable to sign Juan Soto, but conversely, I do not want players on the Yankees who do not want to be Yankees. Soto worshipped the almighty dollar, and it is his right. He wanted a team that he could be THE guy, and with no disrespect for the great (and future Hall of Famer) Francisco Lindor, he has it with the Mets.

I was pleased when the Yankees moved quickly to sign the former Atlanta Braves ace Max Fried (totally unexpected) and acquired a long-time favorite target, Cody Bellinger. Yeah, I kind of like the Clay to Cody connection with the Yankees, but the younger Bellinger earned his right to wear pinstripes. Unlike his father, Cody will be asked to play a significant role with the Yankees. His home run bat flips will soon become legendary in Yankee Stadium. I always go back to Darryl Strawberry in players that I loved to watch hit home runs, and I think Cody can elevate himself to Straw’s level, at least to my perspective. As much as I wanted Soto back, I am glad that Aaron Judge can return to right field, and I am equally stoked that Bellinger, rather than Jasson Dominguez, will roam the hallowed center field at Yankee Stadium. With no disrespect to young Dominguez, I think Belli in center is the highest and best use of his skills, with the occasional detour to first base.

Cody Bellinger (Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg, NY Post)

I am glad that Dominguez is finally primed for his Major League opportunity. Last year seems like a lost year for him, and I hope he can give us that ‘worth waiting for’ effect. I feel a little bad for Alex Verdugo, who was not asked back. I know he underwhelmed us, but I give him credit for changing my perception of him. I did not like him as a Red Sock, but he changed that image, and he embraced the pinstripes during his time in the Bronx. Of course, he will say and do things to make him a hated villain at his next stop, but for a year, he was ‘all-in’ as a Yankee, and I appreciate his effort. Dominguez deserves next so I have no problem with the change in left field. My only surprise was that the Dominguez chose #24 over the recently vacated #25. As a namesake of former Yankee first baseman Jason Giambi, I was certain he would take Giambi’s number if given the opportunity. Instead, he goes down the path of the legendary Tino Martinez.

Having one of baseball’s best closers, Devin Williams, at the back end of games is huge, but I am a little saddened because I think Luke Weaver was fantastic in his brief tenure as the team’s closer. The guy remains one of the key bullpen weapons and I am hopeful that his resurgence continues in 2025. Luke Weaver has an amazing personality to go with his talented arm, and I am glad he is a part of the pen, regardless of the role. I like the way Andrew Miller was utilized a few years ago as the best arm at the right time, regardless of the inning. Weaver can be that guy.

I am a little disappointed that Tommy Kahnle is now a Detroit Tiger, joining persona non grata Gleyber Torres. But I am cautiously optimistic that Fernando Cruz can be that key strikeout artist when it is needed the most. The Yankees know how to build effective bullpens, even if they like to punt other positions. I think Aaron Boone will be armed with multiple late inning options, and I think Devin Williams will have his greatest, if not most visible season, ever. Too bad the beard was not able to make the trip to the Bronx. One of these days, a player will stand up to the Yankees’ archaic facial hair policy. I was hoping…a little…that Williams would be that guy. At some point, Hal Steinbrenner needs to make his own decisions and forget about what Daddy wanted. I know the facial hair policy gives the Yankees an air of professionalism that other teams do not have, but I think they can keep rules in place to enforce neatly groomed facial hair, avoiding the Johnny Damon ‘Caveman’ look in Boston, or Justin Turner’s mass of redness flow when he was a Dodger. 

Third base. The source of my greatest disappointment this off-season. Look, I loved DJ LeMahieu earlier in his career. But even then, he was a second baseman with elite defense and limited power. An aged version that spends time on the Injury List that would rival Aaron Hicks does not excite me about the future of third base. You want power from your corner infielders, and you want elite defense. Maybe LeMahieu can provide the latter when/if he is on the field, but he has no power, and his best seasons are behind him. I see many fans who think Oswaldo Cabrera can be the breakout star. I am not convinced. I think he is a great super-sub at best. As for Oswald Peraza, I assume there is a reason the organization has not been high on him in recent seasons. I would love him to grab the position and never look back, but that is not a bet I care to make. I remain hopeful the Yankees will do better and make an acquisition before the end of Spring Training. I do not like the ‘let us re-evaluate the position at the trade deadline’ position. Too often, the trade deadline leaves us underwhelmed. For as many cons as there are against St Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, I would gladly accept him over the internal options. Nolan is a first-class guy with elite defense. The bat is not what it once was, but I think the pinstripes would reinvigorate him and he could give us a performance that helps position the team for October. I am not on a Nolan-only train. I will accept other alternatives so long as they are better than LeMahieu-Cabrera-Peraza.

So, the Yankees are discussing an extension with Aaron Boone. For as frustrated as I have been at times with Boone, the Yankees could do worse. I cannot think of anyone that is immediately available that would be substantially better. I was always hopeful that Don Mattingly would return to the Yankees as manager, but I am not convinced he would be far above Boone. Although I would support a managerial change, I will not be disappointed if the Yankees choose to add additional years for Boone. At the end of the day, it is the quality of the players on the field and the coaches around the manager that matter more. If Boone can foster an environment that helps the players find comfort in challenging situations, which of course he can do, he should stay.

I am anxious and ready for the season to start. The Dodgers have seemingly made the moves to ensure that they will be repeat champions in the Fall, but as they say, the games must be played on the field. There is no guarantee that the Dodgers, with their loaded roster of elite players and deferred contracts, will be victorious at season’s end.

I am getting ready to move to a non-Major League city. It sucks to have no immediate access to Major League Baseball, but I will have Triple-A at my disposal. I guess it means that ticket prices and concessions will be more affordable so that is a plus. I have always enjoyed watching minor league games involving future Major Leaguers. I remember once watching Cal Ripkin, Jr in Double-A (not trying to date myself but it is what it is) and it is a memory I have never forgotten.

Hopefully, I can get the YES Network in my new city. DirecTV should be an option since my new home has access to the southern skies. I will not miss California gas prices, or the overwhelming glut of people on the LA freeways. But sadly, I will miss the weather. I think California would be more enjoyable if I had Shohei Ohtani’s paycheck, okay with the deferrals that may be a bad example, so let’s go with Mookie Betts. For my new location, I will go with the quote ‘Tread Lightly.’  Time for new experiences, and most importantly of all, a home that will be seven miles from my first grandson, who joins this party in May.

As always, Go Yankees!

A New Year for Pinstriped Dreams...

  

Happy New Year to Everyone in the Yankees Universe…

Happy New Year!

2025 has arrived, but, naturally, the 2025 New York Yankees are not yet a finished product. General Manager Brian Cashman has work to do to complete his roster masterpiece after the Yankees were forced into Plan B with the departure of prized free agent outfielder Juan Soto who signed with the crosstown Mets.

The biggest hole is either second or third base depending upon where you place Jazz Chisholm, Jr. While I felt Chisholm did well when asked to play out of position at third base, the Yankees would benefit from a ‘tried and true’ third baseman with above-average defensive skills. I think Chisholm can be a better third baseman if he focuses on it exclusively in Spring Training (a training environment he did not get last year as an outfielder for the Miami Marlins). Yet, I think the Yankees would be better served by moving Chisholm back to his original position of second base which was vacated by the free agent departure of Gleyber Torres, now a Detroit Tiger.

As such, the Yankees need a third baseman. The present roster options are DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Oswald Peraza. It is tough to get enthused about any of those guys. LeMahieu will be 37 years old this summer. His health challenges will persist. They are not going to get better as he continues fighting Father Time. LeMahieu would be best served playing the utility role he originally signed with the team for. I like Oswaldo Cabrera, but I remain unconvinced that he is more than bench depth. Last year seems like a lost year for Peraza. I do not feel that he did anything to warrant consideration as a starter on the Major League roster. We may not know all the reasons for why the organization held him back, but the fact they did should give us pause regarding Peraza.

The best and only hope is the team’s starting third baseman is not yet on the roster.

Fans love to speculate about the options. Every talked-about choice is polarizing. After much mention of St Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, it was shot down by Jack Curry on a recent episode of Hot Stove on the YES Network when he stated that there was not interest in Arenado within the Yankees organization. But like Mike Axisa said, things can change with a phone call. I know Arenado will be 34 in April, but he is still a good baseball player at the plate and on the field. Sure, Arenado and current Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt had down years for the Cardinals last season, but it was a down season for the entire team (you cannot place the blame solely on those two guys). I think both are capable of having rebound seasons. They may never reach the heights of their respective prime seasons, but the best versions of their current selves can help the Yankees win a championship. I like Nolan, and I would be happy to see him run out to third base at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, March 27 in the top of the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado (Photo Credit: Gregory Fisher/USA TODAY Sports)

I would even be willing to accept Houston Astros cheater Alex Bregman, a free agent that seems likely to land in Detroit, Boston, or Toronto soon. Again, it just takes a phone call. Until Bregman signs a contract, he is fair game for any team, including the Yankees. Well, not the Miami Marlins since they have already tapped out after spending **checks notes** nothing this offseason.

Other names have been mentioned, but regardless of who we are talking about, it is a given that Cashman and his team are evaluating players about whom we are NOT talking. While it is possible the Yankees could make a surprise announcement that they have acquired Arenado, it is equally possible we will see the acquisition of a name we were not expecting. If the Yankees feel they can acquire a young player on the cusp of a breakout season, I think they have earned the benefit of the doubt. Not everybody works out, but I remember being slightly underwhelmed when the Yankees acquired Tino Martinez from the Seattle Mariners to replace Yankees legend Don Mattingly when he retired. Maybe it was more about not wanting to see Mattingly go but I was deeply disappointed about the news. Martinez had big shoes to fill…despite the odds, he succeeded. He may not have been Don Mattingly, but he gave us the best version of Tino Martinez which was one of the key factors to the team’s dynasty success in the late 1990s. An incoming third baseman for the Yankees is not being asked to fill the shoes of a legend, but the point is that we need to give time and patience to the player if for no other reason than the Yankees believe the player is the right choice for the current opportunity. If he becomes a Joey Gallo sized failure, then we can tear into the choice.

So, for as frustrated as I have been with Cashman at times, I do believe he and his team have the proven ability to uncover untapped potential. My fear or my biggest gripe would be for the Yankees to do nothing further this offseason and go into the season with twenty-six men off the current 40-man roster. To stop short like they did a couple of seasons ago by not filling left field with a strong player. If we can do better than LeMahieu, Cabrera or Peraza at third base, I trust the organization to make the right choices. There is pressure on them to succeed.

Personally, I am hoping for Arenado’s acquisition but realistically, I think the Yankees will go the young up-and-comer route. The player ready for a breakout season. They will not be wrong when the decision is made. Only time will tell but given the circumstances, I am willing to gamble with the Yankees on this one so long as they make a move. Doing nothing is the worst possible outcome.

The Yankees also still need bullpen help and a backup catcher.

Whether the Yankees re-sign Tim Hill or sign former Tigers lefty Andrew Chafin, they will do something. I still hope for a reunion with Tommy Kahnle. A reliever could also be part of a potential trade for third baseman although that could be a two-way street with relievers. I am confident that Clayton Beeter will be a bullpen breakout next season, but the Yankees need more than just him. The Yankees have developed the knack for ‘Build-A-Bullpen,’ so I am not too worried.

It is possible that JC Escarra or Alex Jackson wins the backup catching duty vacated when Jose Trevino was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. However, I do not feel that either player can be anointed the backup ahead of Spring Training. The Yankees need other options. When the Los Angeles Dodgers designated a former top prospect, catcher Diego Cartaya, this week to make room for the free agent signing of Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim, it immediately caught my attention. I would love to see the Yankees get a hold of Cartaya to see if they can help him realize his potential. He is only twenty-three, so he is still young. I would prefer Cartaya over Alex Jackson based on his potential alone. I think Cartaya would benefit from the tutelage of Yankees Major League Field Coordinator and Director of Catching Tanner Swanson.

Diego Cartaya (Photo Credit: Mark J Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports)

It should be noted that Hyeseong Kim is not the San Diego free agent infielder Ha-Seong Kim, another rumored (fan-speculated; not organizational insiders) Yankees target. I have no problem with the MLB-experienced Kim other than my hope is the team’s third baseman has power. Kim hit seventeen homers in 2023, but only eleven last season. With the Padres’ Kim, you would most likely put him at second and keep Chisholm at third which is the scenario I would like to avoid if possible.

Speaking of coaches, there have not been any announcements about the formalization of the 2025 coaching staff. While most will return to continue their present roles, the Yankees still need an assistant pitching coach for Matt Blake. The Yankees website continues to show Desi Druschel as the Assistant Pitching Coach, but he left for the Mets earlier this off-season.

The Yankees website also loves to carry over a player’s number from his previous team regardless of number availability with the Yankees. Paul Goldschmidt shows number 46 which we know will not be unretired for Andy Pettitte. When the Yankees acquired Trent Grisham last year, they showed him with number 2. It was only a matter of time until Grisham was updated with number 12. I think Goldy should take forty-eight since he prefers numbers in the forties. He wore forty-four with the Arizona Diamondbacks and forty-six with the St Louis Cardinals. The only downside to Goldy wearing forty-eight is that it is the number of the beloved player he is replacing (Anthony Rizzo). If Kahnle returns, maybe he wants his old forty-eight back which would open forty-one for Goldy or he could take Luis Severino’s 40. I guess we will find out in about a month and a half.

One hundred years ago (the 1925 season), the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Washington Senators (now the Minnesota Twins) in seven games. The Senators were the defending World Champions after defeating the New York Giants the previous year. Is 2025 the year the New York Yankees can defeat the defending World Champions? I hope so. I want a rematch with the Dodgers. If not the Dodgers, bring on the Mets. To return to the World Series, the Yankees need a strong third baseman. Can they, do it? I hope so. I am counting on Hal Steinbrenner pulling out all stops to ensure that the team has a successful return to the Fall Classic with a better outcome. If he is not pulling out all stops, then he needs to question if the Steinbrenner Family is the right fit for the New York Yankees in this century and investigate the possible sale of the team to an owner capable of competing with the big boys.

As always, Go Yankees! 

Gleyber Moves On...

  

Gleyber Torres (Photo Credit: AP)

Torres, once a prized Baby Bomber, departs via free agency…

 I suppose it was inevitable.

Gleyber Torres, the prize of the 2016 trade that sent Closer Aroldis Chapman to the eventual World Champion Chicago Cubs, is a Yankee no more. Only yesterday people were continually asking if he was only twenty-one. Now twenty-eight, he seems like a shell of the player we once thought he would be, but admittedly, I was saddened to hear Saturday’s news that Gleyber had signed a one-year, $15 million contract with the Detroit Tigers.

Gleyber Torres, Detroit Tigers 2B

Given the Yankees have not done anything to address third base or provide the final and much-needed bat to the lineup, the best-case scenario would be to re-sign Gleyber if the plan is to keep Jazz Chisholm, Jr at third base. I know, the poor . He had 709 OPS produced last season and had an atrocious defense at times, but I have always felt he was capable of more (better). Sometimes, it is best to just cut bait rather than delay the inevitable. I was grateful last season when Gleyber improved his performance in the second half, and he did an admirable job batting lead-off. Alas, it was not enough to convince the Yankees he was worth bringing back.

Ironically, Gleyber will now play for the manager who led the Trash Can Astros and their cheating ways. Oh well, I hope Gleyber does well enough on his one-year deal to justify a more lucrative contract next offseason. I will always be disappointed it did not work out and wish there had been a different outcome. However, a change of scenery for both sides was needed. As such, it was the only viable outcome.

Gleyber finishes his seven-year Yankees career with 888 games played. In 3,673 plate appearances, he hit 138 home runs and drove in 441 runs. His batting line was .265/.334/.441 with .774 OPS. Unfortunately, he also accumulated 106 errors, including eighteen this past season. He had a career .967 fielding percentage with the Yankees. He is what he is. He can help you with his bat, but he will give a few runs away with his glove.

We move on.

Jazz Chisholm, Jr is a talented guy. With Gleyber removed as a second base option, Jazz becomes my favorite for the position opening third base. While Jazz did a decent job at third base, I want a tried-and-true third baseman who can effectively field and hit. Is that too much to ask? I have concerns that the Miami Marlins thought so well of Jazz’s abilities at second base that they moved him to the outfield. I am sure there were other factors at play. I do not doubt Jazz’s talent. Hopefully, the Marlins were just being the Marlins, the joke of a franchise that caused Derek Jeter to wash his hands of them.

Jazz Chisholm Jr and Aaron Judge

There was a time when I wanted DJ LeMahieu as the starting second baseman. Those days have passed. DJ has not been a reliable part of the lineup for several years. At his age, things will not miraculously get better. He has become a player that is best used sparingly, making him a prime candidate for the bench. I have seen people pencil in Oswaldo Cabrera, but he is not a championship-caliber everyday player. He is a talented, diverse player but a bench option. How the Yankees managed Oswald Peraza in 2024 told me enough about what they think about his future. He is not an option.

The Yankees should spend the money and sign free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman. I think Bregman would be a strong player for the Yankees, but I do not feel his contract fits in the grand scheme. It is not my money; the Yankees have the money, but it is their decision. I like Nolan Arenado, even if most of the Yankees fan base does not. However, like Bregman, cash is prohibitive. I doubt the Cardinals will pay much of the freight, and the Yankees would need to part with quality prospects to make a deal happen. It seems like the obstacles are too significant. I have seen people throw out Alex Bohm of the Philadelphia Phillies as an option. I know less about Bohm than Bregman or Arenado, but I favor any player who can hold third base at a level better than the league average.

I am not sure what the Yankees will do, but they need to do something. Going into training camp as the roster stands today is a mistake. It would just be another offseason in which the Yankees did not do enough to bridge the gap to a championship.

Waiting for the offseason plan to unfold sucks. Hopefully, there will be better days between now and the opening of the training camp in February.

In other moves, the Yankees need to finish their bullpen work. Bring back Tommy Kahnle, and sign either Tim Hill or Andrew Chafin. I am partial to Hill since he has shown he can help the Yankees, but I would not be disappointed with Chafin even if he lost his menacing beard. I would love to see the Yankees sign Jack Flaherty, but that seems like a pipe dream. Shipping out Marcus Stroman's contract is necessary for any significant moves. I wish Stroman could have proven himself to be upper-rotation material for the Yankees, but regardless, he can help…somebody.

I am pleased with the offseason additions of Max Fried and Cody Bellinger, even if the return of Juan Soto would have been more impactful. I am…optimistic…that the Bronx will reenergize Paul Goldschmidt. At worst, he will be an improvement over Anthony Rizzo (which is painful to say, given how much I loved having Rizzo as the team’s first baseman). Devin Williams, supported by Luke Weaver, will be a beast at the end of the games. Nice to have one of the game’s better closers again (which is not a knock against Weaver, who I thought was terrific in the role).

I am interested to see who the Yankees hire as Matt Blake's assistant pitching coach. The Yankees’ website still shows Desi Druschel, who departed earlier this offseason for the crosstown Mets.

Lots of work to do for Team Cashman. The only question is whether they will do it.

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!

We (Yankees Fans) Were Wrong...

 

Clarke Schmidt (Photo Credit: Steve Nesius/AP)

The Emergence of the Team’s Best Pitchers…

For most of the past offseason, I was focused on the Yankees finding help for the upper echelon of the starting rotation. I was on board with the ‘Sign Jordan Montgomery or Blake Snell’ train and was prepared to see good prospects leave for then-Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Dylan Cease. I was concerned about a repeated dismal performance by Carlos Rodón in his second tour of duty. I was a little uneasy about having Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt as rotation dependents after ace Gerrit Cole landed on the Injured List to start the season.  I did not envision Marcus Stroman as “the” primary pitching acquisition (or rather the only one). With no offense to Marcus, who has been great both on and off the field, my sights were aimed at a solid number two starter.  Stroman is 100% a guy every team needs, and I am glad he is a Yankee, so I am not trying to diminish his value to the team. Yet, when the season started with Gerrit Cole on the shelf, I was concerned that the Yankees lacked an elite starter to make up for Cole’s absence. However, the team's resilience and the emergence of our current pitchers have given us hope and optimism for the season ahead.

Despite previous doubts, Brian Cashman and his team of strategists operate on a different level. They had faith in Clarke Schmidt, believed Luis Gil was a better fit in the starting rotation than the bullpen, and were convinced Carlos Rodón would return to the form he displayed for San Francisco in 2022. They were right on all counts. Meanwhile, I swung and missed with a strikeout on that trio of hopes, as I did not believe any of them would pan out. I was not alone. Many in the Yankees Universe shared my skepticism. Every time Luis Castillo shines in Seattle, Luis Severino shows glimpses of his former self in Queens, or Dylan Cease dazzles in his new San Diego uniform, the Yankees fan base yearns for what could have been. Yet, the most viable solutions were already on the Yankees roster.

It would not be fair to compare Jordan Montgomery's or Blake Snell's current stats with those of Schmidt and the others, considering that Monty and Snell did not benefit from complete spring training. But one thing is clear: Schmidt, Gil, and Rodón were precisely what the team needed, and regardless of what Montgomery or Snell achieved for the rest of the season, our guys are holding their own.

At age 28, Schmidt cemented his place in the rotation this season. I am grateful he was not included in the Juan Soto trade over the winter. As much as I hated to see Michael King go, losing Schmidt would have been worse. In nine starts, Schmidt is 5-1 with a 2.49 ERA. He has fifty-five strikeouts in 50 2/3 innings. He may not be Gerrit Cole, but he has given the Yankees a reliable rotation starter who gives the Yankees a chance to win every time he takes the mound. He continues to improve (much like his growth curve last season) and has rewarded the patience the Yankees have afforded him.

Luis Gil, 26, has posted remarkably similar stats. He is 4-1 with a 2.51 ERA in eight starts and has 48 strikeouts in 43 innings of work. Schmidt and Gil deserve much credit for the team’s strong 2024 start after last year’s disappointing 82-80 season.

Luis Gil (Photo Credit: @Yankees via X)

It can be argued that Nestor Cortes, Jr is the weak link in the starting rotation, yet he held the Chicago White Sox to only one unearned run over seven innings on Friday night. The starting rotation, collectively, has provided consistency, reliability, and dependability for the first two months of the season. It masked the slow starts by some of the team’s offensive stars. The bullpen gets tremendous credit, significantly Closer Clay Holmes, who has taken ‘bend but not break’ to a higher level; however, the Yankees would not be where they are without their starters.

I am proud of all five current starters, even with a few hiccups along the way. Determining who will lose their starting gig will be difficult when The Ace returns from the Injured List. This stuff has a way of working itself out, but as it stands today, I would move Nestor to the swingman role. Schmidt and Gil have proven their worth, and their highest and best use is starting pitching. Nestor shows he can be a strong rotation option (as he displayed on Friday night in the Yankees’ 4-2 win over the White Sox), but his talents are better suited for a swing role. Once upon a time, Ramiro Mendoza was one of my favorite Yankees in that role. Cortes can be as good, if not better. It is funny that it is the role I had envisioned Gil for before the season began, but like anything, opinions can change. We live in a ‘what have you done for me lately’ world.

I am glad I was wrong about the state of the Yankees’ starting pitching…or that WE were wrong as I do not recall hearing many Yankees fans who were screaming ‘Maintain the Status Quo!’ about the team’s starting pitching during the most recent session of the Hot Stove League a few months ago.

I am sorry for not believing in them during the offseason. I am incredibly proud of how most of the Yankees’ pitchers have delivered this year. It is too early to forecast a World Series, and the Yankees need to figure out a way to beat the Baltimore Orioles, yet I am excited about this Yankees team. This season has a unique feel, regardless of how it ends.

Pick up the phone, Hal…

If there was ever a player the Yankees should negotiate with in-season, Juan Soto is that guy. It has been easy to see how he plays the game on a higher level. Like any player, he is susceptible to slumps, but it is hard to find a more lethal player when he is right. He was exactly as advertised, only better. Fans clamored for years that Soto would be perfect for the Yankees’ lineup, and unlike the previous topic regarding starting pitching, the fans were correct.

Juan Soto (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Soto looks like he enjoys life as a Yankee, and there is no doubt that we appreciate him. Hal Steinbrenner needs to proceed with an offer that entices Scott Boras to negotiate an extension for his prized client before the player reaches free agency. Scott’s history indicates that he will let the free agent wars decide Soto’s next contract, but I am hopeful there is recognition of how much Soto and the Yankees need each other. Regardless of when the next contract is written, Soto will be financially set for the rest of his life.

It is positive to hear Hal Steinbrenner openly discuss possible negotiations this week. Steinbrenner generally steers clear of that talk and avoids in-season negotiations. Again, Soto is the exception to the rule. Break the bank. Keep the guy in Pinstripes. He will wear those pinstripes to the Hall of Fame one day. Although it has subsided recently, I am tired of the Soto-to-the-Mets talk.

It is time for Hal to call Scott Boras. This is the first step to a powerful payday that hopefully ensures Juan Soto calls the Bronx home for years to come.

Help is on the way…

Oswald Peraza and Tommy Kahnle have been on rehab assignments and should be ready for activation before the month ends. I feel bad for Jon Berti, but he appears to be the odd one out when Peraza and DJ LeMahieu return to the active roster. LeMahieu began his rehab assignment on Friday to be ready to join the team in early June. I want to see Peraza spend less time in Triple-A. He needs to play at the Major League level, whether with the Yankees or another team. I prefer the Yankees, but for the player’s sake, he deserves a Major League opportunity if the Yankees will not play him.

Oswald Peraza (Photo Credit: Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

We have yet to see much of Kahnle on his latest tour in Pinstripes. I hope he stays healthy and becomes a force in the pen again. He has long been one of my favorites, and I want him to succeed. It is not like everybody in the bullpen is killing it right now. If Kahnle rebounds to form, there is room to push out guys not named Clay Holmes or Luke Weaver.

I am happy to see Peraza, Kahnle, and LeMahieu close to returning. The Yankees have some tough decisions ahead as they maneuver the active roster. There will be some hard choices to make. I have no idea where the Yankees will play Jasson Dominguez, who is also rehabbing. Before the season, it was easy to say Alex Verdugo should be the odd one out, but now I am unsure. Verdugo has done better than expected, and the formerly unlikable player has become likable. Dominguez can be the better player, and the Yankees have more extended control over him, so Dominguez makes the most sense to stay. Yet, trading Verdugo does not make sense, even if he will be a free agent at the end of the season. Maybe rethink it in July, but Verdugo is part of the magical chemistry the team has exuded this season. As much as I like Dominguez, I am trying to think about his return when it happens. I know I am not ready to part ways with Verdugo. I hope this sorts itself out to everyone's mutual satisfaction.

As always, Go Yankees!

Yankees & the All-Star Injury List...

 

Carlos Rodón (Photo Credit: David J Phillip/AP)

Yankees player (insert name) will miss time…

In the famous words of Mad Magazine’s Alfred E. Neuman: What, Me Worry?

The Yankee injury news this week felt like a gut punch.

So much for my excitement to see Carlos Rodón make his home debut at Yankee Stadium in the regular season’s second game against his former teammates, the San Francisco Giants. GM Brian Cashman gave the somber news this week that Rodón will not be ready for Opening Day due to a brachioradialis strain in his multi-million dollar left arm.

He will not pitch for seven to ten days and will have to restart his season’s preparation, a process that will take at least six weeks. He should be ready by late April. As cold as it can be during the season’s first few weeks, Rodón gets a pass on the fickle New York weather. This could have been worse news. Rodón had Tommy John surgery in 2019, but fortunately, his ulnar collateral ligament is strong. The fear, of course, is that the forearm strain could lead to further problems down the road.

Rodón commented if this had occurred later in the season, he may have pitched through it. He dealt with the same type of strain last season with the Giants and did not miss any time. Hopefully, the Yankees dodged a bullet and Rodón will be a force in the starting rotation in the not-so-distant future. 

Sadly, Rodón is not the only player who will see time on the Aaron Hicks Honorary Injured List. The Yankees have also announced Harrison Bader will miss time with a left oblique strain. The injury occurred during Wednesday’s game while swinging during an at-bat.  Core injuries are concerning given how difficult it can be to avoid re-injury.  Hopefully, Bader will miss the least amount of time and will be patrolling center field before Rodón returns.

When Spring Training opened, the worst injury news was Nestor Cortes, Jr’s hamstring strain and how it might delay his season. Now he is looking like one of the healthier players on the team. We already knew that Frankie Montas will miss most of the season after shoulder surgery. Now comes word that the other player received in the dreadful deal with the Oakland A’s at last year’s trade deadline, Lou Trivino, will miss time with an elbow sprain. The Yankees truly gave up their top pitching prospect, plus a few others, for guys who will provide nothing for the Yankees in the foreseeable future. Trivino is not expected back until May, but if he needs surgery, it could be longer. 

The bullpen has taken a hit with the temporary loss of two valuable veterans. In addition to Trivino, Tommy Kahnle is out with biceps tendinitis. Late March had appeared to be the possible end of the line for the latest Yankees chapter of Albert Abreu, but the injuries increase the likelihood he will make the Opening Day Roster. Jimmy Cordero is probably a beneficiary as well. The season has not yet started, but we are already playing the latest ‘Next Man Up’ round. 

Trying to run down the list of injured Yankee players is kind of like trying to keep up with all the 2023 celebrity deaths.

While Kyle Higashioka is away at the World Baseball Classic, catching has suddenly become a rare commodity in camp. Ben Rortvedt had a procedure for an aneurysm in the posterior artery of his left shoulder, Austin Wells has a fractured rib, and Josh Breaux will miss a few weeks with an elbow injury. When the injuries occurred, some fans feared the potential signing of former Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez, which is never going to happen. Instead, the Yankees pivoted to former Tampa Bay Rays catcher Nick Ciuffo. Ciuffo is a former first-round draft pick (chosen twenty-first overall by the Rays in the 2013 MLB Draft), but he has never developed into a Major League hitter. 

Nick Ciuffo (Photo Credit: Smiley N Pool/The Dallas Morning News)

I think Mike Axisa referred to Ciuffo as a ‘poor man’s Rob Brantly’. He is right (as usual). Ciuffo, only 28, has played for four other organizations since his release by the Rays in 2019. After making his Major League debut in 2018, Ciuffo has only played in 21 Major League games, batting .188/.259/.292 (.246 wOBA and 54 wRC+). Yet, with Higgy away and Rortvedt out, Ciuffo holds the valuable backup role behind Jose Trevino. At one point, I wanted the Yankees to trade Higgy and acquire a catcher like Sean Murphy before he was dealt to Atlanta. Now I cannot wait for Higgy to return. Ciuffo is only an injury away from seeing time in the Bronx. Yikes! Here is hoping that Yankees catching coach Tanner Swanson can work his magic with Ciuffo.

Last week, I was wondering if Domingo German or Clarke Schmidt would win the fifth spot in the starting rotation and now both will be in the rotation. It is an opportunity for Schmidt to prove he is the long-term answer. 

Opening Day is under three weeks away. Hopefully, the Yankees can keep the remaining healthy players on the field. Not sure I can take more injury news. 

Farewell Estevan Florial

Estevan Florial is a Yankee as of this post, but his time is coming to an end. While Spring stats are generally meaningless, Florial is a guy who needed to play like his career depended upon it because it does. Unfortunately, the former top prospect continues to hit like an outfielder’s version of Nick Ciuffo. In ten Spring games and twenty at-bats, Florial is hitting .150/.227/.200 (.427 OPS).  Sadly, those numbers point to his Yankees exit.

Whether it is a trade for a low-level prospect (if another team feels it can unlock Florial’s potential) or simply a release, Florial is not making the Opening Day Roster. Out of options, the Yankees have no room for him, and it is time to say goodbye. Rafael Ortega and Willie Calhoun are more capable options for the reserve outfielder role. 

I am disappointed with this one. I had high hopes for Florial. I once believed he was a long-term solution for center field, and then later, left field. In the end, he was not a solution at all. He has become the latest chapter of Jesus Montero. An overhyped Yankees prospect who fizzled out. 

For Florial’s sake, I hope he can find success at his next stop.

Anthony Volpe Time

With the disclaimer that I did not personally hear it, Michael Kay said on yesterday’s The Michael Kay Show that Anthony Volpe has a real shot to make the team.

I continue to believe he will open the season in Triple-A, but I certainly would not be disappointed if he heads north with the team later this month. My fear with Volpe is the hype and expectations. It seems if he is anything less than Derek Jeter, fans will be disappointed. I believe Volpe will be a good player in his own right, but I will never try to compare him to anybody other than to hope he is better than Isiah Kiner-Falefa. I will be happy if Volpe makes the team but conversely, I will not be disappointed if he gets sent down. When Volpe is ready, the Yankees will make room. I do firmly believe that Volpe will make his Major League debut in 2023 and I look forward to it. I want to see the player he can become. 

Anthony Volpe (Photo Credit: Gerald Herbert/AP)

Both Volpe and Jasson Dominguez have been major revelations this Spring. Sure, they are the top prospects in the organization, but they have shown they belong. I wish Dominguez was closer to the Major Leagues as he would look beautiful in left field. Patience, Young Grasshopper. Volpe first, and then Dominguez. Hopefully, the two men can win a few World Series together. 

I have seen a few articles calling for Volpe to choose a lower number. I have no problem at all with 77. I think there is magic in double-Mickey Mantle. Maybe it did not work for a red-haired flameout, but Volpe can make the number work to his advantage. I would like to see him keep it over dropping down to say 11, 14, or 18. 

I guess we will soon find out about his number choice. Sooner than I expected if Michael Kay is right.

Passing of Jesús Alou

I was saddened to hear former Major Leaguer Jesús Alou has died at age 80. Alou was part of the famed Alou brothers, which include Felipe and Matty. Felipe is the father of Yankees third base coach Luis Rojas and a former Yankee (1971-1973). Felipe is also the father of former Major Leaguer Moises Alou, half-brother of Luis.  

Left to right, Jesús, Matty, and Felipe Alou (Photo Credit: MLB.com)

Jesús Alou had been a scout for the Boston Red Sox since 2002. During his fifteen-year career, he played for the Houston Astros, Oakland Athletics, New York Mets, and San Francisco Giants. He won two World Series championships as a bench performer for the A’s. 

The Alou name is baseball royalty. Even if he was working for the wrong organization, Jesús Maria Rojas Alou will be missed. My condolences to Luis Rojas and his family for their loss. 

As always, Go Yankees!

Aaron Judge is a Yankee...

 

Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Team’s best player chooses to remain in Pinstripes…

Yankees to Sign Aaron Judge

As totally and completely expected, Aaron Judge signed a new contract to play for America’s greatest baseball team. Yeah right. Although I believe there are those of you who never wavered in your confidence he would re-sign, I suspect more people were like me who had our moments of doubt.

Credit Judge for playing his free agency as great as a man who hit the American League single season home run record.  Clearly, at his age (nearly 31), Judge was at a disadvantage compared to guys like Bryce Harper and Manny Machado who cashed in while still in their late 20s. I remember reading an article a few years ago that said Judge would never get the ‘big money’ because of his age. Nine years and $360 million later, I say Judge is doing alright. He has the highest annual average value ($40 million) for a position player, helping to set a precedent for future players to achieve and exceed. No doubt the New York Department of Taxation and Finance loves that Judge, AAV leaders Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, plus Gerrit Cole, work in New York State. 

I was watching Twitter for news on Tuesday afternoon when MLB Insider Jon Heyman posted the now infamous “Arson Judge appears head to Giants” tweet.

My heart sunk. I literally saw life without Judge as a Yankee, and it was a gloomy thought. I think the release earlier in the day by Time Magazine naming Judge as the 2022 Athlete of the Year set us up for the harder fall. In the magazine article, Judge had predicted his future when he recalled a statement he had made in 2010, “I said, in 10 years, I’ll be married to Sam and playing for the San Francisco Giants.” Congrats to Judge for the recognition as Athlete of the Year, but the words in the magazine certainly detracted from the joy of the award.

Although Heyman’s tweet was retracted within minutes, Susan Slusser, the noted Giants beat reporter, continued to tweet that word on the street through insiders and team executives that Judge was, in fact, likely to sign with the Giants.

Later in the day, with reports that Judge was flying to San Diego, GM Brian Cashman claimed no knowledge of Judge’s trip during an interview on the YES Network. It struck me as odd at the time. In retrospect, Cash was telling the truth. Judge was traveling to Hawaii but had chosen to stop in San Diego to meet with the San Diego Padres for a few hours before resuming his flight to Hawaii to celebrate his first wedding anniversary with his lovely wife, Samantha.

Going to bed Tuesday night, I was very pessimistic about the Yankees’ chances to retain Judge. 

I never tried to look at Judge’s free agency as I would have in his shoes. A homegrown superstar with records as good or better than the legends of the organization, a fanbase that truly loves him, the chance to play his entire career for the most storied franchise in baseball history, the possible captaincy of the team, and so on. There are so many countless reasons to stay. But I do not know Judge personally. I do not know his personal ambitions and motivations. We know his professional ambitions…to be the best, a champion, and a tremendous supporter of his teammates. Yet personally, Judge holds everything close to the vest. We did not know how strong the pull to return home to California would be.

If you have ever been to San Francisco, it is a wonderful city with a beautiful ballpark. The city has a charm that few cities can match. The team has history with some of the greatest names to have ever played baseball. Hey, I love New York but I live in California. I get the attraction to the Golden State.  I believed it was possible that Judge could decide to play for his childhood team despite the overwhelming reasons to stay in New York.

When word had surfaced the Giants were offering nine years at $360 million while the Yankees were allegedly holding at eight years, there were rumors the Giants were prepared to go higher. The Giants were motivated to make Judge the centerpiece for their franchise, despite an earlier signing of former Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger, another Northern Californian coming home.  True or not, the Padres were prepared to offer as much as $400 million over fourteen years.  There is some believability in what the Padres would offer given their pivot to lure free agent shortstop Xander Bogaerts from Boston for 11 years and $280 million. 

To Judge’s credit, and probably with a huge assist by Manager Aaron Boone who had called Judge on Tuesday night to let him know what he meant personally and professionally for Boone and the team, he called Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner, who was vacationing in Italy. Not-so-shallow Hal asked Judge if he wanted to be a Yankee and what it would take. Judge conveyed his desire to remain in Pinstripes but needed the ninth year to match the Giants offer. Hal agreed, and Judge accepted. Despite being on the West Coast, I was awake early Wednesday morning when I saw Ken Rosenthal tweet that Judge had decided to stay with the Yankees. Huge relief!

Hold right there. At that point, Aaron Judge could have turned around and called the Giants and Padres and they would have sweetened their offers. He did not and this is where I have the most respect for Judge in how he handled these negotiations. People scream about the money but if the Yankees did not pay it, another team would have. Judge could have used the Yankees to leverage the other teams to commit to even greater dollars. I do not feel that Judge used the Giants or the Padres. I believe he and his wife legitimately listened to the conversations with the other organizations to gather as much information as they could in making the most critical financial decision/commitment of their lives. Once the Yankees met what he was seeking, Judge was satisfied and the decision to stay with the Yankees was made.

We routinely knock Hal Steinbrenner but without his personal involvement, I am not entirely sure we would have reached a favorable outcome. The Yankees cannot stop here, however, bringing back Judge was the biggest move the team had to make this year and they did it. I am confident the Yankees will find another starting pitcher, a left fielder and perhaps another bullpen arm. Today, I am happy and relieved Aaron Judge will be playing for the New York Yankees on Opening Day 2023 when they play the San Francisco Giants. I really did not want to see Judge trot out to right field in the bottom, rather than top, of the first inning. 

Welcome back, Aaron! All rise and celebrate!

Aaron Judge (Artwork by noted and brilliant American painter/illustrator Graig Kreindler)

Hot Stove continues to boil

It seemed like all the talking head insiders were touting Carlos Rodon to the Yankees this week. Nothing has materialized…yet…but I am hopeful the Yankees make this level of commitment. The years scare me (seven, if true). Rodon is only 30 so it is possible he can still be an effective pitcher at the end of his contract, health-permitting. As the best starting pitcher on the open market, he makes the most sense.

Carlos Rodon (Photo Credit: Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Last offseason, the fan base was focused on Luis Castillo, Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea. Granted, the Yankees got Montas at the trade deadline, but he was hurt and the drop-off from Castillo was huge. I really do not want to settle for the second, third or fourth options available. I want to see the Yankees sign the best free agent starting pitcher which is Rodon. The Miami Marlins are not trading NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara, and their other pitchers are not as good as Rodon. The other free agent options, like Nathan Eovaldi, Chris Bassitt, and Sean Manaea are not as appealing either. I have even heard the names of Noah Syndergaard and Drew Smyly. No thank you.  Rodon or bust.

For some reason, the Carlos Correa rumors linking him to the Yankees have re-surfaced. I am not convinced the Yankees would add another $300+ million contract so Correa seems unlikely. I have not forgiven him for his role in the cheating scandal, but I would not be opposed to having him on the Yankees. He is a good player and I do believe everyone deserves a second chance. Correa has not committed any sins (that I am aware of) since the trash cans were drummed.  I think the major appeal of adding Correa or Dansby Swanson is to free up Oswald Peraza and/or Anthony Volpe for a trade to Pittsburgh as part of a deal to snag outfielder Brian Reynolds. Although I continue to believe Volpe needs more time in Triple A, he will be the Yankees’ second baseman by next summer if he is not traded. I am happy and content with the thought of Volpe at second and Peraza at shortstop if the Yankees can get the right guy for left field. Andrew Benintendi or Michael Conforto can be added without giving up prospects. They may not be as good as Reynolds, but they are better than your average outfielders. There is also an abundance of young outfielders in Arizona (the names of lefties Alek Thomas and Jake McCarthy being the most frequently mentioned) available through trade.   

Brian Cashman must find a way to eliminate Josh Donaldson, Aaron Hicks and Isiah Kiner-Falefa. I think their departures are key to improving other areas of need. Not that they would bring anything in return, but the elimination of their contracts or at least most of the dollars involved would be huge.

It does seem like the longer rumors of the Carlos’s to the Yankees persist, the less likely they will happen.

If I had my preferences, sign Rodon and Benintendi, keep Volpe and Peraza, and eliminate Donaldson, Hicks, and IKF. There would still be room for other tweaks, but I would be content for Spring Training 2023 to open with the improved roster. Granted, this is probably not the outcome, but I am hopeful Team Cashman makes the right moves to take advantage of the best years of Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole. 

Tommy Tightpants

I was pleased to see the free agent signing of former Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle. Kahnle has long been one of my favorite players. I liked him as a prospect, was saddened when he was taken by the Colorado Rockies in the 2013 Rule 5 draft, and excited when he was re-acquired in the 2017 trading deadline deal with the Chicago White Sox that brought him back to New York along with Todd Frazier and David Robertson. I understood it when the Yankees did not re-sign him after the 2020 season because of the Tommy John surgery. It was difficult to watch him pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season when he made his return from rehab. I did not think the Yankees would pursue him when he became a free agent after the season, but it was a delight when I saw that he had signed a two-year, $11.5 million contract with the team. 

Tommy Kahnle (Photo Credit: SI.com)

I briefly thought it might be cool to also bring back David Robertson, but he signed with the crosstown Mets. Whatever happened between Robertson and the Yankees a few years ago with D-Rob’s role in cutting out certain guys from playoff shares, it seems like their differences are irreconcilable. Adam Ottavino anyone? I did not think so. 

It will be fun watching Tommy run around the bullpen again, in addition to his solid work on the mound, but I am hopeful the Yankees bring in at least one more solid reliever to match with the current crew. I am grateful Aroldis Chapman is no longer a Yankee. 

The Rule 5 Draft

Speaking of the Rule 5 Draft, it is always the worst moment of the Winter Meetings for me. The Yankees routinely get poached every year. Too much talent in the organization…a nice problem to have. The Red Sox seem to grab a Yankee every year. I guess they believe more in the Yankees farm system than their own.

In the Major League phase, the Yankees were not hit as hard as I thought they might be. The Cardinals selected 32-year-old RHP Wilking Rodriguez with the 25^th selection in the first round, and the Mets took RHP Zack Greene. Both players, selected for $100,000, must stick on the Major League rosters for the entire season or be offered back to the Yankees for $50,000.

The Minor League phase is more painful. Players chosen are lost forever. The Minor League phase is anyone not protected on the big league or Triple A roster. The Yankees lost the following players:

• Orioles (Rd 1): RHP Alfred Vega
• Dodgers (Rd 1): RHP Yon Castro
• D-Backs (Rd 2): RHP Denny Larrondo
• Red Sox (Rd 2): RHP Ryan Miller
• Rays (Rd 3): RHP Nelson Alvarez
• Phillies (Rd 7): 2B Oliver Dunn

In Round 1 of the Minor League draft, the Yankees chose LHP Pablo Mujica from the Kansas City Royals. He was the Yankees’ only selection of the day. 

I do not know what their futures hold, but I was glad to see the Yankees retain C Josh Breaux, LHP Edgar Barclay, 3B Andres Chaparro, C Antonio Gomez, OF Ryder Green, RHP Matt Sauer, C Anthony Seigler, and SS Alexander Vargas. Who knows if any of these guys ever make it to the Majors, but I hope a few of them do.

As always, Go Yankees!