The Call of Spring Awaits...

 

Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, Florida

Spring Training Less Than 3 Weeks Away…

The New York Yankees are finished with the off-season’s heavy lifting, and we will only see minor roster tweaks, if anything, between now and the Valentine’s Day reporting date for pitchers and catchers.

It is hard to say that a team with a payroll of $300 million has not done enough to close the gap between them and the AL contenders, but I guess we will find out. I am appreciative of Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner’s willingness to spend. The only complaint would be how those dollars have been allocated. This is certainly not an indictment of Gerrit Cole or Aaron Judge as both men perform to the expectations of their respective contracts. For every solid deal, there is a Josh Donaldson type of decision that befuddles the mind (the original decision to add him and his hefty contract; not the later decision to part ways despite the cost).

I get frustrated when the Yankees take on a bad contract and then use it as an excuse not to pursue elite younger players. It is always as if there is a Jacoby Ellsbury on the roster blocking the addition of good to great players.

There is also a concern with the guys who are now on the ugly side of their contracts like Giancarlo Stanton where age has deteriorated the player below his compensation level. Sure, Stanton looks great this offseason and I hope it equates to a bounce-back year for him. Yet, time is not his friend. Stanton is thirty-four and while that age is not “over-the-hill,” he is closer to the end of his career than the start of it. A good year or two can still be in the cards, and maybe this year will prove fruitful for him after his offseason focus to improve his performance. If the Yankees could find a way of offloading Stanton, they should do it. I would prefer to keep the designated hitter slot open for Aaron Judge or other players on a rotation basis. So long as Stanton is a Yankee, I will pull for him and I honestly hope for a strong season, but I would absolutely have no problem if the Yankees decided it was time to move on. You know that day is coming. Eventually, the team will decide the player is not worth it when the remaining balance of the contract becomes a sum that they can knowingly absorb without any further contribution from said player. It will not be 2024, but I think the Stanton ‘Designated for Assignment’ Watch can begin in earnest next year, particularly if his 2024 season mirrors last season.

Giancarlo Stanton (Photo Credit: @giancarlo818 via Instagram)

The other player that concerns me is DJ LeMahieu. I have always liked DJ. I lived in Denver, Colorado during his final years as a Rockie, and he was one of my favorite “local” players. He has performed well as a Yankee, but like Stanton, Father Time has caught up with him. LeMahieu will be thirty-six in mid-July. His best years have passed. He can be an admirable player, a complimentary player, on a playoff team, sure, but he will not be one of its driving stars. I am not sure what I think about LeMahieu as the starting third baseman. I suppose it is a better situation than first base so long as Gleyber Torres is the second baseman. LeMahieu will become the de facto first baseman should anything happen to Anthony Rizzo, however, if Rizzo stays healthy, I do like the consistency of one primary position for DJ, instead of bouncing around the infield.

I have seen the talk that the Yankees are interested in free agent third baseman Matt Chapman which seems more like ‘agent-speak’ than genuine interest from the team. I like Matt Chapman, but he is not the answer. Maybe not the player so much as the dollars it would take to sign him. The Yankees have made it obvious that long-term plans at third base will not feature Oswald Peraza. If not Peraza, then LeMahieu does seem to be the most logical candidate for the position. I wish there were a better contingency plan in place. It is possible that Peraza comes to camp and makes a statement that he is ready to ascend to the game’s highest level. Anthony Volpe was the golden child during last year’s camp. This year it can be Peraza since Jasson Dominguez will not participate while he recovers from offseason surgery, although Austin Wells is the player that I want to see in Tampa on a mission. With no other options, I begrudgingly accept LeMahieu as the third baseman, but it is a position that bears watching should LeMahieu suffer any setbacks. I am hopeful Anthony Rizzo stays healthy this year to minimize the need for LeMahieu to play first base. Plus, the Yankees need Rizzo and more specifically, the player at the level of play before he suffered the head injury last season.

I am confident in most of the other position players. Austin Wells and Jose Trevino should form a strong catching tandem, with Wells having the potential to take most of the playing time if he takes his game to the next level. I am glad the Yankees did not trade Gleyber Torres and he is my second baseman until he is not. Last year at this time, I wanted Oswald Peraza as the starting shortstop, but the Yankees have made the commitment to Anthony Volpe…as they should. I expect offensive improvement from Volpe for his second year in the big leagues. He has the talent and ability to succeed. Manager Aaron Boone must figure out the correct outfield alignment with Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Alex Verdugo, and Trent Grisham (not to mention Giancarlo Stanton occasionally). It appears Judge will be the centerfielder, Soto will take right field, and Verdugo, a right fielder in Boston, will move to spacious left field. Trent Grisham will see plenty of time as the Yankees will look at ways to bring his defensive prowess into tight games. I am sure that Boone, with help from new bench coach Brad Ausmus, will fit the pieces of the puzzle together.

If Stanton and LeMahieu are my primary concerns among the position players, Carlos Rodón and Nestor Cortes, Jr. probably give me the most consternation among the pitchers. Both can be excellent pitchers. We saw it in 2022. Conversely, both pitchers were unable to stay healthy last season and there is no guarantee that 2024 will not be more of the same. When both pitchers arrived at training camp last season, they were healthy and ready to go, yet both missed considerable time with subsequent injuries. We should probably be thankful that Luis Severino is no longer a Yankee given his health concerns (I say that despite how much I enjoyed Sevy as a Yankee, at least the healthy version).  Gerrit Cole is not a concern, nor is newly signed Marcus Stroman despite his bout with injuries last August when he was first diagnosed with inflammation in his right hip and subsequently a rib cage cartilage fracture. Clarke Schmidt showed continued improvement, and there is no reason to believe that his progression to a middle-of-the-rotation starter will not continue. It seems like a near certainty that we will see Major League starts by Clayton Beeter, Cody Poteet, Cody Morris, and perhaps Luis Gil if all does not go according to plan. I wish the Yankees were bringing Jordan Montgomery or Blake Snell to Spring Training along with Stroman, but it is crazy to think how much a pitcher like Montgomery would cost when you factor in the luxury tax penalties for exceeding the highest tax tier (basically he would cost double the face amount of his annual contract).  I am anxious to see the ascension of Chase Hampton, but he will not be ready for his Major League debut until late in the season at the earliest. He needs time at Triple-A to finish off his development.

Chase Hampton

While the bullpen still needs work, I am confident the Yankees will piece together another strong bullpen unit based on their history of successfully doing so. Call it the Tampa Bay Rays approach. Relievers can be so volatile from year to year. The next Ian Hamilton is just waiting for an opportunity. No need to spend top dollars for a guy like Josh Hader. I would like to see the return of Keynan Middleton, even more so than Wandy Peralta, although I would gladly accept both back. Although there has been some talk of Hector Neris, it seems like that ship has sailed even if Neris has not yet signed anywhere. The Rays are good at throwing a bunch of no-names together to form a strong bullpen unit, starting over from scratch every year.

I wish I had no concerns about the 2024 Yankees…that every position is filled with an elite All-Star player, carrying no question marks. Sadly, that is not a world that anyone lives in. Even the Los Angeles Dodgers have questions despite the huge financial outlay to bring in several of the game’s brightest young talents and featuring an abundant farm system that continually churns out above-average talent.

I guess this is why they play the games.

Bring it on. The Yankees may not win the 2024 World Series, but they will be better than the most recent team that posted eighty-two wins. So long as we have a competitive Yankees team that wants to play in October this year, it will be a better season for all of us. The Yankees are our team. As much as I would like to say Championship or Bust, and I know that has been the Bronx mindset, I think any of us would sign up for the intensity of the 2017 or 2019 Yankees even though those teams did not win the ultimate prize. If the Yankees leave everything on the field in terms of effort, missing a championship is more palatable than a team that simply gave up. No question a championship would reignite the excitement we had when the Yankees won the World Series under Manager Joe Torre in 1996 after an eighteen-year championship drought. It has been far too long since 2009.

I am ready for the 2024 MLB Season.

This Week’s Transactions

To make room for the recent signings of Marcus Stroman and Luke Weaver, and the waiver claim of Diego Castillo, the Yankees had designated three players for assignment. Infielder Jeter Downs and outfielders Oscar Gonzalez and Bubba Thompson. All three players were claimed off waivers by the Yankees earlier this off-season. Downs and Gonzalez went unclaimed after their placement on waivers by the Yankees and will remain in the organization. They have been sent outright to Triple-A.

The speedy Thompson departed the organization as the Minnesota Twins claimed him. I know Thompson would have been an asset late in the season and potentially in the playoffs with his speed, however, the Yankees have greater concerns and needs to fill. I wish Thompson the best in Minnesota. It does seem like he will have a stronger path to Major League playing time with the Twins. It would not be fun to spend the off-season as a thirty-ninth or fortieth player on a 40-man roster.

The Yankees also signed catcher Luis Torrens, a former Yankees prospect, to a minor-league contract.

Luis Torrens (Photo Credit: Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

The Yankees signed Torrens as an international free agent in 2012. He was taken in the 2016 Rule 5 Draft by the Cincinnati Reds, who immediately traded Torrens to the San Diego Padres for a player to be named later. The player-to-be-named turned out to be infielder/outfielder Josh VanMeter who also signed a minor league contract with the Yankees this offseason. The Padres kept Torrens on the Major League roster for the entirety of the 2017 season which kept him in their organization. A bad Padres team that was able to bury a not-ready-for-the-Majors player on the bench. After a few years in San Diego, he subsequently spent time with the Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, and Washington Nationals organizations. Torrens was robbed of valuable developmental time, and it prevented him from becoming the player he could have been if he had been able to stay in the Yankees organization. He is now 27 (will be 28 in May). There is no question I will be rooting for him. He is not going to make the Yankees’ Opening Day Roster but regardless of whether it is with the Yankees or another team, I hope he finds a home in the Major Leagues again.

As always, Go Yankees!

The End of Yankees Christmas...

 

Marcus Stroman

No more gifts for Yankees fans…

Are the Yankees done with their off-season shopping for us?

I know, when your team acquires one of the youngest and greatest superstars in the game, you should be ecstatic. Trust me, I am excited that Juan Soto is a New York Yankee, and I look forward to his presence at Yankee Stadium, wearing the famed Pinstripes. Yet, I felt like the Yankees needed to do more to overcome the disappointment of 2023. Plus, there is the concern that Soto calls the Bronx home for only one season before he departs for much greener ($$$$) pastures. If the Yankees had signed or if they could sign Soto to an extension before the season starts, my enthusiasm for Soto in Pinstripes would be much greater. He seems destined to be a Yankee, so I am hopeful that it becomes a long-term relationship.

I will give the Yankees credit. They did bring in a legitimate outfielder to cover left field in Alex Verdugo after ignoring the position last season. Granted, Verdugo is a right fielder who must learn the nuances of the vast Yankee Stadium left field but throwing him out there is better than trying to convert infielders like last season. I wanted Cody Bellinger who could cover center field and provide backup at first base, but it was not meant to be, so Verdugo is fine as an alternative albeit in left. I have gotten over the addition of a hated Red Sock. Now, it is up to Verdugo to prove he belongs.

Marcus Stroman is not exactly the frontline starting pitcher I had been hoping for after our dreams of Yoshinobu Yamamoto were destroyed by the Los Angeles Dodgers. After Yamamoto chose to play with Shohei Ohtani, I legitimately thought the Yankees would pivot to either Jordan Montgomery or Blake Snell. If reports are correct, Monty is pining for a return to Texas and Snell simply wants too much money. The Yankees allegedly made an offer of 5-years for $150 million although I heard today it was for six years. Either way, Scott Boras rejected the offer, and the Yankees subsequently pivoted to Stroman. As good as Stroman is, it is not exactly an apples-to-apples comparison since Snell is the much better pitcher. If the rumors are true that Snell’s camp wants more than $200 million for the two-time Cy Young winner, I have no problem with the Yankees deciding not to play. Yet, by signing Stroman, I thought the Yankees would still aggressively pursue a second starting pitcher. 

On a side note, as a blocked account on Stroman's X (Twitter) account, I do believe he is a talented pitcher who is an upgrade for the Yankees. Even though I think Snell is the better pitcher, it is not like Stroman is a slouch (he is not). I will gladly accept Stroman over Luis Severino, a pitcher I loved during his time as a Yankee. Stroman will be a solid piece for the starting rotation. I regret telling him that I did not want him as a Yankee (the reason for the block) but those were my feelings at the time. Things change; we change.

Now, it seems like they are finished, although they will re-evaluate later this summer at the trade deadline. I am not sure Stroman is a difference-maker, but one thing is for sure, the Yankees are heavily relying on comebacks by Carlos Rodón and Nestor Cortes, Jr. I am not sure those are bets that I would place. It seems possible that the best-case scenario might be only one of the two emerging in 2022 form. I would love to be wrong with both players pitching to their respective ceilings. However, it seems like a long shot at best. It also places greater importance that Clarke Schmidt continues his upward progression. No doubt we will be watching Cody Poteet and/or Cody Morris starting games this year when the inevitable injury bug strikes. I would prefer going into Spring Training with six or seven guys having a legitimate shot at the starting rotation instead of just five, but it is what it is. May good health be with us.

I keep hoping the Yankees acquire Shane Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians before the start of Spring Training despite the inherent injury risks with the pitcher. I have given up on the possibility of Dylan Cease since the White Sox do not appear motivated to move him now and if they are, the prospect ask is untenable. Realistically, we need to be prepared that all 2024 starting pitchers are already in-house.

When it became obvious the Yankees had slowed their search for starting pitching after the Stroman signing, there was hope the Yankees would redirect their attention to the bullpen. Josh Hader has been a dream of the Yankees fan base forever, dating back to his days in Milwaukee. As much as I would have liked the Yankees to sign him, there was not any indication to show they had an elevated level of interest. Hader is now off the board, having signed a 5-year, $95 million contract today with the Houston Astros. The Astros have a scary bullpen with Hader, Bryan Abreu, and Ryan Pressly. There has been some talk of former Astros reliever Hector Neris, a free agent, but it seems unlikely to me that the Yankees will meet his asking price. There has been chatter about bringing back Wandy Peralta although it is tough to look at that as a major upgrade. There were some warning signs with Peralta last year, and I would always prefer to move on from a player a year too early than a year too late. The Yankees may be finished with any further major moves. It might not be as much as we had hoped when the offseason started, but the Yankees are a better team today than the one who lost the season’s final game on the first of October last year.

The Yankees should always be greedy, so I am feeling underwhelmed even if I am trying to put a positive spin on it. Sorry, I just miss October baseball and want to be a part of it again.

Designated for Assignment

Because I am so conditioned to what the word “designated” means in Major League Baseball, I must admit that my heart always stops when I see my favorite NFL team has “designated” a star player for return. I know it is a positive in the NFL as an injured player is returning to active status, but the word carries such a negative connotation for the finality it means in the MLB that I cannot overcome that feeling when I hear the word in the NFL.

With that being said, the Yankees have designated two players for assignment this week (so far). They still need to make room for pitcher Luke Weaver so another one is forthcoming. The two players designated for assignment are outfielder Oscar Gonzalez and infielder Jeter Downs. I was looking forward to both players in Spring Training, but they always were the most logical players to lose their seats at the table. There is always a chance both clear waivers and are sent outright to Triple-A, but they have enough promise that other teams may or should bite. When Downs was designated earlier today, Boston Globe beat reporter Pete Abraham was quick to tweet “Yankees DFA’d Jeter today.” I am sure he loved typing those words. Downs had been claimed off waivers from the Washington Nationals in December. Gonzalez was DFA’d to clear space for Marcus Stroman, while Downs met his fate when the Yankees claimed infielder Diego Castillo, a former Yankees prospect, off waivers from the New York Mets. Castillo, along with infielder Hoy Park, was traded by the Yankees to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2021 for Clay Holmes.

Diego Castillo (Photo Credit: Matt York/AP)

It does seem funny the Yankees are loading up on infielders. It seems like a prelude to a potential trade of Oswald Peraza or Oswaldo Cabrera. Or it might be nothing.

I am surprised the Yankees continue to carry five catchers on the 40-man roster. It seems like trading at least one of them (Ben Rortvedt or Carlos Narvaez?) would be a better option if you genuinely believe there is potential with Gonzalez or Downs. Maybe a catcher is moved to make way for Luke Weaver. If not, outfielder Bubba Thompson or reliever Matt Krook seem like the most logical DFA candidates.

Update: Bubba Thompson is the loser. He has been DFA’d to add Weaver to the 40-man roster.

International Signings

The Yankees made multiple international signings this week, as the new signing period opened on January 15. The big acquisition is Francisco Vilorio from the Dominican Republic. Vilorio, 17, is rated as the fifteenth-best international prospect according to MLB.com. The 6’4” right-handed outfielder received an overall scouting grade of 55.

Francisco Vilorio

Here is MLB.com’s Scouting Report for the prized prospect.

Vilorio is a tall, projectable outfielder with power potential and the ability to impact the game in various ways. The athletic teen has a solid bat tool and has a chance to hit for average and power in the future. He already shows emerging raw power, and more strength should come as his body matures.

Overall, he projects to be a middle-of-the-order bat and an offensive threat if he continues to develop at the expected pace. His offensive potential makes him valuable, but he’s also improving on the other side of the ball. On defense, Vilorio is toolsy enough to start in center field and just might stay there. There’s also a chance he outgrows the position and moves to a corner spot.

Currently, he shows the arm strength and the bat tool to profile as a right fielder, which bodes well for the team that signs him.

The Yankees paid close to $1.7 million to sign Vilorio. Their total international bonus pool allotment for the current signing period is $4,652,200.

Here is a list of the signings according to Baseball America:

 Francisco Vilorio, OF, Dominican Republic

Richard Matic, 3B, Dominican Republic

Dexter Peralta, SS, Dominican Republic

Queni Pineda, C, Dominican Republic

Alexander Almonte, RHP, Dominican Republic

Browm Martinez, OF, Dominican Republic

Angel Ventura, OF, Dominican Republic

Edgar Jimenez, C, Dominican Republic

Carlos Villaroel, C, Venezuela

Dylan Medina, OF, Dominican Republic

Carlos Rondon, C, Venezuela

Estivenson Montero, OF, Dominican Republic

Remy Veldhuisen, OF, Dominican Republic

Marco Manzano, LHP, Venezuela

Cristofer Reyes, SS, Dominican Republic

Jesus Marquez, C, Venezuela

Luis Ilarraza, RHP, Venezuela

Diego Gonzalez, OF, Dominican Republic

Diego Flores, C, Venezuela

Juan Araujo, SS, Venezuela

Junior Tavera, LHP, Dominican Republic

Enixon Sanchez, RHP, Venezuela

None of these guys may make it to the Show, but you never know. One or more of these names might be celebrating World Series championships down the Canyon of Heroes in the next decade or two. Vilorio and possibly Matic will get the most immediate attention, yet it is fun to watch the names that emerge as the players work their way through the farm system.

Congratulations to all the players who signed and to the Yankees for making them part of our family.

As always, Go Yankees! 

Marcus Stroman is a Yankee? ...

 

Marcus Stroman (Credit: @stroman via Instagram)

Stroman unexpectedly dons the Pinstripes…

Assuming the New York Yankees have chosen to move on from Blake Snell after he rejected the team’s 5-year, $150 million offer, I hope the pivot to Marcus Stroman, pending his physical, does not represent the end game. The Yankees need an upper-rotation starter to potentially place behind Gerrit Cole if Carlos Rodón is unable to pitch like the dude he was in San Francisco in 2022. The 32-year-old Stroman is not that guy.

I have mixed emotions about Stroman. I do not like the player, and I thought his war of words in recent years was childish along with the now-overplayed video of Stroman mocking the Soto Shuffle after striking out Juan Soto during a Cubs-Padres game. I am a little surprised the Yankees forgave Stroman for the shots he took at the organization and GM Brian Cashman a few years ago, but I get it, thick skin is a necessity in the Wide World of Sports. If the player has something to offer, the reward becomes more valuable than the risk in the eyes of the team (sometimes to a fault). Granted, acquiring Juan Soto was a popular move among the Yankees fanbase but the Yankees do not make moves designed solely to get fans excited as we have seen far too often. They want to win regardless of who we feel should be on the team. It is funny that Cashman has plucked two of the most despised competitors after the fan base had to painfully endure the hated Josh Donaldson. The social media posts saying the Yankees should go all out for Jose Altuve since they are collecting hated players are funny but hopefully, Cashman never takes it that far.

I am one of many Yankee fans who have been blocked on X (Twitter) by Stroman. My crime was saying that I did not want to see him play for the Yankees despite his talent. Now that he is a Yankee, I have no choice but to accept it (obviously). I am willing to give him a chance. It is on Stroman to prove he can be a capable Yankee. If he succeeds, everybody will be happy. If he fails, it is going to be a long two years for him.

Stroman effectively replaces Luis Severino who has joined the crosstown Mets. I know, Sevy left the bar quite low on his way out the door, so Stroman immediately became the better pitcher when he signed with the Yankees. As much as I loved Sevy as a Yankee, I feel better about the state of the starting rotation with Stroman. Honestly, I hope Severino can recapture the potential he once held, even if he is pitching for the Mets. But switching Severino out for Stroman was a move the Yankees had to make.

Marcus Stroman (Photo Credit: Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

They cannot stop here. Another…a better…starter is needed. If Snell is out, do the Yankees pivot to Jordan Montgomery? It does not seem like there has been much fire between Monty and the Yankees. The Miami Marlins do not seem overly motivated to trade Jesus Luzardo and there is some talk the Chicago White Sox may hold onto Dylan Cease. Regardless, the price tags on Luzardo and Cease are astronomical. The best current option is Cleveland’s Shane Bieber who can be acquired without forking over multiple elite prospects. Bieber’s recent injury history is a concern, but when healthy, he can be one of the game’s best. I would love to see a reunion between Bieber and Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake.

Shane Bieber (Photo Credit: Dave Richard/USA TODAY Sports)

Regardless of what happens, it seems a given that pitchers will get hurt, and we will be looking at starts by Triple-A pitching depth at some point this summer.  If Bieber is the prime pitching acquisition, so be it. There are flaws with every available pitcher. The Yankees would be charged with placing Bieber in the best possible position to succeed if they are successful in acquiring him. He would not carry the burden of being the staff ace like he does in Cleveland. Sure, I would prefer Montgomery or Snell…or Cease or Luzardo…but the Yankees with Juan Soto, Trent Grisham, Alex Verdugo, Marcus Stroman, and potentially Shane Bieber are a much better team than the 82-80 squad of last year. The Yankees need to retain their current pitching depth (the organization guys like Clayton Beeter and Luis Gil, the returning Luke Weaver, and the new acquisitions such as Cody Poteet and Cody Morris) to help fill in for potential injuries. Top pitching prospect Chase Hampton should be available to help later in the season so keeping him is important. I am feeling better about the Yankees than I did a few months ago. It will be those final decisions (adding another starter and bullpen help) that will determine if this has been a good off-season for the Yankees or a great one. I will add a caveat that if the Yankees sign Juan Soto to an extension before Spring Training, that alone would convert this to a great off-season regardless of what the team does going forward. The one-year “rental” of Soto is the only reason I can go no stronger than “good” right now. The excitement about Soto in 2024 Pinstripes is tempered by the fact he could be in a different uniform in 2025.

Back to Stroman, I should take back that I dislike the player. It was more I did not appreciate his words and actions. I do not know the man personally, and I have always recognized that he is a talented pitcher. If you told me that I had to take one of Stroman, Trevor Bauer, or Domingo German, I would take Stroman every day of the week. Now that he is a Yankee, I do believe he deserves the opportunity for redemption. I was not so forgiving of Josh Donaldson, but I also do not believe that Stroman is washed up like Donaldson was when he joined the Yankees. I was not happy when I heard the Yankees had signed Stroman, but after a day, I felt better about the team’s decision to improve the starting rotation. I will not boo Marcus Stroman unless he gives us reason to as we move forward. The slate is cleared. When he takes the mound at Yankee Stadium, our interests will be aligned. I wish him the best as he embarks on his Pinstriped career.

There had been some talk the Yankees were interested in free agent pitcher Jordan Hicks as a piece for the bullpen, however, he has signed with the San Francisco Giants and will be converted from a reliever to a starter. With Hicks off the board, it makes Robert Stephenson the reliever to add. I seriously doubt the Yankees will pay top dollars for Josh Hader, so he does not appear to be an option unless his price falls.

I am glad to see Major League transactions are happening now that we have made it through the holiday season. There are talented players available who can help return the Yankees to championship contention. I am cautiously confident that Brian Cashman is not finished. At the end of the day, we will root for the team that takes the field on Opening Day 2024 so regardless of what happens or who is acquired (or not acquired), 2024 is a new season. We have hope. Selfishly, I want to be given reasons to heighten expectations, yet I will stand with the team we are given. Not trying to let Cashman off the hook, but rather trying to be a realist. The payroll is busting $300 million, and we have some of the game’s best players on the team. We have more than the average team. Maybe not as much as the Los Angeles Dodgers and their wealth of salary deferments, but the game is played on the field. I will take the Yankees for the win every time until the last game is played.

Yankees Settle All Pre-Arb Cases

The painful memory of Dellin Betances losing his salary arbitration case to the Yankees, worsened by the gloating of Yankees Team President Randy Levine, has not been forgotten. It happened seven years ago next month, however, it is the last time the Yankees failed to settle one of their pre-arbitration cases. The Yankees had a potential obstacle this year with Juan Soto, so I was extremely pleased when I heard the Yankees had settled all their cases.

For Soto, his 2024 salary of $31 million sets a new arbitration record, besting the Los Angeles Angels’ final year of Shohei Ohtani by $1 million. I was hoping the Yankees and Soto would negotiate a longer-term extension as opposed to the one-year salary, but it is Scott Boras’s world, and we only live in it. I still think the revelation and announcement of a contract extension during Spring Training would be a beautiful thing so I will keep believing it until it does not happen. The realist knows that Scott Boras will want to pit the game’s biggest spenders against each other before Soto’s next contract is determined.

Juan Soto (Credit: @juansoto_25 via Instagram)

Here are the agreements reached with the following players:

OF Juan Soto, $31 million

2B Gleyber Torres, $14.2 million

OF Alex Verdugo, $8.7 million

RHP Clay Holmes, $6.0 million

OF Trent Grisham, $5.5 million

LHP Nestor Cortes, Jr, $3.95 million

C Jose Trevino, $2.73 million

RHP Jonathan Loaisiga, $2.5 million

RHP Clarke Schmidt, $2.025 million

LHP Victor Gonzalez, $860,000

I am glad there will be no arbitration hearings this year. It is always best to keep Randy Levine muzzled.

As always, Go Yankees!

The Yankees Are Moving at (a) Snell's Pace...

 

Blake Snell (Photo Credit: Mark J Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports)

Trying to decide the best route to Rotation Help…

2024, the year of Juan Soto. Spring Training reporting dates are a little more than a month away, and the Yankees, despite the acquisition of one of the greatest young baseball players in the game, are still a work in progress.

The swing and miss on Yoshinobu Yamamoto has led to endless discussions among the fan base about whether the Yankees should sign a free agent (Jordan Montgomery or Blake Snell), or trade for a starter (Dylan Cease of the Chicago White Sox or one of the Miami Marlins’ young arms, Jesus Luzardo or Edward Cabrera). Of the free agents, while I think it would be cool to feature the reigning AL and NL Cy Young Award winners in the same rotation, I prefer a reunion with Montgomery. I know he can be a workhorse and he is not intimated by New York. There is no loss of draft picks for signing the former Yank like there is with Snell, who declined San Diego’s qualifying offer.

If the Yankees did sign Snell, I certainly would not be disappointed. I understand the pros and cons but at the end of the day, there is no perfect pitcher. Every pitcher has flaws. Some more than others. Whether Snell is not a fun pitcher to watch, or he walks too many guys (by design), he is successful and he will help a starting rotation. Yet, for me, Jordan Montgomery is more appealing. Snell may be the flashier signing but Monty’s reliability, consistency, and evident growth since he left Pinstripes are traits much needed by the Yankees’ current starting rotation.

Jordan Montgomery

Yesterday, there was some talk that Snell is interested in the Yankees, and Montgomery’s preference is to return to the World Champion Texas Rangers. Scott Boras represents both pitchers, and he is an expert in press manipulation to benefit his clients. So, until somebody signs the dotted line, talk and rumors are baseless and often not factual. If memory serves correctly, the Yankees were the clear frontrunner for Yamamoto’s services, and we see how that one turned out. Too many people like to use the press to sway opinions to their benefit, so I tend to look at baseball talk and rumors as fiction material.

Chicago’s Dylan Cease or Miami’s Jesus Luzardo (specifically among the two Marlins pitchers) seem like excellent options, but I do not see the Yankees trading multiple elite prospects. ‘Should they?’ and ‘Will they?’ invoke two vastly different responses. In terms of prospects, a talented team deep in superior prospect wealth like the Baltimore Orioles seems more capable of providing the White Sox or Marlins with the necessary ingredients for a trade than the Yankees. I am not trying to minimize Spencer Jones or Chase Hampton, but the Yankees have thinned the farm through trades in recent years whereas the Orioles are flush with young, overflowing talent. Everybody knows the Yankees need pitching, and no team is going to make it easy for them. Ultimately, Cash is King (money; not the Yankees' GM) and it is the Yankees’ greatest capital resource so they may have to take a bad contract to get a talented starter through trade along with the necessary highly-ranked prospects. These scenarios make signing Jordan Montgomery more attractive despite the inflated cost it will take. This offseason has shown teams are willing to break the bank for pitching. When the Cincinnati Reds are willing to pay an injury risk (Frankie Montas) $16 million or the New York Mets taking a similar gamble at $13 million with Luis Severino, you know that proven commodities like Montgomery and Snell are going to get paid for generations to come.

I know there is lots of time between now and Spring Training. Adding Juan Soto alone will not convert an 82-win team into a World Series contender. The Yankees would need so many ‘what ifs’ to go right. Hopefully, with the time remaining between now and Spring Training, the Yankees can add the necessary additional starting pitching to ensure the Yankees can compete with the league’s best.

I would place myself in the cautiously optimistic category. I want to believe the Yankees will add the necessary reinforcements…I am just not confident they will. I hope for better clarity in the coming days and weeks before the team starts arriving at Steinbrenner Field next month.

Several New Additions

The Yankees made two surprising moves yesterday even if neither one registers on the Richter Scale. It was first reported the Yankees had signed former Marlins pitcher Cody Poteet to a Major League contract. It is the second Cody obtained this offseason. Pitcher Cody Morris was previously acquired from the Cleveland Guardians for outfielder Estevan Florial. I guess when I said that I hoped the Yankees would acquire Cody (thinking Bellinger), I should have been more specific.

Poteet underwent Tommy John surgery in August 2022. He refused an outright assignment by the Marlins after the 2022 season and became a free agent. He subsequently signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals and was able to make a two-inning start for the Royals’ Triple-A affiliate in September. Poteet’s minor league contract with the Royals contained an opt-out (in the event he was not selected in the Rule 5 Draft or subsequently added to the Royals’ 40-man roster).

Cody Poteet (Photo Credit: FOX News)

His contract with the Yankees is for one year, and it will pay $750,000 if Poteet is in the Majors or $200,000 if he stays in the Minors. He has options so he becomes the latest up-and-down starter to help fill the roles vacated by Jhony Brito and Randy Vasquez (both of whom were dealt to San Diego in the Soto trade).

The Yankees officially announced the trade today, and Poteet has been added to the 40-man roster, filling the last open spot.

The Yankees also acquired outfielder Bubba Thompson through a waiver claim when he was designated for assignment by the Cincinnati Reds. 

Bubba Thompson (Photo Credit: Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

The former Texas Rangers prospect, a 2017 first-round MLB draft selection, is only twenty-five and possesses elite speed. Unfortunately, his hit tool has not developed at the Major League level. He was designated by the Rangers in August, and claimed by the Kansas City Royals, finishing the season with their Triple-A affiliate. After the season was over, Thompson was claimed on waivers by the Reds. The Reds have been one of the more active teams this offseason, and they needed to clear a roster spot for reliever Buck Farmer, hence the waiver of Thompson.

When/if the Yankees add starting pitching and/or relief help, they will need to clear roster space. Thompson will be among those at risk of losing their seat at the Yankees table. He will join Jeter Downs and Matt Krook as guys who should not purchase homes in the New York City area.

MLB Yankees Roster

I wish the Yankees roster would be updated in real-time on the MLB/Yankees website. The site continues to show Alex Verdugo with the number 99. Blank (no number) would be a better option until the new number is revealed. Same with Trent Grisham who sports the retired number 2 on the website. I am confident he does not have Derek Jeter’s permission to wear the number.

Credit: MLB/Yankees.com

The Yankees also continue to show Sean Casey, who is not returning, as Hitting Coach along with new Hitting Coach James Rowson.

Credit: MLB/Yankees.com

I have also seen reports that Casey Dykes will return as assistant hitting coach but nothing about Brad Wilkerson.

Details matter and I wish the Yankees would clean up their website. They are quick to add and delete players. I just wish they paid as much attention to the content as possible. Sometimes it feels like they show the same disregard for the real roster.

A Bargain Sale

The Boston Red Sox front office, even if the names and faces have changed, has the luck of the Irish when it comes to unloading bad contracts. I was amazed they were able to trade former ace Chris Sale to the Atlanta Braves for a legitimate player (talented young infielder Vaughn Grissom who was blocked in Atlanta by Ozzie Albies). The Red Sox sent $17 million in cash to Atlanta as a partial offset to the $27.5 million that was owed to Sale, but it is still a net savings for Boston.

While I believe Sale can help the Braves, Boston was able to pull another money-saving deal like they once did with Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford, and Nick Punto when they shipped those contracts to the Los Angeles Dodgers more than a decade ago. Punto did not make much, but the inclusion of his contract, along with the other three, allowed Boston to get under the 2012 tax threshold and reset their luxury tax penalties. The Yankees never make these kinds of deals, sticking with players until the point that eating the remaining money owed becomes more tolerable than the player’s presence on the roster.

The chances Sale stays healthy are better in Atlanta since Sale is no longer the focal point of the starting rotation. They can afford to take it slower with him and put him in the best position to stay healthy. I have seen writers say new Red Sox General Manager Craig Breslow was fleeced by Alex Anthopoulos, but I do not see it that way. Boston is not going to contend next season, or if they do, they will not go far. Sale will be 35 this season and he did not figure into Boston’s long-term plans. They save money and get a new starting second baseman with Sale’s departure. Grissom is a piece to the puzzle in Boston’s attempt to rebuild a World Series contender. The money savings helped Boston sign free agent Lucas Giolito who will replace Sale in the starting rotation. While you can argue whether Giolito is a worthwhile addition (he was a hard pass for me as a Yankees option given his struggles last year), there is a chance that Giolito could find success in Boston. If he can rediscover the potential he once showed for the White Sox, the Sale trade will be a huge win for Breslow and the Red Sox.

Some trades are win/win for both teams, and that is how I view the Chris Sale trade for Boston and Atlanta…not that I want to say anything good about the Red Sox.

2024 Trade Deadline

Joel Sherman of The New York Post has reported that this season’s MLB trade deadline will be Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at 6 pm Eastern/5 pm Central. Last season’s deadline fell on August 1. Historically, the trade deadline had fallen at the end of July, but the latest collective bargaining agreement had empowered the commissioner to choose a date between July 28 and August 3 to give flexibility for scheduling purposes (avoiding afternoon games on deadline day when possible).

I preferred the simple July 31 deadline, but I get it. You do not want to impact players actively on the field (or withheld from play) in the hours and minutes leading up to the deadline.

So long as the Yankees are buyers on July 30, life is good.

As always, Go Yankees!

A Lump of Cole Only Goes So Far...

 

Wanted: Elite Starting Pitching…

I seriously doubt the New York Yankees took an ‘all or nothing’ approach with their failed pursuit of Japanese RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but as the calendar prepares to turn to 2024, we have yet to see Plan B unfold. Most Yankees fans, at least those on X (formerly known as Twitter), seem to prefer a trade for Dylan Cease or Corbin Burnes. No trades appear imminent so the fanbase continues to wait.

The Yankees are a better team today than they were when the 2023 regular season ended for no other reason than they have added one of the greatest young offensive talents in the game to their roster. But for as great as Juan Soto is and can be, he alone does not convert an 82-win team into a World Series championship contender. Soto helped his 2023 teammates, the San Diego Padres, to the exact same record as the Yankees, 82-80. Granted, there were many reasons why the Padres failed, and Soto was not a reason, but the point is the Yankees need to do more than add Soto to the roster. The Yankees are weaker in other areas because of the Soto trade. They lost a valuable bullpen member who had the potential to be an upper-end rotation starter and a dependable, proven backup catcher with elite framing skills and some occasional pop. While you would trade Michael King for Juan Soto any day of the week, King will be missed. The best replacement, today, is faith that Luis Gil can be a trusted reliever after missing several years due to injury or hope pitching prospects Will Warren, Chase Hampton, or Clayton Beeter can emerge.

Will Warren (Photo Credit: Somerset Patriots)

My fear is the Yankees enter the 2024 season with the same hope as 2023, that Carlos Rodón can be an elite starter behind the great Gerrit Cole. After his miserable 2023 season, expectations for Rodón should be lowered. With the questions surrounding Nestor Cortes, Jr, there is too much uncertainty wrapped up into two spots in the starting rotation. The Yankees need certainty, consistency, and strength in the other three rotation spots. Cole nails the top spot without question. Clarke Schmidt can be a dependable fifth starter as he continues his growth curve. This leaves a clear need for a strong second starter behind Cole.

I am not losing any sleep over missing out on free agent RHP Lucas Giolito who has signed with the Boston Red Sox. It was not that long ago when Yankees fans were salivating at the thought of acquiring Giolito, but the homer-prone pitcher was dreadful after his trade deadline acquisition by the Los Angeles Angels last year which led to his release, and he continued the downfall in Cleveland to end the season. Maybe Giolito can rediscover his touch, he is only twenty-nine after all, but that is a risk I would rather see the Red Sox take than the Yankees.

Frankie Montas, who many thought would re-sign with the Yankees, is no longer an option. He has signed a one-year, $16 million contract with the Reds, taking the Sonny Gray path to redemption via the road through Cincinnati. Sonny has a nice contract with the St Louis Cardinals by taking that route. Maybe it will work out for Montas too. The Montas trade will forever rank as one of Brian Cashman’s worst, although he continues to add to the worst collection every chance he gets.

I am not convinced the Milwaukee Brewers will trade Corbin Burnes. Some reports indicate they intend to contend in 2024 under new manager Pat Murphy and will be looking to build rather than sell. The team needs to instill confidence in its fanbase after the disruptive departures of former President of Baseball Operations David Stearns, who took the same position with the New York Mets, and former manager Craig Counsell, a hometown favorite, who has moved on to the Chicago Cubs. Trading the best-starting pitcher on the team would not help restore the fans’ confidence in the team.

Free agent Jordan Montgomery continues to rate as the best possible pickup through free agency. James Paxton is still a free agent, but health-challenged pitchers are not a smart bet when you are currently carrying too many as it is. I would like to see the return of Montgomery but how much of an overpay is too much? This much is certain…Monty will get more money than he is worth. The pitching contracts handed out this winter have ensured it will happen. Monty brings the necessary stability the starting rotation sorely lacks. Two years ago, we debated whether he deserved a start in the playoffs and now he would be asked to shoulder the load behind Cole. Montgomery does feel a little like “been there, done that” but I was disappointed when he was traded. I did not want to see him go then even if the Yankees filled a need by acquiring centerfielder Harrison Bader. He has shown growth since his departure from Pinstripes, and it would be nice to capture the new and improved version of the tall lefthander. He loved his time as a Yankee so if the two parties can agree on the money, I am sure any old rifts between the organization and the player will be cured.

Jordan Montgomery

There was a surprising pitching trade today. The Boston Red Sox, a day after signing Luis Giolito, have traded their former ace, Chris Sale, to the Atlanta Braves for infielder Vaughn Grissom. As much as I always wanted to beat Sale, I am sorry that injuries have derailed him in the last few years. I always subscribe to the belief that to be the best, you must beat the best, so a healthy Chris Sale was always better than the alternative. At least he goes to Atlanta where he no longer must be “the guy.”  Spencer Strider has that title. I would like to see Sale return to prominence. I have no desire to see the Braves win a championship, however, it would be good for baseball if Sale became a feared competitor again.

Even though other teams are taking chances with starting pitching, the Yankees can ill afford to go that route. They need certainty and strength if they intend to show they can be one of the American League’s best teams in 2024. I know, playoffs are a crap shoot. But it helps when you have pitchers who can deal. When October rolls around, good pitching beats good hitting. Bad pitching paves the way for early exits, assuming you can even get that far.

The Yankees still have time to upgrade their rotation. It may be less than two months before the team arrives at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, yet there is time. The worst thing the Yankees can do is to do nothing. Hopefully, they will be better than that.

Yankees on the Move

The Isiah Kiner-Falefa Era has ended. I feel bad for him. There was too much pressure placed on him as the starting shortstop in 2022. The Yankees' decision to pass on elite free agent shortstops, particularly Corey Seager who seemed like such a great fit for Yankee Stadium, was a mistake regardless of how you feel about Anthony Volpe. The Yankees fanbase turned hard on IKF and it was not fair. It was not his fault the Yankees chose to make him the starting shortstop. The Yankees knew the flaws like we did. IKF rebounded in 2023 to show that he could be a reliable super-sub, even toiling time in the outfield which had previously been foreign territory for him. He handled his various roles with grace and helped to build support within the fanbase. I would have liked it if the Yankees had signed him to a new deal to continue his super-sub role. Instead, IKF will head north of the border to play for the Toronto Blue Jays where he will most likely see more time at third base which seems more like his natural position even if he does not have the necessary bat for a corner infielder.

Good for him. I would have preferred it if he had left the division (or the league). However, I have no ill will toward the player, and I would never boo him at Yankee Stadium. I will always remember IKF as being placed in an impossible situation by the Yankees, and his perseverance to make the best of a challenging predicament. He never deserved the wrath of the Yankees fans. He loved the Yankees as a kid, and he was thrilled to put on the Pinstripes. He never wanted to fail. He just needed to be placed in the best position to win.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa

The Estevan Florial Story finally ended for the Yankees when they traded him to Cleveland for RHP Cody Morris. It is funny that both players carry the label “once-promising” but it is a good opportunity for both to start over with new organizations. The fact the Yankees got anything of value for Florial is a plus since any team could have had him for a simple waiver claim last year. Morris made six relief appearances for the Guardians last season, posting a 6.75 ERA after yielding six earned runs in eight innings of work, but spent most of the season in the minors. There is hope Morris, 27, might see a rebound under the tutelage of Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake. The two are familiar with each other from their days together in the Guardians organization. Morris has the potential to either be a fifth starter or a reliever. Who knows, maybe he can be 2024’s Ian Hamilton.

I hope Florial gets a legitimate opportunity in Cleveland. I have no love for Myles Straw, and it would be tremendous to see Straw get supplanted in center field by Florial. If Florial cannot wrest a starting position among the outfielders, he will hopefully contribute off the bench. While I am generally not too fond of ex-Yankees, there are some I root for and Florial will be among them. At least he did not go to another AL East team.

Lame Duck Manager

Aaron Boone will enter the 2024 season in the last year of his contract. There is a club option for 2025 but to the best of my knowledge, it has not (yet) been picked up. Normally, I would prefer to see the team’s manager receive a new contract to avoid the lame duck status, but Boone warrants special consideration as a lame duck.

Aaron Boone (Photo Credit: Carlos Osorio/AP)

If the Yankees underperform in 2024, there is no reason the club should exercise its option for 2025. It will be time to find a new skipper. 2024 will be a critical year for the organization. As it sits today, Juan Soto is a one-year Yankee who will be moving on to greener pastures in 2025 unless the Yankees can convince him to stay. Boone has a solid rep as a player’s manager so his relationship with Soto could go a long way toward determining the Yankees' fate for both. Money will obviously be the key determinant for Soto as he is expected to break the $500 million barrier (void of the 98% deferrals contained in Shohei Ohtani’s contract). Yet, his relationship with the Yankees, the front office, the players, the manager, and the fans, will play a role. If Soto is convinced that he wants to be a Yankee and the money is close, the advantage will go to the Yankees.

If the Yankees run out another 82-80 season and Boone is dismissed after the season, it seems more likely that Soto will move on. So, I have to say that I have mixed feelings about Boone. I like the guy personally, and I do appreciate the support of his players. His decision-making skills are questionable at times, but I am hopeful that new bench coach Brad Ausmus can help. I have always wanted an experienced Major League manager to sit next to Boone, and this is the first time in his Yankees managerial career that it has happened.

Nevertheless, the Yankees should wait to make any decisions about the future of Aaron Boone as manager until AFTER the season has ended. I am totally in favor of an extension for Soto in advance of the season, if agent Scott Boras will allow it, but Boone is clearly in the hot seat and must prove that he deserves his next extension. Two years into the current extension has not yielded that determination.

It is about time to close the book in 2023 and start the new story of 2024. Happy New Year to the Yankees, its players, and all the fans! It is time to bring in a championship year!

As always, Go Yankees!

The Yankees Miss Their Target...

 

Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Yamamoto decides to join Shohei in LaLa Land…

When it was announced that Shohei Ohtani had deferred all but $2 million annually of his record $700 million contract for the next ten years, it seemed inevitable the Los Angeles Dodgers would do what it takes to sign Shohei’s fellow countryman Yoshinobu Yamamoto despite speculation the Yankees were the frontrunners to sign the talented free agent Japanese pitcher.

I never bought into the belief the Yankees would get their man. I wanted it to be true, and I would have loved to have seen Yamamoto wearing number 18 in Pinstripes, but sadly, the Dodgers had the advantage, and they knew it. My only hope was that Yamamoto would want to be “the” Japanese star on his new team despite knowing there is comfort in playing with a teammate without the need for an interpreter. Shohei Ohtani will be THE STAR in Los Angeles. Whatever Yamamoto can do, Ohtani’s star will shine brighter. But Yamamoto has a chance to celebrate championships with one of the greatest players to ever play the game. I do not blame him for his choice. I wish the outcome would have been different, but I wish no ill will to the pitcher, and I hope he has a spectacular Major League career.

The Yankees made a fair offer to Yamamoto. According to multiple sources, the Yankees offered a 9-year contract worth $300 million. The Dodgers offered 12-years at $325 million which is the same figure presented by the New York Mets. The Yankees’ deal offered a greater average annual value, but it was clear that Yamamoto wanted to play in Los Angeles.

There is no doubt it would have been a spectacular offseason if the Yankees had been able to acquire both Juan Soto and Yamamoto. It certainly would have heightened the optimism for the 2024 season. As it stands, the Yankees will need to pivot to find another starting pitcher. It will be hard to replicate the potential Yamamoto would have provided, but a front two of Gerrit Cole and say Corbin Burnes (currently with the Milwaukee Brewers) would be exciting. The downside is the talented prospects it will take to acquire another frontline player. The Yankees could sign Jordan Montgomery or Blake Snell for only money, but neither of those pitchers will significantly upgrade the starting rotation. Burnes or Dylan Cease of the Chicago White Sox seem to be the best options to slide behind Cole in the starting rotation. It is a hard pass on Cleveland’s Shane Bieber for me given his injury history in recent years. Miami’s Jesus Luzardo is also an option.

The Yankees do need help for the starting rotation. If 2024 success is dependent upon good health for Carlos Rodón and Nestor Cortes, Jr., the Yankees are doomed. They need a dependable top starter that they can pair with Cole. I wanted the Yankees to sign Rodón last year, and I still hope that he can be the pitcher he was in San Francisco, but it is not a bet I would want to make. The Yankees must lessen the “need” for Rodón so that anything we get can just be icing on the cake.

I am hopeful that someone emerges from the Yankees’ top pitching prospects to claim a spot in the rotation. An earned claim, not just giving a spot to a pitcher to see what he can do. Chase Hampton, Will Warren, and Clayton Beeter come to mind, along with a healthy Luis Gil. Most might be destined for the bullpen, but it would be nice if one emerged as a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter or even as a strong fifth starter.

Pitching aside, the next order of business should be signing Juan Soto to a long-term extension. I know that his agent, Scott Boras, is not known for extensions but under the right circumstances, he has done it. The Yankees need to put their best foot forward to secure Soto so that he is not a one-and-done rental player for the Yankees. The announcement of a huge contract extension during Spring Training would be incredible. It would set the tone for the season and would bring the certainty Soto will remain an integral part of the lineup moving forward. It would be great to see Soto on the grounds of Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, surrounded by teammates, friends, and family, celebrating a long-term deal to keep him in the famed Pinstripes for the next decade. The Yankees were willing to give Yamamoto $300 million, knowing they would have to pay Soto. There is no reason the organization cannot pony up the money it will take to keep Soto and entice him to forego the free agent market. It will be a $500 million plus contract, for sure, and without the “Dodger” deferrals. The Yankees can afford to keep one of baseball’s greatest players in New York, and more specifically, in the Bronx.

Juan Soto

As much as Soto may enjoy New York during the upcoming season, I think it would be a mistake to let him hit the open market next offseason. He does not have long-time ties with the organization like Aaron Judge did. Being a Yankee is special, but money is better. If Soto is a free agent, it is a certainty Steve Cohen and the New York Mets will go hard after him. Every winter, there seems to be at least one Major League owner with stupid money. The potential to lose Soto in free agency is far greater than it was with Judge. Even if the Yankees must pay more, the talent of the player has proven his worth. With escalating salaries, the Cole and Judge contracts are beginning to look like bargains. If the Los Angeles Dodgers can afford to pay over a billion dollars for two Japanese players, including one who has never thrown a pitch for a Major League baseball team, the Yankees can afford to pay Juan Soto.

As awful as it felt to lose out on Yamamoto to the Dodgers, the pain of losing Juan Soto to free agency next Winter would be far worse, particularly if Soto has the type of season that we expect him to have in 2024. His style of play, and the results, are certain to endear him to the Yankees fan base. He will become a fan favorite in one of the safest 2024 season predictions you can make. It will rip our hearts out if he leaves.

Good thing Spring Training is still two months away. The Yankees have a lot of work to do.

Alex Verdugo, the Yankee…

I had wondered when the Yankees would hold a press conference for Alex Verdugo. I guess the days of the big press conferences at Yankee Stadium are over, but the Zoom calls with the press are nice. It helps to get insight into the players and to get their thoughts about joining the organization.

When Verdugo held his press conference this week, his comment about being mad when he heard that he had been traded from the Red Sox to the Yankees is the type of intensity I wanted to see from him. We always want the players to despise the enemy as much as we do, but honestly, they do not. They will go to whichever team is willing to show them the money. We saw David Wells and David Cone join the Red Sox. It happens. I would rather see a player dislike the Red Sox like we do. Granted, Verdugo had no love for the Yankees, but it is the passion, the intensity I respect, and I know that when he does pull on the Pinstripes, he will be ready for war. Maybe he will bring the energy the Yankees lineup has been missing. I wanted Cody Bellinger because of Bellinger’s ability to play centerfield while Jasson Dominguez recovers from offseason surgery, and first base as a hedge for Anthony Rizzo’s health. Nevertheless, if Verdugo is a Yankee when the team heads north next March, I will support him. I was not excited about his acquisition when it was first announced, but given time, I can see his value in getting on base for Judge and Soto. Whether he is in left field or center, I would have preferred elite defense, but Trent Grisham will get plenty of opportunities and will provide an excellent glove late in games.

Verdugo has chosen a Yankees number, but he did not reveal it during the press conference. He wore 27 with the Dodgers, and 99 with the Red Sox so neither of those numbers are options. Weirdly, the Yankees website continues to show Verdugo with 99 on the 40-man roster. I think that number is already taken. For that matter, they show outfielder Trent Grisham with number 2. We know that number will never be handed out again. Regardless of the number Verdugo wears, I look forward to the passion and energy he will bring to the Yankees next season. I know he has learned from his past mistakes, and he will continue to get better as a Major League player. So, I do not care what happened between him and Red Sox manager Alex Cora so long as the past mistakes are not repeated.

Alex Verdugo

Several Minor League signings…

The Yankees signed a couple of players to minor league deals this week with invitations to Spring Training. One is a former Pirates pitcher who spent 2023 in the Chicago Cubs organization, 30-year-old right-hander Nick Burdi. The Yankees enjoy reclamation projects from the Pirates, having found success with Clay Holmes, and their signing earlier this offseason of Yerry De Los Santos. Burdi has not found Major League success and has had trouble staying healthy, but he gets a clean slate with the Yankees and hopefully he can be the pitcher he has always wanted to be with his new team.

The Yankees also signed former Chicago White Sox and San Francisco Giants outfielder Luis González, 28. It is hard not to think of a painful bloop hit by Arizona’s Luis Gonzalez off Mariano Rivera to give the Arizona Diamondbacks the 2001 World Series Championship. “That” Gonzalez is unrelated to the player the Yankees signed, but the name (with or without the accent) will always be a painful reminder of 2001. I was in a bar outside of Arizona’s ballpark (now known as Chase Field) when the older Gonzalez forever placed his name among historical World Series achievements.

González was limited to only thirty-one minor league games last year after back surgery so he will be looking to rebound in 2024. If not with the Yankees, he can hopefully open eyes for some team to capture the continuation of his MLB dream.

Luis González

It was not a signing, but the Yankees claimed infielder Jeter Downs on waivers from the Washington Nationals. Downs was once a top prospect for the Cincinnati Reds. The right-handed shortstop, second baseman, and third baseman was traded, with pitcher Josiah Gray, in December 2018 to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the deal that sent Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig, Kyle Farmer and Alex Wood to the Reds. The Dodgers sent Downs, Alex Verdugo, and Connor Wong to the Boston Red Sox in a February 2020 trade that brought Mookie Betts (and David Price) to LA. The Washington Nationals had claimed Downs on waivers in December 2022 from the Red Sox, and a year later, Downs became a Yankee after his placement on waivers again. I'm not expecting much for the player with the impressive first name after he failed in Boston and Washington, but he is a former top prospect, so he has the pedigree. Maybe Jeter and the Yankees were always meant to be together. I wish him luck with his continued journey, and I do hope he finds success. It is kind of funny the Yankees have two of the three players the Red Sox acquired for Betts.

Merry Christmas to everyone!

As always, Go Yankees!