It’s only natural that the Yankees are connected to every big-name free agent on the market, so we’re bound to hear a number of rumors regarding New York and Shohei Ohtani.
We are here to tell you not to believe them.
The Yankees have a lot of holes to fill this winter, but the designated hitter position is not one of them, leaving no room for Ohtani in New York’s lineup. Giancarlo Stanton may not be the MVP-caliber player he once was, but he’s still averaged 30 home runs per season over the last three years. With four years and $128 million remaining on his contract, Stanton isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Now, just because the Yankees aren’t expected to be involved in the Ohtani sweepstakes, the Bronx Bombers are nonetheless expected to have a very active offseason. MLB.com looks at some moves that could help the Yankees return to the postseason in 2024.
Brian Cashman indicated at the General Directors’ Meetings that the Yankees would be looking to add two outfielders this winter, so why not shoot for the moon and try to land Soto? The Padres plan to discuss an extension with the All-Star outfielder, but it would be a surprise for Scott Boras’ client to forgo free agency, so San Diego could decide to trade Soto with just one year left that it does not test the free market.
Although the Padres traded a wealth of potential capital to acquire Soto in 2022, general manager AJ Preller could be looking for players who can help his club win. NOW. Perhaps the Yankees – who have already made contact with the Padres regarding Soto – can put together a package that includes a right-hander Clarke Schmidtutility Oswaldo Cabreraright-handed Ron Marinaccio and prospect n°1 Spencer Jonesa 6-foot-6, 235-pound slugger who reached Double-A last year at age 22. Jones presents himself as a perfect fit for Yankee Stadium, but Soto is a proven commodity who would be the perfect tonic for the Yankees roster. misfortunes.
Giving Soto a full season in the Bronx could give the Yankees an advantage when it comes to signing him to a long-term deal. His swing is ideal for the Bronx and he just turned 25 years old. How do you think pitchers would like to work their way through Soto and Aaron judges every evening ?
Ohtani isn’t the only high-profile Japanese free agent this winter, as Yamamoto – the best pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball over the past three years – is. should be published by the Orix Buffaloes in the coming weeks.
Yamamoto went 17-6 with a 1.16 ERA in 24 starts, including one no-hitter as Cashman watched from the stands. The 25-year-old has won the Pacific League pitching triple crown in each of the last three seasons, earning Sawamura Award honors (the Japanese equivalent of the Cy Young) each time.
Yamamoto is expected to have more than $200 million in free agency, but the Yankees have shown a willingness to spend big on such a pitcher in the past, giving Masahiro Tanaka a seven-year, $155 million free agent contract ten years ago. Gerrit Cole And Carlos Rodon will return in 2024, but adding Yamamoto to the rotation would strengthen it even more.
Third base was a problem for the Yankees last season, with five different players starting games at the hot corner and combining for 17 homers, 59 RBIs and a .655 OPS – well below the league average in the three categories.
Josh Donaldson And Isiah Kiner-Falefa left, while DJ LeMahieuThe best solution might be to act as a Swiss army knife, jumping on the infield and DHing while playing four or five days a week. Candelario has hit 22 homers with an OPS of .807 for the Nationals and Cubs in 2023, the third time in four years he has posted an OPS of at least .795. Candelario doesn’t provide the same third-down defense as Matt Chapman would, but he also won’t cost as much as Chapman.
The Yankees and the Red Sox I made three exchanges this century, the most significant of which involved Stephen Drew and Kelly Johnson in 2014. The internet is rife with talk of a deal that would send Torres to Boston for Alex Verdugobut that seems long at best.
That said, Torres is entering his final year before free agency, and with no extension on the horizon, the Yankees should find out what kind of trade value he might have, especially given how weak the free agent market is for players second baseman. Los Angeles plans to play Bets on Mookie at second base for a bit in 2024, but adding Torres would allow the Dodgers to use Betts in right field, where he has won six Gold Gloves.
Yankees could draft second baseman/third baseman Michael Busch, the Dodgers’ No. 2 prospect, who could very well find himself playing first base before too long. With Anthony Rizzo Under contract for one more year (the Yankees hold a $17 million club option on him for 2025), Busch – a left-handed slugger who displayed impressive power in the minors – could be a potential replacement at first. . Trading Torres would open up second base for Oswald Peraza and/or LeMahieu. While Busch is a player the Yankees are targeting, they may need to include other pieces to make it work.
The center field was supposed to have been resolved once Jasson Dominguez arrived in the Majors, but the Yankees’ No. 2 prospect suffered a torn UCL after playing in just eight games, sidelining him for much of 2024 following Tommy John surgery .
That leaves the Yankees with a hole in center field for at least the first three or four months of next season, a Kiermaier could fill it admirably. Even at 34, Kiermaier remains one of the best center fielders in the game, and having played his entire career in the AL East, he’s comfortable enough hitting at Yankee Stadium (.848 OPS in 60 games).
