Yankees Baseball is Back...

Oswaldo Cabrera and Juan Soto

Yankees successfully open the 2024 regular season…

Although nothing will ever beat a season that starts at Yankee Stadium, the New York Yankees successfully kicked off the 2024 season with a come-from-behind win at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas over the contentious Astros on Thursday. After Nestor Cortes, Jr gave up three runs in the first inning, I was not optimistic, but the Yankees prevailed for the thrilling 5-4 win that featured a tremendous throw from Juan Soto in right field to catcher Jose Trevino to nail a potential tying run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning. Left fielder Alex Verdugo also made a nice running catch in the game.

The Yankees followed up the Opening Day win with another victory on Friday night. Carlos Rodón labored through the first 4 1/3 innings but held the Astros to only one run to keep it close. From there, Oswaldo Cabrera and the bullpen took over and delivered a not-as-easy-as-it-looks 7-1 win. Giancarlo Stanton added the cherry on top with his first home run of the young season. It was a big game for Cabrera, who had four hits and three RBIs as he started at third base for the second consecutive game. Luke Weaver picked up the win. For a team that generally struggles with games in Houston, the Yankees have looked terrific.

Marcus Stroman makes his Yankees debut today as the team looks to capture its third consecutive victory.

As we begin the latest regular season, I am happy that Marcus Stroman has embraced life as a Yankee, and I look forward to his Pinstriped debut at Yankee Stadium Opener next Friday against Stro’s former team, the Toronto Blue Jays. However…I am not trying to minimize the impact of Stroman’s signing…I expected more. I held out some degree of hope the Yankees would sign either Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery until those pitchers signed elsewhere. Realistically, it never made sense for the Yankees to sign them given the luxury tax implications and how much the pitchers would cost in real dollars for the organization. For as much as Montgomery was connected to Boston, Texas, and the Yankees in free agency, it was surprising he went to Arizona on a short-term deal. Not my money and I am not concerned about whether Hal Steinbrenner can afford dessert after dinner at a nice Tampa area restaurant. For a team spending over $300 million in payroll, why let a few more million dollars keep you from fielding the strongest possible team? We are greedy for a reason. We want to win. If the Yankees fall short this season, we may look back and think things might have been different if the Yankees had made stronger moves for the rotation when they had the chance.

Setting Hal Steinbrenner’s wealth aside, I am concerned about the ability to sign Juan Soto to baseball’s highest non-Shohei Ohtani contract. The Yankees can afford it, but will they? If signing Snell or Montgomery would have been detrimental to the Yankees’ chances of retaining Soto, I would rather take a chance on the younger prospects in the organization. I feel better about the depth and quality of the starting pitching in the upper levels of the farm system than I ever have before even if Chase Hampton has an ulnar collateral ligament sprain or the fact that Will Warren got beat up in his season debut with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, pitching like Tyler Clippard in Pinstripes with a meaningful game on the line. Warren, who I thought should be the team’s fifth starter (the nod went to Luis Gil), gave up five runs and three walks and was pulled after recording only one out. Not a great start but he will do better. Even Gerrit Cole gives up a clunker now and then.

Yet, there is hope among the younger arms. Clayton Beeter surprised me by making the Opening Day Roster. I fully expected him to get sent down regardless of how he performed in Spring Training. I am happy for him, and he is making the Joey Gallo trade look like a steal. Not a bad rebound by the Yankees after they gave up so many young players to get Gallo. Luis Gil surprised me only by making the starting rotation. I recognize he pitched brilliantly in Spring Training, but I always take great Springs in stride. It is the Greg Bird Syndrome. You may be selling it, but I am not buying it. An incredible Spring performance does not automatically translate to regular-season success. The rule generally works, even if there are some outliers like Gil. One of those things I love to get wrong.

As evident by Warren’s Triple-A season debut, the Yankees made the right call to give Gil the last rotation spot over Warren. Gil has yet to prove it on his end, but I feel confident about his upcoming performance. There will be bumps in the road, but if he can keep the Yankees in games, I will be satisfied. My prior pick of Warren over Gil for the starting rotation was more about how valuable I felt that Gil could be in the Michael King bullpen role. A shutdown reliever who can go multiple innings is huge. Yet, the Yankees know how to build bullpens, and I think they will find the right solution without Gil in the mix.

As much as I wanted the Yankees to add an upper-rotation arm before the start of the season, we must let it go and accept the team we have been presented with. The Yankees will re-evaluate their needs in July and find solutions on the trade market if necessary. That is not a concern today. The Yankees must play and win with the guys currently on the roster. It is our job, as Yankees fans, to support the product. The Los Angeles Dodgers may have had an incredibly successful (and exorbitantly expensive) offseason, but nothing assures them of a World Series Championship except for hard work, determination, teamwork, and professionalism. Yes, talent factors into the equation, but good teams find a way to win even if they do not have the best players on the field. A long-winded approach to saying nothing is preventing the Yankees from winning a championship except for themselves. They can do it, and I will support them to the end regardless of how this season may turn out.

Two games into the new season, the Yankees look much better than last year’s 82-win team. Much can happen over the next 160 games, yet it is important to start strong, especially when playing in the house of a top rival. Stroman can give the Yankees the series win later today. If not Stroman, Clarke Schmidt gets the chance on Sunday. I am feeling good that at least one of those guys will deliver the “W.”

The Yankees are fun again.

Alex Verdugo, Aaron Judge and Juan Soto (Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg/NY Post)

Active Trade Market

You typically do not see many early-season trades, but the Yankees have been active. The day before the season opener in Houston, the Yankees acquired infielder Jon Berti from the Miami Marlins. Berti’s ability to play second base, shortstop, and third base made him an appealing target for the Yankees. The 34-year-old may not scare you with the bat, but he is fast and is a plus fielder at shortstop and third base. The latter position is one of need with DJ LeMahieu starting the season on the Injured List with his bruised right foot.

Jon Berti

In 2023 for the Marlins, Berti hit .294/.344/.405 in 133 games and 424 plate appearances. He had sixteen doubles, three triples, seven home runs, thirty-three runs batted in, and sixteen stolen bases (caught stealing six times). Berti led MLB with forty-one stolen bags in 2022. Berti’s 2023 fWAR of 2.1 was nearly double LeMahieu’s 1.1.  I do not think LeMahieu has to worry about losing his starting gig, but Berti is a competent interim replacement. Admittedly, I did not know much about Berti before the trade. I cannot say following the Miami Marlins is high on my priority list. Yet, I like the trade. I was worried about Oswaldo Cabrera in the starting lineup for an extended period despite his strong start to the regular season. I like the kid and he had a nice Spring but…I am not buying it. He has looked fantastic for two regular season games, but I prefer to keep him in a limited, backup role although if he keeps playing like Friday night, I may have to reconsider my beliefs. Nevertheless, the combo of Berti and Cabrera provides stability at third base until LeMahieu is ready to dance again. Berti should make his Yankees debut today, wearing Masahiro Tanaka’s old number.

A little birdie told me that the Yankees have Burdi and Berti. Rare names with a similar sound. I guess Birdies are better than Bogeys.

To acquire Berti, the Yankees gave up catcher Ben Rortvedt and minor-league outfielder John Cruz. It was a three-way trade that sent Rortvedt to the division rival Tampa Bay Rays, while Cruz went to Miami. The Rays sent outfield prospect Shane Sasaki to the Marlins to complete the deal. If there was a trade I expected, it was Rortvedt. Out of options and the third-best catcher on the roster left him on the outside looking in. I would not have been surprised if Rortvedt had been designated for assignment and lost on waivers. It seemed clear that his days in Pinstripes were over. The only surprise is a trade with a key division rival. Good for Rortvedt. He made the Rays’ Opening Day roster as their backup catcher. It is certainly a better Major League opportunity for him than he would have found in New York. Of course, if he hits a home run against the Yankees, the good feelings for the player will evaporate. You know there will be a game when he goes off on the Yankees like he never has against any team in baseball before. But until then, I wish him well.

GM Brian Cashman did not stop with the Berti trade. On Friday, he acquired Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher JT Brubaker. 

JT Brubaker (Photo Credit: Matt Marton/USA TODAY Sports)

While I get the Yankees often look for undervalued players who they feel can be coached up, it is hard to get excited about Brubaker. The 30-year-old righthander made his debut for the Pirates in 2020 and has a career 9-28 record with a 4.99 ERA. Brubaker is currently on the Injured List after undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2023. This seems like a Michael Fishman special with the belief that the Yankees can unlock Brubaker’s potential. Not exactly a bet I would want to make. I doubt Brubaker will stop the Yankees from trying to acquire (or needing to acquire) other arms at the deadline. If it turns out to be the latest Clay Holmes Reclamation Project with comparable results, hooray for us. If not, I hope Brubaker likes Eastern Pennsylvania.

The Pirates will receive a player-to-be-named later. Brubaker’s ability to pitch later this season presumably factors into the equation but it seems unlikely the Yankees will lose a highly regarded prospect based on Brubaker’s track record.

As always, Go Yankees!

Ready or Not, Here Comes Opening Day...

 

Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas

With a detour to Mexico City, the Yankees will soon arrive in Houston…

Less than a week until the regular season opens (well, at least for the New York Yankees since the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres already got the party started in Seoul, Korea this week).

Honestly, I thought the Yankees would be more active during the closing weeks of Spring Training in shaping the final roster. Granted, there are still a few days to determine the final 26-man roster that will head to Houston, Texas, so anything is possible, yet the clock is winding down. I am glad the Blake Snell rumors have been laid to rest now that he is officially a San Francisco Giant. We received another swirl of ‘Yankees connected to Jordan Montgomery’ rumors even if the likelihood is about as strong as the chance the Dodgers rehire Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter Ippei Mizuhara. In other words, no chance in H-E-double toothpicks. Even if the Yankees’ back-office nerds do not like Montgomery, I do and I think the team could benefit from his consistency, reliability, and now, World Series experience. Give Monty a rotation spot and worry about other positions…not that one. Realistically, there is no way that Hal Steinbrenner is going to pay premium dollars for Montgomery since the amount would double with the luxury tax penalties associated therewith.

The best way to sustain an expensive business model is to supplement it with cheap, affordable, and most importantly, controllable, young talent. As such, Will Warren, Clayton Beeter, Cody Poteet, or Luis Gil stand a better chance of being in the Yankees rotation than Montgomery. My uninformed guess is that Will Warren will be nominated as the Man of the Hour, subject to performance, in a decision that can and most likely will change as the season progresses. I like Warren, and I am excited about his upcoming Major League career, but I would be foolish to say I prefer him over Jordan Montgomery, even with the price difference (hey, it is not my money!).

Will Warren (Photo Credit: @yankees via Instagram)

So, in other words, Will Warren, it will be. I know Luis Gil is under consideration, but he seems like a better fit for the bullpen (filling the role once held by Michael King). Yet, even if Warren gets the job, he will not be the last Yankees prospect to make his Major League debut in the rotation this season.

For the first few years of DJ LeMahieu’s Yankee career, I wanted him to have a set position. He was recognized as one of the better second basemen in the game (with emphasis on defense). Using him as a roving infielder never made complete sense to me, but to his credit, he has played respectively at both corner infield spots. Now, as he ages, I was admittedly concerned when I heard that he would be the starting third baseman this season. He can play third base, yes, and if healthy, he will not be a weakness in the lineup or on the field. Yet, it is that word ‘healthy’ that has caused me grief. LeMahieu and good health are, basically, a couple who are constantly screaming at each other. They cannot live with each other; they cannot live without each other.

LeMahieu recently fouled a ball off his right foot which caused a severe bone bruise. The MRI results were clear, so the prescription is rest and, of course, the Yankees tend to take a conservative approach when it comes to injuries. On one hand, you can feel relieved that LeMahieu did not break or crack a bone, but on the other hand, it is always something with him. He may not be the frequent traveler to the Injured List like Aaron Hicks was, but his ailments tend to reduce his effectiveness when he is playing. With Oswald Peraza on the shelf, the Yankees need a backup third baseman. I thought Gio Urshela made total sense before he signed with the Detroit Tigers. Or even JD Davis before he signed with the Oakland A’s although Gio is more versatile. I like Oswaldo Cabrera, but I am not excited about him being part of the everyday lineup in a critical position like third base. I know, he is an infielder by trade, but he has not shown he is an everyday player. I guess you must start somewhere. Minor league roster invitee Kevin Smith seems like an underwhelming option. With upcoming roster cuts by all teams, maybe a good backup corner infielder, who is cheap, will become available for the Yankees. As if LeMahieu’s health concerns were not enough, first baseman Anthony Rizzo was scratched from Friday’s exhibition game with a tight latissimus dorsi. Although Rizzo is expected to be ready for Opening Day, the Yankees cannot afford to lose both LeMahieu and Rizzo for any extended period without a solid Plan B in place.

I saw the Chicago White Sox released Mike Moustakas on Friday. There was a time when I wanted him as a Yankee. That time is NOT now. Eduardo Escobar, released by the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday, does not excite me either. We know how GM Brian Cashman likes dumpster dives. These are not garbage pieces worth collecting but you know that Cashman will be sniffing.

I want the perfect team. Is that too much to ask? One would think over $300 million could ensure twenty-six elite players on the roster, but sadly, it buys you a flawed roster at best.

Oh well, bring on Opening Day, Part II. Thursday, March 28, 4:10 pm EDT, with cameras ready at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, will soon be here, y’all! Beers, BBQ, and a Yankees win. I love it!

The Last Straw in Cleveland

Now that Alex Verdugo has become “likable” (how did that happen?), the list of players I do not like has become much shorter. Cleveland’s Myles Straw has been a longtime resident on my list, yet his days in Cleveland might be over. Straw, beaten out by other Guardians outfielders including Estevan Florial, was placed on waivers this week. Sadly, with his contract (3 more years totaling $19.25 million which includes a 2026 buyout), no team will claim the dislikable outfielder. He will clear waivers and will be sent outright to Cleveland’s top minor league affiliate (he has sufficient service time to reject the outright assignment, although he would be dumber than I thought if he walked away from $19.25 million).

Myles Straw (Photo Credit: AP)

The Yankees visit Cleveland for a three-game series beginning on April 12. Hopefully, Cleveland does not have an outfield need between now and then to force Straw’s call-up. I am looking forward to a Straw-less series with the Guardians. Of course, that probably means that Estevan Florial will go off on the Yankees, hitting something like three game-winning home runs to win the series for Cleveland.

If the Guardians are making moves, I know where they can send starting pitcher Shane Bieber. Bieber would look great in road gray for the three-game series in mid-April.

Service Time Manipulation

Add Baltimore’s Jackson Holliday, Matt’s son, to the list of the young prospects demoted to delay the start of the MLB service time clock. The reasons for Holliday’s demotion seem legitimate. Holliday is moving to second base from shortstop since the talented Gunnar Henderson has the latter position. Holliday needs more time to learn the nuances of playing second base, an education that started this Spring. Orioles GM Mike Elias also cited Holliday’s lack of experience against upper-level lefthanded pitching. Young Holliday has only played eighteen games at Triple-A and is only twenty.

Jackson Holliday (Photo Credit: The Baltimore Sun)

Holliday hit .311 in Spring Training (14-for-45). He collected three doubles, two triples, and two home runs while scoring six runs. Many expected him to be on the Orioles’ Opening Day Roster. Yet, he did struggle against lefties, striking out nine times against southpaws.

There is no doubt Holliday will make his Major League debut in 2024. I am sure that once he is below the potential to reach 172 days needed to qualify for a full year of service time, he will look extremely attractive to the Orioles for a Major League call-up. He could still earn a full year of service without reaching 172 days if he happened to win the Rookie of the Year award (which is within the realm of possibility). Baltimore has way too many young potential superstars. I guess we should be thankful the Orioles have chosen to delay the MLB start of the latest one. 

As always, Go Yankees! 

Opening Day Loses Some Luster...

 

Gerrit Cole (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Gerrit Cole is sidelined with a right elbow injury…

Some sports weeks are good; some sports weeks are bad. I will place this past week in the latter category even if neither my favorite MLB nor NFL team played a meaningful game this week. “Loss” was the common denominator despite the lack of competition.

In the NFL, the start of free agency means rapid-fire signings for a couple of days. It did not take long for my beloved Minnesota Vikings to lose starting quarterback Kirk Cousins to the Atlanta Falcons.

Kirk Cousins (Photo Credit: Mike Stewart/AP)

Say what you will about Cousins. He is not an elite quarterback, but he is a good one. At the end of the day, he did not take the Vikings to the promised land, and he has that dang aging thing following him with a hurried pace (Cousins will be thirty-six this season). The Vikings did not want to go more than year to year with Cousins, while the Falcons were willing to give Cousins $180 million over four years, including a $50 million signing bonus. Let the Falcons pay him. I do not blame the Vikings for passing (no pun intended). The salt in the wound is the Vikings’ signing of former Jets, Panthers, and 49ers quarterback Sam Darnold. If the Vikings expect Darnold to play like a former third pick in the NFL Draft, they will be as disappointed as the Jets were. Maybe a better cast around him will help (Justin Jefferson is one of the best in the business at wide receiver). Maybe not. I hope the Vikings are not finished looking for veteran help at the position while they attempt to move up in this year’s draft to grab a future franchise QB.

But this is not a Vikings blog so enough about the misery of the purple and gold. The harder news to take was the loss of Yankees Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole. Granted, the loss is only time, and he is still a Yankee...and, most importantly, the time will not be as long as it could have been, but Cole will be absent for the first two months of the season. There is no question it is a huge blow to the team.

Following an MRI on Cole’s right elbow, he met with noted Tommy John surgeon and Los Angeles Dodgers team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache. I was bracing for the worst when I heard about the visit with Dr. ElAttrache, but, fortunately, surgery is not needed (as one beat reporter put it, “for now”). Rest for 1-2 months means that, realistically, we will not see Cole for at least two months. Even if Cole recovers ahead of schedule, the Yankees move notoriously slow when it comes to player injuries especially when it happens to one of the team’s most valued assets. If Cole can make a few starts before the All-Star break, it is likely the best-case scenario. I cannot see Cole pitching before Memorial Day Weekend.

This was not the news we wanted to hear during the one-season run of Juan Soto as a Yankee. I thought Cole’s injury might spur the Yankees to acquire another starting pitcher, but it truly appears they plan to go with the hand they have been dealt. In other words, all 2024 MLB starters for the Yankees, at least on Opening Day, are presently in-house. With Dylan Cease off the board following his trade from the Chicago White Sox to the San Diego Padres, there are fewer options. There will be no late pillow contracts for Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery. Even if they were signed, they would not be ready for Opening Day. With reports today that the Houston Astros are interested in Snell, it made me wonder if it is just agent Scott Boras trying to put more pressure on the Yankees to pay his client. It would be disappointing if the Astros do sign Snell and he becomes responsible for ending the Yankees’ season this year. Although there is some talk the Yankees may be interested in free agent RHP Michael Lorenzen, he is hardly a needle-mover. 

Michael Lorenzen (Photo Credit: Mark J Terrill/AP)

Cleveland’s Shane Bieber is probably the best option, and he will not cost the organization a top prospect like Spencer Jones or Roderick Arias. It feels like the Yankees will not do anything about the rotation until the trade deadline later this summer. It will be a long summer if Carlos Rodón continues to pitch like the second coming of Javier Vazquez in Pinstripes, or Nestor Cortes cannot pitch like he did in 2022.

I am excited to see what Clayton Beeter and Will Warren can do at the Major League Level. The downside with rookie pitchers is the inevitable bumps in the road. Very few rookie pitchers take the MLB by storm, and I cannot remember too many Yankee pitchers that did. For the most part, it takes a year or two to ease into the nuances of the game’s highest level. Patience is necessary when it comes to young pitchers. I wish the Yankees had time to be patient. Regardless, we have no choice. So, I guess we must be impatiently patient. I am hoping for the best, yet it must fall on the Front Office if the season falls apart because of starting pitching. The team’s offense should be the best we have seen in a few years. That is why most Yankee fans wanted the team to push their starting pitching staff from particularly good to elite with the addition of another arm. Now, trying to reach ‘very good’ will be a challenge. The bats have a lot of ground to make up.

I am cautiously optimistic it works out for the Yankees. There is no scenario where I would root for them to fail. I want guys to step up. To take advantage of opportunities. Every great player took another player’s job at one point in their respective careers.

Although Michael Lorenzen does not excite me, I would be in favor of his signing in the light that there will be no major moves or signings in the immediate non-greedy Pinstripes' future (pun intended). He could be a placeholder until Cole returns or if/when reinforcements arrive at the trade deadline. If he pitches well, his role could have a longer duration. He would offer some insurance in case of a total Rodón flameout. He is certainly not the same caliber of pitcher as Rodón is/was, but he can win games with Juan Soto and Aaron Judge in the lineup. If the Yankees must use a rookie pitcher, I would rather see it limited to one and not multiple rookies.

With Cole sidelined, the Opening Day gig was up for grabs. The first report surfaced that Marcus Stroman would not alter his current schedule to make the Opening Day start. Honestly, I do not care. I saw negative comments from the fan base, but realistically, none of us were part of the conversations between Stroman and team management. Stroman has the right to decide what works best for him, mentally and physically. It is not our place to decide what is best for him. I thought it was cool that Stroman was scheduled to start the Yankee Stadium opener against his former team, the Toronto Blue Jays. I hope that the schedule does not change. Whether Stroman starts the first game of the season in Houston, or the second or third is inconsequential. The Yankees need wins, and they will need a win on the day Stroman pitches, whatever day that may be.

Friday, it was announced that the Opening Day starter in Houston on March 28 will be Nestor Cortes, Jr. Admittedly, it is surprising, but Rodón certainly has not earned the right. I thought maybe Clarke Schmidt might be the best option, but I have no qualms about Nestor so long as he stays healthy.

Nestor Cortes, Jr (Photo Credit: New York Yankees/Getty Images)

Juan, I know you are a man among boys, but we will need you to step up your game. Seriously, I hope the team’s offense can carry the team until Gerrit Cole can return to help ease the load. This is why they pay Brian Cashman the big bucks, and why he should be held accountable for the results, whatever they may be.

Germán signs with the Pittsburgh Pirates

Domingo Germán has finally found his new home. Well, it is a minor-league contract with a couple of weeks to show he belongs in the Majors, but it is better than nothing at all.

Germán will head to Bradenton, Florida to work out with Aroldis Chapman and the Pittsburgh Pirates. He can make $1.25 million this season if he makes the Major League roster, and there is a club option for $2.25 million in 2025, with performance bonuses mixed in. Honestly, I think all Major League contracts should have lower base salaries, and higher performance-related bonuses, but that is beside the point.

Domingo German (Photo Credit: Noah K Murray/AP)

Good for Germán to find a new opportunity. I am glad he is no longer a Yankee, but I would certainly prefer to see him earn the right to play in the Major Leagues again than to fail. This might be his third chance, but hopefully, this one sticks for his sake. His family deserves better.

As always, Go Yankees!

Trust the Cashman Process...

Brian Cashman (Photo Credit: Andrew Mills/NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Yankees GM continues to target role players for the Opening Day Roster…

Trust Brian Cashman sounds like an oxymoron. Yet, I hope Cashman is looking at upgrades in earnest as Spring Training continues to slog its way through March.

I realize the regular season starts this month, but Thursday, March 28 at 4:10 EDT in Houston, Texas seems so far away. It is funny how excited we are when Spring Training opens in February, but after a few weeks of exhibition games, it becomes a grind. It is always good to see the Yankees on the field playing baseball, but the yearning for games that matter becomes insatiable.

Patience…dang it (that last part is for me, not you).

With the reports that the Yankees were finalists for free agents Kiké Hernandez and Amed Rosario, the Yankees’ front office is trying hard to find infield bench support. With Hernandez re-signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers (no surprise) and Rosario taking less money for greater potential playing time with the Tampa Bay Rays, the Yankees luck for finding a strong number two starter and a solid utility infielder rank up there with their ability (or should I say inability) to find a left fielder last year. 

The Yankees have no choice but to find a utility infielder with the news that Oswald Peraza has been removed from baseball activity for six to eight weeks after he was diagnosed with a subscapularis strain in his right shoulder. It is not like Peraza will be ready to go in two months. The best-case scenario, assuming he does not need surgery, would be greater than two months. Once he resumes baseball activity and plays in minor-league rehab games, two months easily becomes three or more. Most likely, we will not see Peraza until sometime this summer at the earliest. Hopefully, this does not fall into a worst-case scenario for the talented young infielder. I had hoped that Peraza would be able to prove his worth at the Major League level this year. Either get a legitimate shot with the big-league club or receive a much-deserved trade to another team that can provide the necessary Major League playing time. For now, both opportunities are on hold.

Peraza’s absence is cause for concern at third base, let alone shortstop. While DJ LeMahieu can be the everyday third baseman, good health has not been his friend. I am not entirely confident of LeMahieu’s ability to hold up to the rigors of a full season playing nearly every day. With questions about backup support for third base and shortstop, the Yankees must hope Anthony Rizzo stays healthy. The Yankees are better prepared to manage injuries in the outfield than any of the infield spots outside of catching. As such, it seems like a trade is imminent since the Yankees have not been able to find what they are looking for in free agency.

Unfortunately, Jeter Downs is not the player he once profiled to be. Then again, if he had become that guy, the Yankees would have never gotten their hands on him. The guys rounding out the bench seem to be players on other teams now, subject to change…not the guys in camp on minor league deals. Time will tell and since the regular season is so far away (at least to me), there is time for Brian Cashman and Company to find the necessary reinforcements. But of course, we have said that before and nothing happened.

I have been pleasantly surprised and quite pleased about how well Marcus Stroman has fit in with the Yankees. Throwing four no-hit innings against his former team, the Toronto Blue Jays, the other day was nice. Granted, he is not going to pitch like that every time out, but he is showing that he can be a trusted third starter for a contending team. The Yankees desperately need some reliability behind Gerrit Cole with the questions surrounding Carlos Rodón and perhaps Nestor Cortes. Stroman is the needed source of consistency.

Marcus Stroman (Photo Credit: Gerald Herbert/AP)

I think Clarke Schmidt is positioning himself to be a strong back-end starter, with the potential to rise in the ranking. Reaching the third spot in the rotation may be his ceiling but those guys can help win championships. I loved Andy Pettitte as a Yankee, but he was never the ace of the staff. Yet, he was the guy you wanted on the mound in October. Schmidt can be that kind of guy. He seems to be the wild card for the Yankees’ inability to add another top starter. No doubt Clayton Beeter and Will Warren will get a chance to prove themselves, so Schmidt must continue to improve as he did last season. My expectation is he will. I like Schmidt, and I want him to succeed. If the Yankees had been successful in finding a pitcher to place behind Cole, I would have preferred to see Cortes lose his starting role over Schmidt. Cortes could be a valuable swingman out of the pen.

If I had to rate the starting pitchers by order of my confidence, it would be 1) Gerrit Cole, 2) Marcus Stroman, 3) Clarke Schmidt, 4) Nestor Cortes, and 5) Carlos Rodón. That certainly does not mean I believe Rodón is a fifth starter, or that Stroman is a number two…it is just the confidence level I have in each to perform their expected level of play. I am not ready to say that Rodón is the latest version of Sonny Gray (in Pinstripes), Carl Pavano, Javier Vasquez, or some other random pitcher who failed miserably for the Yankees, but he is on the fast track. Rodón needs to be the pitcher he was for the San Francisco Giants two seasons ago. If he is, he will shut up the naysayers like me. If he does, the Yankees will be playing in October.

It seems like a foregone conclusion that the catching tandem will be Austin Wells and Jose Trevino. Not sure what becomes of Ben Rortvedt, but that is the least of our concerns. Wells has shown this Spring that he can be more than a platoon partner with Trevino. I love Trevi, and I enjoy him as a Yankee, but I would love to see Wells take command of the catching position to become the undisputed starter. His offensive potential alone sets him apart, but his improvement on the defensive side cuts the gap between him and the more defensively talented Trevino. Wells and Trevino might be the most confident I have felt about the catching position since the days of Jorge Posada and Joe Girardi.

I hate to give kudos to an AL East Rival, but the Toronto Blue Jays did a wonderful job with signing former Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto to a minor league deal. On one hand, it is sad that Votto will not be a Red for the entirety of his career, but on the other hand, he is a player with something to prove. If the Reds thought he had nothing left in the tank, the Blue Jays could be the beneficiary if he does. I would have liked Votto on the Yankees in a backup role, but the way the team is constructed, he is not a fit for the roster. Giancarlo Stanton clogs the DH role for the Yankees (which is why I would be willing to move Big G if I could). I will pull for Votto to succeed so long as it does not come at the cost of a Yankees loss. I am not a huge fan of Toronto players, and my admiration for Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly is on ice until he leaves the Blue Jays, yet Votto is a player I can pull for. Of course, his first home run against the Yankees may change my perspective.

I am starting to buy into the Henry Lalane hype train. The 19-year-old 6’7” lefty looks like he was born to be a Yankee (beyond the fact that he was born in the Bronx). I hope he does become the pitcher many are expecting him to be.

Henry Lalane

I do not follow the minor leagues closely, but even as casual observers, we (fans of baseball’s greatest franchise) become aware of the major talents in the farm system as they progress through the ranks. Lalane will have the eyes of the Yankees Universe watching him. Hopefully, he does not wilt under the pressure. There is an extensive list of prospects who were highly (overly?) hyped, yet never fulfilled the promise. I know part of it is organizational strategy…boost the perceived value of your prospects, but part is real, and that is the case with Lalane.

I just hope he does not become trade fodder for one of those Joey Gallo-type deals.

As always, Go Yankees!

End the Snell-to-the-Yanks Talk...

 

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

Yanks-Snell talk---Much ado about nuthin’…

I am ready for the Blake Snell rumors to die. He will not be a Yankee.

The Yankees have not indicated they are willing to spend what it would take to sign Snell, even on a short-term deal with a high AAV. Three-year contracts, with annual opt-outs, appear to be the rage this late into free agency, yet Snell, even on a short-term deal, seems beyond the Yankees’ appetite with the associated 110% luxury penalties on any additional payroll this season. The Yankees could trade money to add money, but dealing away a player like second baseman Gleyber Torres does not make sense when he is one of the best hitters on the team, regardless of Oswald Peraza’s readiness. If the Yankees could find a way to offload Giancarlo Stanton and his contract, sign me up. While it is great Stanton showed up to Spring Training looking much slimmer (showing his commitment to recapturing past success), I would move Stanton in a New York minute if I could. It would open the designated hitter slot for player rotation, and there is value in getting fourth outfielder Trent Grisham’s glove into games. But I doubt the Yankees can move Stanton and certainly not without paying much of the freight cost. The bottom line, the Yankees are done spending money for now.

With so much talk this offseason about adding another starting pitcher, I am ready to go into the regular season with the pitchers currently in-house (as if we have any other choice). It makes more sense to me to spend the money to add a reliable arm to the rotation than to deal away top prospects, but it is not my money, and the Yankees know their prospects better than we do. Clayton Beeter and Will Warren are emerging as the rotation depth, and everyone must start a big-league career at some point. I prefer a proven, veteran arm, but given the Yankees’ apparent unwillingness to pay the cost, the future rests with the top pitching prospects. I like Nestor Cortes; however, his best use may be as the long man in the pen. If his injury struggles continue this season, moving Cortes to the bullpen is something the Yankees need to consider.

It seems odd that the Yankees are most frequently mentioned with Snell, with much less talk of other teams. The San Francisco Giants, despite signing free-agent third baseman Matt Chapman last night, appear to be the best fit. They have room in payroll and need to continue adding quality players for new manager Bob Melvin in the highly competitive National League West. Snell’s best chance to join the Yankees was before they signed Marcus Stroman. We may never know the inner details of negotiations, at least not until someone authors a book about it. It does seem like Agent Extraordinaire Scott Boras overplayed his hand and did his client a disservice. Snell is not a $300 million pitcher, and at the end of the day, he could be calling the Los Angeles Angels home with Octobers free to pursue other interests when he could have been thick in the highly competitive American League East again with the greedy Pinstripes (pun intended). The Baltimore Orioles should sign Snell to use in tandem with Corbin Burnes. They have the money and the room in their payroll to do it. I guess it would be unpoetic justice if Snell ended the Yankees’ 2024 season in the playoffs wearing Birdland gear.

I have felt all off-season that Jordan Montgomery would be the best solution to provide stability and consistency for the rotation. Yet, unlike Snell, his name is never mentioned with the Yankees despite their history together. Either they or Montgomery (or both) have chosen to move on. Monty’s trade to St Louis for centerfielder Harrison Bader will never make sense to me. Bader had a few fine postseason games in his first year, but he has been largely forgettable as a Yankee. A good guy, fun to have the native-born New Yorker from Bronxville on the roster, and a brilliant defender when healthy, but Monty’s continued presence in the rotation would have given the Yankees more than Bader’s limited contribution. My best memory of Bader as a Yankee was seeing a pic of him with Nestor Cortes at a Knicks game.

Harrison Bader and Nestor Cortes, Jr.

Montgomery seems destined for the Boston Red Sox. If the Texas Rangers do not have the additional money it would take to bring Montgomery back to their championship roster, Boston has the clear advantage. His wife is working in Boston, and it gives him personal motivation to make the city his permanent home. I always hate when former Yankees take up residence in Beantown even though I love the city of Boston. It is the stain of the Red Sox uniform that bothers me. I was glad when James Paxton signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency for no other reason than he was no longer a Red Sock, just like I was when Nathan Eovaldi left the Sox. I love David Cone and I always enjoy his presence on YES Network game broadcasts, but it still bugs me that he wore a Red Sox cap after his tenure with the Yankees. Not that I feel the Yankees should sign Montgomery solely to keep him out of Boston, but it would be a nice side benefit. The Yankees know Montgomery well, and he has proven he can win in New York. His time away from the Yankees has only made him better, yet there is something that puts the Yankees off. Maybe it is just the cost…whatever. I am sorry it did not work out for Monty in Pinstripes.

Regardless of what the Yankees ultimately decide to do to bolster the starting pitching staff, neither Snell nor Montgomery will be the names called. Time to move on and be grateful for the guys currently on the roster. The potential of the lineup is better than last year’s 82-80 team. Time will tell if it is better than AL East opponents, and specifically, the Baltimore Orioles, but a half-month into Spring Training is generating much fan excitement about the team, unlike anything we have seen in the past couple of years.

It would be foolish to say World Series or bust, but the Yankees have a team, as currently structured, that can position itself to play in October. Once the team is in the playoffs, anything can happen. Nobody expected the Texas Rangers to win the World Series last year. The champion is the last team soaked in champagne, not the best collection of player names on a roster.

The Los Angeles Dodgers may have had the best offseason of any team in Major League Baseball, but they should probably play the games on the field before collecting their championship pay. I have a feeling some team is going to disappoint Dodger fans (like they do every year).

I hope it is the Yankees in 2024.

The Revolving Waiver Door...

It is tough to keep up with the Yankees’ waiver claims since the end of last season. I thought the Yankees' claim of former Toronto Blue Jays top prospect Jordan Groshans was a nice move. Granted, Groshans has not fulfilled his potential and he has now gone through several organizations without success, but I was optimistic the Yankees saw something in the player they felt they could help unlock. Groshans’s stay on the 40-man roster lasted fifteen days. He was designated for assignment this week when the Yankees claimed outfielder Jahmai Jones off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers. There is a chance Groshans will stay in the organization if he goes unclaimed, but he did not have much chance to show anything…assuming he had anything, of course.

Jordan Groshans (Photo Credit: Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

I am not entirely sold on DJ LeMahieu as the team’s everyday third baseman. Not that I thought Groshans could suddenly blossom into a reliable and productive Major League baseball player, but for as strong as the organization is with shortstop/second baseman prospect types, third base is not as deep. I had thought former Yankees prospect Trey Sweeney would be the eventual third baseman even if he had been drafted as a shortstop. Sweeney was dealt to the Dodgers in the offseason for second baseman Jorbit Vivas, so he is no longer in the conversation.

The Yankees lost another third base prospect this offseason when Andres Chapparo left the organization through minor league free agency to sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks. I was a little surprised the Yankees never gave Chapparo any look at the Major League level late last year. I thought he had earned at least a little taste for a team that was not going anywhere last September. Yet, he was ignored and allowed to leave. There is no Roderick Arias or George Lombard, Jr developing at third base like there is at shortstop. The future at third base, as it stands today, will come from outside the organization if Oswald Peraza is not the future.

To clarify, my reservations about LeMahieu do not relate to his ability. He is a great defensive player with a productive bat. The concern is health. LeMahieu has missed time the last couple of seasons, and there have been times when nagging injuries have affected on-the-field play. After playing 150 games in 2021, his totals dropped to 125 and 136 games in the most recent two seasons. LeMahieu will be 36 years old in July. He is no longer a Spring Chicken. I doubt he will reach 136 games this season. He has entered the stage of his career where his highest and best use is playing with moderation.

The hope is Oswald Peraza can be the designated fill-in at third base for LeMahieu. Given how much the Yankees have tried to find infield depth this offseason makes me wonder how committed they are to Peraza. It was surprising to hear utility player Kiké Hernandez say his choices were down to the Yankees and the Dodgers before he ultimately signed a contract to return to LA. Peraza has nothing left to prove in Triple-A so I wonder what Peraza’s fate would have been if Hernandez had signed with the Yankees. Although Hernandez can play the outfield, the Yankees have Trent Grisham as the key outfield reserve off the bench, so clearly Hernandez was viewed for his infield versatility. Either Peraza is going to succeed at the Major League level, or he is not, but he deserves a chance. With no clear third basemen behind LeMahieu, Peraza must be the guy ready to stand in.

As for Jahmai Jones, I guess we will save the ‘Welcome to the Yankees family’ since there is no guarantee he will be around in a couple of weeks. When a better player comes knocking at the 40-man roster, Jones will lose his seat at the table like the waiver claims before him.

Jahmai Jones (Photo Credit: AP)

Last word…

I liked Marcus Stroman’s performance against the Baltimore Orioles today. Yankees insider Bryan Hoch tweeted today that Stroman told him he would be starting the Yankee Stadium home opener on April 5 against his old team, the Toronto Blue Jays. I am pleased that Stroman’s assimilation to the Yankees has gone so smoothly. I was wrong when I once said that I did not want Stroman on the Yankees. I am glad he is here.

Marcus Stroman (Photo Credit: AP)

As always, Go Yankees!

Hell-Bent for a Championship...

 

Yankees Manager Aaron Boone (Photo Credit: Reid Hoffman/AP)

Wishful Thinking by Yankees Manager…

I desperately want to experience another Yankees World Series Championship in the not-so-distant future (like any true Yankees fan), but I had to chuckle when Aaron Boone remarked “We’re hell-bent on being a champion. We understand very well that last year was not anything anyone in this organization wants, demands, or expects.” Granted, I believe that acquiring outfielder Juan Soto was a HUGE move in the offseason, but I remain skeptical they have done enough to shorten the gap between them and the game’s best teams. ‘Hell-bent’ would be acquiring a strong number two starting pitcher to pair with ace Gerrit Cole. Marcus Stroman is nice, but if he is the definition of ‘hell-bent,’ then the Yankees clearly love taking Octobers off. Stroman will be a good pitcher for the Yankees, but whether he will be the difference-maker come playoff time remains to be seen if the Yankees make it that far.

Lately, it seems every post I write revolves around the Yankees' inability to pull out all the stops to bring championship baseball back to the Bronx. T. It is the product, or the hazard, of not winning since 2009. For as many World Series championships as we have experienced in our lifetimes (some more than others), there are fourteen-year-old Yankee fans who have never experienced a Pinstriped championship. I would be quite surprised if any fifteen- or sixteen-year-olds had a recollection of the 2009 World Series Champions. It saddens me that they live in a world where the Boston Red Sox have won championships and the Yankees have not.

I will let it go. I am happy and excited that baseball is back. It is quite enjoyable to see the players return to George Steinbrenner Field this week, participating in group training activities and giving on-camera interviews. I am looking forward to the first Spring game which is a week away.

It is impressive to see position players who have arrived early with the pitchers and catchers although I am still trying to get used to Alex Verdugo with no facial hair or the fact that he is even a Yankee. That should change once he takes the field in Pinstripes and when he delivers his first home run or game-winning hit. Regardless of who I wanted for the outfield when the offseason started, Verdugo is an upgrade over the players who patrolled left field last season. Like Juan Soto, I am not convinced Verdugo’s stay will be long. Verdugo will be a free agent after the season and if there are any missteps by Verdugo during the season, it seems like he will be allowed to walk away. I was recently talking with a Red Sox fan who seemed relieved that Verdugo was no longer with the Sox not because of on-the-field play but rather the challenges he represented in the clubhouse and the stormy relationship with Red Sox manager Alex Cora.

Alex Verdugo (Photo Credit: New York Post)

Despite my concerns, Verdugo deserves a second chance. The problems in Boston do not automatically mean there will be problems in New York. There is a greater potential for problems than with your average player, but I am convinced that Verdugo learned from the Boston experience, and he will be a better man for it or at least I hope that is the case. Incredibly, the Yankees could lose two-thirds of their current outfield to free agency after the season even if Jasson Dominguez will be 100% healthy entering next season (hopefully). Man, I want to fully embrace both Soto and Verdugo, but the potential ‘one-and-done’ aspect holds me back a little. I guess a World Series championship would cure any hesitation.

I am cautiously optimistic about Carlos Rodón who reported to camp with no moustache and is throwing much harder than he did this time last year. He seems focused on proving who he is and showing us that last year was simply a bad aberration. Given the failure to sign Yoshinobu Yamamoto, pursue a top free-agent pitching target, or trade for an upper-end starter, the Yankees need Rodón to be the pitcher they thought he was, the guy who dominated in San Francisco. As a fan, I want to have the same elevated level of confidence when Rodón takes the ball as I do when Gerrit Cole is on the mound. Rodón is not Cole, but he can shove if he pitches like we think he can and he knows he can. If Nestor Cortes suffers any setbacks, the Yankees need all they can get from the front-end starters. So, as it stands, Rodón is the key to the rotation. Cole will be dominant, Stroman will be consistent, and Schmidt will continue to blossom. Rodón can make this a great starting rotation rather than a good one.

I keep hoping the Yankees sign one of the top free agents, Jordan Montgomery, or Blake Snell, but I recognize it is a pipe dream. The Yankees will not add that amount of money to the already high payroll. I am a little surprised they remain on the market, but the cost remains high. Not trying to prospect-hug, but I would rather see the Yankees spend money to upgrade the rotation over parting with elite prospects to bring in a strong young controllable starter. I know the latter option represents the best financial decision for the organization, but spending the money keeps elite young talent in-house better. With no further additions, it seems inevitable that Luke Weaver will be thrust into the starting rotation at some point. If not Weaver, then Clayton Beeter or Cody Poteet.

There are lesser free agents available, such as Hyun-Jin Ryu and Mike Clevinger. Neither of those names excites me even if we are starting to hear Ryu’s name more closely linked to the Yankees. I have liked Ryu over the years, but good health has never been his friend. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2022 and did not return until last August. He turns thirty-seven before Opening Day, and the thought of an older pitcher with an inability to stay healthy (the health concerns date back to his days with the Los Angeles Dodgers) seems like a poor investment choice regardless of how good he is. Mike Clevinger is not the pitcher he once was for the Cleveland Guardians. He is three months younger than Gerrit Cole, but Clevinger gets a ‘meh’ from me. I barely remembered that he pitched for the Chicago White Sox last year after a couple of years in San Diego. He was 9-9 with a 3.77 ERA for the White Sox, making twenty-four starts. I want to see better upside from any pitching additions if there are any.

With so many questions remaining, ‘hell-bent’ is not exactly the right word for the Yankees. I think the Los Angeles Dodgers have purchased the rights to ‘hell-bent’ although they probably deferred the dollars for the purchase. Juan Soto, with the limited other upgrades, seems like a Hail Mary Pass with the hope that all other Yankees can play to the back of their baseball cards.

I remain hopeful the Yankees can prove me wrong.

This Week’s Transactions

The Yankees have certainly been quite busy this offseason with waiver claims. I cannot remember the last time they were this active. On a side note, I saw that the Baltimore Orioles claimed brief off-season Yankee Diego Castillo on waivers. After he was designated for assignment by the Yankees, the Philadelphia Phillies claimed him. However, his stay in the City of Brotherly Love was brief and he hit the waiver wire again this week. I hope for his sake he has better luck in Baltimore. He has certainly landed with a good young team.

Earlier this week, the Yankees claimed infielder Jordan Groshans off waivers from the Miami Marlins. Recognizing that Groshans has failed to fulfill his potential as the twelfth player taken in the 2018 MLB Draft (by the Toronto Blue Jays), there is always cautious optimism that the Yankees see something they feel they can fix. I am not optimistic, but there is hope. At worst, he is depth for Triple-A. At best, he is the latest iteration of Gio Urshela who found new life as a Yankee. Groshans is only twenty-four, so he still has some time on his side.

Jordan Groshans

I am worried about DJ LeMahieu’s ability to stay healthy, which is magnified since he has been designated as the team’s starting third baseman, after the nagging injuries he has had for the last couple of seasons. Groshans can play third base so if he defies the odds to become Brian Cashman’s latest ‘lightning in a bottle’ acquisition, he offers some insurance although you would expect Oswald Peraza to be the first call for help at third base. If Groshans is starting third base for the big-league club, you know that either he blossomed beyond expectations or things have gone horribly wrong—nothing in between.

The cost for Groshans was a roster spot for LHP Matt Krook who finally lost his seat at the table when he was designated for assignment. I am surprised Krook made it this long. It must be a bummer to be within days of reporting to Spring Training, only to get a call to tell you to postpone your travel plans.

Seeking more pieces for bullpen consideration, the Yankees swapped a lower-level pitching prospect (RHP Joshua Quezada) for Milwaukee Brewers reliever LHP Clayton Andrews. Andrews, 27, only made four MLB appearances for the Brewers last season, spending most of the season in the minors. Like Groshans, maybe the Yankees see something that can be corrected. Looking at Andrews, there is one thing that stands out to me. He is Jose Altuve-small (5’6”). I get this image of him standing next to Aaron Judge and his head barely reaching the Captain’s waist. If he can get outs, I guess it does not matter how tall (or in this case, short) he is but he is certainly not going to have an imposing presence on the mound. Heck, that would be like me standing on the mound.

The Yankees also re-signed reliever RHP Lou Trivino who continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery. He should be ready to join the team later this summer. Once Trivino was firmly secured on the 40-man roster, the Yankees claimed reliever RHP McKinley Moore on waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies. In the corresponding move, Trivino was moved to the 60-day Injured List to open the spot for Mount McKinley (6’6”, 225 lbs.). Now that is the size of the relievers I want to see on the mound! Booyah!

As always, Go Yankees!

Yankees Pitchers & Catchers, You're Up! ...

   

Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, Florida

Steinbrenner Field is ready for the start of Spring Training…

The NFL season has ended. Time for the return of America’s Favorite Pastime.

After a few months of no baseball and a nice but not-as-great-as-it-could-have-been offseason for the New York Yankees, pitchers and catchers report on Wednesday, February 15. The forecast for Tampa, Florida on Thursday, February 16, for the first workout, will be a high of 78 with partly cloudy skies. In other words, fantastic weather for baseball. The first full-squad workout will be on Tuesday, February 20.

There are reports the Yankees could still acquire the additional starting pitching they have been seeking during Spring Training. I guess the Dylan Cease rumors will be never-ending until the Chicago White Sox finally pull the trigger, if/when that ever happens. If the Yankees have resisted Chicago's efforts to include outfielder Spencer Jones in a potential trade, I cannot fault the Yankees. I know prospects are suspects until proven otherwise and ‘flags fly forever.’ However, the Yankees have traded away multiple prospects in recent years. For the most part, they have not been hurt by any of the trades. Yet, it is a depletion of the farm system. The best way to combat high payroll is through young, cost-controlled players who can play better than the league average on the field. In other words, you need to maintain a good mix of young and veteran players to keep the salary level from skyrocketing.

Spencer Jones (Photo Credit: New York Yankees)

I get the Yankees have gotten smarter and their system is one of the higher-ranked systems in MLB. I did not want to see pitching prospect Drew Thorpe traded, but it was the necessary cost to acquire Juan Soto. I would have loved it if the Yankees had acquired Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes before the Baltimore Orioles did, but I cannot say that including Jones in a potential trade would have been worth it even if Thorpe for Soto was. As it stands, the Yankees lost Thorpe and others for a potential one-year rental of Soto. Losing other top-ranked prospects for Burnes, who, like Soto, can also walk after the season, is too much unless the Yankees genuinely believed that he was the difference-maker for winning the World Series. The Yankees are not the odds-on favorite to win it all, and Burnes would not have cinched it for them. Sure, the Yankees can win the World Series this year, but they are not the prohibitive favorites and Burnes would not have changed it.

I know the Yankees have held onto certain prospects too long (past their peak values), yet I support the Yankees if they believe Jones can be a special player. I have seen some people say that Jones will never be as good as Aaron Judge. Funny because people once said that Judge would never be as good as Mike Trout. Jones does not have to be Judge to be a valuable player for the Yankees. The Yankees know their players better than we do. I will give them the benefit of the doubt for players they believe they should hold versus those they are willing to package in the right deals. So, I am certainly not going to try and crucify them for losing out on Burnes because of an unwillingness to part with Jones. Again, I would have loved to see the Yankees acquire Burnes, but it needed to be at the right price that made the most long-term sense for the organization.

If the Yankees end up with Cease, I know that he is not on the same level as Burnes. As such, the cost should not be as high as the package the Orioles put together for Burnes. It should not cost the absolute best prospects in the organization, a group headed by Jones and Jasson Dominguez.

Maybe the Yankees will do nothing, and head into the season with a starting rotation consisting of Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Marcus Stroman, Nestor Cortes, Jr, and Clarke Schmidt. It is not like the Yankees are trying to do patchwork with unproven starters. All five guys have proven they can win Major League games. Health concerns aside, it is a formidable group. No doubt we will see starting performances by Cody Poteet, Clayton Beeter, Luis Gil, and others. The question becomes whether this group can get the Yankees to the trade deadline when a potential deal for another starting pitcher brings the needed reinforcement. Barring a Spring Training trade (or signing), this seems to be the current path.

For most of the winter, I had some hope the Yankees would turn to Jordan Montgomery as a potential rotation solution. You keep hearing that he wants to return to Texas, but with the calendar having turned to February and Montgomery still accepting offers, there is always a chance. The Yankees must have decided it was not an option for them as they finally gave away Montgomery’s number 47. If they harbored any hopes of signing Montgomery, they would have withheld the number. According to the Yankees’ website, the number has been assigned to one of the relievers acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Victor González. Thanks for the memories, Monty…the Yankees should have never traded you.

Jordan Montgomery

Speaking of numbers, I was surprised the Yankees gave a low jersey number (29) to non-roster catcher Luis Torrens. If the Yankees trade Ben Rortvedt, Torrens stands a good chance to be the emergency catcher in Triple-A (assuming Austin Wells joins Jose Trevino on the Major League roster as expected). I have low expectations that Torrens will make the Yankees; however, I am pulling for him.

Looking forward to the first sights of Spring Training. The pictures of players working out in Tampa were enjoyable, but it is not the same as organized team activities. The first surreal moment will be when Juan Soto arrives. The other new guys will seem like afterthoughts. Sorry Stro & Dugie, New York loves its stars.

Welcome back, Yankees!

Exhibition Games in Mexico

It was exciting to see the addition of two exhibition games in Mexico City on March 24 and 25.

The Yankees will play the Diablos Rojos del México at Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium. They will be split-squad games since the Yankees will also be in Bradenton, FL to play the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 24 and at Steinbrenner Field on March 25 against the New York Mets.

Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú

It will be interesting to see which players are chosen to make the trip to Mexico City. I am hopeful that Jose Trevino makes the trip for no other reason than how excited he is about it. Spring Training usually becomes a grind by late March so the infusion of excitement for the Mexico City games will be a bonus in advance of Opening Day.

The Yankees last played in Mexico City in 1968 which was Mickey Mantle’s final season. A couple of the new guys, Victor González, and Alex Verdugo, have roots in Mexico like Trevino. They should certainly be on the travel squad, but I would like to see some of the regulars make the trip.

Adding Another Dodgers Reliever

Victor González will certainly see a few familiar faces at Steinbrenner Field this week. Alex Verdugo was a prospect in the Dodgers organization a few years ago and spent some time with the big-league club before he was traded to Boston in the Mookie Betts deal. Last week, the Yankees acquired Dodgers reliever, Caleb Ferguson, a lefty, for the left-handed reliever the Yankees had claimed on waivers from the Houston Astros, Matt Gage, and a low-level prospect, RHP Christian Zazueta.

Caleb Ferguson (Photo Credit: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Gage may have had a chance to make the Opening Day Roster, but Ferguson is the better reliever. Not exactly Josh Hader, but the Yankees have proven an ability to put together an effective bullpen.

How long until Manager Aaron Boone starts calling the new lefty “Fergie”?

I like both González and Ferguson, but there is part of me that wonders why the Dodgers were so willing to part ways with them. I know they needed the roster space, but still. Oh well, it does not matter how they got here, and it does not mean that the two relievers cannot become part of Boone’s trusted inner circle in the bullpen.

Welcome to the Yankees Family, Caleb!

On an unrelated note, former Yankees reliever Lucas Luetge signed with the Boston Red Sox. Regardless of the player, I hate it when ex-Yankees join the Red Sox. At least the Yankees squeezed the best years out of Luetge.  

As always, Go Yankees!