Most of the team is returning, meaning that Cashman would need to move starters to clear salary and open spots if he wants to make many changes for next year's team. Spots that are open: back of the bullpen after Wilson/Betances/Miller, backup outfielder/s, second base.
Right now the team is:
C: McCann
1B: Teixeira
2B: Ackley/Refsnyder
SS: Gregorius
3B: Headley
LF: Gardner
CF: Ellsbury
RF: Beltran
DH: A-Rod
bench: Murphy, Refsnyder/Ackley, backup SS/3B, 4th OF
rotation: Tanaka, Eovaldi, Severino, Pineda, Sabathia
bullpen: ???, ???, ???, Warren, Wilson, Betances, Miller
Lindgren will hopefully grab one of those bullpen spots. I would let Nova go unless he has options and could be the 6th or 7th guy starting in AAA, which I guess would be tolerable. Shreve we'll see in spring training if he can get back to where he was for the first part of the season, he went from dominance to dreadfulness seemingly overnight, very strange.
So if I'm Cashman, my first goal is to try to trade the last year of Tex and Beltran's deals. This is rolling the dice somewhat as they were two of NY's best hitters this year, but Beltran is a lousy outfielder. Bird would take over at 1B and NY would probably need a partial season placeholder in RF before giving Judge a shot.
FAs: I don't see NY doing much here, maybe someone like Howie Kendrick for 2B if they can get him on a reasonable deal. Unless they traded Pineda (and that would seem to be selling low), they don't really have a spot for a FA starter either.
Thoughts?
Right now the team is:
C: McCann
1B: Teixeira
2B: Ackley/Refsnyder
SS: Gregorius
3B: Headley
LF: Gardner
CF: Ellsbury
RF: Beltran
DH: A-Rod
bench: Murphy, Refsnyder/Ackley, backup SS/3B, 4th OF
rotation: Tanaka, Eovaldi, Severino, Pineda, Sabathia
bullpen: ???, ???, ???, Warren, Wilson, Betances, Miller
Lindgren will hopefully grab one of those bullpen spots. I would let Nova go unless he has options and could be the 6th or 7th guy starting in AAA, which I guess would be tolerable. Shreve we'll see in spring training if he can get back to where he was for the first part of the season, he went from dominance to dreadfulness seemingly overnight, very strange.
So if I'm Cashman, my first goal is to try to trade the last year of Tex and Beltran's deals. This is rolling the dice somewhat as they were two of NY's best hitters this year, but Beltran is a lousy outfielder. Bird would take over at 1B and NY would probably need a partial season placeholder in RF before giving Judge a shot.
FAs: I don't see NY doing much here, maybe someone like Howie Kendrick for 2B if they can get him on a reasonable deal. Unless they traded Pineda (and that would seem to be selling low), they don't really have a spot for a FA starter either.
Thoughts?