2021-2022 Yankees Offseason Discussion

[jon abbey]

After the Mets signed three FA position players last night, it looks like Dominic Smith is the odd man out. The Mets still need a lot of pitching and the Yankees have quite a bit of it, there might be a small deal that works both ways for Smith, who has a lot of lefty power and is a competent defender at 1B.

 

[Murderer's Crow]

I’m a little disappointed Marte is off the board but that’s a hefty contract

 

[EvilEmpire]

I’m a little disappointed Marte is off the board but that’s a hefty contract

Maybe they'll go trade for Buxton. They have such great luck acquiring injury plagued center fielders from Minnesota that stay healthy in NY and produce.

 

[jon abbey]

Judge and Gallo can play center and we’ve seen Stanton play LF/RF competently, so when you add in Hicks (and possibly Gardner once they can put Britton on the IL?), I’m not sure how much they need an OF. I freaking love Buxton but I’m guessing they move him to the NL if they deal him.

 

[EvilEmpire]

Seriously though, I do hope to see Gallo in CF at some point, though I guess holding down LF in Yankee Stadium is challenge enough. The more the Yankees can go with Stanton/Gallo/Judge in the OF, the better. I hate counting on Hicks, but it would be wonderful if he could stay healthy and contribute.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Looks like Phil Nevin going to the Angels as 3B coach / mlbtr

 

[jon abbey]

The always thoughtful Mike Petriello points out that despite Seager being a lefty, he is a pretty bad fit for NY. He is a mediocre defender at best at SS (and will presumably only get worse) and hits more balls to LF than to RF.

View: https://twitter.com/mike_petriello/status/1465024381323825163

 

[jon abbey]

Sign Semien, trade with OAK for Olson and Montas or Manaea, and try to somehow upgrade C even if is a third guy who can be optioned. Offseason done.

 

[Murderer's Crow]

Sign Semien, trade with OAK for Olson and Montas or Manaea, and try to somehow upgrade C even if is a third guy who can be optioned. Offseason done.

have to believe Cashman is hoping to execute trades after the price for Semien. Looking more like Gleyber is here to stay awhile

 

[EvilEmpire]

Crazy market. I don't know if Gleyber is here to stay, but if not, I hope his trade value has gone up.

 

[ThePrideofShiner]

I've talked myself into wanting Correa.

 

[jon abbey]

have to believe Cashman is hoping to execute trades after the price for Semien. Looking more like Gleyber is here to stay awhile

I don’t think they can trade Peraza without signing one of the remaining four big FA SSs. I mean, they could but I think it would be a mistake. I guess Jasson could be the lead prospect in an Olson/SP OAK deal, it would be surprising to not hold onto his much-hyped superstar potential but maybe makes sense.

 

[ThePrideofShiner]

I saw Gary Sanchez was trending on Twitter. Clicked it to see why and apparently there are a lot of Yankees fans that either think he has enough trade value to bring back a significant piece and a lot of Yankees fans who thinks he sucks so much the Yankees should cut him.

The fanbase is insufferable.

 

[Murderer's Crow]

I saw Gary Sanchez was trending on Twitter. Clicked it to see why and apparently there are a lot of Yankees fans that either think he has enough trade value to bring back a significant piece and a lot of Yankees fans who thinks he sucks so much the Yankees should cut him.

The fanbase is insufferable.

We do have a particular breed of fans, but I haven't found a group of twitter anything that is all that smart.

 

[jon abbey]

He is trending because people think he will be dealt to MIA for a pitcher before the non-tender deadline this week (so in the next day or two), but this is predicated on NY getting Stallings from PIT as a replacement.

 

[Murderer's Crow]

He is trending because people think he will be dealt to MIA for a pitcher before the non-tender deadline this week (so in the next day or two), but this is predicated on NY getting Stallings from PIT as a replacement.

Source?

 

[EvilEmpire]

Stroman is a guy I like as long as he has some good defense behind him. I wonder what kind of offers he's getting. Wouldn't mind seeing him in pinstripes. I think he likes NYC.

 

[jon abbey]

I think Stroman stirs up too much shit on Twitter for NY’s taste but Rodon would be exciting.

View: https://twitter.com/marccarig/status/1465160096393187329?s=21

 

[cromulence]

I might need to unfollow Axisa on Twitter - the whining about free agency is getting truly pathetic. I thought he was smarter than the typical "SIGN EVERY FREE AGENT" fan.

 

[EvilEmpire]

I don't like the twitter bullshit at all, but there are two things I like better about Stroman than Rodon: he's got a better GB rate which I think can be important at the stadium, and I think he has a better chance of giving the team 150 innings or so.

I like Rodon, but I'm just not sure I trust his 2021 numbers as a benchmark going forward. He is only 28 though. Maybe this is what his prime looks like for a few years.

Rodon has a higher upside, for sure. I'll be curious to see what contracts they each sign.

 

[jon abbey]

I'm a bit irrational about Rodon because he pitched maybe the best game anyone did against NY last year:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA202105210.shtml

 

[Murderer's Crow]

I think Stroman has turned me off completely with his twitter antics, well before today.

 

[EvilEmpire]

I might need to unfollow Axisa on Twitter - the whining about free agency is getting truly pathetic. I thought he was smarter than the typical "SIGN EVERY FREE AGENT" fan.

I liked RAB back in the old days, but I'm glad Abbey pays for his newsletter so we don't have to. Are angry fans more likely to buy subs? Probably.

Edit: not that Abbey is an angry fan of course. Not at all. He's just a professional, working hard to bring us all important Yankees content.

 

[Murderer's Crow]

I'm a bit irrational about Rodon because he pitched maybe the best game anyone did against NY last year:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA202105210.shtml

Well, what changed with Rodon to suddenly turn him into a stud?

 

[jon abbey]

I think Stroman has turned me off completely with his twitter antics, well before today.

Yeah, I agree, I am all in favor of that kind of thing in theory but he is bad at it and has definitely soured me on him.

Another plus for Stroman is he is an incredible fielder, like having a fifth infielder.

 

[jon abbey]

Well, what changed with Rodon to suddenly turn him into a stud?

He knew he was running out of chances and worked hard on diet and health, his velocity went up a bunch. He always had talent, he was the #3 overall pick in 2014 but has never stayed healthy.

 

[ThePrideofShiner]

I can't blame Axios for the frustration, though I have to remind myself that I don't want the Yankees to spend money just for the sake of spending money.

 

[EvilEmpire]

Stroman is listed as 5-7 180 and he's usually surrounded by giants among his pitching peers. I think running his mouth (literally and figuratively) is a defense mechanism because he's an angry little man.

I can look past it if the money is right.

 

[ThePrideofShiner]

Is there any chance Tanaka comes back?

 

[Murderer's Crow]

Is there any chance Tanaka comes back?

That was reported a couple weeks back. Apparently Tanaka is open to returning to the MLB. I doubt the Yankees want him back though.

 

[EvilEmpire]

He is trending because people think he will be dealt to MIA for a pitcher before the non-tender deadline this week (so in the next day or two), but this is predicated on NY getting Stallings from PIT as a replacement.

Looks like the Marlins are getting Stallings for themselves unless that is a precursor to a bigger deal.

 

[jon abbey]

Yep, not sure what NY is doing so far but a long way to April.

 

[EvilEmpire]

Also, with Seager off the board for 10/$325, bring on Oswaldo. If he really isn't ready, maybe we'll find out how good Gio can be at SS. A little more time there and I think he'll at least be average. Maybe better.

Might be easier to find a reasonable 3B. Or hope DJ is fully recovered from hernia surgery and can play 3B a bit better.

No sense in signing a ground ball pitcher if the defense is going to look like that though.

Correa still scares the crap out of me with the contracts being signed.

 

[Murderer's Crow]

Stallings to Miami....Sanchez is staying

 

[jon abbey]

I think Correa is a much better fit for the Yankees than Seager would have been, Story and Baez still out there too. Seager is the worst defender of those four (depending on Story's arm currently, which might be messed up), he never seemed like a great megadeal fit for NY.

 

[Yelling At Clouds]

Not sure how legit this is, but...

View: https://twitter.com/redsoxstats/status/1465459485485551620

 

[Murderer's Crow]

I legitimately have never heard of him. Better be a hell of a defender. I don't get why they would let Wade go if that's the type of player theyre targeting

 

[jon abbey]

Wade is an adequate defender but IKF is an exceptional one. He is set to make around $5M in arb this year and is controlled through 2024, feels like he should be relatively easy to trade for if NY wants.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Not sure how legit this is, but...

View: https://twitter.com/redsoxstats/status/1465459485485551620

You don't know how legit Rosenthal is?

 

[EvilEmpire]

I've heard of him and his glove, but haven't seen him play. I remember reading something about him last year before the regular season started about some supposed improvements with the bat and maybe a breakout of some kind, but looking at his numbers, that didn't pan out. The glove is special at 3B or SS. Probably 1B and 2B too.

Seems like a fun player to root for. I don't care about a noodle bat at SS. I hope Cashman gets it done.

 

[Wingack]

Can also throw him behind the plate.

 

[jon abbey]

Stroman isn’t an option for multiple reasons, but one is that he (rightfully) won’t adhere to the Yankees’ idiotic antiquated grooming rules:

https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/ny-marcus-stroman-yankees-50-cent-20211116-s654ssqbrzgtdl2apjj6ghzx24-story.html

 

[jon abbey]

Trade for IKF, sign Freeman, sign Rodon, trade Gleyber for a catcher with options. That’s my current plan.

 

[EvilEmpire]

Freeman is a guy worth spending for, but I'll be shocked if it isn't the Braves that get it done.

That would be an awesome development though.

 

[jon abbey]

Both the Yankees and the Dodgers were strongly interested in Seager so I'd think that it would be relatively easy for one or both to pivot to something like 7/196 ($28M per) for Freeman, at least make the Braves pay up. Obviously a 1B instead of a SS but at least for NY, they have no 1B prospects of note (sorry Chris), the position player prospects are all crazy athletic SSs and OFs. Make a run at Freeman, get IKJ and let Peraza and soon Volpe push their way in if they can. That would be a very very good defensive infield and outfield:

1B: Freeman
2B: Gleyber
SS: IKJ
3B: Gio
utility infielders: DJ, Cabrera

OF: some combo of Judge/Gallo/Stanton/Hicks and Gardner or Florial

The more Stanton plays the OF, the more DH ABs that opens up for it to rotate through the other guys, a good amount of positional flexibility there (Cabrera plays 2B/SS/3B, all well). Also you are not blocking any middle infielders, Peraza or Volpe and then Roderick Arias will hopefully move fast,

 

[Murderer's Crow]

I want Freeman, I do. But that feels so much like signing Teixeira except Freeman is 3 years older. I have no interest in long contracts for players past their prime.

Edit: I would just much much rather overpay for Olson and throw that many wherever else you can. If we aren't getting a top short stop, don't give any long contracts out unless they're truly worth it.

 

[jon abbey]

This was the actual IKF snippet from Rosenthal, for the record:

"The fallout to Seager’s 10-year, $325 million agreement with the Rangers might be as fascinating as the deal itself. In the immediate aftermath, two intriguing possibilities emerged:

• The Yankees pursuing a trade for Rangers Gold Glove third baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa, whom they could play at shortstop."

Also for the record (ahem Ken), IKF played 156 games at SS this year with very good numbers, his GG was at 3B in 2020.

 

[EvilEmpire]

Maybe it should, but a few extra years on a Freeman deal don't bother me as much as it does for a lot of other players. It might not work out, but he's been an elite, durable player.

 

[jon abbey]

Maybe it should, but a few extra years on a Freeman deal don't bother me as much as it does for a lot of other players. It might not work out, but he's been an elite, durable player.

And so good defensively, and a great lefty contact hitter, all things NY needs.

 

[jon abbey]

1B is so confusing, guys seem to either be great or worthless and they can go from the former to the latter (and occasionally vice-versa, Carlos Pena) shockingly quickly. If NY had someone like Casas a year or two away, I wouldn’t advocate for a 7 year offer to Freeman but he is not blocking anyone for a bunch of years in NY and I also think he’ll age well.