Thirty-seven days have elapsed with minimum comment from Yankees management after Everson Pereira struck out swinging for the final out of the club’s 2023 season, his walk back toward the dugout putting into motion a crucial offseason.
In that period, managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner ordered an intensive three-day session at the Yankees’ player development complex in Tampa, Fla., assigning general manager Brian Cashman and his baseball operations staff to identify the issues that caused only 82 wins and New York’s lowest winning percentage since 1992.
With the Winter Meetings set to happen in Nashville in a week, Steinbrenner and Cashman say that the New York Yankees are ready to strike during the tournament.
“We’re going to be active, as we always are, in the free-agent market/trade market,” Steinbrenner said recently. “As always, [when] money comes off the payroll, my family does everything we can to put it back in. That’s not going to be any different this year.”
The Yankees in 2023 fell short in several areas, but not in spending, their $278 million payroll was ranked second in the Majors. They had only $173.5 million committed for 2024 (much of it on players like Aaron Judge, Gerrit Cole, Giancarlo Stanton and Carlos Rodón), which means there should be enough dollars to go around this winter.
“I do believe that a team shouldn’t need a $300 million payroll. Nobody has yet; the Rangers didn’t, the Astros didn’t last year,” Steinbrenner said. “What you need is a good mix of veteran players and, equally important, a good mix of young players.”
In an offseason where Shohei Ohtani’s next club makes for a blockbuster storyline, the Yankees seemed to have their sights set somewhere else.
Cashman went overseas in September to scout Yoshinobu Yamamoto, an exceptional right-hander who has been called Japan’s answer to Pedro Martinez. The Yank’s opinion could not have been dimmed by their in-person experience, as Yamamoto pitched a no-hitter for his Orix Buffaloes. Insiders believe that he will score a commitment surpassing $200 million.
“I’ve heard,” manager Aaron Boone said, “he’s really good.”
Yamamoto would be a prize for New York, but the Yankees are in dire need of offence, coming off a year where they finished 25th in the Majors with 673 runs scored. Cashman has outlined that he is in the market for two outfielders to play alongside Judge, preferably southpaw hitters.
Cody Bellinger is a top free-agent choice, fresh off a resurgent campaign where the slashed .307/.356/.525 with 26 home runs and 97 RBIs for the Cubs. He has the Yankee pedigree, as his father Clay played three seasons for the Bombers from 1999-2001. Bellinger could also play some first base, with Anthony Rizzo to become a free agent after 2024.
A few decision-makers have worries about Bellinger’s analytics, especially a 31.4 hard-hit percentage in 2023 that ranked in MLB’s 10th percentile, per Statcast.
With rumours that the San Diego Padres might move Juan Soto, New York has been in touch, measuring the chances of acquiring Soto. His arrival will immediately change any lasting sourness faced by the team, coming off a year where he slashed .275/.410/.519 with 35 home runs and 109 RBIs.
But can the Yankees convince Soto to stay with them? Soto can become a free after 2024, and with agent Scott Boras ready to bring him to the open market, Soto’s asking price figures to be astronomical after turning down a 15-year, $440 million extension from the Washington Nationals in July 2022.
Other bats that might be joining the team include third baseman Jeimer Candelario, outfielder Jung-Hoo Lee and veteran outfielder Kevin Kiermaier. Some in-house candidates will make the list, like catching prospect Austin Wells.
“You’re going to see, we’re going to get a bit younger,” Steinbrenner said. “You’re going to see one or more of the guys you saw in September on the Opening Day roster. That’s the hope. I don’t know how many of them, but we are going to get younger. They’re going to get their chances, just as [Anthony] Volpe got his chance too and did very well.”
On the pitching end, the Yankees have been known to discuss possible reunions with left-hander Jordan Montgomery, and right-hander Frankie Montas. Trades are also underway; Cashman recently noted that “a lot of teams’’ are showing interest in New York’s catching depth, with six backstops presently on the 40-man roster.
Cashman stated that he would speedily bring any lucrative proposals to Steinbrenner’s desk.
“If there’s some opportunities worth pushing through on, they’re always there to allow that to happen,” Cashman said. “It’s really all about a team situation and how the collective all works together. So we’ll see how this winter plays out, but we’re going to have conversations with the big ones and the small ones.”
