The GM Meetings are taking place in Carlsbad, California, and Yankees GM Brian Cashman spoke to reporters yesterday. Cashman said he has “some latitude” on the team’s budget, after talking to owner Hal Steinbrenner. The club was able to stay below the base luxury tax threshold of $210MM this year, effectively resetting as a first-time payor for future penalties – if something resembling the current system remains in place in the next collective bargaining agreement.
Cashman acknowledged to reporters that he’s already had talks with the agents for two free agent shortstops. Those players are Carlos Correa and Corey Seager, according to The Athletic’s Jim Bowden. ESPN’s Buster Olney is hearing that the Yankees’ pursuit of a shortstop will remain focused on elite players of this nature. Chandler Rome from the Houston Chronicle has more from Cashman on the Yankees’ interest in Correa. Cashman explained, “(Correa) is just a very talented player, obviously. Puts up numbers with the best of them. He’s obviously had an incredible career thus far. Certainly not afraid. He’s pushed forward, regardless of the circumstances. He’s clearly not afraid because (the sign-stealing fallout) has not affected his play.”
There’s been a sentiment that perhaps Yankees fans would not tolerate or accept Correa. That doesn’t seem to be Cashman’s primary concern, as the fans’ reaction “is not going to enter my calculus right now.”
Correa, who seems unlikely to sign before a potential December lockout, is reported to have received a five-year, $160MM offer from the Astros that seems more for show than anything. As the top player on the free agent market, Correa is in line for $300MM or more.
Cashman has also spoken to the agent for first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who appeared in 50 games for the Yankees after a July trade. The GM noted, “He obviously was really good for us, we feel, both on the offensive side and on the defensive side and on the leadership side, so he brings a lot of good things to the table. I know he liked it here, I know we liked having him, but nothing has gone past that.” Rizzo, 32, put up a 113 wRC+ for the Yankees. In projecting a three-year, $45MM contract, MLBTR took into account intangibles like Rizzo’s reputation around the game.
The Yankees still have an incumbent first baseman in Luke Voit, who was limited to 68 games on the season due to injuries. MLBTR projects Voit to earn $5.4MM next year, and it’s possible the Yankees move on from him. Voit’s troublesome left knee is “resolved,” according to Cashman.
Perhaps the most intriguing possibility for the Yankees at first base is a trade for Matt Olson of the Athletics. Olson, 28 in March, posted a 146 wRC+ with 39 home runs this year and is projected to earn $12MM through arbitration. According to Brendan Kuty of NJ.com, the Yankees have internally discussed trading for Olson.
The Yankees would also like to add some help in center field, tweets Jon Heyman of MLB Network. Aaron Hicks, who played in only 32 games this year, is still owed $41MM through 2025. Hicks, whose season ended in May due to wrist surgery, hopes to play winter ball, noted Lindsey Adler of The Athletic back in October. The Yankees filled the void this year with 38-year-old Brett Gardner, who recently declined his $2.3MM player option in favor of a $1.15MM buyout. The free agent market for center fielders also includes Starling Marte, Juan Lagares, Chris Taylor, Kevin Pillar, and eventually Odubel Herrera. The trade market could include Kevin Kiermaier, Ketel Marte, and Byron Buxton.
Yankees need pitching……so let’s spend $300 million on a short stop.
If Olson trade doesn’t happen hope Gallo gets another chance with a full year though. And hopefully Yankees finish 4th this year…..jays baby
The Yankees pitching was fine last year, even with several bullpen injuries. The offense couldn’t hit except for Judge and Stanton. That’s why the pitching coach is still there and the hitting coach was fired.
Read that again but slowly
Exactly right. I’d be up for signing Verlander and at least 1 bullpen piece though. Can never have too much.
They need impact players. Correa or Seager makes the team so much better. They don’t even have a shortstop. This logic is nuts
First thing that came to my mind when reading Cashman kicking the tires on Correa was the old saying “if you can’t beat them join them”. I cannot see a warm reception from Yankees fans. Trevor Story is the smarter move here for the Yankees shortstop position then moving Gleyber Torres to second base. First base I agree with Rizzo or trade for Matt Olson. Yankees should probably move on from Gary Sanchez but they probably will not and serviceable catchers are thin right now. They should easily find a outfielder. Yankees pitching should be decent even if they do little. I’d be most concerned with DJLM and his 2021 year. DJLM is a better player than that, hopefully he’s not on the decline at 33 years old already.
Story in my opinion is huge bust waiting to happen.. I can’t even believe he’s being discussed on a long term deal especially for 15 mill or more. I’d steal clear of him.. far far away
15? He’s being discussed for 25 which is even more crazy. Although prior to 21 he was considered one of the top 3 shortstops in the game. Still is top 5.
Said the same about Lemahieu and last year with Arrenado… Story is every bit as good and I hope the Yankees pass on him.
I believe the Yankees should stop gap the SS position with defensive minded Simmons. In 2 years either Peraza or Volpe will claim the SS position. Yankees should then spend their $$ on 1st base ( Freeman or (Olsen via trade) pitcher (Rodon) and give Florian at manning CF.
Florian a shot*
They need a CF and a SS too !
My bet is Trade got Ketel Marte who plays SS/CF and sign Starling Marte to play CF. That’ll give the Yanks the flexibility to add a couple of arms.
Getting Keyel Marte is going to cost the Yankees a lot in prospect capital. They’ll need to send (2) of their Top 10 prospects plus a 3rd (young) prospect in the high 20’s or low 30’s as well.
Cashman dealt some pretty decent prospects in July to acquire Rizzo, Gallo and to get their former clubs to pay their salaries in full as well, so I’m not sure how willing Cash/Yankees would be to further thin out their farm system for Marte. Don’t get me wrong, Marte is an excellent player and he would be a beast in the AL East but it will require NY to gut their farm system. I guess it all depends on how close Cashman believes this team is to winning a title. If you ask me, the Yankees have a lot of work to do to get their team to a championship level, so if they do trade for Marte, he’ll be one of 5 or 6 ‘required’ transactions to make NY favorites to win it all. They really need to add a solid #2 or #3 starting pitcher in addition to their OF needs, SS, 1B and catcher. Their payroll already projects them to be well over the cap (~$240M) so Cashman will need to get very creative to add all of these missing pieces and keep their payroll under $280M+. It should be a very interesting offseason and the new CBA only muddies the waters further.
Agree Dorothy! Their biggest need is at catcher. With Barnhart gone, thinking Ian Gomes unfortunately the catching market is incredibly thin.
Hopefully, Severino stays healthy and is that #2 starter.
Cashman traded away many very good prospects to get us Rizzo and Gallo. Moves that he was lauded for, but were big mistakes as the players he landed were of limited help, and most importantly didn’t get to the World Series. If he hadn’t made those moves we would have plenty of players to use in trades.
“Cashman will need to get very creative to add all of these missing pieces and keep their payroll under $280M+.”
=====================================
This could be one of the all-time great off-seasons. I can easily see Hal sitting on his hands and trying to say they loved all their players too much to replace them.
But, it also feels like, if they spend $1, they will wind up spending $60M.
Pitching was fine. It was all the swing and miss guys in the lineup. I think the Yankees were top 10 in the league based on ERA.
Fine? Behind Cole their pitchers all performed at a #4 #5 slot. Yankees need a #2 and #3 to make it (maybe severino and german make it back to form?), and bull pen. In late inning games it was always a roll of the dice for the Yankees with a lot of snake eyes
If the Yankees need a shortstop but don’t want to pay for one then it makes sense to trade for Olson. He improves everyone around the infield.
Maybe read the entire interview with Cashman where he does indeed say they are looking for pitching.
You don’t know what you’re talking about.
But at least your takes were all terrible.
Consistency does have some value.
That’s what they do.
They aren’t going to do it unless its 6 years 180 million. They will not go higher than 6 unless its a 24 year old.
Cashman’s words will always sound the same, whether he has an interest or not. At minimum, he will ensure who ever gets Correa pays top price, so he use the Yankees “presence” to make that happen. If his real interest is Seager, he’ll still show interest in Correa so Seager’s agent believes there’s competition. I’m not saying the Yankees don’t have interest. I’m simply saying you can rarely tell from Cashman’s words.
It’s the players you don’t hear linked to the Yankees they are most likely to sign. Ninja Cashman
Yeah, Joe, I agree. Typically, the players most associated with the Yankees by [other people] are the ones they don’t sign, for a variety of reasons. It’s the ones hardly anyone references and / or the ones Cashman says outright he’s going after a la Cole.
BTW, this makes me happy, because nobody is talking about the Yankees in on any good C, like Contreras, so a trade for one could very well happen.
Clipper, yeah Jon Heyman comments should come with an eye roll emoji and Joel Sherman comments should come with a laugh track. The only time I pay close attention is when Mark Fiensand says something.
Very true, Joe! Bryan Hoch seems to do pretty well in terms of having his finger on the Yankee rumor pulse, but I haven’t really followed him closely.
That is not necessarily true. Cole was linked to the Yankees ( as well as both LA teams) and he signed with the Yankees. Chapman was linked to return to the Yankees after the trade to the Cubs and he did.
Yes, but they were also very open about pursuing both, specifically, as priorities. That’s the difference.
Joe, what’s your take on Carson Kelly, the AZ catcher? I’ve always liked him – feel like he’d be a good under-the-radar acquisition.
I’d rather have Correa.. Seaver long term might possess a little more pier potential but seems to get hurt more..
Seager is the perfect fit. They have q Righy first baseman in Voit to play first. They need a lefty bat to replace rizzo. And they want a shortstop for obvious reasons.. Seager is their man.
Seems like a perfect fit
Yankees can sign saeger to replace elsbury. Highly touted but oft injured player.
Yankees have glebber Torres at ss. What to do with Torres? back to the cubs for a bucket of baseballs?
Torres plays 2B. LeMahieu 3B. And Urshela either on the bench, traded, or DFA’d
They’re not DFAing Urshela.
Probably not. If anything they can flip him for a couple of minor leaguers to a team looking to upgrade 3B (Diamondbacks, Marlins, Maybe Phillies, Mets)
Yankees and Padres match up in a trade. Yankees send Gallo and Sanchez for Hosmer, Nola and Hassel. Essentially buying a prospect in Hassel or Abrams and taking on Hosmers salary. Or swap Voit for Gallo. Add another prospect or Kim to the deal or work it around other players but both teams match up salary wise.
Seems like a steep price to pay for one prospect.
Nobody wants Hosmer.
I get that Hosmer is not too desirable, but as was when the Padres traded for Tatis, a little known prospect, but with tons of upside they gave up Shields who arguably offered little to no value. Granted the deal could include Gallo or Voit and Sanchez with other workable pieces, say even a Grisham to make it work. Whoever is involved, the Pads and Yankees really match up well in a deal.
Tatis was not a little known prospect.
@towinagain – “I get that Hosmer is not too desirable,”
“No, I don’t think you do.”
-Jerry Seinfeld
Hosmer is toxic. His DRS in 2021 at 1B was -4.
His last 4 seasons his wRC+ was:
2018 – 95
2019 – 92
2020 – 128 (short covid season)
2021 – 102
He’s 32. and locked up for 4 more years. I hope the Yankees don’t bring back Rizzo. He looked old and was mediocre at best. That said, I’d gladly bring him back if the he and Hosmer were the only options on Earth.
As was Abrams and Hassel for comparison. My point being, you pay for what you get. The Padres paid down Shields contract to acquire Tatis. Shields provided value as a much needed starter for the Sox, though the results didn’t pan out. The upside an Abrams or Hassel posses may be worth paying down Hosmer and including Gallo. Although, no Gallo or Voit and from the Padres perspective, forget it. I’d rather run it back with an infield of Machado, Tatis,Abrams and Cronenworth at first and Hosmer off the bench.
Math and creative thinking aren’t well received here.
@oxford. He was actually. Towing isnt exaggerating.
That’s pretty bad for the Yanks. Gallo and Sanchez for a player with an awful contract and really has regressed defensively and offensively in Hosmer, a meh prospect and another player is pretty bad overall.
Losing Abrams or Hassel may be worse.
Correa to the Yankees seems like a foregone conclusion to me. They’ll amp it up to 10/345 probably
Lifetime .279 hitter who twice in 7 seasons played over 110 games.
I don’t see 10/345 from anyone.
No question he is a very good defensive and offensive SS but that’s superstar money and he isn’t that.
Well luckily for Correa the folks in charge of these things look at stats besides batting average and do see him as a superstar (7.3 bWAR) so…
Yep that’s a good point.
There are fans who hate seeing players cash in for some reason. They seem resentful of them taking money from billionaires who willingly sign them. I don’t feel that way and may well be proven wrong in a few months. I just don’t think he will get 10/345. Time will tell.
345 might be a bit high, yea. …I’m one of those folks who thinks superstar players are overpaid though so, heh, this kinda flipped in a hurry.
@Cosmo They’re just elite entertainers. The Rolling Stones still bank over nine figures a year whenever they decide to go on tour. Netflix pays top comedians $20M to do a recorded two-hour stand-up set. I could go on.
Yea that’s a good point
Uhhh, most fans of teams don’t have front offices who have unlimited money to spend. Who would hate to see players make money? But if a specific team screws up and signs players to bloated contracts, there isn’t enough money to go around for the rest of the team and the product on the field suffers, which affects the fans. How did the Detroit Tigers do signing guys to bloated contracts? How have the Angels been lately?
Also a good point
@bucs. I agree on the bloated contracts. Having too many can hurt a team eventually. Look at the Braves just won the World Series and the highest paid player was Freddie Freeman at 22 million. Next up was Marcell Ozuna at 16 million (who got paid his entire salary btw) and everyone knows the sad story on that situation. Third highest salary was Charlie Morton at 15 million. So 2 out of the top 3 were worth every penny. Cashman would be wise to spread the money around. Like someone else said Judge will be due for a big payday soon as well.
I don’t think the Yankees will go that high, and I hope not, because I think that length/cost contract will end up negatively impacting the future roster construction without providing the benefit. They can easily sign someone for less years / money and get near the same production necessary for the team to win.
All we need is a competent SS on both sides. Seager, even though he’s my number one choice, should not be handed an 8+ year contract anywhere near 300MM. I’d rather go for Story for half the years / price and continue to fill out the roster in the future with necessary positions, ie: SP, C, CF.
With a bad back…
Yeah. The money people think is coming for free agency this year is not coming.
Actually he is a superstar. As a Stros fan, I have watched him literally grow up. We drafted him and like 1.5 yrs later he made his debut. Absolutely SHINES under the big lights/clutch type situations. Played 5+ seasons, but only had 2 seasons above 100 games played. He is prone to injury though. Everyone always takes about his bat but to me, it’s his defense that gets overlooked. Multiple ti.es this year he was clocked at above 95mph on his throw to first. His arm is a cannon. Guy is a beast and will be paid WELL. Stros offered 5/160, I know hes looking for a long term deal but the team has never signed anyone longer that Altuve @ 6yrs. He MIGHT take 5/160. Its half of 10/320…more in line to what he wants is worth imo..
I wouldn’t say that. I personally think they’d get Seager. Phills are probably getting Correa. That being said, the chance Correa doesn’t sign with the Yanks look slim to none at this point.
I think Cash has a man crush on Seager. I think a 7-10 year deal would hearken back to the days of Ellsbury – an athletic, scrappy overachiever who will fall off a cliff in his 30s. I hope I’m wrong.
Why not package the best prospects for Soto? It makes no sense for the rebuilding Nats to hold on to him. Otherwise, a smaller package for Olson or get Freeman. Either way, it’s obvious the Yankees must go outside for a SS and a 1B. After this year, Voit isn’t an option.
Trade Hicks to Oakland. Eat a chunk of his salary if need be. Just be rid of him. Zen question: name a team other than the Yankees (in 2019) that would commit seven years to Aaron Hicks?
If Correa is signed I will boo him for his entire Yankee career
So?
He would get over it
If you don’t do it, someone else will. And life goes on.
A real Yankee fan would know it’s called the Bronx Cheer .
Lol, no you won’t unless he bombs there. If he’s hitting bombs you will cheer him, just like every fanbase would.
Nooooooooo
The Twins need to extend Buxton for as long as he can run like this…
Looks like Rizzo should have taken that 5/70 the Cubs offered. He’ll probably only get a 2 or 3 year from the Yankees or another team at a similar AAV.
Him, his agent, or both him and his agent are clearly under the impression that there’s some sort of market for him that doesn’t actually exist. I’m no Cubs fan, but their offer to him was very fair; kept a franchise favorite around without the potential of a crippling financial risk. Or maybe Rizzo just wanted to leave, who knows.
If Boston snags Freeman and the Yankees bring back Rizzo, what would be the point? The team wasted great years by Stanton and Judge. I wouldn’t assume that one or both will have the same healthy seasons in 2022. Signing a FA SS won’t be enough. Boston will also spend this winter.
“In line” for $300M is a laughable statement. No player is worth that or should feel it’s what they’re owed.
Well, if the player doesn’t get that money, then the owner keeps it…
The owners won’t be lowering prices anytime soon. Even if top players start taking market discounts…
Not a foregone conclusion that the owner keeps it. A lot of people and bills to pay besides just player salaries. A lot.
Yeah, but they don’t come close to 30mil per year for one person.
But there is A LOT more of them so the money adds up to similar value (possibly, I don’t have actual numbers in front t of me). Point being, there ARE other places to spend some of those millions.
You can’t convince me that the owners wouldn’t LOVE to cap spending and put contract maximums in place, And do you think that would decrease ticket prices? Nope. Would low wage workers get a big raise? Of course not.
These top players have earned the right to seek large fortunes from their employers. I’m just tired of arm-chair fans thinking that these professional athletes (that work extremely hard day-in and day-out) don’t deserve to get paid their market share.
You are probably right about ticket prices and worker wages staying more or less the same (security guards for example definitely not getting raises, accountants? Maybe). But there are still tons of other expenses that go into running a franchise. To assume that NONE of the money saved on player salaries would go anywhere but the owners pocket is just as naive as thinking ticket prices would go down. So many fans have a ridiculously overly simplistic view of the economics of running a baseball franchise.
I just laugh at arm chair spenders. It’s easy to do when it’s not your money or business on the line.
CLPRODJ, I agree with your 2nd sentence yet I’d argue that it still doesn’t negate that, in reality, he is likely in line for 300 million.
Correa definitely thinks he is entitled to $300+ million and 10 years. Some team will give him that deal and soon regret it.
He is better than Lindor, IMO. Top players should get their market value.
Definitely better than Lindor. No doubt. Market value, however, is a subjective term. Or at least, it is whatever the player gets.
Yeah.
The idea that market value is whatever a players production indicates based on the sports most overpaid player would be funny if it was just held by kids and agents.
Cosmo is right on with his response. The market isn’t determined by the highest contract; rather, it’s teams’ willingness to spend.
Quoting half a sentence gives a different context to “more in line…Tto what HE WANTS.” Was what I said… never said that’s what he would get.
Kind of getting tired of the CBA tax thresholds. and the whole uncertainty thing. They do work as a sort of soft cap for some of the large-market big revenue teams, but the Dodgers don’t care, and the Yankees probably won’t. This is a fiction we don’t need., it’s often used as an excuse, or it creates bizarre trades. Maybe the better answer is a limit on the number of premium free agents a team can sign in any one year (“premium”). Also tired of the loss of draft pick thing–I really think it can be counterproductive. If you are the league, and you want a drag on salaries, cutting off an avenue for cheap labor creates a scarcity at the top. If a big market team can draft (even at 27th) a quality young talent, and develop it, they don’t need, five years later, to spend nine figures on a @30 year old to fill the same spot.
Changing the excuses a team gives for being cheap isn’t going to change the decisions or make them feel better. A small tax doesn’t impact their bottom line.
I do agree about penalties for signing free agents though. You can very easily give benefits to teams that lose players without penalizing the teams that sign the players which basically means it comes out of the players contract.
The CBA has done a terrible job by basically forcing small market teams to compete using the exact same tools as rich teams and just giving them a little extra cash.
They should be giving them more non financial tools that allow them to exploit other means of improving the team.
You could give them extra roster spots or even more minor league assets to develop. Maybe even an angle for extra development and “sale” of assets to bridge the market gap.
So many options.
Goes back to what Billy Beane proposed….penalize the teams that tank by rewarding the top-finishing teams with better picks. Or, as teams win, provide them with a tax-penalty-loophole. As teams lose, they lose their welfare…I mean, CBT compensation.
As teams win, MLB can provide them with higher ceilings in the international market, as they lose, they’re more restricted. That’s how you endorse competition, and achieve greater parity.
CC seems pretty baseball smart. Im confident he’ll adjust to the Yanks’ sign-stealing system just as well as he did in Houston.
Ps…do New Yorkers pronounce the city like the street? “Hows-ton”? =/
No but it’s “How-ston” to be precise.
You stone
I think it’s actually pronounced “sheet hole”
You must mean if he went to Boston he would get use to sign stealing like he did in How-Ston!
Lindor got north of 300 million and so will Correa. I’m a Tigers fan and they have been linked to him, but I don’t see their owner agreeing to a monster contract in the wake of Miggy’s disaster albatross contract.
That Miggy contract was an epic dumb move. It’s a reminder of how badly these contracts can turn out. Sometimes the deal you don’t make is the best one.
@CalcetinesBlancos that’s true. That is the wisest thing that has been written here
Most of the times the best deal is the one that is not made.
I’ll take that bet.
Yankees don’t need to give another big contract to a SS crippling their future financial flexibility. They should go after Chris Taylor who can be a good stopgap until Volpe is ready in a year or two. Taylor has the defensive flexibility to move to another IF or OF position once Volpe takes over.
I get that, but does he really help you win in 2022? If the Yankees go that route they MUST get a stud at 1B and perhaps Semien at 2B. I’d rather see that than commit 8-10+ for CC or Seager.
Volpe hasn’t reached AA yet. AA separates the wheat from the chaff. By July 2022, we’ll know more about him.
I get that Volpe isn’t a sure thing to pan out just like you can say about any other prospect. But he’s been very good so far. Also, they have Peraza ahead of him who is supposedly already a defensively ready major league SS. So, I feel very confident they will have an internal option emerge at SS in the next year or two. Even if they didn’t get Taylor, I think they should avoid giving a $300M+ contract to a SS with Stanton, Cole, LeMahieu, and Hicks contracts already on the books long-term and Judge about to get a huge contract a year from now. That would cripple them financially with Hal’s insistence on resetting the luxury tax every other year. I’d go after Taylor or trade for a stopgap SS.
If they do give out a big contract this year, it needs to be for a starting pitcher to be a bona fide #2 behind Cole.
That would be understandable if you weren’t ready to waste so much money on a first baseman that we don’t need.
And the only thing worse than paying big at 1st base is paying big for a number two starter.
Why do you think it’s best to spend money at strong positions instead of filling holes?
Cashman is an idiot… It’s just plain and simple. He has all the tools to put together an elite team, yet doesn’t. An ownership that’s willing to spend, allows Cashman to do whatever he has to, to field a truly competitive team, and he just keeps wanting to make mistakes time and time again.
Instead of bringing in another humongous contract, how about you try to trade away some of the ones you already have on your books? They don’t want to go over the tax limit, whatever it’s called, yet they’ll be forced to.
You need a shortstop that bad? Use your farm system to get one, and bring in a cheap one under control. If you want to win that bad? Overpay in the trade market if you have to, just get it done, without overpaying in the free agent market, for hundreds of millions. (Since theirs something called a payroll).
Aaron Judge is due for a huge deal as well… I can go on and on. Cashman at the deadline trades for another strikeout artist in Gallo, like they didn’t have enough of that on the team.
They have a bunch of infielders, non of them is a shortstop. They had Gio Urshela playing shortstop, Gio Urshela…… The roster Cashman built is a total and utter mess. When the rest of baseball evolved, Cashman still thinks he’s in the steroid days where he thinks he can out homer the rest of baseball for a World Series.
Can’t construct a roster, can’t manage a payroll, a total and utter buffoon. Period.
Umm, didn’t they make the playoffs?
81 home games in the friendliest hitters park in baseball.. With a payroll that a golf expert could build a “playoff team” with. It’s really not much of an accomplishment.
It’s a huge accomplishment. It’s literally the goal.
To me, when you have that type of support from ownership. It’s the floor… and they get bounced every season, pretty much as soon as possible.
I don’t think one and done (with their 36mil AAV starter getting pummeled) as the 2nd WC was what the team had in mind as a goal in 2021.
You and George would’ve gotten along. I personally don’t think money is the key to winning so I’m pretty impressed with Cashman’s track record.
They made it to the playoffs. That’s more than competent by anyone’s definition.
I hear you, Cosmo2. And I respect your opinion. But what about even the construction of that roster? I mean look at that infield. DJ, Torres, and Urshela. Who there is a true shortstop? Not one of them.. They want to get an upgrade this offseason, but then which one of those guys hit the bench?.. DJ? The guy they signed last year to 6 years?…Torres the guy who apparently has the most upside? Or Urshela, the guy who played the best from all of them. Where do they even go from here?
There is definitely room for criticism of what Cashman has done lately. I’d love to see what he could do with a mid market team and a starting point of, say, 80 wins.
The teams they face play in the exact same park…
AND Yankee stadium actually ranks middle of the pack. BIG LF makes up for small RF
Yeh, Mario what a baffoon….92 win season without as you say “a true shortstop” and Cash has a record of 20 of the last 23 seasons with his team in the playoffs!
Yeh, what an ass!
You mean the core 4 that led the way for most of those runs? Something that Cashman had nothing to do with? Oh, okay
Some good points sandwiched between a bizarre rant about how it’s better to trade a bunch of great prospects for a player so you can save a little cash.
Take an economics class. It’s a little more complicated than you realize.
Save a little cash? Take a common sense class. Your comment doesn’t even warrant a response. “little cash”.. yes because signing a max deal guy, is the same as a guy who’s still making the minimum, or about to hit arbitration.. I love how people wanna boast about their education, yet still are dumb as a box of rocks.
“As the top player on the free agent market, Correa is in line for $300MM or more.”
Lol, we shall see. I hope and pray the Tigers sign him to that exact contract though.
Only ss they should focus on is seager… lefty bat, Yankee stadium… nothing more needs to be said
More needs to be said. Seager is injury prone, doesn’t have good defensive numbers and doesn’t have the arm to move to third if needed. Oh, and will require a 8-10 year commitment. I could get on board with signing him but it ain’t a bad idea to look elsewhere for a SS.
Back when Machado/Harper were free agents many yankee fans were dead set against Machado because he didn’t run hard on a groundball.
I wonder if any of those same fans are the ones who will embrace Correa if he signs with the Yankees after being part of the biggest cheating scandal since 1919.
We also take a firm stand against German while cutting slack to Chapman.
Same is true of Trevor Bauer and listening to dodger fans. Many only see a nasty wh### who set up their angel. Or what seems like 90% of Astros fans with their head in the sand.
Apparently our hypocrisy is skewed heavily based on the level of talent they bring and if they are wearing our uniform.
And my comments are not directed at any fan base. That would he silly to suggest. More a statement about human nature. We are very moral when it’s the other teams players but we can find a dozen excuses when it’s our own.
Watch the narrative when Correa signs somewhere. Those who didn’t get him will be highly moral while the acquiring fans will justify it.
It’s why pinning the Astros with the blame was so effective. Why have fans doubt the very teams they support with the potential existence of league wide cheating, when they can instead focus that loathing on the one that was caught?
Their is no “proof” privy to the public indicting any team but the Astros nor any as strong, so that must make every team innocent by said lack of evidence and the Astros solely to blame.
It gives any fan not of the Astros to feel that their team, and thus them, have been wronged. It allows them a sense of being on the morally “good” side and thus, superiority over the “bad” side.
The whole hubbub is understandable because human nature. It is also more interesting to myself, someone who loves analyzing anything, then it is annoying at this point.
Darryl, those are excellent points. The narratives are astoundingly different depending on where the player signs.
Yanks arm chair gm ready for off season:
Sign Chris Taylor to play center and possibly be stop gap ss.
Sign Corey Seager to be stop gap ss and eventually move to third when Volpe is ready.
Sign one of Verlander or Robby Ray
Trade Gleyber Torres, Voit, Gallo and a prospect (Devi Garcia) for Matt Olsen.
Trade for a defense first catcher to start and have Sanchez back up and DH
Billy, I don’t think it would take quite that much for Olsen, but it could, dee ding on how bad the A’s want to dump his salary.
Also, I don’t think they would be interested in 3 mlb-level guys in their arb years because of the costs, which they are dumping in Olsen. Yankees would be better off giving high-level prospects imho. We will ultimately see what it takes to get him because they’re trading him to someone.
@clipper. I agree on Olson. He is probably the best fit. Bats left has good power great fielder with 2 gold gloves. I see the Yankees getting him they have the pieces.
There’s been some sentiment that Yankees fans would not tolerate or accept Correa …..
LMAO, they have accepted and tolerated worse!!
I think tolerate is the correct word.
It’s like they don’t remember how many PED users, and just terrible human beings, they have employed over the years.
Steve Howe, Gooden, Strawberry, and Billy Martin to name a few. ps. Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle were not Saints either. Mariano Rivera was an exception. Of course every sports team has their share of jerks ( ask the Las Vegas Raiders about it).
One of my professors in college did a bunch of documentaries and books on Mickey Mantle and he said the same thing. He was just a normal person with issues like the rest of us. I don’t think he would have been looked at in the same light if he played in today’s world, with social media and everyone having cameras.
I can forgive most people for most things, as long as they show remorse and contrition, admit to what they did, and seem sincere.
Correa and Altuve have not done that. If the Yankees sign Correa, I hope he issues a statement acknowledging that he went too far, and promising never to do that with the Yankees. For a variety of reasons, least of all my feelings.
There’s literal video of them apologizing and talking about how it went to far. Numerous videos. Just because you saw one stupid press conference doesn’t mean they didn’t apologize or act remorseful.
Neither did Alex Rodriguez. But he had a really good World Series and was totally embraced by yankee fans.
ARod was “embraced” by Yankees fans? Really? That’s not how I remember it happening.
Joe is right; he’s still despised by many fans to this day. He is very analogous to what would happen with Correa.
Also, I really don’t think Cashman is signing Correa. Word has it he has a life-size poster of Seager on his bedroom ceiling. Just sayin’
I can see Cashman lining up for Seager and Conforto, and possibly Rizzo as well. Stroman may be another I can see them entertaining if the price is right.
Rizzo would be a mistake
Where do u put Conforto in the Yankee outfield ?
After hearing Boras talking about Conforto, I think he wants to go out West, maybe to Seattle.
They are digging their own grave…
There is ZERO chance the Yankees sign Correa. I am absolutely sure. The Yanks kick the tires on most all major free agents most every offseason. I think the only reason that Cashman even met with Correa’s agent is to drive up his price for any team who eventually signs him. Otherwise, why be so direct about having met with him knowing all Yankee fans hate Correa.
Sign Seager. Trade Frazier, Andujar, Voit and some prospects for Olsen. Sign Verlander on a 2 year deal because his wife loves the Yankees and he’s still probably an ACE stud. Then work on fine-tuning after that.
Outside of MLB: The Show you cannot actually get Matt Olson for Frazier/Andujar/Voit
More like Perazza, Frazier, and Garcia.
Did you not read the part about adding prospects as well? I’m not delusional like so many other Yankee fans.
Still, Andujar, Frazier… not happening. Can’t just unload your undesirables on the A’s to get Olsen, with or without prospects.
RSox – you’re so right! No way we are giving up Frazier, Andujar, and Voit for only Olson. Olson, Chapman and Manea, maybe. They may have to throw in Kemp though.
This team needs to be blown up. Way to many liabilities
The Yanks don’t need any advice from RedSox fans, who should be clamoring for their team to be blown up.
How does a discussion of centerfielders jump right from Marte to Juan Lagares? I think my dog may catch comparably to Lagares but the dog surely is a better hitter
That’s how bad the drop off in free agent CFrs is after Marte?
Of course yankee fans would accept him, just like the fans of the other 28 teams would accept any of the stars from the 2017 Astros team. And, those same fans will boo Houston when they play in their stadium (see Boston fans booing Houston but cheering Cora).
Yankee fans did not mind Red Sox players like Clemens and Damon they will not mind Correa ( provided he performs well ( if he signs and fails: Then he will regret signing with the Yankees)).
Exactly.
Fans are such biased imbeciles anyways. There’s been literally dozens of people who have said it was a league wide issue anyways. Yes, your team was probably doing something sketchy as well. Was it as bad as the Astros? Who knows. But to act as though the Astros were such demons because they had the audacity to do something that most teams probably did as well? Just ignorant. Like you said, anybody who signs Correa is going to be ecstatic. The boos will only come from the teams he turns down. And those fans will say they would’ve booed him if he signed with them anyways. Ya, ok.
Yankees will sign Seager and Belt, at least according to my predictions in the free agent contest. And given my history of success in that particular contest, no way they sign either one.
Here is my prediction: They will sign either Correa or Seager. It will depend on which one is more eager to sign.
I keep seeing several people suggesting getting Olson from Oakland like the A’s are just going to gift wrap him and send him to New York. Who do the Yankees have outside of Jasson Dominguez to even get Beane/Forst to stay on the phone?
Considering Dominguez isn’t even the top Yankees prospect, you’re coming across as very biased.
He’s their #2 prospect behind Volpe who only gets traded if the Yankees secure one of the big money free agent SS’s to a long term deal. So all of these people proposing Frazier/Andujar/Voit are just as biased because its Yankee fans trying to buy an all-star for garbage.
Olson will cost the Yanks, Torres, Voit, and Medina type package!
I agree with Slider32, maybe add in another prospect or two depending on A’s desire to dump his salary, which is pretty high, since they just let Melvin walk for no reason other than salary. That’s IF they want Torres & Voit salaries. I really think A’s will be fine with one MLB player and then backfill with upper-tier prospects.
The Curse of the Bambino lasted 86 years hampionship from 1918 to 2004. The curse of the Yankees has already been going on for 12 years and counting
Can’t see the same fans who cheered Roger Clemens, Andy Pettite, Chuck Knoblauch, A-Rod and so many others giving Correa a warm reception.
Hilarious.
Every single teams fans would give him a warm reception if he signed with him. Let’s not act like the Astros were an isolated incident anyways. This stuff was happening league wide. There’s a reason you read Cashmans comments and why he has no problem signing him (like any other GM would).
Cashman will upgrade SS for sure! I think Seager is the target! After that he will go after Olsen. He will have to give up Torres, Voit, and either Garcia or Medina. As for the pitching, I see Cashman adding a starter and reliever either by trade or signing.. They have solid starting pitching with Cole, Sevy, Monte, Taillion, German, Gil, Garcia, Schmidt, King, and Cortez.
I see Correa going to Detroit this offseason. Unfortunately, I think Yanks are going to spend on Seager. If he could stay healthy I would be all for it, but the Yanks need a serviceable SS that can stay on the field.
What is the right move for Cashman to do this offseason? Uh… go back in time and not give Hicks a contract through 2025? Trade Sanchez when his value was high versus non-existant. Keep Gleyber at 2B instead of the failed experiment at SS. And not re-sign DJLM last season.
Oh, right, can’t change the past. Well, he already messed up once by letting Greg Allen escape. That man was a sparkplug to the offense last season and I was hoping he would get another look on the roster this spring training. If I were him, I would continue to look for a deal for Voit and see if a team is willing to take a chance Sanchez just needs a change of scenery. Hopefully the league will enact universal DH, which can help increase landing spots for Voit.
The current roster construct will severely hamper Cashman this offseason. Either completely reshuffle the team, or you’re cursed trying to plug in players that don’t necessarily fit, only further complicating the issue later on.
They probably get Seager.
Sign Matz or Gray. Trade for Olson. Sign Seager or S Marte. If no Seager then either Story on a 1 yr deal (if possible) or just let Simmons bat ninth and give plus defense for a year.
Cashman is in an unenviable position, really. Everyone expects big things to happen and he has money to spend. Really, any one of these guys can be seen as a colossal fail depending on how they transition to NY. For example, if Correa or Seager continue their patterns of injury, and are signed to incredibly long, expensive deals, he will be severely criticized. Look at what happened with Cole and he’s a top-3 SP in the game.
If he goes with Story and Story flames out on offense, same deal because of his Coors splits history. If he gets none, and say DeJong cannot perform, he will be criticized for not having bought one of the former guys.
Save the money at shortstop (300 million), bring up Volpe, Get Olson on a trade, Voit out, part ways with Sanchez, get Marte in Center, get a big name pitcher to compliment Cole, Severino, etc. And hopefully a new hitting coach that can cut down the strikeouts, ease up on the need for homers, I’d rather have a single or a double with the bases loaded, than a strikeout
Put new coach staff together
Sign Seager.
Trade Gleyber, Voit & something like (Deivi, Florial) to Pitt for Reynolds and bonus cash.
Add depth to BP.
Add a utility inf/of who is flexible at positions.
Lineup:
CF-Reynolds
SS-Seager
RF-Judge
1B-Rizzo
DH-Stanton
LF-Gallo
2B-DJ
3B-Urshela
C-Sanchez
Why do people think Pittsburgh wants to trade their best player? If they did, what use would they possibly have for Torres or Voit? Makes no sense.
Pretty sure if Seager and Rizzo are signed it will be bye bye Gleyber, Volpe, Perazza, and maybe Deivi for pitching. They could just use a stop gap in center like Starling and give Florial a choice in a year or two