While the Yankees won’t be playing in the postseason this fall, each member of the starting staff still has something to pitch for over the final six games of the season. Gerrit Cole likely has one start remaining to bolster his Cy Young case. The six-time All-Star is the clear favorite, boasting the AL lead in innings pitched and ERA, but he could do with one more strong outing to pad his stats. Meanwhile, converted reliever Michael King has one final game to cap off his impressive transformation into a starting pitcher. If he looks like a lock for the rotation in 2024, it should increase his earning power during the arbitration process this winter.
Carlos Rodón hasn’t looked like himself in the first season of a six-year deal with the Yankees, and his last start will give him a chance to right the ship before the year is up. Similarly, Clarke Schmidt, Luke Weaver, and Frankie Montas are all looking to make a strong impression in their final outings.
Schmidt turned heads out of the bullpen in his rookie season but hasn’t looked quite as sharp out of the rotation during his sophomore campaign, especially as the year has gone on. He’ll look to improve on his 5.24 ERA since the All-Star break. Weaver and Montas will both be free agents this offseason, so it stands to reason that each would like to go out on a high note. Weaver pitched well in his second outing for New York on Friday, and he’s trying to turn things around after a disappointing season with the Reds, Mariners, and Yankees. Montas has spent the entire 2023 campaign on the injured list, but the Yankees could give him a chance to return for one appearance before he hits the open market.
In other Yankees notes…
- The Yankees placed right-hander Tommy Kahnle on the 15-day IL with shoulder inflammation, ending his 2023 season. The oft-injured reliever missed the first two months of the year with biceps tendinitis but pitched well from June to September, posting a 2.66 ERA and 3.68 SIERA in 42 games. He is under contract through 2024, and barring a setback, there is no reason to believe he won’t be back on the mound next spring.
- To replace Kahnle on the active roster, the Yankees recalled Matt Bowman from Triple-A. This will be the righty’s second stint with the big league team, after a brief call-up earlier this month. Following his selection in the 2012 draft, Bowman spent time with the Mets, Cardinals, and Reds before signing a minor league deal with the Yankees after the 2020 season. He missed the next two years recovering from Tommy John surgery but re-signed with New York this past winter. He has a 3.99 ERA in 49 games at Triple-A this year.
- With the Yankees officially eliminated from postseason contention and facing their first losing season since 1992, it’s fair to wonder if manager Aaron Boone is on the hot seat. Steve Adams addressed that very issue earlier today, wondering if the Yankees will (and if they should) fire their skipper.
George would have fired Boone years ago however winning championships doesn’t seem to be a priority to the junior Steinbrenners.
Actually Rodon does seem like his old self—he missed a large chunk of the season and ’22 with Giants will wind up being a career outlier
Rsox – Yes George would have fired Boone years ago, however he would have hired him back a couple years after.
I don’t think it’s fair to say winning isn’t a priority, not with the Yankees at or near the top in league payroll nearly every year.
BTW – Hank Steinbrenner died 3 years ago.
Winning games is a priority for Hal & Co.
Keeps the brand strong.
Winning championships is secondary. If it was top priority, Cashman would not be GM.
Why is King becoming a SP impressive? He was a starter as recently as 2021.
If King can be a successful starting pitcher in 2024, that would be huge boon for the Yankees (pun intended). You have to assume that Rodon will right the ship somewhat next year and that they will add one more year to Cole’s contract to retain him. That leaves NY looking for 2 starters next year instead of 3. Schmidt will still be there as well but you have to assume NY wants at least 6 starters on their roster next year with a swing man or two who can also start games when needed.
Cole, Rodon, Cortes, King, Clarke Schmidt/Jhony Brito/Randy Vasquez, German (?), Montas (?). That’s nine SP with seven under team control that they can retain without opening the vault.
Johny Brito should be the modern day Mario Mendoza of the championship club years…..long relief man who can hold the other team at bay with multiple innings, or spot start……not sure German is in the teams plans…..too many issues but certainly a trade rather than DFA……Cortes is a wild card……Mr. Gile seems to be reverting to what he was before his All Star year……
Yankee fans suddenly sound like Cubs fans of old – putting fantasy teams together for next year
Lowly peons may not beest acknown of what our King hast been spending his timeth on.
It’s impressive in the sense that King hasnt experienced any struggles while being stretched out and changing his routine mid-season. His numbers have been great since he’s been starting.
The “swing and miss” New York Yankees lead the league in paying top dollar for post prime players.
Rodon,Rendon,Stanton…all interchangeable names on the IL.
Not sure why you picked those 3 names when there are plenty of other names out there. Trout, Buxton, Chisholm, Scherzer, deGrom, heck, even Judge has continued his oft injured ways.
He missed his afternoon nap. Forgive him.
A very predictable season from the Yankees. The trade deadline was the largest indicator of the teams direction…. NONE.. The front office had zero faith in this group but still wanted to show the fans that we could make a “championship caliber” run if all the IF’s worked out…
If Judge carried the team
If Cortes was healthy…
If Rodon was healthy…
If Donaldson had anything left
If Volpe could play everyday
If Lemahieu would rebound from surgery
If Severino was healthy
If Hicks was a MLB caliber player
If Franchy Cordero, Willie Calhon, Billy Mckinney and Jake Bauers we’re everyday regulars on said “championship caliber” team.
Let’s face it Yankee fans. The team does not really have a direction. They just do whatever they feel like would appease the angry mob. They rushed Jasson to the big leagues just to sell the tickets and keep the viewers.. he injured himself trying to impress.. now watch.. The typical reactionary Yankee’s move would be to sign Cody bellinger. Yawn
The front office had zero faith in this group
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They’ll finish 6-7 games out of the last WC slot. It was probably best to just let it slide away.
Why would the Yankees pitch Montas for 1 game and risk injury? The season is over. He’s a bust.
Why did the Yankees even tender Montas a contract?…Other than saving face from yet another Cashman blunder, I can’t think of a good reason.
Good point. Remember this the great fix for the Montgomery trade. Which was a knee jerk reaction for a non contract extension for Judge.
The fun part is that it looked odd from Day 1:
Montas was arguably hurt at the time, and had a poor career road ERA.
Bader was definitely hurt.
Monty was a proven winner in NY.
Horrible decision if they activate Montas. He is on the 60 IL. They’d have to create a roster spot for him. Why would they DFA someone just to bring Montas back for one meaningless outing to help him leave in free agency?!
Are you really worried about them DFA’ing Matt Bowman?
There’s no reason to believe Tommy Kahnle won’t be on the IL most of 2024. The guy strains something in his arm/shoulder just waking up in the morning.
Cashman needs to go. Let the new GM hire his own manager. Ergo, Boone and Cashman go out together.
Hal Steinbrenner likes to make money and the Yankees with those two still make money for him.
That said, he leaves Millions on the table as an opportunity cost by not trying something new and different, for if the team would finally exhibit a taste for something new and exciting, and turn that into more meaningful winning ( like a World Series) then many more Millions would come in than comes in today.
My theory is that Cashman is a lightning rod to draw criticism away from Hal. As long as he spends money and lets the front office do their thing he stays away from any blame. Cashman has been there since before he even took ownership of the team from his dad. The day that Hal fires Cashman if he doesn’t pick a good replacement then blame goes to him.
Cashman most likely, isn’t going anywhere at least in 2024…..we’ll have to wait and see whether Hal issues an ultimatum as far as assembling a more competitive team going forward…..as far as Boone…watch out for Bob Melvin….lots of controversy in Padre land between him and the Rock Star GM who has the ear of the owner…..very probable that Melvin will either quit or be fired and if so, he might be a great fit for NY…….Melvin is very much in the mold of Joe Torre and seemingly can work both with younger and veteran players…..its the team personal in Padre land that’s sabotaging that team not Melvin…….
There were at least 10 games where Boone made a stupid decision pulling a starter too early or using the wrong reliever.
Too many players swinging at the first pitch and making an out.
Too many strikeouts looking.
Someone has to go. Boone could have managed the players better and benched people for not hitting in the clutch.
Time for a change.
nyy17 2
Too many players swinging at the first pitch and making an out.
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I like to occasionally check these numbers.
Do you know who had the lowest number of ABs swinging at the first pitch? The NYY.
Care to explain how you have too many players swinging at the 1st pitch AND having the least amount of ABs?
Wheeeeeew thats gonna be a tough one to get up from.
You’re spot on!
Boone is not the problem. Nor is he the solution.
It feels like a problem. I have never seen him take a negative view of anything. There is a place for that, but sometimes you need to show some anger. Nothing is always okay.
Boone shows his anger and passion toward the guy calling balls and strikes
QFT!
Dr. Boonedoggle is an idiot. So Kahnle appears in 42 games over a 94 game stretch coming off shoulder inflammation for a pace of 72 games in a full season?????
What a moron.
It’s time for Donnie baseball to manage the Yankees.