New York Yankees: Off-Season Priorities
What do the New York Yankees have to do this off-season?
The 2016 New York Yankees were counting on Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira to have big seasons again and a super pen to shut down the end of games. Rodriguez retired in July after the Yankees were going to release him. Teixeira has also retired and the Yankees traded 2/3 of No Runs DMC for prospects along with Carlos Beltran, who was their best player at the time.
The Yankees went with prospects for the first time in years. Gary Sanchez may have slugged his way to the AL Rookie of the Year Award. Tyler Austin showed some nice opposite field power. Aaron Judge showed light tower power, but also a propensity to strike out, something he has done at every level of the minors.
The Yankees are going to want to do their best to stay under the Luxury Tax Threshold. Right now, it’s at $189 million, however, there is going to be a new CBA in place so we don’t know quite yet if it will be higher.
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Per Spotrac, the Yankees have $147 million tied into just nine players, including $21 million for Rodriguez who isn’t even with the club any more. If the Yankees tender a contract to all arbitation eligible players below, per MLB Trade Rumors calculations, that is another $32.8 million which brings you to almost $180 million right there.
Pending Free Agents: Billy Butler
Arbitration Eligible: Michael Pineda, Nathan Eovaldi, Dustin Ackley, Didi Gregorius, Dellin Betances, Austin Romine, Tommy Layne, Adam Warren, Aaron Hicks.
Starting Rotation
The Yankees could certainly use an upgrade or two in the starting rotation. Masahiro Tanaka has been their ace since he has come over to the US, but can opt out after next season. CC Sabathia will be back in the final year of his deal.
Michael Pineda is wildly inconsistent. He can strike out 12 guys in a game and also give up five homers. I could see the Yankees floating his name in some trade discussions in the off-season or maybe even at the deadline in 2017.
Nathan Eovaldi should be non-tendered. He will be out this year recovering from Tommy John surgery. Maybe they can sign him for a cheaper two year deal than his $7.5 million arbitration projection like they did with Jon Lieber back in the 2000’s?
Luis Severino was horrendous as a starter but excellent out of the bullpen last season. They need to find out what role he will play moving forward. Chad Green, Bryan Mitchell and Luis Cessa will certainly be in the mix for rotation spots as well.
The free agent market is weak for starters, but Rich Hill would make a lot of sense. He wouldn’t require draft pick compensation (if that still applies after the new CBA is agreed upon), and he’s left-handed. Maybe Jorge De La Rosa if the Rockies let him go?
Bullpen
I expect the Yankees to do some shopping in the closer market. They tried to extend Aroldis Chapman before dealing him and a reunion would make sense. If they can’t get him, I would think Kenley Jansen would be their next target.
If they decide to keep Dellin Betances at closer, I would expect them to add to their relief corps. Tyler Clippard and Adam Warren will be back. Tommy Layne should also be kept from the left side.
The Yankees like power arms in the bullpen, and power arms tend to bring strikeouts. They could target Jason Grilli, who was 11th among relievers in K/9 rate if the Blue Jays don’t pick up his option. Drew Storen could be another late inning option for the Yankees in free agency. Per Fangraphs, Storen had the fourth best horizontal movement on his slider of any reliever in 2016. Maybe under Larry Rothschild, the Yankees could harness it and make him an effective reliever once again.
There are also plenty of young arms they can go to, like they have the past few years as part of the Scranton Shuttle. Guys like Ben Heller, Jonathan Holder, Nick Goody and Johnny Barbato. Giovanny Gallegos was excellent in AAA this past season, and if he’s added to the 40-man roster instead of being left for the Rule V draft, could be a part of it as well.
Time for a Trade
Having Brett Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury in the same lineup has been redundant. The move was an awkward, since it was a “let’s save some face because we lost Robinson Cano in free agency” move. Ellsbury is untradeable at this point, unless the Yankees want to eat a ton of money, something I can’t see them doing.
It’s finally time they trade Gardner for a starting pitcher (and maybe more). Gardner will make $12.5 million next year and $11 in 2018 with an option after that. Clint Frazier is knocking on the door, and the Yankees could go with a combination of Mason Williams, Tyler Austin, Dustin Ackley and Hicks in left field until Frazier is ready to come up at some point next season.
Teams like Nationals, Cubs, and Mariners could be a fit for Gardner in a trade. Maybe the Yankees can pry a starter for their rotation for him?
Keep Mac
One player I believe the Yankees should hold on to for next season is Brian McCann. At least at the start of it.
Yes the Yankees have Gary Sanchez at catcher and Greg Bird is coming back from injury and should be the first baseman. McCann gives the Yankees insurance at both spots and some additional left-handed pop which you need at Yankee Stadium.
What if Bird isn’t ready? What if Sanchez backslides? What if either gets hurt in the off-season or during Spring Training?
If Sanchez goes down, do the Yankees want to go with Austin Romine and Kyle Higashioka at catcher? Do they want to give first base to Tyler Austin and Dustin Ackley if Bird is injured?
McCann can catch some, play some first, and be a part of a rotation at DH. As the team continues their youth movement, having some sort of veteran presence is important.
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If they do trade Gardner, Chase Headley and Jacoby Ellsbury would be the only main regulars who are over 30. McCann can be for the Yankees what Adrian Gonzalez is for the Dodgers or Ben Zobrist for the Cubs. That veteran guy who’s seen everything that you can count on in the middle of the order, and for a younger team, I think that’s important.