In a bidding battle that entered historic territory, the New York Yankees narrowly misplaced out to the crosstown rival Mets, who landed the highest free agent prize in 26-year-old slugger Juan Soto on the eve of the winter conferences in Dallas Sunday night time. Soto agreed to a 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets, the richest deal in sports activities historical past. But the Yankees weren’t far behind, because the membership’s last provide was reportedly 16 years and $760 million.
The query on the minds of many followers and pundits now’s, the place do the Yankees go from right here? Certainly, if chariman Hal Steinbrenner was keen to bid nicely over half a billion {dollars} for one participant, it speaks to his dedication to sustaining a aggressive roster on the heels of the membership’s first World Series look in 15 years. However, that doesn’t imply Steinbrenner will go on a spending spree to ease the impression of shedding Soto. New York might have realized a lesson from 11 years in the past, when homegrown star Robinson Cano departed for riches in Seattle, and the Yankees spent $438 million on 4 free brokers (Masahiro Tanaka, Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran) solely to overlook out on the postseason the next 12 months. To that finish, Yankees normal supervisor Brian Cashman stated Monday throughout an look on YES the membership “will not be drunken sailors” with their spending as they appear to improve post-Soto.
Even nonetheless, a number of shops have reported there’s a sense throughout the Yankees group that the cash provided to Soto could possibly be higher spent elsewhere. That stated, this is another sport plan for the Yankees this offseason after Soto’s seismic resolution to alter boroughs.
There’s a scene from the film Moneyball, the place then-Oakland Athletics normal supervisor Billy Beane, performed by Brad Pitt, speaks to his scouts concerning the free company departure of 2000 American League MVP Jason Giambi. The interplay went like this.
Scout: You have lots of expertise and knowledge on this room. Now you must have a bit of bit of religion and allow us to do the job of changing [Jason] Giambi.
Beane: Is there one other first baseman like Giambi?
Scouts in unison: No, probably not, No.
Beane: And if there was, may we afford him?
Scout: Nope.
Beane: Then, what the f— are you talkin’ about, man?
That interplay sums up the Yankees’ unenviable activity right here. While they don’t seem to be cash-strapped, because the 2001 Athletics have been, they’re nonetheless dealing with the cruel fact that there is merely no solution to change the on-base machine and feared slugger who walked out the door.
But, within the spirit of the film, maybe there’s a solution to recreate the impression made by Soto by means of the acquisition of 1 or two impression bats.
Potential Targets
Cody Bellinger, 1B/OF, Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are reportedly seeking to commerce Bellinger, the 2018 National League Championship Series MVP and 2019 NL MVP, this offseason. New York was exploring a possible commerce for Bellinger on the 2023 deadline, after which thought-about signing the two-time All-Star this previous offseason earlier than the membership’s blockbuster commerce for Soto. The Yankees, with a surplus of beginning pitching on the big-league degree, could possibly be a great commerce accomplice for the Cubs.
Bellinger, is coming off an injury-riddled down 12 months, however loved a standout 2023 season, is a lefty bat whose pull tendencies can be a great slot in Yankee Stadium and is able to taking part in middle discipline and first base, two positions the Yankees want to handle. A possible deal wouldn’t be with out its dangers, however buying Bellinger, whose father gained two World Series with New York within the Nineteen Nineties, can be a transfer that would each improve the membership and excite a fan base reeling from the lack of Soto.
Christian Walker, 1B, FA
Walker is among the prime free agent first basemen accessible—and for good cause. Lifting the ball within the air greater than ever earlier than, the 33-year-old Walker has remade himself into among the finest sluggers in baseball over the past three years, posting a .250/.332/.481 slash line whereas clubbing 95 residence runs in 1,880 plate appearances throughout that span. The Norristown, Pa. native can be an outstanding defender, having gained three straight Gold Gloves. Yankees first basemen ranked second-to-last in WAR final season and the membership badly must improve the place. Walker shall be cheaper than the Scott Boras-represented Pete Alonso, and will present some thump in the course of the Yankees’ order behind Aaron Judge.
Honorable Mentions
Alex Bregman, 3B, FA
Longtime Yankees nemesis with the Houston Astros, however he’s an outstanding defender at third base and stays a powerful bat (118 OPS+ in 2024).
Jurickson Profar, IF/OF, FA
Versatile participant who had a profession 12 months on the plate in 2024 whereas posting a .380 OBP. Could function the membership’s new leadoff hitter in ’25.
Teoscar Hernandez, OF, FA
Big bopper who posted a 137 OPS+ whereas driving in 12 runs through the Los Angeles Dodgers’ title run.
You can by no means have an excessive amount of pitching. That’s an outdated adage in baseball that ages like fantastic wine as extra pitchers are succumbing to accidents within the age of velocity. It additionally could be the Yankees’ guiding gentle as they try and navigate this offseason post-Soto.
Remember, there’s merely no recreating Soto, who’s on a trajectory that has some calling him the modern-day Ted Williams. So, why not focus much less on the not possible activity of recreating his run manufacturing and focus extra on run prevention?
Yankees starters ranked eleventh in MLB in ERA final season, all whereas getting simply 17 begins from 2023 Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole. New York may make a energy even stronger.
Potential Targets
Roki Sasaki, SP, FA
Steinbrenner, who in May referred to as the Yankees’ $302 million payroll “unsustainable”, will love this concept. Sasaki, extensively considered among the finest pitchers on the earth, was on Monday formally posted and shall be accessible for groups to barter with and signal from Tuesday till January 23. Sasaki, 23, is taken into account a global novice and can solely be capable to signal a minor-league contract topic to the worldwide signing bonus swimming pools. This signifies that Sasaki’s contract will not even be in the identical stratosphere as fellow countryman Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s $325 million take care of the Dodgers this previous winter.
The 2025 signing interval, through which the Yankees have the third-highest attainable quantity of bonus pool cash to spend ($6,261,600) opens on Jan. 15. New York has scouted Sasaki closely throughout his 4 seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball, and earned a key contributor to its beginning rotation the final time it paid a posting payment and a hefty payday for a Japanese starter in Tanaka.
Armed with a fastball that may hit the higher 90s and an elite split-finger fastball, Sasaki has the ceiling to develop into a No. 1 starter for a crew within the massive leagues. Adding him to a rotation that features Cole, two-time All-Star Carlos Rodon and reigning AL Rookie of the Year Award winner Luis Gil—and doing it at a fraction of the price—is tantalizing.
Max Fried, SP, FA
The Yankees have reportedly already held a productive Zoom assembly with Fried, a two-time All-Star and one of many prime two free agent starters available on the market alongside ’21 NL Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes.
Fried, 30, is coming off of a powerful 12 months that noticed him pitch to a 3.25 ERA in 174 1/3 innings for the Atlanta Braves. The lefthander has a excessive ceiling—he completed second within the NL Cy Young Award race in ’22—is a three-time Gold Glove award winner and has expertise pitching within the postseason and the World Series.
Fried’s 58.8 % groundball fee, which ranked second final season solely to Astros southpaw Framber Valdez, can be a pleasant slot in Yankee Stadium, which yielded the third-most residence runs of any ballpark in 2024, in line with Statcast. Fried actually will not come low-cost and the Yankees could have competitors for him—maybe from their fiercest rivals—however he is a less expensive various to Burnes and would give New York among the finest on-paper rotations in baseball.
Honorable Mentions
Corbin Burnes, SP, FA
Legitimate ace with elite strikeout capability who pitched to a 2.92 ERA final season within the AL East with Baltimore, however shall be dear.
Walker Buehler, SP, FA
Two-time All-Star who blanked the Yankees throughout six innings pitched for the Dodgers within the World Series. Loves the large second.
Justin Verlander, SP, FA
The soon-to-be 42-year-old battled accidents in 2024, however the Yankees provided him a contract in December of ’22. Perhaps the long run Hall of Famer has another sturdy season left within the tank?
In right this moment’s MLB, that aforementioned adage would possibly want a revision. You can by no means have an excessive amount of aid pitching. Aside from the elite slugging of Aaron Judge and a complement of sturdy beginning pitching, Yankees playoff groups lately have shared one commonality: a bullpen filled with hard-throwing relievers.
And whereas the Yankees’ relievers ranked sixth in ERA within the common season and largely delivered within the postseason, supervisor Aaron Boone too usually relied on the identical names—and considered one of them, Clay Holmes, signed with the Mets. Injuries additionally ate into the depth of the ‘pen through the common season. In quick, the Yankees would possibly have to heed the phrases of that new-age baseball adage and use a few of their newfound vacation spending cash to buy groceries on the aid pitcher market.
Potential Yankees Targets
Tanner Scott, LHP, FA
Scott, 30, loved a profession 12 months pitching for the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres, posting a 1.75 ERA in 72 innings whereas notching 22 saves. Before he was dealt to San Diego in July, the Yankees have been reportedly among the many groups to specific curiosity within the southpaw. And it isn’t onerous to see why. Scott, armed with a fastball, slider and changeup, was the uncommon pitcher equally good at inducing weak contact (27.5 % hard-hit fee) and producing strikeouts (28.6 % Okay fee). His expertise with the ninth inning is a serious plus, as it might free the Yankees to make use of transformed 2024 nearer Luke Weaver earlier in video games if wanted, whereas additionally easing the impression of the lack of Holmes.
Carlos Estevez, RHP, FA
Acquired by the Philadelphia Phillies on the commerce deadline after closing 20 video games for the Los Angeles Angels, Carlos Estevez loved a breakout season on the heels of his first All-Star marketing campaign in 2023. The Dominican Republic native pitched to a 2.45 ERA in 55 innings for Los Angeles and Philadelphia, then recorded a 3.38 ERA in three video games for the Phillies in October. Like Scott, Estevez, who has 57 saves within the final two seasons mixed, is a possible possibility for the Yankees if they like Weaver within the fireman position.
Honorable Mentions
Kenley Jansen, RHP, FA
The most skilled nearer available on the market with 447 profession saves (fourth all-time). Proved he may pitch within the AL East throughout two-year stint with Boston, however age (37) and potential value may give Yankees pause.
A.J. Minter, LHP, FA
A World Series champion with the 2021 Atlanta Braves. Boasts a profession 3.28 ERA and 10.9 strikeouts per 9 innings in his profession whereas filling a wide range of roles within the Braves’ bullpen.
