The 2018 MLB Winter meetings will begin next week and the Yankees will have a large presence. Let’s take a look at what they got done there in the past.
The long awaited 2018 Baseball Winter Meetings will kick off in Las Vegas on Sunday, December 9 and will conclude on Wednesday, December 13. That leaves organizations and their fans four days to sign free agents and conduct trades before General Managers go offline until next Thursday, so you best believe the Yankees will surely make a big impact.
Not so fast.
The New York Yankees have signed free agents and orchestrated trades a number of times during the Baseball Winter Meetings since it became an annual event in 1901. Let’s take a look at some moves that had the greatest impact on the Yankees organization:
1959 – Roger Maris (Trade)
Casey Stengel traded for who would turn into the “home run king” just two years later. He finished with two MVP awards and two World Series championships in his eight-year tenure with the Bronx Bombers.
1984 – Ricky Henderson (Trade)
The stolen base king put on the Pinstripes in 1985 and was then sent back to Oakland midway through the 1989 season. While the Yankees did not win a championship during his time in the Bronx, he went on to score 513 runs in 596 games played.
Fun Fact: Henderson’s 326 stolen bases as a Yankee ranks second in franchise history behind Derek Jeter (358)
2008 – CC Sabathia (Free Agent Signing)
This was the first time the Yankees ever gave a seven-year deal to a pitcher, and it paid off. CC was coming off a remarkable half-season with the Brewers before the Yankees tossed $161 million his way. It paid dividends right away as the Bronx Bombers won a world championship in 2009. Almost 11 years later, CC is still a Yankee.
2009 – Curtis Granderson (Trade)
Now a 15-year veteran, Granderson had his two best years of his career (2011 and 2012) as a member of the Yankees. His left-handed bat played well in Yankee Stadium. Perhaps “The Grandy Man” is the blueprint for a current left-handed free agent.
With Patrick Corbin agreeing to terms with the Washington Nationals yesterday, New York will turn their focus to other Free Agent pitchers as well as even more prestigious arms that could potentially be acquired via trade.
Either way, do not be surprised if the Yankees make a move during Winter Meetings. At the very least, they will be sure to make some headway next week in Las Vegas.