The Yankees only made a couple of notable moves so far this offseason, but does this mean they are done making any other moves?
While it has been over a month since baseball’s biggest free agent in history signed with the Yankees, it has been awfully quiet at the Death Star’s headquarters in recent weeks. Hearing rumblings of a Josh Hader donning pinstripes would have been an absolute kill shot to the entire American League but it has cooled down since.
With a package centered around Miguel Andujar, the Yankees have seemed reluctant to pull the trigger. In win-now mode it makes sense to take advantage of the trade market. Prospect hoarding is something winning teams should not be in the business of. Knowing that there is plenty of time to strike a deal, there should be no panic yet. Trust within the Yankees organization is at an all-time high with the acquisition of the “White Whale” Gerrit Cole.
What would I like to see the Yankees do? With Betances gone, (what do the Yankees know that us fans do not?) there should be no reason why there shouldn’t be another relief pitcher in the mix. A player other than Josh Hader to look out for is Arodys Vizcaino. Signed by the Yankees in 2007 as an international free agent, he as gone on to be productive for the Atlanta Braves from 2014-2018 seasons.
While not a household name, Vizcaino has put together an above average resume to be in the conversation as a bullpen addition. The only downside is Vizacino opted for surgery on his right labrum early in the 2019 season. A one year prove-it deal seems like a smart and cheap option if they are looking to add bullpen depth.
With the loss of Didi Gregorius, Austin Romine, and the DFA of Greg Bird, the Yankees could look for some infield depth. Whether it be a cheap one-year deal or a short term contract, the Yankees should be in the market for a couple of bats. Brining in someone such as Scooter Gennett could be a savvy move that could make the infield better. While having an injury-plagued 2019 season, Gennett could have a bounce back year as a backup middle-infielder. He is not far removed from batting .310 with an OBP of .357 and an All Star appearance. The Yankees could be a perfect destination to revive his career.
How about bringing back an old friend in Russell Martin? Yes, I am aware Erik Kratz and Chris Ianetta signed a minor league contracts and will battle Kyle Higashioka in the spring. However, can the organization really trust any of those guys to produce behind the plate if Gary Sanchez goes down for an extended period of time? Martin brings a hard-working mentality to work and is a well-respected veteran. Maybe a one-year deal with incentives could lure him to the Bronx once more?
I battled with this pick for some time now, but I think this has the potential could to work out perfectly for the Yankees. With Voit coming off his core muscle injury, the Yankees could be in position to look to upgrade the backup first base job and let DJ stay put at second. Mitch Moreland, the former Red Sox could prove to be one of the converted Sox-Yankee that actually pan out (Jacoby Ellsbury *cough cough*). With a lefty bat almost certainly needed, Moreland could provide something special for this group. A perfect blend of veterans and younger players have been proven to get the job done and win on multiple occasions and his presence would be a massive upgrade.
Being the team to beat throughout the offseason comes with immense pressure and tremendous expectations. The Yankees have been there on several occasions and Boone has demonstrated a superb job of having his team prepared for big moments. Learning that this team is hungrier than ever to achieve number 28 should get the whole fan base excited for one of the most anticipated Yankees’ seasons in a whole decade.