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A 99-win season and sixth straight playoff run is a successful season for most MLB teams, and re-signing the reigning MVP is almost always cause for celebration, especially when he’s the homegrown face of the franchise.
However, the New York Yankees are not most teams that simply bring Aaron Judge back to a flawed roster CENTER — MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported on the move on Wednesday and what came to light in October won’t cut it.
“I think they understand what a 13-year title drought feels like,” MLB insider Mark Feinsand said Wednesday morning on MLB Network. It’s been 130 years on Yankee soil and I think there are many more to come. “ The last time the Yankees went at least 13 years without winning a championship ring was the leanest season in American franchise history. Made the playoffs just three times in the 17 seasons between 1978 and 1996, and outside of Don Mattingly, there wasn’t much going on in that time.
When they finally came out on the other side of that dry period, they started a true dynasty, winning four rings in five years.
Now the question is: What does the Yankees need to do to bring Judge back to the team with similar success?
1. They need 1 higher end starter
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The high-end shortstop market is making headlines this offseason, but the starting pitchers are by far Fastest-moving market so far. Based on MLB trade rumors, here are the top 50 free agents to land a spot at the start of the offseason All starting pitchers for:
Carlos Rodon
Jacob DeGrom Justin Wieland Koudai Senga Chris Bassett
Jameson Tyon Taijuan Walker
Sean Manaya
Andrew Heaney Noah SyndergardNathan Evaldi Clayton Kershaw Jose Quintana Zha C Evelyn Taylor Anderson Ross Sterling Michael Vacha Corey Kluber Drew Rusinski
see all these names Has been crossed out should tell you all the urgency you need to know if the Yankees are going to pass free agency To do so, they need to use it to upgrade their starting rotation.
Early reports were that they were aiming high and aggressively targeting Rodón:
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- Now that Judge has been protected, what’s next for the Yankees? They have a definite interest in Lawton. They felt Rodon had the guts to succeed in New York. A tough, talented southpaw would be a solid option in the stadium.
The biggest unknown in the market this year is right-hander Koudai Senga, who used to be the top pitcher in the Japanese league for many years. Predicting how a player’s game will translate to majors is always a bit of a risk, but his 2022 numbers can’t be ignored. The 29-year-old has a 1.89 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 159 strikeouts in 148 innings in 2022. He won’t be bound by the release system, so he’s free to sign anywhere this offseason.
Other than those two, grizzled veteran Corey Kluber might be the best target. With his experience and track record of postseason success, there’s no question he’ll be able to handle the pitching pressure at Yankee Stadium — a place he calls home in 2021 and has a career ERA of 3.04.
If free agency isn’t the answer, the Yankees could also turn their attention to the trade market.
The Milwaukee Brewers are a hypothetical trade partner, not because they aren’t expected to compete in 2023, but because they don’t Too likely to be able to afford Corbin Burns and Brandon Woodruff long-term, since they’re both free post-2024 surrogates. However, the Brewers have indicated that they do not intend to move either starter, according to USA TODAY Bob Nightengale.
A more likely trade partner would be the Miami Marlins, who have a ton of young players, manageable starting pitches, and have indicated they’re willing to listen to anything but the NL Quote from anyone other than Cy Young champion Sandy Alcantara, according to the New York Post Jon Heyman for .
The Yankees’ best target in terms of acquisition cost, likelihood of getting the deal done and expected production is Pablo Lopez. The 26-year-old is manageable throughout the 2024 season, posting a career-high 180 innings in 2022 with a 3.75 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 174 strikeouts while serving Miami’s No. 2 starter.
According to reports, according to , the Marlins are Veteran third baseman Justin Turner in free agency has shown interest Miami Herald
How about this hypothetical transaction:
to MIA: 3B Josh Donaldson, SS Oswald Peraza, RHP Yoendrys Gómez, C Josh Breaux, $11.75 million (to offset Donaldson’s $21.75 million salary )Peraza, 22, ranks No. 1 on our final list of top 100 prospects for the 2022 season 56 bits. After making his MLB debut on Sept. 2, he hit .306/.404/.429 in 57 games with three doubles and a home run, and he met all the criteria to become Everyday center infielder in the league. It’s a steep price to pay, but one the Yankees should seriously consider. , Luis Severino and a healthy Frankie Montas will give the Yankees one of the deepest starting rotations in baseball, and Domingo Germán has terrific depth in the swingman role.
But that’s not all on the shopping list.
2. The Yankees need an outfielder too
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Pencils in judges as everyday right fielder and deadline catcher/playoff hero Harrison Budd as starting center fielder, but Another spot in the Yankees outfield is still up for grabs.
Oft-injured veteran Aaron Hicks is hitting .211 with 83 OPS+ and 1.3 WAR in 162 games over the past two seasons, though he Still owed $30.4 million over the next three years, but expecting him to keep a spot every day is a disaster.
Rookie Oswaldo Cabrera saw some action in left field and even started five games there during the playoffs, but he Probably more valuable in a super utility role than if he’s tethered to a day-to-day position in the outfield. Brandon Nemo is a lot like y will be commanding over $100 million and whoever gives him the contract will pay in part for his ability to play center. With Bader on the roster, it would be wise for the Yankees to let someone else pay a premium. Andrew Benintendi is a logical target. The Yankees loaned him out at the deadline, but his age (28) and near-pro Career 2022 offensive years (124 OPS+) could push his asking price beyond what the Yankees are interested in paying.
In terms of dollars and cents, the most intriguing option might be a one-year deal with rally candidate Michael Conforto. After receiving a qualifying offer and then undergoing shoulder surgery, he spent the 2022 season in free agency. He has 30-homer power, but could get rusty after a year on the sidelines.
An out-of-the-box According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Orix Buffaloes released Japanese outfielder Masataka Yoshida on Tuesday, who also You have 29 days to sign with an MLB team.
The 29-year-old hit .336/.449/.559 in his seventh professional season, 28 doubles, 21 home runs, nearly twice as many walks (82) as strikeouts (42) JAPAN
And of course the trade market, unique Pittsburgh Pirates star Brian Reynolds will be considered a trade chip until he signs a long-term agreed or actually traded.
The 27-year-old has three years left in control of the club, meaning the Yankees will almost certainly have to waive Anthony Volpe, there’s more to pry him loose, but his 8.9 WAR ranks sixth among all outfielders over the past two seasons.
Other potential trade targets include Ramón Laureano (OAK), Victor Robles (WAS) or from the Arizona Diamondbacks captain’s list of controllable outfielders , including Corbin Carroll, Alek Thomas, Jake McCarthy and Daulton Varsho.
Best guess: Yankees sign Conforto to one-year, $18M deal slightly higher than Chicago Cubs this week The $17.5 million contract awarded earlier to rebounding candidate Cody Bellinger. It’s a low-risk, high-reward move that fits well with the long-term commitment they’ve just made to Judge.
Are they really only 2 pieces?
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Like most teams, the Yankees would benefit from adding some more established relief weapons, as well as a left-hander considering Anthony Rizzo, Cabrera and Hicks are projected roster The only player in the world to hit from the left side is also good with a bench bat.
But all things considered, if they can move top starters and left fielders from their Removed from their shopping list, they will have as complete a roster as any baseball team heading into the 2023 season.
The winter conference is coming to an end, but there’s still plenty of offseason left.
