2024-25 Yankees Offseason
- Thread starter jon abbey
- Start date
He was a very fun player to root for, but as you say that deal would have handcuffed them for at least five years.
He was awesome, but he was a businessman from start to finish, which is fine and he made bank, it just means I mostly expected him to leave. Literally no hard feelings, I have never really disliked the Mets.
Agreed that this does likely improve their OF defense and probably protect Judge’s body for years. The lineup will not be so lucky.
Agreed that this does likely improve their OF defense and probably protect Judge’s body for years. The lineup will not be so lucky.
Not really thrilled about the rest of the offseason.
Pitchers would be cool, but I don't like any of the available bats.
Pitchers would be cool, but I don't like any of the available bats.
It stinks. But the Yankees will be better off spreading the money around.
They were too top heavy in the playoffs and it showed.
They were too top heavy in the playoffs and it showed.
I think any position players NY adds need to be assets defensively. Here is where they stand now, guys in parentheses are who would start if the season started today but spots they could look to upgrade:
C: Wells
1B: (Rice)
2B or 3B: Chisholm
2B or 3B: (Durbin)
SS: Volpe
LF: Dominguez
CF: (Grisham)
RF: Judge
DH: Stanton
Bellinger plays both CF and 1B well, so obviously a good positional fit if they can work out the money. Dominguez is probably more comfortable in CF than LF, so NY could add a LF and bump Grisham to 4th OF also.
C: Wells
1B: (Rice)
2B or 3B: Chisholm
2B or 3B: (Durbin)
SS: Volpe
LF: Dominguez
CF: (Grisham)
RF: Judge
DH: Stanton
Bellinger plays both CF and 1B well, so obviously a good positional fit if they can work out the money. Dominguez is probably more comfortable in CF than LF, so NY could add a LF and bump Grisham to 4th OF also.
I am glad he went to the Met. Way too much money for a team that does have limitations.
I know I am in the minority but I do believe Cashman brings in a SP.
They could really use Bellinger right now. Also can rework the entire starting rotation adding Fried and trading for Crochet. Giving you Cole Fried Rodon Crochet Schmidt and ROY Luis.
That would be an incredible rotation. But would still need to add another OF or 1B.
I know I am in the minority but I do believe Cashman brings in a SP.
They could really use Bellinger right now. Also can rework the entire starting rotation adding Fried and trading for Crochet. Giving you Cole Fried Rodon Crochet Schmidt and ROY Luis.
That would be an incredible rotation. But would still need to add another OF or 1B.
Bellinger seems like a good fit. Is he still considered a plus CF defensively? And then maybe Ha-Seong Kim. NY is well positioned to allow Kim to fully recover from his shoulder injury and he'd be a huge upgrade in the infield. Then add Carlos Santana to the mix on a one way deal- I think he'd thrive in NY.
While adding Bregman would be a big boost in production and approach, having another expensive player entering the decline phase of their career would be tough considering the ages/trajectories of the big 4. Same for Alonso, plus the fact that he's not great defensively.
So, with the reports that Cohen just wouldn't be topped, does that answer why the Yankees last offer was a year longer, but lower overall money? Makes me think the Yankees had an AAV that they wouldn't go over.
Bully for Soto to get the most money he can, but if the Mets crash and burn - like they seem to do often - I'll be curious what he thinks of that decision. Hope he has as much success as Cano.
Bully for Soto to get the most money he can, but if the Mets crash and burn - like they seem to do often - I'll be curious what he thinks of that decision. Hope he has as much success as Cano.
I would like to see the Yankees try to sign Goldschmidt to a one-year deal, trade for Bellinger to play CF and I like the idea of Kim. That way the Yankees will have the flexibility to go hard after Vladdy and Tucker next year, and they will be a deeper better defensive team this year.
Before the Yankees go after a long term solution at 1B like Guerrero, I'd like to know what the eventual plan is for Judge and where he'll play when he slows down a bit more. He'll be fine back in RF for a while, but after that, what? If the plan is 1B, I expect they'll want to find a 4-5 year solution there at most. Vladdy will get more. Judge is a great athlete. I don't think they'll have to pencil him in at DH for a long time.
Walker is on the older side. His next contract timeline might match up with Judge transitioning to 1B pretty well. But a series of shorter 1B contracts to guys like Goldschmidt and Santana over the next several years would work too and also create an opportunity forGreg Bird Ben Rice to break through and play.
Walker is on the older side. His next contract timeline might match up with Judge transitioning to 1B pretty well. But a series of shorter 1B contracts to guys like Goldschmidt and Santana over the next several years would work too and also create an opportunity for
I think the odds that Gleyber comes back on a prove-it deal have increased dramatically with Soto going across town.
No, you're right, which I didn't really realize. But he's pretty bad at it, which is why everyone is projecting him as a 1B in the US:
"Primarily a third baseman in Japan, Murakami has posted a -56 DRS at the position since 2022, leading many to project him as a first baseman in MLB"
https://www.si.com/mlb/yankees/news/will-yankees-snag-international-star-munetaka-murakami-to-fullfill-long-term-infield-need-john9
I'm a little worried about LF. Not sure Dominguez isn't a lot better in CF and the FA options are not good.
Edit: Please don't find a way to bring back Gleyber and Verdugo.
Edit: Please don't find a way to bring back Gleyber and Verdugo.
I think that's part of the thinking with Bellinger, his OF experience is mostly in CF and RF but presumably he could cover the big LF in NY too.
That scans. If they can trade for Bellinger to be the new Brett Gardner who can also play 1B as necessary, I'd be pretty damn happy.
Edit: The more quality positional flexibility Cashman can acquire, the better.
Edit: The more quality positional flexibility Cashman can acquire, the better.
Also, thanks to @jon abbey I know who Durbin is and why he deserves to be on the radar. What I'm curious about is how good he is defensively, and where. I see from his BRef page that he's played all over, but I have little sense of how good he is in the field. Any insight JA? Apologies if you've posted about it before and I've either forgotten or missed it.
Boone a few weeks ago has an answer for you:
"I think he’s a stud, frankly,” Boone said last week. “Great bat-to-ball [skill], elite ability on the bases as a base stealer, a good defender in the middle of the diamond at second base. "
https://www.mlb.com/news/caleb-durbin-added-to-yankees-40-man-roster
Thanks. You're the man.
Durbin will be 25. No sense in waiting. I hope they give him more of a chance than Peraza.
If management is confident in Chisholm's arm, athleticism and (a lot) more reps making him a plus defender at 3B, put Durbin at 2B and LFG.
Durbin will be 25. No sense in waiting. I hope they give him more of a chance than Peraza.
If management is confident in Chisholm's arm, athleticism and (a lot) more reps making him a plus defender at 3B, put Durbin at 2B and LFG.
I understand this sentiment, but without Soto I think there is almost no chance they go with a rookie at second base when Torres is right there and by all accounts wants to play for the Yankees.
In regard to Jazz at third, I hope ARod or someone is working with him on the switch this offseason.
Yeah, good luck to Gleyber, but I think we know what the team looks like when he's on it. His late season surge leading off was really nice, but I don't think they can depend on him. If Durbin's tools are as good as they look, and honestly, what I'm likely most from his BRef page is that he doesn't seem to strike out a lot (though of course the speed is wonderful too), then give him a chance. Seems unlikely that his defense at 2B would be even worse than Gleyber's.
Admittedly, part of that assessment is that at soon-to-be 28yo, Gleyber is going to get some multi-year offers that while not at elite numbers, will be a lot more than what I want the Yankees doing. If the Yankees were willing to consider keeping him on a super short deal they should have given a QO.
Edit: and if they want more consistent offense in the IF beyond whatever they do at 1B, then fuck, go get Bregman even though it will be almost certainly an overpay, move Jazz back to second and maybe give Durban a chance at utility IF and see if he can hit better than Peraza.
Admittedly, part of that assessment is that at soon-to-be 28yo, Gleyber is going to get some multi-year offers that while not at elite numbers, will be a lot more than what I want the Yankees doing. If the Yankees were willing to consider keeping him on a super short deal they should have given a QO.
Edit: and if they want more consistent offense in the IF beyond whatever they do at 1B, then fuck, go get Bregman even though it will be almost certainly an overpay, move Jazz back to second and maybe give Durban a chance at utility IF and see if he can hit better than Peraza.
I'm going to be pissed if the Yankees are seriously in on Teoscar Hernandez as rumors seem to indicate. He's terrible in the OF and LF in Yankee Stadium would be a disaster. Not sure he can do it at all and we'd end up seeing him in RF, Judge back in CF and Dominguez learning LF.
I have seen some Toescar Hernandez rumors floating out there. Any chance he can play a (subpar) LF?
In 206 games in 2023-24 in the minors and the ArFL, Durbin has 117 SBs with just 15 CS, with 110 BBs to just 71 Ks.
Durbin turns 25 in February and had 375 PAs in AAA last year, he could certainly grab the job in spring training if NY hasn't added anyone.
https://www.mlb.com/player/caleb-durbin-702332?stats=career-r-hitting-minors&year=2024
Also absolutely not saying he will be Rookie of the Year or even definitely get 50 PAs for NY, but I am saying that it is pretty fucking stupid if he played 162 games at 2B and actually won the ROY, NY again would not get an extra pick because he was not deemed to be a top 100 guy. I get that the players agreed to that but man that whole system needs to be re-examined in the next CBA.
Durbin turns 25 in February and had 375 PAs in AAA last year, he could certainly grab the job in spring training if NY hasn't added anyone.
https://www.mlb.com/player/caleb-durbin-702332?stats=career-r-hitting-minors&year=2024
Also absolutely not saying he will be Rookie of the Year or even definitely get 50 PAs for NY, but I am saying that it is pretty fucking stupid if he played 162 games at 2B and actually won the ROY, NY again would not get an extra pick because he was not deemed to be a top 100 guy. I get that the players agreed to that but man that whole system needs to be re-examined in the next CBA.
After some research on this, I think he was bad early in his career and has worked hard to improve to just a bit negative in DRS the last three seasons for three different teams (Soto by comparison was 0 last year in the small NY RF). He's definitely much better defensively than Santander, who borders on unplayable.
That’s comforting. I saw somewhere that the hang up was that the Dodgers were only willing to go three years. Four years kind of scares me.
The trade ones for guys with a year or two left make no sense to me, NY doesn't have the excess prospect capital that they should be moving for guys like Crochet or Kyle Tucker.
The FA ones I'm more open to, they need to fill some holes and they do have money to spend.
I have to admit, getting Tucker now would be pretty damn exciting. Especially if the Yankees could extend him or if working with him for a year would give them an advantage to resign him.
But I know it isn’t going to happen and probably shouldn’t anyway.
But I know it isn’t going to happen and probably shouldn’t anyway.
This is where I am at also. All things being equal, he seems to be the best fit.
That's bonkers.
On that note though...when do you guys think Judge will start to decline? He'll be nearly 33 when this season begins.
Ha. But seriously, what's your guess? Will he continue putting up +1.000 ops numbers at age 35? 37?
Again, I don't think there's any way to answer that until he shows some sign of decline and he literally just had his best season yet.
He really is a marvel. You're lucky to have him. I was in the Alaska Baseball League in the summer of 2011 with my son, working with one of the teams, and Judge played that summer for the Glacier Pilots. No clue who he was at the time.