With the MLB Winter Meetings finishing up last Thursday, now is the time for teams to look at their rosters, evaluate the moves they made, and see where to go from here. There were some huge free agent signings, including Andrew McCutchen signing with the Phillies for 3 years/$50 million, Charlie Morton signing with the Rays for 2 years/$30 million, and Jeurys Familia going back to the Mets for 3 years/$30 million. Regardless of these moves, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado have yet to sign.
The Yankees were quite active at the meetings this year as expected, but they did not come away with as much as they had hoped.
The Marlins were active in their attempts to move star catcher J.T. Realmuto and the Yankees were very engaged in those discussions but not for Realmuto though. The Yankees became involved when the Marlins wanted more for Realmuto. So, the Yankees, Mets, and Marlins were engaged in a three team trade which would have sent Realmuto to the Marlins, prospects from the Yankees and Mets to the Marlins, and star pitcher Noah Syndergaard to the Bronx.
Talks were intensifying Tuesday night, or that is what looking Twitter would have made you think. In reality, the trade was never really close and was just one deal that the Marlins were discussing with a plethora of teams.
Below is my interview with Yahoo Sports baseball writer and top MLB reporter Jeff Passan.
The Yankees did come away with one big name free agent though, veteran left handed pitcher J.A. Happ. The Yankees signed Happ to a 2 year/$34 million deal, with a third year vesting option worth $17 million if he reaches 165 innings pitched or makes 27 starts in 2020. This move solidifies a Yankees rotation which added Mariners ace James Paxton earlier this offseason. When asked about how much the Yankees re-signing Happ impacts the chances of the Yankees getting another star pitcher, Passan said “I think once they recognized the prices were too high for them on those guys (Kluber, Syndergaard, Bauer) Happ was probably a good Plan B for them. So, I think they are satisfied with that and are going to put their money elsewhere and I think that’s where Manny Machado comes into play.”
The Yankees are still hoping to move Sonny Gray following a disappointing 2018 campaign in which he went 11-9 with a 4.90 ERA. This was not the Sonny Gray the Yankees expected to be getting when they traded multiple high-level prospects for somebody, who at the time, was advertised as an ace. The latest rumor is that the Yankees may trade Gray to the Cincinatti Reds along with another prospect for second basemen Scooter Gennett who batted .310 with 92 RBI’s last season. Although, there has not been much substance to these rumors.
So, where do the Yankees stand following the Winter Meetings? Well, according to Yankees reporter Bryan Hoch, the Machado to Yankees talk is very real. A report came out the other day saying that Machado wants to play in pinstripes, and if the money is right, then that is where he will sign. On the other hand, it could be said that if the money is right, then anybody could sign anywhere.
Certain people in baseball believe that the Yankees are indeed the front runners for Machado. When prompted to give a front runner, Passan replied with “I do not know who the front runners are at this point. I think the Phillies really want him. I think the White Sox certainly are in on him, but if I were handicapping the race right now, I think the Yankees are probably in the best position.”
The Yankees have a fairly solid rotation with Severino-Paxton-Tanaka-Happ-Sabathia and Jordan Montgomery coming back at some point late in the season. The bullpen has lost Zack Britton and David Robertson for right now, but they are hoping to add some more bullpen pieces back. Whether it is Robertson or Britton coming back, a reunion with Andrew Miller, or signing Adam Ottavino, it has yet to be seen.
We know the Yankees bats can produce runs, but they did not get the timely hits in the post season, nor do they have enough players who can hit for average. The highest (qualified) batting average on the Yankees last season was Miguel Andújar who batted .297. Scooter Gennett and Manny Machado would be great contact bats to add, especially Gennett being a lefty, but who knows what the Yankees front office’s plan is in regards to spending.
Overall, with the addition of Paxton and the re-signing of Happ, the Yankees rotation looks to be solid rotation, barring injuries. The bullpen is quite strong as it is right now, but bringing in another bullpen arm or two would truly solidify them as a top bullpen next season. The line-up desperately needs a contact bat, and if they do bring in Machado or Gennett, that would improve the depth of their lineup. If things work out as I outlined above, the Yankees will truly solidify themselves as one of the best teams in baseball once again, and maybe World Series favorites.
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