Yankees 2023-2024 offseason

[notin]

There will likely be some shuffling, not matter where each player plays the most.

 

I've always felt Dugo should be platooned, so maybe Dugo plays the bigger corner OF slot vs RHPs, only, and although Grisham bats LH'd, too, play him vs LHPs, so Judge can play RF some of the time.

 

Maybe, they do trade Dugo, but if they don't, I think they try to play him vs all RHPs.

 

You think every left-handed hitter should be platooned. Who exactly are they going to platoon Verdugo with?

[notin]

Maybe it's insurance policies for both Judge and Stanton.

 

The important thing is, now one of us gets to say "I told you so."

 

I could see having an insurance policy for Stanton/Judge.

 

But Verdugo was reportedly run out of Boston for his lack of hustle, tardiness, effort and failure to get on the same page as Cora. And all that happened when he was starting everyday and batting leadoff. Think those attitude issues disappear once he finds himself on the bench?

[Dipre]

You think every left-handed hitter should be platooned. Who exactly are they going to platoon Verdugo with?

 

I mean Grisham has reverse splits for his career....

[moonslav59]

You think every left-handed hitter should be platooned. Who exactly are they going to platoon Verdugo with?

 

I've already answered this. Although Grisham is also a lefty, I'd play him in CF vs lefties, and use him as a late inning defensive replacement late in games.

 

I do not think all lefties should platoon, but Dugo has sucked vs LH'ers.

 

.609 in '23 (.66 when a LH'er starts)

.693 in '22 (.550)

.554 in '21 (.615)

 

Out of the 150 batters with 350+ PAs vs LHPs since 2021, Dugo has the second worst OPS at .615 (only Miles Straw was worse.)

 

At what level do you suggest a left be platooned? The worst?

 

Out of 194 batters with 300+ PAs, he places 9th worst- just .002 from 6th worst.

Out of 250 with 250+ PAs, he places 19th worst. That's bottom 8%.

 

 

[moonslav59]

I mean Grisham has reverse splits for his career....

 

It's not even close:

 

.748 v L

.683 v R

 

He's way better than Dugo vs lefties.

 

Over the last 3 years he placed 97th worst out of 250 in OPS v L. (.751)

Dugo was 19th worst. (.615)

 

If that's not a worthy platoon, I ask, what is?

[dgalehouse]

The Yankees are expecting Dominguez , their top prospect, back at some point . That will give them more options.

[jacksonianmarch]

Dugo is a placeholder for Dominguez. Dominguez slots back into CF, Judge back to RF.

 

The Yanks missed out on Yamamoto, although at that price and with the draw of the West Coast, I don't think the Yanks would have won the bidding anyway. With the two biggest Japanese stars in the world on their team and the closest proximity to their homeland, I expect the Dodgers to be an auto sign for the next decade of Japanese stars should the Dodgers want them. Collectively, they just paid $1.075 billion for 2 players, 22 years of service.

 

Yanks need to pivot, although they don't have to go nuts. With Cortes back and Rodon seemingly healthy, the rotation is still solid after Cole.

 

1. Cole

2. Cortes

3. Rodon

4. Schmidt

 

With the trade of King, Vasquez and Brito, the Yanks have no MLB depth for the 5 slot or later. They will need to add a durable SP. I thought the Yanks would be the biggest suitor for Yamamoto, but now that he is gone, I think Montgomery is the next best thing. Guy has proven to be able to handle NY and he added a cutter that has made him deadly on right handed hitters. I have seen the Yanks in on Burnes for trade, but he will cost some of the prime position players we are trying to grow into roles on the big club. I think dipping back into the FA pool is the best way to do it. Adding Monty would make the Yanks very LH dominant in the rotation which helps in NY and he was known as a solid clubhouse guy which would help repair what has been broken since Cashman dealt him away

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

This just in, on the Yankees website aka MLB.com:

 

"Yanks to pivot to Plan B as Yamamoto heads to Dodgers"

 

... all the other clubs will pivot to Plan C or Plan D -- except the Red Flops (they'll stick with their sustained Plan F).

[bkzwhitestrican]

Monty will be an overpay wherever he goes, but he's probably the best option available since it won't deplete the farm and he has the track record of being able to pitch in NY.

[jacksonianmarch]

Monty will be an overpay wherever he goes, but he's probably the best option available since it won't deplete the farm and he has the track record of being able to pitch in NY.

 

If you have a solid option who has performed well in NY already, then you have to prioritize this. I don't want Snell. The guy is absolutely dominant when on, but is a headcase at times and that will be magnified in NY

[Meh]

I know they wouldn't do it, but I think the only good play is to sign Bauer. One year deal with a team option.

 

Bauer is no sure thing, but I think he could form a hell of a one two punch with Cole. He's a douchebag for sure, but I think he's grown up. Also the allegations of hitting a woman while having sex, have been investigated and nothing has come from it. It would be an elephant in the room. Is he a good guy in his personal life? Maybe not but are most athletes?

 

I also would love a reunion with Gio Urshela. He doesn't walk a lot, but his contact skills and putting balls in play are good and he was good for us under pressure. He could allow us to trade Torres.

[jacksonianmarch]

Urshela is needed because we don't know what Peraza can give and Lemahieu best fits in a part time role. I would rather bring in Urshela, send Peraza to AAA and have him come up and steal the job when Urshela or whomever gets hurt.

 

I like the Bauer idea, but he and Cole hate each other.

[jacksonianmarch]

Yankees to sign Stroman. While I think he is a bit of an egomaniac, he is a durable #2. This allows Cortes and Rodon to get their s*** straight. I like this better than getting Snell

[moonslav59]

Yankees to sign Stroman. While I think he is a bit of an egomaniac, he is a durable #2. This allows Cortes and Rodon to get their s*** straight. I like this better than getting Snell

 

Isn't just about every pitcher who is really good, somewhat of an egomaniac?

[bkzwhitestrican]

Stroman is probably more of a #4 starter than a 2 at this point in his career. Still better than what we had, but if he's our second best pitcher this season then things have probably gone wrong.

[jacksonianmarch]

What we missed after Cole was someone who could pitch well and do so for 20+ starts. I know Stroman had some hip and rib issues last year, but he’s generally been a durable starter. Plus, he keeps the ball in the yard, which is magnified in YS.

 

All in all, with who was out there, the only guy I’d go bonkers for was Yama. Once he went off the board, the trade market was littered with questionmarks (Cease, Bieber and Burns coming off rough seasons) and the other top FAs had consistency issues (JMont and Snell). Stroman isn’t winning a CY, but I bet he can be a 28-30 start, 165IP sub or at 4ERA starter. I’d put him after Cole in the rotation and allow Cortes and Rodon to have the heat taken off them. It’s a good add and probably the best one for the price and for what we needed

[Jasonbay44]

Plus the New York media will love Stromans twitter personality where he often causes drama by liking controversial tweets in the middle of the season, such as “we should eradicate white people” or “the holocaust isn’t real slavery.”

[jacksonianmarch]

Never said he wasn't a total idiot. We just need him to take the mound

[jacksonianmarch]

Seeing rumors of the Yanks being the top landing spot for Hader.

[jacksonianmarch]

As of right now, the Yanks offense is much more balanced.

 

With that said, I would not have Soto protecting Judge. I would have it the other way around. Soto's career OBP is .421. I would start the lineup like this

 

1. Soto LF

2. Judge CF

3. Rizzo 1B

4. Torres 2B

5. Verdugo RF

6. Lemahieu/Peraza 3B

7. Stanton DH

8. Wells/Trevino C

9. Volpe SS

 

If Volpe takes the next step, then he can move up. Should Dominguez return to the bigs as expected, he can push on either Verdugo or Stanton should they not be hitting well. Having Grisham as a late inning replacement for Verdugo, moving Judge back to RF makes us deeper. Either way, this offense makes more contact, gets on base more and just added lefty power in a stadium that caters to it.

 

SP1. Cole

SP2. Rodon

SP3. Stroman

SP4. Cortes

SP5. Schmidt

 

If Rodon and Cortes are healthy (big if on the former) then this rotation rocks. Schmidt had a big innings jump last year and faded at the end, but his stuff is nasty. He could move up the pecking order if he has a second year bounce. Stroman's add should help even out a rotation that saw no consistency last year beyond Cole and Schmidt.

 

CP: Holmes

SU: Loaisiga

SU: Kahnle

MR: Effross

MR: Hamilton

MR: Marinaccio

MR: Poteet

LR: Gomez

 

The Yanks still have a slew of AAA guys ready to step in, but the depth was hit with the Soto trade. Without Peralta, this is VERY RH dominant with the only lefty being a guy who pitches to contact in Ramirez. Relying on Kahnle is a fools errand as he hasnt been able to stay healthy since he had TJS 3 years ago. I love Holmes in this pen, but he may be best suited as a SU guy. Loaisiga is a beast. Effross returning helps. But I think the Yanks need to add a high end closer, which is why it was puzzling they let Hicks go to SF for such a reasonable deal. Rumor has it the Yanks are in on Hader, and he would fit perfectly into this VERY RH dominant pen.

 

All in all, the Yanks aren't done yet. It would not surprise me to see them make another deal for a pitcher or upgrade their offense in some way. Should they sign another starter, Schmidt could be a very enticing headliner of a trade package. But this team is deeper, more balanced and more durable than last year. The Yanks kept their position player prospects in place for either a deal later or to spell injuries. They are unusually thin in the pen right now.

[Bellhorn04]

Hal has definitely loosened up the purse strings.

[jacksonianmarch]

He didn’t have a choice. The luster of a WS victory 15 years ago has long since faded. He’s got the best offensive player and the best pitcher in baseball and they’re in window. You go for it

[moonslav59]

Your big issue will be injuries, as always.

 

35 LeMahieu

34 Stanton, Rizzo, Kahnle

33 Cole

31 Judge, Rodon, Trevino

 

Judge: since 2018, Judge has played over 112 games in just 2 of 6 seasons (2020: 28 out of 60.) His 3 worst seasons:

2020: 32/60 games missed

2019: 60/162 missed

2023: 56/162 missed

 

Rodon: After starting 28 games in 2016, he's been a mess.

GS/Possible GS

12/32 in '17

20/32 '18

7/32 '19

2/12 '20

24/32 '21

31/32 '22 (a pretty nice 2 year stretch of 55/64)

14/32 '23

Total: 110/204 (7 yrs)

 

Stanton played 2 full seasons in '17 and '18, but only played more than 110 gmes, once since then (139 in '21)

18/162 in '19

23/60 '20

139/162 '21

110/162 '22

101/162 '23

Total: 391/708 (5 yrs)

 

These three guys are pretty big keys to Yankee success.

 

[jacksonianmarch]

Stanton less so

Judge absolutely

Rodon will depend on the health of those around him. If Cortes and Stroman aren't healthy and Rodon is hurt, then I agree. If we get 4/5 of our rotation healthy and Rodon is in and out, we can survive

[jacksonianmarch]

I also think Judge has shed he "easily injured" tag associated with Stanton. He and Stanton were regulars on the IL for soft tissue injured 2020 and before. 21 and 22 he was VERY healthy and VERY good. Last year he ran into a fence, which falls into the s*** happens category.

 

Stanton will get hurt if you look at him the wrong way. Last year, he just never looked healthy. He is best served as the RH platoon partner for Verdugo and get some extra miles for him. He shouldnt be a FT player. Same can be said of Lemahieu. The guy finished 2023 well, but he is someone they should be subbing in and out with Peraza. If we see him play every day, he will break down or fade

[moonslav59]

I also think Judge has shed he "easily injured" tag associated with Stanton. He and Stanton were regulars on the IL for soft tissue injured 2020 and before. 21 and 22 he was VERY healthy and VERY good. Last year he ran into a fence, which falls into the s*** happens category.

 

Stanton will get hurt if you look at him the wrong way. Last year, he just never looked healthy. He is best served as the RH platoon partner for Verdugo and get some extra miles for him. He shouldnt be a FT player. Same can be said of Lemahieu. The guy finished 2023 well, but he is someone they should be subbing in and out with Peraza. If we see him play every day, he will break down or fade

 

You refuse to see the facts.

 

Last winter, you defended Rodon.

[notin]

I also think Judge has shed he "easily injured" tag associated with Stanton. He and Stanton were regulars on the IL for soft tissue injured 2020 and before. 21 and 22 he was VERY healthy and VERY good. Last year he ran into a fence, which falls into the s*** happens category.

 

Stanton will get hurt if you look at him the wrong way. Last year, he just never looked healthy. He is best served as the RH platoon partner for Verdugo and get some extra miles for him. He shouldnt be a FT player. Same can be said of Lemahieu. The guy finished 2023 well, but he is someone they should be subbing in and out with Peraza. If we see him play every day, he will break down or fade

 

Judge played 106 games last year. He’s only topped 112 games twice since 2017. And he’s in his 30s now, when most players start to break down. Also, he’s going to play a more physically demanding position this year.

 

He’ll have the occasional healthy season. Maybe in 5 years when Stanton is finally put to sleep and Aaron can DH. Until then, we’ll, enjoy Juan Soto this year…

[Bellhorn04]

Judge played 106 games last year. He’s only topped 112 games twice since 2017. And he’s in his 30s now, when most players start to break down. Also, he’s going to play a more physically demanding position this year.

 

He’ll have the occasional healthy season. Maybe in 5 years when Stanton is finally put to sleep and Aaron can DH. Until then, we’ll, enjoy Juan Soto this year…

 

One thing we can count on is that Soto will enjoy hitting against the Sox this year.

[notin]

One thing we can count on is that Soto will enjoy hitting against the Sox this year.

 

Soto enjoys hitting against everybody…

[Bellhorn04]

Soto enjoys hitting against everybody…

 

True, but we're in the same division and we have a rotation made up of mediocre RH pitchers, so we have a good chance of being a special favorite.