The Yankees had another quick exit in the playoffs in 2020, and even though the 60 game season with no fans felt weird, it still hurt when they were eliminated.
It seems like a lifetime ago when the Yankees won a World Series, and enough is enough. It’s time for the Yankees to add another trophy to their collection. All the Yankee fans are tired of hearing that the Yankees season wasn’t a “failure.” Unless you win the World Series, the season was a total failure.
I’m sick and tired of being content just making the playoffs, and it’s clear the players are too. It’s time to spend some money, make some trades and bring the World Series trophy back to the Bronx.
Below is the ideal but realistic offseason for the Yankees:
1. Re-Sign DJ LeMahieu
- This doesn’t need to be said. It should be a no-brainer. DJ LeMahieu has been a top three player in baseball over the past two seasons. He’s coming off a year in which he won the batting title. Cashman should of already offered DJ whatever he wants. The longer it goes without DJ signed, the worse. Steve Cohen is sitting in Queens ready to offer DJ a huge contract, and if he goes to the Mets, Yankee fans will never forgive Cashman. Lock him up for four or five years. This has to be priority #1.
2. Trade for Francisco Lindor
- The Cleveland Indians star shortstop in on the trading block and he will be traded before the season starts. The Yankees have a great package they can offer the Indians, without losing any regular starters. The Yankees should offer Clint Frazier, Miguel Andujar, Luis Gil and a lower level prospect for Lindor. It would hurt to give up Frazier, because I think he will become an All-Star once he gets a chance to play every game, but you have to give up good players to get good players. This would leave five players for four spots in the Yankees infield, but injuries always happen, and Boone always likes to give players days off. It would be a good problem to have for the Yankees, and they should pull the trigger on a trade for Lindor.
3. Trade Gary Sanchez
- I don’t care what it’s for. Trade him for anything any team is willing to offer. I have given up on Sanchez, as have most Yankee fans who watch the games. He’s not a good baseball player. He’ll occasionally hit a home run in between four strikeouts. He’s lazy behind the plate, and clearly can’t call a good game either, because Gerrit Cole made sure Higashioka was his personal catcher half way through this past season. Sanchez will hit 30 home runs a year wherever he goes, but he does everything else poorly. He has an amazing arm, which can hide how bad he is behind the plate at times, but other than that his defense is poor. Trade him for a bucket of baseballs, or a huge pack of sunflower seeds. Whatever they need to do to assure Yankee fans that Gary Sanchez won’t be behind the plate for New York next year.
4. Sign Yadier Molina or James McCann
- If the Yankees do trade Sanchez, they will need another catcher. There aren’t many options in free agency, and James McCann might be a little bit of a dream, but he would be a perfect fit for the Yankees. McCann hit .289 and .273 in the past two seasons, and he’s an above average defensive catcher. He would be a perfect platoon option with Higashioka who deserves a chance to start after his great postseason last year. If not McCann, Yadier Molina would be a great option for the Yanks. Molina is a career .281 hitter and while he is getting up there in age, he’d be a perfect fit on a two year deal. His defense speaks for itself, and he’d be a great mentor to Higashioka and any other Yankee catching prospects.
5. Offer Paxton and Tanaka small contracts
- It’s important to notice that I only said “offer.” I’m not saying it’s a need that they re-sign one of if not both pitchers, but you must offer them both contracts. I would offer Tanaka a two year deal while offering Paxton a one year deal. Tanaka has been all the Yankees could of asked for and more since signing with them back in 2014. He has been a dominant postseason pitcher, and has embodied the word “ace” for this staff for the past seven years. He would be a great number four or five in the rotation and I would love to see him back for the next couple years. On the other hand you have Paxton, who if healthy has proven to be a dominant pitcher. Health is the question with him, and that’s why the Yankees should offer him a one year prove it deal to see if he can get back to his old form.
6. Sign one of Liam Hendriks, Brad Hand or Blake Treinen
- The Yankees need to take the approach that the Tampa Bay Rays take. Have a dominant bullpen with multiple pitchers you can pitch in any inning. Yankees already have a big three of Green, Britton and Chapman, but their bullpen would be a lot stronger if they can land one of the guys above. Hendriks would be the ideal option for New York as he has pitched to a sub two ERA in the last two seasons. If you had him to that bullpen, and hopefully get Ottavino back to his old self, the Yankees could once again have the best bullpen in baseball.
7. Re-Sign Brett Gardner as a depth outfielder
- Brett Gardner has been the epitome of what a Yankee looks like. He’s been awesome in his 13 year career with the Yanks. He is still an elite defender in the outfield, and could be very valuable as a fourth outfielder. The Yankees have to make it clear that he is their fourth outfielder and that he is no longer a starter. His bat has declined, but with his speed and his defense he can be valuable as a pinch runner or defensive replacement.
If all of this were to happen, most Yankees fans would be thrilled. This is the perfect offseason for the Bombers, and it is also very realistic.
I hope Cashman isn’t content and keeps trying to build this roster to make a World Series team. Again, it’s been way too long since the Yankees were in the World Series and with these moves, they could make it back.
Cam's Corner 