This story was excerpted from Bryan Hoch’s Yankees Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
NEW YORK -- There has been a fair amount of hand-wringing in recent weeks about the Yankees’ payroll, fueled by managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner’s remark that it would be “ideal” to come in lower than last year, when the club spent $319 million on a roster that won 94 games before bowing out early in October.
Yet these are still the Yankees, a team that can turn its wallet into a weapon. Opposing general managers know it, and so do agents. When Brian Cashman was asked recently if he’d be willing to add another nine-figure contract, the veteran general manager grinned.
“I would always do that,” Cashman said. “I’m good at spending money.”
As the Yankees prepare for next week’s Winter Meetings in Florida, some shopping is already done, with more to come. Trent Grisham is back in pinstripes, having accepted the $22.025 million qualifying offer, while Tim Hill and Ryan Yarbrough have re-signed to round out the pitching staff.
But there’s still much more to do.
“We had a good team last year,” Cashman said, “but it’s not the same team because of free agency. We’ll see where it all takes us.”
Club Needs
Though Cashman mentioned free-agent starter Michael King among the early calls he’s made, the primary focus appears to be in the bullpen. That group was uneven this past season, and free agency has already pulled Devin Williams and Luke Weaver to the open market.
New York's bullpen pitched to a 4.37 ERA, ranking 11th in the 15-team American League -- hardly what the Yankees envisioned after importing Williams and his celebrated "Airbender" changeup. The Yanks attempted to patch the 'pen on the fly, acquiring David Bednar and Camilo Doval, among others. Bednar was solid, posting a 2.19 ERA and 10 saves in 22 games, while Doval is a high-upside project.
The Yanks have voiced interest in re-signing Cody Bellinger, valued for his athleticism and versatility, though he’ll have no shortage of suitors coming off a strong season. They’ve also touched base with the representatives for Kyle Tucker, rating Bellinger and Tucker as the best available free-agent outfielders.
Infield help could be on the radar with Anthony Volpe set to miss the start of the season; as currently built, they’d have José Caballero or Oswaldo Cabrera as the Opening Day shortstop.
Potential Trade Candidates
Here’s a wild thought if the Yanks want to shake things up: Jazz Chisholm Jr. is entering his final season before free agency, and they’ve been lukewarm toward the suggestion of a contract extension. Coming off a season in which he belted 31 homers and stole 31 bases, Chisholm could bring a significant return.
A more realistic path could involve Jasson Domínguez or Spencer Jones, depending on how their pursuits of Bellinger and/or Tucker work out. Domínguez hardly played during the second half of last season, and no one benefits from having him ride the pine again.
It’s a similar story with Jones, who hit 35 homers with a .933 OPS last year in the Minors. There’s still swing-and-miss in his game (179 strikeouts in 438 at-bats), but Cashman admitted Jones would’ve already made his debut if he was with another organization.
Prospect to Know
Carlos Lagrange (No. 2) jumped in the prospect rankings this past season on the strength of a campaign in which he was 11-8 with a 3.53 ERA in 24 Minor League games (23 starts), striking out 168 batters in 120 innings.
A $10,000 find out of the Dominican Republic, the 6-foot-7 22-year-old right-hander hits triple-digits with his fastball and has improved his control. He could follow a trajectory similar to Cam Schlittler, whose strong second half included a dominant outing to eliminate the Red Sox from the American League Wild Card Series.
Rule 5 Draft
The Yanks added Jones, Elmer Rodríguez and Chase Hampton to their 40-man roster, thus shielding them from the Rule 5 Draft. Several ranked Pipeline prospects remain exposed: Henry Lalane (No. 9), Brock Selvidge (No. 10), Brendan Beck (No. 11), Jace Avina (No. 24), T.J. Rumfield (No. 25), Eric Reyzelman (No. 26) and Harrison Cohen (No. 30).
Burning Question
Aaron Judge has captured three of the last four American League MVP Awards, establishing himself as one of the most dangerous right-handed hitters the sport has ever seen. He is also the reigning batting champion. And when he says he would trade all of it for a World Series ring, it rings true.
After matching the Blue Jays for the AL’s best win total at 94, there is a temptation inside the organization to bring back most of the 2025 group. Club officials believe the gap between the Yankees and Toronto -- along with the Dodgers, now back-to-back champions -- is smaller than most outsiders think.
Do they actually have enough to reward Judge’s prime with a title? That will be the question hanging over everything they do in Florida.