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Tag: YANKEES
Yankees sign starting pitcher with 15 years of MLB experience
The New York Yankees have made a major move to bolster their pitching rotation by signing a veteran starting pitcher with 15 years of MLB experience. This seasoned pitcher brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the team, and is sure to make a significant impact on the Yankees’ quest for a championship.Stay tuned for updates on this exciting signing and how it will shape the Yankees’ pitching staff for the upcoming season. #Yankees #MLB #PitchingDepth
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Yankees sign ex-Met Carlos Carrasco to add more pitching depth
The Yankees are sampling a Cookie to bolster their starting pitching depth.
The club signed former Mets right-hander Carlos Carrasco to a minor league deal, The Post confirmed on Monday.
If Carrasco reaches the majors, he will earn a $1.5 million base salary with a chance to make up to $2.5 million in performance bonuses, The Post’s Joel Sherman reported.
The Yankees have signed former Mets pitcher Carlos Carrasco to a minor league contract. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Carlos Carrasco returned to the Guardians last year after spending the first 12 years of his MLB career with them. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Carrasco, who turns 38 in March, posted a 5.64 ERA across 21 starts and 103 ⅔ innings for the Guardians last season.
In three seasons with the Mets from 2021-23, the veteran pitched to a 5.21 ERA across 61 starts.
Taking a flier on Carrasco gives the Yankees another arm to provide depth for their rotation.
They already have six starters for five spots if everyone stays healthy, which has made Marcus Stroman a trade candidate if the Yankees can find a taker for him.
Beyond Stroman and their projected rotation of Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil, the Yankees have depth starters Will Warren, Clayton Beeter (if he does not become a reliever), JT Brubaker and Allan Winans on their 40-man roster.
The New York Yankees have made a big move to bolster their pitching staff by signing former New York Mets pitcher Carlos Carrasco. The veteran right-hander brings a wealth of experience and talent to the team, adding another reliable arm to their rotation.Carrasco, who spent the last nine seasons with the Mets, has consistently been one of the top starters in the league. Known for his impressive command and ability to keep hitters off balance, he will be a valuable addition to the Yankees’ pitching staff.
With the addition of Carrasco, the Yankees now have even more depth in their rotation, giving them a formidable group of starters to rely on throughout the season. This move reinforces the team’s commitment to building a strong pitching staff and competing for a championship in the upcoming season.
Fans can look forward to seeing Carrasco take the mound in pinstripes and contribute to the team’s success on the field. His presence will undoubtedly make the Yankees an even more dangerous team to face in the American League.
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Carlos Carrasco Minor League contract with Yankees (report)
Veteran right-hander Carlos Carrasco agreed to a Minor League deal with the Yankees, according to a report from the YES Network’s Jack Curry on Monday. The team has not confirmed.
Carrasco, who turns 38 in March, went 3-10 with a 5.64 ERA in 21 starts in 2024 for Cleveland, where he’d played his first 11 seasons before being traded to the Mets prior to the 2021 campaign.
Carrasco has a career record of 110-103 with a 4.14 ERA in 15 seasons for the Guardians and Mets. His best season was 2017, when he won a career-high 18 games — tying three other pitchers for the Major League lead — and finished fourth in American League Cy Young Award voting. As recently as 2022, he won 15 games for New York.
According to recent reports, the New York Yankees have signed former Cleveland Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco to a minor league contract. Carrasco, who has been a reliable starter for the Indians for several years, will now have the opportunity to compete for a spot in the Yankees’ rotation.This signing comes at a time when the Yankees are looking to add depth to their pitching staff, especially with the uncertainty surrounding several key pitchers due to injuries. Carrasco, known for his strong command and ability to generate strikeouts, could provide a much-needed boost to the team’s rotation.
While Carrasco will initially start in the minor leagues, there is a possibility that he could be called up to the major league squad if he performs well and the team has a need for his services. Yankees fans will surely be keeping a close eye on Carrasco’s progress as he works his way towards potentially making an impact at the big league level.
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Yankees Checked In On Enrique Hernandez, Yoan Moncada
As the Yankees continue to looking for infield help, the team has shown some degree of interest in Enrique Hernandez and Yoan Moncada, the New York Post’s Mark W. Sanchez writes. Moncada may or may not still be on the Yankees’ radar whatsoever, as Sanchez writes that the club asked for Moncada’s medicals “early in the offseason,” but a source says “the Yankees have [since] not re-engaged” on the former White Sox third baseman.
This isn’t the first time that the Yankees have been linked to Hernandez, as New York was a finalist for the veteran utilityman’s services when he was a free agent last winter. Hernandez instead re-signed with the Dodgers to a one-year, $4MM deal, and the decision paid off in the form of another championship ring. The Yankees got a direct look at Hernandez during the postseason, when he hit .278/.316/.389 over 20 plate appearances during the Dodgers’ five-game triumph over the Bronx Bombers in the World Series.
There hasn’t been any public buzz about Hernandez’s free agent market this offseason, which could be due to the perception (as Sanchez notes) that a reunion with the Dodgers is inevitable. Los Angeles could be waiting until Spring Training opens and roster space can be created when players are shifted to the 60-day injured list, but until that happens, another team could theoretically be able to swoop in and make Hernandez a more attractive offer.
For instance, New York could offer Hernandez more playing time than he might find on the crowded L.A. roster. The right-handed hitting Hernandez could complement Jazz Chisholm Jr. or Cody Bellinger (both left-handed bats) on the infield or in center field, or complement the switch-hitting Jasson Dominguez in left field. Hernandez’s versatility gives the Yankees even more flexibility in figuring out Chisholm’s eventual position at either second base or third base, and in deciding how DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Oswald Peraza all fit into the roster picture.
Hernandez’s offense has tended to ebb and flow over the course of his 11-year MLB career, balancing out at a .238/.308/.405 slash line and 93 wRC+ over 3896 career PA. Come October, however, Hernandez has surged to hit .278/.353/.522 in 259 postseason PA with the Dodgers and Red Sox, earning the 33-year-old a reputation as a big-game player. This kind of production from an unheralded spot on the roster could be just what the Yankees need to take that final step towards another title after falling short to Los Angeles this past season.
Moncada hasn’t played second base since the 2018 season, so he would more directly slot into the third base mix if he indeed ended up in New York. Sanchez’s note about the Yankees’ seeming lack of follow-up about Moncada might indicate that the Bombers were simply doing a due-diligence ask and have since moved onto other targets. The Mariners, Cubs, and Blue Jays are among the clubs who have also been linked to Moncada this offseason, as he begins a new chapter in his career after the White Sox declined their $25MM club option on the infielder last fall.
Chicago’s decision came as no surprise given how Moncada played in only 12 games in 2024 due to a left adductor strain, though that total could’ve been bumped up by a few games had the White Sox not sparingly used Moncada after he was activated from the 60-day injured list in mid-September. It marked a tough end to an up-and-down eight-season run for Moncada on the South Side, as he hit .254/.332/.425 over 3122 PA in a White Sox uniform. Much more was expected given Moncada’s past status as an elite prospect, and the five-year, $70MM extension he signed with the Sox prior to the 2020 season.
Now looking to rebuild his value after a few injury-marred seasons, Moncada might have to settle for a minor league contract given this increasingly late date in the offseason, or a low-cost one-year guarantee. The amount of interest Moncada has received indicates that multiple teams believe he might have some change-of-scenery potential once removed from what became an increasingly dismal situation in Chicago.
The New York Yankees have reportedly checked in on utility player Enrique Hernandez and infielder Yoan Moncada as potential trade targets. Hernandez, known for his versatility and postseason heroics with the Los Angeles Dodgers, could provide a valuable depth piece for the Yankees as they look to bolster their roster for another playoff run. Moncada, on the other hand, is a young and talented infielder with the Chicago White Sox who could potentially be a long-term solution for the Yankees at third base. It remains to be seen if the Yankees will make a move for either player, but their interest is certainly worth keeping an eye on as the trade deadline approaches.
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Yankees News: Kiké Hernández, Yoan Moncada considered for infield
MLB Trade Rumors | Mark Polishuk: While the Yankees’ brass continues to tell us that they feel comfortable heading into the season with DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Oswald Peraza as the principal options to start at third base, the team remains engaged with a number of infielders. The latest pair to land on the Yankees’ radar are Kiké Hernández and Yoan Moncada a day after one of their other options was taken off the board, Jorge Polanco signing a one-year, $7.75 million contract to return to the Mariners.
Hernández won a World Series with the Dodgers as the team’s postseason center field starter after signing a one-year deal in the previous offseason as a super utility player. He has experience playing every position except catcher with center and second base his most frequent landing spots. The Yankees were finalists for his signature last winter before he returned to the Dodgers, and he slashed .229/.281/.373 with 12 home runs, 42 RBIs, an 83 wRC+ and 0.7 fWAR in 126 games (393 PA) before turning it on in the playoffs. (For more on Kiké, check out Estevão‘s free agent target article here.)
It was hoped that Moncada would form part of the foundation of a White Sox window of contention that never materialized. The former top prospect missed all but 12 games in 2024 with a strained adductor muscle and has dealt with injury his whole career, appearing in more than 130 games just three times in a nine-year big league career. Interested teams are hoping they can tap into the talent that made him an almost four-win player as recently as 2021, but three straight years of injures have clouded the future of a player entering his age-30 season. (For more on Moncada, check out John’s free agent target article here.)
New York Post | Greg Joyce: Part of the reason the Yankees are shopping in the discount bin to fill their infield vacancy is Hal Steinbrenner’s desire to dip below the $301 million luxury tax threshold. However, the team maintains that they are unable to sign a player even of Hernández’s or Moncada’s ilk until they find a trade partner for Marcus Stroman and his $18 million salary for 2025. Joyce throws out three possible teams who could facilitate a swap, either based on need or as part of a bad contract swap.
He wondered if the Padres would take on Stroman in exchange for Luis Arraez, which doesn’t make much sense given San Diego’s similar desire to shed payroll this winter. He revisited a possible trade with the Cardinals for Nolan Arenado, but again, this doesn’t make much sense given Arenado has three years and $74 million left on his deal which would increase rather than pare back New York’s payroll. Finally, he identified the Marlins and their MLB-low $83.9 million payroll as well as a thin and injury-affected rotation of Sandy Alcantara, Ryan Weathers, Edward Cabrera, and Max Meyer.
NJ Advance Media | Max Goodman ($): It is hard to understand why the Yankees feel that LeMahieu is a tenable solution to the third base vacancy, but Aaron Boone insists that the poor results of the last two seasons are due to injury rather than age-related decline:
“I think a lot of people are counting out DJ. It wasn’t long ago when DJ was one of the best hitters in the American League. I just want to remind people that the reason he hasn’t is because he’s not been healthy. With health, we think there’s that great hitter still in there a little bit.”
Citing a batting title won five years ago is perhaps not reflective of the player LeMahieu is at this point, and it would take quite a feat for a player who turns 37 before the All-Star break to rebound from an 85 wRC+ over the last two seasons.
MLB Trade Rumors | Mark Polishuk: The Yankees took a player to arbitration for the first time since Dellin Betances in 2017, with Mark Leiter Jr. filing at $2.5 million and the team filing at $2.05 million. The arbitration panel ruled in favor of the Yankees which is no surprise given the way that saves tend to be value for relievers in these hearings. Leiter struggled after joining the Yankees from the Cubs at the Trade Deadline, with a 4.98 ERA and six home runs allowed in 21.2 innings but recorded some huge outs in the postseason to set him on a positive trajectory heading into the 2025 season.
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: Just days after officially being announced as the next voice of the Yankees on the radio, Dave Sims visited Bill White to pay homage to a man who blazed a trail for many broadcasters to come after him:
“What a great day. Visited with one of my heroes, the great Bill White. What a career in baseball as a World Series champion, All-Star, Gold Glove 1B, outstanding Yankees broadcaster and NL president. He should be in the Hall of Fame as a broadcaster. And, to think he originally wanted to be a doctor. His time with Phil Rizzuto on the Yankees broadcasts were terrifically entertaining & memorable… It was just great to see him. He just turned 91. I told him, ‘You were the first Black guy that I saw do sports on TV. Thanks for paving the path for me.’ He said, ‘Get out of here, come on. You did it yourself.’ I said, ‘No, I’ll tell you what, seeing you do that was certainly inspiration.’”
White became the first African-American to be named regular play-by-play announcer for a major-league sports team when he joined Phil Rizzuto and Frank Messer in the booth in 1971 and would go on to call Yankees games for 17 years before becoming President of the National League from 1989 to 1994.
In the latest Yankees news, there are reports that the team is considering Kiké Hernández and Yoan Moncada as potential additions to their infield. Both players are versatile infielders who could provide a boost to the team’s defense and offense.Hernández, who is currently a free agent, is known for his ability to play multiple positions, including second base, shortstop, and outfield. He has a solid bat and brings a lot of energy to the field, making him a valuable asset for any team.
Moncada, on the other hand, is currently with the Chicago White Sox but has been rumored to be available for trade. The young Cuban infielder has shown flashes of brilliance at the plate and has the potential to be a star player in the league.
It remains to be seen if the Yankees will make a move for either Hernández or Moncada, but their interest in these talented infielders is certainly intriguing. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
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Texas Rangers Add Pitching Insurance in Blockbuster Trade Proposal With Yankees
The Texas Rangers have been one of the busiest teams in baseball during this offseason.
After winning the World Series in 2023, they fell woefully short of expectations in 2024, leading to general manager Chris Young looking to shake things up this winter. His goal was to make upgrades to avoid another letdown.
To this point, the moves that have been made should have the Rangers in position to compete for the American League West title.
Their bullpen has been revamped, as reinforcements were needed with Kirby Yates, David Robertson and Andrew Chafin all hitting free agency. But, none of their acquisitions have much late-game experience, so bringing back Robertson would make a lot of sense.
In the lineup, the team was looking for some more pop. They addressed that need by trading for Jake Burger in a deal with the Miami Marlins and signing Joc Pederson in free agency.
Both provide a lot of home run potential and deepen what was already a strong lineup.
If the Rangers receive better luck in the injury department this year, they should once again be contenders in the American League.
While some of their key contributors in the lineup battled ailments in 2024, where they truly need that luck is on the pitching mound.
Texas is relying on Jacob deGrom and Tyler Mahle to return to form in 2025 after combining to make six starts last season. Youngsters Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter could round out the rotation behind the two veterans and Nathan Eovaldi. Cody Bradford should be in the mix as well.
It certainly wouldn’t hurt to add some insurance to the roster, which they could do in a trade with the New York Yankees.
Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report has proposed an intriguing deal that would help both teams address weaknesses on their respective rosters.
Marcus Stroman, prospect Rafael Flores and cash would head to the Rangers in exchange for infielder Josh Smith.
If fans of either team are having some deja vu, it is because they made a deal involving Smith once already. Back in 2022, he was traded, along with Ezequiel Duran, to Texas in exchange for Joey Gallo.
Rarely do teams get a chance to essentially hit redo on a deal that didn’t pan out, but the Yankees could have a chance to do it here.
Smith was excellent in 2024, stepping into a starting role when Josh Jung was injured. Now that Jung is healthy and expected to take over at the hot corner again, Smith could become expendable.
No one would fault Texas for holding onto him as he presents excellent value as a versatile bench piece that can fill several holes. But, if they can add an established starting pitcher to the mix, really the only hole they haven’t addressed this winter, it would be hard to pass up.
Given that this is a salary dump for New York and Smith is a valuable player, the Rangers would get back a highly touted offensive prospect and cash to cover what could be $36.5 million in salary for Stroman.
Should he throw 140 innings in 2025, as it would trigger an $18 million player option in 2026 on top of the $18.5 million he is set to make this upcoming season.
The Texas Rangers have reportedly made a blockbuster trade proposal to the New York Yankees in an effort to bolster their pitching staff. According to sources, the Rangers are looking to acquire multiple pitchers from the Yankees in exchange for a package of prospects.The proposed trade would see the Rangers add much-needed depth to their rotation and bullpen, as they aim to compete for a playoff spot in the highly competitive American League. The deal would also provide insurance for the Rangers in case of injuries or underperformance from their current pitching staff.
While the details of the trade are still being worked out, it is clear that the Rangers are serious about improving their pitching staff and making a push for the postseason. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
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After losing outfielder Juan Soto via free agency, the New York Yankees have been busy reloading their offense for the 2025 season. There’s one final hole on the infield that needs to be filled, though. Could general manager Brian Cashman cross this item off his to-do list by trading for Texas Rangers infielder Josh Smith?
The Yankees selected Smith in the second round of the 2019 MLB Draft. MLB.com ranked him as New York’s 14th-best prospect during the 2021 season. However, Smith would never make it to the big leagues with the Yankees. He was part of the package the Bombers sent to Texas to acquire Joey Gallo at the 2021 trade deadline.
Smith made his MLB debut with Texas in 2022 as a 24-year-old. The 2024 season included career highs in games played (149) and plate appearances (592) while mostly playing third base. He hit .258/.337/.394 with 13 home runs, 30 doubles, 62 RBI, and 67 runs scored.
OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 26: Josh Smith #8 of the Texas Rangers bats during the game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum on September 26, 2024 in Oakland, California. The Athletics defeated the…
Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images
Could the Yankees reacquire their former prospect to complete their 2025 infield mix? Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter proposed the following hypothetical trade:
- Yankees receive: infielder Josh Smith
- Rangers receive: starting pitcher Marcus Stroman, catcher/first baseman Rafael Flores, and cash
“In hindsight, the New York Yankees clearly made a mistake when they traded Josh Smith and Ezequiel Durán to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Joey Gallo at the 2021 trade deadline,” Reuter wrote. “A do-over of sorts could now solve a glaring roster hole.”
Smith could fill in at third base and allow Jazz Chisholm Jr. to move back to second. But if the Bombers felt comfortable with Chisholm at the hot corner, Smith could simply take Gleyber Torres’ spot at the keystone. Smith isn’t arbitration-eligible until 2026 and is under team control through 2028.
More MLB: Is NL Rival Clearing Salary in Hopes of Stealing Pete Alonso From Mets?
In a surprising turn of events, the New York Yankees are rumored to be in talks to reacquire former top prospect, outfielder Clint Frazier, in a 3-player trade prediction. Frazier, who was traded to the Cleveland Indians in 2016 as part of a package for star reliever Andrew Miller, has struggled to find consistent playing time with the Indians and has been the subject of trade rumors in recent months.In this hypothetical trade scenario, the Yankees would send a package of prospects to the Indians in exchange for Frazier, along with a couple of other players to balance out the deal. This move would reunite Frazier with the team that drafted him and give the Yankees some much-needed outfield depth.
While nothing has been confirmed at this time, it’s clear that the Yankees are exploring all options to improve their roster for the upcoming season. Stay tuned for more updates on this potential trade as it develops.
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Yankees owner on Dodgers’ spending, Junior Caminero’s amazing championship performance | Baseball Bar-B-Cast
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The New York Yankees haven’t been quiet this offseason in regard to putting together a roster that they feel can hopefully get them back to the World Series in 2025. The same can be said for Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner this past week when he made a little noise himself, notably making comments about how the Los Angeles Dodgers have spent this offseason.
Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman discuss the noise that came from the Boss in the Bronx about how teams can’t spend like the world champs currently are and if these comments have something to do with the upcoming CBA talks that will surely focus on free agency and the way teams spend. They also talk about Hal selling the 2025 team as better than the 2024 club and whether the Yankees can actually put faith in a bounce-back season from Paul Goldschmidt and DJ LeMahieu.
Also on this episode of the Baseball Bar-B-Cast, the guys get into the incredible performance (and bat flip) by Junior Caminero from Game 7 of the LIDOM championship, including a feat that’s almost unheard of and how much better he can possibly get. Jake and Jordan also talk about Ha-Seong Kim and Carlos Estévez signing deals, as well as make their picks for The Good, The Bad & The Uggla.
(1:36) – The Opener: Hal Steinbrenner’s comments
(21:44) – Around the League: Ha-Seong Kim and Carlos Estévez sign
(33:18) – Turbo Mode: Recapping other transactions
(38:53) – Holy %^&*$#&%: Junior Caminero’s Game 7 performance
(52:08) – The Good
(55:26) – The Bad
(59:41) – The Uggla
Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports Follow the show on X at @CespedesBBQ
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Watch this full episode on YouTube
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In a recent interview, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner shared his thoughts on the Los Angeles Dodgers’ record-breaking spending spree this offseason. Steinbrenner expressed admiration for the Dodgers’ aggressive approach to building a championship-caliber team, but also emphasized the importance of financial responsibility in baseball.Meanwhile, on the field, Junior Caminero delivered an unforgettable performance in the championship game, leading his team to a thrilling victory. Caminero’s clutch hitting and stellar defense were instrumental in securing the title, earning him praise from fans and analysts alike.
Tune in to the latest episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast to hear more about Hal Steinbrenner’s take on the Dodgers’ spending, as well as a deep dive into Junior Caminero’s amazing championship performance. Don’t miss out on all the latest news and analysis from the world of baseball!
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The Yankees attended Max Scherzer’s recent workout. What does it mean?
Max Scherzer recently threw in a pitching workout at Cressey Sports Performance hoping to showcase the gas still left in the tank. The Yankees along with at least seven other teams sent scouts and were reportedly impressed by what they saw from the 40-year-old free agent. What should we make of the Yankees’ purported interest in the future Hall of Famer?
2024 Statistics: 9 games, 43.1 IP, 3.95 ERA (101 ERA+), 4.18 FIP, 4.04 xFIP, 8.3 K/9, 2.1 BB/9, 1.154 WHIP, 0.6 fWAR
2025 FanGraphs Depth Charts Projections: 23 games, 128 IP, 3.97 ERA, 3.98 FIP, 9.4 K/9, 2.3 BB/9, 1.170 WHIP, 2.1 fWAR
Previous Contract: Signed three-year, $130 million contract with Mets on December 1, 2021. Traded to Rangers along with $35.5 million in cash for Luisangel Acuña on July 29, 2023 and opted into $43.3 million player option as part of the deal.
There is no doubting that Scherzer has been one of the best pitchers of his generation and indeed of all time. His 3,407 strikeouts rank 11th in MLB history. He is one of 11 pitchers to win at least three Cy Young Awards and he is one of four pitchers with multiple Cy Youngs, multiple World Series rings, multiple no-hitters, and multiple All-Star selections. However, at 40 years old and coming off multiple injuries, it is increasingly uncertain which version of Scherzer will show up with each additional year he plays.
Scherzer managed to stave off decline far longer than most pitchers, but it appears Father Time has started to catch up with the righty in his age-38 and 39 seasons over the last two years. Through his first 15 seasons in the bigs, Scherzer pitched to a 3.11 ERA, 3.10 FIP, 3.28 xFIP, 29.5-percent strikeout rate, and just over 5.2 fWAR per 32 games. Over the last two seasons, his ERA sits at 3.81, FIP at 4.29, and xFIP at 4.02 while his 2.2 fWAR in 2023 represents the lowest total in an un-shortened season since his rookie year with the Diamondbacks in 2008. His average fastball velocity has declined by about two mph since originally signing with the Mets and he has seen his home run per nine rate jump from 1.01 to 1.61 despite a fly ball rate that has stayed relatively stable his whole career.
The truth is that the injuries are starting to pile up for Scherzer. He was shut down for the final three weeks of the 2023 regular season with a teres major strain, and though he made it back for three appearances in the postseason, he was again shut down with a back ailment (though he did manage to secure his second ring). Following the conclusion of the season, Scherzer underwent back surgery to repair a herniated disc, and recovery from this procedure as well as thumb soreness and a nerve issue in his triceps delayed the start of his season to June 23rd. The nerve issue continued to flare up which paired with arm fatigue caused more missed time before a hamstring strain ended his season early.
Even with this injury-related decline, Scherzer still represents a significant upgrade over Marcus Stroman, the current odd man out in the rotation. FanGraphs’ Depth Charts projection system estimates that each will pitch a similar inning workload but tabs Scherzer for 2.1 fWAR vs. Stroman’s 0.8. Stroman’s calling card includes the ability to limit walks and keep the ball in the park, two skills which regressed heavily in Yankee Stadium. Without those floor-raising attributes, Stroman has little if anything to offer ahead of Scherzer, the latter’s projected 25-percent strikeout rate, 3.97 ERA, and 3.98 FIP considerably better than Stroman’s projections.
The major stumbling block is cost. Fellow one-time Met teammate Justin Verlander just signed a one-year, $15 million deal with the Giants following a similarly injury-affected campaign. This suggests that Scherzer could match if not top that deal on the open market — both are the elder statesmen pitchers in the league yet it is clear teams still think they can tap into the reservoirs of talent that have made each a future first ballot Hall of Famer.
Given that the Yankees are actively trying to shed Stroman’s $18 million contract — deemed too steep for a sixth starter as they try to reallocate that money toward other parts of the roster — it is hard to see how Scherzer would fit into the Yankees’ rotation puzzle. They still do not have a left-handed reliever on the 40-man roster and currently intend on entering the season with DJ LeMahieu and Oswaldo Cabrera as the principal options to start at third base. Of course, one can never have too much pitching, especially when you look at the time lost to injury in 2024 for Gerrit Cole, Clarke Schmidt, and Luis Gil, but there are far more pressing issues than upgrading the sixth starter.
The Yankees’ mere presence at the workout indicates a base level of interest, but all else being equal I’d imagine Scherzer is returning for his age-40 season with the intention of signing with someone who can guarantee he will start every fifth day. Taking all this into consideration, I reckon we can file this one under the Yankees doing their due diligence … for now.
The New York Yankees attended Max Scherzer’s recent workout – could a signing be on the horizon?The Yankees sent a contingent of scouts and front office executives to watch free agent pitcher Max Scherzer showcase his skills at a recent workout. The three-time Cy Young Award winner impressed with his velocity, command, and overall pitching repertoire, leading to speculation that the Yankees could be interested in adding the veteran right-hander to their rotation.
Scherzer, who is considered one of the top pitchers in baseball, would be a significant addition to the Yankees’ pitching staff, which already features ace Gerrit Cole. With questions surrounding the health and performance of some of their other starting pitchers, signing Scherzer could provide a much-needed boost to the team’s rotation.
While no deal has been finalized yet, the Yankees attending Scherzer’s workout is a clear indication that they are serious about potentially adding him to their roster. Stay tuned for further developments as the offseason progresses.
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Yankees’ Steinbrenner admits it is difficult to compete with Dodgers financially
Yet, the Los Angeles Dodgers have outspent the Yankees and every other Major League team on their way to a $290 million payroll — the highest in baseball.
“It’s difficult for most of us owners to be able to do the kind of things that they’re doing,” Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said to YES Network’s Meredith Marakovits in an interview that aired Tuesday night.
The Yankees payroll doesn’t fall too far behind the Dodgers, sitting at $273 million. However once you factor in the competitive balance tax each team is currently projected to pay in 2025, the discrepancy grows.
The Dodgers have been over the MLB’s competitive balance tax threshold for four consecutive seasons, meaning they are required to pay a 50 per cent tax on all overages. Los Angeles is also nearly $50 million over the base threshold, adding an additional 42.5 per cent surcharge. As a result, the team is projected to pay a staggering total of nearly $370 million in payroll plus tax.
While the Yankees are also subject to the 50 per cent tax, their total salary only results in a 12 per cent surcharge, bringing their projected post-tax total to $291 million.
The same Forbes list ranked the Dodgers as the second most valuable MLB franchise — the two teams ranked fourth and 24th among all sports franchises, respectively. Forbes also valued the Yankees at $7.55 billion, and the Dodgers at $5.45 billion, last March.
“I wouldn’t say surprised, but I mean I really didn’t know what to expect, I didn’t know what was going to happen,” said Steinbrenner of the Soto talks. “I mean, Juan’s got a big family, they were all very involved, so there were a lot of different voices in his ear talking to him and giving him advice. I really just didn’t know. So I wouldn’t say I wasn’t surprised, I was certainly disappointed.”
The Yankees may have lost an American League MVP finalist who finished sixth in the majors in wins above replacement at 7.9, but they still have the 2024 AL MVP in Aaron Judge, and made significant additions around him.
“We’re excited about them,” said Steinbrenner. “A lot of hard work in December into January. Some people may disagree with me, but some people will agree with me — I think we have a better team than we did a year ago today.”
Replacing Soto’s prolific offensive production, including the best on-base percentage in baseball over the past five years, will be no easy feat. But the Yankees have added two former National League MVPs in Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt, who offer strong, albeit less consistent offensive profiles than Soto.
“Bellinger and Goldschmidt, I think they’ll make up for a good deal of Juan’s offence” Steinbrenner said.
The Yankees’ largest off-season expenditure is the eight-year, $218-million deal given to left-handed starter Max Fried. He will join a rotation that includes former Cy-Young winner Gerrit Cole and 2024 AL Rookie of the Year winner Luis Gil.
“The work ethic is impeccable from what I’ve heard. And (Fried’s) a great teammate,” said Steinbrenner. “I mean he’s everything we want in our clubhouse, over and above what he brings when he’s on that mound.”
New York also added elite closer Devin Williams via a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers. But as the dust settles, their $236 million total committed to players this off-season still pales in comparison to the $380 million in total money committed to free agents by the Dodgers.
“Now, we’ll see if it pays off,” Steinbrenner said of the high spending done by the Dodgers. “They still have to have a season relatively injury-free for it to work out for them, and it’s a long season, as you know, and once you get to the post-season, anything can happen. We’ve seen that time and time again. We’ll see who’s there at the end.”
New York Yankees’ owner Hal Steinbrenner recently acknowledged that it is a challenge for his team to compete with the Los Angeles Dodgers financially. Despite being one of the most successful and valuable sports franchises in the world, the Yankees are facing stiff competition from the Dodgers, who have one of the highest payrolls in Major League Baseball.Steinbrenner, who took over as the Yankees’ principal owner following his father George Steinbrenner’s passing in 2010, emphasized the importance of being smart and strategic with the team’s resources in order to remain competitive. He also expressed his admiration for the Dodgers’ financial strength and their ability to consistently field a competitive roster.
While the Yankees have historically been known for their willingness to spend big on star players, Steinbrenner’s comments suggest a more cautious approach in light of the financial realities of modern baseball. With the Dodgers setting the bar high in terms of spending and success, the Yankees will need to find innovative ways to stay competitive and continue their winning tradition.
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