Veteran Free Agents That Could Possibly Put The Yankees Over The Top
As we turn away from the pandemically fractured baseball season of 2020, everyone in the baseball community is turning their sights on the free agency market that could possibly impact teams in the upcoming 2021 season.
As always, you already know I am personally interested in what moves the the New York Yankees will be making in their offseason. Like any other teams’ fanbase, followers want elite athletes manning each position on the baseball diamond. As a Yankee fan, I know I want star studded athletes playing at each of the positions on the team.
I think I can speak for everyone in the Yankee fan universe when I say, “The resigning of DJ LeMahieu is and MUST be a top priority. In the grand scheme of things, the current team that the Yankees are rolling with on the major league roster is a great one on paper, it is just a matter of consistent execution. The way I see it is, aside from one game-breaking starting pitcher (and LeMahieu), the Yankees really don’t have to make a whole lot of transactions.
With that being said, I think it is safe to say that everyone would agree with the a few veteran additions that would address key needs on the offensive and defensive. When it comes to does two needs, I know I am speaking for my entire Yankee family when I say, “DJ LeMahieu is a veteran asset and instrumental factor to what the Yankees are trying to accomplish.”
Aside from LeMahieu, who practically can play anywhere in the infield, the Yanks NEED some infield depth on their major league roster. Other than the infield, Cashman and Hal Steinbrenner need to do what they can to plug the holes they have on the starting pitching front and possible help behind home plate. It is has become an unfortunate reality, but beside the constant starting pitching issues that this team that gone through, the catching position has become more than a thorn in the organization’s backside. It is sad to say, but Gary Sanchez was once a force to be reckoned with on the defensive AND offensive side of diamond, but now I see him as a shell of his former kraken self.
Looking in from the outside at the Yankees’ organization, I think there may be a number veteran athletes that could be added to the current quad to help the overall team in the upcoming season. After all, the yearly goal for this ballclub is to make a push for a shot at the World Series and it is important to note back in 2009 when the Yanks won their 27th championship, that roster wasn’t lacking eccentric veteran voices.
Currently, the way it is looking, the Yanks want LeMahieu back and it seems that the feeling is mutual on DJ’s part, but like everything in business, the price tag has to be what both parties want. I have no doubt that DJ will choose the Yankees as his 2021 landing spot, but until that happens, lets take a look at the other possible options the Bronx Bombers have on the open free agent market for other positions that the team needs to address.
I could see these three guys wearing pinstripes in 2020. Again, these are my predictions, not anything pertaining to MLB trade rumors. So without any further delay, lets get down to it:
- A Possible Reunion With The ToddFather
I am just playing around with this idea of actually reuniting Todd Frazier with the Yanks, but assuming that Tyler Wade would be kept around for the depth of the middle infield, they’re going to need some reinforcements at the hot corner. After all LeMahieu probably isn’t going to want to keep switching positions frequently, even though he is a stellar performer where ever he plays on the diamond.
In 2017, the Yanks had Frazier for a short 66 games (and a playoff run to the ALCS) after coming over in a trade with the White Sox. Watching him play that season made it clear that his veteran presence played a role in helping this team beat the odds. I got to say, it was fun watching him in Game 5 of the that ALDS series the Yankees played against the Indians in Cleveland.
For the short 66 game stent that the Toms River native spent with the Yanks (and a playoff run to the ALCS), after coming over in a trade with the White Sox, he had a sure-fire impact on the way the Yankees played ball. An example of one part of his game that made or broke the way he impacted the way the Bronx ball club did against the opposition was his baserunning in Cleveland which helped lift the Yankees in Game 5 of the ALDS. From a fan’s point-of-view, I was impressed to see another pinstriped veteran other than Gardy play the game with grit and passion.
I wouldn’t mind having the ToddFather back in the Bronx again. After all he is your classic “Jersey guy”. In my opinion, he is one of the few veterans that actually can fit the unique Yankee culture.
2. Jon Lester?
Hmmm….all Yankee fans know by now that the starting rotation is an organizational issue that hurts us in big games. Pitching, Pitching, PITCHING!!! It is what wins ball games, in my opinion, and at the moment with the exception of the Tanakas and Coles of the Yankee universe, the current starting rotation could use another big arm. I want to believe that out of all the pitchers in upcoming free agent class, Jon Lester would make the most sense as another veteran pitching piece, but what would be the cost and what exactly would his role be with the club. Now I know Steinbrenner and Cashman are going to be in the free agent market for starters, but Lester would be an intriguing piece to have as a bullpen asset. I believe he would make sense only as a cheap one year deal piece, as he would serve as the balancing force of a right handed heavy starting rotation with his hard throwing left hand.
It is worth noting that the Cubs have tried to relieve him of pressure in trading for Jose Quintana and signing Yu Darvish, but Quintana never worked out and Darvish was a late-bloomer, not performing until this past season. So the way I see it is, get him as a mentor, alongside the Cole Train to help the youths you have in the cusp of the starting rotation role. With Gerrit Cole and Lester at helm of the starting rotation, I have no doubt that young arms like Jordan Montgomery, Deivi Garcia, and Clarke Schmidt would benefit from the two elite pitchers’ mentorship. There is a possibility that if Cashman were to actually give the role to Lester, it could possibly help the veteran get back to his inning eating ways. That would be something to see, especially because Lester has not been that strikeout artist that fans know him to be since 2016.
Now those of you that know me, you know that I am a Yankee fanatic that doesn’t care for the Mets or the Red Sox, so you know I want a possible Lester acquisition to actually happen. Wouldn’t that be something!?! Now, if that could actually become a real conversation among Cashman and Lester, I could see the lefty being intrigued by the idea. Lets just say it were to happen and the 36 year old lefty found his pitching mechanics again, I know I would be laughing and bragging to all my Red Sox friends because we would have a former Red Sox vet to push us to a World Series birth. Man, oh, man; what a way that would be for Lester to show up the Sox for trading him. I know I wouldn’t mind having another southpaw veteran pitching for us, whether he fills a roll in the stating rotation or contributes as a pen piece.
3. Resolving The Catching Issue
With Sanchez being a shell of his former self (player wise), who can we turn to for help at the backstop position? From my point of view, I have supported Kyle Higashioka as the better catcher compared to the current state of Sanchez. By now, the conversation of the Yankees’ catching position has been discussed over and over, but I think we need a fortified veteran at the backstop. With that being said, Yadier Molina has to be the catcher that Cashman targets this upcoming season. As far as the backstop position across baseball, I want to believe that during this era of baseball, Yadi has got to be one of the most decorative and most skilled players at the position. I would even go as far as to say, “He has got to be ranked #1 at his position, and I don’t normally talk up other teams’ players, but Sanchez isn’t who he use to be when he was first brought up by the Yankees organization.
While with the Cardinals, Yadi did more than take on the role of the backstop, he became a clubhouse leader and the fact that he was outspoken, well that was the very reason why the Cards paid him the big bucks during the last few season, but now he is a free agent prized catcher for the 2021 season. I am probably not the only one thinking this, but Yadi would most likely solve the team’s problems with Gary Sanchez behind the plate. Molina would be able to play a huge role in mentoring the young rotation and his desire to play two more seasons fits the Yankees’ championship window.
I want to say that out of everyone I am talking about today, Yadi has got to be the most expensive option on the free agency market. All things considered, we could essentially get Molina into pinstripes and give him one last shot at a championship run before he hangs up his baseball cleats and heads down the retirement path. By far, I think he would be worth every Yankee dollar because he would provide an aggressive contact bat and lets not forget that he has racked up a lot postseason experience behind home plate, which is obviously what the Yankees need right about now.
The Pinstriped Baseball Lane 