With Derek Jeter gone in retirement, the new-New York Yankees era is set to begin.
For the first time since the early 1990’s, Yankee Stadium has been without postseason baseball for consecutive seasons. With the “Core Four” all gone to retirement, the Yankees are getting ready to begin the next chapter in their franchise history: life without stars.
While the offseason used to include speculation on which top free agent the Yankees would sign and throw a lot of money at during the winter, this offseason has a bit of a new twist.
The Yankees aren’t keeping to their self-imposed $189 million cap, however according to the New York Daily News, the Yankees will not pursue any of the big three free agent pitchers – Jon Lester, Max Scherzer, and James Shields – nor will they go after free agent third baseman Pablo Sandoval of the World Series Champion San Francisco Giants.
Instead, the Yankees are trying to bring back their “new’ big names they acquired during the season last year in third baseman Chase Headley and right-hander Brandon McCarthy, and why not? All Headley did since arriving in the Bronx was hit .262 with six homers and 17 RBI in 58 games with the Yankees last year, including hitting a walk-off off of the plane in his Yankee debut and McCarthy went 7-5 with a 2.89 ERA in 14 starts with the Yanks after arriving in July.
Both Headley and McCarthy received second-winds in their respective seasons after arriving in the Bronx as both players were struggling with their previous teams. Headley was hitting just .229 in 77 games with the Padres while McCarthy was 3-10 with a 5.01 ERA in 18 starts with the Diamondbacks.
While McCarthy’s place with the Yankees makes his re-signing simple (he is projected to be the third or fourth starter in the rotation behind Masahiro Tanaka and Michael Pineda, also joining CC Sabathia), Headley’s situation is a bit more complicated. Despite Alex Rodriguez coming off his year-long suspension, Headley, should he re-sign with the Yankees, would still be slotted in as the starting third baseman with A-Rod being the team’s designated hitter. The Yankees also already extended a qualifying offer to closer David Robertson (4-5, 39 SV, 3.08 ERA, 96 K in 2014) worth $15.3 million, although Robertson is expected to decline, but has until Monday to make that decision and should Hiroki Kuroda (11-9 in 32 starts, 3.71 ERA, 146 K) decide to pitch in 2015, he can go anywhere he wants without the Yankees having to give up a compensatory pick.
Should Robertson not re-sign with New York, the Yankees still have a solid option at closer in AL Rookie of the Year finalist, hard-throwing right-hander Dellin Betances (5-0 in 70 app., 1.40 ERA, 1 SV).
The biggest move, and probably what is considered the top priority in the Bronx, is finding a solid replacement for Derek Jeter.
The Yankees could bring back Stephen Drew, hoping that he’ll return to his 2013 form with a full spring training and may also take a look at signing either J.J. Hardy or Hanley Ramirez should they not re-sign with Baltimore or Los Angeles, respectively.
Should the Yankees go with the veteran route outside of the organization, they could also look at Jimmy Rollins as a brief filler of sort while they explore other, younger, options and they could also look at Alexei Ramirez, who is just a few years younger than Rollins.
Then there’s the Diamondbacks Didi Gregorius, who would be a perfect fit as far as age and defense is concerned. He’s also a left-handed hitter, perfect for Yankee Stadium’s short porch.
With the D’Backs having a possibly better young prospect in Chris Owings, Arizona may be willing to trade Gregorius to New York if New York can convince them that they have ready-now bats in the minors.
Last year, the Yankees spent more than $450 million to bring in Tanaka, outfielders Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran and catcher Brian McCann. Over $450 million bought just 84 wins, 12 shy of Baltimore’s division winning 96. The last time the Yanks spent as much money was in the 2009 offseason when they brought in Mark Teixiera, CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett.
Then, they won the World Series, with a little help from the “Core Four.”
This time, Yankee Stadium saw another empty October with hopes of returning to postseason glory (or postseason anything) seem to be dwindling further and further away.
Maybe it is time to reconsider their winter approach. Maybe the days of “buying talent” should be like the “Core Four,” retired.
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