5 moves the Yankees still need to make after signing Gerrit Cole

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 15: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Gerrit Cole #45 and Martin Maldonado #12 of the Houston Astros in action against the New York Yankees in game three of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 15, 2019 in New York City. The Astros defeated the Yankees 4-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

4. Sign Martin Maldonado

No one associated with the Yankees should be mad with Austin Romine for heading to the Tigers in search of regular playing time. It was time for him to find a new adventure. However, his departure does leave New York a little thin of catching at the major league level.

Some Yankees fans might want to see the team move on from Gary Sanchez, but there is zero chance of that happening this offseason. The options behind him in the organization are dicey though. Kyle Higashioka has gotten several cups of coffee at the big league level, but he’s a below-average option if required to start for a meaningful stretch of time.

Fortunately, the Yankees have an easy solution in free agency who can make their new ace very happy. Martin Maldonado isn’t a star, but he was Cole’s personal catcher with the Astros for long stretches of time. Bringing him to New York to fill a similar role in pinstripes would be a clever transaction by Cashman and his front office.

The Yankees aren’t going to offer him a big deal, but if Maldonado wants to win it makes a lot of sense for him to accept a one or two-year deal with the Yankees. Don’t look for him to make a decision soon, but don’t be remotely surprised if New York wins the race to sign him in the end. It’s one of those free agent transactions that just makes too much sense not to happen.

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