First Pitch: Did the Yankees do enough this offseason to avoid another disappointment in 2023?
By Kevin Henry
Diving into the psyche in the Bronx
I asked Adam Weinrib, one of the co-experts at FanSided’s Yanks Go Yard site, for his thoughts on the offseason that was, and what it could mean for 2023 and beyond.
“As the voice of the often-scorned Yankee fan here, I feel like I have to stick up for the team a little bit before tearing them down: they have not gotten enough credit for signing Carlos Rodón. Not even close. Saying ‘this team’s rotation wasn’t a weakness in 2022’ isn’t fair; you know, as well as everyone else, that running out Rodón for Game 2 of a hypothetical playoff series is a massive upgrade over Nestor Cortes, as much as we all love what he brings to the table.
“Last year’s rotation was full of surprises, but lacked depth. 2023’s group takes the successful trio we witnessed last year and knocks them all down an advantageous peg to fit in a top-10 current pitcher in the game who is built for Yankee Stadium, when it’s rocking in October or sun-baked in May. He’s just a perfect addition and, you have to admit, he’s more than you thought they would find financial room for after signing Aaron Judge to his Yankee for Life Contract.
“That said … yes, it’s a pretty embarrassing stain on this offseason that they weren’t able to finagle a better left field option than Aaron Hicks. Outside of Daulton Varsho, though (who cost Gabriel Moreno, meaning he probably would’ve cost the Yankees Anthony Volpe), who would you want? Aging Michael Brantley, who chose Houston (as he always does)? Andrew Benintendi, who didn’t do much in a summer stint with the Bombers in 2022 and who everyone in the world believes will regress over the five-year length of that deal? If the Yankees had signed him and added another load to their payroll, their detractors would be equally loud today. Entering the season planning to ‘figure out’ left field midway through is no plan at all, but not a single option changed hands this winter who felt like a mortal lock to close the gap with the Astros.
“If closing the gap with Houston immediately was the only goal, then the Yankees took a proactive step forward with Rodón, but didn’t do enough. I would still power rank the Astros ahead of the Yankees entering this season, which, I guess, is the whole point of everything. That said, Rodón wasn’t just a minor upgrade to an area of strength, and the available left field options did not move me. With Judge signed long-term, this team also no longer has the innate pressure of ‘winning it all before he leaves. Dear God, he’s going to leave, we’re ruined.’ He’s here. They’re well-positioned for 2024 and ’25, with plenty of talent in the minor-league pipeline behind the current core.
“Oh, and silly me. I forgot. They did bring in their starting left fielder for May through July, and you probably didn’t notice: former Cubs outfielder Rafael Ortega, signed to a minor-league deal, who bats left and had a 121 OPS+ in 2021. You’ll see. Stone-cold lock. The Yankees might not be great at drafting, developing, or moving on from Aaron Hicks, but they’re great at that.”