Yankees Primed for Huge Winter

After General Manager Brian Cashman’s fiery comments at the GM Meetings in early November, it was made abundantly clear that the Yankees need to be active to get back into the Postseason in 2024 after a disastrous 82-80 campaign in 2023. There have been reports that the Yankees are going into this winter with the same mentality as they did in 2008 and 2012, having huge off-seasons. The Yankees almost need to replicate that this winter.

Juan Soto we know is going to be traded this winter, most likely during the Winter Meetings in Nashville in early December. The Yankees have not only the assets but the leverage to trade for him. The Padres and Yankees have reportedly exchanged names for a potential deal, this is a good sign that negotiations will start to pick up soon. The Yankees can get a deal done without having to part with Shortstop Anthony Volpe or Outfielder and top Prospect Jasson Domínguez. Soto would be arguably the Yankees biggest trade acquisition since acquiring Alex Rodriguez. Soto without question would reignite fan interest in the team after a disappointing season. And that may not be all they do.

My mock trade for Soto:

NYY Gets: OF Juan Soto, INF Jake Cronenworth

SD Gets: RHP Michael King, OF Spencer Jones, RHP Chase Hampton, OF Everson Pereira, and RHP Will Warren

Is it a lot for a one-year rental? Yes. However, acquiring the best non-Ohtani hitter available is a fantastic move if it gets done. The Yankees will definitely have competition for Soto’s services, mainly the Seattle Mariners and Chicago Cubs are just two teams that are expected to make a play for Soto alongside the Yankees.

In addition to Juan Soto, the Yankees are reportedly one of the top suitors for NPB Ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Yamamoto, 25, just won his 3rd straight MVP in Japan. He’s slated to garner a contract north of $200 Million. He reportedly is also very interested in playing for the Yankees. We know the Yankees have sincere interest in him, as Brian Cashman travelled to Japan to see him, in which he threw a No-Hitter. The Yankees also purposely didn’t give out the number 18 last season for the sole reason of their pursuit of Yamamoto. The number 18 is revered as the number that ace’s wear, the Yankees will look to hand it right to Yamamoto if they sign him. I’d look for the Yankees to sign Yamamoto to an 8-Year $240 Million deal, slotting him right behind AL Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole in the Rotation.

Early in free agency, reports came out that the Yankees had mutual interest with OF Kevin Kiermaier. Kiermaier had previously played for Tampa Bay his entire career until 2023 he played for Toronto. Kiermaier could give the Yankees a very good stopgap option until top prospect Jasson Domínguez returns from Tommy John surgery. Kiermaier provides Gold Glove caliber defense as well as about league average offense. Adding Kiermaier would be great value if they can get him for relatively cheap.

The Yankees I believe if they make the moves of Juan Soto and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and signing Kevin Kiermaier could propel themselves back towards the top of the American League. The Yankees if they stay relatively healthy should be a surefire playoff team and be a force to be reckoned with by next October.

Lineup After Moves:

2B Gleyber Torres

LF Juan Soto (L)

RF Aaron Judge

DH Giancarlo Stanton

1B Anthony Rizzo

3B DJ LeMahieu

CF Kevin Kiermaier

SS Anthony Volpe

C Austin Wells

Rotation:

RHP Gerrit Cole

RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto

LHP Carlos Rodón

LHP Nestor Cortes

RHP Clarke Schmidt.