MLB insider discusses why the New York Yankees are unlikely to…

admin | December 31, 2023 | Other Clubs | No Comments

MLB insider discusses why the New York Yankees are unlikely to sign a top pitcher in the offseason free agent or trade markets.

While the New York Yankees pursued Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto aggressively in December, one MLB insider explains why they are unlikely to make efforts to sign the next best pitchers in the free agent and trade markets.

So far, the New York Yankees’ offseason has been somewhat interesting. They made the largest trade market splash when they acquired three-time All-Star Juan Soto in a blockbuster deal that did not include any of their top prospects.

They were also one of the final three teams considered favorites to sign 25-year-old stud pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. While they were unable to land the Japanese ace, bolstering their staff behind American League Cy Young Gerrit Cole remains a primary aim this winter.

To the dismay of some Yankees supporters, the team may no longer be swinging for the fences in the offseason pitching market. On Saturday, ESPN MLB expert Kiley McDaniel examined the present position for multiple teams and argued why the New York Yankees are unlikely to pursue the remaining great pitchers available in free agency, such as Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery.

“I don’t think the top free agent options left fit what the Yankees need: Blake Snell has way too much [Carlos] Rodon-type risk to him, Jordan Montgomery will cost about what Rodon did last offseason and offer less upside while also not being the type of pitcher the Yankees have targeted (i.e., younger or with better raw stuff),” McDaniel said in a statement. “After those two, the remaining free agent starters are mid-rotation types and New York needs more impact than that.”

New York Yankees unlikely to trade for Dylan Cease

That could indicate that another blockbuster deal, this time for pitching, is on the horizon for the organization. McDaniel, on the other hand, does not believe the team trading for the top pitcher on that market — Dylan Cease — is likely for New York.

“The biggest name who could still be traded this winter is Dylan Cease.” “The asking price has been high, with the White Sox apparently waiting until after Yamamoto signed to raise the price, hoping to find a trade partner in the exact situation the Yankees are in now,” McDaniel said.

“The package needed to land Cease would be steep, probably something like this: Chase Hampton (the Yankees’ top pitching prospect after the Juan Soto trade), another top 100-caliber prospect in outfielder Everson Pereira along with bat-first catcher Agustin Ramirez.”

Given that the Yankees did give up some solid prospects for Soto, the franchise may not want to give up much more this offseason. This means that fans should expect smaller trades, such as Japanese pitcher Shota Imanaga, to be more likely in the coming weeks.