Yankees must make three early-season changes
The Yankees are off to a hot start but making a few moves will keep the good times rolling.
Not quite seven months ago, the sky was falling in the Bronx as the Yankees looked to extend their 30-year winning season record while considering firing their entire management team. It’s easy to mock Yankee supporters for clinging to their glory days, but it’s genuinely admirable how their team is continually in the spotlight.
However, the Yankees’ strong start to the season should not be used as an excuse to sit back and wait for an American League pennant to arrive. Jonathan Loaisiga’s season-ending injury served as the first reminder to this squad that nothing in baseball goes exactly as planned. There are adjustments this team can and should make to position itself for the remainder of the season and beyond. Let’s discuss some of these moves:
Trade for COL C Elias Diaz
This may be unpopular with certain fans who support Jose Trevino, Austin Wells, or both. However, if there is one apparent deficiency in this Yankees lineup, it is offense from the catcher position. It’s risky to count on Wells fully securing the starting job right now.
Enter Elias Diaz, who notably became one of the most anonymous All-Star Game MVPs in league history with a game-winning home run in last year’s Midsummer Classic in Seattle. His stats dipped in the second half, but he’s established himself as a solid catcher and an excellent thrower behind the plate.
If early signs are any indication, Trevino may not be a big-league caliber hitter at this point in his career. If this becomes clear over a long sample size, the Yankees will be forced to add a catcher to fill the need. Diaz would be a fantastic fit in a platoon alongside Wells, if not as the primary starter.
Recall RHP Clayton Beeter
Beeter was projected to be a starter for the majority of his minor league career, but he made his debut in the majors as a reliever, pitching one inning in Houston before being sent back to AAA.
Beeter, the Yankees’ 14th-ranked prospect in 2024, is already 25 years old, is 6-foot-2, weighs 220 pounds, and throws in the mid-90s with a devastating sweeper. He looked MLB-ready in spring training, and with Loaisiga’s injury and Nick Burdi’s difficulties, Beeter should find a spot in the Yankee Stadium bullpen.
The Yankees aren’t insane; they know Beeter will play a role in their season someday, whatever. He could finish up in the rotation if injuries arise, but more than likely, he’ll be getting key outs in the bullpen before midseason, as Aaron Boone stated on the Talkin’ Yanks podcast.
Oh, and as an extra bonus, Beeter was the return the Yankees received when they traded Joey Gallo to the Dodgers at the 2022 deadline. If he can flourish and add value to the Yankees following Gallo’s well-documented problems in the Bronx, supporters will adore Beeter for life.
Extend SS Anthony Volpe
The most significant feature of the Yankees’ great start to the season is that Anthony Volpe, their 22-year-old sophomore shortstop, appears to have fully matured into a two-way star.
Volpe’s at-bats in 2024 have been unidentifiable after he had an on-base percentage of less than.300 in 2023. He’s seeing more pitches, demonstrating more balance with each swing, and finding holes even when he doesn’t fully square the ball.
So, now that the Yankees know Volpe is going to be their long-term shortstop, it’s critical that they sign him to a team-friendly contract. With three $300 million men on their roster currently and a fourth on the horizon — if the organization keeps Juan Soto, the Yankees’ salary in five years — the Yankees payroll may resemble that of a Marvel film.
If Volpe develops into the player he appears to be capable of becoming, any deal with an average annual value of less than $20 million would be a huge boost to the Yankees payroll. If Volpe and his representatives are prepared to consider an extension, Brian Cashman must do everything he can to make it happen this year.
Related Posts
About The Author
