2021-2022 Off Season Thread

[primetime714]

If by take a flyer on Verlander you mean offering him a controlled workout (with no sticky stuff) and a battery of medical tests, and then basically giving him a Kluber-ish deal to take his spot? Maybe. But they'd really be gambling if they offered him a higher AAV especially if he's commanding a multi-year deal.

I feel the same. Verlander is a big risk and he's going to make a good amount more than Kluber did. Still when you look at this roster and realistically what they need to win it all, you might have to take at least a couple big gambles on boom or bust guys and hope for the boom. Unlike in other recent seasons in my mind there's no realistic way the Yankees enter the season with an on-paper top tier roster (second tier at best), Hal isn't going to spend that much and other teams have way more in the organization to work with. They probably need a few chances to work out in their favor during the season to have a top tier roster when it matters. While I still wouldn't jump at Verlander for all the reasons you stated, its one where you could say if he pans out could have an enormous impact greater than most in FA. I'd certainly consider him over someone like Ray who has mostly downside risk in my opinion.

[primetime714]

Cashman sure loves those poor fielding catchers.

I think Wells is a nice play on potential catching rule changes that might minimize the defensive need at the position. Will be shocked though if he can stay at the position without rule changes. If the bat continues to move quick you rip the cord and don't wait with OF the priority (always a need for OFs).

[yank4life2005]

Wilson Contreras is probably the best available catcher out there.

[False1]

Fair point. To clarify I wouldn't say its a primary intent and that he's doing it maliciously against the team's best interests. I think Cashman is always thinking about the narrative in a variety of different outcomes with self-preservation and Hal-preservation key priorities for him and the organization in all scenarios. Assistant coaches are public figures and have a role in that narrative both positive and negative and at least arguably in many cases potentially a greater role in narratives than they do in actual outcomes. So do I think Cashman at least back of mind considers if this is a person he could pin a negative narrative on if things do not work as planned, yes. I'm not accusing him of doing it maliciously in a way to set anyone up for failure though, but I do think he thinks about that thing when he makes a hire. He could easily say its performance objectives and no one would call him on it, but performance and perception are different things and I do feel like he's thinking about both.

When self-preservation goes against actions and decisions that make long term sense for the product and the people that pay for it, whether it's negligence or malice is semantics really.

I do think you're on to something with the self-preservation angle as I think that absolutely has an undue influence for a job that requires as much vision and strategic thought as owner or general manager of a franchise like the Yankees.

Two other things I'd throw in there. Greed clearly plays a role for Hal at a minimum. And I think Cashman has a god complex. When he wins, all he hears about is how he can only buy championships. When he loses, all he hears about is how he can't even buy championships. I think that hurts his ego, and he won't suffer it.

[Bauer]

My personal opinion is if they are not willing to do all the things you list and more, they should blow this current roster up and do a complete rebuild. To me, the thing that makes sense about Olson is that, yes, they are going to HAVE to spend money to bring on FA talent. There's no getting around that if they truly want to compete in the next few seasons. Olson still has two years of cost control until free agency. He's an elite player that doesn't get paid like one right now. Marry him up with some high AAV elite talent and go to war. Or, stop keeping one foot on the dock and one on the boat and hit the reset button.

It’s hard to believe Hal and Cashman would go for a “complete rebuild.” Their situation is different from that of 2016 when they traded Chapman and Miller for that prospect haul. They had offer something to make Cleveland and Chicago drool that year. I don’t see them having such temptation to offer this off-season. Maybe Judge, but in 2016 they had gold to offer to teams desperate for the post-season. After the way he looked towards the end of the season, who would drool for Chapman this off-season. I’m afraid the Yankees are in no position to “blow this current roster up,” not after all that big talk, annually, about being in pursuit of a WS title.

Hell, even if they put Cole on the block this off-season, who will drool and offer bundles of high-end prospects? People are going to wait to see if Cole is the guy who pitched for the Astros and the 2020 Yankees or just the guy who pitched for the Pirates. Jeez, I’m not even sure Dominguez would generate drool. Surely, other GM’s would want to see evidence of truly “martian” performances, but there were none last season.

The Yankees face big trouble next season. Yeah, Boston and Tampa—they go without saying. But Toronto showed that it has real firepower and was able to stay in the hunt almost to the end. That’s great experience for them, and God only knows what Vlad Jr. will show next season.

[hhill]

You guys are building this into some deep psychoanalytic study of aberrant behavior.
My take is much, much simpler-
Cash is just not competent in his job and a typical profile is that people in that position tend to be extremely defensive ; they feel compelled to compound their problems bec they cannot admit they are ever wrong.

After all, did Cash ever play the game? What experience(s) has he had to show he is equipped foe the job.
Sounds like the Peter principle where he was in the right place at the right time.

Nothing more.

[AussieYank]

So who will win the AL pennant between the scum-sucking Astros and the scum-sucking Red Sox?

Time to become a short-term Dodgers/Braves fan.

[ymike673]

So who will win the AL pennant between the scum-sucking Astros and the scum-sucking Red Sox?

Time to become a short-term Dodgers/Braves fan.

Go Braves. Only team I could root for in this years WS.

[False1]

It’s hard to believe Hal and Cashman would go for a “complete rebuild.” Their situation is different from that of 2016 when they traded Chapman and Miller for that prospect haul. They had offer something to make Cleveland and Chicago drool that year. I don’t see them having such temptation to offer this off-season. Maybe Judge, but in 2016 they had gold to offer to teams desperate for the post-season. After the way he looked towards the end of the season, who would drool for Chapman this off-season. I’m afraid the Yankees are in no position to “blow this current roster up,” not after all that big talk, annually, about being in pursuit of a WS title.

Hell, even if they put Cole on the block this off-season, who will drool and offer bundles of high-end prospects? People are going to wait to see if Cole is the guy who pitched for the Astros and the 2020 Yankees or just the guy who pitched for the Pirates. Jeez, I’m not even sure Dominguez would generate drool. Surely, other GM’s would want to see evidence of truly “martian” performances, but there were none last season.

The Yankees face big trouble next season. Yeah, Boston and Tampa—they go without saying. But Toronto showed that it has real firepower and was able to stay in the hunt almost to the end. That’s great experience for them, and God only knows what Vlad Jr. will show next season.

I understand what you’re saying. My post is more about what I think they should do as a fan than what I think they will do. Also, a rebuild doesn’t only mean trading off a team full of valuable assets. It can mean to save bullets and reposition the franchise for future success. For example, I really think adding Seager via FA and Olson (or JRam) via trade would be significant moves for this roster. They need more, but for discussion, just focusing on these two… if they aren’t going to do both I feel they should do neither. Adding another $250MM contract right now only makes sense if they’re going to stop limiting themselves by CBT. Trading top tier assets for Olson only makes sense if they’re going to build a strong roster and really make an all out blitz for these next two seasons. Adding to the pen via FA makes no sense to me personally either way, but especially if they’re not going all in. Just test the arms in the system and see what you’ve got. You’re right that they don’t have mega-attractive ML talent to sell high on (except Judge), but you can still rebuild without that.

[Obnoxio]

1-0 Houston, bottom 4.
2 on

[hhill]

Eovoldi >> Cole
Hate to admit it but we allowed Boston to get this far

[twsalso]

Yankees are going to have a lot of potential assistant coaches lining up to be their next scape goats this offseason. How can we not expect the best? I 100% wouldn't put it past Cashman to hire people he could easily blame.

Cashman has all sorts of people to fire and scape goat. Next in line is the Stadium organist. The the PA announcer. After that, the scoreboard replay guy. (He has already let go of the guys who worked the auxiliary scoreboards in right and left field as well as the ball boys.). The grounds crew at the stadium can eliminate at least 1/3 of the positions. With all of these salary contractions, Cashman can go dumpster diving trying to find the next Arturo Lopez.

Seriously, do not expect Cashman to make serious plays for A+ players. They are too expensive or they want too much. It takes a pair to tear down the Yankees and Brian just does not have the equipment to do it. Cashman will keep all of this talking and sign some can’t miss from Japan, Korea or Taiwan to platoon with the present group of aging bangers.

[hhill]

All he had to do was hold on to Nathan and we would at least played TB. One player deal can make all the difference

[bucky]

Wilson Contreras is probably the best available catcher out there.

Seriously, Why? Do they want Sanchez? I don't know if he isn't any better than Sanchez at same money. I see his name here a lot and my top priority is a good catcher than SP. Like Sanchez a FA next year (not available but like Sanchez they want to move him), age on decline, K%. not a top catcher. I don't think they want Sanchez (somebody posted PHI which was funny so we would have to trade something good and we still have Sanchez. A real Brian move.

I don't think TB will pay and SF is going to do something 22M club option. I will be following Austin Wells in AFL. (I would play Volpe and Wells because signing a top SS and Sanchez will hurt us for 2 -3 years) I love Buster Posey but he will never leave.

https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/free-agents/catcher/

Love hhill post. Brian is going to do what he wants to. thanks

[RoyWilliams]

5-0 Hou thank God Boston is done