Heading into the offseason, my outlook was pretty gloomy. But then, Cashman pulled off a major move, landing Juan Soto in a trade that completely changed the game. Suddenly, optimism was my middle name, maybe a bit too much for good. Despite early rumours suggesting the New York Yankees were out of the running for Blake Snell, However, as of last night, it seems that ship has sailed.
So, if the door is really closed on Snell, The pursuit of him hits a snag over financial terms, with a substantial $120 million and three years separating their visions. Snell was eyeing a nine-year deal worth $270 million, while the cautious Yankees pitched a six-year contract at $150 million. This led the team to explore other options, closing one chapter but possibly opening another. Jon Heyman explains a bit about Yankee’s stand on Blake Snell,
.@JonHeyman gives an update on where the Yankees stand on Blake Snell 💭 pic.twitter.com/t3dIUw2b9v
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) January 31, 2024
In the midst of this, the Yankees’ attention has turned to Corbin Burnes of the Milwaukee Brewers, a move suggested by Bob Klapisch as a viable and potentially more promising option. With the funds initially earmarked for Snell now available, the Yankees could make a mid-season play for Burnes, whose contract demands and performance might offer a better fit for the Pinstripes’ future. The dream of a Snell and Gerrit Cole powerhouse, the 2023 Cy Young duo, now seems like just that—a dream. But perhaps, come the trade deadline,
This might add more depth to our rotation, which looks reasonably strong even without Snell. Gerrit Cole is leading the charge, as solid as ever. Fresh off a Cy Young win in 2023 and already garnering nods for the 2024 Cy Young from MLB experts, he’s the anchor of the lineup.
However, Carlos Rodon had a tough year, and Nestor Cortes Jr., despite shining as an All-Star in 2022, struggled with injuries last season. Marcus Stroman, though, Missing out on Yoshinobu Yamamoto left a big gap in the Yankees’ rotation. Currently, we have Cole, Rodon, Cortes, and Clarke Schmidt.
Cole is the only sure thing. Cortes and Rodon are looking to bounce back from injury-plagued seasons, and Schmidt is still finding his footing. Luke Weaver and Cody Poteet are the only depth in our rotation before delving into the farm.
Notably, the New York Yankees picked up lefty reliever Matt Gage from the Houston Astros. In his relatively short, two-season-long career, Gage has made 21 appearances, boasting a career ERA of an impressive 1.83 in 19.2 innings pitched.
