About the Off-Season: Meanderings of My Mind

About the Off-Season: Meanderings of My Mind

By Tim Kabel

December 23, 2024

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There are only eight days left in 2024. The Yankees are close to finalizing their roster for 2025. They have made a lot of moves in the last few weeks. There are still a few additions to make, but for the most part, the team is set.  Well, today is Monday and it is the off-season. So, I will now move from topic to topic like a contestant in a hot dog eating contest.

·      The passing of Rickey Henderson on Saturday was shocking. He was only 65 years old. When you reach the age of 60, the death of someone in their 60’s is particularly hard to take.  Rickey Henderson was clearly the greatest leadoff hitter and base stealer in the history of baseball. He was a lot more than that. He was a force of nature and one of the most exciting players I ever saw. He was also a character.  These are two of my favorite quotes attributed to Rickey Henderson:

“If my uniform doesn't get dirty, I haven't done anything in the baseball game.”

“I'm Ricky Henderson, and you're not.”

·      I like the signing of Paul Goldschmidt by the Yankees to a one-year contract. Of all the available options for the position, I think he was the best one. He was clearly the most interesting one. I think Goldschmidt will have a solid year for the Yankees. Yes, he is 37 years old, but he was the National League MVP in 2022. He doesn't need to be the star of the team. He needs to be a solid supporting player and he should be able to do that. Even if he doesn't, it is only a one-year contract. In the worst-case scenario, if Goldschmidt struggles, the Yankees could always platoon him with Ben Rice or look to acquire someone else if they need to. It is not a long-term investment. The contract is also not that expensive, relatively speaking. However, the absolute best part of the deal is that it puts the Yankees in a prime position to pursue Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. a year from now. Think about it, if the Mets re-sign Pete Alonso, they will not be in the market for a first baseman. Many other teams are now set at that position as well. The signing of Goldschmidt is a solid move for the present and an even better one for the future for the New York Yankees.

·      I made an oyster chowder the other day. It's something i had never made before. I used whole oysters and some delicious smoky bacon that I bought from Newsom’s, the place where I purchased my ham for Christmas. It was so good that I think it could become a holiday tradition when I have my family over. The best compliment I received was when my brother told me that my late father would have loved this chowder.  My father passed away suddenly when I was 19 years old. I had a chance to cook a few meals for him and he enjoyed them very much. The thought that I could make something that he would have enjoyed is especially pleasing to me.

·      Rickey Henderson was famous for referring to himself in the third person. Columnist Jim Caple once wrote:

“He has referred to himself in the third person ever since informing his mother that “Rickey Henderson would like his bottle and a fresh diaper.”

·      The Yankees still have a few moves to make. They still need either a third baseman or a second baseman, depending on where they play Jazz Chisholm. I believe they will most likely move Chisholm back to second base and acquire a third baseman. The prevailing thought is that the acquisition of Paul Goldschmidt will lead Nolan Arenado to accept a trade to the Yankees. Although that is likely to happen, another possibility would be the signing of Alex Bregman. Since Goldschmidt did not cost any draft picks, the Yankees may feel that Bregman is worth the draft picks it would cost to sign him since he would be their final acquisition that would cost draft picks. Either way, I expect the Yankees to have a new third baseman before Christmas.

·      Since I am in the middle of my fancy “weight loss journey," I have to approach holiday snacking and sampling differently than I have in the past. I can still enjoy items from my stocking or holiday gifts that people bring, but I must be more selective and pace myself. The items in my stocking may now last well into the spring. That is fine. I have read that the first twelve weeks are a good barometer as to how successful you will be in using Mounjaro or other weight loss medications. I have hit the twelve-week mark, as yesterday marked exactly three months since I began taking it. I have lost 39 pounds so far. It has been a very positive experience to this point, and I feel very good.

·      I have to say that I feel pretty good about the Yankees’ chances to sign Roki Sasaki. He cannot sign with any team until January 15th, so we will have to wait a bit but imagine if the Yankees were able to sign him. First, due to his age, he cannot sign a massive contract, so he will be limited as to how much he can receive. Second, he reportedly is a top of the rotation pitcher. If the Yankees did sign him, they could slide Clarke Schmidt into the bullpen. With Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Luis Gil, Carlos Rodon, and Roki Sasaki, the Yankees could quite possibly have the best rotation in the Major Leagues.

·      I have always liked animals. When I was a kid, we had dogs, cats, horses, and cows. Someday, if I move to a house with enough land, I would like to have a couple of horses. I'm not referring to horses to ride, but simply rescue horses that need a home. I have always found watching horses to be very soothing and enjoyable. To be able to have one or two and take care of them, pet them and simply be in their presence would be very rewarding for me.

·      I am certainly not ready to give up on Jasson Dominguez after a handful of games at the end of last season where he struggled. Very often, fans and the media tend to make snap judgments and dismiss people much too quickly. Dominguez will be 22 years old throughout the entire season of 2025. Not only do I think he will do well, but I am also predicting that he will win the Rookie of the Year award.

·      I think the Yankees need to add at least one left-hander to the bullpen. Bringing back Tim Hill would be an excellent move and Tanner Scott is still out there. If the Yankees were able to sign him and Hill, they would have an elite bullpen.

·      This will be my last article until after Christmas. To all those who celebrate, I wish you a Merry Christmas. May you enjoy the holiday with all the enthusiasm of Ebenezer Scrooge after the visits of the three ghosts, four, if you count Marley.