About the Off-Season: Second Helpings

About the Off-Season: Second Helpings

By Tim Kabel

December 28, 2024

***

The Yankees are in the process of finalizing their roster for 2025. At this point, they need to resolve one infield position. That will depend on whether Jazz Chisholm, Jr. plays third base or second base. The other spot will need to be filled. They also need to acquire one or two left-handed pitchers for the bullpen. In addition, they would like to remove Marcus Stroman and DJ LeMahieu from the roster. It seems like a lot but based on what they have already done, it's not.

Yesterday, Gleyber Torres signed a one year, $15 million contract with the Detroit Tigers. His Yankees’ career is now over, at least for the time being, and most likely permanently. In the past few days, I have read articles stating that the Yankees are out on both Alex Bregman and Nolan Arenado. I also read articles that said that the Yankees absolutely love Bregman and may still sign him. Another article said the deal for Arenado could now be completed. I don't know if either of those players will become a Yankee. It is something to consider. 

Another option could be to make a trade for a younger, less expensive player. Since the Tigers now have a glut of infielders, there is a report that they may be willing to trade their young, left-handed hitting third base prospect, Jace Jung. He is the type of player the Yankees are looking for. He is young, has tremendous potential, and is inexpensive. He also projects to have left-handed power which translates well to Yankee Stadium. I'm not sure what it would take to get him but, the Yankees could make that trade.

Another possibility would be to trade for Alec Bohm of the Phillies, who is a right-handed batter. He's not quite as young as Jung but he's certainly not as old as either Bregman or Arenado. Another option would be to keep Jazz Chisholm at third base and acquire a second baseman but, it seems that the Yankees are leaning more toward returning Chisholm to second base. One way or another, the composition of the infield should be resolved in the next several days. There have been some reports that the Yankees may try to go with DJ LeMahieu at third base, hoping that he will regain his form from several years ago. I believe that is highly unlikely and is just a smokescreen. I seriously doubt that LeMahieu will even be on the roster when the season begins. Hopefully, he won't be on the roster when spring training begins so he will not be a distraction or a temptation for Aaron Boone.

As far as the left-handed relief pitcher goes, there are reports that the Yankees are looking to bring back Tim Hill. That would be a good move. In addition, they have been linked to Andrew Chafin, an 11-year veteran with a high strikeout rate. Tanner Scott maybe too expensive for the Yankees but if they did sign him, the combination of Scott, Luke Weaver, and Devin Williams, would give the Yankees a phenomenal back end of the bullpen.

The Yankees remain in on Roki Sasaki. Depending on what you read or who you listen to, they either have little chance to sign him or a great chance to sign him. We will know by mid-January. If the Yankees were to sign him, they would have even more flexibility as far as making moves. They could shift Clarke Schmidt to the bullpen, or they could trade him if they chose to. It seems almost inevitable that Marcus Stroman will be pitching for another team in 2025. If the Yankees are able to trade him, they will have more money to spend on free agent targets to round out the bullpen or play third base, if they go in that direction.

The Yankees are making the final steps to round out the roster for 2025. They will certainly make more moves, possibly at the end of spring training or deeper into the season. They always do. However, Brian Cashman has done a very good job of reconstructing the team after the departure of Juan Soto. The player they acquire to play third base may be the final piece (along with one or two left-handers in the bullpen) that pushes the team toward another World Series appearance.

If they manage to acquire Roki Sasaki, that would be the cherry on top.