top of page
file.jpg
Derek McAdam

Cashman's Latest Transactions Add to His Fantastic Off-Season.

Cashman's Latest Transactions Add to His Fantastic Off-Season.

By Derek McAdam

December 24, 2024

***

The momentum has only been building for the New York Yankees this off-season since the departure of Juan Soto to the New York Mets. Brian Cashman’s first big splash was signing Max Fried to an eight-year contract to bolster the starting rotation. Then he brought over Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers to help replace several free agents from the bullpen and give the Yankees a high-leverage reliever.


Then, Cashman acquired Cody Bellinger from the Chicago Cubs to play the outfield and possibly first base. I liked all three of these transactions, but it only seemed to get better. On Friday, Cashman traded Jose Trevino to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Fernando Cruz and Alex Jackson.


Trevino seemed to be a great player to have in the clubhouse. He always seemed to have a positive attitude and clearly loved wearing the pinstripes. But the Yankees want Austin Wells to be their everyday catcher. And, it isn’t as if Trevino had a great season last year. It was always stressful when opposing players got on base, because it was evident they were going to run on Trevino.


However, I think the Yankees got a solid return for Trevino. Cruz has, arguably, the filthiest pitch in the entire league and Jackson may end up being Wells’ backup. Cashman may have downgraded at the backup catcher position, but he added a solid bullpen piece simultaneously.


While the Yankees missed out on Christian Walker, who agreed to a three-year contract with the Houston Astros, they did not waste much time in finding their new first baseman. Paul Goldschmidt agreed to a one-year, $12.5 million deal with the Yankees, yet another solid signing for Cashman.


It seemed to me as if many Yankees fans had mixed feelings about Goldschmidt. Of course, Walker was a top choice for many, which is understandable. But the Yankees also did not have to give up anything to acquire the former NL MVP and there’s no harm in just a one-year deal. It was the correct decision to move on from Anthony Rizzo and I don’t think Ben Rice is prepared to be an everyday player. He was a nice story for a while, but it got hard to watch his at-bats once opposing pitchers got accustomed to him.


And the best part about all of this is that Cashman may still have another move or two up his sleeve. The Yankees are still looking for another infielder, and Alex Bregman has been the big name that continues to come up in the rumors. The New York Post’s Jon Heyman estimates that Bregman will get a contract in the $170 million range, which is definitely feasible for the Yankees.


The Yankees have also met with Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki, who will be posted next month. Similarly to when Shohei Ohtani came over, Sasaki will have to sign a minor-league contract due to his age. But that would be a great pickup for the Yankees, if they are able to win his services. It would just add on to Cashman’s great off-season that he is having.


There was no question that the Yankees were going to have several holes to fill, especially with the many free agents that were departing. And with the Yankees not tying up $760 million in Soto, they have been able to fill those holes and create a lineup that is not too top-heavy. And since they will likely add another bat, whether it be Bregman, Nolan Arenado, or possibly someone else, the lineup is going to become even better.


By no means am I saying that the lineup is stacked from top to bottom, but the Yankees don’t exactly need that. They need more good hitters that can hit for average and get on base. Sometimes, it isn’t always about the home runs.


But what the Yankees have also been able to simultaneously improve is their defense. With Soto gone, Judge can move back to his natural position in right field, while it seems likely that Bellinger will play center (although I would not be surprised if he plays left and Jasson Dominguez plays center).


At this point, Goldschmidt is probably an upgrade to Rizzo, who seemed to struggle over the past couple of years at first. And if the Yankees are able to acquire either Bregman or Arenado, it would be a major upgrade at third base. The Yankees have not been a great defensive team over the past couple of seasons, but it seems as if they are going to improve this season in that category.


I have to give credit where it is due. Cashman has, so far, done a tremendous job with assembling the 2025 team. Fried may have been slightly overpaid, but the Yankees learned in the World Series that having a solid starting rotation is crucial, and Fried will provide help in that area. But I have really liked all the other moves that he has made, particularly since he isn’t giving up much to acquire players.


With the new year approaching, I can’t imagine it is going to take long to figure out where Bregman or Arenado will be playing next year. It is very possible that the Yankees have one of the two on their team next season. Buckle up, because I don’t think Cashman’s off-season is over quite yet.

17 Yorum


Robert Malchman
Robert Malchman
4 hours ago

Ha-Seong had right shoulder surgery in October and won't be starting the season, plus I'm sick of Cashman dealing for IL players who never seem to make it back. As for Hye-seong, making a KBO import the starting 2B feels a bit like buying a pig in the poke. His glove should play very well, especially as compared to Torres, but I have no idea how KBO slash lines (here, .326/.383/.458) translates to MLB.

Beğen

popsmcp
popsmcp
5 hours ago

What about those Kim’s…Hyeseong and Ha Seong…both free agents…no great shucks with the bat but good defense and speed. Haven’t heard much about them.

Beğen

Paul Semendinger
Paul Semendinger
10 hours ago

This is a process.


I know that they don't have a third baseman yet, but it's not even 2025 yet and the Yankees have been very busy and very active improving the team.


They're a better team right now than last year. Absolutely.


Bellinger is greater than Verdugo

Goldschmidt is better than Rizzo

Fried is better than Stroman (or anyone, maybe even Cole)

Williams is better than Holmes

Chisholm (at 2b) will be better than Torres


Granted, we don't know what Dominguez brings

And they still need a third baseman

And a back-up catcher


But, my goodness. They lost out on Soto and have made solid moves.


Tucker - they didn't get because they wanted to keep Gil. That make…


Beğen
Robert Malchman
Robert Malchman
4 hours ago
Şu kişiye cevap veriliyor:

Arenado would be a 1.1 oWAR downgrade from Torres, but a 0.65 dWAR upgrade from Chisholm at 3B (normalized to a full season at 3B). Chisholm hasn't played second as a primary position since 2022, but presuming he brings the same level of defense as then, he's a 1.0 dWAR upgrade from Torres at 2B. So net, obtaining Arenado would be a half-win upgrade from Torres.


I ran the same numbers for Bregman, and he'd also be a 0.65 dWAR, 0.5 oWAR upgrade, so that's also about 1.15 WAR over last season's combination and 0.65 over Arenado. But Bregman (aside from Cheatroism) is going to cost a lot more for a lot longer than Arenado (depending how much greens th…

Beğen

fuster
10 hours ago

the Yankees have done rather well thus far in the off-season, after seeing Soto move on


they have made excellent additions to a team that had several positions of need

and have added well-rounded players, not bat-only types.


they done acted intelligently, recognizing that they had a need to hold fast to their developing players and using their abundant money to add talent.


there is room for questioning the worth of adding Goldschmidt and Bellinger

Goldy is, obviously, good but, also obviously, a short-timer who is here for a year

Bellinger is more likely to hang around, and not necessarily as a centerfielder


because the Yankees used mostly money rather than prospects, the Yankees still have kids to trade

even…


Beğen

etbkarate
12 hours ago

A little generous using the word "fantastic". My 2 cents, he lost out on Tucker. He lost out Walker, didn't look too far into Lowe or Crochet, traded Narvaez to Boston, and still has a hole at third base.

Beğen
dr sem.png

Start Spreading the News is the place for some of the very best analysis and insight focusing primarily on the New York Yankees.

(Please note that we are not affiliated with the Yankees and that the news, perspectives, and ideas are entirely our own.)

blog+image+2.jpeg

Have a question for the Weekly Mailbag?

Click below or e-mail:

SSTNReaderMail@gmail.com

SSTN is proudly affiliated with Wilson Sporting Goods! Check out our press release here, and support us by using the affiliate links below:

587611.jpg
583250.jpg
Scattering the Ashes.jpeg

"Scattering The Ashes has all the feels. Paul Russell Semendinger's debut novel taps into every emotion. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll reexamine those relationships that give your life meaning." — Don Burke, writer at The New York Post

The Least Among Them.png

"This charming and meticulously researched book will remind you of baseball’s power to change and enrich lives far beyond the diamond."

—Jonathan Eig, New York Times best-selling author of Luckiest Man, Opening Day, and Ali: A Life

From Compton to the Bronx.jpg

"A young man from Compton rises to the highest levels of baseball greatness.

Considered one of the classiest baseball players ever, this is Roy White's story, but it's also the story of a unique period in baseball history when the Yankees fell from grace and regained glory and the country dealt with societal changes in many ways."

foco-yankees.png

We are excited to announce our new sponsorship with FOCO for all officially licensed goods!

FOCO Featured:
carlos rodon bobblehead foco.jpg
bottom of page