by Paul Semendinger
December 31, 2023
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I found some interesting tweets regarding the Yankees and will share them here - along with my thoughts.
TWEET NUMBER ONE:
I agree with this in total. The Red Sox, over many years, and with a variety of different general managers, always seem to find ways to trade away players with big contracts. This happens time and time again. The Yankees? They always seem stuck in the mud.
I have said, for a long time, that the Yankees can move Giancarlo Stanton. They can, absolutely. There is always a way. Always. The question is whether or not the team is willing to do what is necessary - pay part of the salary, include prospects, further negotiate around the no-trade clause, etc...
Other teams move players who can no longer help them. The Yankees hardly ever do.
TWEET NUMBER TWO:
Katie Sharp is one of the best people out there who provides great statistics, information, and analysis.
I believe that Juan Soto is going to have a great year. The Yankees did a great job acquiring him. The Yankees should always be looking to acquire young generational talent. Always. Now, the Yankees also must finish building a quality team around Soto. If they don't, 2024 could be a disaster.
TWEET NUMBER THREE:
I understand that much of the footage showing behind the Babe was fabricated and created, possibly for this movie, but, I don't care what anyone says... I believe the Babe called his shot. I've read a lot about Babe Ruth. That game, the homer in the 1932 World Series, wasn't the only time he ever did that. If ever a player could call a homer, the Babe certainly could. Books have been written about this. There will always be debate, but some people at the game swore he did it. (Other disagreed, of course.) Still, I think he did it.
TWEET NUMBER FOUR:
Indeed. It's been a lifetime - and if the Yankees don't start addressing the pitching, there won't be any left to acquire.
TWEET NUMBER FIVE:
Let's just take this at face value...
If winning was Yamamoro's first desire and concern... if he truly wants to play for a winner, weren't the Dodgers the better team to sign with?
If you wanted to play for a winner, if that was your first priority, which team would you sign with today, the Dodgers or the Yankees?
Since the start of the 2019 season, the Dodgers have won 466 games. The Yankees, 409. The Dodgers have been to three World Series since 2017, winning one. The Yankees have been to none.
(Never mind the Dodgers also offered $25 million more guaranteed dollars.)
The Babe did NOT call that shot!!!
thoughts?
2023 MLB offseason grades: Dodgers, Yankees earn 'A' at winter midpoint, Mets, Padres, Astros close to failing
New York Yankees
Whiffing on Yoshinobu Yamamoto has cast a shadow on the Yankees' winter. That's too bad because Brian Cashman did good work landing Juan Soto and Trent Grisham without giving up any of the organization's top three prospects. Your mileage may vary on fellow trade additions Alex Verdugo and Victor González, though both could end up as positive contributors. We'd like to see the Yankees add another starting pitcher this winter, but we feel decent enough about their offseason -- and specifically the Soto trade -- to give them kudos for their efforts thus far. Grade: A.
The problem with unloading a bad contract on another team, to get them to take it, you have to ALSO part with a player you would rather not part with. That is what Seattle had to do to get rid of Robinson Cano's contract, when they included Edwin Diaz in that their trade for Jared Kelenic. On the other side of the ledger, to acquire a player you REALLY want to acquire, you have to ACCEPT a bad contract as part of the deal, the way the Dodgers had to when they traded for Mookie Betts, but also had to take on David Price.
7
the Dodgers have won 7
I assume that the first tweet is about the Sale trade. There's big differences between Sale's and Stanton's situations.
Stanton is owed $98 million over the next 4 seasons plus a $10 million buy out. Sale is only under contract for 2024 with a club option for 2025 that is only guaranteed if Sale finishes in the top 10 in the Cy Young Award voting which is highly unlikely. The Red Sox did kick in $17 million to offset Sale's 2024 salary. Of the remaining $10.5 million, all but $500,000 is deferred until June 30 2039.
In addition Sale is a pitcher. Pitchers are always in demand, DHs much less so, especially ones that can't hit very well anymore.
Of…