Quick Decisions To Make...

The Yankees Have to Make a Few Decisions Quickly

by EJ Fagan

November 3, 2024

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NOTE: The following comes from EJ Fagan's substack page and is shared with permission. This was published a few days ago so the stats don't include the last few games.

Please check out EJ's substack page for more great articles.

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It’s option season. Major League teams have just a few days to make some pretty big roster decisions, most of which are timed to trigger right after the World Series ends. The Yankees have a few big ones. Let’s talk about them.

Straight Club Options

The Yankees hold the following club options:

• Luke Weaver: $2.5 million

• Anthony Rizzo: $17 million (or $6 million buyout)

• Lou Trivino: $5 million

  
  

I think these are pretty straight forward decisions. Weaver returns, no doubt. He’s your closer next year. The Yankees are going to need every penny to replace the players they are losing to free agency, so $2.5 million for a closer is huge.

Trivino goes. He could not get healthy all season. I wouldn’t be shocked if the Yankees sign him to a minor league deal or something, but he’s not getting $5 million.

I’m 95% sure that Rizzo is gone. The Yankees could effectively bring him back for $11 million, which isn’t too bad, but I’m not sure he’s even a major league player at this point. Rizzo’s power evaporated from pretty much Day 1 in 2024. I think he’s played his last game in New York, maybe his last game in the majors.

Gerrit Cole’s Option

After the CC Sabathia and Alex Rodriguez opt outs, the Yankees decided to pre-negotiate an extension. Gerrit Cole can opt out of the final 4/$144 of his contract. The Yankees can either let him become a free agent or add an additional year at $36 million.

Does Cole opt out? I would have said no way last month. Cole had a serious elbow injury, pitched just 95 innings during the regular season, and is about to enter his age-34 season. Teams aren’t going to pay up more than $36 million per year for a compromised pitcher. But Cole looked like a total ace in the playoffs. I think some team would be willing to pay more than $144 million for his services.

Assuming he opts out, do the Yankees just add the extra year? That’s a more difficult question. Corbin Burnes is four years younger and probably better. Maybe the Yankees want to try and trade up. If you clear Cole’s salary off the books, you suddenly have room for a mega Burnes contract.

That said, I think the Yankees would be dumb to let Cole go. 5/$180 million is a good deal for an ace pitcher, even an aging one. We’ve seen big strong aces like Cole be very productive into their late 30s, and he was still throwing 99 deep into Game 5 of the Word Series. Plus, Cole rocks! Let the man retire as a Yankee.

Qualifying Offers

The Yankees have to decide on $21 million qualifying offers by early next week. Juan Soto is obviously getting one.

Who definitely isn’t getting one? Kahnle, Holmes, Rizzo and Verdugo.

What about Gleyber Torres? My guess is no.

I wouldn’t be shocked if the Yankees end up signing Torres to a one year deal, but it won’t be for $21 million. Torres had a disaster season that ended strong, plus a solid post season. I’d be surprised if any team offers him a big long term contract. He’ll still be 28 years old next year, so he has a chance to rebuild his value. I bet he signs a lower AAV deal with an opt out after 2025, along the lines of Matt Chapman’s deal. Will that team be the Yankees? That’s for another blog post.