How should Yankees finish out season?
With playoff hopes slim, moves should focus on future
NEW YORK – They are what their record says they are, a thoroughly mediocre Yankees team rapidly going nowhere.
After his last place Yankees were swept in three games by the impressive Atlanta Braves earlier this week, manager Aaron Boone had reached the point of reciting recent examples of unlikely teams making playoff runs – including last year’s NL champs, the Philadelphia Phillies.
“I get it, it looks bleak,’’ Boone said late Wednesday night, the conclusion of a 2-7, three-city road trip that all but crushed any realistic postseason hopes.
“I don’t even want to suggest we’re in a position to even talk about’’ an October run, from last place. “We’ve got to fix our own house and get it going, but there’s a lot of season left, too.’’
What should the Yankees do in this final quarter? Here’s a few ideas.
Call up Everson Pereira
For a boost of energy and a glimpse into the future, it’s about time to start promoting from within.
Currently the organization’s No. 3 prospect as ranked by MLB Pipeline, the right-handed hitting outfielder was promoted to Class AAA Scranton/ Wikes-Barre in early July.
Since then, he’s batted .308 with an .876 OPS, six homers and 31 RBI in 32 games, but with 41 strikeouts and just eight walks in 130 at-bats.
Pereira should be competing for a regular outfield spot in spring training, and GM Brian Cashman has mentioned him as a candidate for a call-up later this season.
Promote Oswald Peraza
Is he still a top prospect?
Is he trade chip, a complementary player, or a potential impact starter?
Peraza should be answering those questions at the big-league level instead of at Scranton, playing regularly – mostly at third base, with DJ LeMahieu at first base.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa is having a pretty good year, but he’s a utility player with an uncertain Bronx future. It’s well past time to learn more about Peraza.
Give Randy Vasquez a proper audition
That means putting the promising rookie right-hander in the rotation for the rest of the year.
He’s proven worthy of consideration for the 2024 starting staff, but his sporadic big-league appearances have clouded the big picture.
With Nestor Cortes out for the season, let Vasquez pitch every fifth day.
Add Michael King, subtract Luis Severino
King wants to be starter. Severino, in his worst season, is in his free agent walk year, probably making his final pinstriped appearances.
Severino hasn’t pitched well enough to stay in the rotation, and the Yankees ought to be eager to see how King might play in next year’s rotation.
Keep building King up and start saying goodbye to Severino.
Drop Giancarlo Stanton in the batting order
Yes, no one is really hitting on this club.
But isn’t it time to take Stanton out of the middle of this order?
Stanton is at career season lows with a .201 batting average and a .727 OPS, and he’s become a major liability on the bases.
So long, Jake Bauers and Billy McKinney
This team wasn’t supposed to have non-roster invitees to camp getting regular at-bats in August.
Bauers is currently in an 0-for-15 skid with 10 strikeouts. And while both players have had their moments, they need to resume being role players at the least.
As stated previously, LeMahieu needs to play first base regularly to accommodate Peraza at third base, and Pereira should get a look in left field.
Shut down Anthony Rizzo
Yes, he’s not playing currently or taking any batting practice, due to post-concussion symptoms.
At this point, isn’t it in Rizzo’s best interest to heal without trying to rush back into some part of a dying season?
That might just be the case.
Either way, the Yankees must also conduct a deep internal dive on how they missed linking Rizzo’s severe drop in performance to a potential concussion symptom after his May 28 collision with Fernando Tatis Jr.
Try out Jonathan Loaisiga as closer
Give him some save opportunities. Yes, he can cover multiple innings, but so can Clay Holmes. Let Loaisiga handle more ninth inning pressure, assuming there are saves to be had.
Help Gerrit Cole win his first AL Cy Young award
That means playing your absolute best lineup whenever he’s out there, and letting him have a very big say in when he’s ready to come out of a game, or not.
Cole is about the best thing happening on the 2023 Yankees. Reward him whenever possible.