WINTER SOLDIERS
After landing big fish, Yanks still have work to do at Meeting
Since losing Game 7 of the ALCS to the Astros, the Yankees have replaced Joe Girardi with Aaron Boone, had Shohei Ohtani spurn them and added reigning NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton to a lineup that led the majors in home runs this past season.
So, what’s left for general manager Brian Cashman to do at the Winter Meetings that open Sunday at the Swan & Dolphin Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.?
After taking on $265 million of the $295 million remaining on Stanton’s contract that has 10 years to go, the search for a starting pitcher could begin and end with CC Sabathia and a one-year deal in the $10 million-$12 million range. Cashman could use Clint Frazier, whose best position is left field, to trade for a starter.
Since Starlin Castro, who is owed $22 million in 2018 and 2019, is headed to the Marlins the Yankees have a vacancy at second base.
Stud prospect Gleyber Torres will figure in the mix during spring training but he has played just 23 games at Triple-A (five at second) and is coming off Tommy John surgery on his left (non-throwing) elbow. The Yankees could patch it together with a platoon of Ronald Torreyes and Tyler Wade or Cashman could look outside for a veteran to hold the spot for Torres.
The addition of Stanton gives the Yankees five outfielders for three spots. The DH will be rotated among the outfielders but there remains one too many.
So, expect Cashman to try and find a team to take center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury even if the Yankees have to eat a lot of the $68.3 million remaining on his contract that has three years left.
Stanton, 28, going to the Yankees will dominate the Winter Meetings talk and could be announced early in the week.
Barring injury, Stanton, who led the majors with 59 homers and 132 RBIs last season, certainly improves a Yankees lineup that hit 241 home runs and finished second in runs (858) and RBIs (821).
Yet, before the Yankees are handed the AL East crown, remember a year ago the Red Sox acquiring lefty starter Chris Sale at the Winter Meetings to pair with David Price to turn Boston into an unstoppable powerhouse.
“Boston’s like the Golden State Warriors now in baseball. They got their [Kevin] Durant and their [Draymond] Green and [Klay] Thompson and [Steph] Curry,’’ Cashman said last year in Washington.
Sale was terrific. Price wasn’t. The Red Sox won the AL East but lost in the ALDS. The Yankees went to Game 7 of the ALCS.
CC Sabathia’s $25 million and Alex Rodriguez’s $21 million ($27.5 million for tax purposes) are off the payroll. Prior to the Stanton deal some of that money was earmarked for free-agent signings.
“One thing my family has proved through the years that anytime you have money coming off the payroll, wherever humanely possible, we are going to put it back in,’’ Hal Steinbrenner said this week. “We are certainly going to be active in the free-agent market. The Winter Meetings are imminent, and we will be active in the free-agent market. We will leave no stone unturned, and where we think we need improvement we will invest in it.’’
Steinbrenner certainly did that by getting Stanton, though it wasn’t through free agency.
Sabathia and the Yankees sound like they are looking forward to another year after the 37-year-old lefty went 14-5 with a 3.69 ERA in 27 starts.
Though not necessarily looking to deal Chase Headley, who could replace Todd Frazier at third and serve as insurance for Bird at first, the Yankees would certainly listen on offers for the switch-hitter who has one year and $13 million remaining.
And though MLB loves the buzz the Winter Meetings creates remember this: Winning a week in December doesn’t guarantee a big October.
Just ask the Red Sox.