The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Machado question still must be answered
LAS VEGAS — Unlike many teams, the Yankees left the winter meetings having accomplished — presumably — something tangible.
Presumably because, though they agreed to the parameters of a two-year deal, with a vesting option for a third year, with lefthander J.A. Happ, the deal as of Thursday afternoon still was not complete.
“We’re hopeful on bringing him back here,” assistant GM Michael Fishman said Thursday morning after the Rule 5 draft, always the last event of the winter meetings. “We’ve made a lot of progress with him and hopefully we can have him back for 2019.”
Again, all indications Thursday pointed to it just being a matter of time before the Happ deal became official, which would give the Yankees a starting rotation of Luis Severino, James Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka, Happ and CC Sabathia. Jon Heyman of Francred reported that Happ will get $34 million guaranteed, earning $17 million in 2019 and $17 million in 2020. Heyman also reported that the Yankees have a $17-million vesting option in 2021. So what’s next for the Yankees? From the start of the winter GM Brian Cashman, who departed these meetings before the Rule 5 draft, has said his priorities were adding two starting pitchers, one or two bullpen arms, and addressing the absence of Didi Gregorius, who will miss the regular season’s first two months at least as he recovers from Tommy John surgery.
Cashman has said multiple times the organization has some interest in infielder Manny Machado and a meeting with the 26-year-old free agent figures to occur sooner rather than later.
“No comment,” Fishman smiled, asked if a meeting with Machado was currently on the calendar.
It remains to be seen how the Yankees’ interest translates in years and dollars if they get around to making an offer. Ample evidence exists that managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner isn’t likely to green-light the kind of 8-10-year, $300-million plus contract that Machado reportedly is seeking. Still, the logical progression
from Cashman saying he has an interest in the player is an actual sit-down with him.
There are other options, of course, for the Yankees to cover themselves while Gregorius is out. They’ve engaged with the agent for Freddy Galvis, a free agent who has played primarily at short in his career but has also seen time at second and third, and also have on their radar Nick Ahmed, a shortstop whom the rebuilding Diamondbacks are open to moving.
Internally, the Yankees could plug Gleyber Torres, who played mostly at second
last season as a rookie, in at short and use Tyler Wade at second.
“We’re comfortable with him at either position,” Fishman said of Torres.
As for the very crowded reliever market, there finally was some movement there late in the meetings. Various reports late Wednesday night and into Thursday morning said Jeurys Familia had agreed to a three-year, $30-million deal with the Mets and Joe Kelly agreed to a three-year, $25-million deal with the Dodgers. The Yankees didn’t really pursue either pitcher but those agreements
could get the ball rolling on some of those in whom they do have some interest, pitchers such as Zach Britton, David Robertson, Andrew Miller, Kelvin Herrera and Adam Ottavino. The trade market has also been explored.
“We’ve had discussions on various relievers, both on the free-agent market and the trade market,” Fishman said. “Looks like that market on the freeagent side is starting to move and we’re having those discussions now. That’s an area we’re looking to address.”