Taste of success can go
Of all the big free agents, Chapman seems to be the most likely to wind up with the Yankees. They loved having him as the closer and he loved playing in the Bronx.
If Chapman asks for more money than the Yankees are willing to fork over, three-time All-Star closer Melancon — another former Yankee — could be a good fallback plan.
The Yankees know he loves New York, and he might be willing to take a one-year deal to come back as a DH/ outfielder. Could help mentor Aaron Judge.
The current Met and former Yankee won't be seeking a long-term deal, and he can fill a spot in the rotation with his veteran presence and rubber arm.
This one would take a little more money and likely three years, but the talented — and fragile — Hill could be an answer in the middle of the rotation without having to make a huge, long-term commitment.
Having followed up their official elimination from postseason contention Thursday night with a meaningless 8-1 dud of a loss to the Orioles on Friday, a lot of the buzz around Yankee Stadium is now centered on what Brian Cashman would do to put the Yankees back in the postseason in 2017.
The answer might surprise you.
With a player under control at every position, seven starting pitchers and their three primary bullpen arms under control for at least one more season, the Yankees might not be big spenders this winter, especially given the underwhelming nature of the free-agent class.
“I think that we can be a contender almost as-is,” Chase Headley said. “We proved that we can play with the better teams in the league right now. There’s no momentum to carry over from year to year; just because we played well this year doesn’t mean we’re going to next year. But the talent is certainly there, especially if we do a little bit to improve in the offseason.”
That “little bit” could very well mean bringing back Aroldis Chapman, whom they dealt to the Cubs for three prospects and reliever Adam Warren in late-July. Chapman could reunite with Dellin Betances, pushing Warren and Tyler Clippard back into the sixth and seventh innings.
Another underwhelming start by Michael Pineda Friday — in which he lasted 4.1 innings and allowed five runs on six hits — only further proved that the Yankees could stand to bolster the rotation. But given the incredibly weak free-agent crop, it’s unlikely they will be able to add an impact arm unless Cashman is prepared to package some of his prized prospects.
The Yankees’ 9-17 start to the season put them in a hole they spent months trying to climb out of. Had they just opened 13-13 — and considering they went 74-59 after May 5, it’s not unreasonable to think they could have started .500 — the Yankees would be tied with the Orioles and Blue Jays for the wild