After season from hell, Nestor enjoys kinder down time
Angels promise Trout staying in their outfield
NASHVILLE – A season after earning down-ballot Cy Young votes, Nestor Cortes struggled in 2023. The crafty southpaw recorded a 4.97 ERA, and made only 12 starts following a spring-training hamstring injury and two in-season rotator cuff strains. The Yankees entered the season counting on Cortes after he registered a 2.44 ERA in 2022. Instead, he succumbed to poor health and performance, like much of the rotation.
This offseason has been kinder to Cortes, who recently got married and went on his honeymoon. He’s also been throwing without issue.
Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake said Cortes finished a throwing program in October. During that process, Cortes built his shoulder back up and got his velocity into the high-80s in bullpen sessions. Cortes then shut down for a bit, but he began ramping up again on Monday.
“We wanted to get him back on the mound,” Aaron Boone said Tuesday. “So he got built up to where he got on the mound. That went well. Then he went into shutdown, no-throw, and he just started his throwing program to build up for spring training yesterday. So he’s doing well.”
Blake said there’s no reason to believe Cortes won’t enter camp ready to go.
“As of right now, he’s tracking on a healthy status for spring training,” Blake said, “so that’s encouraging.”
Cortes is part of a projected rotation that also features Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Michael King and Clarke Schmidt. However, King and Schmidt have been frequently mentioned in trade rumors, especially those involving Juan Soto. The Yankees’ starting depth includes unseasoned youngsters Jhony Brito, Randy Vásquez, Yoendrys Gómez and Luis Gil. There’s also prospects Will Warren, Clayton Beeter, Drew Thorpe, Chase Hampton and Richard Fitts, though they have varying levels of minor-league experience.
Luis Severino unsurprisingly left the Yankees in free agency, signing with the Mets, while Frankie Montas remains on the open market.
Brian Cashman said Tuesday that the Yankees have discussed a potential reunion with Montas’ agent, Scott Boras.
PITCHERS ON MEND
Gil, who impressed over a small sample in 2021, pitched in just two minor-league games in 2023, as he spent most of the year recovering from Tommy John surgery.
However, Blake said he has been throwing back home in the Dominican Republic, and the righty could affect the Yankees in some way next season.
Reliever Scott Effross, another Tommy John recipient, is still rehabbing and “working through that process,” Blake said. Meanwhile, Tommy Kahnle is still getting his shoulder strength back, but Blake feels he’s in a good spot after his season ended with shoulder inflammation.
Blake added that Jonathan Loáisiga was recently cleared to start throwing and is building up after elbow inflammation ended his season a few weeks early.
Blake was not aware of any other pitching injuries popping up since the season ended.
CASTING A WIDE NET
The Yankees covet Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto. However, they have steep competition for his services.
Yamamoto is not the only international pitcher on the market, though. While not nearly as hyped as Yamamoto, there’s fellow countrymen Shota Imanaga, Naoyuki Uwasawa and Yuki Matsui, as well as Cuban star Yariel Rodríguez, among others.
When asked if the Yankees are in on any international pitchers besides Yamamoto, Blake simply said, “I know we’re canvassing the market for all of them.”
When Cashman was asked about Japanese pitchers besides Yamamoto, he said, “I’ve had many conversations with quite a few of the players that obviously come from Japan.”
NASHVILLE — The Yankees had yet to make any splashes by the time Aaron Boone spoke at the Winter Meetings on Tuesday afternoon, but that didn’t stop the manager from discussing some of his team’s top targets.
The first name to come up was naturally Juan Soto’s. The Yankees and Padres have discussed trade scenarios for the left fielder this offseason, but San Diego’s reported asking price has been considered steep thus far, with names like Michael King, Clarke Schmidt and Drew Thorpe being mentioned as possible Yankees trade chips.
“He’s as good of an offensive player as there is. He’s a machine offensively,” Boone said of Soto. “Has accomplished a ton already at a young age. Durable, has been a central figure on a world championship team. Comes with a lot of fanfare and has been one of the rock-solid performers in our sport on the offensive side of the ball year in and year out.”
Indeed, Soto would give the Yankees the left-handed bat they always seem to be missing. But the Scott Boras client is projected to make $33 million in his final year before free agency and declined a 15-year, $440 million extension from the Nationals before they traded him to San Diego in 2022, so the Yankees don’t want to overpay for someone who amounts to a rental.
The Padres, meanwhile, are looking to shed payroll and rebuild their rotation. Trading Soto would help on both fronts, and the Yankees have arms to spare.
“It comes down to matching up,” Boone said while generally speaking about the Yankees’ needs. “Sometimes you’re able to attack a specific need or hole. Sometimes that doesn’t come to fruition and you gotta try and make hay on another part that may be a strength you have.”
Boone also talked a bit about Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, stating that he “probably would” look good in pinstripes.
Boone noted that he’s met the right-hander before, “and I do plan on meeting him again.”
It’s unclear how much Yamamoto will make, but the expectation is that the posted pitcher will clear $200 million. The Yankees have plenty of competition for his services.
FINALLY, SOME GOOD HEALTH
Injuries decimated the Yankees in 2023, but Boone had some encouraging updates on a handful of hitters.
Asked if there was anything new on Aaron Judge’s toe, Boone simply said that the slugger is feeling well. Judge was not expected to need surgery this offseason.
Boone added that Jose Trevino (wrist surgery) and Anthony Rizzo (post-concussion syndrome) are “doing great.” Rizzo stayed back in New York for most of October and into November so that he could work out at Yankee Stadium.
“By the end of the season, he was probably game-ready and ready to go,” Boone said. “So he’s in really good shape. He’s in the middle of a normal winter of training and getting ready, and I know he’s really excited.”
Boone wasn’t sure if Rizzo will need to follow up with doctors in the coming months, but “he’s cleared and ready to roll. Now it’s about going out and proving it to himself.”
As for Jasson Domínguez (UCL surgery), Boone wasn’t exactly sure when he’ll start swinging, but the expectation is that he will be by spring training.
DOMÍNGUEZ’S FUTURE
Like Brian Cashman previously, Boone didn’t commit to Domínguez being the Yankees’ center fielder once healthy. The 20-yearold likely won’t be cleared until the middle of the summer.
Domínguez doesn’t necessarily have to go straight back to the majors, and Boone mentioned left field could also be an option depending on what the Yankees’ roster looks like. Either way, the skipper is still excited about The Martian’s future.
“I think Jasson’s gonna be an awesome player in this league,” Boone said. “And not just because he came up and obviously burst onto the scene with some really good games before he got injured. I just love the makeup. I love the talent. And I’m excited about his future as a center fielder, as a left fielder potentially down the road in our yard depending on what our roster makeup is.”
BOONE’S JOB SECURITY
Boone is entering the final guaranteed year of his contract, but he insisted that he’s not feeling “unsettled,” even as his staff changes around him. The Yankees have hired a new hitting coach in James Rowson and a bench coach with managerial experience in Brad Ausmus.
“I’m consumed with getting back to the playoffs and winning it all,” Boone said. “Like, that’s where my brain is, and that’s where my focus is and what my role is in that. Whatever happens at the end of it, it truly is out of my control right now. This is about getting us ready, from my standpoint, as best we can and get to spring training and prepare to try and win a championship. That’s where my focus is, and we’ll see how it ends.”
Boone later said that the Yankees can be better at communicating analytical information with players, echoing comments that assistant general manager Michael Fishman made on Monday.
As for the staff, Boone said that assistant hitting coach Casey Dykes will return. It’s unclear if Brad Wilkerson, another assistant hitting coach, will be back, but a return hasn’t been ruled out.
EXCITED FOR STANTON
Giancarlo Stanton suffered the worst year of his career in 2023 and fell victim to a hamstring injury. Stanton has a history of lower-body injuries, which prompted Cashman to state that the designated hitter will likely get hurt again next season. Cashman has since mended fences after that comment. Boone, meanwhile, believes that Stanton can return to form, though he didn’t provide any specifics on what he’s been up to this offseason.
The Angels will not trade three-time AL MVP Mike Trout, general manager Perry Minasian confirmed at MLB’s winter meetings on Tuesday.
Minasian responded to the annual questions about Trout’s future with the underachieving Angels by providing the same answer he has given in past years — and the same answer given by owner Arte Moreno’s previous general managers.
“Mike Trout will not be getting traded, 100%,” Minasian said.
Trout is under contract through 2030, and he makes $35.45 million annually with a full no-trade clause. But even after he missed significant portions of the past three seasons due to injuries, his future in Anaheim remains an annual topic of debate due to his formidable talent and the Angels’ annual failures to achieve any team success.
The 32-year-old Trout has participated in one playoff series and has never won a postseason game in a 13-year career spent entirely with the Halos. Los Angeles is mired in streaks of eight consecutive losing seasons and nine consecutive non-playoff seasons, both the longest in the majors.
Trout is owed $248.15 million over the next seven seasons as part of his record $426.5 million, 12-year contract with the Angels.
CC BACK ON HILL
CC Sabathia is getting ready to take the mound again next spring, five years after his retirement, to pitch in a tribute to the Negro Leagues All-Star Game at the Hall of Fame’s Doubleday Field in Cooperstown.
“My career ended with me ripping my shoulder up and not being able to throw a baseball anymore, but I’m rehabbing myself to be able to come back and pitch an inning in this game,” the 43-year-old left-hander said Tuesday during a news conference at the winter meetings.
Ken Griffey Jr. and Ozzie Smith have agreed to manage or coach at the May 25 Hall of Fame East-West Classic. It will be played in conjunction with the opening of the Hall’s “Souls of the Game: Voices of Black Baseball” exhibit.
The Negro Leagues East-West All-Star Game began at Comiskey Park in September 1933, two months after MLB’s first All-Star Game at the same ballpark, and was played annually through 1962.
Jerry and Scott Hairston, whose grandfather, Sam, played for the Cincinnati and Indianapolis Clowns in the Negro American League, are among the players who said they will participate. Others include Ryan Howard, Prince Fielder, David Price, B.J. and Justin Upton, Curtis Granderson, Dontrelle Willis, Adam Jones, Dexter Fowler, LaTroy Hawkins and Edwin Jackson.