My outlook for the offseason was pretty bleak. But Cashman then executed a brilliant maneuver that altered the course of the game entirely by acquiring Juan Soto in a trade. Optimism became my middle name, perhaps a little too much for good. Although there were initial reports indicating the New York Yankees were no longer in the running for Blake Snell, it appears that the ship has sailed as of last night.
Thus, if Snell’s case is truly closed, the pursuit of him encounters a roadblock due to the financial terms, with a sizeable $120 million and three years separating their goals. The cautious Yankees offered a six-year contract costing $150 million, while Snell was looking for a nine-year deal worth $270 million. As a result, the group looked into other possibilities, potentially ending one chapter and beginning another. Jon Heyman provides more background on Yankee’s stance on Blake Snell.
In the midst of this, the Yankees’ attention has turned to Corbin Burnes of the Milwaukee Brewers, a move suggested by Bob Klapisch as a viable and potentially more promising option. With the funds initially earmarked for Snell now available, the Yankees could make a mid-season play for Burnes, whose contract demands and performance might offer a better fit for the Pinstripes’ future. The dream of a Snell and Gerrit Cole powerhouse, the 2023 Cy Young duo, now seems like just that—a dream. But perhaps, come the trade deadline,
This might add more depth to our rotation, which looks reasonably strong even without Snell. Gerrit Cole is leading the charge, as solid as ever. Fresh off a Cy Young win in 2023 and already garnering nods for the 2024 Cy Young from MLB experts, he’s the anchor of the lineup.
However, Carlos Rodon had a tough year, and Nestor Cortes Jr., despite shining as an All-Star in 2022, struggled with injuries last season. Marcus Stroman, though, Missing out on Yoshinobu Yamamoto left a big gap in the Yankees’ rotation. Currently, we have Cole, Rodon, Cortes, and Clarke Schmidt.
Cole is the only sure thing. Cortes and Rodon are looking to bounce back from injury-plagued seasons, and Schmidt is still finding his footing. Luke Weaver and Cody Poteet are the only depth in our rotation before delving into the farm.
Notably, the New York Yankees picked up lefty reliever Matt Gage from the Houston Astros. In his relatively short, two-season-long career, Gage has made 21 appearances, boasting a career ERA of an impressive 1.83 in 19.2 innings pitched.
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