GM Brian Cashman has made it quite clear the Yankees will be aggressive this offseason
Here is the latest…
Nov. 17, 5:37 p.m.
Justin Verlander is staying in Houston, his brother Ben – an MLB analyst on FOX – tweeted Wednesday evening.
The Yankees had shown interest in the two-time Cy Young Award winner who had originally declined Houston’s qualifying offer. Yankee scouts had attended a workout of his recently.
Verlander has not pitched since the 2020 season, where he appeared in just one game before undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing the entire 2021 season in recovery.
Verlander’s deal is for one year worth $25 million, and he has player option for the 2023 season, according to Mark Berman of FOX 26 in Houston.
Jon Heyman notes that Verlander wanted to remain loyal to Astros owner Jim Crane and the organization.
Nov. 17, 5:00 p.m.
Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner was at the owners’ meetings in Chicago on Wednesday, and took time to touch on a variety of topics. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, one of them was Carlos Correa and the chance the Yankees could sign him.
The obvious stigma around Correa comes from his part in the Astros cheating scandal from 2017, but here’s what Steinbrenner had to say on the situation:
“He’s obviously a great talent,” he said. “And, look, I think, hopefully, most people have moved on from that. I mean, I think it’s only healthy to move on from things like that instead of stewing on it year after year. But, you know, people have the opinion that they want to have about that particular player. But, in general, we’re going to look at every single option. It’s the same thing we do every year.”
So this coincides with what GM Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone have said on Correa, too, which is that they believe he could be a viable option for their clubhouse.
Nov. 17, 1:56 p.m.
Justin Verlander has been a name connected with the Yankees since they sent a scout to watch his workout in Florida a few weeks back. MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reports the interest is still there, but even better, Verlander is “expected to have a decision fairly soon.”
Verlander was one of many that declined the qualifying offer from their respective teams – the Houston Astros in his case. And Heyman believes that “fairly soon” decision could be coming “perhaps even this week.”
Many other teams are in on Verlander, including the Toronto Blue Jays, and Heyman is hearing multi-year and one-year options are on the table. So he’ll have his fair share of choices on where he pitches next.
Nov. 16, 8:11 p.m.
Adding a shortstop is high on the Yankees’ offseason priority list, and they’re reportedly battling with another big-market team to land one of the top available options.
According to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, the Yankees and Dodgers are both playing for Corey Seager.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan has previously reported that both Seager and Marcus Semien – two of the top shortstops available – could sign quicker than expected due to a possible work stoppage in December.
Nov. 16, 5:15 p.m.
According to YES Network’s Jack Curry, the Yankees have made inquiries about A’s first baseman Matt Olson, but the two sides have not had any ‘detailed conversations about which players would be involved in a potential deal.”
Curry notes that the Yankees are “definitely interested” in Olson, who hit 39 homers with 111 RBI last year with the A’s.
Nov. 15, 1:33 p.m.
The Yankees are in the market for a first baseman, which MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reports has led to them meeting with “all top left-handed-hitting” ones. That includes 2021 World Series champion Freddie Freeman.
Freeman has only known the Braves in his career, and has made it clear that he wants to return to Atlanta.
However, anything is possible in free agency, so it makes sense that the Yanks checked in with one of the best two-way first basemen in MLB.
Nov. 15, 12:45 p.m.
The Yanks have interest in CF Starling Marte, per MLB Network’s Jon Heyman.
Cashman said recently that he is considering options in center field with no guarantees that Aaron Hicks will be set to go in 2022. Marte is the top center fielder on the market, and multiple teams — Houston Astros, Miami Marlins, Mets, and Philadelphia Phillies among them — will be vying for his services.
Marte, 33, had a fantastic 2021 campaign with the Marlins and Oakland A’s, slashing .310/.383/.458 with 12 homers, 27 doubles and 55 RBI, usually in the leadoff hole. He gets on base a bunch and has defensive prowess that hasn’t been hindered by age.
Nov. 12, 11:04 a.m.
Many around the league are worried a work stoppage is coming, which is why some free agents might be willing to sign quicker than expected. Add top free agent shortstops Marcus Semien and Corey Seager to that list, says ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Both of these players will be considered big splashes and it could come before Dec. 1 when the CBA expires.
SNY’s Andy Martino noted earlier that a lockout is likely, as there is a lot of “pessimism” in current labor negotiations. Martino added that when the lockout is over, the Yankees “are going to be big spenders and aggressive buyers on this free agent market this winter.”
We’ll see if that remains the case with these two players specifically.
Nov. 11, 2:29 p.m.
Cashman said that Carlos Correa‘s past with the Houston Astros won’t be an impediment to him signing in New York.
Cashman has spoken with “most, but not all” of the representatives for the top free agent shortstops, including Correa.
Correa was one of the Astros who was singled out during the league’s investigation into their cheating scandal that happened in 2017.