1. Spend wildly, furiously - (stupidly, perhaps?) - on replacements, such as Andrew Benintendi and Cody Bellinger. This is depressing and won't work. Neither can replace Judge.
2. Blow up the roster and tank - trading DJ, Gleyber, IKF, and ditching Stanton, Donaldson, perhaps even Cole - looking towards 2024. This is really depressing, but it might work, if Anthony Volpe and The Martian turn out to be real. (Big "ifs.")
3. Sign two Japanese stars - OF Matasaka Yoshida (mentioned above, with .960 career OPS) and SP Kodai Senga (age 29 with a career ERA of 2.42 overseas.) This could be exciting, a complete roll of the dice, though it might flop.
Normally, we'd spend Black Friday outlining possible Yankees deals. Not this year. Until Judge decides his fate, it is pointless to speculate. But, seriously, if Judge leaves, do the Yankees have any other options?
ReplyDeleteWho would take Giancarlo? We'd have to eat most or all of the One Hundred + Thirty Million U.S. Dollars remaining on his contract. That includes the $10M buyout at the end.
Who would take Cole at his contract rate? He is due Thirty Six Million U.S. Dollars per year through 2028 (at which time he will be age 37). That's 6 x 36 = $216 million.
Donaldson has $29,750,000 remaining on his contract (assuming the team exercises the buyout for 2024).
To shed these 3 guys, Cashman/Steinbrenner have to find foolish GMs/Owners to ante up $375 million. If the other 29 GMs balk -- and they will, and they would know that the Yankees are bent over a barrel -- Hal would have to come up with a HUGE percentage of that amount.
Just to rid the team of 3 millstones.
These are the facts. They make the idea that the NYYs can get rid of these guys a very, very, VERY long shot.
NOTE: If Judge signs for $35 million a year (to pick a figure), the annual outflow for him, Cole + Giancarlo for 2024 would be $32M (GS) $36M (GC) and $35 for judge. $103 million for just these 3 players.
If you want to go further --
Donaldson in 2023 = $21.75m
Rizzo in 2023 = $17M
Hicks = $10.76M
That's another $49.5M. For the 6 guys, assuming the number for Judge is correct, the team would be on the hook for more than $152 million.
One pitcher. One MVP. One broken-down DH. One not-so-great first baseman. One sagging third-baseman. And one outfielder who sometime shows up, gets hurt, and then disappears.
Wow.
Hal can turn the Yanks into a second major league soccer team.
ReplyDeleteJudge and Stanton to the World Wrestling Federation. Donaldson is the new Grand Wizard. He'll look good in a turban.
A turban or a cone?
ReplyDeleteThe Soylent Green treatment isn’t out of the question for Donaldson.
ReplyDeleteMaybe for a few more of the others too.
I’ll be in NYC 2nd week of December.
Perhaps I should silently picket outside the Yankees store if Judge isn’t signed yet, OR has joined another team.
Ok Ok Ok - I’d only do it if others would be willing to join me.
My sign might say - BOONE AND GLOOM on one side and YOU WILL ALL BE JUDGED on the other.
I'm afraid that Joe FOB is correct. Sorry, but NO ONE is taking on all of our dead wood without an enormous subsidy from HAL...which will NOT be forthcoming.
ReplyDeleteFor that matter, I'm not even sure they CAN trade the likes of Stanton or Cole without their permission.
And then there's the Cashman Conundrum. We can talk all we like about how our doughty GM should trade this player or that. But chances are, if he tries to, he's going to get skinned.
Our best hope: the one, truly entertaining player on the team is re-signed. That's it.
@ AA....Are you coming back to Branford for a visit?
ReplyDeleteHow can you outline Yankees moves when you know there won't be many. Thanksgiving dinner cost Hal, the billionaire, lots of money out of pocket.
ReplyDeleteCJW - no Branford this time around - only NJ for a day then NYC.
ReplyDeleteBut I’ll likely be there in the late spring/early summer.
25 years there…..I hope that was a good quarter century for you.
I am currently scouting the Winter Leagues and will let Cashman know if there are any gems to be mined down there if the Judge, Japan, Rule 5 things doesn't work out.
ReplyDelete