A mega-trade.
Specifically, it would bring Juan Soto, one of baseball's greatest young hitters, to Gotham. It would also loot the Yankee farm system, already rated in the lower tier, at a time when youthful rosters are paramount. And it would be engineered by the GM whose deals have gutted the Yankees over the last three years.
Wanna figure out how Texas evolved from a 5th place monstrosity to the world series? Well, you start with Brian Cashman's 2021 trade for Joey Gallo, a deal that went south from the gitgo. It was supposed to fill our hole in LF. Instead, it turned it into a crater, so wide and deep that the Yankees are still seeking to fill it, and it might require blowing up their system.
All of which raises one essential question:
Do the Yankees - by leaking rumors of double-secret probationary trade talks with San Diego - think they are raising hope among their fans?
Are we supposed to be excited when hearing that Cashman seeks to deal with a team that has multiple suitors?
This isn't just about the Gallo deal. That was the first of many trade fiascos that turned us into this season's tomato can. The list of acquisitions includes Scott Effross, Harrison Bader, Andrew Benintendi, Frankie Montas and Lou Trivino - which then inspired the LF follies of Jake Bauers, Willie Calhoun, Billy McKinney, Oswaldo Cabrera and Franchie Cordero - not to mention a similar open wound at 3B.
Are we supposed to believe Cashman's trades will revive the Yankees?
I don't mean to blame Cashman for everything that's gone wrong. He doesn't deserve to be Bud Lited, or Swift Boated or even Dixie Chicked. If we need a proper villain, it should be Half-Ass Hal, who manages to spend just enough to contend through Sept. 1, and then walk away to play the horses. What's wrong with the Yankees? The owner doesn't need to win. When push comes to shove, they're a hobby.
I'm sorry, folks, but any notion that the Yankees are working on a massive trade for Soto - or, for that matter, anybody... it fills me with dread.
If you look at the last three years, how can anyone feel differently?
At least it would be something. I have no faith in Cashman, either (as some of you might have noticed).
ReplyDeleteBut there is no way that HAL is letting him take on another massive, long-term contract.
Much worse, for us: there is no way that the Yankees have enough in their farm system to satisfy San Diego. Especially now with The Martian badly injured, and perhaps out for good.
Sorry, this is just more, postseason hooey, designed to claim our attention and hush our complaints. Next will come the Japanese portion of our program: endless speculation about whether or not the Yankees will sign Yamamoto, Ohtani, that pint-sized reliever...
Spoiler alert: none of the above will happen.
Oh, but Hoss …. all of it will happen …. if you really want it to.
ReplyDeleteAll We Need To Do is,
Dream, dream, dream, dream
Dream, dream, dream, dream
Dream, dream, dream, dream
Hal
I need you so that I could die
I love you so and that is why
Whenever I want you, all I have to do is
Dream, dream, dream, dream
Dream
Hal
I can make you mine, taste your lips of wine
Anytime, night or day
Only trouble is, gee whiz
I'm dreamin' my life away
Hal
I need you so that I could die
I love you so and that is why
Whenever I want you, all I have to do is
Dream, dream, dream, dream
Dream, dream, dream, dream
Dream, dream, dream, dream
Dream
More like Nightmare on Elm Street, AA.
ReplyDeleteThat was my version, JM.
ReplyDeleteNightmare on 161 Street
Don't forget that Soto is a free agent at the end of next year so whatever the deal is Soto can walk after next season.
ReplyDeleteWe could be giving up the farm for a rental.
That said, if they can sign him... at least he is only 25 so a 10 year contract isn't "too" insane.
But again,right now he is a rental. Maybe that helps the price.
Or the Yankees can do one of those we will take all your shitty contracts that will tie us up for years and give you players who will actually be better than what we trade for kind of deals.
Brian loves those.
I cannot believe we would actually get anyone like Soto. It's hard enough to believe we get Cody Bellinger. Yamamoto and the rest, pretty impossible.
ReplyDeleteWe'll get some guy for LF who has a statistical edge hitting on a Wednesday against pitchers older than 30. He'll be right-handed, of course, and currently serving out his term in Joliet but he'll be ready by August.
I won't believe a word of it until someone spots them in a secluded restaurant canoodling.
ReplyDeleteThe time to get Soto was back when the Washington Nats had their auction. I admit that I've longed for them to get Soto since then, but I've changed my mind.
ReplyDeleteThis is because, if they are going to keep Matt Blake as pitching coach, and also get some tomato can for a new hitting coach, they might as well just keep all the kids and do a full youth movement. Take your lumps for two years, get kicked in the face, get buried in last place. But try to develop the kids and wait. Wait and see approach with the offense. No need to get Soto. No need to get any free agent position player.
With the pitching, they can certainly spend some money and get those Japanese pitchers. Why the hell not, it's only money. If they don't do something with the pitching, it'll be a full blown disaster in 2024. You know Rodon is going to get shelled again. He might be even worse than he was this year. That is the usual prognosis for struggling pitchers here. They usually get worse until they completely fall off the cliff.
But as Hoss said above, I don't think anything significant will happen this winter. They haven't really done anything in the off season for a decade and a half. Why should we expect any big changes this winter?
Probably true JM, probably true.
ReplyDeleteThen again, they did go after and get Cole and their philosophy seems to be Yankee fans want to see stars! Even though it makes more sense to build the stars.
I mean let's face it none of the Core Four (or five) were stars when the Yankees got them. Paul O'Neil wasn't a star.
What we really want is a winning ball club worth watching. That said...
I'd take an OF of
Soto (FA)
Dominguez (HG)
Judge (HG)
And a 2025 infield of
3B Munetaka Murakami. He will be 25 or 26. (FA)
Peraza (HG)
Volpe (HG)
An actual first baseman (FA)
Wells (HG)
That would get it done for me. Nice mix of home grown players and free agents who are mostly young and ascendant.
Seems doable. Well except for ownership and management.
The New York Yankees and San Diego Padres have had a "preliminary" conversation about Juan Soto, according to a report.
ReplyDeleteSoto, 25, is entering his final season before free agency. He is expected to command one of the largest contracts in baseball history.
It's believed that the Padres would trade Soto in "the right deal."
Is that like dogwater?
As JM pointed out Soto is under team control only for 2024, arbitration eligible, his salary is currently undetermined but it is widely believed it will be north of $30M. This means we could empty our farm system for a player who could sign elsewhere after just one season. Perhaps, as noted philosopher Walter White observed, it would be best to “tread lightly”.
ReplyDeleteICYMI, Sean Casey will not return as HC next year, citing “family reasons”. Apparently 3 months of dysfunctia was all he could stomach. He Came, He Saw, He Vomited.🤮
Duque, you made me laugh and choke at the same time.
ReplyDeleteWait! We had Andrew Benintendi??
ReplyDelete