The New York Yankees are now officially starting to scramble to make decisions to improve the team for the 2021 season. After a very disappointing coronavirus season that saw the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Yankees and become East division champs, and a failed postseason with the same Rays beating them again, ending their season, the Yankees have a bundle of decisions to make. Decisions on players that have reached free agency, players with options, and how to fill the holes that the team suffers from now and ones that may come up in the offseason, such as losing some coaches.
Will Jasson Dominguez be impactful in 2021?
It seems like New York Yankee fans have been waiting for five years now for Jasson Dominguez to make his debut at Yankee Stadium. Fans have heard all kinds of news on the near inhuman baseball player that has been working hard in the Dominican Republic to become the best baseball player in the game.
The fact is that the young man is still just 17 years old. It hasn’t been five years since the Yankees signed him to a contract, when he was only 16, almost two years ago. But fans have seen videos of the extraordinary that looks like a player 10 years older and in the prime of his career. So will Dominguez make his major league debut in 2021?
There is no clear answer; we will probably see him at Yankee Stadium in pinstripes sometime during the 2021 season. We may even be surprised to see him working out with the team during spring training. The young man that has been compared to the likes of Mike Trout and Mickey Mantle will turn 18 on February 2nd, just three weeks before spring training camp, again plays at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. Below is the latest video of Dominguez working to prepare for that eventuality.
Another Jasson Dominguez video that will leave you shocked he’s only 17 years old… https://t.co/grTzWngbwY
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) October 27, 2020
4 Yankees are now officially free agents with more to come
At the top of that list is second baseman DJ LeMahieu. James Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka, and J.A. Happ, who did not meet his vesting eligibility in the 2021 season. If the Yankees can reach a deal with LeMahieu, they will certainly sign the award-winning player. He has an option for $18.9 million for a one-year extension, but he will want more than that, at least over $20 million and not for a year. He will likely look for a 3-4 year contract that could reach $80 million or more. Much more than that will mean in the cash-short offseason; they could potentially let him walk.
Beyond LeMahieu, what the Yankees will do with Tanaka, Paxton, and Happ is far less clear. If the New York Yankees offer a contract to only one of the three, it will most likely be Masahiro Tanaka, as he has stayed healthy and has been a dependable pitcher for the Yankees was signed from Japan. The last two seasons haven’t been that great, but the Yankees might be willing to sign him for a discount.
It looks like Domingo German will be in the 2021 rotation
There are reports out of the Dominican Republic that Domingo German will be reporting for winter ball there soon. He will join Gary Sanchez and Miguel Andujar, hoping to improve their games after very disappointing seasons. The trio reportedly will play for Toros Del Este this week, according to ESPN Deportes. Andujar couldn’t get hitting this past season and never really found a place with the team, but very much wants to play back at Yankees Stadium. Sanchez had a horrible season being the Yankee’s worst player. Domingo German, the Yankees’ best pitcher in 2019, is rusty after serving a season-long suspension for violating the MLB domestic rules.
New York Yankees could lose key coaches throughout the system
With so many managerial and coaching positions open this offseason, it seems like the Yankees have been targeted to fill many of those positions with other teams. One key one is Carlos Mendoza, manager Aaron Boone’s bench coach and right-hand man. Mendoza has reportedly been interviewed by the Boston Red Sox as they look to replace their interim manager after firing Alex Cora, who was involved in the Houston Astros cheating scandal.
Another loss the Yankees could endure is losing Marcus Thames, the Yankee’s pitching coach; he has already been interviewed by the Detroit Tigers Manager, resulting from the retirement of Ron Gardenhire. Reportedly Thames is on the shortlist to become the new Tiger’s manager. The Yankees might lose their three year 3rd base coach as well. Phil Nevin has been guiding Yankee players for years and has experience with the Arizona Diamondbacks as well. It is unlikely the Yankees will lose all three of these coaches, but like will have at least one position to fill.