New York Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman attends the winter meetings in Las Vegas beginning today, Sunday, December 9th.
Since the season’s end, Yankees have re-signed veterans Brett Gardner and CC Sabathia to one year contracts, picked up players, such as INF Hansel Alberto and RHP Parker Bridwell off waivers, and made trades both big and small, acquiring LHP James Paxton (for LHP Justin Sheffield, RHP Erik Swanson and OF Dom Thompson-Williams) and trading INF Ronald Torreyes (player to be named later or cash) and RHP Drew Finley (for OF Tim Locastro).
The Paxton trade was huge for the Yankees, giving up their number one prospect, Sheffield, for the now proven veteran southpaw, Paxton, who had a career year with the Seattle Mariners.
With four-fifths of a rotation set, Cashman heads into Vegans with the hopes of Yankees fans riding on his shoulders. Cashman’s main concern in the winter meetings is starting pitching and fans hope he will pull off a blockbuster and bring another ace to the staff, such as one of the Cleveland Indians’ pitchers Trevor Bauer or Corey Kluber.
There have been some rumblings about Madison Bumgarner of the San Francisco Giants possibly being available as well and as fans, we have to hope Cashman explores every available opportunity to land an elite starter.
Just to throw a few more logs on the fire, free agents JA Happ and Dallas Keuchel are also garnering attention from Yankee fans who don’t like the idea of trading either Miguel Andujar or top prospects, such as Mike King and Estevan Florial to land either Kluber or Bauer.
Let’s mention the elephants in the room Manny Machado and Bryce Harper. Cashman will have plenty of competition for the attention of the representatives for these two players and the rumors have been fast and furious with arguments for and against the Yankees acquiring either player – both have big personalities and even bigger potential. Landing one or both is a must for the Yankees in 2019.
Finally, the Yankees will be looking to fill in a bullpen depleted by the free agent loss of David Robinson and Zach Britton. The question is whether the Yankees would want to bring either or both of these players back, both had good seasons in 2018, or turn again to the free agent market.
Former Colorado Rockies free agent Adam Ottaviano’s name is on the lips of many Yankee fans, as one of the top relievers in the game last season, but a reunion with former-Yankee Andrew Miller , a free agent, would also be welcomed by fans. There is former Brewers relief pitcher Joakim Soria, coming off a huge season with the Brewers, and on the Yankees’ radar.
So stoke up the hot stove, the Yankees have needs, the winter meetings may have resolutions. Fans expect a blockbuster, like the CC Sabathia signing during the 2008 winter meetings that eventually brought a World Series to the team. What will Cashman deliver this week?