When Yankees general manager Brian Cashman suggested to bosses he’d like to listen on impending free agents Harrison Bader, Wandy Peralta, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Luis Severino, he got the go-ahead if:
- he could get good prospects back; or 2) saved significant dollars.
There was interest in all of them to varying degrees and Peralta was predictably popular.
But the offers didn’t move the needle.
On the buy side, Cashman offered prospects for Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson.
However, St. Louis wanted controllable starting pitching back.
Cashman obviously didn’t want former Rockies outfielder and current Angels outfielder Randal Grichuk as as he never made that call.
Same for Mariners outfielder Teoscar Hernandez.
The Yankees were caught in no man’s land at the worst possible time.
The hitter market was bleak, especially after obvious target Cody Bellinger was removed from market.
There was no chance to try to land Bellinger early as the Cubs were waiting to see where they stood, then won seven straight.
It’s tough to be in the middle and relievers Keynan Middleton and Spencer Howard felt like a small consolation prize.