Go beyond the box score with the Bombers
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With less than a month until pitchers and catchers report to Tampa for spring training, the Yankees have put together a strong offseason.
But how does it stack up within their own division?
After winning the AL East in 2022, the Yankees finished last season in fourth place, and the three teams above them don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon — particularly the Orioles, who won the division for the first time since 2014 behind an emerging young core with more talent on the way.
Understanding that teams still have some time to augment their rosters — especially during a slow-developing offseason that still has plenty of top free agents unsigned — here’s a look at how the Yankees’ moves thus far compare to their division rivals:
New York Yankees
• Additions: OF Juan Soto, RHP Marcus Stroman, OF Alex Verdugo, OF Trent Grisham, LHP Victor Gonzalez, RHP Cody Poteet, RHP Cody Morris
• Subtractions: RHP Michael King, RHP Randy Vasquez, RHP Jhony Brito, C Kyle Higashioka, UT Isiah Kiner-Falefa, RHP Greg Weissert, OF Estevan Florial
• Re-sign: RHP Luke Weaver
WAR added (via FanGraphs’ 2024 projections): 12.2
WAR lost: 6.3
Landing Soto from the Padres was obviously the Yankees’ major move, adding one of the best bats in the game to a lineup that was one of the worst in baseball last year. They missed out on also landing Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but pivoted to Stroman to fill the hole in their rotation created by trading King in the Soto deal. Beyond that, there has been a fair amount of turnover on the 40-man roster as the Yankees try to create better lineup balance and replenish some pitching depth.
Next move? The Yankees could use another proven arm in the bullpen, whether that means bringing back lefty Wandy Peralta or adding a righty such as Robert Stephenson.
Baltimore Orioles
• Additions: RHP Craig Kimbrel, RHP Jonathan Heasley, OF Sam Hilliard
• Subtractions: RHP Kyle Gibson
• Re-sign: N/A
WAR added: 0.8
WAR lost: 2.1
It hasn’t exactly been a busy offseason for the defending AL East champs, though thanks to their homegrown core, they didn’t necessarily need any huge moves. They added the veteran Kimbrel as their new closer — a decent price at one year for $13 million, though which Kimbrel they are getting remains to be seen — with Felix Bautista potentially missing all of 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Gibson wasn’t flashy with a 4.73 ERA, but his 192 innings cannot be overlooked and will have to be replaced, which the Orioles could do via trade instead of free agency.
Next move? Using a package of prospects to trade for Dylan Cease from the White Sox.
Boston Red Sox
• Additions: 2B/OF Vaughn Grissom, RHP Lucas Giolito, OF Tyler O’Neill, RHP Cooper Criswell, RHP Greg Weissert
• Subtractions: LHP Chris Sale, OF Alex Verdugo, INF Luis Urias
• Re-sign: N/A
WAR added: 6.6
WAR lost: 6.4
The Red Sox promised to go “full throttle” this offseason, only for that comment from chairman Tom Werner to blow up in their faces during what has been a disappointing winter for their fan base. Acquiring Grissom for the oft-injured Sale may prove to be a quality move, as could trading Verdugo to the Yankees for Weissert, pitching prospect Richard Fitts and a minor league arm. But instead of being real players at the top of the free-agent market, the Red Sox have more often seemed like also-rans when they still need high-end roster reinforcements, particularly in the rotation. So far, despite firing chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom and replacing him with Craig Breslow, the Red Sox have not shown they are willing to spend big to the extent they once did.
Tampa Bay Rays
• Additions: RHP Ryan Pepiot, OF Jonny DeLuca, OF Richie Palacios, SS Jose Caballero
• Subtractions: RHP Tyler Glasnow, OF Manuel Margot, 2B Vidal Brujan, RHP Calvin Faucher, OF Luke Raley, RHP Andrew Kittredge
• Re-sign: RHP Chris Devenski
WAR added: 3.2
WAR lost: 6.2
The Rays have had a pretty Rays-like offseason with their only major move being trading their top pitcher (Glasnow) one year before he hits free agency. Pepiot is an intriguing arm to get in return, and the Rays have typically fared well in these kinds of deals (Glasnow came to the organization with Shane Baz and Austin Meadows in exchange for Chris Archer in 2018). Early in the offseason, there were questions about whether the Rays might trade Randy Arozarena as well, but at least for now, arguably the most important bat in their lineup remains. Meanwhile, Palacios, DeLuca and Caballero should give manager Kevin Cash more options to mix and match with his lineups.
Next move? Cash is reportedly entering the final year of his contract, but the Rays would be smart to lock him up again long-term.
Toronto Blue Jays
• Additions: UT Isiah Kiner-Falefa, RHP Yariel Rodriguez
• Subtractions: RHP Jordan Hicks
• Re-sign: OF Kevin Kiermaier
WAR added: 1.6
WAR lost: 1.3
It’s been a tough offseason for Blue Jays fans, mainly because of the drama of the Shohei Ohtani decision and being lured into thinking that he was actually coming to Toronto — only for him to end up a Dodger. They have been relatively quiet since then, though bringing back Kiermaier on a one-year, $10.5 million deal looks like a shrewd move, Kiner-Falefa can play everywhere and Rodriguez could be an intriguing arm at a reported four years and $32 million. Still, it feels as if the Blue Jays could use another bat.
Next move? Get a deal done with Scott Boras — either re-signing Matt Chapman or signing Cody Bellinger.
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Prospect season is upon us once again.
Baseball America rolled out its new Top 100 prospect rankings on Wednesday and the Yankees, even after trading for Juan Soto, still were tied with the Orioles, Rays and Padres for having the most prospects (six) in the top 100. Of course, five of the Orioles’ six prospects were ranked in the top 41, including No. 1 Jackson Holliday.
To be fair, prospect rankings are not a surefire way to determine future success in the big leagues, as Clint Frazier, Deivi Garcia, Miguel Andujar and Estevan Florial might remind you.
That being said, here’s where the Yankees landed in the new rankings:
16. OF Jasson Dominguez
Once hyped out of this world, his prospect status had taken a hit in recent years as he came in at No. 87 before the 2022 season and No. 67 in 2023. But he’s back near the top after looking the part in a brief September cameo with the Yankees. Now he just needs to get through his Tommy John surgery rehab before he can be a factor again, likely sometime this summer.
46. OF Spencer Jones
With comps as a left-handed Aaron Judge upon being drafted out of Vanderbilt in 2022, Jones made it to Double-A by the end of 2023. Not wanting to give him up is likely one of the reasons the Yankees haven’t pulled off a trade for Dylan Cease.
67. OF Everson Pereira
After staying healthy and putting together a strong season between Double-A and Triple-A, he arrived in The Bronx in August. But his 27 games made it clear he still needs some more development, particularly with his plate discipline.
68. SS Roderick Arias
After signing for $4 million in 2022, Arias made his stateside debut in 2023 and impressed before having his season cut short due to a broken finger.
71. C Austin Wells
Long regarded as a bat-first catcher, Wells had teammates and coaches raving about his work behind the plate during his September call-up last season. Now he should get a chance to split time with Jose Trevino this season.
72. RHP Chase Hampton
With the Yankees including Drew Thorpe in the Soto blockbuster, Hampton is now their top pitching prospect after posting a strong first pro season in 2023 and making it to Double-A.
The Yankees have traded away plenty of prospects in recent years, but the only one to make BA’s latest Top 100 was Thorpe, who came in at No. 58.
Many of those trades have backfired because of imported players not performing in The Bronx, but at least for now, the packages they sent to other teams haven’t completely killed them.