What's next for the Yankees after wrapping up Juan Soto? The search for pitching
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Yankees general manager Brian Cashman had already exited the Winter Meetings and sewed up the Juan Soto trade, but there was unfinished business.
“We still have more work to do,’’ Cashman said Thursday, referencing the need for pitching.
And that’s pitching of any kind, not just one or two starters, after the Yankees swapped Michael King, Randy Vasquez, Jhony Brito and prospect Drew Thorpe to the San Diego Padres for Soto.
“We off-boarded pitching to make these deals,’’ Cashman said of acquiring Soto and fellow lefty-hitting outfielder Alex Verdugo via trade. “On-boarding pitching is going to be important.’’
Yoshinobu Yamamoto on deck
The big, remaining Yankees target is free agent Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, whose market should be further defined next week.
As MLB Network’s Jon Morosi first reported, Yamamoto’s U.S. tour will include a stop Monday in New York to meet with the Yankees, who have made no secret of their interest.
During the Winter Meetings, Cashman backed manager Aaron Boone’s stated desire to see Yamamoto in the Yankees’ rotation.
That rotation currently consists of reigning Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole, lefties Carlos Rodon and Nestor Cortes, right-hander Clarke Schmidt and a vacancy sign.
Plus, Rodon is coming off a dreadful, injury-plagued 2023 season and Cortes made just 12 starts due to rotator cuff strains.
The cost of business
Yamamoto’s contract could exceed $250 million, due to high demand for the decorated 25-year-old right-hander with an electric arsenal.
Chiefly in the Yankees’ way could be the heavily interested Mets and deep-pocketed owner Steve Cohen, though the Dodgers, Blue Jays, Giants and Cubs are squarely in the mix.
Add in the posting fee to the Orix Buffaloes, based on a percentage of Yamamoto’s contract, and the Yankees’ payroll soars beyond $300 million, which no longer seems a deterrent.
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Evoking the late owner George Steinbrenner during Thursday’s post-Soto trade conference, Cashman said the Boss “always felt the best players in the world should play here for the New York Yankees,’’ and Yamamoto is the best pitcher in free agency this side of Shohei Ohtani.
Ohtani, the best player on the planet, is not currently tied to Yankees interest and is unable to pitch in 2024 due to elbow surgery.
Checking the trade market
Bet that Cashman will be monitoring the trade front for an impact starter, especially if Yamamoto goes elsewhere.
Frontline starters Corbin Burnes (Brewers), Dylan Cease (White Sox) and Shane Bieber (Guardians) are possibilities to be moved by their clubs, who’ll likely wait to engage the Yamamoto runners-up.
Tampa Bay’s Tyler Glasnow, with a big payday coming in his free agent walk year, is plainly available, but the likelihood of the Rays dealing within the powerhouse AL East seems minimal.
Plus, the Yankees might not be so willing to move big prospects and MLB-ready talent after the Soto deal, especially for a potential rental starter - such as Burnes.
Assessing the free agent pool
If the Yankees were to miss out on Yamamoto, there’s not a sense that they’d pivot toward high-end free agent lefties Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery, an old friend they once deemed as not in their postseason rotation plans.
One intriguing name is Japanese lefty Shota Imanaga, who is also subject to a posting fee.
Lucas Giolito and Sean Manaea represent buy-low options in free agency, banking on comeback seasons.
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Suddenly, Frankie Montas has emerged as a viable free agent candidate, following his two lost seasons with the Yankees due to a shoulder issue that ultimately required surgery.
Cashman has engaged agent Scott Boras about Montas, who made it back for one appearance late last season.
Yankees' search for relief
The Soto deal also compromised the Yankees’ bullpen depth.
They’ve made some minor league signings, but the Yankees could use a more reliable veteran presence, such as a reunion with lefty Wandy Peralta and right-hander Keynan Middleton, both free agents.
As a starter or reliever, Cuban right-hander Yariel Rodriguez is an intriguing free agent who has World Baseball Classic experience and last pitched professionally in Japan.
Japanese lefty closer Yuki Matsui is a free agent (not attached to a posting fee) has been scouted by the Yankees.
They’ve been linked to interest with right-hander Robert Stephenson, who made a splash with the Rays last season.
A run at premier lefty Josh Hader or hard-throwing Jordan Hicks seems more costly than the Yanks are willing to go for relievers these days.
Meanwhile, old friend David Robertson, the last active player from the Yankees’ 2009 world championship club, is a free agent again.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees eye Yoshinobu Yamamoto, pitching after Juan Soto trade
