Yankees won't 'overreact' to make a major offseason splash, assistant GM says
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Unless they’re courting a full-blown fan revolt, risking a sharp ticket-sale decline, the Yankees must do something dramatic to spur winter interest.
This has generally been a dull product since the 2022 All-Star break, except when Gerrit Cole is on the mound or Aaron Judge is at bat.
Mediocre times in the Bronx might call for drastic measures, but “you can’t overreact and make a bad move because of the pressure,’’ said Yankees assistant GM Michael Fishman.
“You still have to kind of make the best decisions for the franchise.’’
And that’s completely fair.
There is much to consider before spending a high price in big-league ready pitching and top-flight prospects to land San Diego Padres’ slugger Juan Soto, who also must be paid hundreds of millions to remain in pinstripes beyond 2024.
Is one bounce back offensive season by free agent Cody Bellinger worth a nearly $200 million commitment?
State of the Yankees: Hal Steinbrenner talks Aaron Boone, the budget, and yes, bunting
The job of fixing what's broken in the Bronx
Minus any weepy background violins, it’s not easy being the Yankees at these Winter Meetings – even with their wealth and powerful lure – due to the pressing need to fix an aging, imbalanced roster.
But many of their problems have been largely self-inflicted, with poor investments, missed opportunities including past international signing periods, and the compound misery of Giancarlo Stanton’s contract.
Ten weeks shy of spring training, the Yankees need at least one impact lefty-hitting outfielder, another frontline starter, left-handed relief help, and some clarity on the analytics front.
“There’s some bigger picture ideas, philosophies that I think maybe need to change,’’ Judge said as the club’s 82-80 season ended.
The Yankees captain looked forward to meeting with both GM Brian Cashman and owner Hal Steinbrenner to voice his opinions, and Cole’s was another prominent voice to be heard.
Judge’s criticisms included the application of analytics.
“You get a lot of numbers,’’ Judge said in October. “But I think maybe we might be looking at the wrong ones.’’
Yankees' high standards put to a new test
This offseason, the Yankees employed Zelus Analytics as an outside firm to run its data, seeking ways to improve the organization’s models.
“It's early in the process…it's not something that we're going to have answers for right away,’’ said Fishman, who oversees much of the club’s analytics department.
“It’ll be on us to determine how to use their work,’’ said Fishman. “They’re not doing an audit of us.’’
As to the previous application of analytic date, Fishman acknowledged there were “things we could have explained better to players, why we value certain metrics.’’
Fishman did not specify which players had spoken candidly with club executives since the season ended, or what changes might be in the works.
But there’s at least an acknowledgment that some practices need to be altered, and not merely tweaked.
“We have high standards,’’ Fishman said. “We haven’t met those high standards.’’
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees won't 'overreact' despite Juan Soto trade rumors
