Time for New York Yankees to switch their focus to position players – MLB News
New York Yankees’ big league roster was overcrowded when the Winter Meetings took place in Nashville last year. However, when General Manager Brian Cashman arrives for the start of this year’s meetings tomorrow, the shingle outside his hotel will say “Buyers”.
Yankees’ batting line-up, in particular, needs special attention this offseason. Catcher Russell Martin, who was looking for a multiple year big dollar deal, bolted for Pittsburgh for a two year $17 million contract. Similarly Nick Swisher is also looking
to find a new home for himself. In these circumstances, the Yankees are desperate to fill colossal holes behind the plate and in right field.
The Yankees made some important decision in Dallas last year. For instance, the groundwork for the A.J. Burnett deal with the Pirates in February initiated in Dallas. Similarly, Yankees acquiring Michael Pineda for Jesus Montero in January was the outcome
of the talks between Seattle Mariners and the Yankees.
“We are still capable of a lot. People should be leery of us and afraid of us,” Cashman said in an interview with a leading sports website. “If we can strike and pounce on something that makes a lot of sense for us … just stay tuned.”
“It’s possible our catchers are on the roster right now,” Cashman further added. “That is very well possible, and more likely than not, but we will see.”
But the question is if the four day meeting period will be enough for the Yankees to find a catcher and a right fielder in trades or from the free agents market.
The biggest problem for the Yankees is that they have already spent too much on their pitching rotation. A week ago, they signed on veteran relief pitcher Mariano Rivera to a one year $10 million contract.
The Yankees will be paying $12 million to Andy Pettitte and $15 million to Hiroki Kuroda in the next season. Now the time has come to switch the focus from pitchers to position players. It will be interesting to see if Cashman can find a suitable catcher
and a right fielder in the Winter Meetings.
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