Are the Yankees Off-Season Transactions Complete?
- SSTN Admin
- Jan 29, 2021
- 2 min read
The Major League Baseball off-season is nearing its final weeks before Spring Training begins. Francisco Lindor has found a new home in Queens, J.T. Realmuto will stay in Philadelphia and the San Diego Padres traded for three big-name pitchers. Although there have only been big moves mostly made over the past month, it has been suspenseful for baseball fans.
As for the Yankees, Brian Cashman has made several big moves, particularly in the pitching department. He traded for Jameson Taillon and signed Corey Kluber, both of whom are coming off arm injuries (Taillon’s is from 2019). Cashman also traded Adam Ottavino to the rival Boston Red Sox, in efforts to dump salary and a 40-man roster spot and signed Darren O’Day to replace him.
On the offensive side, Cashman has not brought in many new faces but was able to come to agreements with all arbitration-eligible players and re-sign DJ LeMahieu. There is the possibility that Brett Gardner returns in pinstripes for the 2021 season, but nothing is official yet.
So the question that may be surrounding many Yankees fans is simple. Is Cashman going to make more moves or is he ready to start the 2021 season with this current roster?
Although nothing can be proven, there is a good chance that Cashman has made all the big moves he wants and will only focus on bringing back veterans like Gardner. But should he make more moves?
The starting rotation going into the 2021 season will consist of Gerrit Cole, Kluber, Taillon, Jordon Montgomery and either Deivi Garcia, Domingo German or Clarke Schmidt. Luis Severino should also make his way back around June or July, so he should be back at the Majors by August.
Aaron Boone’s bullpen will still have its depth with Chad Green, Zack Britton, Jonathan Loaisiga and Aroldis Chapman, among several other names including O’Day. It will still be a tough bullpen for opposing teams to face.
As for the fielders, the Yankees are currently carrying six outfielders on their 40-man roster, which may go to seven if Gardner is re-signed. Gary Sanchez and Kyle Higashioka will be behind the plate and eight infielders give the Yankees plenty of depth to work with.
Names have been rumbling around such as Didi Gregorius returning to the Bronx, but the combination of Gleyber Torres and Tyler Wade or Thairo Estrada may be enough to make that work.
With this being said, there is not much more Cashman can do to help the team unless it involves making a major trade. With this close to Spring Training, that is unlikely to happen.
Photo credit: Mike Stole/Getty Images
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