by Paul Semendinger
March 6, 2024
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Don't get me wrong. I'd love for the Yankees to acquire another starting pitcher through free agency.
Well, maybe I should rephrase that...
I would have loved for the Yankees to acquire another starting pitcher through free agency. But that was weeks ago.
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Quick aside:
The first song I considered when writing this peiece was one of Julian Lennon's few hits, Too Late for Goodbyes. I've always liked that song. (Valotte, though, was, in my opinion, always the better song.)
Then, of course, I thought of the Beatles' song, Hello Goodbye.
But, then, finally, I remembered the best song to accompany this piece. Good old Foreigner.
***
We're (just about) a week into March. The optimal time for a free agent pitcher to sign with a team would have been weeks ago.
It got late early. (Well, it didn't, really. It got late right on time, it's just that ol' Blake Snell and his agent overvalued his worth (at least in terms of years and dollars in 2024) and he turned down what was reported to be a nice offer from the Yankees.
Sometimes the money grab doesn't work. (Isn't Greed one of the Seven Deadly Sins?)
Snell got greedy. Boras got greedy. And they're both sitting there looking foolish. Each of them. And both of them. And baseball looks bad too. The sport doesn't do itself any favors when the rules and the procedures in place hurt the opportunities for the reigning (two-time) Cy Young Award winner to find a team to play for. (It has been said that the draft pick penalties have discouraged teams from bidding on some free agents.)
In whatever look, the situation isn't good.
A start pitcher has no team.
***
Meanwhile, thus far in Yankees' camp, the starting pitchers seem healthy. The Yankees have five good to great arms. At this moment, they don't need Blake Snell.
And at this moment, I don't want him.
I don't want a starting pitcher who is weeks behind schedule.
I don't want a starting pitcher who will only have a short time with his catchers, pitching coach, and starting colleagues before the season arrives. THe time acclimate was weeks ago, not the rest of the team ramps up for Opening Day.
I don't want a guy who will feel he himself has to ramp-up quickly to get with the club (a sure fire ticket for an injury).
I don't want a guy who will begin the season remaining at the Spring Training complex in Tampa while the rest of team begins its (hopeful) march to the playoffs.
***
Blake Snell could have signed a contract in November. Or December. He could have signed in January, or February. He hasn't signed (yet) in March.
Scott Boras could have gotten a contract for Blake Snell in any of those months.
Blake Snell, seeing the writing on the wall, could have insisted that his agent get him a deal. He didn't.
Blake Snell could have fired his agent. He didn't.
Some things might do better with age. A fine wine, for example.
Some things never age - like a Twinkee.
But starting pitchers have a clock. And the clock is supposed to start ticking in mid-February with a team and a coach and all of that. Ramping up in March just isn't the same.
At all.
It made sense for the Yankees to sign Blake Snell weeks ago. I don't think it makes as much sense now.
***
But, what if the Yankees need a starting pitcher once the season begins, or as the season progresses?
IF Jasson Dominguez comes back healthy and IF Jasson Dominguez proves he's ready for the Yankees and IF Jasson Dominguez does reasonably well once he's back in the big leagues,
THEN
The Yankees will have a glut of outfielders - too many, in fact. Alex Verdugo, Trent Grisham, Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, and Jasson Dominguez can't all co-exist at the same time and be at the tops of their games. It's too many players. Also in that mix are Everson Pereira and Giancarlo Stanton.
The Yankees, if that happens (and if they're all healthy and performing), will be able, if the need arrives, to trade for a starting pitcher. They will be dealing from strength in outfielders. I'm sure if this all happens, a strong starter will be available by then.
Heck, it might even be Blake Snell who will probably get a short contract with an opt-out after the first year anyway. If he's pitching well in June or July, I might consider him then. But at this point, he needs too much time with the team to get ready and there isn't enough.
Right now, to start the season, my answer to Blake Snell is , "Nope. We don't need you right now. You're had your chance and you blew it."
It's Late. It's simply too late. Sorry pal.
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Another aside - Queen's News of the World is an outstanding album - often overlooked, it's always been one of my favorites.
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