Find the entire "Should They Stay or Go" collection here with some final wrap-up player analysis and thoughts!
Links to All the Articles:
Starting Pitchers: https://www.startspreadingthenews.blog/post/should-they-stay-or-go-sp
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Relief Pitchers (1): https://www.startspreadingthenews.blog/post/should-they-stay-or-go-rp-1-of-2
Relief Pitchers (2): https://www.startspreadingthenews.blog/post/should-they-stay-or-go-rp-2-of-2
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Wrap-Up Thoughts and Team:
Here is a quick summary of how I would treat each player in each category of contract:
Guaranteed Contracts:
Gerrit Cole - Under contract through 2028; Not going anywhere...Ace of Staff
Giancarlo Stanton - Under contract through 2027; Not going anywhere...Starting DH, No, he's not tradeable
DJ LeMahieu - Under contract through 2026; Not going anywhere...Starting second baseman if position is available, we have other utility players on the team now
Aaron Hicks - Under contract through 2025; Explore any trade options...Add prospects to trade if necessary
Josh Donaldson - Under contract through 2023; Explore any trade options...Add prospects to trade if necessary
Harrison Bader - Under contract through 2023; Not going anywhere...Starting Center Fielder
The consensus for the above 6 players is pretty universal across the Yankees universe. The money set to go towards Cole, Stanton, and LeMahieu are far too much to make either of them worth anything on the trading block, let alone tradeable in the first place. The same can be said about Hicks and Donaldson, but the Yankees should be considering every option to get rid of them this offseason, including eating some money and/or trading away prospects with them. (Unless of course they're willing to punt on the 2023 season while trying out the rookies, but that won't happen.) Harrison Bader is the odd name in the group, but he's set to start in center next year.
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Contracts with 2023 Options:
Luis Severino - Team option for 2023; Exercise club option...Homegrown mid-rotation piece, necessary to keep around
Anthony Rizzo - Player option for 2023; Will opt out and will sign elsewhere...start and prepare for that now
Luis Severino will be a cheap player to have as a starter if he can manage to pitch 100 or so innings as he can. This will be his "prove it" year before heading into free agency and as of now I would be willing to let him go as he searches for a large payday. Unfortunately, the Yankees find themselves in that situation now with Anthony Rizzo as he is surely going to opt out of his final year. He'd be great to bring back, but he may have other, more promising, teams on his mind to play for.
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Arbitration-Eligible Players:
Nestor Cortes - Heading into Arbitration 1; FA after 2025...Top-rotation pitcher, more confident in him going into 2023
Domingo German - Heading into Arbitration 2; FA after 2024...Explore any trade options
Kyle Higashioka - Heading into Arbitration 2; FA after 2024...Good back-up catcher
Clay Holmes - Heading into Arbitration 2; FA after 2024...Good bullpen piece with high potential
Isiah Kiner-Falefa - Heading into Arbitration 3; FA after 2024...Starting Third Baseman to Utility Infielder (to take over DJ's role)
Michael King - Heading into Arbitration 1; FA after 2025...Good bullpen piece, but allow him to recover from injury without rush
Jonathan Loaisiga - Heading into Arbitration 2; FA after 2024...Good bullpen piece
Tim Locastro - Heading into Arbitration 1; FA after 2025...Non-Tender Candidate, would be nice to store in Triple-A if possible
Lucas Luetge - Heading into Arbitration 2; FA after 2024...Explore any trade options, older reliever off a good year is prime trade bait
Frankie Montas - Heading into Arbitration 3; FA after 2023...Back-end rotation starter, hope his shoulder heals during the offseason
Wandy Peralta - Heading into Arbitration 4; FA after 2023...Good bullpen piece
Jose Trevino - Heading into Arbitration 1; FA after 2025...Starting Catcher, earned the role in 2022 and focus on upgrading should be elsewhere
Lou Trivino - Heading into Arbitration 3; FA after 2024...Good bullpen piece
Gleyber Torres - Heading into Arbitration 3; FA after 2024...Explore any trade options to open up second base for DJ
Lots of players in this list, of whom the large majority I would keep around for next season. They're (mostly) all solid players at positions where the Yankees can use them. Lots of bullpen arms (with some others recovering from injuries). Of the group, Domingo German and Gleyber Torres have exercised all their good will from me, and I'd be more than happy to see both of them elsewhere next season. Lucas Luetge may have some good value on the market for a team searching for a decent reliever and Tim Locastro is set to be cast away from the Yankees for the 3rd time since 2019.
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Pre-Arbitration Players (Who Played in the MLB in 2022):
Clarke Schmidt - Arbitration Eligible in 2024; FA after 2027...Let live in the bullpen
Albert Abreu - Arbitration Eligible in 2025; FA after 2028...Somehow made the ALDS roster, will likely find his way with the team through the offseason, but he's a top choice for being kicked from the 40-man if better options come along
Scott Effross - Arbitration Eligible in 2025; FA after 2028...Out for all of 2023 already, let him recover with no rush for a late season return (aka: don't let him do what Britton did)
Ron Marinaccio - Arbitration Eligibility TBA...Good bullpen piece to see if 2022 was a fluke
Estevan Florial - Arbitration Eligibility TBA...Give him an honest shot to earn some consistent playing time in 2023, let's see what he can really do.
Luis Gil - Arbitration Eligibility TBA...Recovering from TJS in 2022, allow him time to work his way back. Could be an interesting option as a starter in mid-2023, but NOT as the Yankees "trade deadline starting pitcher acquisition"
Oswaldo Cabrera - Arbitration Eligibility TBA...Let him shine! He's more than earned a role at the MLB level
Greg Weissert - Arbitration Eligibility TBA...Good bullpen piece with some promise to give an extended stay in the MLB
Oswald Peraza - Arbitration Eligibility TBA....Let him shine! Starting shortstop for 2023. Let the rookies play.
A group of mostly young players, it is time for the Yankees to see what those who aren't injured can do. Give Florial, Cabrera, Peraza, Weissert, and Schmidt some honest-to-goodness chances. Stop messing with young talent. For those injured or coming back from injury, allow them to recover with time. No reason to rush back players with lots of control and risk further injuries or problems down the line.
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40-Man Players (Who Didn't Play in 2022):
Deivi Garcia - Arbitration Eligibility TBA...See what they do in the minors
Yoendrys Gomez - Arbitration Eligibility TBA...See what they do in the minors
Everson Pereira - Arbitration Eligibility TBA...See what they do in the minors
Stephen Ridings - Arbitration Eligible in 2025; FA after 2028...See what they do in the minors
Ben Rortvedt - Arbitration Eligible in 2025; FA after 2028....See what they do in the minors
Not much else to say about this group of players. There really can't be much opinion on them as they all have stuff to prove. All have control and time to make a point to the Yankees that they belong, but for some the leash will be shorter (Garcia) than others (Pereira).
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Free Agents:
Aaron Judge - Yes
Andrew Benintendi - Maybe
Matt Carpenter - No
Jameson Taillon - Maybe
Chad Green - Yes
Miguel Castro - No
Marwin Gonzalez - No
Zack Britton - No
Aroldis Chapman - No
Without spoiling my whole plans for the offseason all at once (what's the fun in that?), I kept it simple with what my plans would be for each of these players. Those who earned a 'Yes' are players I would be 100% interested in bringing back (on the right deal). Those who earned a 'Maybe' means that I may have other ideas for how to address their position. Those who earned a 'No' means that I would shake their hands (if they showed up to let me), thank them for their time in New York, and wish them the best.
