January 2, 2024
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This week we asked our writers the following:
What should the Yankees have as their resolution for the new year?
Here are their responses:
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Paul Semendinger - Spend, spend, spend, and spend some more. Be the Evil Empire. Put the Dodgers to shame. Build the best team possible today, and every day, and win. Don't let others' talking points ("The best team money can buy" or "You bought your championship") distract from the fact that the goal should be one thing, and one thing only... to win the World Series. Every single discussion and decision made by the team should begin with that as the goal. Every discussion should begin with, "How does this help the New York Yankees win the World Series?" Keep the focus. Don't get distracted. Play to win. Spend to win. Win and win and win.
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Derek McAdam - A simple resolution for 2024 would be to return to the playoffs. A World Series would be great, but they need to focus on actually making the post-season first. Let’s hope for a great season!
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Ethan Semendinger - This is a point that my dad likes to make, but I wholeheartedly agree with it for the Yankees to resolve to do in 2024: Don't make the reactionary move any longer. We are seeing the Yankees of the 2010's be a very weak front office in terms of dominating and commanding the free agent market and by allowing themselves to be the token, "They are interested" team to drive up salaries for their players by player agents. Understandably, this is a 2-way street where the Yankees depend on players accepting offers earlier than what would've happened otherwise. But, if they were to truly go all-in on this approach it would mean offering the best product, always, to the players. That means the most guaranteed money, the best AAV, the best options, the least deferrals, etc.
The Yankees seem always scared to make a move. They appear weak and it shows in the product on the field. The front office needs to do a better job of stepping up, being bold, and going for it.
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Cary Greene - I believe the Yankees should make closing the gap between their division rivals and themselves as their top priority for 2024.
In order to do this, a big key will be for the Yankees to start having success at translating their prospects into viable options who can help them.
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I am not so much in on the "spend spend spend, and more spending" concept. Relies too much on outbidding many other clubs who are also interested in that star player (leading to overpaying (both in money and in number of years), then relying even more on that player staying healthy, proving he can successfully play in New York (handling tough criticism from fans and media when he goes through slumps), and that he can replicate the success he had with other teams, with other coaches, in other (more laid back) stadium environments, not to mention how his chemistry with his new teammates works out. My resolution would be to invest a lot of money into rebuilding the farm system…
I'm not sure their resolutions are gonna matter...Gumby will turn down a higher offer from them to sign with the Red Sox because of his wife's job in Boston, Snell goes to the Giants, as does Imanaga, the Brewers turn down any trade offer from the Yanks for Burnes...they are screwed...
trade Stanton to the Rays
in exchange for a shortstop to be released from custody later
My main 2024 Yankees resolution is the same as my 2023 resolution. Cashman & Co. - gotta take like 3 steps back when it comes to analytics, both in roster construction and in how they coach.