by Cary Greene
December 17, 2022
***
With all sorts of outlandish, unsubstantiated rumors swirling in the media and various GM’s engaging in degrees of “fake interest” in certain free agents that their chief rivals are interested in, it’s been a pretty wild so far on the rumor rollercoaster and to think, December is only a little over half over! Reportedly the Yankees are working on what has been described as, “Something Big!” – but what could it be? Are the Yankees looking to add a starting pitcher, or a star shortstop, or a coveted outfielder?
Today I thought it would be fun to poll our readers, who are invited to comment on what “something big” they’d love to see happen. Is what you’d like to see happen realistic? Is it possible? What if you were the Yankees new Billionaire team owner? What would you have Cashman do?
First though, it wouldn’t be fair to ask such a question without giving my ideas on what “Something Big” news flashing across my cell phone’s screen would look like, through my reading glasses. Without further ado, here’s what I would consider “Something Big” to look like.
The Angels shockingly decide to trade Shohei Ohtani and the Yankees land him! He’s a free agent after the coming season. The Angels of course are saying they’re not shopping the game’s greatest star, but what if Cashman has been blowing up Angels GM Perry Minasian’s phone and in his zeal, he actually floated a trade possibility that caught Minasian’s eye, to the point whereupon receiving the offer, he actually texted back the words, “Let’s do lunch Cash.” While “Gleyber Torres, Josh Donaldson, and Aaron Hicks for Ohtani” text messages were sent by Yankees team president Randy Levine to Minasian only hours after the Yankees were eliminated by the Astros in this years ALCS, the messages went unanswered and it was therefore up to Cashman to propose a deal that Minasian would listen to. In this deal,
the Yankees get: All-Star LHSP/DH Shohei Ohtani ($61.1 MTV)
While the Angels get: OF Jasson Dominguez ($26.5 MTV), SS Oswald Peraza ($27.8 MTV), C Austin Wells ($8.3 MTV)
With Ohtani locked in as the team’s new DH and starting pitcher, Cashman then dialed both the Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes and Padres GM AJ Preller and pitted the two Division rivals against one another. Stanton agreed to waive his no trade clause, but only for the Dodgers so a deal was soon struck by Gomes and Cashman. The Dodgers agreed to pick up a big chunk of Stanton’s remaining five-year, $150-million contract, with the Yankees paying only $10-million per season over the duration of the remaining deal ($50-million in all).
the Yankees get: #2 Dodgers prospect, Triple-A RHSP Bobby Miller ($30.9 MTV)
While the Dodgers get: All-Star DH Giancarlo Stanton (-107.2 MTV) and either 2B Gleyber Torres ($11.6 MTV) –or– RHSP Frankie Montas ($10.1 MTV)
The Yankees in this scenario would work to extend Ohtani and start the soon to be 24-year-old Miller in Triple-A, where he pitched only 21.1-innings last season. Meanwhile, Ohtani would also slide into the Yankees rotation, right behind Gerrit Cole, functioning as the team’s number-two starter. But Cashman isn’t finished yet because new team owner Cary Greene wanted something REALLY big!
With the remaining payroll he has left after locking-up Ohtani on a 10-year deal, Cashman then went to work, attempting to pull off a second blockbuster of a trade by working with a GM he deals frequently with - none other than the Pirates Ben Cherington. However, the deal was declined by new Yankees billionaire owner Cary Greene. Below is deal the Pirates wanted:
the Yankees get: All-Star OF Bryan Reynolds ($59.9 MTV)
While the Pirates get: RHSP Frankie Montas ($10.1 MTV), OF Everson Pereira ($16.8 MTV), RHSP Clarke Schmidt ($10.8 MTV), OF Spencer Jones ($10.5 MTV), SS Trey Sweeney ($7.8 MTV), RHSP and Yoendrys Gomez ($4.0 MTV).
Since Greene refused to part with so much depth and firmly believes that Pereira, Jones, and Sweeney all have MLB potential, he instead had Cashman sign OF Michael Conforto to a reasonable two-year deal with an opt-out.
Greene also insisted that Matt Carpenter be brought back for a bench role and in one last blockbuster move, Cashman finally closes the deal with Carlos Rodon, giving the Yankees a second lefty-starter like his new boss, Cary Greene the billionaire, wanted!
The new Yankees lineup is now:
1. DJ LeMahieu 2B
2. Shohei Ohtani DH
3. Aaron Judge RF
4. Anthony Rizzo 1B
5. Josh Donaldson 3B
6. Michael Conforto LF
7. Harrison Bader CF
8. Jose Trevino C
9. Isiah Kiner-Falefa SS - with Anthony Vople promoted by the All-Star break
Bench: Cabrera, Higashioka, Hicks, Carpenter, possibly Torres depending on whether or not the Dodgers prefer him or Montas.
The new rotation is:
1. Cole
2. Ohtani
3. Rodon*
4. Cortes*
5. Severino
6. Montas?/German - with Miller waiting in the wings at Triple-A
