by Paul Semendinger
January 15, 2024
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Over the last week, a number of bits of Yankees news occurred that we didn't yet touch on.
2024 Yankees Coaching Staff Finalized/Announced
(from YES Network)
Manager - Aaron Boone
Bench Coach - Brad Ausmus
Pitching Coach - Matt Blake
Bullpen Coach - Mike Harkey
Assistant Pitching Coach - Desi Druschel
Hitting Coach - James Rowson
Assistant Hitting Coaches - Casey Dykes and Pat Roessler
Third Base and Outfield Coach - Luis Rojas
First Base and Infield Coach - Travis Chapman
Major League Field Coordinator and Director of Catching - Tanner Swanson.
You can access short biographies of each coach from this article on the YES Network site.
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Yankees Settle With all Arbitration-Eligible Players
(from MLBTR)
Yankees
Gleyber Torres (5.162): $14.2MM agreement today (per Sherman)
Juan Soto (5.134): $31MM agreement today (per Sherman)
Alex Verdugo (5.078): $8.7MM plus performance bonuses agreement today (per Feinsand)
Clay Holmes (5.031): $6MM agreement plus performance bonuses today (per Sherman)
Jonathan Loaisiga (5.022): $2.5MM agreement today (per Sherman)
Nestor Cortes (4.094): $3.95MM agreement today (per Sherman)
Jose Trevino (4.063): $2.73MM agreement today (per Heyman)
Trent Grisham (4.060): $5.5MM agreement today (via Murray)
Victor Gonzalez (3.058): $860K agreement today (via Sherman)
Clarke Schmidt (2.148): $2.025MM agreement today (via Sherman)
***
Reports from all over baseball seem to indicate that the Yankees are NOT done yet acquiring players.
IF (a big if) this is true, it's great news - fantastic news. The Yankees aren't complete - and should still be looking to improve.
In my opinion:
I'd love to see another quality starting pitcher
I'd love to find a way that Arton Judge does not play centerfield
I'd love the Yankees to find a third baseman so DJ LeMahieu need not play there regularly
I hope the Yankees are serious!
Let's Go Yankees!
I am warming to the thought of adding Justin Turner. Not the fielder that Chapman is but I feel the guy has more offense to contribute , plus he could spell Rizzo at first and free up DJ to be the utility guy that he he more suited to be at this stage in his career.
LeMahieu, if he's hitting as well as formerly he has, SHOULD be playing regularly at 3B
if we're to be concerned about whether he'll become tired, we should understand that playing a corner is far less tiring than being in the middle of the infield.
and if Torres, Volpe and Peraza remain with the team, DJ belongs in the corner.
The one good thing about Judge playing CF regularly is that he will also have to DH once week, so pressure is on Stanton to produce immediately. Now, I can't see Judge being the regular CF past the trading deadline on August 1.
If everyone is healthy, I'm OK with one of 3 guys - DJ, Peraza, or Cabrera being my 3B. Now, if DJ & Peraza are injured and/or traded away, and Durbin is being the leadoff hitter in SWB, I wouldn't mind giving him a chance as my 3B/leadoff hitter. I'm not even thinking about who could become available via trade. I just don't want to sign Chapman.
Unless there is a trade, I'm can't see bringing in…