The left-field revolving door revolved throughout the 2023 season as the New York Yankees failed to explore a steady option. They made a mistake once by ignoring the hole last off-season and are not expected to repeat it this winter. Cody Bellinger, Juan Soto, and Shohei Ohtani have all been linked to the Bombers ahead of the off-season.
The New York Yankees reportedly want to make one mega acquisition next off-season. Many MLB pundits guessed it to be a strong outfielder as the team lacks depth in that area. However, the late entry of a Japanese ace pitcher has changed the dynamics completely. Amid speculations, a renowned MLB insider made a bold prediction with regards to Yanks’ free agency plans.
MLB Insider Predicts Yankees To Spend Heavy On Japanese Ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto!
When a storied franchise like the New York Yankees witness a lost season, roster overhauls are bound to happen. This off-season, owner Hal Steinbrenner will remain hyperactive throughout the winter to pick the best of the best available options. Moreover, the word around the market is that the Bombers have saved a huge chunk for one blockbuster acquisition. While many believe it to be Cody Bellinger or even Shohei Ohtani, for that matter, Joel Sherman of the New York Post had a different take. He said that while the roster has holes in the hitting department, the team is unlikely to go all-in for an outfielder.
Instead, the Yankees are mulling to spend huge on Japanese Ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Nippon Professional Baseball League wonder is the new talk of the town as various MLB scouts made trips to Japan this season, including Brian Cashman of the Yanks. Cashman and Omar Minaya marked their presence in an Orix Buffaloes game wherein Yamamoto ended up pitching a no-hitter game. Since then, the rumors have escalated. While the pursuit of the ace won’t be a cakewalk, Steinbrenner has apparently chalked up a mega $200 million offer for Yoshinobu. Certainly, it would be tough for the rivals to beat and an offer Yamamoto cannot refuse. Still, baseball is a funny sport, and one cannot count out the competition till the deal is finalized.
Bombers Must Free Up Salary Space To Make Way For Yamamoto
The New York Yankees need to exercise maximum caution while dealing with Yoshinobu Yamamoto this off-season. They have luxury tax regulations to adhere to. As second-time offenders, a violation would cost Hal Steinbrenner a fortune. Thus, the franchise needs to make up salary space by letting impending free agents walk during free agency. As many as six Yankee players are eligible for free agency this year.
Luis Severino, Frankie Montas, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and Domingo German are some players to consider cutting off. Letting go of these four players could free up as much as $25 million for the Yankees, which is a massive sum. None of the above-mentioned players have contributed significantly in the past seasons and aren’t getting any younger, either. Thus, it only makes sense for Steinbrenner to make some bold decisions for the betterment of the franchise’s future.
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