The New York Yankees are coming off one of their worst seasons ever in franchise history. They have failed to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016. There are going to be a lot of questions to be answered this offseason. With that being said, this article will focus on the perfect offseason plan for the Yankees.
The Perfect Offseason Plan For The Yankees
Target Another Starter
Targeting another starting pitcher would be a start to a perfect offseason. Their rotation this season wasn’t nearly as good as people predicted it would be. Injuries are what played a huge factor in their rotation struggles this season.
One way to improve rotation is by going for someone like Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto who’s coming off a good season. Recently, he won his third consecutive NPB Triple Crown with 16 wins, 1.21 ERA, and 169 strikeouts. Yamamoto is the perfect signing to solve the Yankees injury-riddled to their rotation.
Add a Lefty Bat
Acquiring another lefty bat would be beneficial to a lineup that’s full of right-handed batters. With Jasson Dominguez likely out into May, the Yankees could use some help in the outfield.
The perfect name that comes to mind is Cody Bellinger. The Yankees were rumored to him before the Chicago Cubs decided to stay pat with him ahead of this year’s trade deadline. This season, Cody has slashed .307/.356/.525 while also managing to smash 26 home runs and record 97 RBIs. Overall, Bellinger’s bat fits perfectly for Yankee Stadium and the short porch in right field.
Get an Average-Focused Bat
Acquiring a bat that relies more on average than on homers is another important need for the Yankees to improve their team heading into the 2024 season. The team’s inability to produce runs has been one of the reasons for the downfall in 2023. New York’s .227 batting average is ranked as one of the worst in all of baseball. Only the Oakland Athletics had a worse average with a .223 batting average.
Kevin Kiermaier is one name that comes to mind. Besides offering the Yankees help in the outfield, he does give them a solid bat in their lineup. More importantly, Kiermaier also has experience playing in the AL East. He has previously played for both Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays. He is now a free agent.
Make a Splash Trade
Trading for a superstar like Juan Soto is something that would help New York get back to World Series contention next season. It was recently reported that the San Diego Padres are “internally leaning towards” dealing Soto per USA Today’s Bob Nightingale. This season, he managed to slash .275/.410/.519 while also smashing 35 homers and recording 109 RBIs. Not to mention Soto’s 35 homers this year are also a career-high, while is also leading MLB with walks (130) for the third time. Yes, it’s going to take a load of prospects to get it done but it’s all worth it. Yankees are desperate to win the World Series, so going for Soto is a must.
Restock the Bullpen
The bullpen could use some help as well. With relievers like Scott Effross and Lou Trevino recovering from Tommy John Surgery, the Yanks still need help in the back end of the bullpen. Despite leading MLB with the best ERA of 3.34, there’s always room for improvement. A reunion with David Robertson on a short-term deal could be a good idea to help with the bullpen. He is coming off a solid season while pitching for both the Miami Marlins and the New York Mets. Another reliever that comes to mind is left-hander Josh Hader. Hader is coming off a good season with the Padres recording 33 saves while posting an ERA of 1.28.
