Yankees Offseason Recap

Author: Nick Cammarano

Editor: Brian Symons

The New York Yankees will start the 2021 season with the same goal they had last year, win the World Series, and anything less will be deemed a failure. General Manager Brian Cashman and the front office had a terrific offseason. They kicked off the winter by acquiring Jameson Taillon in exchange for prospects RHP Michael Yajure, RHP Roansy Contreras, SS Maikol Escotto, and LF Canaan Smith. Tallion who is 29 has two years left on his contract before he hits free agency. Although Taillon is young it is hard to ignore his rather lengthy injury history:

2014: Tommy John Surgery

2015: Sports Hernia

2017: Testicular Cancer

2019: Tommy John Surgery

Aside from his injury history, Taillon does have a rather significant upside he has a career 3.67 ERA, 3.55 FIP, and a SIERA of 4.38 in 466.0 innings pitched. His fastball tops out around 95 mph and has a great arsenal of off-speed pitches which makes him a great asset.

Following the acquisition of Tallion, the Yankees added more rotation depth with the signing of free-agent pitcher of two-time CY Young award winner Corey Kluber to a one-year 11 million dollar deal. Kluber 34 who’s last full season was in 2018 has only pitched 36.2 innings from 2019-2020 due to a fractured arm and strained oblique. Many people seem to forget that at his peak Kluber was one of the best in the league posting a 2.85 ERA, 2.83 FIP, and a 5.31 K/BB spanning from 2014-2018. Despite his age, Kluber is a great veteran pick-up for the Yankees and will help to strengthen their rotation.

Key Resignings

The biggest move the Yankees made was the resigning of second basemen D.J. LeMahieu to a 6 year deal with an AAV of $15 million. LeMahieu slashed .312/.360/.492 as well wOBA of .362 and a wRC+ of 122. (Stats from 2018-2020) The MVP finalist has been a very consistent hitter for the Yankees and he has been a guy they could rely on to be clutch. In addition to the LeMahieu resigning the Yankees also resigned veteran outfielder Brett Gardner to a 2 year $5.15 million contract. Gardner will be a great depth player in the Yankees outfield on top of being a lefty bat off of the bench. The lifelong Yankee had a solid 2020 slashing .223/.354/.392 and posted a .332 wOBA and 110 wRC+.

Bullpen Additions

It’s no secret that the Yankees bullpen has had their fair share of struggles as well as lack of depth and this offseason the front office made two nice acquisitions in Darren O’Day and Justin Wilson. O’Day is coming off of a great 2020 season in which he posted a 1.10 ERA, 2.76 FIP, and a 3.05 SIERA in 16.6 innings pitched. The veteran will add some much-needed security to the bullpen. Justin Wilson signed a 2-year deal worth $5.15 million. Wilson had a mediocre 2020 with the Mets wherein 19.2 innings of work he had a 3.66 ERA, 3.04 FIP, and 3.92 SIERA.

Overall the Yankees had a great offseason by adding some nice depth pieces to solidify both their rotation and their bullpen. A fully healthy Bronx Bombers team is easily top five in the league as far as true talent goes and are certainly the favorites to come out of the American League on top. On the contrary, it will be a long season and the Yankees as a whole have a history of injuries, it is imperative that they stay off of the IL in order to have a shot and raising the commissioner’s trophy in October.

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