Manager Aaron Boone provided the spring’s most memorable sound bite when he stated that his Yankees are “hell bent” on winning another championship. It also made for an excellent back page (thanks to the New York Post sports staff!).
But, let’s be honest, that’s nothing more than Boone’s clever phrasing, a lovely couple of words, and some strong talk for the time being. If the organization was truly “hell bent” on winning a title, they’d make sure to get another starting pitcher – and a damned good one.
Boone, a USC graduate, is an astute linguist. Until until notice, I believe it’s more appropriate for a Yankee to state thus…
“We’d like to win a championship.”
Or …
“We hope things fall our way.”
If the Yankees are actually determined to win their first World Series title since 2009 — so long ago I was still in middle age — they’d make sure to strengthen a rotation that is highly good but clearly very weak.
As things stand, even the Mets, who aren’t fully committed this season, have more healthy, viable starting pitchers.
As things stand, the Yankees are relying heavily on Nestor Cortes, who had shoulder problems and a 4.97 ERA last year, and Carlos Rodon, who had too many troubles to mention, as well as a 6.85 ERA. It’s somewhat encouraging that reports from Tampa indicate Rodon is on his way to regaining his prior fastball, as he didn’t appear to be the same guy who had the best ERA in the game for a couple of years.
As things stand, the Yankees have too many rotation problems to be taken seriously as a World Series candidate, despite Vegas’ modest odds (plus 1000 or 10-1, tied with Houston). The Yankees appear to recognize the need for another starter, as seen by their efforts to sign White Sox standout Dylan Cease and their continued interest in free agent Blake Snell.
The Yankees appeared to be pleased after signing Long Island resident and former Met Marcus Stroman, who was eager to join the Yankees, for a quarter of Snell’s salary – $37 million over two years. Stroman is active, athletic, and a vital addition, but if you want to win, you shouldn’t take a “either or” approach to a pitcher in the middle of the free agent pack and a two-time Cy Young winner like Snell.
I’m not suggesting they need to get Snell right now. However, they do require another starter who is at least playoff-ready. That might be Snell, Jordan Montgomery (who, according to the Astros, is October ready), Cease, or some mystery pitcher yet to be named on the trade market.
If you’re genuinely hellbent, Snell should be your choice. He has the nastiest stuff this side of a healthy Jacob deGrom, and the criticism about his purported lack of innings is overblown. He tossed 180 innings last year while winning the Cy Young Award, and 486 innings throughout the last four years, including the suspension year.
If the Yankees sign Snell, they will have the best righty-lefty top-of-the-rotation combination in baseball. Gerrit Cole was the greatest pitcher last year, but Snell improved after late May. He had a 1.20 ERA during the last four months, which was precisely twice as good as anyone else (Kyle Bradish had a 2.40 ERA).
If I’m not mistaken, “hell bent” means “Snell bent.” But I understand it. If the Yankees signed Snell, particularly to one of those short-term, high-AAV deals that have recently been floated in the press (it has been reported but not confirmed that they are willing to pay around $105 million over three years), they would still be giving up draft picks and international money. Furthermore, the true money cost would be around $70 million per year because they are up against the fourth-tier Steve Cohen tax level of $297 million and would be paying 110 percent on almost all of the deal.
So I understand if they don’t like the notion. Even if they are hellbent, I’ll give them a break as long as they include a pinstripe- and playoff-worthy rotation player.
Montgomery is a guy they liked, especially after he destroyed the Astros in the ALCS last year, and he’d be good for something far less than $35 million a year (maybe $25 million). But Cease makes sense too.
Cease was one of the league’s greatest pitchers in 2022, and 2023 is likely to be a blip in what will be a stellar career. He is more durable than everyone they have save Cole — and even Snell — and earns a very affordable $8 million salary. With the tax, that’s less than $17 million, which is still a good price for a top-tier starter.
According to The Post, the White Sox were interested in the Yankees’ top prospect, Spencer Jones, a speed and power danger. Scouts envision him as a future 30-30 man, so that’s not a difficult decision. None of this comes easy. But they did state they are hellbent on winning, and their current rotation isn’t quite deep enough.
