While most New York Yankees fans do not expect the team to sign one of the top free-agent pitchers still available before the season begins, the team’s owner has given fans cause to believe it is not impossible.
The Yankees are in the early stages of preparing for the 2024 MLB season, and there is widespread optimism that they will be a contender this year. Aaron Judge and Carlos Rodon’s health and return to 2022 form will be critical, but All-Stars Juan Soto and Marcus Stroman will undoubtedly make an impact in their debut seasons with the team.
However, others believe they are still one key component away from becoming a real threat to dethrone defending champs the Texas Rangers in 2024, particularly in the starting rotation. That is why they have been linked to 2023 Cy Young winner Blake Snell and Yankees veteran Jordan Montgomery for several months.
New York Yankees schedule (2024): Opening day, March 28, against. Houston Astros
Despite the fact that both pitchers would be a fantastic fit for the New York Yankees, talks have stalled due to their agent Scott Boras’ high asking price. A short-term deal with a high annual average would result in significant salary tax penalties for the firm. However, the team’s owner is willing to pay that price for the right player.
“I’m just going to tell you that we continue to look at a lot of different options,” Hal Steinbrenner said following Thursday’s full-squad practice. “Given where we are in terms of payroll, any addition to the club will be costly, but I’m still prepared to examine anything that [General Manager Brian Cashman] and his colleagues bring my way. I will leave it at that.
“We will continue to strive to improve this team.” “We’re still looking into things, whether it’s trades or signings,” he said (via the New York Post). “I’m not saying anything will happen or won’t happen. But I’m still willing to help this squad develop in whatever way we can.”
So you’re saying there is a chance? A $40 million contract for Snell, for example, would likely result in the team paying more than $70 million for him this season because to their current yearly tax penalties and salary restrictions.
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Yankees 2024 Season Preview: Oswald Peraza.
During spring training, the struggle at shortstop between Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza was undoubtedly the most avidly watched narrative by fans and media. Peraza had played in the top leagues (albeit for only 18 games), and he performed admirably during that time, leading everyone to feel he would have an advantage when it came time to decide. However, Volpe won the race (and did not make enough mistakes in the position to warrant being sent down to Triple-A during the regular season), leaving Oswald Peraza on the outside looking in for the most of 2023.
2023 stats: 52 games, 191 plate appearances,.191/.267/.272, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 53 wRC+, 6.8 BB%, 26.2 K%, 0 defensive runs saved, 1 outs above average, -0.3 fWAR.
2024 ZiPS projections: 118 games, 506 plate appearances,.244/.306/.391, 15 home runs, 62 RBI, 94 wRC+, 6.5 BB%, 23.1 K%, 2.3 fWAR
There is no doubt that Peraza is a talented player. However, with Volpe and Gleyber Torres still occupying the second base position (and hoping to do so for a long time), the 2024 season may see the 23-year-old continue to sit in the backseat or be moved by the front office if problems arise once the season begins.
There were some advantages for Peraza in the limited number of games he played in 2023, including as boosting his overall launch angle and seeing a significant increase in average and maximum exit velocity statistics. However, the positives were equaled in scale by the downsides, which included a lower walk rate, a higher strikeout rate, and simply looking overpowered by any fastball thrown, such as this one fired at 94.1 MPH.
It was sometimes hard to watch, especially since pitchers understood there wasn’t much of a danger on a high fastball with Peraza in the box, so they used it as a primary strikeout pitch. He had the 47th-worst run value per 100 pitches against fastballs in the MLB, at -2.7.
Peraza’s approach at the plate felt different than it did the first time he saw some major league action, which hurt his results. However, there are other facets of Peraza’s game that Yankees fans and coaches can rely on, such as his baserunning and fielding skills. In terms of baserunning, he ranks 85th in MLB sprint speed and 74th in MLB arm strength. Because he isn’t playing as much, he hasn’t had as many chances to field the ball, and he will occasionally be given the opportunity to run the bases. However, in the sample sizes that he has played, both areas have been consistently strong.
With spring training starting and the 2024 season approaching, Peraza has a great opportunity to show the coaching staff and management that he deserves more opportunities than he has received in recent seasons. However, if things don’t go as planned, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him traded for parts in the midst of the season. With Volpe playing shortstop on a daily basis, Peraza must find a way to make himself less replaceable and demonstrate that he deserves continuous MLB time, which means making significant adjustments at the plate while maintaining his superb fielding and baserunning.
