New York Yankees Coy in the High-Stakes MLB Market for Pitching? Are They Playing the Long Game?

The New York Yankees aka juggernauts in the MLB landscape are called so for a reason. They are often found at the Centre of high-profile trades and acquisitions. But their storied history has changed after Juan Soto’s acquisition for a year. Is making no move, their biggest move? 

The expectations are high after a disappointing 2023 season. While the fans demand redemption, their coy moves, especially in the pitching department, cause alarm. But is it something to really be alarmed by? Are the Yankees playing the long game with their silence?  

The Deafening Silence in New York 

Just when it felt like the Winter Meetings did not have enough action, New York dropped the news in early December. They acquired the one-year-rental Juan Soto in a seven-player blockbuster trade with the San Diego Padres. NYY acquired the 26-year-old and the Gold Glove center fielder Trent Grisham in the trade. 

In a case of mutual help for the cost-cutting Padres that Wednesday, San Diego received right-handed pitchers Michael King, Randy Vásquez, Jhony Brito, and Drew Thorpe. They also received catcher Kyle Higashioka in exchange for the celebrated Dominican. Though the move seemed quite lauded by the passionate Yankees Nation, the Big Apple has been still since. 

But maybe things are not entirely stagnant. After being closely linked as forerunners for Yoshinobu Yamamoto and losing him, it was clear that they did not want to spend as much as the Dodgers were clearly willing to. So, as @JonHeyman reported, “Yamamoto goes to Dodgers”, the Yankees silent spree started again until another name emerged. 

The Dawn of a Possible New York Yankees-Jordan Montgomery Reunion 

It was evident that teams wanted to wait for the Japanese debutant to get acquired to make their next move. With that done, names like Blake Snell, Cody Bellinger, and Jordan Montgomery came into the picture. While New York could chase at least one if not all of those three, the lefty’s case might be stronger. 

Montgomery’s name has come up multiple times in connection with the Yankees this off-season. It seems imminent that making a potential move is plausible. After playing in Pinstripes for over five years, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals and then the Texas Rangers. Now that he is a free agent again, the Yankees could use his upgraded form. 

There is no doubt that Monty has been exceptional over the last few years. He has recorded an ERA under 4.00 in each of the three past seasons. Though Montgomery would be a realistic pick this January, there seems no progress made in that direction. Similarly, even Snell and Bellinger, though likely to be a good fit for the Yankees, have revealed no news of moving to New York.

A Deep Dive Into Another Japanese Prospect in New York 

Shota Imanaga is a name that has caught the eyes of the Yankees’ leadership. The 30-year-old who is also a southpaw won’t be close to demanding the likes of a colossal $300 million plus contract. However, Imanaga cannot be compared to Yamamoto in terms of performance. The fact that Imanaga’s deal may not reach the hundred-million mark, the Yankees could look at him more keenly. But could it be that they miss out on him too? 

The Yankees must be careful about their strategy to pursue Imanaga. They should not repeat the missteps from their pursuit of Yamamoto, but rather learn from what led him to move away from New York to Los Angeles. Though the Yokohama DeNA BayStars player seems good enough to fill one of the multiple gaps in their roster, there is again no move taken in that direction. 

Watch This Story : Yankees Secure A Special Gift As The Japanese Ace Makes His Way To Be A Free Agent

Other Names That Might Wear the Pinstripes This Year

As per The Athletic’s Jim Bowden, the Yankees are interested in the former Padres reliever Josh Hader, among others. While the odds of this happening are still less, it is a possibility the Pinstripes might consider. Also, according to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch, the team might go down the route of Milwaukee Brewers’ righty Corbin Burnes.

That said, let’s not forget what Ken Rosenthal said in an article. The Yankees are en route to build a “‘super-charged’ bullpen”. Rosenthal mentioned that the three most reliable options available as relievers in the market are — Josh Hader, Jordan Hicks, and Robert Stephenson. The number of options available in the free agent market is plenty. However, the Yankees’ silence in their moves might mask a bigger intent.

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Considering the changing dynamics of the MLB landscape and analytics playing a pivotal role, the Yankees might be leveraging advanced aspects to identify under-valued gems. As the new year begins and the off-season unfolds, the Yankees’ coy approach to pitching acquisitions will undoubtedly invite scrutiny. Is it safe to say that this is the calm before the storm?