Bleeding Yankee Blue: IS IT TOO EARY TO TALK ABOUT FREE AGENCY?

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

IS IT TOO EARY TO TALK ABOUT FREE AGENCY?

It's Halloween, the weather is getting cooler, the World Series is over and the shift from in season to off season has officially begun. So the question I have this Halloween Hump Day Wednesday: "Is it too early to talk about free agency?"

Source: Sporting News

“We’ll plan to improve this club in any way shape or form we can,’’ general manager Brian Cashman said after the Yankees were eliminated in the AL Division Series by the eventual world champion Boston Red Sox. That begins with a full analysis of the free-agent market, where the Yankees’ ability to spend freely for an impact bat and high-end pitching should require watching all winter," reported NJ.com.

Source: The Associated Press

According to the rules, the window to talk with a team's own free agents ends this Saturday, as the full market of free agents become available for all to woo. Now it comes down to who are we shopping for and what do we need to do dethrone the Red Sox in 2019.

Photo: USA Today Sports

It's clear we need to fill the void of Didi Gregorius at short stop since he will be on the mend after having Tommy John surgery this off season. We will also miss his bat in the lineup so getting another lefty like Bryce Harper into the mix may be helpful. But as NJ.com states, "Yet, as the leading offensive presence on a club with championship aspirations, Harper’s Washington teams failed to advance in four trips to the NLDS and missed the playoffs entirely in 2018." And let's not forget that the other 26-year-old top free agent, Manny Machado's lack of performance in the World Series aided in the Red Sox 5-game win over the Dodger's in the World Series.

Photo: USA Today Sports

For starting pitching, Arizona Diamondback left hander Pat Corbin leads the list for the Yankees (he was on it last season as well). "This past April, the lefty told USA Today’s Bob Nightengale that “it would definitely be great to play’’ in the Bronx. “I grew up a Yankees fan (in upstate New York). My whole family are Yankees fans.’’With his signature slider, Corbin, 29, increased his price with a 3.15 ERA in 200 innings this season for Arizona," reported NJ.com. The kid from Syracuse, New York could be good pick up for the Yankees.

Source: New York Post

The Yankees need to be open to a variety of changes and shifts that will enable them to move past the Red Sox in 2019. This includes being open to signing two signature leaders in CC Sabathia and Brett Gardner for one and two year contracts respectively. It's October 31st and it's not too early to talk about free agency, in fact it is a sense of urgency as the Yankees begin to fill in gaps in hopes of getting out of the gate early and rebuilding for 2019 now.