YANKS CHECK ON PITCHING AS SANCHEZ CHECKS OUT SURGERY

Things will pick up soon, the offseason is young but until then a couple of important updates to get you through the lull.

Photo: Hartford Courant

We all know pitching is a priority, and luckily Brian Cashman is not wasting any time. According to Joel Sherman HERE, the Yankees have requested medical records for free agents Daniel Hudson, Charlie Morton, and David Phelps. This is pretty standard though, teams frequently request medical information for players every offseason. Cashman is simply doing his homework right now. It is important to note that Hudson has had Tommy John surgery twice now, Phelps is currently rehabbing from Tommy John and Morton has an extensive injury history including shoulder trouble this season.

Those names aren't as appealing as Patrick Corbin, but credit Cashman for doing his due diligence. The Yankees are familiar with Phelps who pitched for the Yankees from 2012-2014. Phelps blew out his elbow in Spring Training and missed all of 2018. Before that he spent most of 2017 with the Marlins and finished the season with a 3.40 ERA. The Yankees had a great bullpen last season and hopefully they can keep it in tact, but if not he could be an interesting low cost option.

I can't imagine the Yankees being too excited with Hudson who pitched 46 innings with a 4.11 ERA with the Dodgers. Not really anything exciting to say about him. Morton is probably the biggest name in that bunch. He threw 167 innings with a 3.13 ERA for the Astros this season but faded in the second half. There were rumors he was considering retirement, but has recently had a change of heart and confirmed he still wants to play.

Photo: USA Today Sports

The Yankees have also checked in with Zach Britton according to NJ.com. A signing doesn't sound imminent but after how he performed for the Yankees this season the Yankees should be checking in here. Talks sounds like they are slow-moving but I would expect nothing less here considering Britton is a Scott Boras client. I wouldn't be surprised if Boras waits until Craig Kimbrel signs a deal so he can turn around and market Britton as "the best closer on the market" and the drive his price up in typical Boras fashion. Either way, it is an option if the Yankees can't woo David Robertson back to the Bronx.

Photo: New York Daily News

Last but not least....Gary Sanchez is back in the news again as the latest Yankee to need surgery, read more HERE. Sanchez as been bothered by pain in his left shoulder since 2017 and he's the Yankees felt he's been playing through it long enough. Thankfully this is his non-throwing arm but the bad news is that's his front shoulder when he swings and that is where he gets all of his power from. It sounds like he has had numerous cortisone shots but nothing has alleviated the nagging pain. Cashman says recovery time is about three months so he should be ready by no later than opening day. Hopefully that won't affect his preparation for the season too much and maybe this helps him rebound next year.

I can't wait for things to really start heating up. It's early in the offseason so there isn't a lot to talk about yet. Keyword there is YET. I wonder what the first big breakthrough will be....I guess we will have to wait and see. At least we know Cashman is already out there and making calls. It's a start!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj